By Brynn McKeon · Updated September 2026
Across 34 pages
of 34
Alfa is a distinctive feminine name with multiple cultural origins. It can be related to the Greek letter 'alpha,' symbolizing the beginning or the first, suggesting leadership and originality. In…
Diminutive of Alfred, English
"wise counselor"
Alfie is a Top 20 name throughout the British Isles, where retro nickname names are mega-popular, but it hasn't really been picked up in the US yet, given to around 70 boys in a recent year.…
Spanish and Italian
"noble, ready"
Alfonso was a royal name in Spain as far back as the 7th century, but it is rarely heard outside the Hispanic community in the US.
English
"clever warrior"
This name has been off the USA Top 1000 list since before 1900, but it has some great musical credentials: consider American blues singer Alger "Texas" Alexander and country music legend Pat Alger.
Place-name
The Alhambra, which means "red city," is in Granada, Spain. British writer Ali Smith used it for a character in her novel The Accidental .
Short form of Alison or Alice or Arabic
"supreme, exalted"
One of the sweet simple unisex names balanced enough to stand on its own. Ali can either be used as a shortening of Al- beginning names. For example, comedian Ali Wong is an Alexandra. Ali is also an…
Romani
"elf warrior or all true"
Variant of Alafair
Russian
"bright shining light"
A light and lovely Russian diminutive of Yelena (Helena), now used in its own right in Russia. Also spelt Alyona.
French and English surname
"noble and brave"
Derived from the personal name Adalhard.
Italian
"joyous"
In music, the term allegro means "quickly, lively tempo," which makes this quintessential Bohemian ballet dancer's name all the more appealing. Allegra is one of the most distinctive yet accessible…
"brisk, sprightly"
ALLEGRA is a delicate ballet-dancer name; ALLEGRO, which means a fast-paced movement in music, is stronger and more vibrant.
Allyn is a gender-neutral name with versatile usage as a masculine name, though it also appears as a feminine option. With Welsh and Celtic origins, it relates to names like Alan and Allen, derived…
Latin
"soul"
A rising vintage sweetheart for girls and a fresh new possibility for boys, following the likes of Nova. As a feminine name, it first became fashionable in England following the Battle of Alma –…
Word name
Gwyneth Paltrow's Apple has opened the world of botanical names beyond flowers to trees, herbs, fruits, and — why not — nuts. Cayley and Brandon Jenner have a daughter named Joan Almond.
English word name or variation of Almund or Aleman, German
"almond; noble strength; German"
Almond may seem like a hippy modern name, but its use for American boys goes right back to the mid-nineteenth century. In these cases, it was either a variation of Almund, meaning "noble strength,"…
Arabic
"the victorious"
Introduced to the lexicon by the husband of Little House on the Prairie writer Laura Ingalls Wilder, most scholars agree that this unusual name comes from the Arabic El-Mansur.
German variation of Louisa
"renowned warrior"
Obscure form of an old-fashioned favorite that's poised to make a comeback. This version, which owes as much to Alison as to Louisa, has a stylish A beginning and a multi-syllabic feminine grace.
German
"famous fighter"
Inventive female form of Aloysius.
French
"lark"
Alouette is a sweet Gallic twist in the stylish bird name genre made familiar via the charming French children's song, Alouette, gentile alouette .
