Names That Mean English

Melvin is one of the ultimate nerd names, and Melva is not far behind.

Melva

Adeliza is a unique member of the popular Adelaide-Adeline family. Different enough to distinguish it from all the others? Maybe, and it's definitely got an appealing sound that makes it sound a bit like a smoosh of Adele and Eliza.

Adeliza

Ilisa is a spelling variant that's less appealing than the original. 

Ilisa

In the US Amber is stuck in the '80s, while Ambre is a fresh choice in France.

Ambre

A way to feminize Seabrook, if you want a name that is gender-neutral in sound but not appearance.

Seabrooke

Wanessa

Cosy is a, well, cozy name, whose only downside is people forever making that dumb joke. Cosy can be short for Cosima or Cosette but can certainly stand on its own as a word name. Another plus: Sounds like Posy, Josie, and Rosie.

Cosy

A rare spelling variation of the Norse mythological name Valhalla — the great hall which housed slain heroes who were to fight the battles of Ragnarök.

Valhala

Whether you consider it a word name or a spelling variation of Armie, this name maintains its meaning. Jill Wagner used it for her daughter in 2020.

Army

Nine is not a numerical name, but rather a Dutch nickname for Katherine. It's identical in sound to Nina, although the two are etymologically unrelated.

Nine

A potential nickname for Lake, or in professional surfer Lakey Peterson's case, Laura Louise.

Lakey

Beachy names like Coast and Cove have become stylish in the 2020s, bringing together rugged outdoorsy vibes, with gentle, sunny, beachy ones. Now, as with many popular names, alternative spellings have begun to appear, most popularly Koast, though Koest has been spotted on birth announcements. Part of its draw may lie in its slight distance from the word, being both wordy and not at the same time.  

Koest

You’re unlikely to hear Howardena on a baby girl today, but art lovers may recognize it as the name of Howardena Pindell, an American painter and mixed media artist.

Howardena

Brolin — inspired by actor Josh — has been used sparingly as a boy name since 2007. Most instances of the surname come from the Swedish derivation, meaning "bridge," however, Josh Brolin's surname is a variation of the German name Brüderlin, meaning "brother."

Brolin

In the midcentury US, putting an ene or een or ine at the end of any name made it more stylish. Today, it usually has the opposite effect.

Laurene does have a measure of class thanks to businesswoman and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple founder Steve and owner of The Atlantic, among many other ventures.

Laurene

A forgotten nickname for Columbus, which itself is becoming ever rarer. Radio comedy program Lum and Abner, which ran for over two decades beginning in 1931, featured a character named Columbus "Lum" Edwards.

As a Norwegian name, Mossi may be used as a diminutive of international Maria and occasionally for Margarita too. Heard it Sweden and Denmark as well as in Norway, it might be compared to using Molly and Maisie.
 
Alternative, as an English name, it may be considered feminine form of Moss, a Medieval form of Moses. As such, it could then be a short form of Moselle too.

Mossi

Cymricized version of the English flower/rainbow/goddess name Iris.

Eirys

This spelling of Tiffany would be a one-of-a-kind choice for babies today. At its peak, Tiffiney was used for 63 baby girls in 1981.

Tiffiney

As a new set of word names washes up on the shore, names like Beach could appeal to parents with a love for the sand and the waves. If you prefer hiking and forests over surfing and dunes, Beech would be a more appropriate spelling.