Names That Mean Beloved

  1. Mariella
    • Origin:

      Italian and Dutch diminutive of Maria
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Lilting and nearly unknown here, with the currently popular ella ending, makes a good Marissa alternative.
  2. Jedidiah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "beloved of the Lord"
    • Description:

      Jedidiah, an Old Testament name with a touch of Gunsmoke-era western panache, is right in line to be revived along with the other biblical -iah names.
  3. Marion
    • Origin:

      French derivative of Mary
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Fun fact: Marion was the birth name of movie star John Wayne. Although commonly thought of as a female name today, it was actually more popular for boys until the late 19th century, and was given to roughly equal numbers of boys and girls throughout the 1970s-2000s.
  4. Maryam
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Persian, and Urdu variant of Mary, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Classic Mary has many international variations and the strong, pretty Maryam is the Arabic, Persian, and Urdu form. Popular in many countries across the world, from Azerbaijan to France, The Netherlands to Iran and from England to Russia, Maryam is the form of Mary that appears in the Quran.
  5. Marielle
    • Origin:

      Dutch and French diminutive of Mary
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Mariel Hemingway made us aware of the more abbreviated spelling of this charming name, which dates back to the nineteenth century.
  6. Esmarie
    • Origin:

      English, modern combination of Esme and Marie
    • Meaning:

      "loved, esteemed + drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Parents have been creating their own names from existing appellations since the beginning of time. So have authors, from Shakespeare to George R. R. Martin. As far as modern attempts go, Esmarie, which combines Esme and Marie, has a nice natural flow and a sound that is very pleasant.
  7. Amadea
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "God's beloved"
    • Description:

      Amadea is a strong and musical feminine form of Amadeus, as in Mozart.
  8. Dáithí
    • Origin:

      Irish, Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "swiftness, nimbleness"
    • Description:

      An Irish mythology name belonging to a semi-legendary high king of Ireland, often equated with English David though not etymologically related.
  9. Aziza
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "powerful and beloved"
    • Description:

      Aziza is a zippy palindromic choice that is the female variation of Aziz and is found in several Middle Eastern and African languages and cultures. All in all, an attractive and interesting option; a Turkish variation is Azize. In African mythology, the Azizi are a supernatural race of forest dwellers who give practical and spiritual advice.
  10. Mariam
    • Origin:

      Arabic variation of Mary
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Popular among parents with Arab roots. Also found as Maryam.
  11. Esmé
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "esteemed, beloved"
    • Description:

      Esme is a sophisticated, distinctive, and charming J. D. Salinger name, from his classic 1950 story 'For Esme, With Love and Squalor'.Related to the French Aimee, which means beloved, and to the concept of esteem, it was originally a male name exported from France to Scotland via a member of the royal family.

      A current favorite among celebs, including Samantha Morton, Michael J. Fox and Katey Sagal. Esme got a lot of publicity via the character Esme Cullen, the vampire matriarch of the Olympic Coven in the Twilight Saga.

  12. Maribel
    • Origin:

      English combination of Mary and Bel, or Spanish short form of María Isabel, "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + beautiful"
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + beautiful"
    • Description:

      This modern name gathers some steam from the wildly popular Isabel.
  13. Mariel
    • Origin:

      Dutch diminutive of Mary
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Mariel Hemingway popularized this attractive and unusual variation of Mary. It's a fairly recent form, emerging in the twentieth century. Other variations include Marielle and Mariella, which is found in Italy.
  14. Dewey
    • Origin:

      Anglicized variation of Welsh Dewi, nickname of Dafydd
    • Meaning:

      "beloved"
    • Description:

      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 to father name David . The name was borne by the fifth century St. Dewi, patron saint of Wales. Later references include the namesake of the library Dewey Decimal System, a Donald Duck nephew, the younger brother on Malcolm in the Middle and Lemony Snicket character Dewey Denouement. It has a strong but dewy feel and is appealing enough to be ripe for a modern revival.
  15. Myrna
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "festive; affection, endearment"
    • Description:

      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 notable bearer and her fame caused a spike in popularity of the name, when it reached the US Top 150 in the 1930s.
  16. Marissa
    • Origin:

      Variation of Maris or a combination of Maria + Louisa
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + famous battle"
    • Description:

      Pretty feminissima name that never became as overused as cousin Melissa. The more streamlined Maris is a more modern sounding option.
  17. Kamakanaalohamaikalani
    • Origin:

      Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "beloved gift from the heavens"
    • Description:

      At 22 letters long, this name might be too much for a child to handle. Antonio Sabàto Jr. famously used it as the middle name for his son.
  18. Ismay
    • Origin:

      Possible variation of Esme
    • Meaning:

      "esteemed, beloved"
    • Description:

      The rise of the the various Isabel names may give a boost to this variation, which has a sunny, springtime feel.
  19. Rosemarie
    • Origin:

      Combination of Rose and Marie
    • Meaning:

      "rose flower + drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Rosemarie had its moment in the sun back in the middle of the last century, when parents were looking for new ways to recycle traditional family names. So a child might combine her two grandma's names and become Rosemarie (or Annmarie or Maryjean), but these combination names feel dated now.
  20. Masha
    • Origin:

      Russian variation of Maria, Hebrew or Egyptian
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Looking to honor Grandma Mary (or Maria) with something original? This Russian short form bears an unfortunate resemblance to the English word "mash", but if you can look past that, Masha has possibilities.