Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
Fairy Tale Names
Across 8 pages
of 8
Ferdinand
German
"bold voyager"
Ferdinand is a traditional name among Spanish royal families and also appears in Shakespeare's The Tempest , borne by the handsome young prince shipwrecked on Prospero's island. Bold, daring, and…
Faline
Popular culture, Latin
"catlike"
For many, this is a Disneyfied name: Faline was the sweet doe Bambi fell in love with. The name is possibly based on Feline, a Latin name meaning "cat-like", however other sources suggest it comes…
Jeff
Diminutive of Jeffrey, Jefferson
"pledge of peace"
The ultimate dad name.
Jemmy
Jemmy is a masculine name with historical roots as a diminutive form of James, which ultimately derives from Hebrew meaning 'supplanter.' While now uncommon as a formal name, Jemmy was more widely…
Jesper
Jesper is a masculine name of Scandinavian origin, particularly popular in Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands. It developed as a variation of the name Jasper, which derives from Persian meaning…
Eulalie
French form of Eulalia, Greek
"sweetly speaking"
Eulalie hasn't ranked in the US Top 1000 since 1899, but its French roots might make it more appealing to modern ears than its sister Eulalia. "Eulalie" is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, and the name…
Emilienne
Emilienne is an elegant feminine name with French origins. It serves as the feminine form of Emilien, which derives from the Roman family name Aemilius, meaning 'rival' or 'eager.' This sophisticated…
Jubal
Latin
"ram's horn"
This unusual name might be a possibility for musical families: Jubal was credited in Genesis with the invention of the lyre, flute, harp, and organ. It also has a jubilant feel through its sound and…
Judy
Diminutive of Judith, Hebrew
"He will be praised or woman from Judea"
Judy was the nickname of choice for almost all the Judiths born in the 1940s and 50s; today's little Judiths are much more likely to be called Judith -- or, possibly, Jude.
Emilien
French form of Emil
"friendly"
Might make a worthy masculine spin on either of the uber popular Emma or Emily.
Kathleen
Anglicized form of Irish Caitlin
"pure"
Kathleen is the early Irish import version that came between Katherine and Kaitlin, and which hasn't been used in so long it's almost beginning to sound fresh again. It was a surprise pick by one of…
Elsa
German diminutive of Elisabeth
"pledged to God"
Lost in limbo for decades and decades, Elsa now stands a good chance of following along in the progression from Emma to Ella to Etta, thanks to the ice queen heroine who "Let It Go" in the wildly…
Kisa
"cat"
"cat"
Elfie
Elfie is a charming feminine name with Germanic and Scandinavian roots. It originated as a diminutive form of names containing the element 'alf' or 'elf', which in Germanic mythology referred not to…
Liban
Liban is a masculine name with multicultural origins and meanings. In Somali culture, where it is most prominently used, Liban relates to concepts of prosperity and well-being. The name also appears…
Ellen
English variation of Helen
"torch; shining light"
An medieval English form of Helen, the sensitive but clear-eyed Ellen has swung in and out of style for centuries, often alternating with the parent name. Ellen was the more common in medieval…
Llewellyn
Welsh, variation of Llywelyn
"leader's image"
Llewellyn/Llywelyn is a common patriotic first name in Wales, with its distinctive Welsh double LL's; in the U.S. Llewellyn would make a daring choice, though with the chance that some might find the…
Elin
Swedish variation of Ellen
The Elin variation makes an old favorite sleeker and more modern. Elin came to prominence via the ex-Mrs.Tiger Woods and is now perhaps best known via novelist Elin Hildebrand.. It entered the US Top…
Donal
Scottish variation of Donald
"proud chief"
Donal is, yes, just Donald with the final d cut off, but that somehow gives it a jauntier, fresher feel. Donal Logue is a Canadian actor and Donal Skehan is an Irish cookbook author.
Darby
Irish, English, Norse
"free from envy; from the deer estate"
Once a common boy name in Ireland, the dynamic Darby now has a definite unisex feel. A bit like a mash up between Darcy and Ruby, it appeared in the US Top 1000 in the 90s, peaking in 1995 when it…