Names That Mean Fortress

Delicate ballerina name with grace, charm, and heft courtesy of Jane Austen's Mr.

This name of the famous fifth-century sorcerer and mentor of King Arthur may or may not be a bit wizardy for a real-life modern child. Its most noted modern bearer: football star turned actor Merlin Olsen, whose father was named Merle.

Ebba, the feminine version of Eberhard and also a form of an old English name, is in the Swedish Top 10 but virtually unknown in the US. However, with the rise of Emma, Ella, Ada, and similar simple-yet-traditional names, Ebba may enjoy more widespread popularity.

While the traditional Darcy spelling is solidly gender-neutral, the -ie ending of Darcie gives this name unabashedly feminine flair. Darcie is a Top 100 choice in England and Scotland, and briefly ranked in the US from 1967-1977, along with 1980 and 1984.

Simple, usable surname choice.

Traditional though not overly popular Welsh option, which may have something of a fantasy vibe elsewhere in the world.

Rochester was Jack Benny's famous valet and sidekick, played by early African-American comic Eddie Anderson.

Creative surname choice, associated with the great French postimpressionist Edouard Villard.

The x gives it some modern cool, but the bury part buries it.

Rough and sporty, but too specific.