Names That Mean Honor
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- Norah
Origin:
English, ArabicMeaning:
"woman of honor, light"Description:
The skyrocketing success of singer Norah Jones brought this spelling of the name onto the pop charts in 2003. As well as being a spelling variant of Nora in English, it's also an alternative transcription of the Arabic name Nura, from Nur/Noor "light".
- Honora
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"woman of honor"Description:
Honora and Honoria are two ways of softening the severity of Honor, while retaining its righteous meaning. They were predominant until the Reformation, when the Puritans adopted the abstract virtue names, and were introduced to Britain by the Normans.
- Merida
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"one who has achieved a high place of honor"Description:
You'll probably be hearing more of this name thanks to the newest Pixar film, featuring Princess Merida, the first Pixar princess--a feisty, athletic, independent medieval Scottish girl with wild red hair. Her name, however, is not Scottish, but a Spanish place name found in both Spain and Mexico's Yucatan peninsula.
- Honor
Origin:
English word and virtue nameMeaning:
"honor"Description:
Honor is a somewhat more straight-laced virtue name than Hope or Grace, placing a high standard on any girl carrying it, but it's a goal worth setting. By choosing Honor for her daughter, Jessica Alba brought it very much into the modern world.
- Sade
Origin:
Finnish, Nigerian and Yoruba, diminutive of FolashadeMeaning:
"rain; honor bestows a crown"Description:
The one-named singer clarified the confusing pronunciation on this one (in her case, it's shah-DAY), but a number of parents have looked for more phonetic spellings. The Finnish version means "rain."
- Annora
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"honor"Description:
Annora is a noble name, a distinctive twist on its most essential form: Honor. Other variations to explore include Honora and Nora.
- Timaeus
Origin:
Latin from GreekMeaning:
"honor"Description:
Timaeus is an ancient name that appears in both Plato's Dialogues and in the New Testament. Might make a so-old-it's-new-again version of Timothy. The feminine variation is Timea.
- Arlette
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"noble, honor"Description:
Arlette is a French form of the Germanic name Herleva, which was the name of the mother of William the Conqueror. It peaked in France in the mid-1930s, but you might be surprised to learn that in the US, it's only just beginning to catch on now. It entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2018, and has dipped in and out in the years since then.
- Emir
Origin:
Turkish, Bosnian, ArabicMeaning:
"prince, ruler"Description:
Emir can be a title of honor in Arabic-speaking nations. In Turkey and the Balkan countries, Emir is one of the fairly popular Arabic names for boys.
- Aneurin
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"honor"Description:
Rarely heard in the US, it's best remembered in the U.K. via Aneurin Bevan, who as Minister for Health was instrumental in setting up the National Health Service. Bevan was known as Nye, a jaunty nickname that fits in with the likes of Kai, Rye, and Sky.
- Nye
Origin:
Welsh diminutive of AneurinMeaning:
"honor"Description:
This can make an unusual yet simple middle name choice, especially for anyone with family ties to Wales.
- Timon
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"reward, honor"Description:
Kids would be more likely to associate this name with the hyperactive meercat in "The Lion King" than with the ancient Greek philosopher or Shakespearean character, which could cause playground problems.
- Honor
Origin:
English word and virtue nameMeaning:
"honor"Description:
One of the classic virtue names for girls, stretching back to Pilgrim times, Honor has actually become one of the unisex baby names with a near-even gender split. And honor is certainly a quality admirable for any gender.
- Honoria
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"woman of honor"Description:
This is an eighteenth century elaboration of Honor found in Charles Dickens (Bleak House) but rarely heard here and now.
- Enora
Origin:
BretonMeaning:
"honor"Description:
Unusual Honor or Nora alternative, but we prefer the originals.
- Timeo
Origin:
Italian from GreekMeaning:
"honor"Description:
Timeo is a Top 100 name in France but is virtually unknown in the English-speaking world. Appearing briefly in the New Testament and related to Timon, a Shakespearean name, Timeo is a valid possibility for parents looking for an unusual name with cross-cultural cred.
- Timea
Origin:
Hungarian feminine variation of TimaeusMeaning:
"honor"Description:
This obscure but simple name is related to a Latinized form of an ancient Greek appellation that receives a mention in both Plato's Dialogues and the New Testament. Timmea and Timmia have also been found.
- Alimayu
Origin:
EthiopianMeaning:
"in honor of God"Description:
Wesley Snipes chose this distinctive East African name for his son.
- Timoleon
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"lion honor"Description:
This ancient name, belonging to a 4th century BCE Greek statesman and general, would be one of those unique baby names with lots of more down-to-earth nickname potential, including Tim and Leon. Another notable bearer is Timoleon Jimanez, former leader of the rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
- Cadogan
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"honor in battle"Description:
This surname borne by several early Welsh leaders has a lot of energy.