Middle Names with Meaning
- Journey
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"passage from one place to another"Description:
One of the new word names, appealing to parents attracted to the idea of a spiritual -- or even an actual -- voyage. The Journee spelling is also being used. Unisex alert: Jenna Jameson used Journey for one of her twin boys, as did the Black Eyed Peas rock musician known as Taboo.
- Rebel
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"rebel"Description:
Asking for trouble. Rebel Wilson is a hilarious Australian actress who puts a female spin on this contemporary badass baby name. Still, we think this name is truly gender neutral – though hardly neutral in any other way. Rebel is undoubtedly one of the edgiest girls' names starting with the letter R.
- Blessing
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Blessing is among the Top 1000 girls' names in the UK and recently joined the ranks in the US as well. With modern spiritual names like Shiloh, Chosen, and Halo trending upwards, Blessing is likely to continue to rise in popularity.
- Quay
Origin:
French word nameMeaning:
"wharf"Description:
A name that looks intriguing and masculine on paper, but is, unfortunately, a homonym for a girl's name.
- Boheme
Origin:
French word nameDescription:
"Girls Gone Child" blogger Rebecca Woolf made Boheme a first name when she gave it to one of her twin daughters (the other one's name is Reverie). La Boheme -- "The Bohemian" -- is a Puccini opera that was transmogrified into the modern play Rent. Boheme means a literary or artistic person who lives outside conventional society.
- Star
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Most parents today would prefer the softer-sell Stella. But Star has symbolic power related to Christmas, so this could make one of the perfect names for December babies.
- Holiday
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"holy day"Description:
Free and fun name if you don't want to be pinned down to Noelle, Pasqua, or Valentine.
- Worth
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"enclosure, homestead"Description:
No low self-esteem for this kid, or so his parents hope.
- Rocket
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Starbaby name that might prove too supercharged for real life, but if like director Robert Rodriguez you're interested only in boys' names starting with R, you may need to add Rocket (and Rebel and Racer) to your list.
- Legacy
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"the long-lasting impact of particular events that took place in the past"Description:
One of the boastful, ultra-modern word names soaring in popularity right now. Though it's a bit more popular for girls than boys -- the "cy" ending reads a little feminine -- it's solidly unisex, with over 100 baby boys being named Legacy in 2017. This is one of the many uplifting words that make unique unisex names.
- Lucky
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Cedric the Entertainer chose this for his daughter, but most other parents would find it, though optimistic, not exactly substantial.
- Whimsy
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"whimsical or fanciful"Description:
Whimsy is a new entry to the ever-expanding word name lexicon, sister for Pixie and Bliss. While it has an undeniable offbeat English aristocratic charm (maybe we're thinking of Dorothy Sayers' fictional detective Lord Peter Wimsey, whose middle name was Death?), we see this as more fitting for a middle than a first name.
- Dharma
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"truth"Description:
In Buddhism, Dharma embodies the basic principles of cosmic existence--making it a fitting name for the hippyish character on the sitcom Dharma and Greg, whose middle name was Freedom.
- Promise
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified"Description:
Promise is one of those word names with an uplifting meaning that is making inroads as a girls' name, like sisters Dream and Serenity. How promising is Promise as a first name? Our try at cleverness illustrates perhaps the biggest problem with naming your baby girl Promise: It will be difficult for people to resist making bad puns on the name. We promise (argh) you'll be tired of hearing them well before your baby Promise's first birthday.
- Anchor
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"heavy object used to moor a ship; provide with a solid foundation"Description:
Plausible word name, denoting strength and stability, currently given to a small handful of boys in the US each year.
- Cameo
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
This evocative term for a stone or shell carved in relief could make a striking first name for a girl, though she would have a starring role in her story, rather than a cameo.
- Sincere
Origin:
English, Word nameMeaning:
"honest, genuine, and heartfelt"Description:
Reminiscent of Puritan and Pilgrim name choices, Sincere is a relatively modern virtue name that has been in the US Top 1000 since the 2000s.
- Miracle
Origin:
Word name, LatinMeaning:
"wonder, marvel"Description:
A surprisingly popular spiritual name that entered the US Top 500 in 2003. As of 2023, it is still a Top 500 choice, where it fits in with similar bold word names like Chosen, Blessing, and Dream. Miracle is a familiar name in Nigeria too, where it is used as a unisex option.
- Glory
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Glory sounds fresh and uplifting and a lot more modern than Gloria (which is definitely feeling the stirrings of a revival, though some might still view it as a terminal Old Lady name). Glory, as in "Glory Be" and "Old Glory," has both a religious and a patriotic flavor.
- Jewel
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Just like Flora is for botanicals, Jewel is the generic gemstone name, not used much since the early twentieth century, when it was seen as a symbol of how precious a daughter could be. The French version, Bijou, feels more modern, as do Pearl and Ruby.