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Beautiful Names With Bittersweet Meanings

IvoryKeen
By IvoryKeen
Updated Thu May 25 2023
These unfortunate names pulled the short end of the stick with less-than-cheerful meanings. Despite the beauty of names like Deirdre or Tristan, their meanings (Both names mean 'sorrowful') usually drive away anyone thinking of using them. Instead of going back to the cheerful, familiar, boring names we always use, let's turn the spotlight onto these charming names for once. Have pity on these poor names, they didn't choose to have negative meanings!
  1. Cecilia

    • Origin:

      Feminine form of Cecil, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "blind"

    • Description:

      Cecilia is a lovely classic name deservedly enjoying a new turn in the sun. Always among the Top 500 girls' names in the US, Cecilia is now at its highest point ever.
  2. Gabriel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is my strength"

    • Description:

      Gabriel has become a biblical favorite, an angelic choice that's lighter and less patriarchal than some of his Old Testament brethren. Derived from the Hebrew name Gavri’el, Gabriel is taken from the elements gever, meaning "strong," and ’el, in reference to God.
  3. Calvin

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "bald, hairless"

    • Description:

      Calvin is a slightly quirky but cozy name that has a fashion edge thanks to Calvin Klein. It has been steadily on the popularity list since records were kept, never lower than Number 250, peaking in the 1920s, the era of the Calvin (originally John Calvin ) Coolidge presidency.
  4. Tristan

    • Origin:

      Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "noise or sorrowful"

    • Description:

      Tristan -- known through medieval legend and Wagnerian opera -- has a slightly wistful, touching air. This, combined with the name's popular "an" ending, makes Tristan very appealing to parents seeking a more original alternative to Christian.
  5. Lilith

    • Origin:

      Assyrian, Sumerian

    • Meaning:

      "ghost, night monster"

    • Description:

      Lilith is derived from the Akkadian word lilitu meaning "of the night." In Jewish folklore she is portrayed as Adam's rejected first wife, who was turned into a night demon for refusing to obey him. Lilith is unrelated to most other Lil- names, with the exception of Lilita, which is the Latvian variation.
  6. Leah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "weary"

    • Description:

      Strong but sweet, Leah is a classic name that doesn't feel dull or dusty. It's got plenty of dignity, grace, and pluck, making it a solid choice in the 21st century.
  7. Mara

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "bitter"

    • Description:

      Mara is the evocative ancient root of Mary, appearing in the Book of Ruth, in which Naomi, devastated after the death of her two sons, says "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara." It's one of the girl names starting with M that both fits in and stands out.
  8. Claudia

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Claude

    • Meaning:

      "lame; enclosure"

    • Description:

      Claudia is a classic name with ancient Roman roots. Never truly in or truly out, Claudia feels like a strong, modern choice that hits the sweet spot between too popular and too unusual..
  9. Seth

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "appointed, placed"

    • Description:

      The long-neglected name of Adam and Eve's third son after Cain and Abel, Seth is appreciated for its gentle, understated presence -- and strong middle-name potential. It reached a high of Number 63 in the year 2000.
  10. Nyx

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "night"

    • Description:

      In Greek mythology, Nyx was a powerful goddess and the embodiment of the night, giving this name a dark yet mystical feel. While some may associate too strongly with the word nix (meaning "nothing", "refuse" or "put an end to"), or to the make-up brand Nyx, it was nevertheless chosen for 64 girls (and 26 boys) in the US in a recent year.
  11. Persephone

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "bringer of destruction"

    • Description:

      Persephone is the esoteric name of the Greek mythological daughter of Zeus by Demeter, the queen of the harvest. After she was kidnapped by Hades to be Queen of the Underworld, it was decreed by Zeus that she would spend six months of the year with her mother, allowing crops to grow, and six in mourning, thus accounting for the seasons.
  12. Blaise

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "to lisp, stammer"

    • Description:

      As modern as it sounds, Blaise is an ancient Christian martyr name. In Arthurian legend, Blaise is the name of Merlin the Magician's secretary. Its relation to the word and name Blaze gives it a fiery feel. Amanda Beard named her baby boy Blaise Ray.
  13. Salem

    • Origin:

      Biblical place-name or Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "safe"

    • Description:

      Salem is a Biblical place name in Canaan, believed to be the same as Jerusalem, as well as the Massachusetts town famous for its late 17th century witch trials. Salem is also a popular first name in its own right throughout the Arabic world.
  14. Lance

    • Origin:

      English word name or English variation of Lanzo, German "long, pointed, medieval weapon; land"

    • Meaning:

      "long, pointed, medieval weapon; land"

    • Description:

      Though the fuller Lancelot has for the most part been shunned as a 'too-much-name' name, the short form Lance has been consistently in or around the Top 500 since 1938, climbing as high as Number 76 in 1970. It was used as a character name by Walter Scott as far back as 1823. Lance is also the name of a medieval weapon, making this name all boy.
  15. Brennan

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "descendent of the sad one"

    • Description:

      Brennan is a winning Irish surname name, more modern than Brian or Brendan, more unusual than Conor and Aidan. The only possible problem with Brennan: people might think you're saying Brendan.
  16. Huxley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "inhospitable place"

    • Description:

      Huxley is definitely rising as a surname name, with its X that makes almost any name cooler. It debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2015. The modern nicknames Hux and Huck certainly don't hurt.
  17. Lucifer

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "light-bearer"

    • Description:

      Lucifer is the name of the archangel cast into hell and while theologians disagree on whether he and Satan are separate beings, it long been on the list of forbidden names for religious and non-religious parents alike. With connotations of hell and devilry so strongly attached to it, the name is officially banned in some places, including New Zealand.
  18. Dolores

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "lady of sorrows"

    • Description:

      Though it's related to the Virgin Mary, this name was once perceived as the height of sensuality, a role since taken over by nicknames Lola and Lolita.
  19. Cain

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "spear; possessed"

    • Description:

      Biblical name Cain was, until recently, seldom heard outside of the Old Testament and soap operas. Although Cain's murderous actions will always make this name difficult for some, Cain, Eve and Adam's firstborn, was a farmer - making this a good choice for those with farming connections. Long outshone by Abel, Cain is starting to find a broader audience, helped along by homophones Kane or Caine.
  20. Pandora

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "all gifted"

    • Description:

      Pandora has occasionally been used by the British gentry (for girls with brothers who might be called Peregrine) and is now starting to be heard in the US too: It was given to 34 baby girls last year.