Luminen's list "Luminen's list of names" of 20 great name ideas: Arno - Eilidh!

Luminen's list of names

Subtract the last two letters of Arnold, and you're left with a much more modern-sounding name.  Arno is also the name of the main river in Florence, upon which sits the famed Ponte Vecchio. The Italian river name means "flowing water".

Arno

Miro comes from the Slavic root word mir meaning "peace, world". Sometimes Miro is used as a diminutive of longer names like Miroslav or Vladimir, but it can also be given as a name in its own right. Miro has a wonderful meaning and fits right in with trendy names Arlo and Milo, as well as being an artistic honor name for Spanish painter and sculptor Joan Miró.

 There is also an indigenous Australian name Miro. In the Nyungar language, a miro is a type of spear-thrower which propels the aim of a spear. Miro is also a Maori name, after an evergreen tree which is native to New Zealand.

Miro

Leina is a feminine name with multicultural origins and meanings. In Hawaiian, it can mean 'shining light' or be related to 'leina-a-ka-uhane,' referring to a leaping place for souls. In various African languages, Leina means 'name' or 'identity.' The name also appears in other cultures, including as a variation of Lena or Elena. Leina has a melodic quality with its flowing vowel sounds, making it appealing across linguistic boundaries. Though not widely common in the United States, it has gained some appreciation among parents seeking a name that's both international and accessible. The name's brevity and soft sounds give it a gentle, feminine quality while its multicultural roots provide rich meaning.

Leina

Fresh and surprising on a boy – and how can you not love the cool classic nickname Will?

Willow

Blue suddenly came into the spotlight, as the unusual color name chosen by Beyonce and Jay-Z for their baby girl Blue Ivy. Blue is also a starbaby middle name du jour, used for both sexes in different spellings and forms, from John Travolta and Kelly Preston's Ella Bleu to Alicia Silverstone's Bear Blu. Dave 'The Edge' Evans named his daughter Blue Angel back in 1989.
 Despite all these high profile female references, less than 40 percent of the babies name Blue today are girls. Blue is the heroine of the Marisha Pessl novel Special Topics in Calamity Physics.

Blue

This sleek form of Constantine is traditional in many European countries, and most popular in German-speaking nations and Russia.

Konstantin

Despite the popularity of Anthony and its masculine variants, female derivatives of its source – the Roman family name Antonius, of unknown meaning – have never caught on in the same way. Sister name Antonia peaked at #336 in the US way back in 1882, while Antonina itself has never ranked higher than #865 (in 1915). It has been outside of the Top 1000 ever since.

 Antonina can be both a diminutive of Antonia or a given name in its own right, in which case it derives from the related Roman name Antoninus. It is used predominantly in the Slavic-speaking world, notably in Polish, Russian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian. It is also used in Italy and in the Nordic countries, where it originated as a diminutive of Antonia.

 With a strong and beautiful sound, and plenty of lovely nicknames (we recommend Anya or Nina), Antonina is a great choice for parents looking for an uncommon international name with presence.

Antonina

While the male Alva or Alvah relates directly to the minor Biblical character, the female version is more likely an Anglicized form of the Irish name Ailbhe, or a feminine form the name Alf (and Alf- beginning names), popular in its native Sweden and Norway. Best known as Thomas Edison's middle name, Alva has true unisex roots. 

Alva

An attractive and unusual name that may be a variation of Cleo, Clea was possibly invented by Lawrence Durrell for a character in his Alexandria Quartet.
 Actress Clea DuVall is one noted bearer of the name, another is Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward's youngest daughter, who was named Claire Olivia, but always called Clea.

Clea

Sarita is a delicately pretty name all but unknown in the US, where it can make an original honor name for an ancestral Sara....or Rita. Rita is a midcentury favorite tiptoeing back into style among adventurous parents.

Sarita

This nickname name might be cute for a niño, but one of the full names ending in tino would make a more mature statement. 

Tino

Ksenia is a feminine name with deep Slavic roots, particularly popular in Russia, Ukraine, and other Eastern European countries. Derived from the Greek word "xenos" meaning "stranger" or "hospitality," it carries connotations of welcoming and generosity. Traditionally spelled "Xenia" in Western countries, the Slavic spelling with 'K' maintains its authentic cultural connection. The name gained wider recognition through figures like Russian Saint Ksenia of Petersburg and various contemporary celebrities. With its exotic sound and relatively uncommon usage in English-speaking countries, Ksenia offers a distinctive choice that's still accessible in pronunciation. The name combines strength and femininity with its crisp 'k' sound and melodic ending.

Ksenia

Apt name for a little drama queen with a long future ahead of her. Saga is a Top 30 girls' name in Sweden.
 
Saga was the Norse goddess of poetry, storytelling, and history. She was a prophetess — able to predict events.

Saga

Tove is a modern variation of an Old Norse name for which there are no letters on the twenty-first century keyboard (Þórfríðr, for those interested.) Surviving and thriving in modern Scandinavia in the form of Tove, Tuva, and Tova, it is originally related to the name Thor and means "beautiful, beloved."
 
Internationally, its best-known wearers include Moomins creator Tove Jansson, and Swedish singer Tove, and in 2025, actress Lily Collins named her daughter Tove Jane after Jansson which may bring the name more widespread attention.
 
Beyond Tove, other popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/173/scandinavian-names">Scandinavian names</a> include Toril, Maja, Tyra, and Ebba.

Tove

A form of ancient name newly popular in Eastern Europe, Rasmus is rugged and distinctive - and on trend in Estonia and Finland. Virtually unknown in the U.S. but with its philosophical roots and uplifting meaning, Rasmus seems prime for use. The Rasmus is a Finnish rock band.

Rasmus

Succinct, stylish, and catchy, Ivo has the energetic impact of other names ending in -o. It is a multicultural choice with two distinct origins, and, as such, is familiar across a variety of countries, ranging from the Netherlands to Brazil, from Portugal to Czechia. 
 
On one hand, Ivo is a Germanic name, originally used as a short from of names including the element iwa, meaning "yew tree, yew wood", or more figuratively, "archer". As such, it's a cognate to French Yves, Cornish Ives, and the Scottish Ivor and Evander. 
 
Alternatively, Ivo may be used as a diminutive to Ivan, a variation of John used across Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, England, Bosnia, and beyond. In this case, it would mean "God is gracious".
 
Another source for the name is the Bulgarian Ivaylo (or Ivailo) meaning "wolf", while variations include the Latin American Evo, Polish Iwo, and Finnish Iivo.
 
Pronunciation of the name varies depending on country and region. EE-vo is typically used in German, Dutch, Italian, Serbian, and Croatian, IH-vo is heard in Czech and EE-voo is used in Portuguese. EYE-vo is also used among English speakers. 
 
Borne by a number of French, Breton, and Cornish saints, more a more recent bearer is comedian Ivo Graham.
 
Despite its stylish sounds and multicultural appeal, Ivo has never appeared in the US Top 1000, and a recent year saw it given to 18 boys.

Bianka is a feminine name representing an Eastern European spelling variation of Bianca. The name ultimately derives from the Italian word 'bianca' meaning 'white' or 'pure.' This spelling with 'k' instead of 'c' is particularly common in Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, and some other Slavic languages. Bianka carries the same associations of purity, innocence, and brightness as Bianca while offering a distinctive spelling that reflects Eastern European naming traditions. The name has moderate popularity in countries like Hungary and Poland but remains less common in Western countries. Bianka offers a slightly exotic alternative to the more familiar Bianca while maintaining the same elegant, feminine quality. Notable bearers include Hungarian handball player Bianka Pap and Polish actress Bianka Cwiklinska.

Bianka

Originally a surname deriving from the Roman twin Romulus, this attractive name was introduced to the English-speaking world as a first name by painter Augustus John who used it for his son. Romilly John became Admiral of the Fleet in England. 
 A French surname from the twelfth century on, it's more recently been heard as a girls' name. Emma Thompson, for example, used Romilly as her daughter Gaia's middle name. And Romilly was used in the US last year for a dozen baby girls.
 The logical nicknames would be Romy or Milly, both very much in style.

Romilly

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.


Anselm

Long popular in Scotland, this attractive name is strictly-speaking the Gaelic version of Eleanor, but is also often considered part of the Helen family of names. After the Normans introduced it into the British Isles, it was transformed into Aileen or Evelyn. It has rarely been heard in the US, but it is slowly starting to be used here too.