Best names WITH a V -

More Scandinavian names are making their way into English-speaking homes. If Sven and Freya are useable, why not Svea? With a similar sound to Ava, it is associated with Mother Svea, a national personification of Sweden.

Especially for parents of Scandinavian descent, Sven is an accessible and attractive name with an appealing mix of strength and swagger. It comes from the ancient Swedish tribe, the Sviars, who gave their name to Svealand, which later morphed into Sweden.

Svend is a masculine Scandinavian name, particularly common in Denmark and Norway. It derives from the Old Norse name Sveinn, meaning "young man" or "boy." Historically, it was borne by several Danish kings, including Svend Forkbeard who ruled Denmark in the late 10th century. The name carries strong Nordic heritage and projects qualities of strength and leadership due to its royal associations. While remaining consistently popular in Scandinavia, Svend is relatively uncommon outside those regions, giving it a distinctive character for international use. Its short, strong sound with the distinctive Scandinavian 'v' makes it both distinctive and accessible, appealing to parents seeking a name with historical depth and cultural significance.

The musical, sylvan Sylvia seems poised to join former friends Frances and Beatrice and Dorothy back in the nursery.

Although Sylvia seems to be having somewhat of a revival among trendsetting baby namers, we'd still opt for the even gentler and more unusual Sylvie. Despite being dated in its native France (where it was popular during the 1950s and 60s), in English-speaking regions it still feels fresh and international without being unfamiliar and has a cosmopolitan, international air. It debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2016.

Thorvald is a masculine name of Old Norse origin, combining the elements 'Thor' (the Norse god of thunder) and 'vald' meaning 'ruler' or 'power.' Thus, the name essentially means 'Thor's ruler' or 'power of Thor.' With deep roots in Viking culture and Scandinavian heritage, Thorvald was borne by several notable Norse historical figures, including Thorvald Eiriksson, who was one of the first Europeans to attempt settlement in North America. While common in medieval Scandinavia, the name remains relatively rare today, even in Nordic countries, though it still sees some use in Norway, Iceland, and Denmark. Thorvald carries a distinctly powerful, ancient quality with connections to Norse mythology and Viking heritage, making it appealing for parents seeking a strong name with historical depth.

Torvald, not to be confused with Torvill of skating fame, is a Norse name which might be of interest to parents looking for Thor-related options. Torvald is most familiar in the English-speaking world as the infuriatingly sexist husband of Nora in Ibsen's play A Doll's House, which may account for its low usage. However, Linus Torvalds, inventor of Linux , might put the name into a more positive light, especially in Silicon Valley.

Trevor, a British standard, took a long time to cross the Atlantic, but finally began its rise here in the 1980s. It is now a thoroughly naturalized citizen, though it still retains a touch of Anglo class.

Waverly, with its literary resonance and lilting three-syllable sound, could well become the next generation's successor to Kimberly. Its upper-crusty surname feel places it among the new stylish English names for girls, successors to Ashley and Whitney.

Xavier originated is use as a given name after Saint Francis Xavier, cofounder of the Jesuit order, who got his name from the Spanish-Basque village where he was born. His birthplace was Javier, the name of which was derived from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning "castle" or "new house."

This French name has the elegance of other '-ette' names such as Colette and is a botanical name without being too obvious about it.

Peaking in the 1950s, Yvonne has now dropped out of the Top 1000 in 2003 and doesn't look set to return soon, although its rare Y initial might endear it to some. Yvaine, from Neil Gaiman's Stardust, has more modern appeal.

Zenevieva is an uncommon feminine name that appears to be a creative variation of Genevieve, which has French origins meaning 'tribe woman' or 'woman of the race.' The replacement of the initial 'G' with 'Z' gives the name a more exotic and distinctive quality while maintaining the melodious sound of the original. This unique spelling creates a fresh identity for a classic name, appealing to parents seeking something familiar yet uncommon. Though rare in official name registries and statistics, Zenevieva carries the same elegant, timeless qualities as Genevieve but with an added contemporary twist. The name has four melodic syllables that flow well together, creating a name that is both sophisticated and memorable.

Zenovia makes Zenobia even more unusual. This mythology-adjacent name is worth a look.

The late great singer-songwriter Warren Zevon would make a worthy namesake.

Zinovia and Zenobia might be thought of as mythological adjacent names, with their meaning connected to Zeus, king of the Gods. The name Zinovia was given to fewer than ten baby girls in the US last year, versus about 30 who were named Zenobia.