May Names

Strong name from the Esan language of Nigeria, with a satisfyingly specific meaning for a child's place in the family.

A name with an obvious meaning, for a long time associated with Golda Meir, the fourth Prime Minister of Israel. Nickname Goldie seems to be catching on in the celebrity community.

Anglo parents are taking note of this Latina classic, thanks to actress Rosario Dawson and a character on Will & Grace.

A Latin clan name that may rise again along with other things Roman.

Veridian is a variation on Viridiana or Viridis, meaning green. Veridian is also the name of an American aeronautical company, so we recommend you stick with the alternatives.

An anagram of Mama, in tune with its Tamil meaning.

The sources that do list this name give it as a boys' name, but Woody Harrelson chose it for his daughter, and it does have a feminine lilt.

Moa is among the Top 100 Swedish baby names but virtually unknown in the US. Might Moa be a substitute for Mia or Maya? An intriguing idea. There is a Swedish author named Moa Martinson.

Astrological sign with enough rhythm to make a plausible astral name.

Though it's French, most Americans would pronounce it as the stone.

This Irish saint's name sounds like a lopped-off Lorna.

Appealing, lively, and distinctive.

Lillemor is a relatively recent coinage in Scandinavia, where it was most popular in the 1930s and '40s, especially in Sweden. As such, it is considered rather dated in Scandinavia, but it would certainly make a fresh choice for lovers of "Lily" names abroad — although the "Lil" in this case actually comes from lille "little".

Chance has risen far on the baby-naming charts, but Hazard has a considerably more dangerous edge. It was the middle name of famed US naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry.

A cool and breezy nature name with a stylish sound, used by Volkswagen for one of its cars.

This is the spelling that old-time film star Katharine Hepburn used, and it's still favored by fans wanting to reference her classic strength and beauty. But in general, it's losing ground to Katherine and even Ms. Hepburn's own favorite short form, Kate.

Ochre is an exceedingly rare name, found only a few times since the nineteenth century, and not showing up in any current data. Yet it means much the same thing as popular Sienna (another clay coloured with iron oxide) and sounds similar to fashionable Oakley. A strong earthy nature name that is both unusual and evocative.

Famous as the long-suffering wife of the philosopher Socrates.

Pleasant-sounding French surname.

Unusual and attractive name, might be worth considering if you're expecting twins.