Names Inspired by Insects and Arachnids

Vanessa

Literary invention; also a species of butterfly

Vanessa was invented by writer Jonathan Swift for a lover named Esther Vanhomrigh—he combined the first syllable of her last name with the initial syllable of her first. Swift used it in the poem…

Melissa

Greek

"honeybee"

Melissa derives from the Greek word mélissa , meaning "bee," which was taken from the word for honey, meli . In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who nursed the infant god Zeus with honey. Melissa…

Yara

Arabic, Persian, Brazilian, Hebrew

"friend, helper; strength; water nymph; honeycomb"

The multicultural Yara is a sweet but substantial choice that could make a more unusual take on Sara and also work in multiple languages. Popular in Portugal, The Netherlands, and Switzerland,…

Melina

Greek

"little honey"

This traditional Greek name has held somewhat steady in the lower half of the US Top 1000 for the past 25 years, which makes it a great option for parents looking for a name that both fits in and…

Deborah

Hebrew

"bee"

Deborah has suffered from the fact that in the mid-twentieth century there were so many Debbies on the block that the beauty and meaning of the original name got lost. Deborah may no longer be among…

Adalia

Hebrew, German, "God is my refuge; noble one"

"God is my refuge; noble one"

Distinctive, elegant, and luxurious, Adalia can be a variation of Adele, or a Hebrew name with a Biblical background. Although it is given exclusively to girls in the US, in the Bible it is…

Kaira

Kaira is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins, creating a beautiful synthesis of meanings across traditions. In Hindi, Kaira means 'peaceful' or 'peaceful place,' while some associate it…

Lysandra

Greek

"liberator"

This name is the feminization of mythological name Lysander, which is best known to English-speakers as a character in Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream .

Bindi

Australian Aboriginal

"butterfly"

In the Noongar language of Western Australia, Bindi means butterfly. Bindi is usually seen as a girls' name, as seen in Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late Steve Irwin.