December Baby Names
- Matisse
Origin:
French surnameDescription:
Though it's close to the German and French form of Matthew, Mathis, this name of the great artist can work as well for girls.
- Fairuza
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"turquoise"Description:
Instead of the more obvious Aqua, Turquoise, or Blue, consider this offbeat Arabic name, brought into the American name pool by actress Fairuza Balk (named by her father for the color of her eyes). Since turquoise is the birthstone for December, Fairuza is one of the perfect names for December babies.
- North
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
North's image and gender status was irrevocably changed when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West announced it as the name of their newborn daughter. But why not? West is firmly established as a name, Easton is coming up strong, and North has a nice solid sound as well -- certainly as appropriate for either gender. South, though, not so much.
- Magi
Origin:
CherokeeMeaning:
"who is like God"Description:
Magi, as in the Three Wise Men who visited the baby Jesus, is a new word name appropriate for Christmas babies. It might also be a way to spell Maggie, but you can see the problems that's going to cause.
- Edur
Origin:
BasqueMeaning:
"snow"Description:
Perfect for that winter baby, when Snow isn't subtle enough. The feminine version is Edurne.
- Sagitta
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"arrow"Description:
Sagitta is not a part of the Sagittarius constellation, but rather its own collection of stars. However, its meaning, "arrow," would make it ideal for a Sagittarius daughter.
- Uriel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is my light"Description:
It's the name of an Old Testament archangel that's symbolically given to boys born during Chanukah, but the possibility of unsavory nicknames (urinal?) make the short form Uri a better bet.
- Bowman
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"archer"Description:
Bowman has a lot of winning ingredients: an occupational surname, a cool "Bo" sound, and an archery-related meaning. Given to around 40 boys in the US in a recent year, it could work as a rarer, but not outrageous, alternative to the likes of Bodhi, Beau, Bowen, and Brody.
- Boyer
Origin:
English and FrenchMeaning:
"bow-maker, cattle herder"Description:
Two completely different images come from its national pronunciations -- BOY-err or boy-AY -- the latter giving it an effete French accent.
- Pine
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
Worthy sibling for Oak, Elm, Juniper, and Spruce.
- Blanca
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"white"Description:
More colorful than Blanche, but blanker than Bianca.
- Ori
Description:
Ori is a delicate feminine name with multicultural roots. In Hebrew, it means "my light" derived from "or" (light), symbolizing enlightenment and hope. In Finnish mythology, Ori refers to a majestic wild mountain reindeer. The name also appears in Japanese as a variant of "Hori," meaning "ditch or canal." As a feminine name, Ori has gained modest popularity in recent years among parents seeking short, meaningful names with cross-cultural appeal. Its simplicity and melodic quality make it versatile across different languages and cultures, while its connections to light and nature give it a spiritual and ethereal quality that resonates with modern naming trends.
- Orli
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"light"Description:
Cute, nickname-y, and international, à la Romy or Demi. Spelling it Orly turns it into a busy French airport.
- Zohar
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"light, brilliance"Description:
Though this name is used for both boys and girls in Israel, in the U.S. it sounds decidedly masculine, with Zohara the feminine form. Has a futuristic macho feel.
- Haviland
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"goat estate"Description:
Although it's more commonly seen as a surname, Haviland is occasionally used as a first name, particularly for girls.
- Terach
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"wild goat, silly old fool"Description:
A biblical name -- he was the father of Abraham -- but the father's name is much less appealing than the son's, in both sound and meaning.
- Yule
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"winter solstice"Description:
A possible Christmas name for a baby boy, if you find Noel too mundane. But we fear it doesn't sound very festive.
- Natale
Origin:
Italian variation of Natalia, RussianMeaning:
"Birthday of the Lord"Description:
Natale is the handsome gender-neutral Italian spin on Natalia or Natalie or Noel, traditionally given to babies born on Christmas Day. English speakers might stumble over the pronunciation -- Natalie? Natal? -- but they'll catch on. Babbo Natale is the Italian name for Santa Claus. Natalino is the adorable short form.
- Asella
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"small female donkey"Description:
Asella is ultimately derived from the Latin word asinus, meaning "donkey." As a word, asella would have been used to refer to a small female donkey.
- December
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"tenth month"Description:
Although this month name was used only for girls in a recent year, there's no reason it can't work for both genders. For a holiday baby, more original than Noel and more universal than Christmas.
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