Updated November 2023
Across 34 pages
of 34
Short form of Huxley, English
"inhospitable place"
As Huxley and Huck become more popular and accepted, so does Hux, either as a full name or a diminutive.
Short form of Sunita or Sunisa
Pronounced like Sunny, Suni is the nickname of astronaut Sunita Williams. Suni is also the nickname of US Olympic gymnast Suni Lee, whose full name is Sunisa.
English word name or short form of Abigail
Abbey might sound exactly like the popular Abigail nickname Abby or Abbie, but spelled this way it is also a churchy word name with a Gothic feel. But hearing it, no one will know the difference.
Short form of Jean or Jeanne
Jeanie is a midcentury bobby soxer kind of nickname that might almost be so old it's new again.
Italian feminine form of Dominic
"belonging to the Lord"
Much fresher and more energetic than Dominique.
Ancient Greek and Polish form of Zeno and Zeus
"sky, shine; gift of Zeus"
Zenon is a relative of Zeno, which is a form of Zeus, used in both ancient Greece and modern Poland. With the new rise of all names mythological, this one may deserve a fresh look.
British from Latin, or Anglicized form of French
"corner or crow"
This name has not one but two impressive cultural connections: collage artist Joseph Cornell and photographer Cornell Capa--not to mention Cornell University.
Gaelic, Anglicized form of Eoghann
"born of the yew tree"
The attractive Euan and Ewan are just coming onto the U.S. radar, via actor Ewan MacGregor and Harry Potter 's Euan Abercrombie.
Scottish Gaelic
"warrior"
This spelling variation of Marsaili simplifies and sleekens one of the most distinctive Scottish names for girls .
Hungarian variation of Alice, from German
"noble"
Aliz, traditionally spelt Alíz, is a Top 50 name in Hungary and puts a zippy spin, thanks to that final z, on the classic Alice. Its similarity to names such as Elise may cause some confusion, but…
Japanese
"meditation"
Xen and Zen, both pronounced the same way, are two hip new spiritual word names from Buddhist practice. Among the celebrity set, Corey Feldman has a Zen and Tisha Campbell Martin's son is Xen.
Short form of Cecelia, Latin
"blind"
Cece, all by itself, gained notice as the nickname of Jim and Pam's baby on television's The Office . On the show as in real life, Cece is often short for Cecelia or even Cecilia, but it can also be…
Short form of Christina
Fading since the 1970s -- but still a lovely name.
Italian form of Laelia, meaning unknown
A rare and delicate choice, Lelia is a modern variation of an ancient Roman family name. It came to Britain in the mid-nineteenth century, following the publication of George Sand's popular romantic…
Welsh form of William
No, it's not a typo: it's William as a Welsh speaker would spell it. Gwilym is the more traditional Welsh version, though.
French form of George, from Greek
"farmer"
The S may confuse English speakers, but it's a French classic.
Gaelic
"ancient"
Has a sharp investigative quality that's not a bad thing to impart to a child.
Occitan pet form of French Liliane, or French compound of Lili and Louise
"lily; lily + renowned warrior"
Sweet, enchanting Lilou is considered both a pet name from the Occitan language (spoken in Provence in the south of France), and a compound name, blending floral Lili with classic Louise. It peaked…
Germanic, Slavic
"yew wood, archer; God is gracious"
Succinct, stylish, and catchy, Ivo has the energetic impact of other names ending in -o . It is a multicultural choice with two distinct origins, and, as such, is familiar across a variety of…
Short form of Melissa, Amelia, Melanie and related names
Mellie is not Millie and it's not Nellie, though it will forever be confused with those too more familiar nicknames. It's cute, too, and while some of the names it's usually short for may be sailing…