User-created list
Famous Dancers
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Rudolf
Spelling variation of Rudolph, German
"famous wolf"
You've got the red-nosed reindeer to transcend, but there are other distinguished personages named Rudolph, Rudolf, and Rudy.
Mikhail
Russian variation of Michael
"who is like God"
One of the most familiar Russian names in the West, thanks to ballet great Mikhail Baryshnikov and state head Mikhail Gorbachev.
Vaslav
Sergei
Russian variation of Sergius
Common Russian name of one of that country's most beloved saints, known for his kindness and gentility.
Misty
English
"mist"
The Play Misty for Me jokes will get old really fast.
Galina
Russian and Slavic feminine form of Galen, Greek
"calm, healer"
Commonly used in Russia, has an Old World Slavic feel. The original Galen can be used for girls as well as boys.
Agnes
Greek
"pure, virginal"
Agnes is the Latin variation of the name Hagne, which itself derived from the Greek word hagnos , meaning "chaste." In medieval times, St. Agnes was a very popular saint, leading to its popularity as…
Gelsey
Persian
"flower"
This name was given a lithe and graceful image by ballerina Gelsey Kirkland, but was later far surpassed by Kelsey and Chelsea.
Ninette
French diminutive of Ann
"grace"
Not quite Nanette and not quite Ninon, this is one of the more unusual 'ette' options. There was an eponymous Spanish film, starring Elsa Pataky, based on a novel.
Tamara
Hebrew
"date palm tree"
Adding a final a to Tamar lends it a more sensual Slavic tone, making it a more popular choice than the original.
Darcey
French, Irish
"from Arcy; dark one"
A surname style choice, familiarly used in the UK, Darcey is a variation of Darcy and Darcie. Popularized by ballerina Darcey Bussell, it currently ranks in the Top 400 in the UK, below the…
Ulyana
Ulyana is a feminine name of Slavic origin, primarily used in Russia, Ukraine, and other Eastern European countries. It derives from the Latin name Juliana, which comes from Julius, meaning…
Wendy
English, Celtic, Welsh
"friend or white"
It is popularly claimed that the name Wendy was invented by Sir James Barrie in 1904 for the big sister character in his play Peter Pan , which was followed by the classic novel in 1911. Barrie…
Svetlana
Russian
"star"
Popular Russian name, familiar here via author Svetlana Stalin, the dictator's daughter.
Dai
Japanese
"to shine"
Pronunciation would not be obvious to Americans.
Fanny
Diminutive of Frances, English from Latin
"from France; free man"
As this word is less often used to mean derriere, it becomes more possible to view Fanny as the kind of appealingly quaint nickname name, like Josie and Nellie, that many parents are favoring now.
Olga
Slavic variation of Helga, Norse
"holy"
This Slavic form of the Norse name Helga is a classic in many Slavic countries, including Russia and Poland, where it currently ranks within the Top 100 girl names. It has historically ranked among…
Carla
Feminization of Carl, German, Carlo, Italian, and Carlos, Spanish
"free man"
While Charlotte and Caroline are considered stylish and classic members of the Charles family, this Germanic form peaked in the US at Number 76 in 1965. It fell out of favor in the 2010s, but recent…
Mikayo
Jose manuel
Jose Manuel is a masculine compound name with Spanish origins that combines two classic names. Jose, derived from the Hebrew Yosef meaning "God will add," is the Spanish equivalent of Joseph. Manuel…