By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 47 pages
of 47
Swiss place-name or Latin
"lamp"
Projects the calm and pristine image of the picturesque Swiss lake and mountain town.
Ocean name; from Latin
"tranquil"
Pacific is an adventurous kind of place-name, with the added bonus of the association with peace.
Latin
The name Pacificus has historical roots in Christian tradition, where it was adopted by several saints and religious figures for its peaceful meaning. Pacificus emerged during the early Christian era…
"joy, gladness"
Letitia is a delicate, once prim and proper sounding name whose staid image has been unbuttoned by numerous phonetic spellings. The original, often used in Spanish-speaking families, would still make…
"villager, country-dweller"
While patriot Thomas Paine is a worthy honoree, the mere association with the word 'pain' knocks this name out of bounds.
"spiritual leader"
Pastor might be a brother for Parson and Deacon.
Latin and Basque
"happy"
Cute as a nickname, slight as a first.
French variation of Perry or Peter, English or Greek
"dweller near a pear tree or rock, stone"
Perine is an uncommon masculine name with French origins, likely derived from Pierre, the French form of Peter, which means 'rock' or 'stone.' Historically, Perine, sometimes spelled Perrine, has…
"passage"
The perv connection crosses this name off the list.
Latin, feminine form of Laurence
This pretty female form of Laurence originated in ancient Rome and is still sometimes heard in the Latino community. It is one of the many intriguing Latin names for girls worth consideration by…
"five"
Roman statesman and Caesar rival whose name, like other classical choices, was occasionally used for enslaved people. The Pompeo version could rise again.
"first"
The revival of long-dormant Roman names would put this back in the lexicon if it wasn't so connected to a telecommunications network.
"praised"
Delicate and obscure version of this many-faceted name.
"official, administrator"
With the new fashion for occupational names, we may hear more of this one.
Latin "imperial"
"imperial"
Rather imperious as a baby name, but has an interesting history. Imperia is the name of an obscure French saint, also known as Impère and Impérie, also borne by the famous Italian courtesan Imperia…
Latin or Greek
"crossing swords; strong"
Pronounced KILL-on, might lead a young boy astray--though that doesn't seem to have halted the progress of the popular Killian.
"ardent, burning"
This Spanish form of the yet-to-be-revived Ignatius was borne by an early and influential Philipina nun known as Mother Ignacia.
"of the garden"
Variant of Hortensia, an unusual floral name and the name of a secondary character in Roald Dahl's Matilda .
"a spearman, a warrior"
An adolescent boy might have problems with the first syllable.
Hortense is actually the French feminine form of Hortensia, the name of a strong, politically active early Roman woman. Hortense began to be used in the English-speaking world in the nineteenth…
