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The Nixed List

  1. Ambrose

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "immortal"

    • Description:

      Gentle but grandiose and beloved by British novelists including Evelyn Waugh and P. G. Wodehouse, Ambrose was a fast rising name in 2022. Entering the UK Top 1000 for the first time and proving popular among Nameberry users, its elegance, softness, and vintage style means it fits in with popular Theodore, Sebastian, and Jeremiah.
  2. Amias

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "loved"

    • Description:

      Amias or Amyas is a unique name with an attractive sound and feel and a lovely meaning. Though it might sound like a Biblical name, it is not, but is a surname that may be related to Amadeus or even be a male version of Amy--which would make it one of the few boys' names to be derived from a girls'.
  3. Amos

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "carried by God"

    • Description:

      Amos is a robust biblical name that's being discovered by a new generation of parents in a major way.
  4. Annika

    • Origin:

      Swedish diminutive of Anna

    • Meaning:

      "grace"

    • Description:

      Annika is a surprise hit of recent years, inspired by golfer Sorenstam; for Trekkies, it was also the name of a 'Star Trek:Voyager' character. Some people's first memory of it might be as Pippi Longstocking's friend. A nice namesake for an ancestral Ann.
  5. Arianwen

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "white, fair, blessed"

    • Description:

      Rarely heard outside of Wales, Arianwen is one of many pretty wen-ending names prominent in ancient Welsh legend.
  6. Aubin

    • Origin:

      French form of Albinus, Ancient Roman

    • Meaning:

      "white, blond, bright"

    • Description:

      Aubin might be seen as a fresher and more decidedly masculine twist on Aubrey, though the two are not related. This stylish French choice derives from the Roman Albinus or Albus, meaning "white, bright" or sometimes "blonde". Pronounced with a strong O sound and with a barely there 'n', the name ranked at #275 in its native France as of 2023.
  7. Aubrey

    • Origin:

      English from French version of German Alberic

    • Meaning:

      "elf ruler"

    • Description:

      Almost like a fusion between vintage Audrey, bubbly Ruby, and unisex Avery, Aubrey has been a popular choice for girls since the mid 2000’s.
  8. Augustine

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "great, magnificent"

    • Description:

      Augustine is more substantial (and saintly) than August, less pretentious than Augustus, and, along with its nickname Gus, is definitely a viable choice.
  9. Avi

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "father"

    • Description:

      Avi, the short form of many Hebrew names, is often used on its own in Israel. It entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2015.
  10. Basil

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "royal"

    • Description:

      Although Greek in origin--in the fourth century, a bishop by that name established the principles of the Greek Orthodox Church--Basil for years took on the aura of aquiline-nosed upper-class Britishness of Sherlock Holmes portrayer Basil Rathbone, then spiced with the fragrant aroma of the herb that entered with the Pesto generation.
  11. Bellemy

    • Description:

      Bellemy is a masculine name with romantic French overtones, likely derived from the Old French 'bel ami' meaning 'beautiful friend' or 'handsome friend.' This elegant name carries connotations of charm, attractiveness, and amiability. Bellemy is a rare variation of the more commonly seen Bellamy, which has gained modest popularity in recent years as both a given name and surname. The name has a melodic quality with its three syllables and soft consonants. Bellemy projects an image of refinement and sophistication while maintaining a friendly, approachable character. Its rarity makes it an appealing choice for parents seeking a distinctive name with positive associations.

  12. Benedict

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "blessed"

    • Description:

      Parents who like Ben and Benjamin but find those forms too popular sometimes consider Benedict as a more distinctive choice. Unlike the Old Testament Benjamin, Benedict is the name of the saint who formed the Benedictine Order and of fifteen popes,including a recent one.
  13. Bijoux

    • Description:

      Bijoux is a distinctive feminine name derived from the French word meaning 'jewels' or 'jewelry.' As a personal name, it conveys notions of preciousness, beauty, and value. The unique spelling with the 'x' gives it an exotic and sophisticated flair, while the pronunciation (bee-ZHOO) adds a melodic quality. Though rare as a given name in most countries, Bijoux has occasional usage in French-speaking regions and among parents drawn to names with French origins. Its appeal lies in its combination of delicacy and distinctiveness, offering a rare gem in the world of names. Parents choosing this name often appreciate its artistic associations and the way it suggests something treasured and special.
  14. Blythe

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "happy, carefree"

    • Description:

      Blythe is Nameberry gem — one of those names that visitors to the site are often searching for, despite the fact it's never ranked in the US charts as a given name.
  15. Brio

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "vivacity, zest"

    • Description:

      Musical term with a lot of energy.
  16. Canaan

    • Origin:

      Biblical place name, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "The Promised Land; humble, low"

    • Description:

      Pronounced KAY-nan, this Old Testament place name has a strong modern feel that blends in with on-trend choices like Carter, Colton, and Kayson, but also with Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Tobias. Associated in the Bible with "The Promised Land", it is also the name of one of Noah's grandsons.
  17. Colombine

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "dove"

    • Description:

      A beautiful English and French flower name deriving from the Latin word for dove. Sadly, in America this name is now forever linked with a tragic terrorist attack on a Colorado high school.
  18. Cressida

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "gold"

    • Description:

      Cressida is a pretty mythological and Shakespearean heroine name much better known in Britain than it is here — an imbalance the adventurous baby namer might want to correct.
  19. Dove

    • Origin:

      Color and nature name

    • Meaning:

      "dove, a bird"

    • Description:

      Subtle but clear unisex way to signal peace, especially in middle place.
  20. Eira

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "snow"

    • Description:

      This Welsh nature name that can be pronounced exactly like the male Ira. Or, to avoid confusion, you could just name her Snow.
  21. Elin

    • Origin:

      Swedish variation of Ellen

    • Description:

      The Elin variation makes an old favorite sleeker and more modern. Elin came to prominence via the ex-Mrs.Tiger Woods and is now perhaps best known via novelist Elin Hildebrand.. It entered the US Top 1000 in 2010, though it's now dropped off again.
  22. Elowen

    • Origin:

      Cornish

    • Meaning:

      "elm"

    • Description:

      A beautiful modern Cornish nature name that is rapidly picking up steam in the States: even spawning variant spellings like Elowyn and Elowynn. In its native region, it wasn't widely used as a name before the twentieth century, when the Cornish language was revived. A (currently) unique member of the fashionble El- family of names, it has a pleasant, evocative sound.
  23. Evenine / Evenie
    • Felicity

      • Origin:

        Latin

      • Meaning:

        "good fortune, happy"

      • Description:

        Felicity is as accessible a virtue name as Hope and Faith, but much more feminine -- and dare we say, happier. The hit TV show did a lot to soften and modernize the once buttoned-up image of Felicity, and it got further notice as the red-haired Colonial doll, Felicity Merriman, in the American Girl series. A current bearer is actress Felicity Huffman.
    • Freja

      • Origin:

        Swedish and Danish

      • Meaning:

        "lady, noblewoman"

      • Description:

        One of the most popular names in Scandinavia, Freja--or Freyja--was a major deity of Norse paganism. Beautiful, blonde and blue-eyed, she was the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. In the US, the name is most likely spelled Freya.
    • Genevieve

      • Origin:

        English from French

      • Meaning:

        "tribe woman"

      • Description:

        Genevieve is derived from the Germanic medieval name Genovefa, or Kenowefa, which consists of the elements kuni, meaning "kin", and wefa, meaning "woman." The medieval saint Genevieve, patroness of Paris, defended the city against Attila the Hun through her rational thinking, courage and prayer.
    • Greer

      • Origin:

        Scottish, contraction of surname Gregor; Latin

      • Meaning:

        "alert, watchful"

      • Description:

        This attractive Scottish surname choice, has a certain amount of glamour thanks to feisty British-born red-haired forties Academy Award winner Greer Garson, who was born Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson--Greer was her Irish mother's maiden name). Greer was chosen much more recently by Kelsey Grammer for his daughter and by Brooke Shields in the Grier form. As a surname, it's associated with feminist writer/activist Germaine Greer.
    • Gwyn

      • Origin:

        Welsh

      • Meaning:

        "fair, blessed"

      • Description:

        Short, simple, gentle, undeniably Welsh but easy to spell and pronounce – there's a lot to like about this underused gem. In the States it's been almost exclusively female, perhaps due to the greater familiarity of Gwen, but it definitely feels like a candidate to reclaim for the boys.
    • Harper

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "harp player"

      • Description:

        You might think of Harper as the hottest name of the last decade, jumping from obscurity to the Top 10, where it remained until last year.
    • Heath

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "the heathland dweller"

      • Description:

        Rugged and outdoorsy, Heath was an obscure choice until the 1960s when it was used in the television series, The Big Valley for character Heath Barkley. It peaked in the 70s when it reached the Top 200, but has since been in decline, dropping out of the Top 1000 in 2023.
    • Ishmael

      • Origin:

        Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "God will hear"

      • Description:

        Ishmael is most familiar through "Call me Ishmael," the opening line spoken by the youthful narrator of Moby-Dick. Few American parents have followed that advice, though the Spanish and Arabic spelling, Ismael, ranks at Number 362. With its warm and pleasant sound, though, we could see Ishmael tagging along behind Isaiah and Isaac.
    • Ivo

      • Origin:

        German

      • Meaning:

        "yew wood, archer"

      • Description:

        Ivo is an unusual, catchy name with the energetic impact of all names ending in 'o'. Hardly heard in the U.S., it is used a bit more frequently in England, as is the related Ivor, a favorite of such novelists as Evelyn Waugh and P.G. Wodehouse. Ivo is currently most popular in the Netherlands.
    • Jasper

      • Origin:

        Persian

      • Meaning:

        "bringer of treasure"

      • Description:

        Jasper originated as a variation of the Latin Gaspar, which ultimately derived from the Persian word ganzabara, meaning "bringer of treasure." As a given name, Jasper’s etymology is unrelated to that of the gemstone, which comes from a Semitic word meaning "speckled stone." Jasper is the usual English form for one of the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to the infant Christ according to medieval tradition and appears in the Bible as a reference to the stone itself in Revelations 4:3.
    • Jolie

      • Origin:

        French

      • Meaning:

        "pretty"

      • Description:

        Jolie is as pretty as its literal meaning; nowadays it is also seen as a girls’ name, via Angelina for whom Jolie was originally her middle name.
    • Josiah

      • Origin:

        Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "God supports, heals"

      • Description:

        Josiah—a biblical name with lots of quaint, old-fashioned charm—makes a much fresher sounding alternative to either Joseph or Joshua, combining the best of both. Josiah is among the several Biblical boys' names that have been on the rise this decade.
    • Jude

      • Origin:

        Latin diminutive of Judah, Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "praised"

      • Description:

        Jude is a modern star, maintaining a steady level of popularity -- but not TOO much popularity, in the US at least. Thank Jude Law and the great Lennon-McCartney song "Hey Jude", double-handedly responsible for propelling Jude up the charts.
    • Judith

      • Origin:

        Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "He will be praised or woman from Judea"

      • Description:

        The biblical Judith, the fourth most popular name in 1940, may be getting ready for a comeback in its full, elegant, if somewhat solemn form. Many of those earlier Judiths were called Judy—some after Judy (born Frances) Garland—preferring it over their more formal proper name. Today, Judith, like Deborah, may have shaken off just enough to appeal to parents looking for a traditional, yet under-the-radar biblical name. And Jude would be a likelier nickname these days than the Judge Judy connection.
    • Juniper

      • Origin:

        Latin tree name

      • Meaning:

        "young"

      • Description:

        Juniper is a fresh-feeling nature name -- it's a small evergreen shrub -- with lots of energy. A new favorite of fashionable parents, Juniper joins such other tree and shrub names as Hazel, Acacia, and Willow.
    • Juno

      • Origin:

        Latin

      • Meaning:

        "queen of the heavens; young"

      • Description:

        Juno is an ancient name that feels as fresh as if it had been minted, well, not yesterday, but in 2007. Since the release of the popular indie film Juno, this lively but strong Roman goddess name has held new potential as a baby name. Currently in the UK Top 500 and used in The Netherlands too, Juno is on the rise in the US - and is 15 times more popular than it was before the release of the film.
    • Jone
      • Lark

        • Origin:

          English bird name

        • Description:

          Lark is getting some new and well-deserved attention as a post-Robin and Raven bird name. Although it was first recorded as a name in the 1830's, it has never appeared on the Social Security list.
      • Larkin

        • Origin:

          Irish

        • Meaning:

          "rough, fierce"

        • Description:

          While Larkin takes this name from bird to surname, there are actually more female Larkins these days than male, and it's a name that works as well for either gender. It has the literary connection to poet Philip Larkin too.
      • Leif

        • Origin:

          Swedish; Danish; Norwegian

        • Meaning:

          "heir, descendant"

        • Description:

          Leif is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names, thanks to Icelandic explorer Leif Erikson, and is still one of the best, with a pleasant aural association with the word leaf.
      • Linus

        • Origin:

          Greek

        • Meaning:

          "flax"

        • Description:

          Can Linus lose its metaphorical security blanket and move from the Peanuts page onto the birth certificate? We think it has enough charm and other positive elements going for it for the answer to be yes.
      • Llewellyn

        • Origin:

          Welsh, variation of Llywelyn

        • Meaning:

          "leader's image"

        • Description:

          Llewellyn/Llywelyn is a common patriotic first name in Wales, with its distinctive Welsh double LL's; in the U.S. Llewellyn would make a daring choice, though with the chance that some might find the ellen sound slightly feminine.
      • Luther

        • Origin:

          German

        • Meaning:

          "army people"

        • Description:

          Once restricted to evangelical Protestants honoring the ecclesiastical reformer and theologian Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant revolution. In more recent times it has been favored by parents wishing to honor civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr. Luther was a Top 100 name at the turn of the last century, but fell off the list in the early 1990s.
          Luther Burbank was an eminent botanist and Luther Vandross was a popular R&B artist. It's the name of a main character on the Disney series Zeke and Luther. The name was given a shot of contemporary energy via Idris Elba's dynamic performance in the eponymous BBC crime drama.
      • Madigan

        • Origin:

          Irish

        • Meaning:

          "little dog"

        • Description:

          An unusual, energetic surname choice that would make a good Madison alternative. Madigan was a typical police detective series of the 1970s, starring Richard Widmark.
      • Maeve

        • Origin:

          Irish

        • Meaning:

          "she who intoxicates"

        • Description:

          Maeve is a short and sweet name that has become one of the most stylish Irish names for girls in the modern US. Maeve would make an excellent first or middle name choice, with more heft than Mae/May and more modern charm than Mavis.
      • Marius

        • Origin:

          Latin, from a Roman family name related to Mars, the god of war

        • Description:

          Marius, frequently heard in Germany and France, is a slightly fusty yet accessible name that has (Les Mis) to Anne Rice. With the rise in interest in such Latin names as Maximus and Atticus, Marius might start attracting more attention. Mario, the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese version of Marius, is much more widely used.
      • Mathis

        • Origin:

          French and German form of Matthias or Matthew

        • Meaning:

          "gift of God"

        • Description:

          Very popular in France and Belgium, this name -- pronounced mat-tees, like the surname of the painter Matisse -- might make an appealing new way to say Matthew here.
      • Meredith

        • Origin:

          Welsh

        • Meaning:

          "great chief"

        • Description:

          Meredith has been considered primarily a girl's name since the fifties, before which it was more commonly used for boys. Comic actor Jay Mohr recently named his son Meredith, which might help it swing back into the blue column. The traditional Welsh pronunciation puts the stress on the middle syllable, making Red a cool nickname possibility.
      • Micah

        • Origin:

          Hebrew

        • Meaning:

          "who is like the Lord"

        • Description:

          The bright, playful Micah feels like the middle ground between the safe, solid qualities of Michael and the flair and energy of Luca. Both Biblical and stylish, Micah is proving popular among parents today.
      • Milo

        • Origin:

          Latin and Old German

        • Meaning:

          "soldier or merciful"

        • Description:

          Milo is most commonly considered to be Germanic name derived from the Latin word miles, meaning "soldier." However, there is evidence to suggest it also may have independently spawned from the Slavic root milu, meaning "merciful." Milo predates brother name Miles, a variation that evolved when the name immigrated to the British Isles in the Middle Ages. Mylo is an alternate spelling.
      • Misha

        • Origin:

          Russian, diminutive of Mikhail

        • Description:

          Brought into the American consciousness as the nickname of ballet great Mikhail Baryshnikov, it more recently took on a unisex air via TV and screen actress Mischa Barton. Could become the next Sasha.
      • Oliver

        • Origin:

          Latin

        • Meaning:

          "olive tree or elf army"

        • Description:

          Oliver is an international star, ranking near the top of the charts in the US and throughout the English-speaking world, along with a host of European and Latin American countries, from Norway to Chile, Slovenia to Switzerland.
      • Olivier

        • Origin:

          French

        • Meaning:

          "olive tree"

        • Description:

          More and more frequently heard as the Gallic version of Oliver, Olivier could be seen as a tribute to the great British actor, Sir Laurence O.
      • Ondine

        • Origin:

          Latin

        • Meaning:

          "little wave"

        • Description:

          Mythological spirit of the waters; spelled Undine, she was an Edith Wharton heroine.
      • Orson

        • Origin:

          Latin and English

        • Meaning:

          "bear cub"

        • Description:

          In the past, Orson has felt like a one-person moniker, tied to film director Orson Welles, who dropped his given name of George in favor of his more distinctive middle. While the Citizen Kane creator seemed to own the name during his lifetime, it's now an interesting possibility for any parent seeking an unusual yet solid name. It's started to appear to the celeb set too -- both Paz Vega and Lauren Ambrose have little Orsons.
      • Otto

        • Origin:

          German

        • Meaning:

          "wealthy"

        • Description:

          Otto is cool again. Long a quintessential Old Man Name, Otto has been promoted to trending darling of adventurous baby namers.
      • Peregrine

        • Origin:

          Latin

        • Meaning:

          "traveler, pilgrim"

        • Description:

          Peregrine is considered to be an elegantly aristocratic name in England, but has never made it to the U.S., where it has been seen as extravagantly eccentric. In the new naming climate, though, it's not beyond consideration — in fact it's already been chosen by at least one Berry.
      • Philomena

        • Origin:

          Greek

        • Meaning:

          "lover of strength"

        • Description:

          Philomena is an earthy Greek name now used in various Latin countries. While it has felt simply clunky for many years, it's starting -- along with such sister names as Wilhelmina and Frederica -- to sound so clunky it's cool.
      • Poppy

        • Origin:

          English from Latin

        • Meaning:

          "red flower"

        • Description:

          Poppy, unlike most floral names which are sweet and feminine, has a lot of spunk. Long popular throughout the rest of the English-speaking world, Poppy is finally starting to rise toward the top in the US, where it entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2016.
      • Posey

        • Origin:

          English

        • Meaning:

          "a bunch of flowers"

        • Description:

          Posey is fashionable in England, a country of gardeners, but this pretty bouquet-of-flowers name is only starting to be heard here.
      • Raphael

        • Origin:

          Hebrew

        • Meaning:

          "God has healed"

        • Description:

          Raphael is a romantic archangel name that sounds both artistic and powerful. Raphael is also a great cross-cultural choice, with significance for people with both Latinate and Jewish roots, plus plenty of grounding in the English-speaking world.
      • Russet

        • Origin:

          French

        • Meaning:

          "reddish"

        • Description:

          Russell has gone away, but the more feminine Russet may move in to take his place.
      • Saga

        • Origin:

          Swedish word name

        • Meaning:

          "story; seeress"

        • Description:

          Apt name for a little drama queen with a long future ahead of her. Saga is a Top 30 girls' name in Sweden.
      • Salvia

        • Origin:

          Latin

        • Meaning:

          "whole, healthy"

        • Description:

          Another name for the herb sage -- which sounds younger and more modern than this version.
      • Simon

        • Origin:

          Hebrew, Greek

        • Meaning:

          "he has heard; flat-nosed"

        • Description:

          Simon is pure and simple (not in the nursery rhyme sense), and an appealingly genuine Old and New Testament name that's not overused. These factors make Simon a stylish yet classic choice.
      • Soleil

        • Origin:

          French

        • Meaning:

          "sun"

        • Description:

          An attractive French word name known here via former child TV star Soleil Moon Frye, aka Punky Brewster. It started to be lightly used in the U.S. in the 1920s and is now attracting some attention as both a sunny nature and an international word name. It's currently in the Nameberry Top 500.
      • Sonja

        • Description:

          Sonja is a feminine name of Slavic origin, representing a Russian and Scandinavian variant of Sophia, which means 'wisdom.' Popular throughout Northern and Eastern Europe, particularly in countries like Sweden, Norway, Russia, and Germany, Sonja has a rich cultural heritage. The name gained international recognition through figures like Sonja Henie, the Norwegian Olympic figure skating champion. In the United States, the name saw its peak popularity in the 1940s and 1950s, though it has remained a consistent if uncommon choice. Sonja offers a balance of strength and femininity with its soft sound but strong consonants. The name carries an air of sophistication and international flair while remaining straightforward to pronounce across many languages and cultures.

      • Soren

        • Origin:

          Danish, Norwegian

        • Meaning:

          "stern"

        • Description:

          This gentle Scandinavian name, soft and sensitive, is being discovered in a major way by parents in the US. It's most closely identified with the nineteenth century philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, but there have been modern fictional Sorens as well, in The Matrix Reloaded and the book series Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Charlie and Lola, and Underworld.
      • Sorrell

        • Origin:

          French

        • Meaning:

          "reddish brown"

        • Description:

          Soft, amber-hued herbal and autumnal name that's used most often to describe the color of a horse. The proper spelling: Sorrel.
      • Sparrow

        • Origin:

          Nature name

        • Meaning:

          "sparrow, a bird"

        • Description:

          With related choices such as Lark and Phoenix gaining popularity, why not Sparrow? Though it's usually thought of as a female name, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden chose it for their son.
      • Sterling

        • Origin:

          English

        • Meaning:

          "of the highest quality"

        • Description:

          A name with some sterling qualities, most associated with the British currency and silver markets. Sterling has several recent TV associations, with characters Roger Sterling (on Mad Men) and Sterling Archer (on Archer), and actor Sterling K. Brown (on This is Us).
      • Sylvan

        • Origin:

          Latin

        • Meaning:

          "wood, forest"

        • Description:

          One of the many variations of Silvanus, the name of the Roman forest god, and a little-used member of the freshly stylish Sylv- family of names. Silvan is the sleek German and Dutch form. Given to less than 100 boys each year in the US, it's nevertheless in the Nameberry Top 500.
      • Sylvie

        • Origin:

          French variation of Latin Sylvia

        • Meaning:

          "from the forest"

        • Description:

          Although Sylvia seems to be having somewhat of a revival among trendsetting baby namers, we'd still opt for the even gentler and more unusual Sylvie. Despite being dated in its native France (where it was popular during the 1950s and 60s), in English-speaking regions it still feels fresh and international without being unfamiliar and has a cosmopolitan, international air. It debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2016.
      • Thierry

        • Origin:

          French variation of Theodoric

        • Meaning:

          "ruler of the people"

        • Description:

          Thierry, which is very popular in France, would make an interesting import; it's somewhat familiar through designer Thierry Mugler and international soccer star Thierry Henry. It almost sounds like Terry, but not quite.
      • Thisbe

        • Origin:

          Greek mythological name, meaning unknown

        • Description:

          Thisbe, the name of a beautiful but tragic lover in mythology, is lively and cute -- in a slightly thistly, prickly way. Ovid retold the story of Thisbe and Pyramus, young lovers in ancient Babylon kept apart by family rivalry, which was the inspiration for Romeo and Juliet. A modern bearer of the name is writer Thisbe Nissen.

          In Sarah Dessen's novel Along for the Ride, the baby daughter is named Thisby, nn Isby.

      • True

        • Origin:

          English word name

        • Meaning:

          "true"

        • Description:

          An inspirational and aspirational word name that evokes ideas of loyalty, faith, honesty, and accuracy, True is a unisex name, which is just slightly more popular for boys. Like an updated form of Trudy and Prue and with the virtuous feel of Grace, Faith, and Hope, True was given to around 200 girls in 2023.
      • Vale

        • Origin:

          Geographical name

        • Description:

          Vale is part place name, part nature name -- a poetic term for a type of valley. Today Show coanchor Savannah Guthrie put Vale on the baby name map when she chose it for her daughter, but there's no reason the name can't work equally well for a boy. Vale might also be a short form for Valentine or a spelling variation of the city name Vail.
      • Verity

        • Origin:

          Latin

        • Meaning:

          "truth"

        • Description:

          If you love Puritan virtue names and want to move beyond Hope and Faith and Grace, this is a wonderful choice, both for its meaning and its sound. A rare find here, though occasionally heard in England. It was used in Winston Graham's Poldark novels, was Madonna's name as James Bond's fencing instructor in Die Another Day, and made a brief appearance in Harry Potter. Not to mention being a fixture on British and Australian soaps. Verity also appears in one of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple mysteries.
      • Winona

        • Origin:

          Sioux Indian

        • Meaning:

          "firstborn daughter"

        • Description:

          Rode two rockets to fame, with actress Winona Ryder and singer Wynonna Judd. Winona entered the Top 1000 for the first time since 1957 this past year in 2022, following in the footsteps of trending short form Winnie.
      • Wisteria

        • Origin:

          Flower name, from English surname

        • Meaning:

          "Wister's flower"

        • Description:

          A frilly southern-accented flower name yet to be planted on many birth certificates. In the language of flowers, the wisteria is a symbol of devotion. It is named for American horticulturalist John Caspar Wister.
      • Wren

        • Origin:

          English

        • Meaning:

          "small bird"

        • Description:

          Wren, a lilting songbird name, could be the next Robin. Wren entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2012 and is among the new wave of popular English names for girls.
      • Yael

        • Origin:

          Hebrew

        • Meaning:

          "ibex"

        • Description:

          Yael is an Old Testament name often heard in Israel that could work well here: just remember that it's pronounced with two syllables...it is also spelled Ya'el. In the Bible she was a Kenite woman in the time of Deborah who killed the enemy general, Sisera.
      • Yarrow

        • Origin:

          Botanical name, English

        • Meaning:

          "rough stream"

        • Description:

          Highly unusual as a baby name for either gender, Yarrow is an herb that grows wild and has long been used for its medicinal property. It's named for the mythical Achilles, who was said to carry yarrow into battle.