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Names That Mean Water

  1. Guadalupe
    • Origin:

      Spanish from Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "hidden river, valley of the wolves"
    • Description:

      Popular Spanish name that relates to the patron saint of Mexico. It could conceivably, like Soledad and Consuelo, cross the border into multicultural territory, but the name's decline since the nineties would seem to make that less likely.
  2. Reva
    • Origin:

      Hindi river name; Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "rain"
    • Description:

      Refers to one of the seven sacred rivers of India.
  3. Arledge
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "dweller at the rabbit lake"
    • Description:

      A strong, distinctive surname with a quaint meaning and rugged air, Arledge is associated with American sports broadcaster, Roone Arledge. It may hold contemporary appeal thanks to its similarities to Ledger and Arlo.
  4. Adair
    • Origin:

      Scottish and Irish, Brazilian
    • Meaning:

      "oak tree ford; wealthy spearman; wealth and fame"
    • Description:

      A unisex name with lots of flair and a daring spirit, Adair was first noticed as a girl's name in the 1980's, thanks to the long-running daytime drama Search for Tomorrow, with the character Adair McCleary, who had ahead-of-their-time brothers named brothers Hogan, Cagney and Quinn. Given to just 22 girls in a recent year (along with 59 boys), it remains a familiar but quietly used choice.
  5. Moana
    • Origin:

      Maori, Samoan
    • Meaning:

      "deep ocean, sea"
    • Description:

      This Maori name, often heard in New Zealand, is an attractive, evocative choice for lovers of the ocean made famous – perhaps too famous – by the Disney heroine. Moana was also an alternate name for the heroine Ofelia in Pan's Labyrinth. Moana may also be a color name for a deep ocean blue ("lanu moana"). Moana and other Disney Princess Names are the subject of a featured blog.
  6. Aalto
    • Origin:

      Finnish
    • Meaning:

      "wave"
    • Description:

      The last name of Finnish moderne designer/architect makes an original, creative choice with an unexpected water-related meaning.
  7. Ama
    • Origin:

      Ewe, Akan, Ghanaian, Cherokee
    • Meaning:

      "born on Saturday; water"
    • Description:

      Ama is a day name used by the Akan people of Ghana for girls born on Saturday. Names that reference a baby's birth by day of the week, time of day, or season of the year are common in many African cultures. Ama is one that can be used happily by parents who live in English-speaking countries.
  8. Devere
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "of the fishing place"
    • Description:

      An original choice for a fisherman's child.
  9. Ria
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "small river"
    • Description:

      Short and feminine, Ria has a rhythmic flow.
  10. Aqua
    • Origin:

      Color name
    • Description:

      One of the new color names that is catching on, invoking a calm, blue-green-sea feeling.
  11. Lake
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      This body of water runs deep; the best of a group of new possibilities that includes Bay, Ocean, River, and the more established Brook. It has received attention via the actress Lake Bell. Lake would make a particularly cool and refreshing middle name, as Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady did for daughter Vivian.
  12. Undine
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "little wave"
    • Description:

      Mythological water spirit with the more common spelling of Ondine, heroine of an Edith Wharton novel.
  13. Moselle
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "drawn from the water"
    • Description:

      Feminine spin on Moses and European river name that's also the name of a wine.
  14. Yarrow
    • Origin:

      Botanical name, English
    • Meaning:

      "rough stream"
    • Description:

      Yarrow is a flowering herb that grows wild in Europe and North America, and has long been used in several Native American and European cultures as a healing plant. Named for the mythical god Achille, Yarrow is a symbol of enduring love.
  15. Bradford
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "wide river crossing"
    • Description:

      Brad in a Brooks Brothers suit.
  16. Gwenore
    • Origin:

      Variation of Guinevere
    • Meaning:

      "white shadow, white wave"
    • Description:

      An offbeat way to get to Gwen.
  17. Cherith
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "Winter stream"
    • Description:

      One of the rarer names to come from the Bible, Cherith has a fresh and modern sound despite its ancient roots. Cherith was the name of the stream that kept Elijah alive during the three years' drought which he announced to King Ahab. In English, Cherith pleasingly reminds one of the word cherish which is another plus to this underused girls' name.
  18. Nairne
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "river with alder trees"
    • Description:

      A name with a pleasing nature meaning, a surname style, and pleasant Scottish burr. Reminiscent of Mare, Raine, and Blair, it is as yet undiscovered as a first name.
  19. Narelle
    • Origin:

      Australian Aboriginal
    • Meaning:

      "little river"
    • Description:

      The Narellan is the name of a river in New South Wales. From this name comes this quasi-French girls' name, which is quite common in Australia.
  20. Rilla
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "small brook"
    • Description:

      Rilla dropped out of the US Top 1000 in 1915, but it's starting to feel like an intriguing possibility again in this age of short, sweet, a-ending names for girls. It is traditionally a short form for names ending in -rilla, like Marilla from the Anne of Green Gables books (Anne's youngest daughter is Bertha Marilla, called Rilla for short). Rilla may also derive from the German word Rille, meaning "brook; stream".

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