By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 88 pages
of 88
Turkish
"free, independent"
Properly spelled Özgür, this is a familiar unisex name and surname in Turkey, though little-known in the rest of the world. The pronunciation is not far removed from Oscar, which could be a helpful…
English occupational surname
"one who measures by pacing"
Racer's slower brother.
Indian, Punjabi, Sikh
"god of gods"
A handsome Indian name with an unclear meaning, although "god of gods" is the one most often cited.
Welsh surname
"golden head"
"Golden head" is a great name meaning for a blonde child, although the meaning of Pennoyer refers to the Golden Valley of Herefordshire, England. Pen means "head" in Welsh, while aur is the Latin…
Variation of Pennoyer, Welsh surname
Penoyer is a rarer variation of the surname Pennoyer, derived from the Welsh component pen , meaning "head," and Latin aur , "gold." It doesn't refer to a blonde, but rather Golden Valley of…
Latin
"the earthy scent of fresh rain on dry ground"
A poetic choice.
Icelandic variation of Peter, English from Greek
"rock"
Classic and common form of Peter in Iceland. A notable bearer is Pétur Pétursson, an Icelandic footballer.
English from French
"tin alloy"
Occupational name
"worker with brass"
Would be an obscure but winning entry in this category, except for its similarity to the word brassiere, which would certainly arouse unwanted attention in grade school.
"trailblazer"
Currently the most common variation of Peter in Iceland for baby boys — the other being Pétur.
English and French
"bow-maker, cattle herder"
Two completely different images come from its national pronunciations -- BOY-err or boy-AY -- the latter giving it an effete French accent.
French occupational name
"herdsman"
So tied to being Jacqueline Kennedy's maiden name that it's best saved for a girl.
Russian variation of Prochorus, Latin from Greek
"leader of the dance"
The use of Prokhor in Russia was in part inspired by St. Prochorus, a deacon in the New Testament.
"purse-maker; bursar"
An obsolete occupational term for a bursar or someone who made purses. You might find it as a surname in your family tree, in which case it's perfectly usable as a first name to honor your heritage.
English modern coinage
"electionic communication system"
Coined in the 1940s: an acronym of "radio detection and ranging".
Russian variation of Radomir
"famously happy; happy world"
Like Vladimir, but more rad.
Slavic
Radomir is derived from the Slavic elements rad , meaning "happy" or "joy," and mir , "world," "peace," or "fame."
Bolevar is an uncommon masculine name possibly derived from Spanish 'bolivar,' honoring Simón Bolívar, the renowned South American revolutionary leader who helped several countries gain independence…
