Favourite names
- Bea
Origin:
Diminutive of BeatriceMeaning:
"she who brings happiness"Description:
Bea is a former old lady name that's cute again as a short form -- and is now beginning to stand on its own. Bee is a variation that, like Bea, can work as a diminutive for any name that starts with the letter B, or in the middle. Bea actually stood alone on the popularity lists for four years at the beginning of the twentieth century--and it could happen again.
- Elouisa
Description:
Elouisa is an elegant feminine name that represents an elaborate variant of Louisa or Eloise. Combining elements of both names, it has French and Germanic origins. The name derives from 'famous warrior' or 'renowned fighter,' from the Germanic elements 'fame' and 'battle.' Elouisa offers a more ornate alternative to its root names while maintaining their classic charm and sophisticated sound. Though relatively uncommon, Elouisa appeals to parents seeking a name with historical depth but distinctive character. The name carries a romantic, somewhat aristocratic quality reminiscent of 19th-century literature. With nickname possibilities including Ellie, Lou, or Lulu, Elouisa provides versatility while maintaining its refined full form. Its rarity ensures individuality while its roots provide historical grounding.
- Essa
Description:
Essa is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Arabic, it's a variation of Isa (the Arabic form of Jesus) and means 'God is salvation.' In Irish contexts, Essa derives from the Gaelic 'os' meaning 'deer' or possibly as a diminutive of Esther. In some South Asian cultures, particularly in Pakistan and India, Essa appears as both a feminine and masculine name. The name remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, making it a distinctive choice. Its brevity and melodic quality with soft consonants give it an appealing, gentle sound while maintaining a unique character. Essa has seen modest usage in recent decades without becoming mainstream, appealing to parents seeking a simple yet uncommon name with multicultural resonance.
- Jana
Origin:
International feminine variation of JanDescription:
A sweet name with many cross-cultural ties: it's an equivalent of Jane in languages including Czech, Slovak, Dutch, German, Slovene, Catalan, Estonian, and Latvian.
- Lavender
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"purple flower"Description:
Lavender lags far behind sweet-smelling purple-hued sister names Violet and Lila, but is starting to get some enthusiastic attention from cutting-edge namers along with other adventurous nature names like Clementine and Marigold.
- Luella
Origin:
Spelling variation of LouellaMeaning:
"battle famous fairy maiden"Description:
Luella is a sleeker spelling variant of the girls' name Louella and is now more popular than the original. Sweet, but lively, it was a popular name in the the early 19th century, but fell out of favor in the 50s. Now, after a 60 year absence, it's back in the charts, in the US and the UK.
- Oliver
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"olive tree or elf army"Description:
Oliver is an international star, ranking near the top of the charts in the US and throughout the English-speaking world, along with a host of European and Latin American countries, from Norway to Chile, Slovenia to Switzerland.
- Peony
Origin:
Flower name; LatinMeaning:
"healing"Description:
One of the rarest of the floral names, though not without some teasing potential. Peony is a historical 1948 novel by Pearl S. Buck.
- Sunny
Origin:
English nicknameDescription:
Upbeat nickname-name that can't help but make you smile. You might want to use it as a short form for a more "serious" name such as Sunniva, but Sunny is undeniably, well, sunny.