Updated November 2023
Across 4 pages
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Word name
There are many lovely day/month/seasonal names -- and this is one of the most intriguing.
Nanig is an extremely rare feminine name with unclear origins, possibly derived from Armenian, Middle Eastern, or Indigenous roots. It might be a variation of names like Nanig, Nanic, or Nanuk found…
Peig is a traditional Irish feminine name, functioning as a diminutive form of Margaret. The name Margaret itself derives from Greek 'margarites' meaning 'pearl'. Peig gained notability in Ireland…
Pegg is a diminutive form of Margaret, which derives from the Greek word "margarites" meaning "pearl." This shorter, simplified spelling offers a charming vintage quality compared to the more common…
Rawling is an uncommon feminine name with English origins, derived from a surname that originally meant 'son of Rawlin,' with Rawlin being a medieval diminutive of Ralph (meaning 'wolf counsel'). As…
Sotvag is an extremely rare feminine name with obscure origins, possibly derived from Old Norse or other Scandinavian language roots. The elements may connect to 'sot' (sweet or true) and 'vag' (way…
Spryng is an inventive feminine name that offers a creative spelling variation of Spring. This nature-inspired name evokes images of renewal, rebirth, and fresh beginnings. The unconventional 'y'…
Place-name
A possibility for your li'l cowgirl.
Fruit name
Fig was the unlikely name of a beautiful character in Curtis Sittenfeld's Man of My Dreams . It could make a playful middle name or a sparky nickname for the likes of Philippa, Fiona, Felicity, and…
Day name
Though this feels like a new invention, people have used day names such as Morning and Afternoon for centuries -- and so why not Evening too? It's a lovely word with an evocative meaning and makes a…
Gaelic
"life"
Pronounced BEH-ak, this Scottish name is also seen as Bethoc. In that form it was the mother of Duncan, the monarch slain by Macbeth in Shakespeare's play. In later years, it was sometimes Latinized…
Yiddish, variation of Selig
"blessed, happy"
Woody Allen introduced us to the name Zelig as the ever-morphing title character of his 1983 film. Zelig does have an upbeat meaning, and nickname Zelie makes it accessible for a girl, though it's an…
Mongolian name meaning "clever, wise"
"clever, wise"
Similar to the Turkish name Bilge (Bil-jeh), which has the same meaning.
Icelandic from Norse
"the help of Ing"
Derived from the Old Norse name Ingibjǫrg. The name references the Germanic fertility god Ing, the original name of the god Freyr.
Scottish
"great"
Morag is one of the quintessential Scottish names for girls . Actually a diminutive of Mor, it has always been used more than the original. Commonly heard in Scotland, but could lead to pronunciation…
Chinese
Cantonese surname that is occasionally heard as a first. The lack of vowels would make this one hard to wear in English-speaking countries.
English word name
"powerful, solid"
We often hear parents express their desire for a strong name for their baby—Strong definitely qualifies. It would make an interesting middle name option.
Hebrew
"my father strays"
An old Biblical name more often used in its modern form, Avishag, among Jewish babies in Israel.
Old Norse
"god + marriage celebration"
Variation of Abishag, Hebrew