Pet Names · Dog Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 14 pages
of 14
Geographical name
With geographical features like Savannah and Sierra and increasingly getting the baby-name treatment, could icy Tundra also see some use? It's only appeared six times on the Social Security rankings,…
Japanese
"sunken ground"
The lead character of the Oscar-nominated 2016 film "Kubo and the Two Strings" lives in Edo-period Japan, but his name is more often heard as a surname in Japan. Still, fans of the animated movie may…
Finnish; Malagasy
"light; eight"
Valo, an unusual entry in the o-ending category, can work for girls in the US. On Nameberry, it's especially popular among visitors from Bangladesh.
Greek
"thunder"
This lovely surname of the three novel-writing sisters, now used as a baby name, makes a fitting tribute for lovers of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights . While the original name took an umlaut over…
English
"meadow at the slope of the hill"
A rowdy name nobody ever heard of, till Nick Nolte gave it to his son.
Nature name
"blackberry shrub"
Related to blackberry plants and more colloquially to any thorny shrub, Bramble has history as an English surname. Cozy in sound but spiky in feel, it could even get you nickname Bram.
French
"snake"
Undeniably frightening and undeniably cool.
Word name
Not even for Brandy's twin brother.
Variation of Keziah
"cassia tree"
Kizzy was a character in Alex Haley's Roots ; this and other Keziah variations were widely used among enslaved people. In Roots the name is explained by the hero Kunta as 'you sit down' or 'you stay…
"gray settlement"
Sweet and southern-feeling, maybe thanks to Horton Foote, author of Tender Mercies and The Trip to Bountiful, not to mention the Dr. Seuss connection.
English word name
"undulating"
Short for Waverly or a fresh twist on Navy, Wavy is a quirky and interesting new word name option.
Japanese plant name
"planted in a tray"
Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing and training miniature trees or plants in a container. Bonsai is derived from the similar Chinese botanical art called penjing.
Variation of Winfrith, English
"peaceful friend"
Oprah's almost mononymic first name is too closely tied to her personality (and brand) for us to recommend it as a baby name in good faith. Her surname, however, is definitely name-worthy. Winfrey…
Hubie is primarily a masculine name functioning as a diminutive form of Hubert, which comes from Germanic origins meaning 'bright heart' or 'bright mind.' This friendly, approachable nickname has an…
German
"bald"
Contrary to popular belief, the name Kahlo has German origins, rather than Spanish. It derives from kahl , a German word meaning "bald." Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo was born to a German father,…
"good girl; ocean child"
There are many in Japan, but for most Americans there's only one Yoko. Yoko Ono writes her name with characters meaning "ocean" and "child".
English from Persian
"rose water"
Move over Brandy and Sherry, Julep is an alcohol-inspired name that certainly feels unique today, despite sharing similar sounds to popular Juliet and Juliana.
Animal name
Grrrr.
Invented name
"by the bank"
Credit, of course, to the artist for inventing this secretive pseudonym, but we actually have Hilary Duff to thank for Banksy as a baby name. Banksy is Duff's nickname for her daughter Banks, born in…
Diminutive of Elizabeth
Zibby is the adorable, zippy nickname for Elizabeth used for the lead female character in the film "Liberal Arts." Zibby can make a Libby for the 21st century.
