User-created list
By IJustWrite · Updated April 2023
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Variation of Maria or Mary, Basque, Japanese
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved; gift, mother; truth, genuine, villlage"
Mari enjoyed some mid-century popularity as a nicknameish version of Mary, but now deserves a second look as a multicultural classic. Popular in Norway and Armenia as a variation of Marie, it is also…
French variation of James and Jacob
"supplanter"
Regal and ancient feeling, Jacques has been declining in popularity in its native France, but in the UK, it saw a surprising revival in 2022. Jumping from somewhere around the #2500 mark straight to…
Greek
"royal"
Although Greek in origin--in the fourth century, a bishop by that name established the principles of the Greek Orthodox Church--Basil for years took on the aura of aquiline-nosed upper-class…
Diminutive of Linda, English, Welsh
"pretty, soft, tender; lake"
Lynn arrived in the 1940s, spinning off from the wildly popular Linda to become a top mid-century middle (and first) name, ranking at #58 during its 1956 peak. Now, however, Lynn is out of the…
English flower name
"first rose"
A quaint and quirky flower name, until recently considered a bit too prim for most American classrooms but brought back to life in recent years by the attractive character of Primrose "Prim" Everdeen…
Greek, feminine variation of Philip
"lover of horses"
Philippa is a prime example of a boy's name adapted for girls that was common as crumpets in Cornwall, but rarely heard stateside. That was before the advent of royal sister-in-law Philippa…
Russian variation of Paul
"small"
Pavel may be widespread in the former Soviet Union, but it has a somewhat impoverished image here.
Czech variation of Veronica
This spelling adds a touch of the unusual to Veronica.
"gift of God"
This feminine form of Theodosius has long been buried deep in the attic, but might be a good discovery for the parent who wants to move beyond Theodora. Vice President Aaron Burr named a daughter…
Nature name
"a young deer"
The doe-eyed Fawn is as gentle and soft as the baby deer it represents. And much like that baby deer, it carries with it the potential of new life. Fawn was featured at the bottom of the Top 1000…
With other bird names such as Lark and Phoenix on the rise, why not chirpy Sparrow? Nicole Richie and Joel Madden named their son, born in 2009, Sparrow James Midnight.
Russian
"star"
Popular Russian name, familiar here via author Svetlana Stalin, the dictator's daughter.
Inna is an uncommon name even in Russia, whose meaning is unknown. Originally a male name, it is now mostly given to girls. It also made a brief appearance in the French Top 500 a few years ago. A…
Elizaveta is the Russian and Bulgarian form of Elizabeth, a name with Hebrew origins meaning 'God is my oath' or 'pledged to God.' This elegant Slavic variation has been used by Russian royalty,…
Aleksei is a masculine name of Russian origin, representing the Slavic form of Alexius or Alexis, ultimately derived from the Greek 'alexein' meaning 'to defend' or 'to help.' This powerful name has…
English word name
Actor Wood Harris, best known for his role as Avon Barksdale in The Wire , brought this one into the lexicon. Wood is Harris's nickname -- his real name is Sherwin David -- but it's the name he's…
English variation of Latin Horatius
"hour, time"
Like Horace, Horatio is a variation on the Latin Horatius, but its Shakespearean and optimistic Horatio Alger pedigree makes it an attractive up-and-comer, especially with its cool final o. A modern…
Bird name
In one recent year there were 60 baby girls in the US named Lark....and only eight baby boys. But there's no reason this bird name can't also be masculine, especially given that Robin is making a…
botanical name
Amaranth is a beautiful herb with bright fuchsia flowers and a tasty seed that flavors many Eastern dishes. The name is filled with potential for the more adventurous namer, with nickname potential…
Georgian; Russian; Ukrainian, from Greek
"from the east, rising sun"
A sweet and gentle-sounding name with a sunny meaning, typically nicknamed Tolya in Russia. Depending on the country of origin, it can also be written as Anatoli or Anatoliy.
