By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
German
"famous ruler"
The American child given this name of four kings of Denmark, not to mention one so similar to that of the Harry Potter archvillain Lord Voldemort, might have to pay a large emotional import tax.
English, combination of Mary and Louisa
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + famous battle"
Homely compound name which may be written as one word, two words (Mary Louise), or hyphenated (Mary-Louise). The original meaning of Mary is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from…
Short form of Orlando or Roland, German
"famous throughout the land"
Orlo is a name nobody ever heard of until the surprise popularity of the unrelated but similar-sounding Arlo. If Arlo can be a hit, why not Orlo? Why not indeed. Some sources identify Orlo not as a…
Spelling variation of Rudolph, German
"famous wolf"
You've got the red-nosed reindeer to transcend, but there are other distinguished personages named Rudolph, Rudolf, and Rudy.
English
"famous army"
English form of the Ancient Germanic name Chlodochar, modernized as Lothar. This was the name of a 9th-century Frankish king, the son of Louis I, who ruled the region called Lorraine. The name and…
"very famous"
Named for Millard. Or the late great rock palace.
German feminization of ROLAND
"famous in the land"
This is a rarely heard feminization of the rarely heard Roland.
Dutch, German
"famous counsel"
A German and Dutch name related to Ramiro via Raginmar and Reinmer. It is also found as a surname.
Greek
"famous courter"
In Greek legend Clytemnestra was the wife of Agamemnon, mother of Orestes and Electra. She took a lover while her husband was away fighting in the Trojan War, and upon his return she had him killed…
Scandinavian variation of Ludwig, German
"famous warrior"
Unlikely to catch on in the Anglophone world, where parent name Ludwig still conjures up images of Beethoven. But Ludvig actually ranks among the top boy names in Norway and Sweden, while German form…
English, Welsh, and Spanish surname
"of the East"
For some, a name that will evoke the beauty of the national park in the Colorado Rockies.
Slovene variation of Ludwig, German
"famous"
This cool and quirky short form of the suave Ludovic could be an even-more-adventurous spin on Nico and Hugo.
Germanic
"famous wealth"
An audacious sounding ancient name belonging to an 8th-century Swiss saint, an abbot of Saint Gall.
"famous man, hero"
Masculine in an outmoded, unappealing way.
Italian, feminine variation of Ludovic
"famous in war"
This Olde World name with a large measure of European style makes an offbeat possibility for the bold baby namer in search of interesting Italian names for girls . Currently very popular in its…
"famous in battle"
Old and aristocratic European name that would be tough for an American kid to pull off.
Diminutive of Rowan or Rowena, Irish, Scottish, Welsh
"rowan tree, little redhead; white spear, famous friend"
Ro- names are on the rise — think Roman, Rory, and Rowan — but straightforward and streamlined Row (and Rowe, Roe, and Ro) takes this trend to the next level. The pared-down single syllable gives Row…
Variation of Roger, German
English combination of Lula and Belle
"famous beauty"
Cutesy combination of Lula and Belle. Lula is a short form of names starting with the "Lu" sound, which may derive from Germanic hlud "famous", and Belle is French for "beautiful".
