By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 74 pages
of 74
Basque
"Shadow"
The Basque name, meaning shadow, has the virtue of having both an interesting meaning and an obvious pronunciation.
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.
"the branch of the river"
Most closely associated with famed English novelist George Orwell (whose real name was Eric Arthur Blair), this English surname is now occasionally sported as a literary first name. Given its…
Cornish place and saint's name
This Cornish place name comes from the name of a Breton saint who came to Cornwall. It could be an interesting alternative to Austin. The spelling has also been recorded as Austol.
Romanian
"powerful, brave"
Decebal was the name of an ancient ruler of Dacia who resisted but was eventually conquered by the Roman military leader Traianus. Both Decebal and Traian are names used in modern Romania.
German placename
An interesting international choice. Most closely associated with the Parisian monument, the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel was also responsible for much of the interior of the Statue of Liberty. The…
Danil is a masculine name with Slavic origins, particularly common in Russia, Ukraine, and other Eastern European countries. It is a variant of Daniel, which comes from Hebrew meaning 'God is my…
Modern invented name
The etymology of Leontel is unclear, though it could be seen as a variation of Lionel. It has rarely been used anywhere, though it does have more French connections than anything. While the nickname…
Swedish variation of Earl
"nobleman"
Just as in English, the name Jarl is a noble title. Jarl was also the name of a figure in Norse mythology who, along with his wife Erna, raised a brood of eleven sons, who all became warriors.
Russian variation of Saul
This is an unusual name that fits well with other Russian names beginning to make it over to English-speaking countries.
Surname name
This Swedish surname is a a great name for those looking for a quiet nod to arachnids. Tamerlan Thorell was a notable arachnologist who described over 1,000 species of spiders and gave his name to…
Yiddish
"bird"
Faigel is a secret nature name deriving from the Yiddish word for "bird". Variants include Faiga and Faige.
Mail is an uncommon masculine name with several possible origins. It may derive from the Old French 'maille' meaning 'armor made of metal links,' suggesting protection and strength. Alternatively, it…
Swedish variation of Ketil, Norwegian
"kettle; cauldron; helmet"
A grandfather name in Norway, where it was a Top 5 name through the 1940s and '50s.
Dutch form of Michael, Hebrew
"who is like God?"
Closely associated in the States with handsome young actor Michiel Huisman, who's best known for playing Daario Naharis in HBO's "Game of Thrones", this is a Dutch form of Michael. Pronounced…
English word name
The part of the ship that gives it stability. A short, sweet, Old Englishy type name that has gone almost completely unused so far.
Shakespearean invented name, Latin
"flower"
Shakespeare seems to have coined this name for the Prince of Bohemia in his late tragicomedy The Winter's Tale by drawing inspiration from the Latin floris meaning "flower". It's rarely been used as…
Irish
"high valor"
An anglicized spelling of Irish Ardghal, this name is most famously borne by Ardal O'Hanlon, an actor, author and stand-up comedian best known for his role as Dougal Maguire in the comedy series…
Literary name
"star lover"
Invented by 16th-century English poet Sir Philip Sidney for the hero of his sonnet sequence Astrophel and Stella , this name is derived from the Greek elements aster "star" and philos "lover".…
unknown
This intriguing surname name has an infamous bearer in O. J. (Orenthal James) Simpson, who was apparently named by his aunt after an obscure 1940s-era foreign film actor. Orenthal is likely to be an…
