Names That Mean Well

An early Christian martyr, a bespectacled MTV cartoon heroine, and Canadian supermodel Daria Werbowy: Daria is a name that manages to feel contemporary and usable without being exactly stylish. Which may be a positive, in terms of Daria not being in danger of overpopularity.

Darius is a historic name via Emperor Darius the Great, a key figure in ancient Persian history, and several other Persian kings. His name today has an appealingly artistic image, which might well be found on a concert program or gallery announcement.

More creative and artsy than Mario. Dario is starting to edge up the US popularity list after languishing near the bottom of the Top 1000 over the last four decades. Is that inspired by Dario's popularity in Italy, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland?

An unexpected route to nicknames Bram or Wells, this English surname derives from a historical hamlet in England, whose exact location has been lost to time. It comes from the Old English word for "bramble bush", giving it a connection to the natural world.

No longer a one-person name, as a number of parents have been inspired by basketball great Shaquille O'Neal to adopt it for their own future athletes.

An upbeat English word name with a Puritanical feel, famously borne by Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, who reigned for over 50 years until his death in 2021.

Author Ottessa Moshfegh is one of the few to bear her name — a rare variation of the ancient name Atossa, rather than Odessa (as many think). The historical Atossa was a character not unlike one in a Moshfegh novel — born into nobility and initially married to her brother, Atossa later became a powerful wife of Darius I. Atossa had a bleeding tumor removed from her breast in the first documented case of mastitis.

Cool-sounding name which may derive from Norse kildr "a spring".

Dark.

The historical Atossa was the daughter of Cyrus the Great of the Persian Empire. Atossa first married her brother Cambyses II, but was later married to Darius I. She gave birth to their son Xerxes I, the next Achaemenid king.

Russian form of Eugene, also spelled Evgeni or Evgeniy in English, and the (anti)hero of Pushkin's famous eponymous novel in verse, Evgeny Onegin.

American footballer Geneo Grissom pronounces his unusual name Gene-o, so it's possible that it's a spin on Gene. Whatever the origin, it's an interesting and unusual choice.

Waspy-sounding choice, well known in literature for Boswell's Life of Johnson.

Takai is primarily seen as a surname in Japan but has great potential as a first name abroad. The authentic pronunciation is three syllables, but American parents may be saying it as tah-KYE.

Beeri is a Jewish prophet and the father of Hosea. The exact meaning of his name is debated, but it may be related to fountains or wells.

An alternative to the more familiar Aviva.

Taru is both the Finnish word for "epic," making it a translation of the Swedish name Saga, and a pet form of Tarja, the Finnish form of Daria.

Galician form of Eugenia, in the Top 20 in Galicia and Top 200 in Spain.

Jean is primed to rise again – particularly in the middle slot. So could Gene follow suit?

In an English-speaking country, stick with Eugenia.