Baby Name Meanings
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Russian, diminutive of Pelagia
"open sea"
Friendly Slavic rarity.
Latin
"free"
Liber was the name of the Roman god of wine, freedom, and male fertility. It is etymologically linked to the word "libation," referring to the ritual practice of sharing drinks.
In Roman mythology, Libera was the female equivalent of the god Liber. She would eventually become assimilated into the goddess Prosperina.
Spanish and Portuguese
"freedom"
An offbeat way to celebrate this virtue.
Albanian
A rare Albanian name with an appealing meaning, akin to Liberty and Saoirse. It is derived from the Albanian word, liri .
Diminutive of Caroline
"free man"
A peppy nickname name associated with Lolo (born Lori) Jones, American track and field champ.
Turkish
"free, independent"
Properly spelled Özgür, this is a familiar unisex name and surname in Turkey, though little-known in the rest of the world. The pronunciation is not far removed from Oscar, which could be a helpful…
Hebrew
"he opens"
The name of an important figure in the Book of Judges, a judge from Gilead who helped the Israelites defeat the hated Ammonites. Jephthah and its various derivative spellings have seldom been used as…
French from Greek
"releaser of horses"
Hippolyte is the name of an Amazonian princess AND her son, both unfortunate mythical figures. The name Hippolyte, later borne by several saints, is a not an uncommon boys' name in France, but has…
French
"freezing"
Frostine, best known in the U.S. as the name of the Candyland queen, is newly fashionable in France and is certainly a choice that any little girl the world over would love. Fanciful, if…
English
"settlement of free men"
Carleton has a great meaning behind it, and should really have more popularity than it has found to date. You can shorten it to Carl or keep it upscale and formal in the longer form. Baseball Hall of…
Frost is a name parents are beginning to warm to, appreciating its icy simplicity and connection with the venerable poet Robert. Frost, along with Winter, Snow, and January, are also perfect names…
Diminutive of Francisco
Frisco is a frisky, roguish semi-place-name (San Francisco natives never call it that) that could make a lively, unusual o-ending choice. Frisco is the kind of nickname name sometimes used for cowboy…
Scandinavian
"Carl's son"
Good way to honor Scandinavian roots, or an ancestor named Carl or Charles.
Latin, diminutive of Frances
"from France or free man"
If Frances and Fran are too serious for you, and Fanny too saucy, you might like Franny, still identified by some with J. D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey stories.
Diminutive of Frank
Frank is cool again. Frankie is cute. But frankly, Frankito is a couple of diminutives too many.
One of the most attractive and unusual spins on the "Fran" franchise.
Chinese
"smooth, free, unhindered"
An Asian favorite.
