By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 169 pages
of 169
Welsh variation of Eugene or Celtic "well-born; born of sheep"
"well-born; born of sheep"
Owain is much more unusual than its brother name Owen, and feels a little more rugged, a little more adventurous and ancient. Possibly an Old Welsh form of the Latin Eugenius, or, deriving from other…
French variation of Jean
"God is gracious"
Together with the more common (in France) Jeannine spelling, this feminine form of Jean was most popular in the 1930s in its home country, and in the 1960s in the US. It's fallen off the Top 1000…
This feminine form of Jean was most popular in the 1930s in its home country, and in the 1960s in the US. It's fallen off the Top 1000 list since, but perhaps cute retro nickname Jeannie could tempt…
Russian variation of Roderick, German
"famous ruler"
Russian form of Roderick given to a small number of American boys each year.
French from Latin
"youthful or sky father"
Fine in France, but here it means vegetables sliced into thin strips.
English variation of Ulrich and Wulfric, German
"rich and noble heritage; wolf power"
Also related to the word for wolf, this name has a first syllable that's not appealing to the American ear. Better ic-ending choices: Dominic, Frederic, Eric.
Italian variation of Marilla, Latin
"bright shining sea"
Marella is an Italian name that feels at once unique and familiar, which may either be the best or worst of both worlds, depending on your preference. Only a few dozen baby girls were named Marella…
Hebrew variation of Margaret
"pearl"
This unusual variation of Margaret is the real first name of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. It can make a distinctive way to honor an ancestral Margaret or a different long form for such nicknames as…
Hungarian and Dutch diminutive of Maria
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Robust and energetic with an even blend of spikiness and elegance, Mariska is a diminutive of Maria, notably used in Hungary and The Netherlands. Internationally, it was brought into the spotlight by…
English variation of Mckayla, Gaelic
"who is like God; son of Aodh"
McKay is the Anglicized form of Mac Aodha, meaning "son of Aodh" in Gaelic. Aodh is the origin of names such as Aidan and Hugh, making McKay a subtle way to honor people with those names.…
Galician variation of John
X names are always intriguing, and this Galician version of John is no exception...except, it seems like an awful lot of complication. Other variations of John that might prove more wearable in an…
Spanish variation of Jamal, Arabic, Russian, Nenets
"beautiful, handsome; end of the land"
The middle name of footballer Lamine Yamal, this name is both a Spanish-influenced form of the Arabic Jamal, — in turn associating it with beauty — and a Russian name, appearing on the map as a large…
Spelling variation of Michele, feminine form of Michael, Hebrew
"who is like God"
Michel is usually the French form of Michael, where the feminine forms take an extra e and sometimes an extra l. While Michel and Michele are pronounced nearly identically by English speakers, using…
Hebrew variation of Isaac
Has taken on a musical tone via the great violinist, Itzhak Perlman.
Ethiopian, Amharic, variation of Jonas
With the fast-rising Jonah having cracked the Top 200 and the more surname-esque Jonas not far behind, parents who love this Biblical classic may want a more unique alternative. Yonas is the…
Hebrew variation of Jubal, Latin
"stream"
This Hebrew version of Jubal, a traditionally masculine name, is used for both boys and girls in modern Israel.
English, diminutive of names ending in -ette or -etta, or variation of Neta, Hebrew
"plant"
Netta ranked in the US Top 1000 in the 1880s, when it was often used as a short form of names such as Jeanette, Annette, and Antoinette. In Jewish families, Netta was typically seen as a variation of…
Turkish variation of Sarah, Hebrew
"princess"
Hebrew, Bulgarian and Finnish variation of Hananiah
"my cloud; Yahweh is gracious"
An unusual Biblical name, with a nature related meaning and a similar style to Amias, Ari, Azriel, and Avi.
Spelling variation of Shoshana, Hebrew
"lily"
Shoshanna is a variation of one of the best-known original Hebrew baby names for girls , the original of Susanna. This is the spelling used by Shoshanna Lonstein, a designer who creates the Shoshanna…
