Updated October 2026
Across 3 pages
of 3
Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese form of Silvius
"wood, forest"
A shiny and sylvan choice, this sleek yet spirited name feels familiar yet is rarely used.
French feminine diminutive form of Antoine
"priceless one"
This feminization of Anthony, like other early French forms, such as Babette and Nanette, is not heard as often as it once was, but it could be time for a reappraisal of this delicate Gallic choice.…
Hebrew
"house of God"
A rarely used Biblical place-name with a soft and pleasant sound.
Place-name
"Æffa's farmstead"
A Scottish town and river name, Afton has a cool, contemporary sound, similar to Alden, Austen, Effie, and Aspen. Derived from Old English, it could mean "Æffa's farmstead", Æffa being an Anglo-Saxon…
English
"desires peace"
Wilfred is one of those Old Man Names that still sounds fusty in the US but is fashionable in the UK. It comes with readymade short forms Will, Wilf, or Fred and might make an adventurous alternative…
Welsh
"white spear; famous friend; fame and joy"
A fabled storybook name via the heroine of Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe (1819), which featured a heroine called Rowena of Hargottstanstede, and also a Harry Potter name, as Rowena Ravenclaw,…
Italian
"rosary"
Rosario comes from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Rosario , or "Our Lady of the Rosary", Rosary referring to the vocal and mental prayers in Catholicism, that reflect on the…
Italian diminutive of Michele, feminine form of Michael, Hebrew
"who is like God"
Michelina Matelli was a wealthy Italian woman who became a nun. She was made Saint Michelina in the 1700s.
Greek
"violet flower"
This unusual Greek flower and color name has gained considerable recent attention via actress Ione Skye, who is the daughter of sixties folksinger Donovan. Ione was one of the fifty sea nymphs —…
Zigmund is a masculine name that represents a variation of Sigmund, which has Germanic origins meaning 'victorious protection' or 'protector through victory.' The name combines the elements 'sig'…
Americo is a masculine name of Italian and Portuguese origin, derived from the Latin "Americus," which is the Latinized form of the name Amerigo. The name is ultimately connected to Amerigo Vespucci,…
French
"kingly"
Venerable old saint's name now associated solely with talk show host Philbin, who is constantly seeking namesakes. It comes from the word rex meaning "king". It could also be considered a place name,…
Scandinavian diminutive of Helena or Elena, Greek
"shining light; torch"
A short, succinct short form of the classic Helen and Helena along with the international variant, Elena, Elna was a popular choice in the 19th and early 20th century in the US, but has since fallen…
English, diminutive of Theresa, Greek
"to reap, gather"
With Tillie a new favorite of avant-garde parents, the British music-hall Tessie might conceivably follow.
English compound name, Ida + Mae
"industrious + beloved"
Idamae combines the classic name Ida with the southern suffix 'mae' to create a charming vintage feminine name. Ida has Germanic origins meaning 'industrious' or 'hardworking,' while Mae (or May)…
Gasper is a masculine name with European roots, primarily from Spain and Slovenia. It's a variant of Casper or Jasper, derived from the Persian word 'ganzabara' meaning 'treasurer.' The name is…
Casimer is a masculine name of Polish origin, representing an Anglicized variant of Kazimierz (Casimir). The name derives from Slavic elements meaning 'destroyer of peace' or 'announcer of peace,'…
Alvera is a feminine name with Latin roots, derived from the elements 'albus' meaning 'white' or 'bright.' It can be considered a feminine form of Alvaro or a variation of Elvira. The name carries an…
"old counsel"
This marvelously medieval name had a moment in the 1910s and 1920s but has dropped completely off the radar now.
Verl is a masculine name with Germanic origins, likely a shortened form of names containing the element 'ver-' meaning 'true' or 'faithful.' It may also be related to the German word 'Perle' meaning…