Harry Potter names
- Granger
Origin:
English and French surnameMeaning:
"worker of the granary; farmer"Description:
If you're seeking a solid but underused occupational name with a warm, friendly sound, and an earthy feel, Granger is one to consider. Associated with faming, grain, and the outdoors, it fits in with the likes of Colton, Sawyer, and Cooper, with a hint of classic George about it too.
- Bathsheba
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"daughter of an oath"Description:
Popular with the Puritans, this name of the shrewd and beautiful wife of King David and mother of King Solomon could be a bit of a load for a modern girl to carry.
- Irma
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"universal, whole, great"Description:
A Top 200 choice in the US from the late 1880s to the early 1930s, Irma has nevertheless fallen out of favor with modern parents, and doesn't look set for the sort of comeback that some of her vintage sisters have enjoyed in recent years. The devastating hurricane which hit the Caribbean Islands and the south-east coast of the US in 2017 has no doubt dealt its chances of revival a further blow.
- Doris
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"gift of the ocean"Description:
Doris had long been on our so-far-out-it-will-always-be-out-for-babies list, and seemed to be written there in indelible ink. But there are signs of a sea change, that Doris could profit from the revivals of Dorothy and Dorothea.
- Argus
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"watchful guardian"Description:
In mythology, a creature with a hundred eyes, making it a better name for a camera than a baby.
- Kingsley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"king's meadow"Description:
Kingsley is a sophisticated Harry Potter name that entered the US Top 1000 in 2013.
- Finch
Origin:
English word and nature nameMeaning:
"to swindle"Description:
It feels like Finch should be a modern bird name that's as popular as Wren or Lark, but that's not the case - so it's one to consider if you're looking for a nature name that's familiar but rare.
- Hermione
Origin:
Feminine version of Hermes, GreekMeaning:
"messenger, earthly"Description:
Hermione's costarring role in Harry Potter has made this previously ignored, once stodgy name suddenly viable. Hermione could really take off once today's children start having kids of their own.
- Marlene
Origin:
German variation of Madeline; combination of Mary and MagdalenDescription:
Marlene Dietrich made it famous when she condensed her first two names, Maria and Magdalena. Now more often pronounced with two syllables rather than three.
- Gladys
Origin:
Possibly a form or Claudia or WelshMeaning:
"land, nation"Description:
Hard as it might be to believe, Gladys was the Harper of 1900, emerging almost out of nowhere to take the naming world by storm. It became a favorite among parents — and writers of romantic Edwardian novels, seen as alluring and unusual. One impetus was the 1870 Ouida novel Puck, whose heroine was the idealized beauty, Gladys Gerant.
- Merlin
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"sea fortress"Description:
This name of the famous fifth-century sorcerer and mentor of King Arthur may or may not be a bit wizardy for a real-life modern child. Its most noted modern bearer: football star turned actor Merlin Olsen, whose father was named Merle.
- Hestia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"hearth, fireside"Description:
Hestia is the name of the Greek goddess of the hearth, home and chastity. Though Hestia has been long dormant as a name, it's a possibility for the parent in search of a classic name with deep roots that's also unusual. It's one of the Greek goddess namesthat's both familiar and distinctive.
- Nicolas
Origin:
French and Spanish variation of Nicholas, GreekMeaning:
"people of victory"Description:
Nicolas is the French and Spanish form, or streamlined spelling, of Nicholas, popularized by actor Nicolas Cage. Nicolas has been consistently on the charts since Social Security began releasing data, but the name did not truly take off until around the 70s. Today Nicolas is popular among Spanish and Portuguese-speaking parents, ranking in the Top 30 in Spain, Brazil, and Chile.
- Newt
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"a small salamander"Description:
Rarely used on its own and irrevocably tied to former House Speaker Gingrich -- who was christened Newton.
- Sirius
Origin:
Latin from GreekMeaning:
"burning"Description:
Yes, it's the name of the brightest star in the sky, but can't you just hear people saying, "Are you serious?" Singer Erykah Badu used it as a middle name for son Seven.
- Morgana
Origin:
Female version of Morgan, WelshMeaning:
"sea-circle"Description:
Since Morgan is used as--or more--frequently for girls as for boys, this feminization has fallen by the wayside. It drew some brief attention via the pop singer Morgana King.The similar Morgiana appears in Tales from the Thousand and One Nights.
- Tiberius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"of the Tiber"Description:
The name of an important ancient Roman emperor, Tiberius might sound a bit heavy for a modern boy to carry, but with the rise of Atticus, Tiberius and brothers begin to feel more baby-friendly, much in the same way as Old Testament names like Elijah and Isaiah have been rejuvenated.
- Narcissa
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"daffodil"Description:
This Greek flower and mythological choice doesn't make it into the pantheon of possibilities because of its association with narcissism. But narcissa is December's flower of the month, so Narcissa and Daffodil theoretically make perfect names for December babies.
- Silvanus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"wood; forest"Description:
In Roman mythology, Silvanus was the god of the forests. He protected farmers and fields and was credited with developing a system for marking field boundaries.
- Brutus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"heavy, dull"Description:
Brutus is the quintessential brute--far too close to the word brutal. And any child with this name would spend much of his life hearing "Et tu."
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