Pet Names · Dog Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 370 pages
of 370
English, variation of Foster
"scissors maker"
Forster, a variation of Foster or potentially even Forester, is associated with British novelist E.M. Forster, author of A Passage to India , Howard's End , and A Room with a View . But if you choose…
French
"Light of the World"
Clarimond is related to the Occitan name Esclarmonde, and is probably the more wearable of the two variations. Seventeenth century French novelist Nicolas des Escuteaux used the name for the…
English surname and place-name
"meadow by a stream"
English surname most notably used by Ashley Hebert for her son in 2014.
Sanskrit
"handsome"
Rupin is one of those names that is virtually unknown in the Western world and yet is easily translated because it feels so familiar -- parts Rupert, Robin, and Reuben. A handsome choice.
Japanese
"lapis lazuli"
Naming babies after precious gems as a protection against evil spirits is an ancient Japanese tradition.
Fonzo is a diminutive form of the Italian name Alfonso, which derives from Germanic origins meaning 'noble and ready' or 'eager for battle.' While less common as a standalone name, Fonzo offers a…
Scottish
"marsh, bog"
Nickname for Armand
Handsome young actor Armie Hammer put this name on the map in 2010, when he rose to national attention for playing the Winklevoss twins in David Fincher's "The Social Network." His full name is…
English, French
"reddish brown"
Russet has a lot of potential. It's a rustic word name, associated with homespun cloth, apples, and an earthy shade of reddish-brown. At the same time, it's similar enough to the likes of Russell,…
Italian
"red-haired"
An Italian surname — a variant of Rossi — meaning "red", hence a red-headed person. Russo is punchy and full of gusto, and very rare as a first name. It debuted on the US charts for boys in 2019.
Color name or short form of Russell
Rust is one of the few color names for boys, sometimes short for Russell. As a diminutive for Russell, it's much more modern and cooler than Rusty. Whether you use it as a nickname or it stands on…
Fonzi is a masculine name that serves as a diminutive or nickname form of Alfonso. With Italian and Spanish roots, the name gained notable recognition in American pop culture through the character…
German, diminutive of Alfonso
All anyone will think of is the Fonz.
Scandinavian
"people's guardian"
Folke - which has two syllables - is a Top 100 name in its native Sweden, but rarely heard elsewhere. A related alternative is Fulk, popular with the Normans but little-used now.
Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian
"compassionate friend; rue"
The Polish form of Ruth has mostly been lost outside of Poland, but though rare, it can still be heard in Polish and Eastern European communities. Ruta has only ever appeared on Illinois' state data,…
Finnish
"beloved"
Armas is an antiquated Finnish word with a loving meaning and a straightforward spelling and pronunciation. A rare name with potential.
English
"cattle ford"
Stuffy presidential choice: consider Hayes instead.
French, feminine variation of Armand
Feminine form of Armand, has an elegant charm.
Irish
"plunderer"
There are many more appealing Irish surnames than Foley, and certainly more positive meanings. If Foley is a genuine family name, this would be all right in the middle.
Diminutive of Florence
"flourishing, prosperous"
Flossie was an extremely popular Florence nickname that was used independently in the early twentieth century, given to over five hundred girls per year a century ago. Appealing, sweet as candy…
