Names That Mean White or Fair
- Witten
Origin:
German surnameMeaning:
"son of the white-haired or pale one"Description:
The surname Witten (and variants such as Whitten) is a patronym derived from Witte or Witt, which was a nickname for people with white hair or a pale complexion in Germany and the Netherlands. It makes a very cool (and rare!) name for a son — the stylish nickname Witt seals the deal.
- Whitford
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the white ford"Description:
Quintessentially, stylelessly preppy.
- Glenda
Origin:
Feminine form of Glenn, English, ScottishMeaning:
"valley"Description:
Part nature name, part mid-century favorite, Glenda came into use in the 20th century as a feminine form of Scottish Glenn, likely inspired by Linda and Wanda too. While Glenn would give it the meaning "valley", if you do consider it a smoosh name with Linda, Wanda, or Brenda, you get means such as "beautiful valley", "tender valley", "Wend's valley", "sword valley" or "fire valley".
- Irvin
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"handsome, fair of face"Description:
Irvin is an Old Man name that has an uncertain future. Losing the final g in Irving makes the name slightly less dated -- but just slightly. There's something about the 'erv' sound that makes Irvin and brothers feel unappealing.
- Hiroko
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"generous, fair"Description:
Commonly used in Japanese families.
- Galanthus
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"milk-flower"Description:
Another name for snowdrops, the small white flowers, Galanthus appeared in Greek mythology under the spelling Galanthis as a servant who deceived the gods and was turned into a weasel. A pretty and unique flower name with a defiant streak, Galanthus is an intriguing choice for a baby girl.
- Gwenora
Origin:
Cornish form of Guinevere, WelshMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
Gwenora teeters on the line between unique gem and modern invention. But it's not a smoosh name fashioned from Gwen and Nora but an old Cornish form of Guinevere, like its much more famous sister Jennifer.
- Laban
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"white"Description:
An Old Testament name used by the Puritans, less well known than female relatives Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah and as deserving of revival.
- Marya
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"purity, bright whiteness"Description:
The final a adds a lot of style.
- Alvi
Origin:
Finnish variation of Albin, LatinMeaning:
"white"Description:
Although it resembles Alvie, Alvi has separate origins. It comes from the Latin name Albin, meaning "white," while Alvie is derived from Alvin, meaning "noble friend."
- Fionnabhair
Origin:
IrishDescription:
In Irish mythology, Fionnabhair (Old Irish Findabair or Finnabair) is the daughter of Queen Medb of Connacht and Ailill, whose beauty is exploited by her mother to persuade a long line of warriors to face the legendary hero Cú Chulainn in single-combat. All are defeated and killed, a bloody battle ensues, and Fionnabhair drops dead of shame when she discovers that she has inadvertently been the cause of all the death and destruction.
- Efim
Origin:
Russian diminutive of Euphemios, GreekMeaning:
"fair speech"Description:
Efim originated as a short form of the elaborate Greek name Euphemios and is now used as a name in its own right. It can also be spelled Yefim.
- Caerwyn
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white fortress"Description:
Traditional though not overly popular Welsh option, which may have something of a fantasy vibe elsewhere in the world.
- Aelwen
Origin:
Welsh: "white brow"Meaning:
"white brow"Description:
Aelwen was first used in the revival of native Welsh names in the nineteenth century. It is occasionally used in Wales, but has not made the charts there for at least 20 years.
- Gaynor
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white and smooth, soft"Description:
Gaynor is an early androgynous name with a positive association, related to the Cornish megahit name Jennifer.
- Berin
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"fair-haired"Description:
Fresh choice, but with feminine lilt.
- Gannon
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"fair-skinned, fair-haired"Description:
The name of a historic Irish leader, Gannon has a solid, yet spirited feel. It was one of the fastest-rising names of 2014, but that trend didn't continue. One pop culture influence was the name of Teen Mom 3 son Gannon Dewayne McKee.
- Elvio
Origin:
Italian and Spanish from LatinMeaning:
"blond, fair"Description:
Elvio is a barely-ever-used name that might just be a hidden gem. From the Latin family name Elvius, international bearers of the name include several footballers and the Paraguayan poet Elvio Romero. Parents today might see it as an alternative to more better-known Italianate names like Enzo and Elio.
- Albion
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"white, bright"Description:
Albion is an ancient, poetic, and literary name for Great Britain. As a name, Albion is a variation of Albus -- and Dumbledore fans might find it a congenial update. Attractive short forms include Al and Albie.
- Shweta
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"white"Description:
In Hinduism, white symbolizes purity, adding an extra layer of meaning to Shweta, which comes from the Sanskrit word for the color. Shweta is a common name among Hindu women and is connected to the goddess Saraswati, who also goes by the epithet Shwetambara.
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