Thanksgiving Names

Israeli-born singer Keren Ann introduced this traditional Hebrew name to the US, where it could well be mistaken for Karen. Nevertheless, 100 girls were given the name in a recent year.

Name of the Roman goddess of harvest and grain, appropriate for a fall baby. And a palindrome too!

A covert fruit name for non-Finnish speakers.

Oceanus was the Titan in ancient Greek mythology who rules what they thought was the body of water that surrounded the Earth. Oceanus was, appropriately enough, the name of the baby born on the Mayflower. Modern variations include Ocean, Oceana, and Oceane, a popular French name for girls.

With Grace getting so popular, you may want to explore its international variations such as Grazia, or go all the way to Graziana or Graziella.

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

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.

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. 

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

This Hindu goddess name is very popular in India. The goddess of love, fertility and devotion, representing female force, Parvati is the wife of Shiva and the mother of Ganesh. There is a Harry Potter character named Parvati Patil, a twin sister of Padma..

With its slightly cocky feel, this well-used surname is not often heard as a first.

A cool spiritual word name à la Psalm.

This Beatrix alternate could make a good choice for globetrotting parents.

Believe it or not, Prudence is on the rise for girls in both the US and UK. Could Prudent be next?

Shaquille O'Neal came almost as close as he could to a Junior when he selected this name for his son.

Eaton's similarity to Eton gives it an upscale Old School feel, though in the U.S. a name that sound like eatin' could have teasin' potential. Eaton could also sound like the much-more-familiar Ethan with a tough-guy accent.

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

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.

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.

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.