Names I Love in General

  1. Annelise
    • Origin:

      Danish variation of Anneliese, German, Dutch
    • Meaning:

      "grace + oath"
    • Description:

      A streamlined version of Anneliese, or perhaps a hybrid of Ann and Elise.
  2. Lysandra
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "liberator"
    • Description:

      This name is the feminization of mythological name Lysander, which is best known to English-speakers as a character in Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream.
  3. Meghan
    • Origin:

      Variation of Megan, Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "pearl"
    • Description:

      Megan was one of the first trendy names to spawn lots of spelling variations and this form of the name is less popular than its streamlined counterpart, but nevertheless familiar to those in the English speaking world. A variant of Margaret, the name was rarely heard outside of Wales before the mid-20th century.
  4. Adella
    • Origin:

      Variation of Adele or Adeline
    • Description:

      Now that all names Adel- are the height of fashion, Adella is an unusual name that nevertheless sounds very trendy. Adella is one of Ariel's sisters in The Little Mermaid.
  5. Janelle
    • Origin:

      American, modern elaboration of Jane
    • Description:

      It's far cooler to drop the first syllable and go for Elle.
  6. Eugenia
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Eugene, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "wellborn, noble"
    • Description:

      Eugenia, a name scarcely used at all since the 1980's, is another that flourished a century ago and could be due for a revival.
  7. Charity
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "charity"
    • Description:

      Charity is one of the Big Three abstract virtue names, along with Hope and Faith, though far less widely used than the others. But as Faith, Grace and Hope grow more common, some parents are beginning to look at the more unusual three-syllable choices like Verity, Amity, Clarity and Charity, which sound much fresher and also have that pleasingly rhythmic 'y'-ending sound.
  8. Kaylie
    • Origin:

      Short form of Kayla, Arabic and Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "laurel, crown"
    • Description:

      A cute nickname name that's risen high over the past decade or so, more especially as Kaylee, this name combines the attributes of Hailey and Kayla, Kylie and Callie.
  9. Gale
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      Gale for boys is more a storm name than a short form of Abigail. Since Gale has resurfaced as the name of Liam Hemsworth's daring character in The Hunger Games, it has new force for boys.
  10. Keturah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "incense"
    • Description:

      Keturah, the Old Testament name of Abraham's second wife, is a possibility for anyone seeking a truly unusual and interesting biblical name; certainly a lot more distinctive than that of Abraham's first wife, Sarah.
  11. Canaan
    • Origin:

      Biblical place name, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "The Promised Land; humble, low"
    • Description:

      Pronounced KAY-nan, this Old Testament place name has a strong modern feel that blends in with on-trend choices like Carter, Colton, and Kayson, but also with Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Tobias. Associated in the Bible with "The Promised Land", it is also the name of one of Noah's grandsons.
  12. Eldridge
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "old, wise leader"
    • Description:

      Name long associated with eloquent Black Panther activist Eldridge Cleaver and jazz great Roy Eldridge.
  13. Daulton
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Dalton
    • Description:

      Stick with the original.
  14. Brayleigh
    • Description:

      Brayleigh is a modern feminine name that embodies contemporary naming trends combining popular sounds and elements. Created as a variation blending the popular prefix 'Bray-' (as in Brayden) with the trendy suffix '-leigh' (a stylized version of 'lee'), the name represents the creative combination style that gained popularity in the early 2000s. Brayleigh has a melodic quality with its flowing syllables and soft ending sound. The name has particularly gained traction in the United States, appealing to parents seeking something distinctive yet following familiar phonetic patterns. While some might view it as part of the trend toward newly-created names, others appreciate its fresh sound and the personalization it offers. Brayleigh typically evokes images of brightness and modernity.

  15. Neviah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "forecaster"
    • Description:

      All too likely to be confused with the ultratrendy Nevaeh.
  16. Casiphia
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "place of the treasury"
    • Description:

      A Biblical place name referred to by the Old Testament prophet Ezra. It may be a corruption of Caspian, or may derive from Hebrew keceph "silver, money".
  17. Tierney
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "descendant of a lord"
    • Description:

      Tierney is a Celtic surname with a definite Irish twinkle, a name just waiting to be discovered. Though now sometimes used for girls (in the US, not Ireland), as in jazz singer Tierney Sutton, it still has plenty of masculine punch.
  18. Adanna
    • Shailene
      • Josiah