Updated November 2023
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Spanish variation of Ismael, Hebrew,"God will hear"
"God will hear"
Esmael is an uncommon name with deep cultural roots.
Aramaic
"he will answer"
The biblical husband of the queen of Sheba; an unusual name with an interesting sound, rhyming with lanai.
Hebrew
"I will thank God"
Derived from a Hebrew phrase: ode "I will thank, praise" combined with yah "Yahweh". A famous bearer is Israeli-American actress Odeya Rush.
"he will sing"
Most modern parents outside Israel would prefer Aaron.
Variation of Odele or Odelia, English, Hebrew "song; I will praise the Lord"
"song; I will praise the Lord"
Names with the del element, such as Adeline, Adelaide, Adele, and Della, are currently en vogue, but old-fashioned Odella didn't get the memo.
Portuguese version of Thelma
"will"
Sometimes used in the Hispanic community, along with the male TELMO. Has been associated with Telma Hopkins, singer with Tony Orlando & Dawn and onetime TV sitcom star.
Germanic
This spelling pares Will down to the bare minimum — and why not? It is also a Welsh diminutive of William / Wiliam / Gwilym.
Croatian form of Joseph, Hebrew
"Jehovah increases"
Croatian short form of Josip, ultimately deriving from the Hebrew Joseph.
Maori
"he will add"
Maori form of Joseph
"god will live"
This is the name of several people in the Old Testament, including one of King David's lute players. Also spelled Yechiel or Jehiel.
Italian
"who dominates the will"
Unusual Italian name for boys that relates both to the vividly stylish Viv names such as Vivienne and Viveca, and to the Italian musician Vivaldi.
"wish, God will help me"
Literary name
"ill will"
Coined by Shakespeare for the main antagonist in his comedy Twelfth Night , the unfortunate Malvolio’s name literally means "ill will". Incidentally, a peace-loving character in Romeo and Juliet…
Finnish variation of Ishmael, Hebrew
"God will heal"
Quirky form of Ishmael found in Nordic countries.
Romani, English
"will helmet or wife's land"
This rare name is possibly a Romani version of William, or may derive from Old English elements meaning "wife" or "woman" and "land".
Diminutive of Yaniv, Hebrew; Neville, English; or Nevin, Irish
"he will prosper; new town; holy"
Short and strong multicultural option for a son. Nev Schulman (born Yaniv) is the creator of the MTV series Catfish .
"he will establish"
One of many Hebrew Y names kept alive in Israel and in American religious communities.
Swedish
"God's will"
Vilgot may seem like an ancient Germanic name, but it's only been around since the end of the 19th century. It's most famous bearer is the late Vilgot Sjöman, a famed Swedish film director and…
Turkish variation of Ishmael, Hebrew
Amharic
"he will wear a crown"
Ethiopian name that would be difficult here.