Birthday Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 11 pages
of 11
Sotho
"gratitude"
Teboho comes from the Sotho language native to southern Africa. It's most commonly used as a name in Lesotho and South Africa.
English word name
"comfort"
This Puritan virtue name may be unstylish, but it is also sympathetic and appealing in these largely uncomfortable times.
Shona
"be thankful"
Nature name
Clove is one of a whole tantalizing genre of spice names that might work for a boy. Clovis could be considered a long form.
English feminine variation of Clement, Latin
"mild, merciful"
One of the rarest of virtue names, Clemency could come back along with the more familiar Puritan virtue names such as Hope and Faith. It has a rhythmic three-syllable sound, and offers a more…
"conscious of benefit received"
In the Plymouth Colony of the seventeenth century, Thankful was the third most popular of the abstract word names. It disappeared after 1700 and has virtually no chance of returning.
Hebrew; diminutive of Theresa, English
"delightful; harvest"
This rarely used Old Testament name will inevitably set off a connection to thirst. Thirza was historically used as both an independent name and as a nickname for Theresa.
Thomasine is the feminine form of Thomas, a name of Aramaic origin meaning "twin." This elegant variation emerged during medieval times when feminizing male names by adding suffixes like "-ine" or…
Day name
Thursday is named after the god Thor, itself becoming a popular baby name (who would have thought?). So why not Thursday?
Fragrant herb often used for cooking, but scarcely as a name.
Japanese
"one thousand autumns"
Maybe if you really love Autumn.
Word Name
An romantic Puritan virtue name that elaborates on the already-amorous Love.
"earth apple"
A daisy-esque flower, although chamomile is much more commonly associated with the tea that's made from it.
Roman
"nourishment"
Little known name of the goddess of the harvest — her name literally means nourishment, and is the origin of the word cereal. A possibility for the parent seeking something original, but with the…
Latin
"pure"
The name of the Roman goddess of the household is not recommended for your little goddess. More on that deity: Vesta is primarily associated with the vestal virgins, her priestesses, who tended the…
"voyager"
This Beatrix alternate could make a good choice for globetrotting parents.
Finnish, Swedish, Slavic
"grain, will, fairy"
A name made most famous by the operetta The Merry Widow which features "The Vilja's Song". A vila is a woodland spirit or fairy in Slavic mythology. Vilja also means "grain" in Finnish and "will,…
English from French
"traveler"
English occupational name
"female brewer"
With its slightly cocky feel, this well-used surname is not often heard as a first.
