names with colorful meanings

  1. Bayard
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "russet-haired"
    • Description:

      An old English redhead name -- one of the few that doesn't begin with the letter r -- with references both to a famous French knight and a magical horse.
  2. Berry
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      With the recent arrival of fruit names like Apple and Plum, this more traditional example, symbolic of fertility, might rise in popularity. Photographer Berry Berenson was born Berinthia.
  3. Beryl
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "sea-green jewel"
    • Description:

      Dated British favorite that never caught on in this country, where Jade remains the green gem of choice. Interesting namesakes: British writer Beryl Bainbridge and British aviatrix Beryl Markham.
  4. Bichette
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "little doe"
    • Description:

      Charming Gallic possibility but with some obvious playground problems.
  5. Blaze
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "fire"
    • Description:

      Originally a form of the saint's name Blaise, though now more likely to be a hot word name used for both sexes, though heavily weighted toward the boys. It has been in the boys' Top 1000 since the year 2000. On the pop culture side of things, Blaze Bayley is a singer and musician who has been connected to the bands Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden.
  6. Bowie
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "blond, yellow"
    • Description:

      Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn put this name in play as a first name, but David Bowie (born with the considerably less marketable moniker of David Robert Jones) gave it charisma. He changed his surname in 1965 to avoid confusion with the then popular Davy Jones of The Monkees, borrowing it from the American hero of Alamo, Jim Bowie.
  7. Bruno
    • Origin:

      Germanic
    • Meaning:

      "brown"
    • Description:

      Tough-yet-cuddly Bruno is an international name even in its origins: it derives from the Germanic word for "brown" plus a Latin ending, and was borrowed as a color word in many European languages.
  8. Buff
    • Origin:

      Modern nickname, also color name
    • Description:

      Has too many slangy connotations to be considered.
  9. Buna
    • Burgundy
      • Origin:

        French place-name; also color name
      • Description:

        Ron Burgundy was Will Ferrell's fictional helmet-haired newsman, but this color name is much more suited to a girl.
    • Cabot
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "to sail"
      • Description:

        Cabot is an attractive English surname associated with the daring early Italian-born British explorer known as John Cabot; his birth name was Giovanni Caboto.
    • Camellia
      • Origin:

        Flower name, from Czech surname
      • Meaning:

        "Kamel's flower"
      • Description:

        Camellia is a rare flower name with distinct roots related to the Camille/Camila group and has varied associations to the moon, water, wealth, and perfection. It could be thought of as a floral replacement for Amelia.
    • Canary
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "small bird"
      • Description:

        The name of a small yellow bird that hasn't taken off in the way that some of its avian sisters – like Robin, Wren or Lark – have.
    • Carey
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "dark, black"
      • Description:

        Carey is a surname name that works equally well on babies of all genders - Jazz great Carey Bell and motorcross champion Carey Hart are just two examples of how handsome this name can be for a boy.
    • Cedar
      • Origin:

        English and French from Latin tree name
      • Meaning:

        "cedar tree"
      • Description:

        Cedar is, like Ash, Oak, Pine and Ebony, one of the new tree/wood names that parents are starting to consider; this one is particularly aromatic.
    • Celeste
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "heavenly"
      • Description:

        Celeste is a softly pretty and somewhat quaint name with heavenly overtones, which kids might associate with Queen Celeste of Babar's elephant kingdom. She's a light and lovely choice that's finally getting noticed.
    • Cerise
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "cherry"
      • Description:

        Infinitely preferable to the tease-inspiring English version of the word.
    • Cerulean
      • Origin:

        Color name
      • Meaning:

        "deep sky-blue"
      • Description:

        Cerulean is just beginning to be heard as a name thanks to its distinctive sounds and the appealing electric-sky-blue it evokes. Reminiscent of Ocean, Aurelian, Cyrus, and Caspian, it was given to just 6 babies in 2023, but that could change in coming years.
    • Chamois
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "soft leather, yellowish-brown"
      • Description:

        Pronounced SHAM-ee, this color and word name is soft and appealing.
    • Chloe
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "young green shoot"
      • Description:

        Chloe is a pretty springtime name symbolizing new growth. Though slightly off its peak in the Top 10 in 2010, Chloe still ranks in the Top 20 and is solidly a modern classic.