Halouise Favorite

These are my favorite names. Mostly for book characters, but I’d definitely use some of them in real life.
  1. Aamu
    • Origin:

      Finnish
    • Meaning:

      "morning"
    • Description:

      This modern Finnish word name is a fashionable choice in its home country, having entered into wide usage only since the turn of the 21st century.
  2. Adonis
    • Origin:

      Greek, from Semitic Adonai
    • Meaning:

      "lord"
    • Description:

      The name of a figure from Greek mythology, Adonis is a high-pressure name often synonymous with masculine beauty. Nonetheless, many mythological names that would have previously been deemed off limits have made their way up the popularity charts—for instance, Penelope currently ranks highly for girls. And indeed, Adonis was one of the fastest-rising boys' names of 2016, moving up 307 spots on the U.S. popularity chart in just one year.
  3. Adriel
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God is my master"
    • Description:

      This biblical name is getting wider notice. While Adrian has had its time in the limelight since the late 70s, parents are beginning to look for fresher alternatives. In the Bible, Adriel was the husband of Merab, a daughter of King Saul. Adriel, like other names ending in -el like Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel, is also the name of an angel. The angel Adriel is known as the Angel of Death. Adriel entered the charts in 2002, and has risen now into the Top 200.
  4. Aki
    • Origin:

      Japanese; Finnish,"born in the autumn; ancestor"
    • Meaning:

      "born in the autumn; ancestor"
    • Description:

      A name known in several cultures, also through animated book character Tiger Aki. Finnish author Aki Ollikainen is another notable bearer.
  5. Akim
    • Origin:

      Russian form of Hebrew JEHOIAKIM
    • Meaning:

      "God will establish"
    • Description:

      This strong and commanding Russian name is pronounced ah-KEEM.
  6. Alban
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "white, or, man from Alba"
    • Description:

      An ancient and highly unusual name; St. Alban -- sometimes also called Albinus or Aubin -- was an early martyr in Roman Britain. Using an alternate spelling, Alben Barkley was the 35th U.S. Vice-President, serving under Harry Truman. And Albin is popular in modern Sweden. But only the form Alban has the alternate meaning "from Alba".
  7. Alexei
    • Origin:

      Russian, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      Alexei could well join the legion of Alex names popular in the US. There are countless opportunities to liven up Alexander, and Alexei (or Alexey) is one of the most straightforward and appealing.
  8. Alice
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "noble"
    • Description:

      Alice is a classic literary name that's both strong and sweet, ranking in the US Top 100 and popular throughout the western world. Alice is derived from the Old French name Aalis, a diminutive of Adelais that itself came from the Germanic name Adalhaidis, which is composed of the Proto-Germanic elements aþala, meaning "noble," and haidu, "kind, appearance, type."
  9. Amiel
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God is with my people"
    • Description:

      Amiel is a biblical name with lots of connections to those with a creative spirit, including director Jon Amiel, French pop singer Thierry Amiel, and medieval troubadour Gaubert Amiel. Ami (which means friend in French) is an obvious (and beautiful) nickname option.
  10. Anael
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "the grace of God"
    • Description:

      Although it derives from the male name Haniel — the name of an angel in Jewish mythology — Anael is mostly used for girls.
  11. Andri
    • Origin:

      Icelandic
    • Meaning:

      "snowshoe"
    • Description:

      Similar to Andrew, but with a refreshingly different origin and meaning.
  12. Andromeda
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Meaning:

      "advising like a man"
    • Description:

      One of the stellar unique baby names from mythology, Andromeda was the beautiful daughter of Cassiopeia who, like her mother, literally became a star--the constellation that bears her name.The Bohemian Andromeda makes a dramatic and adventurous choice in a time when four-syllable mythological names are gradually making their way into the mainstream.
  13. Anemone
    • Origin:

      Flower name; Greek
    • Meaning:

      "daughter of the wind"
    • Description:

      Anemone is a floral name that relates to the ancient Greek myth of the famous love story of Aphrodite and Adonis, in which Aphrodite transforms her wounded lover's blood into a flower, the crimson anemone, whose blossoms are opened by the wind — accounting for its other name, windflower.
  14. Angel
    • Origin:

      Spanish and English
    • Meaning:

      "angel, messenger"
    • Description:

      As a boys' name, Angel has two distinct name personalities. One is as a perennial favorite Hispanic boys’ name, popular in the US along with Spain, Mexico, and South America.
  15. Anselm
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "with divine protection"
    • Description:

      A somewhat solemn appellation, Anselm is a saint's name, connected to the twelfth century archbishop of Canterbury, and in modern times tied to the German neo-expressionist painter Anselm Kiefer.
  16. Antero
    • Origin:

      Finnish variation of Andrew, English from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "strong, manly"
    • Description:

      The Finnish form of Andrew is featured in mythology as Antero Vipunen, a giant in Finland's national legend the Kalevala
  17. Antigone
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "worthy of one's parents, in place of one's parents"
    • Description:

      In Greek mytholgy, Antigone was the noble and courageous daughter of Oedipus, who acts as his guide after he blinds himself. Antigone is also the eponymous heroine of a play by Jean Anouilh.
  18. Aphrodite
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Meaning:

      "foam or born from the sea"
    • Description:

      The name of the Greek goddess of love has rarely descended to mortal use, though the Roman equivalent Venus, thanks to tennis star Williams, now seems completely possible. But with the new fashion for goddess names, we may see more little Aphrodites in the playground with Jupiter and Juno. Nineteen baby girls received the name in the US last year.
  19. Aputsiak
    • Origin:

      Greenlandic
    • Meaning:

      "snow crystal"
    • Description:

      A unisex name from the snowy north.
  20. Araceli
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "altar of the sky"
    • Description:

      Once-obscure Spanish name inching back up into the US Top 1000 girl names after a short break. Araceli Segarra is a noted mountain climber.