User-created list
By coldmorningair · Updated May 2023
Across 8 pages
of 8
Latin
"queen"
A classic name with regal elegance--Queen Victoria, like other queens, had Regina appended to her name. She was a Top 100 name in the 1960s. St. Regina was a third century virgin martyr and her name…
"reborn"
Widely used across Europe as a common baptismal name symbolizing spiritual rebirth, Renata, in this country it has an operatic image via Italian-born divas Renata Tebadi and Renata Scotti. Renata is…
English, contracted form of Leonora
"light"
A lovely (and uncommon) longer form for Nora, one of the most fashionable international nickname names around. Lenora fell off the US charts in the 70s, but just re-entered in 2022 as parents' love…
Variation of Isabella, Hungarian, Polish, and English
"pledged to God"
While this might look like a modern spelling of the classic Isabella, it is also the Hungarian and Polish form, pronounced with an EE sound at the beginning. A Top 50 name in Hungary and a Top 200…
Russian, Arabic
"hope; tender, delicate"
Nadia, an accessible Slavic favorite, has a strong run of popularity in the US in the early 2000s, partially thanks to the character on Lost called Nadia but actually named Noor, but it's since…
Arabic; Latin diminutive
"tender"
This pretty, succinct Arabic name is also commonly used as a nickname for names like Carolina.
"from the sea"
This pretty sea-born name was used to dramatic effect by Shakespeare in his play Pericles for the virtuous princess who says she is "Call'd Marina, for I was born at sea." Marina was an epithet of…
Variation of Helen
Alena is a modern variant of Helen. Alena might also be a spelling twist on the Slavic Alina or a long form of Lena.
Scandinavian, German, Polish, and Russian variation of Carina
This sweet and loving name, favored in recent years by a mix of Hispanic-American parents and Bob Dylan fans, was chosen for her daughter by TV actress Melina Kanakaredes.
English from French
"desired; or water, island"
A popular name in the Middle Ages, Evelina was eclipsed by Evelyn in the last century, but has a chance at a well-deserved comeback now, fitting right in with the other Ev-names. Like Evelyn, it…
Italian
"from Milan"
This makes Milan sound like less of a place, more of a name.
Spanish, Italian and Russian
"lily"
Lilia is pretty double L name that makes for sparkly, floral choice with plenty of international flair. More distinctive that Lily, less popular than Liliana, Lia, and Lilian, Lilia was a new entry…
Serbo-Croatian
"dawn"
Zora is a meaningful literary heroine name honoring Zora Neale Hurston, an important black writer and leader of the Harlem Renaissance. Spelled Zorah, it is a biblical place name, and is also the…
Russian and Greek variation of Zoe, Greek
"life"
Now that Zoe is getting wildly popular in the U.S. and the U.K. -- one poll puts it at number one in Wales -- parents may start hunting down fresh twists like this.
Russian, from Latin family name Tatius, meaning unknown
Classic yet spritely, Tatiana has long been familiar and popular in Russia and Eastern Europe, though it wasn't until the 80s that it caught on in the English-speaking world. With short forms Tiana,…
Russian diminutive of Natalya
"birthday of the Lord"
Natasha, an appealing, still unusual name, entered the American mainstream post-Cold War but seems to have peaked in the eighties, replaced by the more straightforward Natalie. As is common for…
Italian, Russian and Hungarian variation of Violet, English
"purple"
With Violet in vogue, this vibrant international variation has been on the rise since the 2010s. Vintage and floral like its more popular sister, Violetta has a slightly softer sound and a touch of…
International feminine variation of Jan
A sweet name with many cross-cultural ties: it's an equivalent of Jane in languages including Czech, Slovak, Dutch, German, Slovene, Catalan, Estonian, and Latvian.
Karolina is a feminine name of Germanic origin, being a variant of Caroline or Carolina, ultimately derived from the masculine name Karl or Charles, meaning 'free man' or 'strong.' This elegant name…
Variation of Nellie and Nell
Nelly or Nellie is an adorable nickname name that can be short for a wide range of more formal appellations or that can stand on its own, and is typical of the vintage nickname genre that is growing…
