Olympic Baby Names

Cantonese surname that is occasionally heard as a first. The lack of vowels would make this one hard to wear in English-speaking countries.

Dynamic and creative; common in Africa, challenging here. Pronunciation isn't as difficult as you'd guess, but everyone will have to ask.  Many favor n-GO-zee, but a native speaker tells us that it is closer to n-GAW-zee, and we've found at least one n-GAH-zee, too.

Ngozi

Japanese surname occasionally heard as a first.

Nomura

A romantic Latinate form of Ondine, Ondina is an undiscovered gem that shares similar sounds with the trendy Olivia and Ophelia.

Ondina

This international variation deserves its own listing for a winning combination of distinctiveness and simplicity. 

Paavo

Parry is quite common in Wales, often as a surname, but would inevitably be misunderstood as Perry or even Harry. 

Parry

The Finnish form of Peter was most common in its culture of origin in the 1950s and '60s.

Pekka

Five girls were given the name Perrine last year.  Other feminine Perry or Peter alternatives are Perrin, Perry, or even Petra.

Perrine

A breezy, unique name — between Paris and Ferris — worn by Nevada-born BMX cyclist Perris Benegas. Perris is from the same root as Peter so could make an honor name for an ancestral Peter.

Perris

Olympic skier Picabo Street was allowed to choose her name at the age of three, and picked it possibly (a) after a nearby Idaho town or (b) because she loved to play peekaboo. No longer a single-person name, it is now worn by a number of satisfied bearers.

Picabo

Fanciful variation of already extravagant name. You might recognize it as the name of Swiss Olympian Priscillia Annen.

Priscillia

A top 200 name in Catalonia, Spain since 2004. There are several Catalan towns with the name, including Santa Coloma de Queralt and Rocafort de Queralt.

Queralt

Rafer is a masculine name with multiple potential origins. It may derive from the Old Norse 'Ragnfriðr' meaning 'peace-ruler,' or it could be related to the Old English 'rǣd' meaning 'counsel' combined with 'faran' meaning 'to journey.' Some consider it a variation of the name Ralph (derived from 'Radulf,' meaning 'counsel wolf'). The name gained some recognition through American Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson in the mid-20th century. Despite this notable bearer, Rafer has remained uncommon in usage, never breaking into top naming charts. The name has a strong, concise sound that combines traditional roots with a distinctive quality. Its rarity makes it appealing to parents seeking a masculine name that sounds established yet isn't commonly heard.

Rafer

Raido is the rune that corresponds with the Latin letter R in the Elder Furthark runic alphabet. In Old English, it was translated at Rad.<p> Nowadays it makes an interesting baby name for linguists and language-enthusiasts.

Raido

Resi is a feminine name of Germanic origin, predominantly used as a diminutive form of Theresa or Teresa. The name carries the warm, affectionate quality typical of diminutive forms, making it feel both friendly and approachable. In German-speaking countries, particularly Austria and Bavaria, Resi has historical usage as a standalone name. The name possesses a cheerful, melodic quality with its soft sounds and simple pronunciation. While not widely used in English-speaking countries, Resi maintains popularity in parts of Europe where German influences are strong. The name's brevity and sweet sound make it an appealing choice for parents seeking something distinctive yet easy to pronounce.

Resi

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. The name has a strong, distinctive sound with its two clear syllables and unusual combination of consonants and vowels. While remaining quite rare in general usage, Rulon has maintained a steady, if minimal, presence particularly in Mormon communities in the western United States. The name carries a solid, dependable quality with its firm consonant sounds. Its uniqueness makes it appealing to parents seeking a masculine name that stands apart from common choices while still being relatively straightforward to pronounce and spell.

Rulon

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.

Rushlee

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 name, and it’s still occasionally used in Bulgaria today. Albert Bruce Sabin is the Polish-American scientist credited for the oral polio vaccine

Sabin

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 the Dutch taste for nicknames plucked from the middle or end of a name vs. the beginning, such as Bas for Sebastien or Bram for Abram.


Sanne

This Swedish form of Sebastian would work nicely as a nickname.

Sebbe

 dating from the 1896 games until now. The Olympics spotlights global choices that might not otherwise attract our attention. Olympians are to thank for introducing names such as Bode, Usain, and Picabo into public consciousness.

 include Anais, Bruno, Duke, Florence, Harry, Jules, Madden, and Thiago. Among the most distinctive Olympic names with strong ties to Olympians are Babe, Commodore, English, and Knute.

 range from trendy and well-used to never-before-seen picks, but we've chosen to feature some of more 

Olympic athlete baby names including Bode, Madden, and Anais, along with meaning, origin, and popularity (Page 8)