Names That Mean Beloved
Across 12 pages
of 12
Darrell
English from Norman French
"dear one, beloved"
Beach boy name of the 1960s, Darrell is still a presence on the charts and may graduate into a stately surname name.
Dáithí
Irish, Gaelic
"swiftness, nimbleness"
An Irish mythology name belonging to a semi-legendary high king of Ireland, often equated with English David though not etymologically related.
Davida
Feminine variation of David
"beloved"
An outdated feminine form of David sometimes heard in the UK, though Davina is more usual..
Aimée
French
"beloved"
Whether you pronounce it like the original Amy or the Frenchified Ay-may, this form adds considerable elan to an old favorite.
Caradoc
Welsh
"amiable, beloved"
Derived from the name Caradog, the handsome ancient Celtic name was worn by one of the Knights of the Round Table, as well as a semi-legendary Welsh King. Possibly a cognate of Cedric and Carys,…
Aziz
Arabic
"powerful and beloved"
This traditional Arabic name, found throughout several other Middle Eastern and African languages and cultures, is one of the 99 names of Allah. Colorful and energetic, it was brought into the realm…
Dave
Short form of David, Hebrew
"beloved"
Dave is the ultimate good guy name, but where father name David is still holding onto a spot in the Top 20, Dave -- widely used as an independent name in the middle of the last century -- dropped off…
Dewey
Anglicized variation of Welsh Dewi, nickname of Dafydd
"beloved"
Not heard since the 1980s, Dewey shot into the Top 20 in 1898 thanks to the popularity of Spanish-American War naval hero Admiral George Dewey. Dewey has subtle links to his Welsh roots and relation…
Didier
French
"desired, beloved"
Didier is kind of a Desiree for boy--a lively, confident name that's widely used in France and has definite possibilities here. It's the name of an early French saint.
Philbert
French from Greek, "dear, beloved"
"dear, beloved"
Varying Filbert does not improve the name: it still makes one think of a nut.
Darrell
English from Norman French
"dear one, beloved"
Once exclusively male name, Daryl Hannah made the Darrell spelling just as appropriate for girls -- and maybe even more feminine than masculine these days.
Thaïs
Greek
"beloved"
A paramour of Alexander the Great and the heroine of a Massenet opera, this name is nothing if not dramatic.
Querida
Spanish
"dear, beloved"
Loving choice.
Cher
French
"beloved"
For years there was only one Cher, and then along came the charming heroine of the movie "Clueless." The world now officially has enough Chers in it.
Amata
Italian feminine variant of the Latin Amatus
"beloved"
Name that's virtually unknown here but has a lovely meaning and a simple sound and spelling.
Dariel
Feminine variation of Darrell, French
"dear one, beloved"
Dariel is one of many similar forms and variations of different names—Dara, Dariela, Daria and Darya—that are all unusual and pretty if not quite authentic-feeling.
Dariela
Feminine variation of Darrell, French
"dear one, beloved"
Dariela may have a not-quite-authentic provenance, but it's a pretty name and an unusual choice in the girly Isabella-Gabriella group.
Myrna
Irish
"festive; affection, endearment"
An anglicized spelling of Muirne, the name of the mother of Finn mac Cool in Irish legend, Myrna has a unique sound and two possible meanings, both of which are positive. Actress Myrna Loy was a…
Taffy
Welsh
"beloved friend"
Taffy, in addition to being a diminutive of Dafydd, is a slang term for Welsh people in general – probably from the River Taff. Too candy-like to be used in the US.
Priya
Sanskrit
"beloved"
Priya originated in India as a name derived from the Sanskrit word for "beloved." In India, where names are often given based on one's birthday and horoscope, Priya is traditionally given to girls…