User-created list
By Myn · Updated May 2023
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Phonetic spelling of St. John
The name St. John is much more usable in its phonetic spelling — similar to the way St. Clair evolved into Sinclair. St. John has some literary cred — St. John Rivers is a cool character in Jane Eyre…
Latin
"heroic"
The name of Beethoven's third symphony, and too close to the word erotica.
"to be born again"
Common French and German alternative to Renata.
Hebrew
"gift"
Benevolent name found in Israel in several forms, including Doran and Doroni.
Dutch
"little girl"
Famke was introduced to this country via Dutch-born actress Famke Janssen, but is not likely to appeal to many American parents.
Variation of Laertes
An abbreviated, more modern-sounding version of Shakespearean and Ancient Greek name Laertes. If the "ae" is too confusing for you, Leart is another option.
Avivit is a feminine Hebrew name derived from the word 'aviv,' meaning 'spring' or 'renewal.' The suffix '-it' creates a feminine form, so Avivit essentially means 'springlike' or 'fresh.' This…
"fawn or gazelle"
Old Testament name of the daughter-in-law of Naomi, now eclipsed by the originally misspelled Oprah. Oprah Winfrey may have made her name more famous than this original Biblical version, but no baby…
French variation of William, German
"resolute protection"
An everyday name in France, a charismatic possibility elsewhere, Guillaume is a French form of the classic Germanic William. It's heyday was back in the 1980s and 90s, when it ranked in the French…
Greek mythology name
"the darkness of the night"
Name of the legendary ancient Greek poet and musician — whose music was so beautiful it made trees dance and rivers stop to listen — would provide a child with a challenging but indelible identity.
Short form of Ferdinand
"bold voyager"
Dinand is popular in the Netherlands thanks to a local singing sensation. Dinand is one of many Dutch short forms that come from the middle or end of a name -- think Bas for Sebastian or Hans from…
Welsh
"white flower"
An unusual floral -wen name which was the name of an 1878 opera by Welsh composer Joseph Parry.
Slavic
Lada is the Slavic goddess of youth, merriment, beauty and fertility, usually associated with spring. Her name is referenced in wedding and folk songs in Eastern Europe, but largely unknown in the…
Old English
"Strength of the army"
Hereswith is a rare name that comes to us from the dark ages. She was a Northumbrian saint, whose more famous sister, Hilda, was the Abbess at Whitby and patron of the first English poet, Caedmon.…
German
"prospers in battle"
Wears long blonde braids, carries a spear, and sings duets with Brunhild. But variations Ottilie, Ottiline, or Ottoline are both unusual and chic.
Greek
"mournful grip"
An interesting figure from Greek mythology -- an Amazon queen who fought for Troy in the Trojan War -- but no figure could be interesting enough to make that five-syllable mouthful usable today.…
Saxon
"battle swan"
An ancient name belonging to "the most beautiful of all women" in Germanic mythology, whose tragic story features in many northern European legends. The daughter of Sigurd and Gudrun, her jealous…
French, related to "apple"
"apple"
A rarely heard--even in France--name, most prominent as the third name of Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi, the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco and granddaughter of Grace Kelly.
"five"
Roman statesman and Caesar rival whose name, like other classical choices, was occasionally used for enslaved people. The Pompeo version could rise again.
French word name
"Girls Gone Child" blogger Rebecca Woolf made Boheme a first name when she gave it to one of her twin daughters (the other one's name is Reverie). La Boheme -- "The Bohemian" -- is a Puccini opera…
