Nature, Place and Word Names
Butterfly Names
Across 4 pages
of 4
The names
Ulysses
Latin variation of Odysseus, Greek
"wrathful"
Ulysses is one of the few U boys' names anyone knows -- with heavy links to the Homeric hero of The Odyssey , the eighteenth US president Ulysses Grant, and the James Joyce novel -- all of which…
Rusty
Short form of Russell
Though as a formal name Rusty is a little, well, rusty, it spent half a century among the Top 1000, departing only in 1995. Only 45 baby boys received the name in the US in one recent year and it's…
Constantine
Latin
"steadfast"
This Roman Emperor's name may once have been considered too grand for a baby but in an era of children called Atticus, Augustine, Valentine, Caspian, Thaddeus, and Maximus, Constantine might just be…
Annabella
Variation of Annabel or English compound name, Anna + Bella
"loving or grace + beautiful"
Annabella is one of a constellation of names that include Anabella, Annabelle, Annabel, Anabel, Annabelle, and Annabell -- all lovely names that have suffered from their association with the…
Narcissus
Greek
"daffodil"
Mythological young man who fell in love with his own image: the first narcissist.
Austria
Place name, Latinization of German Osterreich
"eastern realm"
Austria is an nteresting, appealing, unexplored geographic destination, much fresher than American cousin Austin. A related and attractive possibility is Austria's capital city, Vienna, the name of…
Turquoise
French
"Turkish stone"
Turquoise is similar in hue to Aqua, which is one of the cool new color names on the palette. Other blue-hued options: Cerulean, Cyan, Indigo, or Blue itself.
Leaf
Nature name
The nature boy version of the Scandinavian Leif, which actually means "heir". In the creative-naming Phoenix family, Leaf is the former name of the actor we know as Joaquin.
Azure
English color name, Persian
"sky blue; lapis lazuli"
Azure is a colorful gender-neutral choice, currently used equally for baby girls and boys in the US. It refers to a specific shade of blue seen in a cloudless sky. Elon Musk revealed Azure to be the…
Geranium
Flower name, from Greek
"crane"
Offbeat flower name, sure to raise some eyebrows. But with Lily, Rose, and even Daisy starting to wilt, more alluring blooms such as Geranium, Magnolia, and Azalea may blossom.
Bronze
English word name
Third place on the sports field, but potentially more wearable than either Silver or Gold, Bronze feels modern and edgy.
Indra
Sanskrit, Latvian
"possessing drops of rain; reed, water witch; estate ruler"
In Hindu tradition, Indra is the warrior god of sky and rain, whose name is often used as element of other names, such as Jaswinder or Rajendra. Its use as a feminine name may come from the Western…
Copper
English
"a reddish brown mineral"
More unique than Cooper, and a favorite among pet parents. Copper was the loveable bloodhound from Disney's Fox and the Hound. Keep in mind that Copper is also slang for a policeman.
Aphrodite
Greek mythology name
"foam or born from the sea"
The name of the Greek goddess of love has rarely descended to mortal use, though the Roman equivalent Venus, thanks to tennis star Williams, now seems completely possible. But with the new fashion…
Lady
English; diminutive of Adelaide
"noble"
You can't get much more feminine, sweet, and ladylike than Lady. Would make a cute nickname for up-and-coming Adelaide. Lady will also bring to mind the canine lover of the Tramp.
Phaedra
Greek
"bright"
This name of a tragic figure in Greek mythology, the daughter of King Minos, sister of Ariadne and wife of Theseus, has a mysterious and intriguing appeal, and would make a dramatic choice. Phaedra…
Beata
Swedish, German, Italian, from Latin
"blessed"
Beata, a Latinate saint's name, has been widely used primarily by Roman Catholics in several European countries, but is rarely heard in English-speaking countries. Playground alert: could be…
Kamama
Cherokee
"butterfly"
Soft and rhythmic addition to the collection of names that mean butterfly .
Chōko
Japanese
"butterfly child"
Airy Japanese girl name that is also that of a sake cup.
Chouko
Variation of Choko, Japanese
"butterfly child"
A more unusual romaji spelling of Choko.