Valentine's Day Names
- Myrna
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"festive; affection, endearment"Description:
An anglicized spelling of Muirne, the name of the mother of Finn mac Cool in Irish legend, Myrna has a unique sound and two possible meanings, both of which are positive. Actress Myrna Loy was a notable bearer and her fame caused a spike in popularity of the name, when it reached the US Top 150 in the 1930s.
- Jeb
Origin:
Diminutive of Jebediah, HebrewMeaning:
"beloved friend"Description:
Both Jeb and Jed are very attractive Old Testament short forms with long and bright futures. Jeb's main current association is with the Bush brother and former governor of Florida, but the name was a mainstay on early TV westerns, and then went upscale as the nickname (his birth name being Josiah) of the President on "The West Wing."
- Amoris
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"love"Description:
This Latin word for love is not traditionally used as a name, but why not? It's got a pretty sound and some distinctive flair. Variants Amori or Amorie can also be thought of as different spellings of Amory, which has a very different meaning and roots. Only downside: Sounds almost exactly like "amorous," meaning in the mood for love, which could provoke some adolescent teasing.
- Anahita
Origin:
PersianMeaning:
"immaculate"Description:
Anahita is the name of the water goddess who rules, among other things, fertility and wisdom. Associated with Venue, Anahita is a stylish Iranian name for girls.
- Shirin
Origin:
PersianMeaning:
"charming, sweet"Description:
An attractive unisex choice heard in several countries, including Armenia. Can be pronounced sheer-IN or sheer-EEN.
- Carita
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"beloved"Description:
Carita may feel like an endearing nickname but it's a name in its own right, used throughout Scandinavia in this form and as Karita, Caritas, and Karitas as a variation on Charity.
- Grainne
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"grain or love"Description:
Grainne is the Irish form of the name often Anglicized as Grania. It was the name of the ancient grain goddess and also of the fiancee of mythological hero Finn McCool and lover of Dermot, who was a heroine of the seas.
- Philou
Origin:
DutchMeaning:
"love"Description:
This Dutch name stems from the Greek root word "philos" meaning "love". It is relatively common in the Netherlands.
- Amandine
Origin:
French, diminutive of AmandaMeaning:
"much-loved"Description:
This fragrant, almond-scented name has hardly been heard in this country, which is a pity--we've loved it since John Malkovich used it for his now grown daughter.
- Esmay
Origin:
Spelling variation of Esme, FrenchMeaning:
"esteemed, beloved"Description:
As the French Esme becomes more popular, it will inevitably spawn spelling variations. This one, like Zoey or Layla, clarifies pronunciation, so while we prefer the original, that's not a bad thing.
- Tegwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"fair, white, blessed, beautiful"Description:
Tegwen is a Welsh name that balances between clunky and mystical, sweet and tough. Created back in the 19th century by blending the element teg "beautiful, pretty", with the element wen "fair, white, blessed", it may appeal to those who enjoy Teagan, Gwen, Gwendolyn, and Tesni.
- Zuleika
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"fair, brilliant beauty"Description:
Zuleika is a high-wire act of a name that might appeal to the intrepid baby namer, Like most 'Z'-starting girls' names, it projects a cool, strong aura, as exemplified by the character in Max Beerbohm's satirical 1910 novel, Zuleika Dobson, a heroine so gorgeous that the entire student body of Oxford University committed collective suicide at the sight of her.
- Locket
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"ornamental case worn round the neck"Description:
Worn round the neck and close to the heart, lockets are often used to hold small items of sentimental value, like a photo, a lock of hair, or a letter. Used as a surname, but rarely as a given name, Locket could have potential given its similarity in sound to Lochlan, Beckett, and Luka.
- Keris
Origin:
Spelling variation of Kerris or CerysMeaning:
"love"Description:
This phonetic version of the Welsh Cerys might be easier for Americans, certainly, to understand, but it does lose some poetry in translation.
- Ludmila
Origin:
SlavicMeaning:
"beloved of the people"Description:
This Slavic classic name might begin to make its mark with American parents, what with the growing popularity of the short form Mila. Borne by a tenth century saint who had been a princess from Bohemia, Ludmila is widely used in Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria.
- Desi
Origin:
Diminutive of Desiderio, SpanishMeaning:
"desired one"Description:
Forever Lucy's.
- Carwyn
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"blessed love"Description:
A famous bearer is Carwyn Jones, leader of the Welsh Labour Party and First Minister of Wales since 2009. Feminine version is Carwen.
- Aroha
Origin:
MāoriMeaning:
"love"Description:
This beautiful Māori name meaning love (cognate with Hawaiian aloha) is more wearable than the English word and softer Venus or Aphrodite. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern named her daughter Neve Te Aroha in 2018. Aroha / Te Aroha was the most popular Māori baby girl name in 2023-24.
- Aziz
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"powerful and beloved"Description:
This traditional Arabic name, found throughout several other Middle Eastern and African languages and cultures, is one of the 99 names of Allah. Colorful and energetic, it was brought into the realm of crossover possibility via the lively personality of Aziz Ansari, stand-up comic and star of "Master of None" as well as a featured actor on "Parks and Recreation," playing cocky Tom Haverford (born Darwish Sabir Ismael Gani).
- Caris
Origin:
Welsh, GreekMeaning:
"love; grace, kindness"Description:
Beautiful meanings no matter which origin you want to go with. But either way, it rhymes with Paris.