Updated October 2026
Across 25 pages
of 25
English from Italian
"little song"
Could there be a more poetic name than Sonnet? Actor Forest Whitaker was inspired to choose it for his daughter. The word sonnet derives from the Italian sonetto , meaning 'little song.' And although…
English word name
"supreme ruler, ultimate power"
Sovereign is one of those names only a celebrity could introduce, much like Saint or Sir who came before it. It was actually football player Cam Newton who first used the name for his daughter,…
Word name
Spring doesn't sound half as contemporary as Winter, which has become the cool season name.
Popular culture
"air spirit; little sylph"
The name of a green-haired half-elf character in the manga and anime, Mushoku Tensei , Sylphiette is likely inspired by the mythological air spirits known as sylphs. Part Seraphina "Sephy" and part…
Irish
"little old one"
St. Senán was a famed 6th-century monk, who founded a monastery on Inis Cathaigh whose ruins can still be seen today. Legend has it that before he could found the monastery, he had to banish a great…
Hebrew
"season"
Sivan is the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, which falls between May and June on the Gregorian calendar. The name was originally derived from simānu , an Akkadian word meaning "season."
English
"marshy land near the sea"
Out playing shuffleboard at his condo and not expected back for several generations -- unless it morphs into a girls' name, a la Sydney.
Nice sound, but double meaning -- shady glen or shady character.
Sanskrit
"one who has accomplished a goal"
Siddhartha Guatama was the real name of Buddha, born in India in the 5th century BC. It has thus become a significant name among Buddhists, who follow Buddha's teachings. Siddhartha is derived from…
"name"
This down-to-earth Bible name is surprisingly little-used, considering the popularity of other Old Testament names. Shem was Noah's eldest son, and is the origin of the term Semitic (as in the…
Modern invented name
Though not technically a one-person name, since 30 baby boys were named Shemar in 2016, Shemar stems from one specific person, prolific actor Shemar Moore. He has said that his parents came up with…
English word name, diminutive of Sylvester
A bit too cunning.
"an account of incidents or events"
A new unisex word name with a lot of charm, especially appropriate for the child of writers. Soleil Moon Frye named her second baby boy Story and Jenna Elfman called her son Story Elias.
Latin
"from the forest"
Sleek, woodsy European choice.
African word name from Swahili
"journey"
In the US this is likely to conjure zebras, lions and elephants on the Serengeti, but its original meaning "journey" broadens its wearability. Safari is a name common in Africa for babies born while…
English, Irish, or Jewish surname
"wild, untamed; grandfather"
It doesn't matter if Savage is a surname on your family tree — it's a highly controversial choice for a first name with connections to racism and colonialism. Despite this, over a dozen sets of…
Arabic
"thankful, woman of grace"
The mononymous Colombian-born singer inspired a popularity blip in the 90s and early 00s.
Yiddish
"defender of men"
Also an English surname, Sender derives from Alexander and has an attractive modern sound. Though given to only a handful of baby boys per year, it nevertheless is in step with the brotherhood of…
Biblical place name, Hebrew
"hatred"
Mount Sinai is a place sacred to the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions, the mountain on which Moses received the Ten Commandments. Sinai is also the name of the peninsula where Mount Sinai is…
"unaccompanied"
Solo is a singular word name with special meaning for Star Wars fans. Equally appropriate for girls and boys, it works especially well in the middle.