Christmas Names

  1. Revel
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "rejoice"
    • Description:

      A joyous (if a little rowdy) word name that's still relatively undiscovered by parents, being given to about 10 babies of each sex per year. Glee actor Matthew Morrison named his son Revel in 2017.
  2. Ilaria
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Hilary
    • Meaning:

      "cheerful, happy"
    • Description:

      Hilary may feel too connected to a single personality, but this version offers a fresh and interesting alternative.
  3. Mario
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Marius, form of mythological name Mars
    • Meaning:

      "warlike"
    • Description:

      Many may associate Mario with the popular platform game - unsurprising when it's the 5th best-selling video game worldwide, and was voted the 2nd best game ever by IGN in 2024. The titular plumber was apparently named after American businessman, Mario Segale, who rented a warehouse to Nintendo, and this in itself reflects that Mario is much more established than just a name for a video game character.
  4. Serafina
    • Origin:

      Italian and Spanish variation of Seraphina
    • Meaning:

      "ardent"
    • Description:

      Serafina is a name so lovely it's worthy of an angel. But the more stylish spelling today is Seraphina.
  5. Kerensa
    • Origin:

      Cornish
    • Meaning:

      "love"
    • Description:

      Kerensa, forever romantic, is a rare Cornish name spelled with an 's' or 'z', the most modern of the Karen family. Kerensa (or Kerenza) has ties to the Welsh Cerys.
  6. Bijou
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "jewel"
    • Description:

      Bijou is a name that lives up to its definition -- a real jewel. Warning: not unheard of on poodles' dog collars. Actress Bijou Phillips is its best known bearer. It can also be spelled Bijoux.
  7. Tarak
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "star, protector"
    • Description:

      A strong, handsome Indian name with cross-cultural appeal.
  8. Snow
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Description:

      There's definitely a cold front of names for winter babies moving in, with Summer, Spring and Autumn giving way to Winter--plus North, January, Frost--and Snow. This name feels brisk, fresh, pure, evocative -- and magical. A haunting middle name choice.
  9. Dove
    • Origin:

      Color and nature name
    • Meaning:

      "dove, a bird"
    • Description:

      Subtle but clear unisex way to signal peace, especially in middle place.
  10. Sidra
    • Origin:

      Latin, Hebrew, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "like a star; order, sequence; lotus tree"
    • Description:

      Sidra is an uncommon name shared by a gulf off the coast of Libya. Popular in the Jewish community of North Africa, its Hebrew meaning refers to a weekly reading portion of the Torah. In Arabic, it's the name of a tree, which is an Islamic symbol of the upper limit of heaven.
  11. Marielle
    • Origin:

      Dutch and French diminutive of Mary
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Mariel Hemingway made us aware of the more abbreviated spelling of this charming name, which dates back to the nineteenth century.
  12. Melchior
    • Origin:

      Dutch from Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "city of the king; king of light"
    • Description:

      The least used of the Three Wise Men's names, but a strong option for bold namers to consider.
  13. Amadea
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "God's beloved"
    • Description:

      Amadea is a strong and musical feminine form of Amadeus, as in Mozart.
  14. Nicola
    • Origin:

      German; English, from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "people of victory"
    • Description:

      Nicola, an elegant Latinate feminization of Nicholas, has long been standard issue for English girls but for some reason has never voyaged across the Atlantic, which we consider a pity, especially as Nicole's standing has waned.
  15. Yuki
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "snow"
    • Description:

      An appealing Asian name with a nickname feel.
  16. Bay
    • Origin:

      English word, Old English
    • Meaning:

      "an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"
    • Description:

      One of the most usable of the pleasant, newly adopted nature/water names (like Lake and Ocean), especially in middle position. It's gentle, slightly whimsical, but grounded by its similarity to May or Rae.
  17. Revel
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "rejoice"
    • Description:

      Revel is a joyous word name that may appeal to parents wanting a non-traditional Biblical choice or simply a name that expresses how they feel.
  18. Hollyn
    • Origin:

      Elaboration of Holly or spelling variation of Holland
    • Meaning:

      "holly + lake, beautiful; forest land; point of the land"
    • Description:

      Hollyn combines the Christmas- and nature-inspired feel of Holly, with the preppy, unisex style of Collins, all stung together with the globetrotter flair of Holland and the trendy -lyn ending of Gracelyn, Raelyn, and co. The name first appeared in the US stats back in the 70s,but remained obscure until the 2010s when it began trending upwards.
  19. Myrna
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "festive; affection, endearment"
    • Description:

      An anglicized spelling of Muirne, the name of the mother of Finn mac Cool in Irish legend, Myrna has a unique sound and two possible meanings, both of which are positive. Actress Myrna Loy was a notable bearer and her fame caused a spike in popularity of the name, when it reached the US Top 150 in the 1930s.
  20. Aimee
    • Origin:

      Variation of Amy
    • Description:

      Amy was a 1970s favorite, and French spelling Aimee peaked in the same decade.