Word Names used in USA 1990

Feliz

Feliz is a feminine name with Spanish and Portuguese origins, directly meaning "happy" or "fortunate." Simple yet profound, this name bestows an inherently positive quality upon its bearer. While…

January

English month name from Latin

"doorway"

Thanks to two cultural influences, January has joined March, April, June and August as a plausible month name. The first was a character named January Wayne in a bestselling 1973 Jacqueline Susann…

Merced

Merced is a feminine name of Spanish origin derived from the word 'Mercedes,' which means 'mercies' or 'graces.' It is connected to the Catholic title for the Virgin Mary, 'María de las Mercedes'…

Nazareth

Hebrew place name

"branch, shoot; watch, guard"

Nazareth, an important place in the New Testament as the hometown of Jesus, is on the rise as a name for both girls and boys. It's one of a handful of Biblical place names, along with Galilee and…

October

English word name

"month name"

What is so rare as a month named June? October – and November and December – are a lot rarer. Brisk and substantial, they're so much more memorable and modern than April or May. October got its name…

Orquidea

Spanish, Portuguese

"orchid"

A rare Spanish and Portuguese flower name that is rarely heard elsewhere.

Sashay

Sashay is an unusual feminine name derived from a French ballet term meaning 'to glide' or 'to strut,' which entered English as both a dance step and a descriptive term for a graceful, confident…

Prudence

Virtue name

"caution"

Prudence, like Hope and Faith, is a Puritan virtue name with a quiet charm and sensitivity that is slowly returning to favor, though it hasn't yet registered on the charts. The White Album Beatles…

Starlet

Starlet is a feminine English word name that evokes images of both celestial beauty and Hollywood glamour. Derived from 'star' with the diminutive suffix '-let,' it literally means 'little star,'…

Starlene

Starlene is a feminine name that combines 'star' with the feminine suffix '-lene', creating a celestial and luminous image. It emerged in the mid-20th century in America during a period when unique,…

Uniqua

Uniqua is a distinctive feminine name that lives up to its sound—it's truly unique. Derived from the English word 'unique,' this modern coinage emphasizes individuality and originality. The name…

Corazon

Spanish word name

"heart"

With word names increasingly acceptable or even desirable, this Spanish word for heart, brought to the fore by Philippine president Corazon Aquino, may find more takers.

Esperansa

Esperansa is a variation of Esperanza, a feminine Spanish name meaning "hope" or "expectation," derived from the Latin "sperare" (to hope). This alternative spelling replaces the 'z' with an 's',…

Garnet

Jewel name, from the French

"pomegranate"

One of the jewel names in use a hundred years ago, due for revival along with sisters Ruby and Pearl.