Names That Mean Side

As a precious stone, Jade is known for its cool green hues, its importance in Chinese art, and its ability to transmit wisdom, confidence, and clarity. As a name, however, Jade is a 90s throwback in the UK, a Top 5 choice in France, and a returning gem in the US right now.
 
Deriving from the Spanish phrase Piedra de la ijada, the name Jade means "stone of the side" or "stone of the flank" as it was once believed that jade could cure renal colic. While this might not be the most glamorous of meanings, it does give the name some extra history.
 
Jade has been used to make carvings since Neolithic times, but as a given name, it only took off in the 1970s, when Mick and Bianca Jagger chose it for their daughter.
 
Originally used as a unisex name, the number of girls called Jade soon outweighed the number of boys, and with the rise of Jaden, it hasn't been (statistically) unisex since the early 2000s.
 
Trendier than vintage Pearl, but more grounded than Sapphire or Topaz, Jade fits in well with other popular choices. Both a word-name like Scarlett and a one-syllable option like Maeve, Jade feels just as right next to an Audrey or a Claire as it does to a Reese or a Kinsley.
 
A big favorite in France, where it has ranked in the Top 10 since the mid-2000s, Jade is also well-loved in Belgium, Quebec, the Netherlands, and Monaco. In the US, it has had a shakier history, rising and falling on the charts. Now, though, it's at its peak in the Top 100, and given to nearly 3000 babies every year.
 
Notable Jades include singer Jade Thirlwall, originally from the group Little Mix; Jade Ewen of the Sugarbabes; Jade, one of the original Bratz Dolls.; and Jane Goody, a TV personality, often remembered for openly sharing her cervical cancer diagnosis, which led to more people being tested and treated sooner.
 
If you love Jade, but want some more inspiration, you could consider the Italian variant, Giada. You might also like another <a href= "https://nameberry.com/list/414/jewel-baby-names">gemstone name</a>, like Opal or Garnet, a <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/tiago-and-thibault-the-latest-french-name-trends"> French favorite</a>, like Romy, Ambre, Roxane or Zelie, or a throwback British choice, like Chelsea, Jodie, Demi, or Tia.

Jade

In the nineties there was a "One Life to Live" soap opera character named Suede, but few fans picked up on it. Now however, parents may be reconsidering Suede, given its similarity in sound to Sage, Wade, and Jade and the recent interest in Denim, and unique word names more generally. 
 
 The term for the velvety leather material comes from the French phrase gants de Suède or "gloves of Sweden", and is often used to make shoes.
 
In a recent year, 18 girls (and 47 boys) were called Suede in the US, meaning the name has, over all, tripled in popularity since 2019. Influencer Kass Parker Nelson (JustKass) named her daughter Suede Estelle in 2024.

Suede

The spoiled only son of the richest family in town in a fifties movie. 

Names That Mean Side

The names

Jade

Suede

Quigley