By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 607 pages
of 607
Variation of Kali, Sanskrit
"black one"
Kalika derives from the name of Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction. It appears in the book series The Last Vampire .
Variation of Zafreen, Arabic and Urdu
Zafreen variant used by Stephenie Meyer in the Twilight saga.
Eritrean
"joy, celebration"
Lilting Eritrean choice with a festive meaning.
English from German
"morning star"
As a name, Morningstar is the English translation of Morgenstern, a German-Jewish surname. The planet Venus is called Morningstar when it is visible before sunrise. Several brands are associated with…
Latin
"pole star"
The astronomical Polaris is better known as the North Star, the brightest star in the Ursa Minor constellation. It's also the name of a character in the Marvel Universe, as the daughter of Magneto.…
Yoruba
"peace"
Alafia is a Yoruba name for peace and is used as a name for both men and women in Nigeria.
Finnish
"story, poem"
Sanelma is an invented Finnish name derived from the verb sanella , meaning "to dictate."
"asked for"
Anelma derived from the Finnish word anella , meaning "to beg." It was invented in 1906 by a lawyer named Edla Kojonen.
Norwegian variation of Christina, Greek
"Christian"
In the heyday of Chris- names, the Kirsten variation was always more common than Kirstina, and that's still the case today.
Feminization of Onni, Finnish
"happiness; luck"
An attractive name that's uncommon even in its native Finland. Onneli ja Anneli is a Finnish children's movie translated to English as Jill and Joy , although the names are unrelated.
Pali, Buddhist festival
A festival of giving and gratitude for Buddhists in South-East Asia, at the end of the rainy season. With the spiritual connotations and the similar sounds to Katherine and Athena, it's almost…
"apple"
A covert fruit name for non-Finnish speakers.
Finnish, Italian
"snow; citron"
Although Lumi (Finnish for "snow") is far more popular, the elaboration Lumia is used in Finland as well. It's also a technical word in English for patterns of light used as an art form, and in…
Finnish feminization of Even, Norwegian
"gift; winner"
A rare feminine form of Even, a common Norwegian boy name.
Variation of Magdaleena, Finnish
"high tower; woman from Magdala"
Matleena is a contraction of Magdaleena, the Finnish variation of the biblical Magdalene.
"abundance"
A Finnish mythological name from The Kalevala , the epic chronicling Earth's formation. It was derived from the word kyllä , meaning "abundance."
Finnish variation of Esther, Persian
"star"
A vintage Finnish name most common in the early 20th century.
"horse protection"
Variant of Rosamund
English
"strong and peaceful"
An ancient saint's name (St Frideswide was an 8th-century English princess who founded a convent in Oxford, which later became Christ Church cathedral). St Frideswide was adopted as patron of Oxford…
