Pet Names · Dog Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 370 pages
of 370
Spanish from Latin
"she who brings consolation"
Consuelo is a chic, highly sophisticated Spanish name that works well with Anglo surnames. It was regularly on the U.S. popularity list through 1983, reaching as high as Number 339 in 1930. The name…
Spanish word name
"heart"
With word names increasingly acceptable or even desirable, this Spanish word for heart, brought to the fore by Philippine president Corazon Aquino, may find more takers.
Russian, Bulgarian, Czech, Slovene, and Slavic; or English variation of Dairine, Irish
"gift; fruitful"
Darina comes from the Slavic element "dar" which means gift; the name is found in Czech, Bulgarian, and Slovak cultures and translates easily for English speakers. Darina may also be an Anglicization…
Irish
"sorrowful"
Sadly, this strong Celtic name often has "of the sorrows" attached to it because of the tragic character in Irish legend. Also a bit drab when compared with newer Irish imports.
Short form of Lemuel, Hebrew
"for God"
Gentle and easy going, but with an undertone of edginess, Lemmy could be a diminutive of the Hebrew Lemuel or borrowed from musician, songwriter, and founder of the band Motorhead, Lemmy (Ian Fraser)…
Greek
"amber, shining, bright"
Though the plays by Sophocles and Eugene O'Neill and via the "Electra Complex" proposed by psychoanalyst Carl Jung, this name has, unfortunately, become associated with incest and murder.…
Hebrew
"I have a light"
Spelling variation of Lior.
English
"loaf-keeper"
If it's royalty you're after, stick with Earl or Prince -- this is too deified.
French variation of Marcel
"little warrior"
Mime Marcel Marceau actually had two versions of the same name. Marcel, Marceau, Marcella, Marcus, Mark -- all are variation of the Roman mythological name Mars, the god of war.
French form of Latin Maximus
"greatest"
A cute and fresh way to get to Max, this was the name of a sixth century saint. Maxence is a Top 100 boys' name in France, but largely unknown in the US where it is given to only a handful of baby…
Latin
"golden, blond"
An ancient Roman clan name, Flavia is one choice that's unusual but historic. Now a Top 60 name in Italy, Flavia has been a rarity in the US, but with the upswing in F names for girls, this could…
"Roman messenger god"
Adventurous parents are starting to look back to names of ancient gods like Mercury, Zeus, and Apollo. This one is also a planet and a metallic element, and has a friendly nickname, Merc. The Roman…
"caretaker of the mill"
If you're looking for a presidential first name, keep looking.
Arabic
"pleasant"
Variant of Haniya
English, diminutive of Moses
"delivered"
If Gus and Max have made it, why not Moe? Can it be the lingering Three Stooges effect? We think that Moe, like Joe, is one of the friendliest and most open of regular guy nickname names and should…
English, Scottish surname
"ridge enclosure"
Hunter is gaining favor among girls, as is Sutton, and for those in search of something less common, surname-style Hutton might just be the one, as it blends elements of both. Used quietly for boys…
Place name
"land of ice"
Iceland is a futuristic place name that works as well for babies as Ireland. We predict it's going to be one of the top baby names of 2050 , along with other girl names that end in land, such as…
Hindi
"new, novel"
Sleek, and fresh, Navin is a Hindi name that could fit in with the currently popular in/an/en/on-ending boys' names.
"divine ruler"
Clad in armor. But while this name may have been forbiddingly antiquated not that long ago, the connection to the trendy nickname Os or Oz makes it a real possibility.
Italian
"first"
Primo is number one among the Latin birth-order names--Octavius et al--and the one most likely to be used in these days of smaller families. It has that jaunty 'o' ending and Italian flavor that many…
