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The Fairy Godmother

namesfrombooks
By namesfrombooks
Updated Thu May 25 2023
The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey
  1. Alexander

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "defending men"

    • Description:

      Alexander has been in a Top 25 boys' name in the US for 30 years now. But namers are still attracted to its imposing historic pedigree.
  2. Arachnia
    • Bella

      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Isabella, Italian

      • Meaning:

        "beautiful"

      • Description:

        Everything ella, from Ella to Bella to Arabella, is red hot right now. Bella is one of the most, well, beautiful girl names starting with B. It carried a hint of a nice Old World grandmotherly veneer, until it became attached to Twilight's Bella Swan.
    • Bertram

      • Origin:

        German

      • Meaning:

        "bright raven"

      • Description:

        Old Norman name last current in the 1930s, and firmly in our 'so far out it will always be out' category – despite its appearance as a Hogwarts student in Harry Potter. This is the full first name of P.G. Wodehouse's inimitable Bertie Wooster.
    • Blanche

      • Origin:

        French

      • Meaning:

        "white"

      • Description:

        Blanche, which originated as a nickname for a pale blonde and then became associated with the notion of purity, was in style a century ago, ranking in the double digits until 1920. She then had to fight the stereotype of faded Southern belle, a la Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire and Blanche Devereaux in TV's Golden Girls. Now all three of the Golden Girls--Blanche, Rose and Dorothy--could be ready for revival, with Blanche sounding like a stronger, simpler alternative to Bianca.
    • Clarissa

      • Origin:

        Elaboration of Clara

      • Meaning:

        "bright, clear"

      • Description:

        Clarissa, the daintier version of Claire, has a long literary history of its own, having been featured in the novels of Samuel Richardson, Charles Dickens, and Virginia Woolf—Clarissa was the title character of Mrs. Dalloway—not to mention the 1990s teen sitcom, Clarissa Explains it All.
    • Colin

      • Origin:

        English diminutive of Nicholas or Irish and Scottish

      • Meaning:

        "people of victory; pup"

      • Description:

        Thanks to its dashing Anglo-Irish image — due partly to Colins Firth and Farrell — and its C-initialed two-syllable sound, Colin and its cousin Collin have enjoyed a long run of popularity, reaching as high as Number 84 in 2004.
    • 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.
    • Delphinium
      • Elena

        • Origin:

          Spanish, Italian, German, Greek variation of Helen

        • Meaning:

          "bright, shining light"

        • Description:

          Elena is at its most popular point ever in the US, thanks to its cross-cultural appeal and the overall popularity of El- names. It's more international than Ellen or Eleanor, but still accessible.
      • Esteban

        • Origin:

          Spanish variation of Stephen, Greek

        • Meaning:

          "garland, crown"

        • Description:

          One of several Latino favorites on U. S. popularity list, Esteban sounds solid and strong. Esteban has ranked among the US Top 500 names for boys for half a century now, making it a familiar name that successfully crosses cultures.
      • Fleur

        • Origin:

          French

        • Meaning:

          "flower"

        • Description:

          Fleur is a generic, delicate flower name that emigrated into the English-speaking world when John Galsworthy bestowed it on one of the Forsytes in his celebrated saga. More recently, there was Fleur Delacour, a French witch and the Beauxbatons champion for the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter.
      • Florian

        • Origin:

          Latin

        • Meaning:

          "flowering"

        • Description:

          If Flora and Florence have returned full force, Florian, with its trendy Latinate ending, could also have a chance. Popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and France, St Florian was the venerated patron saint of those in danger from water and the patron saint of firefighters.
      • Hob

        • Origin:

          English, diminutive of Robert

        • Meaning:

          "bright fame"

        • Description:

          A Robert nickname out of use for hundreds of years, but now sounds cooler than Bob or Rob for a modern boy.
      • Huon

        • Origin:

          Tasmanian tree name

        • Meaning:

          "huon river pine"

        • Description:

          A name gaining recognition in Australia, based on the huon pine tree which grows in Tasmania. Boatbuilders especially love this rare wood, which floats well, is resistant to rot, and has a strong pine-y scent.
      • Henrick
        • Hessian
          • Jacques

            • Origin:

              French variation of James and Jacob

            • Meaning:

              "supplanter"

            • Description:

              Regal and ancient feeling, Jacques has been declining in popularity in its native France, but in the UK, it saw a surprising revival in 2022. Jumping from somewhere around the #2500 mark straight to #600, it was seven times more popular than in 2021.
          • Julian

            • Origin:

              English from Latin, variation of Julius

            • Meaning:

              "youthful, downy-bearded, or sky father"

            • Description:

              Cool and charming, with plenty of flair and sophistication, Julian manages to strike the balance between being a sensible classic and contemporary choice. Appealingly international, it is no wonder Julian is a rising star.
          • Kylia

            • Description:

              Kylia is a modern feminine name with possible Greek origins, likely derived from the element 'kylie' meaning 'boomerang' in Australian Aboriginal language, or as a variant of Kylie. Some sources suggest it could be related to the Greek word 'kalos' meaning 'beautiful.' Kylia emerged in the late 20th century in the United States but remains relatively uncommon. The name has a melodic quality with its soft 'k' sound and flowing 'lia' ending, giving it an elegant and contemporary feel. Parents might choose Kylia seeking a unique alternative to more common names like Kylie, Kayla, or Kyla while maintaining a similar sound pattern.