Names I Love in General

  1. Lysandra
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "liberator"
    • Description:

      This name is the feminization of mythological name Lysander, which is best known to English-speakers as a character in Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream.
  2. Nicola
    • Origin:

      German; English, from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "people of victory"
    • Description:

      Nicola, an elegant Latinate feminization of Nicholas, has long been standard issue for English girls but for some reason has never voyaged across the Atlantic, which we consider a pity, especially as Nicole's standing has waned.
  3. Catriona
    • Origin:

      Scottish form of Katherine, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "pure"
    • Description:

      This Katherine variation, used through Ireland and Scotland, is pronounced like Katrina. The name became popular after the Crusaders brought home stories about the colorful fourth century martyr, Catherine of Alexandria. Its later popularity increased following the success of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1893 Catriona, the sequel to Kidnapped.
  4. Cheyenne
    • Origin:

      Sioux
    • Meaning:

      "people of a different language"
    • Description:

      The name of a courageous tribe, Cheyenne became quite popular in the 1990s, inspiring a wide range of spelling variations—Shyanne is one example that's still on the rise.
  5. Abilene
    • Origin:

      English from Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "grass"
    • Description:

      Abilene is a rarely used place name, mentioned as such in the New Testament, that combines the cowboy spunk of the Texas city with the midwestern morality of the Kansas town where Dwight D. Eisenhower spent his boyhood. Abilene is a much more untrodden path to the nickname Abbie/Abbie than the Top 10 Abigail.
  6. Meghan
    • Origin:

      Variation of Megan, Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "pearl"
    • Description:

      Megan was one of the first trendy names to spawn lots of spelling variations and this form of the name is less popular than its streamlined counterpart, but nevertheless familiar to those in the English speaking world. A variant of Margaret, the name was rarely heard outside of Wales before the mid-20th century.
  7. Annelise
    • Origin:

      Danish variation of Anneliese, German, Dutch
    • Meaning:

      "grace + oath"
    • Description:

      A streamlined version of Anneliese, or perhaps a hybrid of Ann and Elise.
  8. Janelle
    • Origin:

      American, modern elaboration of Jane
    • Description:

      It's far cooler to drop the first syllable and go for Elle.
  9. Genesis
    • Origin:

      Word name, Biblical
    • Meaning:

      "the origin and formation of something; The First Book in The Bible"
    • Description:

      With the sounds of Jennifer and Alexis, and the vibes of Eden and Serenity, Genesis is a Biblical inspired choice that has been popular in the US since the 2000s.
  10. Kaylie
    • Origin:

      Short form of Kayla, Arabic and Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "laurel, crown"
    • Description:

      A cute nickname name that's risen high over the past decade or so, more especially as Kaylee, this name combines the attributes of Hailey and Kayla, Kylie and Callie.
  11. Tierney
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "descendant of a lord"
    • Description:

      Tierney is a Celtic surname with a definite Irish twinkle, a name just waiting to be discovered. Though now sometimes used for girls (in the US, not Ireland), as in jazz singer Tierney Sutton, it still has plenty of masculine punch.
  12. Charity
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "charity"
    • Description:

      Charity is one of the Big Three abstract virtue names, along with Hope and Faith, though far less widely used than the others. But as Faith, Grace and Hope grow more common, some parents are beginning to look at the more unusual three-syllable choices like Verity, Amity, Clarity and Charity, which sound much fresher and also have that pleasingly rhythmic 'y'-ending sound.
  13. Adella
    • Origin:

      Variation of Adele or Adeline
    • Description:

      Now that all names Adel- are the height of fashion, Adella is an unusual name that nevertheless sounds very trendy. Adella is one of Ariel's sisters in The Little Mermaid.
  14. Brayleigh
    • Description:

      Brayleigh is a modern feminine name that embodies contemporary naming trends combining popular sounds and elements. Created as a variation blending the popular prefix 'Bray-' (as in Brayden) with the trendy suffix '-leigh' (a stylized version of 'lee'), the name represents the creative combination style that gained popularity in the early 2000s. Brayleigh has a melodic quality with its flowing syllables and soft ending sound. The name has particularly gained traction in the United States, appealing to parents seeking something distinctive yet following familiar phonetic patterns. While some might view it as part of the trend toward newly-created names, others appreciate its fresh sound and the personalization it offers. Brayleigh typically evokes images of brightness and modernity.

  15. Daulton
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Dalton
    • Description:

      Stick with the original.
  16. Casiphia
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "place of the treasury"
    • Description:

      A Biblical place name referred to by the Old Testament prophet Ezra. It may be a corruption of Caspian, or may derive from Hebrew keceph "silver, money".
  17. Neviah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "forecaster"
    • Description:

      All too likely to be confused with the ultratrendy Nevaeh.
  18. Adanna
    • Shailene
      • Josiah