Pet Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Short form of Adelma, German
"noble, famous"
Adelma shot to stardom on the coattails of 19th century Eastern European spiritualist Baroness Adelma Vay de Vaya. Delma continued to be used in the US until the 1950s, when it dropped from sight.…
English
"bright forest"
Unfashionable surname, best left in the forest with Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
English surname
"little brown"
Burnell had some life as a first name in the early decades of the 20th century. Today, a handful of baby boys are still given the name, perhaps in honor of one of its famous bearers.
Norse
"armed for battle"
Variant of Brunhild, still clad in heavy armor. Though the heroine Brunhilda of Quentin Tarantino's recent film Django Unchained may have given this version of the name new appeal.
Short form of Ugo, Italian form of Hugh
"mind, intellect"
Ugolino could be a silly nickname for an oh-so-seriously named baby Hugh or Hugo or Ugo.
French from German
"magnificent crow"
This name of famed philosopher, mathematician and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell becomes slightly more plausible with the French pronunciation, bare-TRAHN. Another noted bearer is French director…
Modern invented name
You're so vain, I bet you think this name is about you.
Velva is a feminine name that may have originated as a variant of Velma, which has German origins meaning 'determined protector.' Alternatively, it might relate to Latin 'velum' meaning 'veil' or…
Variation of Verde, Spanish
"green"
Verda was a fairly popular girls' name in the US from the 1880s through the 1920s, when it started to slip, finally dropping from sight after World War II. Today, Verde and Verda are both extinct.
Latin
"true"
Verlin is an obscure name that found some use in the US in the early part of the 20th century, but now it and variation Verlyn are extinct, given to no baby boys in the US last year. Verlyn…
Variation of Verna, Latin
"springtime"
Part Verna, part Bernice, Vernice saw use as a girls' name during the heyday of both those names. Both entered the Top 200 in the 1880s, where Verna lasted until 1940 and Bernice a decade longer.…
German
"strong protection"
An ancient saint's name belonging to an 8th century English missionary. Variants include Walpurga and Walpurgis.
Hebrew
"flowering field"
Appearing in some versions of the Old Testament, Ardith sounds like an ethereal combination of Arden and Edith, with a sweet naturey meaning. Also appearing as Ardeth and Ardath, it was first…
Variation of Gertha, English from Scandinavian
"enclosure, stronghold"
Don't put "girth" in a baby name.
Polish, Lithunian, meaning unknown
A historical name with pagan roots that belonged to Aldona, a 14th-century Queen consort of Poland and princess of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
"covered with gold"
Gilda, although related to the words gold and gilded, has definitely tarnished. It once shimmered with the seductive image of Rita Hayworth in the film Gilda, then was associated with the beloved…
"to complete"
A rare, unisex Biblical name, with a similar feel to choices like Omar, Haziel, Gideon, and Ofir, but also to Montgomery and Grover. In the Bible, Gomer was both a son of Japheth (and therefore…
French
"brisk, high-spirited"
Best left on the old southern plantation, sipping his mint julep.
English from Greek
"stable"
Eustace was originally popularized by St. Eustace, who was born a Norman nobleman and is said to have been converted to Christianity by seeing a crucifix between the antlers of the deer he was…
Italian
"guide, leader"
Guido was very popular in Renaissance Italy, with many namesakes including painter Fra Angelico (born Guido di Pietro) and mathematician Guido Fubini. Guy Fawkes, of gunpowder plot fame, sometimes…
