Updated November 2023
Across 9 pages
of 9
Variation of Caesar
French
"gamble, fortune"
A popular American name in previous centuries in honor of famed Harvard President, Charles Chauncy. This name is burdened by an incredibly pompous sound and best left in the past.
Latin
"joyous, festive"
A name from the ancient world that may get a mixed reception today. On the one hand, festive! On the other hand, fester. In the Bible, Porcius Festus was a Roman official who rubbed up against St…
English
"man from Flanders"
If it's not too phlegmatic for you, this surname and name of a Scottish clan could honor a number of people, especially Alexander Fleming, the father of antibiotics, and Ian Fleming, the creator of…
Nature name
"grove of trees"
If you find Grover too fusty and furry, this is a much cooler-sounding alternative.
English, diminutive of Nancy
Bobbsey Twins-era nickname name that could find new life via Nan, heroine of The Nanny Diaries. Nan was also the nickname of Annabel St George, the protagonist of Edith Wharton's novel "The…
Linzy is an uncommon masculine name that is more frequently used as a feminine name in contemporary usage. It appears to be a variant spelling of Lindsay or Lindsey, which originated as a Scottish…
Diminutive of Amanda
The full version is prettier.
French feminine variation of Albert
"bright, noble"
Albertine and Alberta are old-fashioned feminizations ala Geraldine and Roberta: a little bit clunky, a little bit regal, just waiting for a celeb to use them to make them cool again. Familiar in…
Variation of Agnes
"pure, virginal"
Annis and Anice are both antique variations of Agnes that have fallen out of use, perhaps because of pronunciation problems (ANN-is, or an-EES?)
Lute is a concise masculine name with multiple potential origins. Most directly, it references the stringed musical instrument popular during the Renaissance, deriving from Arabic 'al-ʿūd.' As a…
Diminutive of Lemuel, Hebrew
"devoted to God"
Lem is a corn-cob pipe-smoking, back porch-rocking nickname name. But we predict as Sam and Gus become ho-hum, more parents will look to Lem.
Diminutive of Matilda or Martha
Mittie is an antiquated nickname, best known as the name of the mother of President Theodore Roosevelt. It may be a short form of the pet name Mitten.
English word name
"enclosed area of water in a port for ships to load and unload"
A sailing and sea-related choice, which also feels connected to the reparative powers of nature (via dock leaves) and to doctors generally, Dock made the Top 1000 in the first half of the 20th…
Almeda is a feminine name with Latin origins, derived from the word 'almus' meaning 'nourishing' or 'kind.' It may also be connected to the Spanish term 'alameda,' referring to a tree-lined avenue or…
Harve is a masculine name that functions as a shortened form of Harvey, which derives from Old Breton origins meaning "battle worthy" or "iron." This concise variant maintains the strength of the…
Diminutive of Montgomery or French
"mountain"
Monty Burns, on The Simpsons , smashed to pieces any goodwill for his first name leftover from Monty Python . But if you drop the "y," you're left with a distinctly Gallic sounding nickname name. If…
Corda is a feminine name with Latin roots, meaning 'heart' or 'string of a musical instrument.' This uncommon name carries musical connotations and can be related to 'cordial,' suggesting warmth and…
Delpha is a feminine name with Greek origins, derived from the ancient city of Delphi, which was considered the center of the world in Greek mythology and home to the famous Oracle of Delphi. The…
Guss is a brief, punchy masculine name that typically functions as a nickname for names like Augustus, Gustave, or Angus. This shortened form carries a folksy, unpretentious charm with its…