By Brynn McKeon · Updated September 2026
Across 8 pages
of 8
Word name, English from Latin
"diversity, variety"
As a name, a bit too p. c.
Feminine variation of David
"beloved"
An outdated feminine form of David sometimes heard in the UK, though Davina is more usual..
English from Norman French
"dear one, beloved"
Once exclusively male name, Daryl Hannah made the Darrell spelling just as appropriate for girls -- and maybe even more feminine than masculine these days.
English
"shaded valley"
A sweet and simple nature name that could also be short for the surname name Odell, the vintage name Della, or the obscure saint's name Endellion.
Invented name, variation of Juna, English from Latin
"born in June; young; moon"
Novelist Djuna Barnes introduced this interesting and unusual name with an arty, Bohemian feel to the mix. She explained that it was invented by her father, saying it came about as a combination of…
English diminutive of Dorothy
"gift of god"
Sweet old-fashioned nickname name that could make a comeback in the wake of Sadie, Edie et al. Famous bearers include author Dodie Smith, who wrote The Hundred and One Dalmatians and I Capture the…
English diminutive of Dorothy, Greek
"gift of God"
Dodo is one of the few names of the cute repeating-sounds genre that is not alas so cute, being a slang word for someone brainless as well as the name of the infamous extinct bird. Dot, Dottie, Dory,…
Italian
"sweet"
Dolce is the Italian word for "sweet," derived from the Latin word dulcis of the same meaning. It's a rare feminine first name in Italy, more often seen as a surname, as in that of Domenico Dolce,…
English, diminutive of Dorothy
An old-fashioned Dorothy short form — today we prefer Dolly, Dot, or Dottie.
French variation of Danica
"morning star"
This Danielle/Monique hybrid offers a new twist on an old favorite.
Greek
"ill-starred"
Desdemona is as Shakespearean as a name can be, but because the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello came to such a tragic end, her name has been avoided for centuries. But at this point in time,…
Welsh
"bird"
This 1950s Welsh bird name sounds less dated than our fifties Robin.
Turkish
"sea"
Derya is a unisex name in its native Turkey, though even there it is far more popular for women than for men. It is related to the Persian name Daria, which also means sea.
Danice is a feminine name that likely emerged as a modern variation of Denise or a blend of Dana and Janice. It may also be inspired by the word 'danice,' which means 'giving' in some Slavic…
Spelling variation of word name Dune or Scottish surname
"brown or dark"
Photographer Diane Arbus named her daughter Doon, inspired by the sand dunes she walked among when pregnant. Used this way, Doon might be considered a nature name, a refashioning of the word dune.…
Word name English from Norse
"park with deer"
Derby might be considered a word name or a surname-name. In England, it would be pronounced darby, causing confusion with that similar name.
Short form of Adelma, German
"noble, famous"
Adelma shot to stardom on the coattails of 19th century Eastern European spiritualist Baroness Adelma Vay de Vaya. Delma continued to be used in the US until the 1950s, when it dropped from sight.…
"bountiful gift"
Cinderella stepsister type Victorian-valentine name.
English word name
"someone who dances"
A word name that's appealing when applied to a person boogying or doing ballet; a different story in the context of Santa's reindeer.
Hebrew
"of this generation"
Popular in Israel, sounds a lot more current than Doris.Brings to mind Dickens' Little Dorrit , though Dorrit was the surname of its heroine Amy.
