Down the Rabbit Hole Names

Vasant

Sanskrit

"spring"

A name commonly used in India; Vasant Panchami is a Hindu festival dedicated to the goddess of learning.

Maayan

Hebrew

"spring of water"

Maayan (also stylized as Ma'ayan) may sound like the girls' name Maya, but it is a popular unisex name in Israel.

Amsterdam

Place-name

City name less mellifluous than Paris, London, or even Trenton. It was the name of the character portrayed by Leonardo di Caprio in "Gangs of New York."

Kaedyn

Kaedyn is a masculine name representing a modern spelling variation of Caden, which has Irish origins meaning 'battle-ready' or 'spirit of battle.' This contemporary spelling with the 'ae'…

Dekohta

Dekohta is a modern masculine name that appears to be a creative spelling variation of Dakota. While Dakota originates from the Sioux tribe name meaning 'friend' or 'ally,' Dekohta represents a…

Akavya

Akavya is an uncommon masculine name with possible Hebrew origins, potentially derived from the name of the Talmudic sage Akavya ben Mahalalel. In this context, it carries connotations of wisdom and…

Kaydon

Kaydon is a contemporary masculine name that emerged in the late 20th century, likely as a variation of names like Caden, Kayden, or Kaiden. It combines the popular 'Kay' sound with the trendy '-don'…

Zavid

Russian, meaning unknown

This Old Russian name is mentioned in several genealogical sources, but few modern name books. Pronounced either to rhyme with David, or as zah-VEED, it can be a highly unusual alternative.

Macen

Macen is a contemporary masculine name that has gained modest popularity in the United States since the early 2000s. It functions as a modern variant spelling of Mason, which originated as an English…

Noyce

English

"walnut tree"

As always, that oy sound is problematic.

Osbert

English

"divinely brilliant"

Some cutting-edge parents might revive Osbert as a substitute for Oscar. We like the "divinely brilliant" meaning. Cool or terminally nerdy? Your call. Osbert Sitwell, born Francis Osbert Sacheverell…

Dresden

German place name

"people of the forest"

Sad tinge to the name of the beautiful German city firebombed during World War II. Its name derives from Sorbian drezga , meaning "forest".

Courtland

Dutch

"short land"

Courtland, with its added U, is an English form of the Dutch habitational surname Cortlandt. Cortlandt was a village near modern-day Wijk bij Duurstede, Netherlands. Its name was derived from the…

Bonanza

Word name

Wildly optimistic -- and unrealistic -- choice.

Hardtimes

English word name

"hard times"

This almost Puritanical name was used by American enslaved people in the 1800s.

Unwin

English

"bear friend"

A dapper English surname derived from the Old English personal name Hunwine "bear friend", which comes with winning nickname Win.

Leofwine

Anglo-Saxon

"beloved friend"

An ancient name belonging to several medieval English clergymen, also spelt Leofwin or Leobwin.

Lan

Chinese or Vietnamese

"orchid, mountain mist"

A unisex Chinese name with a range of meanings, depending on the characters used. As a Chinese male name, "mountain mist" is one of the main reasons. In Vietnamese, it means "orchid". > In Slovenia,…

Trenner

Modern invented name

One of the new two-syllable boys' names with more style than substance.

Deniskov

Russian variation of Dennis, French from Greek

"god of Nysa"