Updated October 2026
Across 180 pages
of 180
Word name or Latin
"purification feast"
If January, April and August are useable and fashionable, why not February? February as a word derives from the Latin februa , which was the name of a purification feast coming at the end of winter,…
English surname
"grower of darnel"
Darnel, the plant from which this name derives, is an intoxicating plant, which used to be grown to make medicines and poisons.
English word name
"an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger"
One of the more unusual word names used by Plymouth pilgrims for their children. Fear Brewster is an example of the usage of this name. Definitely one of the historic pilgrim names best left in the…
Welsh
Tolkien may have been inspired by this unisex name of a Celtic goddess of war. Welsh poet Dylan Thomas named his daughter the variation Aeronwy. With goddess names so hot for baby girls, this…
Welsh variation of Agnes
This is the most popular Welsh form of Agnes. Variants include Annest and Nest. There was an eleventh century Nest who was known as 'Helen of Wales' for her beauty and the problems it caused.
English
"place in the willows"
Stiff and sedate surname name, despite its salty start.
"beautiful"
A traditional Welsh name that looks like a variant of Arden, but actually derives from the Welsh word for "beautiful".
"woman of silver"
Spelling variant of Arianwen. Note that in Welsh, the -wyn suffix is usually masculine.
"silver + yellow; silver + shining"
This early Welsh saint's name is unusual and lovely, waiting to be discovered. Saint Arianell was a member of the Welsh royal family who was possessed by a spirit which was exorcised by Saint Dyfrig,…
Animal name
"salmon, a fish"
nature names are in, and even fish names like Pike and Salmon are open for consideration.
Betrys is a feminine name with Welsh origins, representing a Celtic variant of Beatrice. The traditional name Beatrice comes from Latin 'Beatrix,' meaning 'she who brings happiness' or 'blessed.'…
Welsh diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
Very popular in Wales, this perfectly nice name's only problem is its similarity to the dated Beth Ann. But if you're looking to honor an ancestral Elizabeth with a distinctive rare choice, Bethan…
"white flower"
An unusual floral -wen name which was the name of an 1878 opera by Welsh composer Joseph Parry.
"roebuck leap"
Over the top for even the most ardent Anglophile. Sacheverell Sitwell was a member of the prominentliterary Sitwell family.
"primrose"
Unusual floral name which would be perfect for a spring baby girl, if you can pronounce the Welsh double L correctly. It's a tricky sound for non-native Welsh speakers, kind of halfway between an H…
"cattle ford"
Stuffy presidential choice: consider Hayes instead.
Welsh form of Bridget
Santes Ffraid is the traditional Welsh name for St Bridget, the Irish national saint and legendary miracle worker. The connection becomes clearer through the Scottish form of the name, Bride. It's…
"rook fortress"
Rough and sporty, but too specific.
"loving, kindhearted, charitable"
A Welsh place name, possibly from the caru root, meaning "love, affection", Caron could work as a way to honor a Karen with a twist. It can also be used as a masculine name, as a variation of the…
"red enclosure"
Often thought of as a one-peson name because of Jungle Book writer Kipling, this was actually his middle name. He was middle-named for Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire, the beauty of which inspired his…