By Brynn McKeon · Updated September 2026
Across 14 pages
of 14
Hebrew
"well loved"
An alternative to the more familiar Aviva.
English occupational surname
"guardian of the hedged enclosure"
An appealing alternative to Hayden and Hayes, perhaps in homage to Old Hollywood actress Rita Hayward.
French
"chance, luck"
Chance has risen far on the baby-naming charts, but Hazard has a considerably more dangerous edge. It was the middle name of famed US naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry.
Greek
"youth"
The name of the Greek goddess of youth, daughter of Zeus and Hera, is rarely used today but may be ripe for revival considering the popularity of rhyming Phoebe. Sweet as Bebe but with the…
Greek mythology name
"willpower or far-reaching"
In Greek mythology, Hecate is associated with witchcraft and magic. The name may mean "willpower" or "far-reaching". She was often associated with the moon and with storms, making this name a good…
German
"war"
An ancient German saint's name – and most famously the name of Harry Potter's snowy owl – but the combination of "head" plus "wig" feels a little too literal in English.
Maori
"of the ocean"
An elaboration on Moana, newly familiar thanks to the heroine of the eponymous 2016 Disney movie.
Tahitian
"crown of the ocean"
A combination of hei "crown" and moana "ocean".
Spanish
"born in Greece"
Melodic and friendly, and similar to a Spanish word for chilled and ice cream.
French variation of Helen
Like twins Helene and Elaine, a relic of the 1930s to 40s French Renaissance of names.
Finnish form of Helena
"bright, shining light"
Finnish variation of Helena
Scandinavian
"holy, blessed"
A traditional Nordic name, Helga was extremely popular throughout Scandinavia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In Germany, it was a Top 10 pick from 1924 to 1943. And it still ranks in the…
"brave protector"
Photographer Newton...or that hard thing you wear on your head.
English place name
No matter how much you love the novels of Papa H., don't saddle your son with this unwieldy appellation.
Herb is a masculine name that originated as a shortened form of Herbert, which comes from Germanic elements 'hari' meaning 'army' and 'beraht' meaning 'bright.' Primarily used in English-speaking…
Herbie is a diminutive form of Herbert, a Germanic name combining 'hari' (army) and 'berht' (bright), meaning 'bright warrior' or 'illustrious soldier.' Popularized in the mid-20th century, Herbie…
"big love"
The Tahitian roots of Herenui are here , which means love, and nui , which means big. So this South Sea Islander name can be translated as "big love".
"gift of Hermes; stone pile, boundary marker"
This Greek name may have several meanings. Referenced in the bible, Hermas was the name of one of the 70 Disciples. The Shepherd of Hermas was an early Christian literary work from the 2nd century.
Hermina is a feminine name with Germanic origins, functioning as a feminine form of Herman or Armin. It derives from the elements 'heri' or 'hari' meaning 'army' and 'man' meaning 'man,' together…
"beautiful"
Hermosa, the name of a California beach town, means "beautiful".
