Names That Mean Little

Fiammetta, from the Italian word for flame, has both femininity and fire. Fiammetta could make a good alternative to more conventional Italian girls' names like Giovanna. 
 Fiammetta has some romantic, if not fiery, references. It was the pseudonym of Boccaccio's beloved in the Decameron and other works (the subject of a famous Pre-Raphaelite painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti); and another Fiammetta was a famous courtesan and lover of Cesar Borgia. Currently there is an Italian model named Fiammetta Cicogna.

Fiammetta

Lovetta can be viewed in two ways: an elaboration of Love, similar in feel to Loretta or Violetta, or spin on the surname Lovett, similar to Everette or Wyetta. As such, it could mean "little love" or "little wolf, wolf cub".
 
Used quietly across the 20th-century, Lovetta reappeared in the US stats in 2025.

Lovetta

Used predominantly as a masculine name, Torin is nevertheless given to a handful of girls each year in the US. From its Irish origins, it is connected either to the word torran meaning "little hill" or to the name Toran, meaning "little chief", while it can also be considered a Spanish short form of Hector and a spelling variation of the French Taurin, associated with Taurus.
 
As a girl name, however, it might work as an alternative to Lauren/Loren, or as a twist on the Victoria pet name Tori.

Torin

Somewhat reminiscent of the better known Beccan, this is an Irish saints' name – there were no fewer than five St. Bercans, as well as a noted manuscript artist called Bercanus.  In Ireland, it is sometime shortened to Barry.

Bercan

This was a common name in early Ireland, borne by numerous saints, but pronunciation problems would make it prohibitive here. 

Bearchán

Friendly-sounding name with big "Sweeney Todd" downside. 

Sweeney

Capella, the eleventh brightest star in the sky, carries much mythological and astrological significance. In Roman mythology, Capella represented the goat that suckled Jupiter, whose horn became the Cornucopia or horn of plenty. In Hindu mythology, Capella is called the heart of Brahma, while English legend calls it the shepherd's star. 

Australian Aboriginal myth calls Capella the kangaroo, while in Persian mythology it's a metaphor for both great distance and the color light red. Astrologically, Capella symbolizes wealth and military honor. As if that wasn't enough, CapPella (two p's) also has a musical reference to a cappella singing.

Capella

Rousseau gives French flair to other red-haired names like Russell and Rory.  It is associated with the influential eighteenth century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, as well as the painter Henri Rousseau.

Rousseau

This more user-friendly Anglicized form of Beacan, could profit from its kinship with the popular Beckett--with which it could share the nickname Beck. Becan is an Irish saint's name, attached to the founder of a sixth century monastery.
 For ease of pronunciation, it can also be spelled Beccan.

Becan

Ulick

An old Irish surname cousin of Tierney that makes an unusual and appealing Irish gender switch.

Tiernan

The double 'e' gives this Celtic surname a genial sound. It derives from an old Irish name &mdash; Suibhne (SHEEV-ne) that was borne by several early saints and kings, including, unfortunately, one known as Mad Sweeney who spent his life living in trees and composing nature poetry. Another possible drawback is the association with Sweeney Todd, the bloodthirsty butcher of Sondheim stage-musical fame.
 But if you can put all that aside, Sweeney makes a cheery choice.

A multicultural option, visually similar to Quinn or Quentin and similar in sound to Kenneth, Cal, and Kelvin. As a French name, it relates to someone who lives near oak trees, while as a Nahuatl name, it is associated with remedies and solving a problem. There is also the possibility it has been used as an inventive honor name for a Quentin or a Quin. 
 
We can think of two drawbacks to this name: the slightly feminine el ending, and the resemblance to the delicate dumpling called a quenelle.

Quennel

Prewitt

Perkin sounds a bit Hobbit-ish as a full name, but it might make a good honor name or nickname for a boy called Peter.

Perkin

Likable choice for history-minded parents who might want to honor Irish patriot Charles Parnell. 

Parnell

Parkin

Famke was introduced to this country via Dutch-born actress Famke Janssen, but is not likely to appeal to many American parents. 

Famke

A Charlotte nickname heard much more often in Britain than here — American parents might prefer Charlie or Lottie.

Charty

This name relates to Oisin, a famous ancient Irish poet, the son of Finn MacCool.