User-created list
Down the Rabbit Hole Names
Across 188 pages
of 188
Gatsby
German surname and literary name
"from Gaddesby"
Gatsby is one of the most famous literary surnames, borne by the titular character of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby . The book's Jay Gatsby gussied up his surname from Gatz, whose meaning is…
Aldwyn
Aldwyn is a masculine name with Anglo-Saxon origins, derived from Old English elements 'eald' meaning 'old' or 'wise' and 'wine' meaning 'friend.' This creates the meaningful combination of 'old or…
Cholly
Cholly is a masculine name that typically functions as a diminutive or nickname for Charles, which comes from the Germanic name Karl, meaning 'free man' or 'manly.' With its friendly, approachable…
Fiachna
Irish
"raven"
A name from Irish history and legend, deriving from the Gaelic word for the raven. Uncommon in contemporary Ireland, although the related name Fiachra is a Top 250 choice there.
Voltaire
French
"determined thing"
Voltaire is the nom-de-plume of François-Marie Arouet, who became noted for his witty and satirical takes on enlightenment philosophy and Western society. Voltaire's most famous work, Candide, used…
Alard
German
"noble, steadfast"
Alard looks and sounds like the name of a romantic, medieval knight. It's dashing and unusual; but still easy to pronounce and spell. Cognate Adelard might also appeal if you are considering this…
Diggory
French
"Lost one"
This buoyant name has the same bouncy rhythm as Rafferty and Barnaby, but is virtually unused. It has plenty of literary cred, too: characters in The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter and Thomas…
Pryor
English surname
"head of the monastery, prior"
Pryor is for those in search of an unusual occupational name...or in memory of comedian Richard.
Pharaoh
Egyptian, Latin
"ruler"
Kaiser, Rex, Kingsley, and Prince have become increasingly popular in recent years and Pharaoh is one of the more unexpected members of this regal family of names. Used as the title of ancient…
Captain
English word name
"person in charge"
A commanding word name that feels occupational like Miller, Palmer, and Shepherd, while also fitting in with ambitious choices like Legend, King, Major, Maverick, and Saint. Referring to someone who…
Bilal
Arabic
"moist"
The name of a companion of the prophet Muhammad who became the first person to call Muslims to prayer. Bilal is well-used in the US.
Bachelor
French
"unmarried man"
Bachelor feels more like a prediction than a name.
Fitzroy
English
"son of the king"
An English surname originally given to the illegitimate sons of a monarch. It might be a nice middle name choice to honor an ancestral Roy, though as a first, it does have a cool meaning.
Cisco
Diminutive of Spanish Francisco
"Frenchman or free man"
Shortening Francisco somehow makes it sound even cooler. Cisco is also the name of a digital security company.
Kemper
German and Dutch surname
"serf; hemp farmer; person from Kempen"
As a given name, Kemper is a rare gender-neutral choice, given to fewer than 50 American babies at last count. It's much more familiar as a surname, as in that of Ellie Kemper, an actor from The…
Wolverine
Nature name
Fox, okay. Buck, maybe. But Wolverine? You gotta be kidding us. On the plus side, your five-year-old will love you for giving him this superhero name. Your fifteen-year-old, not so much.
Telly
Telly emerged as a nickname for names like Aristotle or Telemakhos, but gained recognition primarily through Greek-American television personality Telly Savalas, famous for his role as Kojak in the…
Bandit
Word or occupational name
"outlaw, thief"
We hesitate to call Bandit an occupational name, any more than Rogue or Vandal are occupational names, yet its use by one of the bandmembers of My Chemical Romance (for his daughter: we're thinking…
Biaggio
Italian variation of Blaise
"one who stutters or lisps"
Surprising relative of the French saints' name Blaise, which is definitely easier on the English ear than vowelsome Italian version. Also spelled BIAGIO.
Tide
Nature name
As likely to be tied to the detergent as to the rhythms of the ocean.