By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 109 pages
of 109
Italian, musical term
The literal meaning of Adagio is 'at ease.' Adagio's use for a slow musical passage or ballet is contradicted by its lively sound and feel.
Place-name
Japanese city name not yet on the map for babies, but why not?
Alito is a masculine name with multiple cultural connections. In Italian, it serves as a diminutive form of names containing the element 'al' such as Alberto or Aldo, while also having the meaning of…
German, meaning unknown
A nickname-sounding surname associated with Russian sculptor and architect Naum Gabo. When model/actress Milla Jovovich gave her daughter the middle name Gabo, she explained that it was a combination…
Italian
"good wisher; peacemaker, benevolent"
A kindly, virtue-adjacent name, it appears in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet , borne by the peacemaker friend who persuades Romeo to go to the party where he meets Juliet. Alas. A bold choice but with…
Ico is a compact masculine name with multiple possible origins. In Japanese, it can mean 'first-born son' or relate to various kanji combinations with different meanings. It also appears in some…
"wellborn"
More often heard as a surname in Italy, this could make an interesting path to Ben.
Spanish
"marvelous"
While the female version, Miranda, has long been popular, maybe it's time to consider the equally attractive male version.
Sabio is a masculine name with Spanish origins, derived directly from the Spanish word meaning 'wise' or 'sage.' This straightforward connection to wisdom gives the name a thoughtful, intellectual…
Literary name
Is it a real name....or no?
"roan"
A color name with an Italian accent.
Majo is a versatile masculine name with several possible origins. In Spanish-speaking countries, it often functions as a diminutive for names like Manuel or María José. In Japanese contexts, the name…
This is the sort of name a four-year-old would make up for himself.
"angelic"
The great pre-Renaissance painter known as Fra Angelico was actually born Guido di Pietro, but his nom d'art might work for your little angel.
Zafiro is a masculine name derived from the Spanish word for 'sapphire,' referring to the blue precious gemstone. The name carries connotations of luxury, beauty, and rarity. In various cultures,…
One of the original techno-punk bands of the late seventies, but even the most devoted fan has to admit that was a long time ago.
Patrick Lafcadio Hearn was born on the Greek Island of Lefkada, the origin of the name he used as a first. But as a writer, he was known as Koizumi Yakumo, a collector of Japanese folk tales and…
"gather"
Not long ago, the name of this central African republic was firmly in place-name territory and not seen as baby appropriate. But those boundaries are moving so quickly that all kinds of place-names…
"from Greece"
A name with a lot of panache, with ties to the great Spanish Mannerist painter El Greco--though his real name was DOMENICOS.
"mulberry tree"
An international nature name, Gelso was originally given to those who grew mulberry trees or lived near a place where they grew. More conventionally used as an Italian surname, Gelso has very…
