Thanksgiving Names

Harvest has been occasionally used as a name since the eighteenth century, originally as evenly unisex, though it tips a bit in the girls' direction in the contemporary US. Given the rise of such popular baby names as Harper and August, plus new word names from Heaven to True, Harvest sounds more possible now than ever.

Samhain is a traditional Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter (usually halfway between the equinox and solstice). Today it often coincides with the evening of Halloween (31st October), making it a unique option for a Halloween baby or one of the season-related names for autumn babies. The name has a slightly unflattering sound to the English-speaking ear, but might be a special choice for those with Celtic roots.

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.

An unusual possibility; Zea would fit right in with schoolmates named Tea and Leya.

Could be a sister to Trinity, Genesis, or Heaven.

This is an English surname dating back to 1086, but we don't see it having much of a first name future in the twenty-first century.

Teboho comes from the Sotho language native to southern Africa. It's most commonly used as a name in Lesotho and South Africa.

Jabez has a rare combo of three appealing elements: a Biblical heritage, a captivating Southern accent, and a jazzy feel. It was popular with the Pilgrims and on into the nineteenth century (there have been four U.S. Congressmen named Jabez), but it hasn't been in the Top 1000 since 1880.

Pom is a shortened word name that's not much used in France, but cute and familiar here as one of Babar (the Elephant's) triplets. Pom, pommy and pommie are (non-derogatory) terms sometimes used by Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans to denote a person of English heritage. 

Also spelt Rua, Ruadh is a strong and simple Irish name with a fiery meaning. Ruadhan is a popular related name.

Also spelt Sebele, this soft-sounding name means "harvest" in the Amharic language of Ethiopia.

A daisy-esque flower, although chamomile is much more commonly associated with the tea that's made from it.

Clove is one of a whole tantalizing genre of spice names that might work for a boy. Clovis could be considered a long form.

Crisanta, while not related to Christine, would make a pretty and highly unusual alternative to that tried-and-true name. Because of its relationship to the chrysanthemum, the flower of the month of November, it's one of the recommended names for Scorpio babies as well as names for November babies. Crisanta might also give you a fresh route to nicknames like Cris, Crissy, or Cristie.

Blessed and Blessing are two new entrants in the word name and virtue name categories, gaining popularity for both boys and girls.

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 "-ina" was common practice. While never achieving widespread popularity, Thomasine saw occasional use in England from the Middle Ages through the 19th century. The name carries a distinctive vintage charm with its classical derivation and melodious three-syllable structure. Thomasine offers a more elaborate alternative to the simpler Thomasa or Tomasa variants. Today, it remains quite rare, appealing to parents drawn to historical names with feminine elegance. The name combines traditional roots with an uncommon status, making it both familiar and distinctive.

An upbeat English word name with a Puritanical feel, famously borne by Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, who reigned for over 50 years until his death in 2021.

Helier is the patron saint of the Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, and it is for him that St. Helier, Jersey's capital, is named. The name is related to Hilary, Ilario etc, and therefor shares their wonderful meanings.

One of the less common names that came over on the Mayflower, albeit, one with modern potential.