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Polished Baby Names

  1. Loren

    • Origin:

      Variation of Laurence, English from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentum or bay laurel"

    • Description:

      A variant form of Laurence or Lawrence which ranked in the #200s in the US from the 1900s through to the 1960s. It didn't fall off the boys' Top 1000 until the late 1990s, following the huge popularity of Lauren for girls.
  2. Louis

    • Origin:

      German and French

    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"

    • Description:

      Kate and William shocked the world when they announced that they'd named their third child Louis -- Prince Louis Arthur Charles, to be more precise. But we've been predicting a comeback for this classic name for a long time.
  3. Louisa

    • Origin:

      Latinate feminine variation of Louis

    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"

    • Description:

      Louisa, a quaint but strongvintage name, is an example of the idea that these days, old-style girls’ names are more fashionable when they end with an a rather than with an e, as in Julie/Julia, Diane/Diana. So for the next generation, Louisa may rise again, especially with the growing popularity of other Lou/Lu-starting names, like Lucy and Luna. Louisa reentered the US Top 1000 in 2014 after a 45 year absence.
  4. Lucian

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      Lucian is a sleeker, more sophisticated version of Lucius that is climbing in tandem with other Lu-starting names.
  5. Luisa

    • Origin:

      Italian, Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"

    • Description:

      This streamlined Italian and Spanish spelling of Louisa is currently very popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal, where it's usually spelt Luísa.
  6. Laelius
    • Leocadio
      • Mael

        • Origin:

          French or Breton

        • Meaning:

          "chief or prince"

        • Description:

          The name of a fifth century Breton saint, Mael is a popular boys' name in contemporary France, though it is usually spelled with a diaeresis or umlaut - Maël. Mael is the Breton spelling, and the pronunciation is almost like the English word mile, with two distinctive syllables.
      • Maelys

        • Origin:

          French or Breton

        • Meaning:

          "chief or prince"

        • Description:

          Another feminine form of the old saint's name Mael. Spelled Maëlys, it is a very popular name in France today.
      • Magnolia

        • Origin:

          Flower name, from French surname

        • Meaning:

          "Magnol's flower"

        • Description:

          Magnolia, a sweet-smelling Southern belle of a name made famous via the iconic Edna Ferber novel and musical Showboat, is one of the latest wave of botanical names, along with unexpected blossoms Azalea and Zinnia. It is named for French botanist Pierre Magnol.
      • Mairead

        • Origin:

          Irish, shortened fom of Mairghread, variation of Margaret

        • Meaning:

          "pearl"

        • Description:

          Pronounced MAW-rayt or ma-RAYD, Mairead is close enough to Maureen to be accepted here. The name became popular in Ireland due to admiration for the saint of that name. Peig and Peigi are its Irish-language nicknames.
      • Marcellus

        • Origin:

          Latin

        • Meaning:

          "young warrior"

        • Description:

          This ancient Roman family name, first borne by the distinguished Marcus Claudius Marcellus and later by two popes, is a possibilty in the hot new category of names from antiquity.
      • Margo

        • Origin:

          French, diminutive of Margaret

        • Meaning:

          "pearl"

        • Description:

          Margo and Margot sound exactly the same, so why has the Margot spelling hopped back onto the Top 1000, outpacing Margo in numbers more than two to one? (Over 350 baby girls were named Margot in the most recent year, versus 150 named Margo.)
      • Marigold

        • Origin:

          Flower name, from English

        • Meaning:

          "golden flower"

        • Description:

          Marigold, once found almost exclusively in English novels and aristocratic nurseries, is beginning to be talked about and considered here. It has a sweet, sunny, quirky feel. The marigold was the symbol of the Virgin Mary.
      • Marlowe

        • Origin:

          Variation of Marlow, English

        • Meaning:

          "driftwood"

        • Description:

          While Marlowe (and Marlow and Marlo) are surname names that are not intrinsically or traditionally gendered and so in theory work equally well for boys and girls. About 10 percent of the babies named Marlowe are boys, while Marlow is 25 percent male and Marlo is about 50-50.
      • Mayumi

        • Description:

          Mayumi is a feminine Japanese name that carries beautiful meanings depending on the kanji characters used to write it. The most common interpretation combines 'ma' (真) meaning 'truth' or 'genuine' and 'yumi' (弓) meaning 'bow' as in archery, though other character combinations can yield meanings like 'elegant beauty' or 'gentle truth.' This name embodies traditional Japanese values of authenticity, grace, and strength. Outside Japan, Mayumi gained modest recognition in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s as Japanese cultural influences expanded globally. The name has an appealing rhythmic quality and remains uncommon enough to be distinctive in Western countries while being recognizable and easy to pronounce. For many parents, Mayumi represents an elegant bridge between Japanese heritage and international accessibility.

      • Merrill

        • Description:

          Merrill is a unisex name with Anglo-Saxon origins, though it's more commonly used for males. Derived from the Old English surname Muriel, which combines elements meaning "famous" and "sea." Alternatively, it may come from Murrell, a diminutive of Moore meaning "marshy land." Merrill gained popularity in the United States during the early 20th century, peaking in the 1930s and 1940s. While its usage has declined since then, it maintains a classic, distinguished quality. The name is often associated with intellectualism and professionalism, perhaps bolstered by its connection to the financial firm Merrill Lynch. Though relatively uncommon today, Merrill offers a sophisticated option with historical depth.
      • Michel

        • Origin:

          French form and German short form of Michael, Hebrew

        • Meaning:

          "who is like God"

        • Description:

          While the (male) French form is pronounced in English like the girls' name Michelle and the German form had a hard k-like sound in the middle, this variation of Michael is distinguished by being used evenly for girls and boys in the U.S. For either gender, though, pronunciation issues will dominate.
      • Montgomery

        • Origin:

          Norman

        • Meaning:

          "man power"

        • Description:

          This image of this distinguished Anglo-Scottish surname, drawn from the French place name of the ancient castle of Saint Foi de Montgomery, is rapidly shifting from fusty and formal to cool. And dashing short form Monty (or Monte) nudges it to cute.
      • Mahendra