Nature, Place and Word Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 4 pages
of 4
Welsh
"butterfly, regeneration, spring"
A unisex name of Welsh origin, Eilir has the mystical and intriguing feel of Eowyn and Emrys, but also the familiarity of Elinor and Eli. It was coined by the 18th century Welsh poet, antiquarian and…
English word name
Fluttery and flighty. But there are a couple of names that mean butterfly you might consider, such as Yara and Farasha.
Greek
Ripheus is a figure in Virgil's Aeneid : a Trojan hero, the "most just of all Trojans" who was killed defending his city against the Greeks.
"liberator"
This grand name combines "lysis" (freedom) and "andros" (man). Lysander is a related, and more recognizable, variation.
Arabic
"butterfly"
Farasha is butterfly in Arabic, which means that to English-speakers, it feels more like a soft feminine name and less like a fluttery animal. Pretty without feeling flighty.
Native American, Shoshone
Kimana, the name of a resort in the foothills of Mountain Kilimanjaro in Kenya, would make an unexpected path to the nickname Kim.
Finnish
This is one of the few butterfly names that is distinctly masculine, found as a surname in Finland.
Dutch
A known but not overused female name in Dutch-speaking countries and regions, Vlinder ranked in the top 400 girls’ names in the Netherlands from 2009-2012.
"slow, sad, songs of lamentation; a music genre of black American folk origin"
While Ivy Blue has made the color a more popular choice for girls, Blues — as in the musical style — could feel more masculine. While some may find it a sad and gloomy choice, thanks to the phrase…
Word name, English
"ruler who represents the king"
A new one for the ever-growing collection of royal baby names.
Place name, Spanish from Arabic
"land of Califia, land of the caliph"
Has not caught on as much as other Golden State place-names — Sierra, Marin, West, or even Francisco — probably because of its length. The state of California got its name from the 16th-century…
Greek mythology name
"equal in weight"
Atalanta was a beautiful mythological maiden who refused to marry any man who couldn't beat her in a footrace -- quite a role model. This myth is found in Ovid's Metamorphoses and later in…
Nature name
Worthy sibling for Oak, Elm, Juniper, and Spruce.
Spanish variation of Claudia, Latin
"lame"
Claudina — a traditional Spanish diminutive of Claudia — was a Top 500 name in Spain for the first half of the 20th century. It never caught on as a given name in the US. At its peak, Claudina was…
Lace is a delicate feminine name derived from the English word for the ornate fabric made from intricately looped threads. As a given name, it emerged primarily in the late 20th century when word…
"daffodil"
Mythological young man who fell in love with his own image: the first narcissist.
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…
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.
English
"a high rank in the navy"
This title name definitely makes a statement. Will Admiral fit in with the Saints, Kings, and Knights joining the playground?
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.
