Character Names

A sleek, smooth, understated name off the grid in the US but among the Top 100 girl names in Germany. In the US, it is a unisex name, while in Germany and the Netherlands, it is predominantly feminine.

Nora is a lovely, refined name that conjures up images of Belle Epoch ladies in fur-trimmed coats skating in Central Park. Long seen as a quintessentially Irish name though its roots are not in Ireland, Nora is a quietly stylish favorite that's tiptoed to the top of the popularity ladder.

Ofelia is a feminine name with roots in ancient Greek literature, derived from the name Ophelia. It originated from the Greek word 'ophelos,' meaning 'help' or 'benefit.' This name gained literary prominence through Shakespeare's character in 'Hamlet.' The Spanish and Italian variant Ofelia has been particularly popular in Hispanic and Mediterranean cultures. Throughout history, it has conveyed a sense of tragic beauty and poetic elegance. In modern times, Ofelia has experienced renewed interest as parents seek names with classical origins and rich cultural significance. The name carries an air of sophistication and timeless appeal, with a hint of dramatic flair.

Paloma is vibrant and ruby-lipped a la jewelry designer Paloma Picasso, but it also suggests peace, as symbolized by the dove. Paloma is a highly recommended striking but soft name, one of the best of the names that mean peace and girls' names starting with P.

The spelling Pearce softens the name's sharper edges, though we prefer the original Piers. That "pear" snippet could confuse pronunciation, which is just like Pierce.

Selden is a masculine name with Old English origins, historically used as both a surname and given name. Derived from elements meaning 'good fortune' or 'blessed,' it carries positive connotations of luck and prosperity. As a first name, Selden peaked in popularity in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries but has remained quite rare throughout its history. The name has literary and intellectual associations through figures like John Selden, a noted 17th-century English jurist and scholar. With its soft consonants and distinctive sound, Selden offers a refined alternative to more common names. Its rarity gives it a distinguished quality while still being straightforward to spell and pronounce, appealing to parents seeking an uncommon name with historical depth.

Sleek and smart, with a hint of mystique about it, Silas is a recent addition to the US Top 100. Both mythological and Biblical in origin, Silas joins the ranks of Isaiah, Atlas, Elias, and Sebastian: polished and contemporary feeling names with plenty of history.

The name of several ancient kings and princes of Ireland, Tadhg became so common at one point that it was used to represent a kind of Irish Gaelic everyman, or man in the street, as Paddy and Mick would later. Tadhg has seen a major resurgence in recent years and is also now ranked in England.

It is sometimes used as the Irish equivalent of Timothy and is also anglicized as Teague and Thaddeus. Tadleigh and Thad are pet forms. Pronunciation is like tide ending with a g or like the first syllable of tiger.

This unusual Welsh mythological name just might appeal to architect parents wishing to honor Frank Lloyd Wright, who called his two famous residences Taliesin and Taliesin West.

While this is usually thought of as a girls' name because of the Bond Girl connection, its sound is masculine and there's no reason it couldn't work for boys.

Unusual and beautiful blue green color and name possibility, a la Cerulean.

If you're looking for a name that's light and breezy, this could be it. A name from mythology: Zephyrus/Zephyr was the Greek god of the west wind, and with its similarity in sound to the likes of Stefan or Seth, its zippy Z initial and cool Y, it is primed to rise up the US charts.