Names That Mean Surprise
Across 6 pages
of 6
Lykke
Swedish and Danish
"happiness, good fortune"
Sweet Lykke, virtually unknown in English-speaking countries, is one of the top girl names in Sweden.
Machiko
Japanese
"fortunate child"
What parent wouldn't love this meaning?
Madoc
Welsh
"fortunate, benefactor's son"
Also spelled Madog, which was the name of an early Welshman, Madog ap Owain Gwynedd, reputed to have been the first European to discover North America in 1155. Maddox, the name of Angelina Jolie and…
Madern
Cornish
"lucky"
Saint Madern, also sometimes referred to as Saint Madron, was a Cornish monk and hermit sanctified in the 6th century. The Cornish village of Madron is named after him.
Madron
Cornish
"lucky"
An obscure Cornish saint's name that can also be considered a place name — Madron is a Cornish village named for the saint.
Maimon
Judeo-Italian variation of Maimun, Arabic
"luck, good fortune"
Maimun
Arabic
"luck, good fortune"
Maimun is a common name in Arabic-speaking countries, where its meaning bestows good fortune. In Judeo-Arabic, Maimun was used as a translation of given names and surnames that started with Ma-, such…
Maimuna
Arabic
"luck, good fortune"
A bright, celestial sounding choice with a lucky meaning. Violinist Maimuna Murashko and actress Maimuna Memon are notable bearers.
Maravilla
Spanish
"wonderful"
As the list of English word names like Wonder, Brilliance, and Superior that are making appearance in the US name data grows each year, it may be time to look to other languages for inspiration. The…
Marivel
English invented name
"marvel"
Only in use in the US since the late 1950s, Marivel may have originated as a creative spin on Marvel, perhaps influenced by Maribel, which has followed the same popularity trajectory (although much…
Marvel
English word name
"to be filled with wonder or astonishment"
Marvel, once a feminine miracle name, has been resurrected as a unisex word name with a dose of superhero style.
Merivel
Romani form of Marvel
Marvel is rising for both sexes, and this cheerful, melodic variation could appeal too.
Mielikki
Finnish
"luck"
Derived from the Finnish word "mielu", meaning "luck", Mielikki is the Finnish goddess of forests and the hunt.
Merveille
French
"marvel"
The French word for marvel has a beautiful and elevated sound — pronounced "mair-VAY".
Milagros
Spanish
"miracles"
Even in the Hispanic community, very religious and old-fashioned.
Milvi
Estonian diminutive of Miranda, Latin
"marvelous"
The Estonian writer Mats Tõnisson created Milvi as a nickname for Miranda. It's also connected to the Estonian word miilama , meaning "glow" or "burn slowly".
Mirabeau
French
"wonderful, miraculous"
The grandiose name of a French revolutionary – in full: Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau. Mirabeau likely derives from Latin mirabilis , making it a masculine cousin of Mirabelle.
Mirabei
From the Latin Mirabilis
"wonderful"
Mirabel
Latin
"wonderful"
Mirabel is one of those names that's not on the Top 1000 but ought to be, and undoubtedly will be soon following the release of Disney's 2021 Encanto . Mirabel is the film's quirky and highly…
Mirabella
Italian variation of Mirabelle
"wonderful"
The short-lived magazine edited by former Vogue chief Grace Mirabella put this beautiful name off-limits for a while, but now it's perfectly fit to join the fashionable Bella pantheon. More…