Baby Name Meanings
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 4 pages
of 4
English
"heathery hill"
Rarely heard Hayden alternative -- though, mark our words, you'll spend your life correcting everyone's pronunciation and spelling.
Greek
"violet flower"
This unusual Greek flower and color name has gained considerable recent attention via actress Ione Skye, who is the daughter of sixties folksinger Donovan. Ione was one of the fifty sea nymphs —…
Italian and Spanish from Greek
"purple dye"
This ancient saint's name was borne by the infamous midcentury playboy, Porfirio Rubirosa.
From Greek
"orchid flower"
Orchid is a hothouse bloom that has not been plucked by many modern baby namers — yet. In the language of flowers, orchids symbolize love, beauty, and sophistication. In a 1926 silent comedy, femme…
Color name
Magenta is a vivid Crayola color name, that could make a vivid, colorful choice. It was named in 1859 after the Napoleonic Battle of Magenta, a town in Northern Italy. One of J.K. Rowling's…
Greek or Welsh
"violet; beautiful lady"
Isla is hot, Iona is cool – maybe it's time Iola got a second look? Last heard from on Carol Burnett's Mama's Family show, Iola feels like just the sort of uncommon, vowel-rich, vintage name that…
English, French and Gaelic surname
"heather enclosure; battle; servant of Saint Catan"
The surname Hatton has three primary origins — English, French, and Irish/Scottish Gaelic. The English variation is a combination of compounds meaning "heather" and "settlement," while the French is…
Botanical name
From the botanical name for common heather, Calluna vulgaris , which ultimately derives from the Greek kallos "beauty". A unique, nature-inspired route to the fashionable nicknames Callie and Luna.
Fruit name
British-born novelist Plum Sykes has taken this rich, fruity name out of the produce section and put it into the baby name basket. It's more appealing than Apple, more presentable than Peaches. The…
Diminutive of Yolanda, Spanish
This perky Spanish nickname deserves to be more popular. Singer Michael Bublé recently used it as one of the middle names for his daughter Cielo, which may give Yoli a boost.
Flower name, elaboration of Aubrey
"trailing purple flower; elf ruler"
Aubrieta could be viewed as an alternative form of the popular Aubrey, however, it is also a botanical name. Named for illustrator and artist Claude Aubriet, it is a spreading, trailing plant with…
Elaboration of Iole, Greek
"violet, purple flower"
Bright, strong, and floral, Iolena could be an elaboration of the Greek name Iole meaning "violet". Other sources link it to the Hawaiian names Iolana or Iolina, meaning "to soar" and "God is…
Japanese
"love; indigo"
French form of Violina, Latin
"violet"
A sleek and distinctive variation of Viola, adapted from a Judeo-Italian diminutive, Violine may appeal to those who love Violet, but also Celine, Evangeline, and similar. Less popular than Violaine,…
Hungarian
"purple"
Catalan
"heather"
Pronounced like Bruce with a hard K — not like Brook. Short names are very popular in Catalonia, and this rugged choice is a rare example of a botanical boy name.
Italian, Greek
"hyacinth"
Flora and operatic in style, Giacinta comes from the Greek Hyacinthus, itself derived from the name of the purple hyacinth flower. The Italian relative of Spanish Jacinta, Giacinta is also the name…
Czech
The Czech word for the violet flower would make for a sweet and quirky nature name for a baby girl.
Plant and color name
"vivid purplish-red; tubular flower"
A plausible color name, it was chosen by the singer Sting as a middle name for his daughter, after a character in the Gormenghast fantasy trilogy, of which he's a big fan. Another bearer is Fuchsia…
The English cognate, Heather, is stuck in the '70s, but Hungarian Hanga is a modern hit in its country of origin.
