Names That Mean English

Chrysalis is a girls' baby name derived from the state of a butterfly or moth between larva and adult. A chrysalis is a hard-shelled pupa in which the transition of the butterfly or moth takes place. As a baby name, Chrysalis came to the fore as the rumored name of the baby girl of Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott, who reportedly love butterflies. Chrysalis does certainly have potential as a new word name or nature name for babies, with the simple familiar nickname Chrys.

Chrysalis

The unusual name chosen by influencer Ty Haney and musician Mark Wystrach for their son, brother to Sundance.
 
Champie could be used as a nickname for Champion, Champ, or Beauchamp.

Champie

Katalin

Claribelle

With place names extending their range, this is an unmapped possibility, though a bit stiff. Baltimore, Maryland was named after Cecil Calvert, the 2nd Baron Baltimore. Baltimore is ultimately derived from the Irish Baile an Tí Mhóir, meaning "town of the big house."

Baltimore

Brought into the mainstream by actor and TV host LeVar Burton who starred in the 70s miniseries Roots and in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Levar, or LeVar as it may be stylized, is a name of African American origin, also used as an English surname. 
 
LeVar Burton's full name is Levardis, and he has said the name comes from the Latin veritas, combined with the popular Le prefix, which gives the name the meaning "the truth". 
 
As an English surname on the other hand, it may derive from the Old English laefre, meaning "where the rushes grow", with Lever and Leyver being alternative forms. Other sources suggest it comes from the Hebrew leharim meaning "to lift, raise" or perhaps even from lev ari meaning "lion heart". This however may be conjecture as Levar does not appear to be a popular surname among Hebrew speaking communities.
 
Having never appeared in the US stats before the 70s, Levar was given more than 500 times in 1977 when Roots first hit TV screens. Since then, it has rapidly declined in use, and in the most recent year, it was given to 5 boys in the US.

Levar

Briefly used as a male name in the early 20th century. Doll is a surname with a variety of origins and meanings, some more desirable than others.

Doll

In the style of Winifred or Solfrid, Mayfred feels both fresh and ancient. It may be an Anglicization of the Scandinavian Majfrid, which blends fríðr meaning "beautiful" with Maj, the Swedish and Danish word for the month of May, along with a variation of Maia ("mother") and Maria ("bitter, beloved"). As such, it could be interpreted as meaning "beautiful May", "beautiful mother", or "beautiful and beloved".
 
Alternatively, it may be considered an English compound name, blending the Germanic frrid with either the Spring-time month name, or with the Old English mægð. This would give you the meanings "peaceful May" and "maiden of peace, peaceful kinswoman" respectively.

Mayfred

Cooler than Ernest and less Muppet-like than Ernie, the Finnish Erno may be the best way to honor someone with an Ern- name.

Erno

Alternative spelling of the Welsh name Lowri, a form of Laura. 

As a surname, it derives from a diminutive of Laurence/Lawrence, and was famously borne by the English painter LS Lowry.

Lowry

Banana is one fruity name we wouldn't recommend. Pick Plum instead. There is a Japanese novelist whose pen name is Banana Yoshimoto--birth name Mahoko.

Banana

Stylized as Sha'Carri, Olympic sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson brought this name to the field. It entered the US stats for the first time in 2024, when it was given to 5 babies.
 
The name has a variety of origins, one possibility being that it comes from the Zulu Shakari, relating to a stomach cramp caused by an intestinal parasite and sometimes given to unexpected babies. Alternatively, it might come from the Hebrew Sachar, meaning "dawn" or the Arabic Shakira (or Shakara) meaning "thankful", although it may also be a blend of English nickname Carrie and the prefix sha.

Shacarri

This particular spelling of Talmadge is strongly linked to James E. Talmage, an English chemist and early leader of the LDS Church. The majority of babies named Talmage are born in Utah.

Talmage

Eliott is traditionally a masculine name derived from Hebrew elements meaning 'the Lord is my God,' though this entry lists it as feminine. As a feminine name, it represents the growing trend of gender-crossing names. While Elliott (with two t's) is the more common spelling for boys, the single-t version might be seen as a more feminine variant. This name contains a blend of strength and softness in its sound, making it versatile across genders. Eliott for a girl follows the contemporary pattern of adopting surname-style names for daughters. Though still relatively uncommon for girls, it provides a distinctive alternative to more traditional feminine names while offering nickname options like Eli or Ellie.

Eliott

A patriotic spin on Armie, with roughly the same meaning whether you consider it a variation or a totally separate word name.

Army

Sharing the sounds of Maverick, Averill, Avery, and Alaric, Averick is a rugged and unexpected name of Manx origin. It's a variant of the Irish names Aifric and Aithbhreac , both of which can come from the element breac meaning "speckled". 
 
When used as a surname, however, Averick could also be an anglicized form of the Germanic Alberich meaning "elf ruler".
 
Boyish yet with feminine roots, Averick could be an interesting way to get to nicknames Ava and Avi.

Averick

While Kendrix is predominantly used on boys — likely owing to its musical namesakes, Kendrick Lamar and Jimi Hendrix — the most noteworthy Kendrix (as yet) is in fact Kendrix Morgan, also known as the Pink Galaxy Ranger from the Power Rangers franchise.
 
A name with multiple origins, Kendrix derives from the Welsh Cynwrig meaning "champion", the Anglo-Saxon Cyneric, meaning "royal ruler", the Scottish surname, MacEanraig, meaning "son of Henry", and from Hendrik, a variation Henry meaning "home ruler".
 
Used very quietly on girls since the early 2010s, Kendrix might appeal to those looking for something unexpected but with the same feel as Phoenix, Collins, and Kennedy.

Kendrix

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 also appeared as a surname and occasionally as a feminine name in some cultures. 

The name has a certain delicate quality with its soft consonants and flowing sound, giving it a sophisticated, almost poetic character. Despite its French roots providing a connection to traditional naming, Perine remains extremely rare in contemporary usage: no babies were given the name in the US last year, though Perrin was used for 26 boys and six baby girls.

The name's refined sound and European heritage might appeal to parents seeking something distinctive yet with historical precedent. The -ine ending creates a gentle quality that contrasts with more abrupt masculine names, offering a subtle elegance while maintaining the connection to the strong, foundational meaning of its root.

Perine

A creative spelling on Ian (itself a Scottish form of John), or an English surname, inspired by the Old French Ami or Amee, meaning "friend or beloved". 


Eyen

One of the original so-weird-it's-cruel <a href="https://nameberry.com/fameberry">celebrity baby names</a> doesn't sound quite so impossible with the resurgence of virtue names. But be charitable and choose Charity instead.