Updated November 2023
Across 3 pages
of 3
German, Hebrew
"noble; an eternity with God"
Adel might be considered a spelling variation of Adele, derived from the Germanic element adal meaning "noble", with the final '-e' removed to make it more concise and less girly. Alternatively, it…
Gretta is a feminine name representing a variant spelling of Greta, which itself originated as a short form of Margaret or Margareta. With Germanic and Greek roots, the name ultimately derives from…
Italian variation of Hilda
While we still can't see Hilda coming back any time soon, it's conceivable that this Italian version could ride the coattails of Ella, Elena and Ellery to broader popularity.
English
"marsh town"
Fenton is the kind of surname name that's starting to sound almost like a normal first name these days. While it made a brief appearance on the Top 1000 in the late 1800s, today it's distinctive but…
German
"bright raven"
Last in fashion in the 1930s, Bertram might once have been firmly in the best left in the past category, but with sweet nickname Bertie and the cool option of Bram, Bertram might just be one to…
"town in a grove"
Grafton is the name of dozens of towns, mostly in England, Canada and Australia, and has occasionally been used as a boys' name, with the surprisingly fun and quirky nickname Graf. Grafton is also a…
Diminutive of Vernon, English
"place of alders"
Until recently, Vernon and its short form Vern seemed like grandpa names not ready for revival, but now we can see it happening. Never the popular, Vern works particularly well as a middle name.
Scottish
"windy place"
Guthrie, one of the most attractive Scottish names that's also a surname, has a particularly romantic, windswept aura, with a touch of the buckaroo thrown in. Guthrie's folkie quality is tied to the…
Ivah is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from Hebrew, potentially related to 'avah' meaning 'desire' or representing a place name mentioned in biblical texts.…
"noble friend, friend of the elves"
Softer, milder, and sans chipmunk references, Alwin is a likable alternative to Alvin. Win makes a nice nickname.
Hindi, Hebrew, and Choctaw
"friendly, to plant, and bear"
One of those slender names, like Lena or Etta, that's used in several cultures and carries a range of meanings. But by being so many things, it doesn't feel decidedly like anything.
Belton is a masculine English surname that has occasionally transitioned into use as a first name. Originally a locational surname derived from places in Leicestershire and Rutland, England, it comes…
Variation of Talmadge, English surname
"pouch, mask"
This particular spelling of Talmadge is strongly linked to James E. Talmage, an English chemist and early leader of the LDS Church. The majority of babies named Talmage are born in Utah.
Variation of Mabel or English flower name
"loveable; lily-of-the-valley"
Maybell could be a fanciful spelling of Mabel, which could encourage people to pronounce the last syllable to rhyme with Belle rather than bull, but it is also one of the common names for the…
Icelandic
"battle"
Hildur is the Icelandic variant of Hildr, an Old Norse name used for a valkyrie in Norse mythology.
Shellie is traditionally a feminine name that has occasionally been used for males, though this is uncommon. Derived as a diminutive form of Michelle (for girls) or Sheldon (when used for boys), it…
Encarnacion is a profound masculine name with Spanish and Latin roots, literally meaning 'incarnation' or 'embodiment.' Historically, it has strong religious connotations in Catholic cultures,…
Literature, Spanish, place name
"wild fig tree"
Used in a medieval Spanish tale as the name of a Norwegian princess, Olinda is also a place in both Brazil and Australia and the name of a species of moth. Olinda could be related to the Greek word…
Montie is a masculine name that functions as a diminutive form of Montgomery or Montague, both names with Norman French origins referring to a 'mountain' or 'pointed hill.' It can also be a nickname…
Hasel is a feminine name with Germanic roots, likely derived from 'hazel,' referring to the hazel tree or its distinctive light brown color. In Germanic folklore, the hazel tree was associated with…