Food Names

Daphne

• Origin:

  Greek

• Meaning:

  "laurel tree, bay tree"

• Description:

  In Greek mythology, Daphne was the nymph daughter of Peneus, a river god. Peneus saved Daphne from Apollo’s romantic obsessions by transforming her into a laurel tree. It is from this myth that the plant genus daphne, which contains the laurel species, gets its name.

Juniper

• Origin:

  Latin tree name

• Meaning:

  "young"

• Description:

  Juniper is a fresh-feeling nature name -- it's a small evergreen shrub -- with lots of energy. A new favorite of fashionable parents, Juniper joins such other tree and shrub names as Hazel, Acacia, and Willow.

Charlotte

• Origin:

  French, feminine diminutive of Charles

• Meaning:

  "free man"

• Description:

  Charlotte is the feminine form of the male given name Charles. It derived from Charlot, a French diminutive of Charles meaning "little Charles," and the name of Charlemagne’s son in French literature and legend. The name was popularized by England's Queen Charlotte Sophia, wife of King George III.

Clementine

• Origin:

  French feminine version of Clement, Latin

• Meaning:

  "mild, merciful"

• Description:

  Clementine is a Nameberry favorite that has finally broken back into the US Top 1000 after more than half a century off the list. Still, its style value may mean there are more Clementines than you might guess in your neighborhood—it may be a name that raises Mom's eyebrows, but it won't surprise your friends.

Sage

• Origin:

  Herb name; Latin

• Meaning:

  "wise"

• Description:

  Sage is an evocatively fragrant herbal name that also connotes wisdom, giving it a double advantage. It entered the Top 1000 at about the same time for both genders in the early 1990s, but it has pulled ahead for the girls. Toni Collette named her daughter Sage Florence.

Olive

• Origin:

  English, from Latin, nature name

• Meaning:

  "olive tree"

• Description:

  Though greatly overshadowed by the trendy Olivia, Olive has a quiet, subtle appeal of its own -- and is now enjoying a remarkable comeback. Olive is one of only four girl names starting with O on the US Top 1000. Cool couple Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen chose it for their daughter, reviving the name to stylishness, and now Drew Barrymore has a little Olive too, as has country singer Jake Owen.

Jasmine

• Origin:

  Flower name, from Persian

• Meaning:

  "gift from God"

• Description:

  Jasmine was derived from the Persian word yasmin, referring to the jasmine flower. Scented oil was made from the plant, and it was used as a perfume throughout the Persian Empire. Variants include Jazmin, Yasmin, Yasmine, and Jessamine.

Rue

• Origin:

  Botanical names or word name

• Meaning:

  "herb; regret"

• Description:

  Rue has gone from Golden Girls actress to Hunger Games heroine. This botanical name is also a coincidental double word name, meaning "regret" in English and "street in" French. Despite these unfortunate secondary meanings, Rue has real potential to be one of the most popular new middle names for girls.

Cassia

• Origin:

  Feminine form of Cassius or Greek

• Meaning:

  "cinnamon"

• Description:

  Cassia is related to the cassia tree, which has yellow flowers and produces a spice that can be a substitute for cinnamon. Keziah, the name of Job’s daughter in the Old Testament, derives from the name of the plant as well. Cassia also has ties to the Ancient Roman name Cassius, an Ancient Roman family name meaning "hollow."

Laura

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "bay laurel"

• Description:

  Laura is a hauntingly evocative perennial, never trendy, never dated, feminine without being fussy, with literary links stretching back to Dante. All this makes Laura a more solid choice than any of its more decorative counterparts and one of the most classic girl names starting with L.

Lavender

• Origin:

  English

• Meaning:

  "flower and color name"

• Description:

  Lavender lags far behind sweet-smelling purple-hued sister names Violet and Lilac, but is starting to get some enthusiastic attention from cutting-edge namers. It does have a history as a name, going back to the eighteenth century, when it was also used for boys. But its recent attention comes from Lavender Brown, a witch character in the Harry Potter saga – though Lavender had also been previously featured as a best friend character in Roald Dahl's Matilda.

Rosemary

• Origin:

  Latin or English

• Meaning:

  "dew of the sea, or rosemary (herb)"

• Description:

  Despite appearances, Rosemary is not a “smoosh” name, not even a traditional one. The name derives from two Latin terms “Ros” meaning ‘dew’ and “Marinus” “meaning “of the sea”. The plant was termed ‘dew of the sea’ due to its salty texture and its ability to thrive in coastal climes. Only after the Middle Ages did the English names of Rose and Mary become interchanged with the name Rosmarinus and give us the modern name we use today.

Madeleine

• Origin:

  French variation of Magdalen

• Meaning:

  "woman from Magdala or high tower"

• Description:

  Madeleine is the French spelling preferred by parents who like to put the proper point on things, though the one used by the little girl who lives in the old house in Paris all covered in vines is Madeline.

Basil

• Origin:

  Greek

• Meaning:

  "regal"

• Description:

  Although Greek in origin--in the fourth century, a bishop by that name established the principles of the Greek Orthodox Church--Basil for years took on the aura of aquiline-nosed upper-class Britishness of Sherlock Holmes portrayer Basil Rathbone, then spiced with the fragrant aroma of the herb that entered with the Pesto generation.

Araminta

• Origin:

  Invented hybrid name from Arabella and Aminta

• Description:

  Araminta is an enchanting eighteenth-century invention familiar in Britain and just beginning to be discovered here. It was used in 1693 by William Congreve in his comedy The Old Bachelor, and in 1705 by the versatile Sir John Vanbrugh, architect of Blenheim Palace as well as a playwright, for his comedy The Confederacy.

Angelica

• Origin:

  Italian, Polish, Russian diminutive of Angela

• Meaning:

  "angel or angelic"

• Description:

  Angelica is by far the choicest form of the angelic names -- more delicate than Angelina, more feminine than Angel, more modern than Angela. But though Angelica is so lacy and poetic, it lags behind the bolder Angelina (probably for obvious reasons).

Saffron

• Origin:

  Spice name

• Description:

  Spice names are increasingly appealing to the senses of prospective parents; this one, belonging to a precious spice derived from the crocus has a vaguely orange-scented-incense sixties feel.

Honey

• Origin:

  Word name

• Description:

  A term of endearment turned cute British celebrity baby name, used by actress Kate Winslet, chef Jamie Oliver, and TV presenter Fearne Cotton, among others. Honey was given to only 40 girls in the US in 2017, but it's relatively popular across the pond, where it ranks in the current Top 500 baby names for girls.

Peaches

• Origin:

  English fruit name

• Description:

  Unlike the other fruit names that are just coming onto the baby name menu, Peaches is an old-timey nickname previously reserved for spangled showgirls, and now would be considered an outrageous -- verging on hip -- choice.

Ambrosia

• Origin:

  Greek mythology name or feminine form of Ambrose, Latin

• Meaning:

  "Immortal"

• Description:

  Ambrosia combines some of the more whimsical qualities of more popular Aurora and Isabella, with a heavenly meaning.

Maple

• Origin:

  English tree name from Latin

• Meaning:

  "piece of cloth"

• Description:

  If Apple and Juniper, Oak and Pine can be baby names, why not Maple? Why not indeed. We've heard Maple starting to be used quietly, but with its lush sound and attractive image, we predict its use as a first name will grow — and its choice by the Jason Batemans — who combined it with the sweet middle name Sylvie — will only accelerate that growth.

Peach

Rye

• Origin:

  English, diminutive of Ryder, or word name

• Description:

  Rye has the potential to become the masculine version of Rue—a short and sweet name for nature lovers (and whiskey fans too!).

Pepper

• Origin:

  English from Latin

• Meaning:

  "berry"

• Description:

  Parents are beginning to scan the whole spice shelf for inspiration, picking up on Saffron, Sage, and Cinnamon -- and opening up a chance for this spiciest possibility of all; used for peppy TV characters.

Melina

• Origin:

  Greek

• Meaning:

  "little honey"

• Description:

  This traditional Greek name feels somewhat more distinctive than Melissa, though after a recent upward blip in popularity, it seems to be sliding back down -- which may not be a bad thing for parents looking for a name that both fits in and stands out.

Cherry

• Origin:

  Fruit name

• Description:

  With other fruity names like Clementine, Olive and Plum ripe for the picking, sweet Cherry remains remarkably underused: just 27 baby girls received the name in 2017, down from 343 at its peak in 1948. The unsavory slang meaning no doubt goes a long way towards explaining its fall from grace.

Nori

• Origin:

  Japanese

• Meaning:

  "doctrine or seaweed"

• Description:

  Japanese name that would have no trouble assimilating--though many would associate it with the dried seaweed used to wrap sushi. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West use Nori as a nickname for their daughter North.

Camellia

• Origin:

  Flower name, from Czech surname

• Meaning:

  "Kamel's flower"

• Description:

  Camellia is a rare flower name with distinct roots related to the Camille/Camila group and has varied associations to the moon, water, wealth, and perfection. It could be thought of as a floral replacement for Amelia.

Ginger

• Origin:

  English diminutive

• Description:

  Originally a unisex nickname for a redhead -- red hair is called "ginger" in Britain -- or for the name Virginia, Ginger perennially wears pink gingham and spike heels.

Strawberry

• Origin:

  Fruit name

• Description:

  Another entry in the fruit name category, this one borne by writer Strawberry Saroyan, granddaughter of William, so named by her hippie parents. While fruit names may become more familiar, they'll never pass without comment -- but maybe that's what you're looking for.

Huckleberry

• Origin:

  Word name and literary name

• Description:

  Everybody knows Huckleberry Finn, the Mark Twain character named, Twain said, for the 19th century slang term for "humble." A few modern parents have put it on a birth certificate, including "Man Vs. Wild" star Bear Grylls, who, like many parents, will call the boy the much more manageable Huck. It was also the name of a child on TV's West Wing,

Pamela

• Origin:

  English

• Meaning:

  "all honey"

• Description:

  Pam was a somewhat pampered prom queen of the sixties who was never called by her full name, which is a pity because Pamela is so mellifluous and rich in literary history. A Top 25 name from the late 1940's through the late 60's, Pamela has just, sadly, dropped out of the Top 1000.

Plum

• Origin:

  Fruit name

• Description:

  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 French equivalent, Prune, is very fashionable there but would not fly with English speakers.

Apple

• Origin:

  English nature name

• Meaning:

  "apple"

• Description:

  When people talk about unique baby names, Apple is often one of the first examples they mention. Apple made international headlines when Gwyneth Paltrow chose this wholesome fruit name for her daughter. Many have called it ridiculous, but we have to admit, we find it appealing enough to list as one of our top cute baby names. Rocker Bob Geldof named one of his daughters Peaches; Banana Yoshimoto is a hipster writer. Another choice in this genre is the luscious Plum, though for different reasons, neither Prune nor Cherry will fly.

Lemon

• Origin:

  American fruit name

• Description:

  Lemon is one of the more unique names related to fruit, compared with sisters Clementine and Apple. That may be because lemon is also a word that's slang for a clunker, something that doesn't work very well. No baby wants to feel like a Lemon, so this is one of those unusual names that is best avoided.

Amandine

• Origin:

  French, diminutive of Amanda

• Meaning:

  "much-loved"

• Description:

  This fragrant, almond-scented name has hardly been heard in this country, which is a pity--we've loved it since John Malkovich used it for his now grown daughter.

Bay

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "berry"

• Description:

  One of the most usable of the pleasant, newly adopted nature/water names (like Lake and Ocean), especially in middle position.

Fig

• Origin:

  Fruit name

• Description:

  Fig was the unlikely name of a beautiful character in Curtis Sittenfeld's Man of My Dreams. Better bets: Plum, Quince, or even Apple. Still, you might consider Fig as an unusual nickname for any more formal F-starting name, from Frances to Fiona.

Mint

• Origin:

  English word name or diminutive of Araminta, English from Greek and Latin

• Meaning:

  "mint; defender; yielding to prayer"

• Description:

  You may be tempted to scoff at Mint as another wacky celebrity baby name — it was used by Dutch model Romee Strijd for her daughter in 2020 — but it's a far more legitimate choice than many would guess. Minty baby names for girls are having a style moment in Nordic countries — Mynte is a Top 50 name in Denmark, and Minttu ranks in Finland's Top 50. It's ultimately not so surprising that a well-traveled international star would choose to use the English variation of these names for her daughter.

Jarah

• Origin:

  Hebrew

• Meaning:

  "honeycomb or honeysuckle"

• Description:

  This Old Testament name feels feminine to a modern English speaker, thought the Biblical Jarah was male. In the most recent year counted, there were seven girls and five boys given the name. With the rise of Biblical boys' names that end in vowel sounds like Noah and Ezra, Jarah may have new possibilities for boys. An alternate spelling is Jarrah, which is also a distinct Arabic name. Jared and Jareth are unrelated but similar-sounding Biblical choices for boys.

Grainne

• Origin:

  Irish

• Meaning:

  "grain or love"

• Description:

  Grainne is the Gaelic form of the phonetic Grania. It was the name of the ancient grain goddess and also of the fiancee of mythological hero Finn McCool and lover of Dermot who was a heroine of the seas. In the past, the name was anglicized as Grace.

Cinnamon

• Origin:

  English

• Meaning:

  "spice name"

• Description:

  A sweet and rare spice name, which made its first and only appearance on the US baby name charts in 1969 – the year Neil Young's song "Cinnamon Girl" was released.

Bran

• Origin:

  Diminutive of Brandon

• Meaning:

  "broom-covered hill"

• Description:

  A little heavy on the fiber content; we prefer Bram. But Bran is also the Celtic god of the underworld, whose symbol is the raven.

Dulce

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "sweet"

• Description:

  Popular Portuguese and Spanish name that refers to "dulce nombre de Maria" -- the sweet name of the Virgin Mary. English variant Dulcie has a different pronunciation.

Kale

• Origin:

  Modern invented name

• Description:

  Whether you think of it as Cale with a K, or a pet form of Kalen or Kaleb, this is just the kind of short, synthetic name finding a lot of favor now, but remember -- it's also the name of a vegetable.

Nacho

• Origin:

  Word name or short form of Ignacio

• Description:

  Not unless you want your son to grow up to be just like a wacky Jack Black character.

Bramble

• Origin:

  Nature name

• Meaning:

  "blackberry shrub"

• Description:

  Related to blackberry plants and colloquially to any thorny shrub, Bramble also has history as an English surname.

Chadwick

• Origin:

  English

• Meaning:

  "dairy farm"

• Description:

  Chadwick Boseman, the charismatic star of Marvel's blockbuster Black Panther, brought this name to the spotlight for the first time. Though we long considered it an overwrought way to get to the nickname chad, his celebrity gives it new luster, and we wouldn't be surprised to see it grow in popularity going forward.

Kaede

• Origin:

  Japanese

• Meaning:

  "maple tree"

• Description:

  No - not a creative spelling of Cade. This name, which can be used for boys or girls, means maple tree. Kaede is unusual in Japan although it has been gaining more popularity after it has been used for several anime and manga characters.

Berry

• Origin:

  Nature name

• Description:

  With the recent arrival of fruit names like Apple and Plum, this more traditional example, symbolic of fertility, might rise in popularity. Photographer Berry Berenson was born Berinthia.