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Amish Names

  1. Lavern

    • Description:

      Lavern is a gender-neutral name that has been used predominantly for males in the United States, though it can also be found as a feminine name. It likely derives from French elements, possibly from surnames or place names, with "verne" referring to alder trees or swampy areas. The name reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s, reflecting naming trends of that era. While less common today, Lavern maintains a certain vintage charm and straightforward appeal. The masculine use of Lavern is sometimes confused with the more feminine LaVerne spelling variation. Notable bearers include American football player Lavern Dilweg and country music artist Lavern Baker. The name's soft sounds combined with its strong ending give it a distinctive character that bridges traditional and modern naming styles.

  2. Rudolf

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Rudolph, German

    • Meaning:

      "famous wolf"

    • Description:

      You've got the red-nosed reindeer to transcend, but there are other distinguished personages named Rudolph, Rudolf, and Rudy.
  3. Jakob

    • Origin:

      German, Norwegian, and Slovenian variation of Jacob, Hebrew variation of James

    • Meaning:

      "supplanter"

    • Description:

      After cracking the US Top 200 in the early 2000s, fueled by Jacob's rise, this name has been losing steam in recent years. But Jakob is the top form of the name in many other countries, cultures, and languages, ranking highly in Germany, Norway, Austria, Iceland, and Slovenia. Jakub is the Polish variation.
  4. Fannie

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Fanny, diminutive of Frances

    • Meaning:

      "from France; free man"

    • Description:

      It's hard to believe, via a 21st-century sensibility, that Fannie was ever a Top 50 name. But Fannie was even more popular than Fanny in its late 19th-century heyday, and stuck around much longer, staying on the Top 1000 until the 1960s while Fanny fell off in 1940. Today, however, Fannie sounds antiquated at best, and rude at worst.
  5. Mose

    • Origin:

      German variation of Moses, Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "delivered from the water"

    • Description:

      Mose is the German variation of Moses, a widely familiar name thanks to the character in the Old Testament. Mose is also used a nickname for Moses.
  6. Katharina

    • Origin:

      German variation of Katherine, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      Katharina is an attractive form of Katherine and a great way to update a classic. But English speakers may want to choose the Katerina or Katarina spelling to avoid pronunciation confusion.
  7. Alvina

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "elf-friend"

    • Description:

      This variation of the more well known Alvin adds an unusual and feminine touch to the original. It sounds a bit more like what it means--"elf friend."
  8. Ura

    • Description:

      Ura is a masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Japanese, it can mean 'shore' or 'coast,' evoking natural imagery. In Albanian, the name means 'bridge,' symbolizing connection. Ura also appears in various Slavic languages with different meanings. The name's brevity gives it a stark simplicity that works across language boundaries. Extremely rare in English-speaking countries, Ura enjoys modest usage in parts of Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Japan. The name's short form makes it easy to pronounce in most languages, though in English it might face confusion with the phrase 'you are.' Ura carries an understated, minimalist quality with international versatility, appealing to parents seeking a simple yet distinctive name with cross-cultural significance.

  9. Mervin

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "sea hill"

    • Description:

      A blend of Mervyn and Marvin that is every bit as dated as either of the originals. That -erv sound is difficult no matter what. Mervin is still used today among Amish families.
  10. Laverna

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Description:

      Laverna was the Roman goddess of thievery, cheating, and the underworld. The original meaning of her name in unknown, however, there are several theories. One such theory states that Laverna is related to the Latin word for theif, laterniō, while another connects the name to levare, meaning "to lift," as in shoplifting. In the case of the latter, Laverna would mean "goddess of gain".
  11. Leanna

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Liana; Combination of Lee and Anna

    • Description:

      A name that gained some currency through its rhyming relationship to Breanna, though it has been on a downward trend since 1989.
  12. Barbie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Barbara

    • Description:

      Despite the voluptuous doll's various career choices, from astronaut to doctor, her name still remains a euphemism for "bimbo".
  13. Justina

    • Origin:

      Latin, feminine variation of Justin

    • Description:

      Justina was the pre-Justine feminization of Justin, now a possible alternative to Christina. Oddly, while Justine feels like a name unto itself, Justina feels like a pinned-together feminization in the mold of Richarda or Benjamina. Still, it may appeal as one of the unusual-yet-familiar girl names starting with J.
  14. Lavina

    • Origin:

      English variation of Lavinia, Latin

    • Description:

      This vintage name is still used today among the Amish.
  15. Christ

    • Origin:

      English from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "anointed, messiah"

    • Description:

      Meaning "anointed one" in Greek, this was a title applied to Jesus by early Greek-speaking followers. It has been used as the English form of both Christos and Chrestos, which means "good".
  16. Mahlon

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "sickly"

    • Description:

      Obscure Old Testament name -- he was the son of Naomi and the husband of Ruth -- that's become even more obscure over the past century, perhaps due to its unappealing meaning.
  17. Saloma

    • Origin:

      Slovak and Croatian variation of Salome, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "peace"

    • Description:

      Disproportionately common among the American Amish.
  18. Netha

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Aganetha, German

    • Meaning:

      "pure, virginal"

    • Description:

      Short form of Aganetha used in the Amish community.
  19. Ervin

    • Origin:

      Variation of Erwin, German

    • Meaning:

      "respected friend"

    • Description:

      Ervin is an old-school great-grandpa name, like Irving and Ernest, that may just be ready for revival. It's also a well-known name in Hungary and elsewhere in central and eastern Europe. As a surname, it's associated with jazz sax player Booker Ervin.
  20. Isaak

    • Origin:

      Variation of Isaac

    • Description:

      Cool spelling of the venerable Isaac used in several different cultures.