User-created list
By katiebearrr · Updated March 2022
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Anatolia is a feminine name derived from the ancient Greek word "anatolē," meaning "sunrise" or "east." It refers to the geographic region now comprising most of modern Turkey, historically called…
Diminutive of Brandon
"broom-covered hill"
A little heavy on the fiber content; we prefer Bram. But Bran is also the Celtic god of the underworld, whose symbol is the raven. It's probably not a coincidence that George R.R. Martin chose this…
English word name
"bird"
The name of the teenaged son on the dear departed television show "Huff."
Spelling variation of Karen, Danish variation of Katherine
"pure"
Modernized spelling not enough to revive Karen.
Diminutive of Catherine, Greek
May be the most modern, stylish Catherine nickname: more unusual than Kate or Cate, with an animal and word name edge. Cat Power is a trendy folksinger.
Word name
Illumination is a many-syllabled entrant in the new-fashioned virtue name group, but doesn't stand much chance of rivaling shorter choices like Hope and Faith.
Irish
"little dog"
An unusual, energetic surname choice that would make a good Madison alternative. Madigan was a typical police detective series of the 1970s, starring Richard Widmark.
A jovial and jaunty Irish name, the title of a long-gone TV crime drama, this would make an appealing choice. Slight downside: Maddy is already a mega-popular nickname for Madeline/Madelyn and…
Variation of Millicent, English, Germanic
"strong in work"
Derived from the Gothic name, Amalaswintha, this form was brought to England by the Normans, though it was later adapted into the variation we know better today: Millicent. This form may remind…
Literary name
Puck, the mischievous sprite of Shakespeare, is a unisex name given more often to girls in The Netherlands and is also the name of one of the moons of Uranus, discovered in 1985 and named Puck for…
Puck was Shakespeare's mischievous pixie who'a had a few television incarnations in more recent years. A popular name in The Netherlands but nowhere else, from what we can tell. We love Puck for its…
German
"powerful advice"
Associated with Reynard the cunning fox in medieval European animal tales. Reynard can make an unusual yet historic choice for a modern boy, a modern day Richard or Robert. Reynard "Reynie" Muldoon…
Modern invented name
Scarla is one of a raft of modern names that have been spun from established names -- in this case, it's part Scarlett, part Carla -- to make something new and "different." Uniqueness is the value…
