User-created list
By kellswor21 · Updated May 2023
Across 12 pages
of 12
Flemish and Dutch, contracted form of Derek
A perennial classic in the Netherlands, short-and-sweet Dirk is starting to feel like a fresher alternative to cousin Derek.
Compound name including Jessica or Jessa and Lyn
"to behold beauty"
With a hint of the floral Jessamyn, the familiarity of Jessica, and reminiscent of sweet but strong Jocelyn, this compound name was quietly but consistently used from the 80s until the mid 2010s when…
English occupational name
"shearer of woolen cloth"
Not quite as over-the-hill as Herman, but not far behind either.
English, diminutive of William
"resolute protection"
Most Bills today are dads...or grandpas. The younger Williams are usually nicknamed Will, or called by their full names.
Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Norse, "new day"
"new day"
If you're looking for a name with Scandinavian roots, Dagny makes a strong and appealing import. Derived from Old Norse, it means "new day", perfect for a girl born around New Year's or the change of…
English diminutive of Deborah, Hebrew
"bee"
The quintessential friendly fifties name, nearly epidemic in its day. Now many grownup Debbies have reverted to the full and lovely form of their name, which modern parents often avoid because of the…
German
"battle warrior"
When it's spelled with two dots over the ' u ' in German, Gunther is pronounced GUWN-ter, but it has a much softer sound when the 'h' is voiced by English-speakers, as it was, for example, for the…
Variation of Yiannis or Giannis, Greek
"God is Gracious"
A short form of Yiannis which is an alternative transcription of the Greek Giannis, which originates from the Biblical John. It might also be used as a form of other John variations too, such as…
Maori
"tree bark"
The name Kiri was made famous by New Zealand soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, whose original name was Claire. Cute but slight, Kiri is close to several other names from Kiriah to Keira to Kyra and its…
Color name
Fiery but slight middle name choice; much more apt to be a redhead's nickname.
Spanish, diminutive of Agostino, Justino, Martino, et al
This nickname name might be cute for a niño, but one of the full names ending in tino would make a more mature statement.
Diminutive of Melanie
"black, dark"
Not one but two Spice Girls are named Mel, which led to it briefly being more popular for girls than boys in the 90s and early 00s, but it has now fallen out of favor for both sexes.
Irish
"sorrowful"
Sadly, this strong Celtic name often has "of the sorrows" attached to it because of the tragic character in Irish legend. Also a bit drab when compared with newer Irish imports.
Latin, diminutive of Ignatius
"fiery"
Iggy is the quintessential pop star name, though it's the nickname Cate Blanchett uses for son Ignatius. Iggy does bring any grander-sounding name down to earth.
Scandinavian, variation of Elizabeth
"pledged to God"
One of the few versions of Elizabeth that hasn't translated here.
English, diminutive of Edward
"wealthy guardian"
Ned is a gently old-fashioned Nancy Drew-Bobbsey Twins-era short form for Edward that sounds cooler than Ed and is enjoying a small style renaissance. Usage of Ned in literature goes back to a Ben…
English, diminutive of Robert
"bright fame"
Kids love Bob the Builder, but do they want to be Bob the Builder? Bob and Bobby have been out of style since the 1960s, but as vintage nickname-names -- Fred, Archie -- come back into vogue, Bob may…
Grigor is the Armenian and Bulgarian form of Gregory, a name with Greek origins derived from 'gregorios,' meaning 'watchful' or 'vigilant.' Popular in Eastern European countries and among Armenian…
Mitch is a masculine name that originated as a diminutive of Mitchell, which itself began as a surname derived from the name Michael, meaning "who is like God?" in Hebrew. Mitch emerged as a…
Greek mythology name
The mythological queen whose perpetual weeping for her slain children turned her into a stone has always cast a pall over this name. Still, when other names with less-than-savory associations --…
