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Nils
Scandinavian variation of Nicholas
"people of victory"
Like Lars, Sven, Niels, and Nels, an unjustly neglected straightforward Scandinavian name. Surname Nilsson or the anglicized Nelson derives from Nils.
Norman
English
"northerner, Norseman"
Norman, perhaps because it sounds so much like the word 'normal', conjures up the image of a normal-looking guy with a normal kind of job-- not necessarily an image many modern parents seek for their…
Obadiah
Hebrew
"servant of God"
For the seriously audacious biblical baby namer who wants to move beyond Elijah and Josiah, this name has considerable old-fangled charm. Obadiah, who gave his name to one of the shortest books in…
Odile
French variation of German Otthild
"prospers in battle"
Odette's evil Swan Lake twin -- gives the name a sinuous, sensuous appeal. It was a popular choice in France in the 20th century and made the Top 40 back in 1952, however, it has since fallen out of…
Oliva
Oliva is a feminine name with Latin roots, serving as a variation of Olive or Olivia. Derived from the Latin word for the olive tree, 'oliva,' it symbolizes peace, fertility, and victory in classical…
Ora
Latin
"prayer"
Short and slight, with great potential now that names like Ava, Ida and Orla are popular. Ora Beach is a tourist destination on Seram Island, Indonesia.
Orpha
Variation of Orpah, Hebrew
"fawn"
Orpha, with its Biblical roots and its animal meaning, was once a fairly popular name, but fell from sight around the time of the Second World War, along with so many other Old School Names. And its…
Orra
Variation of Ora, Latin
"prayer"
Orra and Ora are simple yet rare names with a lovely religious meaning.
Orville
French
"gold town"
Only if you're an aviation buff or seriously addicted to popcorn.
Pamelia
Pamelia is a feminine name with Greek origins, representing an elaborate variation of Pamela, which was created by Sir Philip Sidney for his 16th-century pastoral romance 'Arcadia.' The name is…
Parish
English surname
"from Paris"
More masculine than Paris for a boy, but in danger of being misunderstood as that name; has a slightly churchy feel.
Park
Word name
A grassy place with trees is a nice image to attach to a name.
Parke
Parke is a masculine name with English origins, functioning as a variant spelling of Park. Derived from the Old English 'parroc,' meaning 'enclosed space,' it began as a surname for someone who lived…
Parrish
English surname
"from Paris"
Parrish is unrelated — but often said to be related — to the English word "parish". Instead, the surname arose as a designator for one who lived in Paris.
Parthenia
Greek
"chaste maiden"
Parthenia may be a bit unwieldy, but does conjure up majestic images of the Parthenon. It was briefly in the US charts in the late 19th century.
Patience
Latin virtue name
"ability to accept or tolerate inconveniences, and suffering without anxiety or anger"
Patience is a passive virtue turned engaging name, fresher than Hope, Faith, or even Charity. Its resemblance to the trendy Payton may be one reason that it returned to the US charts back in the 90's…
Patsy
English, diminutive of Patricia
"noble, patrician"
This sassy, spunky name was used for the mostly Irish jump-roping pigtailed girls of the thirties and forties -- and some Irish and Italian boys as well. Its most noted bearer was iconic country…
Peggy
Diminutive of Margaret, Greek
"pearl"
Just when we had written off Peggy as the eternal perky, pug-nosed prom-queen she projected from the 1920s into the fifties, along came Mad Men , with intriguing mid-century characters with names…
Percival
French
"one who pierces the valley"
There are several Percivals scattered through the Harry Potter series, which might help transform the old-fangled, fussy image it has accrued. Actually, the original Percival was the one perfectly…
Percy
French surname from place name Perci-en-Auge
Percy is an adorable old name that is finally shedding its pampered Little Lord Fauntleroy image in this new era of boys with soft yet traditionally male names like Jasper and Elijah. Originating as…