Names That Mean Well

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 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.

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.

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.

Dark.

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.

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.

Short for Dariya (the Ukrainian form of Daria), Daryna is now popular in its own right in Ukraine.

The Finnish translation of Daria. In Finland, Taru is commonly used as a nickname for Tarja.

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.

With the rising use of Eugenie and Eulalia, could literary Euphony make a debut? It certainly has a pleasant meaning and is euphonic itself.

An alternative to the more familiar Aviva.

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

Completely undiscovered double-l name with an abundance of rhythmic charm.

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

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.

In an English-speaking country, stick with Eugenia.

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.