Names That Mean Water

Spelling of Rainey used by Andie MacDowell for her daughter, perhaps reflecting the ie ending of her own name. Rainey is the most popular spelling of the name, given to about 50 girls last year, with half as many called Rainy and a quarter named Rainie.

As passé as Hilton and Milton.

We've seen Haven take off as a nouveau girls' name; Harbor could follow in its wake.

An incredibly poetic name that could be worn well in many cultures.

Hurley is a possibility as a unisex surname-name ending with the "lee" sound. It is perhaps most associated with British actress Elizabeth Hurley, and is much rarer than Harley, because the "ur" sound is currently out of fashion (and the word "hurl" may put some off).

For die-hard Fleetwood Mac fans, though Fleet is definitely a cool short form.

Feminine spin on Moses and European river name that's also the name of a wine.

Sweet and soft but outdoorsy too, Pasha could make an interesting alternative to Sasha. Typically used as a diminutive for Russian male names like Pavel, it has also been used for the feminine name Praskovya.

In Slavic myth, this name belonged to the water priestess and protector of warriors.

Couldn't be simpler...or more worldly — though it could lead to some head-scratching.

An offbeat way to get to Gwen.

Oceanus was the Titan in ancient Greek mythology who rules what they thought was the body of water that surrounded the Earth. Oceanus was, appropriately enough, the name of the baby born on the Mayflower. Modern variations include Ocean, Oceana, and Oceane, a popular French name for girls.

The Kaveri is a prominent river in South India, where it flows through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It is among the seven holy rivers of India, personified by the goddess Kaveriamma. The name was derived from kāvēri, the word for "river" in the Sankethi language. Sankethi, related to Tamil, is spoken in regions around the Kaveri. Cauvery is the Anglicized spelling.

Zenebe is an appealing name well-used in Ethiopia but rarely heard outside its native land. But it translates easily into English and Zen makes for a cool and attractive nickname. A winning choice for those looking for an African boys' names that bridges cultures.

Name with genuine roots that nevertheless feels synthetic.

Swam into style and quickly out again, on Chad's fish- er, coat-tails.

Soft and mellifluous nature-surname name, situated miles away from the dated Marshall.

Brad in a Brooks Brothers suit.

If you want a nature name with surname style that speaks to your love of basketball, we suggest Laker.