By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 56 pages
of 56
Variation of Martina, elaboration of Martha, or compound name
"warlike; lady; from Athens"
Cosy but strong, distinctive and regal, Marthena could be a number of things: a spelling variation of Martina (likely based on Afrikaans form, Marthina); an elaboration of the classic and Biblical…
Lithuanian variation of Mateja or Mattea, Hebrew
"gift of Yahweh"
The Lithuanian spelling of Mateja, itself a feminine form of the Biblical Matthew, Matėja is a Top 20 choice in Lithuania. While Mateja is more popular in Slovenia and Croatia, this variation was…
Combination of Maya and Nayeli or Eliana, Spanish
"mother's sun"
Also spelled as Mayeli, this form entered the US stats in 2025. Given to 7 girls, it is likely a blend of Maya or May and Nayeli or Elliana. As such, it could have a variety of meanings depending on…
Greek
"bee-keeper; bee-man"
A rare name from Greek mythology, Melisseus derives from melissa meaning "bee" or "honey", and as such this name has the whimsical, but occupational, meaning of "bee-keeper" or more literally,…
"song"
An elaborate and poetic form of Melody, Melodia comes from the Greek melos meaning "song". It may additionally be considered the Spanish form of the word name, more traditionally spelled as Melodía.…
"remembrance"
A rare name from Greek mythology, with a warm and bright meaning, Mnemosyne is the Titan goddess of memory and the mother to the nine Muses. Pronounced as ni-MAHS-ih-nee in English and…
"burner of ships"
The modern Greek form of Nausicaa — the name of a character in Homer's Odyssey — avoids any unfortunate associations with nausea and offers a sleek, stylish sound.
Catalan and Italian form of Nausicaa, Greek
The Catalan and Italian form of Nausicaa, a daughter of Alcinous in Greek mythology who helps Odysseus on his journey home. In pop culture, it is the name of the eponymous heroine in the 1984…
In Homer's Odyssey Nausicaa (or Nausicaä) is a daughter of Alcinous who helps Odysseus on his journey home. In pop culture, it is the name of the eponymous heroine in the 1984 Japanese anime movie…
Ukrainian, Greek
"new"
Traditionally spelled as Neonilla, this is the Ukrainian form of the saintly name. Borne by a 3rd century saint, martyred during Roman persecution, Neonila is derived from the Greek "neos", meaning…
Russian, Greek
Bright and intriguing, Neonilla is an ancient name with the cool meaning "new". Derived from the Greek "neos", it was borne by an Orthodox saint, persecuted and martyred in the third century. An…
Biblical form of Naomi, Greek
"pleasantness"
A rare form of the popular Naomi, found in the Greek Old Testament, Noemin is pronounced with the emphasis on the last syllable (-MEEN), while the first two glide smoothly into each other. It may…
Ukrainian place name
"voyage"
While Odessa may be more familiar in the US, Odesa is the Ukrainian spelling of the sea port, named by Catherine the Great for Homer's Greek epic, The Odyssey . As such, it may be interpreted as…
Greek mythology name
"wrathful"
Grimes may have named her daughter Exa Dark Sideræl, but it wasn't her top choice. "A girl named Odysseus is my dream," she told reporters. Now that Grimes put it out there as a potential girl name,…
African Portuguese, Spanish, Greek
"help"
Most notably used in Mozambique and Mexico, this rare, masculine form of Ofelia could work as a rare alternative to Celio, Felix, Orlando, and Emilio. Yet to rank in the US stats, an alterative…
Russian, Azerbaijan, Ukrainian, and Bulgarian form of Ophelia, Greek "help"
A variation of the arty and elegant Shakespearian name, Ofeliya is sometimes used in Russia, the Ukraine, and Bulgaria, and in Azerbaijan, where it is likely transcribed as Ofeliya, with the dotted…
Greek, Hebrew
"help; fawn"
A rare name, most notably borne by Opha May Johnson, who became the first woman to officially join the United States Marine Corps in 1918, Opha may appeal to those who like the sounds of Aoife, Opal,…
A masculine form of the poetic Ophelia, this name derives from Ancient Greek in which it means "help, advantage". The more familiar feminine form appears in Shakespeare's Hamlet and in the US and UK…
"help, aid; profit, benefit"
Borne by a now little known Greek comic-poet from the 4th century, Ophelion may be recognizable thanks to its similarity to the Shakespearean favorite, Ophelia. Both come from the Greek element…
"to brandish; youth"
Appearing several times in Greek mythology, Pallas is an epithet of Athena, the goddess or wisdom, and, depending on which version of the legends you follow, is also borne by a (female) childhood…
