Names That Mean Name
Across 17 pages
of 17
Nenna
Literary name and Scandinavian
"daring"
Nenna is the name of the heroine of Penelope Fitzgerald's novel Offshore , but it's also sparingly used in Scandinavia as a variant of the name Nanna. Nanna is a diminutive of various names,…
Fyfe
Scottish
"place name"
Variant spelling of Fife, borne by English musician Fyfe Dangerfield and Scottish journalist and reporter Fyfe Robertson.
Colwyn
Welsh place name / river name
An example of the Welsh love of naming children after rivers and places. Colwyn is rare in the States but has genuine appeal: no hidden spelling traps, and similar-yet-different to names like Colton,…
Able
Word name or spelling variation of Abel
Able takes this name in the direction of the word denoting someone capable and handle, and that is not a bad way to go.
Sable
English
"animal name"
Sable is often associated with the Dynsaty soap opera, but it is actually a type of animal historically hunted for its fur. Sable is also used as a word for a warm, rich black color. Both…
Emeteri
Basque form of Emeterius, Latin from Greek
"distinguished"
The Basque form of the obscure Latin saint's name Emeterius, after whom the city of Santander is named. Emeteri and Emeterius are from the same root as emeritas, a title usually bestowed upon a…
Fern
English
"plant name"
Of all the botanicals, Fern has been one of the slowest to move back from the front parlor into the nursery, despite the appealing girl character in the children's classic Charlotte's Web . Fern was…
Stellaria
English, Latin
"flower name"
The name of a pretty white flower with star-shaped flowers makes for a very on-trend celestial and nature name for a baby girl. This word name could also double up as a compound name, blending Stella…
Maylily
English
"flower name"
A beautiful smoosh of two stylish vintage girl names, May and Lily, but also the name of a pretty lily of the valley flower with small white blooms.
Waterlily
English
"flower name"
A rare and picturesque floral name, elaborating on the popular Lily. Waterlilies symbolize peace and tranquility, and there's a lovely artistic association too, thanks to French Impressionist painter…
Tamarisk
English
"tree name"
Also know as the salt cedar, a plant known for enduring harsh conditions. This makes Tamarisk an intriguing nature name, suggesting resilience and strength, similar to the name Oak for boys.
Nashua
Place name from Penacook
"beautiful stream with a pebbly bottom"
The name of a city in New Hampshire which takes its name from the Nashua River, named by the Indigenous Algonquian tribe the Nashuway or Nashua. A striking alternative to Joshua.
Aloe
Plant name
"resin, bitter, shiny"
A nature name, associated with the cooling, healing plant, often used to treat burns, Aloe has a gentle and appealing sound, reminiscent of Shiloh, Arlo, Allie, and Lola. A very quietly used choice…
Renley
English, modern invented name or surname
"edge of the meadow, edge of the clearing"
With the sprightly "Ren" and "Wren" currently in fashion, and "ley" a productive suffix to create new names, this combination was inevitable, and is chirpy and appealing. Renley has been on the US…
Boreal
English word name from Latin
"northern"
This English word name derives from the name of the Greek god of the north wind, Boreas, by way of Latin borealis "northern". A fictional bearer is Lord Boreal from Philip Pullman's His Dark…
Tamarisk
English
"tree name"
The Tamarisk is also know as the salt cedar, know with enduring harsh conditions. This makes Tamarisk an intriguing nature name, suggesting resilience and strength.
Betony
English botanical name
"flower name derived from the Vettones tribe"
This unusual English botanical name would make an interesting update to 80s and 90s favorite Bethany. It belongs to a minty-smelling, flowering herb (also called bishopwort), which has been used…
Kittiwake
English, Scottish
"bird name"
The kittiwake is a black, white and grey seabird which takes its name from its distinctive call. A dramatic nature-inspired middle name or a super quirky route to the nicknames Kit and Kitty.
Oriini
Maori
"place name"
Oriini Kaipara is a Māori journalist who made headlines by becoming the first person with a face tattoo (Moko Kauae) to host the prime-time news in New Zealand. Her name may derive from the New…
Aven
Botanical name or Irish
"white flower, beautiful sheen"
Variant of Eaven, an Anglicization of Aoibheann. As a botanical name, it refers to a type of pretty white flower which thrives in mountainous regions.