Names That Mean English

Cashmere is soft, luxurious — and way out of the ordinary. One of the unique names found in The Hunger Games series, you might be surprised to learn that this fabric name has been appearing in the US stats since the 1920s, it spiked in usage for girls in 2009 and 2013, following the release of the first book and movie adaptation. Since then, it's done a switch-around, with 44 boys and 5 girls given the name in a recent count.

Cashmere

Sweet and retro, Cherilyn peaked in 1972, when Cher (born Cherilyn Sarkisian) rose to fame. Possibly not quite ready for a comeback, though perhaps fun nickname Cherry might swing it.

Cherilyn

Word name Dream has been one of the fastest-rising girl names in recent years since a Kardashian baby was given the name in 2016. The alternative spelling Dreame was given to a dozen or so baby girls in recent years.

Dreame

Though it's used far more often for boys, Lyle has a lot in common with today's trending girl names that share the double L sound: Lila, Layla, and Lola. With its cool island related meaning, derived from the Norman French l'isle, it has been appearing in the US stars for girls since at least the 1880s, given to a small number of girls most years.

Lyle

Perrin has been in long use as a surname, derived from Peter, and is now used quietly as a first name.  It was given to 26 boys and six girls in the US in 2023, a decrease over the year before.  It has an attractive sound and feel and seems equally usable for both sexes.

Perrin

Roberta and Robert may be so far out they're... still out, but Robbi might make one of the trendy new boyish nicknames for girls a la Leni and Scottie. 
 
Robbi peaked in the late '50s and is now given to under 10 baby girls each year in the US. Add in sister spelling Robbie and it's around 50.

Robbi

A wild world name with literary connections and a surname-style, Wilde is best associated with Irish author, poet, and playwright, Oscar Wilde. Similar in sound to the more popular Wilder and Wiley, Willow and Wyatt, in could make a bold option for girls, especially in the middle spot. 
 
English model Lily Cole used the Wylde spelling for her daughter, born in 2015, but the Wilde spelling is still the one a small number of parents are actually using, with 6 girls given the name in 2025. In comparison, 50 girls were called Wilder and 30 were called Wylder.

Wilde

James has been one of the top names for boys in the English-speaking world literally forever. Now it's being used for baby girls too, especially as a middle name.

Adding a y to a name makes it more feminine, in some people's eyes. So Jaymes may feel better-suited to baby girls than the traditional spelling. 

Eight baby girls were named Jaymes in the US last year along with 20 baby boys. Compare that with 80 baby girls named James vs. nearly 12,000 baby boys.

Because James is such a hugely popular boys' name, we understand if you want to set your daughter's name apart by varying the spelling.

Jaymes

A fresh take on Jessica, Jessel is currently borne in the public eye by Jessel Taank, a Real Housewife of New York City.
 
As a surname, Jessel is derived from the given names Joseph (via pet form Jessop or the Yiddish Yossel and Yessell) and Jesse.

Jessel

Lansing is perhaps best known as the state capital of Michigan, which was named after the town of Lansing, New York. The original Lansing was named in honor of John Lansing Jr., a Chancellor of New York and mayor of Albany. He was of Dutch parentage.
 
The Dutch form of Lansing means "son of Lans," a Dutch personal name related to Lance and Lanzo. The English variant has different roots and is derived from the given name Wlanc, meaning "proud."

Lansing

Stark hits many ears as a blunt and forceful word name, but it has a storied history dating back to ancient times. Stark is a surname derived from the Old English word stearc, meaning firm and unyielding. Stark has drawn attention from parents recently due to its use on Game of Thrones, as the family name of House Stark. The ruling family's motto is "Winter is coming," making Stark a creative <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/89/winter-baby-names">winter baby name</a>.

Stark

Popular in the Scandinavian countries, but in this country it would surely bring to mind the very feminine Halle Berry. 

Halle

Seabrooke is a rarer form of Seabrook, a surname originally borne by residents of Seabrook, Buckinghamshire. The E on the end gives it a more feminine air, a la the girl name Brooke.

Seabrooke

Enterprise

Lovely, international, tea-scented possibility undiscovered by baby names.
 
Ceylon may ultimately be derived from the Sanskrit siṃhala, meaning "island of lions" or "abundance of lions."

Ceylon

Can Ernie shed the rubber ducky association and make its way onto the vintage revivals list? With the growing wave of boyish nicknames for girls — a la Billie and Scottie — Ernie may strike a different note.
 
Ernie is making waves for boys since celebrity chef Stephanie Izard chose it for her son and Princess Eugenie used it as a nickname for baby Ernest. Maybe girls are next.

Ernie

An offbeat form of Buford that you're unlikely to find on birth certificates today. Maybe for a pet.

Bluford

This spelling keeps the appealing meaning of Clara and Belle smooshed together, but without the Disney Cow association some people may have with Clarabelle. Nevertheless, this is the lesser used of the two, given to around 10 babies per year, compared to 30. 

Clarabel

Epik is a new word name used by Princess Love and Ray J for their baby boy. Fifteen baby boys were named Epic, the usual spelling of the word, last year, so maybe Epik is to Epic as Erik is to Eric. While Epic in the classic sense refers to a long narrative poem, today it's more likely a slang word used in place of grand or amazing.

Epik

A once very common Irish diminutive of Bridget that has unfortunately been associated since the 18th century with a pejorative slang term for an old or fussy woman.