User-created list
names from fiction I like
Across 30 pages
of 30
Lo
Swedish short form of Lovisa or word name
"famous in battle; lynx"
Popular in its native Sweden, Lo doubles up as a nickname for the classic Lovisa and as an animal inspired choice, translating literally to "lynx". Pronounced as LOO, it entered the Swedish Top 100…
Luka
Luka as a feminine name represents a gender-switched variation of the traditionally masculine Luka/Luca, which derives from the Latin 'Lucius,' meaning 'light' or 'illumination.' While Luka remains…
Lumen
Latin
"light"
Lumen is a Latin word meaning "light", and the term used for the measurement of light output (making it an attractive choice for science-buffs). The name was used for a female character in the TV…
Lyn
Variation of Lynn, Welsh
"lake"
Lynn was a Top 100 girls' name in the US from the 1940s through the 60s, and shortened form Lyn's popularity followed the same trajectory. Today, Lyn is far more often found as a name suffix, in…
Lynn
Diminutive of Linda, English, Welsh
"pretty, soft, tender; lake"
Lynn arrived in the 1940s, spinning off from the wildly popular Linda to become a top mid-century middle (and first) name, ranking at #58 during its 1956 peak. Now, however, Lynn is out of the…
Lynne
Lynne is a feminine name with Welsh origins, derived from the Welsh word 'llyn' meaning 'lake' or 'waterfall.' It gained popularity as an independent name in the mid-20th century, though it was…
Link
Luna-Terra
Magdaline
Magdaline is a variant spelling of Magdalene, which derives from Magdala, an ancient town on the Sea of Galilee. The name carries biblical significance through Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus's most…
Mai
Japanese, French, Welsh, Vietnamese, Navajo
"dance; May; cherry blossom; coyote"
Cross-cultural winner.
Maki
Japanese
"true, reality, hope"
Popular name in Japan in its own right, but also as a nickname for Miyako or Makiko. It appears in the visual novel Danganrompa , borne by the character Maki Harukawa. Succinct and simple, it can…
Manon
French, diminutive of Marie
"bitter"
Manon is an endearing French pet name for Marie or Marianne; it has the international yet straightforward feel that makes it a viable import. Manon of the Spring was a gorgeous French film, Manon…
Margie
Diminutive of Margery
Prime pert-teenager name in midcentury TV shows, replaced by Maggie.
Marika
Dutch variation of Mary
Foreign variations of Mary are definitely the way to go; this one has a nice Dutch-girl feel. It also works as a cultural crossover name, e.g. between European languages and Japanese.
Marin
Latin
"of the sea"
Marin is a lovely county north of San Francisco, and a lovely baby name on the rise, one which sounds more refreshing than the more familiar Marina. As a place-name, Marin is pronounced with the…
Marisa
Italian and Spanish combination of Maria and Louisa
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + famous battle"
A name made famous by Marisas Berenson and Tomei, never became as saturated as its cousin Melissa, so still a feasible choice. Marisa is one of those Spanish and Italian names for girls that sounds…
Mathilda
Variation of Matilda
"battle-mighty"
The addition of the h makes it more Old World, which is not the direction you want to push Matilda in.
May
Diminutive of Margaret and Mary; month name
May is a sweet old-fashioned name that hasn't been on the national charts in several decades, but is definitely sounding fresh and springlike. Parents are beginning to see it once more as one of the…
Meg
Diminutive of Margaret, Greek
"pearl"
Meg, perennially one of the Little Women, is a Margaret short form that manages to be neither quite in nor quite out of style. Meg is sleeker and more sophisticated than Maggie, more contemporary…
Mei
Chinese; Hawaiian
"beautiful; plum"
Homophonous with Mae and May, the beautiful (literally) Mei is poised to climb the charts. The hero of the 2022 Disney/Pixar film Turning Red is a Chinese-Canadian teen named Meilin "Mei" Lee, which…