Celebrity Names · International Baby Names · Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
Olympic Baby Names
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Rhiannon
Welsh
"divine queen"
Strong and outdoorsy, yet pretty and queenly, Rhiannon was a once obscure Welsh name, brought into the mainstream in 1976, following Fleetwood Mac's flash hit song of the same title. It stormed into…
Rulon
Rulon is a masculine name of uncertain origin, though it may have Scandinavian or English roots. It gained some recognition in the United States through Rulon Gardner, an Olympic gold medal wrestler.…
Rushlee
English place name
"rush clearing"
In the same unisex placename/surname style as Oakley and Hadlee, this name makes total sense but has never been on the American charts. Rushlee Buchanan is a New Zealand Olympic cyclist.
Sabin
Romanian, Bulgarian, Basque, from Latin
"from the Sabines"
Listed in the Quran as one of the "People of the Book," this male equivalent of Sabina is undiscovered and ripe for the adventurous baby namer. There was also an 8th-century Bulgarian Khan with the…
Sabina
Latin
"Sabine"
Sabina is a sleek but neglected name with the same spirited, stylish feel of Sabrina, Serena, and Selena. It ranked towards the latter end of the US charts in the early 20th century while a more…
Sanna
Swedish, Finnish, Inuktitut
"lily"
If you're ready to move beyond Anna and Hannah, consider this traditional Scandinavian short form of Susanna, historically very popular in its native lands. Sanna is also a modern Inuktitut form of…
Sanne
Dutch, diminutive of Susanne
"lily"
Sanne is hugely popular in the Netherlands, but almost unknown here; which makes it an interesting prospect for the parent in search of an unusual name. Pronounced sah-na, Sanne is in keeping with…
Sanya
Diminutive of Aleksandra, Russian from Greek
"defending men"
An alternative to Sasha, another common Russian nickname for Aleksandra.
Saskia
Dutch
"Saxon"
From the first time we saw the name Saskia attached to a portrait of Rembrandt's wife (her full name was Saakje van Uylenburgh, but she was always called Saskia), we have found it utterly charming…
Seamus
Irish variation of James
"supplanter"
Parents who have tired of Sean are now contemplating Seamus, the Irish form of James, which has a lot more substance and verve. One of the name's most famous bearers is the 1995 Nobel Prize-winning…
Sebbe
Swedish variation of Sebastian
"person from ancient city of Sebasta"
This Swedish form of Sebastian would work nicely as a nickname.
Severin
French variation of Severus; Latin
"stern, serious"
Severin is an ancient Roman family name borne by several early saints. It's still alive throughout Europe, and could be ready for import here. Severin Winter is a wrestling prodigy character in John…
Shione
Japanese
"sound of the tide"
Young Japanese stars Shione Sawada and Shione Kaminaga have brought some attention to this uncommon Japanese name.
Shiva
Persian
"charming and eloquent"
In India, Shiva is an unambiguously male name; but in the middle east, Shiva derives from the Persian words for charm and eloquence, and is usually used as a female name.
Sindre
Norwegian, Old Norse
"sparkling; someone who sprays sparks"
A variation of the Old Norse name Sindri, which is borne by a blacksmith dwarf in Norse mythology, who, with his brother, made Thor's hammer. With its appealing meaning "sparkling", this form is…
Snorri
Norse
"attack, onslaught"
The similarity to snoring makes this one hard to wear.
Sonja
Russian, Slavic, and Scandinavian form of Sophia, Greek
"wisdom"
Popular throughout Northern and Eastern Europe, particularly in countries like Sweden, Norway, Russia, and Germany, Sonja has a rich cultural heritage. The name gained international recognition…
Suela
Albanian variation of Suheyla
"level, even"
Variation of Suheyla.
Sunette
Afrikaans
Rare name across the globe, but most often heard in South Africa.
Sunisa
Thai
"good night"
The Olympic gymnast Sunisa "Suni" Lee was named after her mother's favorite Thai actress.