By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 255 pages
of 255
English
"hermit's place"
This dignified Old English surname was brought into the modern consciousness by author Armistead Maupin, who wrote the San Francisco stories Tales of the City . There was also a Civil War general…
Catalan
"golden"
Intriguing name that's a Top 100 choice in Spain and virtually unknown outside that country. But has definitely possibilities for the adventurous baby namer.
Finnish form of Old Norse Hjalmar
"helmet protector"
Distinctive-sounding Scandinavian name . with deep roots. Short form is the attractive Jari.
Spanish
"well pleasing + wealthy guardian"
A rare yet familiar sounding Spanish compound name, blending Evaristo and Eduardo together. It also appears in the Oz novels by L. Frank Braum (the source of the musical Wicked ).
Male variation of Monica, Latin
"advisor"
Dashing and highly unusual variation does the feminine original one better by sounding both more modern and more usable. Or you can spell it Monaco and call it a place name.
Invented literary name
Fanciful name created by L. Frank Baum for a character in his book Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz .
Greek
"safe strength"
The name of two Biblical figures, one a supporter of St. Paul and the other a Corinthian ruler. Virtually unknown in the U.S. but used in the form Sosthene in modern France.
Variant spelling of Amadeus
"love of God"
see AMADEUS
Native American
"silent friend"
Brought into the spotlight by actor Mykelti Williamson, who was given it by his half-Blackfoot Indian grandfather
Sanskrit, Hindi
"reddish brown"
This colorful Sanskrit name belongs to the Hindu god Aruna, the charioteer who drives the sun god Surya across the sky. Aruna can also be masculinized to Arun. It can also be a female name in…
Irish
"red, ruddy"
Flanagan is an elabortion of Flann, and cousin of Flynn and Finn: a member of the family of colorful Irish red-headed names. This one is lively and undiscovered.
Gaelic
"male descendant of a pirate or stranger from overseas"
Halloran could be your solution if you love the nickname Hal, but not Harold or Henry.
"male descendant of a wolf"
Kennelly could be an upbeat modern namesake for a Grandpa Kenneth; it can also be spelled Kenneally.
Welsh
"God is gracious"
Ianto is a lively and unique spin on John, possible familiar to American sci-fi fans via the popular character on Torchwood .
African place-name
Morocco is an attractive and rhythmic name, evocative of such fabled cities as Casablanca, Tangier and Marrakesh, in a country whose unique landscape and rich culture attracted such twentieth century…
"last"
Omega is an unusual name used now equally for boys and girls, though the a ending is conventionally feminine. More popular boys' names, like Omega, end in the a sound these days: Joshua, Noah, Micah.
Word name
Moroccan is a name newly minted by Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon for their newborn twin son. Meaning a person who lives in Morocco, Moroccan was used by the couple as a nod to the Moroccan Room in…
Jencarlos is a distinctive masculine name that blends elements of English 'Jen' (from names like Jennifer or Jensen) with the Spanish 'Carlos,' creating a multicultural hybrid. This combination…
Spelling variation of Josiah
Attempts to update traditional Josiah have landed this name in the Top 1000. It falls in line with trendy spellings of names that opt for an additional x , y , or z whenever possible.
Irish place-name from Caledonia
"hard or rocky land"
Caledon, the name of the arrogant Billy Zane character in "Titanic," is an Irish place-name related to Caledonia, the Latin word for Scotland thought to be derived from the ancient Celtic word for…
