Hurricane Names
- Idalia
Origin:
Greek, GermanicMeaning:
"behold the sun; work, labor"Description:
A pretty, if unusual choice for a summer baby, particularly a girl with an ancestor named Ida. An epithet of the goddess Aphrodite, Idalia is derived from the Greek place name Idalion.
- Ian
Origin:
Scottish version of JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
Ian is Scottish form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan. It is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic Iain, which is also a viable spelling. Ian was introduced to Americans by Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond.
- Dolly
Origin:
English, diminutive of DorothyMeaning:
"gift of God"Description:
Sweet and cosy with a touch of sass, this nickname-y choice was a familiar option up until the sixties in the US. Then, for a while, it was a bit of a one-person name, associated with singer Dolly Parton, but more recently, it's been singing a fashionable note again along with sisters Dottie and Millie.
- Gabrielle
Origin:
French, feminine variation of Gabriel, HebrewMeaning:
"God is my Strength"Description:
The quintessentially elegant and worldly Gabrielle -- designer Coco Chanel's real name -- is on its descent after years on the rise.
- Francine
Origin:
French diminutive pet form of FrancoiseMeaning:
"from France or free man"Description:
With the advent of Pope Francis, all forms of this ancient and saintly name came up for a fresh look. Along with most other -een and -ine (when pronounced like -een) names for girls, Francine has a dated midcentury Mad Men feel. But its choice for their daughter by modern glamour couple Casey Neistat and Candice Pool, respectively a video star and a jewelry designer, has made Francine chic again.
- Lee
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"pasture, meadow"Description:
A name that has a bit of a shouldn't-I-be-a-middle-name sound, though still in use as a first for both genders. Lee might be a good choice if you want something that sounds at once traditional yet modern, unisex but not newly-minted.
- Harold
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"army ruler"Description:
The name of the last Anglo-Saxon king of England before the Norman conquest, and a name that's long been associated with a pipe-smoking, bespectacled grandpa or uncle.
- Larry
Origin:
Diminutive of Lawrence, English from LatinMeaning:
"from Laurentium or bay laurel"Description:
Your friendly next-door neighbor...not your baby. Although Larry was once one of the most popular boys' names starting with L, that title now belongs to Liam.
- Sean
Origin:
Irish variation of JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
Sean, after a long reign as one of the top Irish boys' names in the US, has now slipped as parents look to fresher Irish choices such as Liam and Aidan. In Ireland, Sean is still highly popular, but variation Senan, an Anglicized spelling of diminutive Seanan, is also stylish in Ireland. While Sean is the Irish form of John, Seanan and Senan may be thought of either as Sean diminutives or relatives of the Latin word "senator".
- Jerry
Origin:
Diminutive of Gerald or Jerome, German or GreekMeaning:
"ruler with the spear or sacred name"Description:
Jerry is one of those short forms that, like Mike and Debbie, rose to popularity on the coattails of their formal versions. The equivalents today are nickname names like Ellie and Theo.
- Teresa
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"to harvest"Description:
How do you spell Teresa? Teresa, the simpler phonetic form of this name, was the most popular variation for its early life, when it was used exclusively in Spain and Portugal. Other spellings of Teresa include Theresa, the usual English form, and the French Therese.
- Erin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"from the island to the west"Description:
First-wave Irish name and place name—the poetic name for Ireland—now supplanted by newer alternatives such as Maeve and Delaney.
- Sally
Origin:
Diminutive of SarahMeaning:
"princess"Description:
Sally is a cheerful, fresh-faced girl-next-door name that was originally a nickname for Sarah, but has long been used independently. Sally was popular in the eighteenth century and then again from the 1920s to the 1960s--it was just outside the Top 50 around 1940. Though it hasn't been heard as a baby name for decades, we can see Sally bouncing back, especially after her exposure as young Ms. Draper on Mad Men--the Nameberries rank it at Number 621, and it's a Top 100 name in Sweden.
- Sam
Origin:
English, diminutive of SamuelMeaning:
"told by God"Description:
Sam has long been used on its own for boys, as accepted standing by itself as it is as a short form of Samuel. Straightforward and down-to-earth, Sam is the name of the son of the co-stars of The Americans, Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys. Sam is one of the most popular names that start with S in the Western world, ranking higher in several European countries than it does in the US, where it's trended downward since the 19th century, though it's always been in the Top 1000.
- Van
Origin:
DutchMeaning:
"of"Description:
Whether it's used as a short form or on its own, this jazzy midcentury name is poised for a comeback along with brothers Ray and Walt.
- Nigel
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"dark, black-haired"Description:
A name that Yanks might see as overly British, but combined with the right surname, it does have a measure of Sherlock Holmesian dash via Nigel Bruce, who played the original Dr. Watson to Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes.
- Tony
Origin:
Diminutive of AnthonyMeaning:
"priceless one"Description:
Tony, as in classy. Or To-nyyy, as yelled out a tenement window.
- Nadine
Origin:
French variation of Nadia, RussianMeaning:
"hope"Description:
Part of the vogue for French-sounding names in the 1920s and 30s, Nadine has been replaced by the Russian sound of Nadia and Natasha.
- Danielle
Origin:
French feminine variation of Daniel, HebrewMeaning:
"God is my judge"Description:
Along with Daniela, Michelle, Nicole, and Denise, Danielle was a big hit from the 1960s to the nineties, sitting comfortably in the Top 20 for several years. Parents then responded to its chic, sophisticated Gallic image, and though it has lost some of its sheen, it's still a widely used choice.
- Rafael
Origin:
Spanish; German; Croatian; Portuguese, variation of Raphael, HebrewMeaning:
"God has healed"Description:
Energetic, sunny, and slightly romantic, Rafael is a popular choice in Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Croatia. Used internationally, Rafael is a Spanish variation of Raphael, that lends itself easily to the nicknames Rafi, Rafa and Rafe.
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