all of the names i like

  1. Arrietty
    • Origin:

      Literary name, variation of Harriet
    • Description:

      A pretty, dainty name for one of the little characters in the children's book series The Borrowers. It was the basis for a later Studio Ghible animated film, The Secret World of Arrietty. While the connection to Harriet is tenuous, you might want to consider Arrietty as an honorific for an ancestral Harriet, Harry, or even Henry or Henrietta.
  2. Brodie
    • Origin:

      Scottish surname
    • Meaning:

      "little ridge"
    • Description:

      This geographic Scottish surname is more often spelled Brody in the US. Both forms have seen decreasing popularity, which may be linked to its association with club-hopping Hills star Brody Jenner.
  3. Amoret
    • Origin:

      Literary name
    • Description:

      This lovely name from Spenser's The Faerie Queene is borne by a character who represents married love. A related unusual-yet-usable choice: Amabel.
  4. Liesl
    • Origin:

      German diminutive of Elizabeth
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Sweet but sleek, and distinctive, Liesl is an old German nickname-name for Elisabeth. It might have once seemed inextricably tied to to its country of origin, but now, like Elsa, Enzo, Saoirse, Freya, Soren, and Heidi, it leans more towards being international and European chic.
  5. Gawain
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "May hawk"
    • Description:

      With a noble air and a distinctive yet familiar sound, Gawain is drawn from Arthurian legend, in which he is one of King Arthur's loyal knights and his nephew. Also appearing as the hero of the 14th century poem, Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, his name is possibly borrowed from the Welsh Gwalchmai, meaning "May hawk".
  6. Pippin
    • Origin:

      Variation of Pepin
    • Meaning:

      "awe-inspiring"
    • Description:

      Super-sweet name that was the title of a Broadway play -- but best known as a type of apple. The Dutch variation is Pepijn is finding some popularity in that country, where short nickname names are stylish.
  7. Errol
    • Origin:

      Scottish, spelling variation of Earl
    • Description:

      Errol was a swashbuckling name in the Errol Flynn era, which still has a trace of jazz cool.m thanks to jazz pianist Erroll Garner.
  8. Fintan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "white fire or white bull"
    • Description:

      Fintan is an ancient Irish saints' name that in legend is also the name of the only person to survive The Flood. Popular in modern Ireland, Fintan is ripe for export to the US where it is rarely used but could make an excellent long form for the stylish Finn.
  9. Bastien
    • Origin:

      French and Spanish, diminutive of Sebastien
    • Meaning:

      "person from ancient city of Sebastia"
    • Description:

      In this form, or as Sebastian or as Bas, Bastien is a fashionable Euro name with a possible future in America.
  10. Endymion
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "dive into, enter"
    • Description:

      The name of a mythically handsome youth – loved by Selene, the moon, who bore him fifty daughters. If you're looking for a mythological name for your son, this might make an excellent choice both rare and appealing.
  11. Ailsa
    • Origin:

      Scottish from Norse
    • Meaning:

      "elf victory"
    • Description:

      Ailsa is a traditional Scottish name for girls related to a rocky island in the Firth of Clyde called Ailsa Craig. It might make an interesting alternative to the outdated Ashley or overly popular Ella, and could also be thought of as a relative of Elizabeth or Elsa.
  12. Sadhbh
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "sweet, goodness"
    • Description:

      Sadhbh was the name of several real and legendary Irish princesses, including the daughters of Conn of the Hundred Battles, of Queen Medb of Connacht, and of King Brian Boru. It's also written Sabha. One of the most authentic Irish names for girls, it is also unfortunately one of the most difficult to export.
  13. Kitto
    • Origin:

      Cornish, diminutive of Christopher, Greek and Latin
    • Meaning:

      "bearer of Christ"
    • Description:

      Kitto updates Dad Name Christopher with a trendy o-ending short form. Use it as an honor name or an original nickname.
  14. Olwen
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "white footprint"
    • Description:

      Olwen is a Welsh favorite, the name of a legendary princess in what is believed to have been the earliest Arthurian romance, and in fact one of the first recorded examples of Welsh prose.
  15. Ffion
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "foxglove"
    • Description:

      This unusual (to non-Welsh speakers) is near the top of the charts in Wales, carried by the recent taste for native Welsh names. Those in Wales say it's already on the way down, but for outsiders wanting to honor their Welsh heritage, it still makes an intriguing choice.
  16. Ivalo
    • Origin:

      Greenlandic
    • Meaning:

      "thread, sinew"
    • Description:

      This is a Greenlandic girls' name made royal when Prince Frederik and Princess Mary - now King and Queen - named their twin daughter Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda.
  17. Bridie
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "strength or exalted one"
    • Description:

      Swap two letters of Birdie and you get Bridie, a traditional diminutive of Bridget. Bridie fits perfectly with the trend for standalone vintage nicknames like Betty and Sadie, but is surprisingly rare.
  18. Fitzwilliam
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of William"
    • Description:

      The Christian name of the dashing Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice— it was his mother's maiden name— is just one of several Fitz names, including Fitzroy, Fitzgerald, Fitzpatrick, that could be used to honor a dad named William, Roy, Gerald or Patrick.
  19. Heathcliff
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "cliff near a heath"
    • Description:

      Heathcliff is the name of the original passionate macho hero of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, and also of the cartoon cat. It was chosen by fashionista Lucy Sykes for her son, and inspired the late Heath Ledger's name. But otherwise it's barely used, and perhaps a bit much of a namesake. For a modern boy we'd recommend Heath....or Cliff.
  20. Zephyrine
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Zephyr, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "west wind"
    • Description:

      Zephyr may not be a name often heard in the U.S., but its variations are used throughout Europe. Zephyrine, a cousin in sound and feel if not in fact to such lovely names as Severine and Seraphina, has distinctive possibilities.