Symmetrical Names
- Ava
Origin:
Hebrew, Latin or GermanicMeaning:
"life; bird; water, island"Description:
Ava is one of the prime examples of a modern classic name, rising thought the course of a generation into the Top 10, where it has lingered for nearly 20 years.
- Otto
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"wealthy"Description:
Otto is cool again. Long a quintessential Old Man Name, Otto has been promoted to trending darling of adventurous baby namers.
- Asa
Origin:
Hebrew; JapaneseMeaning:
"healer; born in the morning"Description:
A short but strong biblical name with multicultural appeal, Asa is enjoying new visibility thanks to hot young actor Asa Butterfield of Hugo fame.
- Ada
Origin:
German or TurkishMeaning:
"noble, nobility, or island"Description:
Ada is one of the classic baby names for girls that is suddenly super stylish again. A favorite at the end of the nineteenth century, Ada is an alternative to the over-popular Ava. Ada is also part of the trend toward simple, old-fashioned names beginning with a vowel, like Ivy and Ella.
- Hannah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Hannah is one of the nation's top biblical girls' names — it surpassed Sarah in 1998, and ranks in the Top 100 along with Elizabeth, Abigail, Chloe, and Naomi. Hannah is a name with many sources of appeal: Old Testament roots, soft and gentle sound, and a homey yet aristocratic image.
- Anna
Origin:
Variation of Hannah, HebrewMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Anna has become the dominant form of the Ann family, offering a touch of the international to English speakers and a bit more style than the oversimplified Ann or Anne.
- Eve
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"life"Description:
Eve, the oldest name in the Book, is now coming back into style, having the virtues of simplicity and purity, yet with more strength and resonance than other single-syllable names like Ann. British actor Clive Owen chose Eve for his daughter, as did Jessica Capshaw.
- Aya
Origin:
Japanese, Hebrew, Danish, ArabicMeaning:
"colorful, design; honey buzzard, bird; rock, lull, happiness; sign, verse"Description:
Aya, barely more than a breath, is an international favorite, with origins in several languages and cultures. Popular throughout Europe, it ranks in the US Top 1000 and was chosen for nearly 470 babies in a recent year.
- Elle
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"she"Description:
Combine the charming heroine of the movie Legally Blonde with supermodel Elle Macpherson and the trend toward all names beginning with "el"—Ellie, Ella, Eleanor—and you have one hit name.
- Ana
Origin:
Variation of HannahMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Confident and compact, Ana is a widely used variation of the Biblical Hannah. Favored in Spain, Slovenia, Bosnia, Portugal, and Croatia, this shorter spelling has the same substance and versatility of its longer counterparts.
- Aviva
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"springlike, fresh, dewy"Description:
Aviva is vivacious and memorable, a fresh spin on the Vivian and Vivienne names that have been getting more popular since Angelina and Brad chose one for their twin daughter. Another A-beginning palindrome name: Aziza.
- Ara
Origin:
ArmenianMeaning:
"king"Description:
Simple and yet distinctive, Ara is a mythological name of a famously handsome king. Although it originated as a boys' name, in the contemporary US, it's now much more commonly used for girls.
- Aziza
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"powerful and beloved"Description:
Aziza is a zippy palindromic choice that is the female variation of Aziz and is found in several Middle Eastern and African languages and cultures. All in all, an attractive and interesting option; a Turkish variation is Azize. In African mythology, the Azizi are a supernatural race of forest dwellers who give practical and spiritual advice.
- Pip
Origin:
English, diminutive of PhilipMeaning:
"lover of horses"Description:
The original Pip was the main character in Great Expectations (full name Philip Pirrip). Cute for a tike, maybe too cute for an adult.
- Olo
Description:
Olo is a compact masculine name with diverse cultural connections. In Polynesian languages, particularly Hawaiian, it can relate to concepts of voice or sound. In some African traditions, the name may be connected to words for greatness or authority. The brevity of Olo gives it a distinctive, modern feel despite its ancient roots in various cultures. The repetition of the 'o' sound creates a melodic, balanced quality that makes it memorable and easy to pronounce across language boundaries. Extremely rare in the United States, Olo maintains an exotic appeal while being simple to spell and say. The name might particularly resonate with parents seeking a minimalist name with international connections or those looking to honor Polynesian or certain African cultural heritages in a subtle yet authentic way.
- Arora
Description:
Arora is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. Primarily, it relates to the Latin word 'aurora' meaning 'dawn' and referring to the Roman goddess of morning. It's also a variant spelling of Aurora. In Indian culture, Arora (sometimes spelled Arora or Arora) is a Punjabi surname and community name. As a given name, it has gained moderate popularity in recent decades, particularly appealing to parents seeking names with natural meanings and multicultural connections. The name carries beautiful associations with light, new beginnings, and the natural phenomenon of the aurora borealis (northern lights). Its melodious sound with the flowing 'r' sounds and open vowels gives it a graceful, contemporary feel while maintaining connections to ancient mythological roots.
- Issi
Origin:
Choctaw, Native American, EnglishMeaning:
"deer; pledged to God"Description:
As a Choctaw name, Issi is an animal inspired choice, in which the double S is pronounced with a pause between like in "dress suit."
- Ebbe
Origin:
Danish and Swedish diminutive of Eberhard, German, or Esben, DanishMeaning:
"brave boar; god bear"Description:
A Top 30 name in Sweden, derived from Eberhard (brave boar) or Esben (god bear) – either way, a strong meaning.
- Mim
Origin:
Diminutive of MiriamDescription:
A hum of a name occasionally heard. Madame Mim was a villain in Disney's "The Sword in the Stone."
- Okko
Description:
Okko is a Finnish masculine name with roots in ancient Germanic languages. It's thought to be a variant of the name Otto, which means 'wealth' or 'prosperity.' In Finnish culture, Okko carries connotations of strength and resilience. While not widely used internationally, it maintains steady popularity in Finland and other Scandinavian countries. The name has a distinctive sound with its double 'k' consonant, making it memorable yet easy to pronounce across many languages. In recent years, Okko has seen modest growth in usage beyond Scandinavia, appreciated for its brief, powerful phonetics and unique character.
