​
​
Advanced Search

Children's Lit Names, Elizabeth Enright

  1. Earl

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "nobleman, warrior"

    • Description:

      Earl is a title name - brought to England by the vikings - that's out of fashion right now, unlike King and Duke. Its peak popularity was in the 1920s, which gives it a dusty great-grandpa feel, but there are also younger Earls in pop culture, like the reformed criminal in "My Name is Earl".
  2. Floyd

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "gray-haired"

    • Description:

      Floyd was a Top 100 name from the 1880s to the 1940s that somehow developed an almost comical hayseed persona along with a touch of retro jazz cool; it's beginning to appeal to parents with a strong taste for the quirky.
  3. Foster

    • Origin:

      English occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "forester"

    • Description:

      Foster is one commonly heard last name that makes a fine first. The word foster means "to nourish" — as in "fostering hope", or "fostering a relationship". The only problem with Foster might be its association with "foster child."
  4. Portia

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "pig"

    • Description:

      Portia is a perfect role-model name, relating to Shakespeare's brilliant and spirited lawyer in The Merchant of Venice, and is now also a Hunger Games name .
  5. Coral

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "a rock like substance formed by sea creatures; pinkish-red; gemstone"

    • Description:

      A color name, a gemstone name, and an ocean-inspired choice, Coral has a lot going for it with its sharp C sounds yet sweet vintage feel. Unlike Scarlett or Violet, however, it is only quietly used in the US these days, perhaps because of its similarity to more 'dated' Carol.
  6. Heron

    • Origin:

      Nature name or Greek

    • Meaning:

      "hero"

    • Description:

      Heron may feel like a very usable nature name -- the heron is a long-legged wading bird -- but it was also the name of a 1st century Greek inventor and of an Egyptian saint. Highly unusual yet easy to understand and meaningful on several levels, Heron is a fantastic choice.
  7. Gulliver

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "glutton"

    • Description:

      Gulliver is an obscure Gaelic surname known almost solely through its literary Travels until actor Gary Oldman used it for his son, instantly transforming it into a lively option. British actors Damian Lewis, of Homeland, and Helen McCrory also have a son named Gulliver.
  8. Merle

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "blackbird"

    • Description:

      Originally a nickname for someone who loved to sing or whistle, Merle is sleek but gentle, with a hint of great grandpa about it..
  9. Tarquin

    • Origin:

      Latin, Roman clan name

    • Description:

      One of the few ancient Roman names that doesn't end in us, the rarely heard Tarquin has a decidedly creative, even dramatic flair, which could appeal to the parent looking for a strikingly original name. Sir Laurence Olivier used it for his oldest child, who was named Simon Tarquin but called by his middle name.
  10. Dave

    • Origin:

      Short form of David, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "beloved"

    • Description:

      Dave is the ultimate good guy name, but where father name David is still holding onto a spot in the Top 20, Dave -- widely used as an independent name in the middle of the last century -- dropped off the Top 1000 a few decades ago and shows no signs of a comeback. Baby Davids today, often named for dad or grandpa, are more likely to be called David than Dave.
  11. Yancy

    • Origin:

      American variation of Jansen, Dutch, Native American

    • Meaning:

      "son of Jan; yankee"

    • Description:

      Yancy has two separate American origins — first as the Native American term for "Yankee," and second as the Americanized variation of the common Dutch surname Jansen. Jan being the Dutch form of John, Yancy could work to honor anyone in your life with a John-related name.
  12. Rush

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "basket weaver"

    • Description:

      Might suggest speed, excitement, even danger, were it not for its best-known bearer, conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh.
  13. Cicero

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "chickpea"

    • Description:

      Roman statesman's name with a cool and quirky sound. Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman scholar, orator and lawyer who had an immense impact on the Latin language.
  14. Waldemar

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "famous ruler"

    • Description:

      The American child given this name of four kings of Denmark, not to mention one so similar to that of the Harry Potter archvillain Lord Voldemort, might have to pay a large emotional import tax.
  15. Minetta

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Minna or Wilhelmina, German

    • Meaning:

      "child of the red earth"

    • Description:

      Minetta is one of those names that's a diminutive of a diminutive -- Minna, a pan-European nickname that can be short for many names beginning or ending in Mina. Minetta may be most famous as Minetta Lane, a charming street in New York's West Village.
  16. Mab

    • Origin:

      Irish, English

    • Meaning:

      "intoxicating"

    • Description:

      An Anglicized form of Medb borrowed by both Shakespeare and Percy Bysshe Shelley for the of queen of the fairies. Perfect if you want something both adventurous and simple - though you could use it as a nickname for Mabel, Mirabel, Mabli, or Amabel too.
  17. Timmy

    • Description:

      Timmy is a warm, friendly masculine name that originated as a diminutive form of Timothy. The root name Timothy comes from the Greek "Timotheos," meaning "honoring God" or "honored by God," and appears in the Bible as the name of Paul's young companion. Timmy gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century, often used as both a nickname and a given name in its own right. The name evokes a sense of youthfulness and approachability, and has been featured in popular culture through characters like Timmy Turner in "The Fairly OddParents" animated series. While some parents now prefer to use Timothy on birth certificates, Timmy continues to be chosen for its cheerful, unpretentious quality and familiar sound. Its usage has declined since its peak but maintains steady recognition.

  18. Garnet

    • Origin:

      Jewel name, from the French

    • Meaning:

      "pomegranate"

    • Description:

      One of the jewel names in use a hundred years ago, due for revival along with sisters Ruby and Pearl.
  19. Willy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of William

    • Description:

      See WILLIE.
  20. Helmer

    • Origin:

      German and Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "helmet army"

    • Description:

      Helmer is best-known these days as a product line at Ikea, but if you're looking for an Old School Germanic name and want to move beyond Herman and Wilmer, Helmer may be your man.

Introducing the Nameberry App

Nameberry App
Find your perfect baby name together with our new mobile app.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Sign up to be notified when the app launches and to receive a discount on full access.
Nameberry App Logo