Middle Names with Meaning

  1. Comet
    • Origin:

      word name
    • Description:

      This cosmological name has a zippy feel that might work well for the galactic parent looking for the perfect name for their own little star.
  2. Miracle
    • Origin:

      Word name, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  3. Cameo
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      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.
  4. Pilot
    • Origin:

      Occupational name
    • Description:

      One celebrity baby Pilot put this occupational choice into the pool -- together with the middle name Inspektor, something we wouldn't advise following.
  5. Serene
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Description:

      Serena in all its variant spellings is such a widely-used name that reducing it to its root word, Serene, might not occur to some. But like Pax and Clement, Serene is an excellent name for a calm child.
  6. Glimmer
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Glimmer is shimmery but a little too showy, as is Glitter, a character on a TV sitcom-- while Glimmer appears in The Hunger Games.
  7. Jewel
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      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.
  8. Jet
    • Origin:

      Mineral and word name
    • Description:

      This super-charged variation of Jett is on the rise -- along with the unlikely newcomer Jetson.
  9. Boheme
    • Origin:

      French word name
    • Description:

      "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.
  10. Cross
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "cross"
    • Description:

      Evocative word name that's refreshingly straightforward. Overtones of Christianity and penalty. More subtle option: Cruz.
  11. Breeze
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Most will see this as a refreshing middle name possibility, but Bristol Palin baby daddy Levi Johnston used it as a first name for his new daughter, Breeze Beretta.
  12. Fire
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Even if you're hoping for a fiery child, this seems like playing with fire. One celebrity--Steve Vai--was bold enough to use it for his son.
  13. Savvy
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      We call Savvy a Modern Virtue Name, a contemporary version of the Puritan's Hope and Charity, extolling the virtue of shrewdness. And who doesn't want their daughter to grow up to be Savvy in the ways of the world? So far, this name has been used only for girls, perhaps because some parents remember the women's magazine called Savvy.
  14. Remember
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      No one will ever forget it. But Remember as a name came over on the Mayflower, so it has deep history as well as modern potential.
  15. Worth
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "enclosure, homestead"
    • Description:

      No low self-esteem for this kid, or so his parents hope.
  16. Anchor
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  17. Rebel
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  18. Champ
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "champion"
    • Description:

      Though it sounds like a modern invention, Champ actually has a long history as a first name. It hit the Top 1000 several times just before and after the turn of the 20th Century.
  19. Blithe
    • Description:

      Blithe is a delicate feminine name derived from the Old English word 'bliþe,' meaning 'happy,' 'carefree,' or 'joyful.' As a word-name that directly evokes a positive emotional state, it belongs to the category of virtue names that became popular during the Puritan era but has never been widely used. The name has a light, airy quality that suggests cheerfulness and optimism. Literary connections include Noël Coward's play 'Blithe Spirit,' which adds a sophisticated cultural reference. Though rare, Blithe has seen small increases in usage among parents seeking uncommon names with positive meanings. Its short, one-syllable pronunciation combined with the elegant spelling gives it a distinctive character that balances simplicity with refinement.

  20. Bell
    • Origin:

      English and Scottish occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "ringer of the bell"
    • Description:

      These days, it's more likely you'd call your daughter the popular Belle or Bella.

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