By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 74 pages
of 74
Irish and Scottish surname
"son of the foreigner"
Despite its appearance, McGill is not related to any of the Gil- names, including Gilbert, Gilford, and Gilson. The "gill" piece is derived from the Gaelic word gall , meaning "foreigner." Yet, it…
Romani form of Marvel
Marvel is rising for both sexes, and this cheerful, melodic variation could appeal too.
English word name
"metal"
Gem names are having their moment — metal names could feasibly be next.
Slovene and Croatian form of Michael, Hebrew
"who is like God?"
A variation of Michael, most often used in Croatia, where it's in the Top 20, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where it ranks in the Top 100, and also in Slovenia. Mihael was revealed as the full name for the…
Estonian variation of Mikhail
Estonia borders Russia, which has a strong influence on the popular baby names. Mihhail comes from Mikhail, the Russian form of Michael.
Diminutive of Emil, Latin
"rival"
Super-short names are popular with Dutch-speaking parents, and this shortened form has come a long way from the original Aemilianus. Mil is in the Top 100 in Belgium.
Arabic
"source of light, beacon, torch"
A unisex Arabic name with a soft and international sound, Mishal has a glowing meaning too.
Yiddish variation of Mordecai, Hebrew
"follower of Marduk"
Mottel, also spelled Motl or Motel, was once a common Yiddish name in Ashkenazi Jewish communities. It's never been recorded on the US charts, but the feminine variation, Mattel, is beginning to rise…
Slovene invented name, meaning unknown
A Slovene choice that periodically appears at the bottom of Slovenia's Top 100. It first appeared on the Slovenian charts in 2011, when parents started using Nal for its on-trend sounds. However, Nal…
Breton
"Christmas"
Breton form of Noel
English from Latin
"new"
A literary twist on rising star Nova, derived from the same Latin word.
Bird name
Professional surfer Craig Elmer Chapman went by the avian nickname Owl. We could see it working as a given name, a la Hawk and Dove.
Indian, Sanskrit, Gujarati
"landowner"
The surname Patel comes from the state of Gujarat, where it was given to members of the landowning and agrarian caste, the Patidar. Today it's the most common last name among the Indian diaspora,…
English modern coinage
"picture cell or element"
Coined in the 1960s to define the smallest photographic element of a televised image. It's a portmanteau of "picture" + "cell" or "element".
"great strength or influential might"
Nick Cannon and his partner Brittany named their daughter Powerful Queen in 2020, and time will tell if it will be an influential celebrity baby name. Strong word names are a trend among the stars —…
Nahuatl
"large beautiful tail feather"
A quetzal is a beautiful, brightly-colored bird found in Mexico and Central America. It is the national bird of Guatemala, as well as the name of their currency.
Nahuatl, Native American
"feathered snake"
The creator god of the sky, wind, and knowledge in Aztec mythology, also associated with the morning star. In Mesoamerican myth Quetzalcoatl is also a mythical hero from whom almost all Mesoamerican…
Rafuel is a unique masculine name likely derived from the Hebrew name Rafael, which means 'God has healed.' It may also be a variation of the Spanish/Portuguese Rafaelo or the Italian Raffaello. This…
Ramal is a masculine name with multicultural origins. In Arabic, it can mean "sand" or be related to a form of divination using lines drawn in sand. In Sanskrit derivatives, it might be connected to…
"existing"
Real has been around much longer than you might think — it first appeared on the charts for boys in 1918.
