Names That Mean Form
Across 34 pages
of 34
Ethni
Welsh form of Eithne, Gaelic
"nut kernel"
If you were disappointed that Eithne is pronounced "Enya", you're in luck! The Welsh version really does sound as it looks.
Dougie
Short form of Douglas, Scottish
"black water"
Dougie is one of those names that spotlights the huge gulf that can exist between US and UK naming trends. In England and Wales, Dougie is a trendy nickname-name, ranking all the way up at Number…
Corny
Short form of Cornelius, Latin
"horn"
Cornelius is one of the Ancient Roman names that is not quite making a comeback, despite having been a Top 200 name in the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Blame Corny, a nickname that…
Gill
Short form of Gillian, feminization of Julian, Latin
"youthful"
Gill and Jill are both medieval short forms of Gillian or Jillian, a feminine form of Julian. The problem with the G spelling is that some people will pronounce it with a hard G, like Gil, the short…
Baba
English diminutive of Barbara, Greek
"foreign woman"
When the once-popular Barbara makes a comeback, so might Baba.
Minda
Short form of Melinda or Sanskrit
"knowledge, wisdom"
Minda is a simle, even familiar-sounding name that is nevertheless completely unknown. It might be a contraction of Melinda but it is a genuine Indian name with an appealing meaning.
Tevita
Fijian and Tongan form of David
David is a classic Biblical name with many international versions. This South SeaI Islander name is largely unknown in the wider world.
Guifré
Catalan form of Wilfred
"desires peace"
You'd be forgiven for thinking this is the Catalan form of Geoffrey, but it actually comes from a slightly different Germanic name — also with a peaceful meaning. It's a historical choice, belonging…
Imagine
English word name
"to form a mental image"
If you like such uplifting New Age word names as Peace and Justice, the evocative and pretty Imagine should definitely be on your short list.
Sione
Tongan and Samoan form of John, Hebrew
"God is gracious"
John is a name that's widely translated around the world, and this is one of the more unusual options. It is known internationally largely through rugby players, such as Sione Tuipulotu, captain of…
Antoni
Polish, Catalan and Welsh form of Antonius, Latin
"priceless"
Zephyrinus
Latin form of Zephyrus, Greek mythology name
"west wind"
Zephyrinus is the form of the name of the Greek god of the west wind best known as the name of a pope and saint.
Peterina
Feminine form of Peter
"rock, stone"
Peterina feels like an awkward invented feminization, ala Davette. To honor an ancestral Peter, consider Petra.
Georges
French form of George, from Greek
"farmer"
The S may confuse English speakers, but it's a French classic.
Gui
Short form of Guillermo, Spanish form of William
"resolute protection"
It's tempting to think of Gui as the Spanish form of Guy, but it's short for Guillermo.
Emidio
Italian from Latin
"form of Emygdius"
Derived from Emygdius, a 3rd century saint's name of unknown meaning.
Jas
Abbreviation of James or short form of Jasper
Sebastia
Feminine form of Sebastian, Latin from Greek
"person from the city of Sebastia"
Some names rise in tandem in their male and female forms, but Sebastia is very rare while the male Sebastian is quite popular. But it certainly might be an attractive choice.
Wim
Diminutive of Willem, contracted form of Wilhelm, Dutch, German
"resolute protector"
With a sound that brings to mind at once "whim," "vim," and "win," this is one Dutch boys' name with serious potential for use in the English-speaking world. Film director Wim Wenders brought this to…
Junipero
Spanish form of Juniper
This unusual boys' name ending in O survives thanks to the missionary priest who founded the first of the California missions. With Juniper becoming a more popular name, especially for girls,…