Middle Names, Surnames, and Nicknames
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 46 pages
of 46
Latin
"time of sowing"
Winter, Summer, and Autumn are all mainstream names; this covers all bases.
Word name
Sound contradicts its meaning.
Mineral and word name
Though this may be thought of as a short form of the legitimate name Jetta, that one's gone to the cars. This sounds more modern if a bit supersonic. In the Netherlands, it's in the Top 100,…
Day name
Though this feels like a new invention, people have used day names such as Morning and Afternoon for centuries -- and so why not Evening too? It's a lovely word with an evocative meaning and makes a…
English, “afternoon”
An early day name worthy of consideration today for someone seeking a truly unusual name.
Nature name
Leaf is a hippieish choice that, for girls, still retains an evergreen quality.
English
"agreeable, lighthearted"
A sweet, modern descriptive name, with a wholesome and winning feel, Winsome means "appealing, fresh, simple, innocent" or "cheerful and lighthearted." Some may find it a little too cutesy, but with…
Sleek color name, though a bit flinty for a little girl.
English occupational name
"one who whistles"
A new entry in the fashionable occupational name category -- and a jolly job it must be -- with the added attraction of relating to the great early 20th century American artist James Abbott McNeill…
Occupational name
Painter is among the most creative choices in this very fashionable category of names, with a particularly pleasant sound. Whereas most occupational names conjure up physical labor, this one feels…
English word name
" a suspension of airborne particulates and gases emitted from a burning substance"
Word name with an air of mystery and edginess. Influencers Julia and Hunt Havens named their son Smoke Hemmingway in 2023.
Word or occupational name
"outlaw, thief"
We hesitate to call Bandit an occupational name, any more than Rogue or Vandal are occupational names, yet its use by one of the bandmembers of My Chemical Romance (for his daughter: we're thinking…
"unaccompanied"
Solo is a singular word name with special meaning for Star Wars fans. Equally appropriate for girls and boys, it works especially well in the middle.
Scottish occupational name
"minstrel, poet"
Meaning bard, this is an original choice with poetic and melodic undertones. Bard itself has also come into consideration, both names bringing to mind Shakespeare and other literary lights. The…
A video-game name ("Final Fantasy VII") with an unappealing sound and meaning.
English place name
No matter how much you love the novels of Papa H., don't saddle your son with this unwieldy appellation.
Dutch artist name
The name of the most renowned of the Old Masters is a potential option for families who put an emphasis on the creative. Rembrandt Peale was a member of the Peale family of painters, all named for…
Spanish artist name
A worthy honoree that would place a too-heavy expectation on a child, probably subjecting him to ridicule. Try Pablo instead.
Strong, but cold and soap opera-ish.
"of the stars"
This cosmological name is given to a handful of boys and girls each year in the USA. Likely to get confused with Stella or Stellan.
