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Apocalyptic Names

  1. Valkyrie

    • Origin:

      Old Norse

    • Meaning:

      "chooser of the slain"

    • Description:

      In Norse mythology, the valkyries decided the fate of men in battle and conveyed the spirits of the fallen to Valhalla, to dwell with the god Odin. Often associated with ravens, swans, and horses, over time the valkyries have been portrayed as strong, female figures, callous and monstrous creatures, and sometimes both at the same time.
  2. Ciar

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "dark"

    • Description:

      Now that the Irish Ciaran and Ciara -- aka Kieran and Kiera -- are becoming more popular beyond their native shores, the short and strong Ciar might find some favor. As of now, more than 160 baby girls were named Ciara in the US last year, with half that many boys named Ciaran, but so far no baby boys named Ciar, though 17 were called Keir.
  3. Carver

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "wood carver"

    • Description:

      Carver is an occupational name with an artistic bent, associated with wood carving predominantly, though it could also be linked to those who carve from stone, marble, ice, and pumpkins. More familiar that the equally arty Painter, but fresher than the 90s style Carter, Carver has received more interest in recent years.
  4. Vale

    • Origin:

      Geographical name

    • Description:

      Today Show anchor Savannah Guthrie put this name of a geographical feature on the baby name map when she chose it for her newborn daughter, Vale Guthrie Feldman. Vale might be considered part nature name, part place name: A vale is a kind of valley, often used in poetry. This truly unique choice doesn't even register on the US extended list of names given to five babies or more, but we expect Vale to register as parents are inspired by Guthrie and husband Mike Feldman's creative choice. More prosaicly, Vale might be a short form of Valerie or Valentina.
  5. Zinedine

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "beauty of the faith"

    • Description:

      Zinedine Zidane is France's biggest soccer star, spawning a legion of little Zinedines in that country.
  6. True

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "true"

    • Description:

      An inspirational and aspirational word name that evokes ideas of loyalty, faith, honesty, and accuracy, True is a unisex name, which is just slightly more popular for boys. Like an updated form of Trudy and Prue and with the virtuous feel of Grace, Faith, and Hope, True was given to around 200 girls in 2024 (and about 225 boys).
  7. Maire

    • Origin:

      Finnish, Irish variation of Mary

    • Meaning:

      "sweet; drop of the sea, bitter"

    • Description:

      Both Maire and Mare have begun making inroads with parents seeking novel yet authentic ways of honoring an ancestral Mary. The Finnish variation derives from the word mairea, meaning "sweet."
  8. Shivani

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "life and death"

    • Description:

      Shivani sounds fresh and powerful.
  9. Arkady

    • Origin:

      Russian from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "from Arcadia"

    • Description:

      Arkady is a rhythmic Russian saint's name from the Greek meaning "from Arcadia." As a literary name, it belongs to a genteel character in Turgenev's Fathers and Sons and a much less benign one in Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, and is also a key figure in Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith.
  10. Delaney

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "dark river"

    • Description:

      Cheerful but laidback, surname-style Delaney is derived from the Old Irish name Dubhshláine and has become a familiar choice for girls in recent decades. Nevertheless, it has also been used for boys since the early 1900s and was equally - though rarely - given to both, right up until the 1990s.
  11. Nevaeh

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name

    • Description:

      Nevaeh: an already bold word name with the unusual twist of being spelled backwards; a nightmare for those who love traditional, classic names; a divisive option on name forums across the internet; and a spelling and pronunciation that aren’t quite intuitive at first glance.
  12. Alvaro

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "elf warrior"

    • Description:

      Traditionally written with an accent (Álvaro), this is a well-used Spanish saint's name with a lot of flair that could definitely cross over to more general usage. It reached its peak in the United States in 1985, when it ranked Number 456. In Spain, Álvaro is a Top 20 boys' name.
  13. Else

    • Description:

      Else is a feminine name with Germanic origins, functioning as both a standalone name and a short form of names containing the element 'Elis' such as Elisabeth or Elise. In German and Scandinavian cultures, Else has been used independently for centuries. The name carries a simple, clean elegance with its compact four-letter formation. In Danish and Norwegian, it's pronounced 'EL-seh,' while German speakers may say 'EL-zuh.' Despite its European popularity, Else remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, giving it a distinctive quality. The name experienced modest popularity in the early 20th century but became less common after the 1940s. Today, it may appeal to parents seeking a minimalist yet classic name with European flair.

  14. Tai

    • Origin:

      Chinese

    • Meaning:

      "great extreme"

    • Description:

      Skater Tai Babilonia brought this sleek modern name to the world's attention. Pronounced "tie."
  15. Moshe

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "son or deliver"

    • Description:

      Moshe is the original Hebrew form of Moses, also spelled Mosheh. In the past it was changed to names like Morris, Moe and Maurice.
  16. Ezri

    • Origin:

      Variation of Ezra, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "help"

    • Description:

      Ezri is one of the cool new unisex names starting with E, except as a Biblical name, it's not so new. Used for both genders in Israel, in the US it's currently running five to one in favor of girls, surprisingly. Its deviation from the better known and more traditional Ezra makes it feel like one of the more truly gender neutral names.
  17. Vihaan

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "dawn"

    • Description:

      Vihaan comes from a Sanskrit word denoting the dawn, but has the symbolic meaning of the beginning of a new age, making Vihaan a wonderful choice for the first baby in a family's next generation.
  18. Violante

    • Origin:

      Greek and Latin

    • Meaning:

      "purple flower"

    • Description:

      Too close to violent.
  19. Ecko

    • Description:

      Ecko is an uncommon feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be derived from the German word 'ecke' meaning 'corner' or could be a creative spelling of 'echo,' referring to the reflection of sound. Some suggest it might have Japanese roots, where 'eko' relates to 'gift' or 'child of.' In contemporary usage, Ecko may also draw associations with the urban clothing brand. As a given name, Ecko remains quite rare, appealing to parents seeking modern, short names with a distinctive sound and contemporary feel. The name's brevity and strong 'k' sound give it a bold, memorable quality despite its softness when spoken.
  20. Armani

    • Origin:

      Italian surname derived from Herman or Arman, German or Persian

    • Meaning:

      "soldier; wish,hope"

    • Description:

      One of the designer baby names -- Chanel and Gucci are others -- that have appeared in this era of branding everything from your purse to your offspring. It helps that the name is similar to more established choices, such as Amani, Marnie, Amy, and Aria.

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