Thats So Raven
- Natasha
Origin:
Russian diminutive of NatalyaMeaning:
"birthday of the Lord"Description:
Natasha, an appealing, still unusual name, entered the American mainstream post-Cold War but seems to have peaked in the eighties, replaced by the more straightforward Natalie. As is common for Natashas the world over, the Obamas shorten their Natasha's name to Sasha.
- Nick
Origin:
English, diminutive of Nicholas and DominickDescription:
The classic strong-yet-friendly nickname name, much used for charming movie characters.
- Nicki
Origin:
Diminutive of Nicola, Nicole, NicoletteMeaning:
"people of victory"Description:
Once the teenaged babysitter, now more likely to be the mom who hires her. The names many variations include Nickee, Nickie, Nickey, Nicky, Niki, Nikkee, Nikkey, Nikki, Nikkie, Nikky, and Niky.
- Nicole
Origin:
French feminine variation of Nicholas, GreekMeaning:
"people of victory"Description:
Nicole was derived from Nicholas, the English variation of the Greek Nikolaos, composed of the compounds nike, meaning "victory," and laos, "people." The variation Nicole arose in the Middle Ages in France to honor St. Nicholas. Names related to Nicole include Colette, Nicolette, Nika, Nicola, and Nicolina.
- Nikki
Origin:
Diminutive of Nicole or Indian, Punjabi, SikhMeaning:
"people of victory; little one"Description:
Nikki was the it-girl name of the 1970s and '80s as both a short form of Top 10 favorite Nicole and as a given name itself.
- Orlando
Origin:
Italian variation of RolandMeaning:
"famous throughout the land"Description:
Orlando, the ornate Italianate twist on the dated Roland, with a literary heritage stretching back to Shakespeare and before, has appealing book-ended o's, and is open to combination with almost any last name, a la British actor, Orlando Bloom.
- Penelope
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"weaver"Description:
Penelope is an unlikely 21st century baby name success story. Off the Top 1000 for 25 years, Penelope jumped back on in 2001 and has been heading uphill ever since, propelled by the trend for mythological names, Spanish actress Penelope Cruz, and some high-profile celebrity babies.
- Phil
Description:
Phil is a masculine name primarily used as a familiar short form of Philip or Phillip, though it occasionally stands as an independent given name. Derived from the Greek name Philippos meaning 'lover of horses,' Phil has been used across generations and carries a friendly, approachable quality. It gained particular popularity in English-speaking countries during the mid-20th century. The name has a classic, unpretentious feel and is associated with notable figures like musician Phil Collins and television personality Dr. Phil McGraw. While many Phils formally have the longer version on their birth certificates, the shortened form has a warm, casual charm that has helped it endure as both a nickname and standalone name across different eras.
- Rachel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"ewe"Description:
Rachel was derived from the Hebrew word rāchēl, meaning "ewe." In the Old Testament, Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. International variations include the Spanish Raquel and Israeli Rahel.
- Randi
Description:
Randi as a masculine name has Scandinavian origins, derived from the Old Norse 'Randr' meaning 'shield' or 'rim of a shield.' In countries like Norway, it serves as a diminutive of Randolf or Randulf, compound names containing elements meaning 'shield' and 'wolf.' While Randi is predominantly feminine in the United States, it maintains masculine usage in Nordic countries. The name's popularity for boys peaked in the mid-20th century but has since declined. It features a straightforward pronunciation and friendly sound, with the '-i' ending giving it an approachable quality. Randi exemplifies the interesting phenomenon of gender-fluid names that carry different gender associations across cultures. For male bearers, it offers both strength in its meaning and the uniqueness of being less common for boys in many Western countries.
- Raven
Origin:
Word and animal nameDescription:
Bird name Raven, once a symbol of pride for both African-American and Wiccan parents, is finding new life as a superhero name. Raven Darkholme is the real name of Mystique, heroine of the X-Men films played by Jennifer Lawrence. And there is another Raven superheroine in Teen Titans. Some parents may still choose Raven to signal black pride or mystical powers or maybe even Edgar Allan Poe fandom, but we are guessing most inspiration is coming from the comics.
- Rayne
Origin:
Variation of Rain or RaynaDescription:
Rayne is the unique name used for one of the girl sextuplets on the Sweet Home TV show.
- Reg
Description:
Reg is a masculine name most commonly used as a diminutive of Reginald, which derives from the Old Germanic name Raginald, meaning 'counsel' and 'power.' This short, punchy name has been used for centuries, particularly in Britain where it gained popularity as a nickname. Reg has a straightforward, unpretentious quality that has given it enduring appeal. While less common as a standalone name, it has been used independently rather than just as a nickname. The name saw its greatest popularity in the early to mid-20th century and carries a somewhat vintage charm today. Reg projects reliability and straightforwardness with its crisp, single-syllable sound.
- Rhonda
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"noisy one"Description:
"Help Me, Rhonda. sang the Beach Boys -- help me convince my parents not to give me this sixties name.
- Ricky
Origin:
Diminutive of Richard or FrederickMeaning:
"dominant or peaceful ruler"Description:
Gone with Richard and Rick, Ricky has been falling since the turn of the 21st century. Probably still suffering from overuse in the 1990s.
- Rodney
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"island near the clearing"Description:
Rodney peaked at Number 33 in 1965 and has been on a steady decline ever since. As its popularity history indicates, this name is more fitting for someone born in the mid-twentieth century instead of the twenty-first century. It's likely this name will continue trending downward for another generation or two before it has its chance to turn back around.
- Rondell
Description:
Rondell is a name with several possible origins. It may be a variant of Randall or Randell, which derive from the Old Norse 'Randulfr' (shield + wolf). Alternatively, it could be related to the English word 'rondel,' referring to a small circular fort or tower, ultimately from Latin 'rotundus' meaning 'round.' The name might also be influenced by the French 'rondelle' (small circle). Rondell has been in use since at least the mid-20th century in the United States, with some notable usage in the 1960s-1970s. The name has maintained consistent if modest popularity since then. The spelling variation with the double 'l' ending gives it a distinctive appearance while maintaining connection to more traditional names.
- Ryan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little king"Description:
Ryan’s use as a given name was inspired by the surname Ryan, a variation of the Irish O’Riain meaning "son of Rían." Rían is composed of the Irish-Gaelic elements rí, meaning "king" and an, a diminutive suffix. Ryan is considered a unisex name in the US, where variant spellings Ryann and Ryanne are also valid for girls.
- Rhonnie
- Sam
Origin:
English, diminutive of SamuelMeaning:
"told by God"Description:
Sam has long been used on its own for boys, as accepted standing by itself as it is as a short form of Samuel. Straightforward and down-to-earth, Sam is the name of the son of the co-stars of The Americans, Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys. Sam is one of the most popular names that start with S in the Western world, ranking higher in several European countries than it does in the US, where it's trended downward since the 19th century, though it's always been in the Top 1000.