helenwhite's list of names

Joann

Joann is a feminine name derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious." It's a variant of Joanne or Joan, all stemming from the male name John. Popular throughout the mid-20th…

Justina

Latin, feminine variation of Justin

Justina was the pre-Justine feminization of Justin, now a possible alternative to Christina. Oddly, while Justine feels like a name unto itself, Justina feels like a pinned-together feminization in…

Kaelin

Kaelin is a feminine name with Gaelic origins, though it's used for both genders in some contexts. The name likely derives from the Irish surname 'Ó Caollaidhe' or the Scottish Gaelic 'MacCaoilinn.'…

Kara

Spelling variation of Cara or Norse mythology name

"wild stormy one"

Kara and the soundalike (though not necessarily related) Cara are among the most multi-cultural names around. Cara has roots in Latin, Italian, Irish, Spanish, and Portuguese, and Kara can be viewed…

Kari

Norwegian diminutive of Katarina or variation of Carrie, English

"pure; free man"

Kari and all her many sisters, from Carrie to Carey to Kerry and onward, originated for the most part as short forms of either Catherine Katherine or one of the Charles feminizations such as Carol or…

Kaylie

Short form of Kayla, Arabic and Hebrew

"laurel, crown"

A cute nickname name that's risen high over the past decade or so, more especially as Kaylee, this name combines the attributes of Hailey and Kayla, Kylie and Callie.

Kim

English diminutive of Kimberly; Vietnamese; Scandinavian diminutive of Joachima; Soviet name

Kim was the coolest name... of the 1960s. Kim was popularized by actress Kim Novak, and its energy is still maintained by rapper Lil' Kim, but it holds lil' or no appeal for new babies. Parents who…

Kristi

Kristi is a feminine name primarily used as a diminutive form of Christina or Kristina, derived from the Greek word 'Christos,' meaning 'anointed one.' This short, sweet variation gained particular…

Kylene

Kylene is a feminine name with modern American origins, likely derived as a blend of the popular prefix 'Ky-' with the feminine suffix '-lene.' It may be considered a variation of Kylie or an…

Lindsey

English surname meaning "Marshlands of Lincolnshire"

"Marshlands of Lincolnshire"

Lindsey is one of the few truly unisex names (rather than being a name that has changed genders). Over time the "ey" ending was usually reserved for women and the "ay" ending reserved for men, and…

Liz

Diminutive of Elizabeth

"pledged to God"

Some might think a girl named Liz on her birth certificate would feel deprived of her full identity, but in a time when mini names like Liv, Kit, Tru, Kai, Lou, and Bea are in style, Liz feels…

Makalia

Makalia is a feminine name with multiple cultural influences, potentially derived from Hebrew, African, or Greek origins. In Hebrew contexts, it may relate to Michaela, meaning 'who is like God.'…

Marcia

Latin, feminine version of Marcius

"warlike"

Marcia is an ancient Roman name which derives from Mars, the god of war. It was used by Dante in the Inferno and later by Thomas Hardy and others. Marcia enjoyed a brief run of popularity in the…

Marcy

Diminutive of Marcia

"Mars, god of war"

Marcy is about as hip as bobby sox and saddle shoes – which is to say, it's probably due a revival in the not-too-distant future! It was a typical Peanuts character name, which peaked in the…

Maura

Anglicized variation of Maire, Finnish, Irish variation of Mary"sweet; drop of the sea, bitter"

"sweet; drop of the sea, bitter"

Somber, almost mournful name that still has a lovely sound. Neither really in nor out, Maura has played around at the lower half of the Top 1000 since the late 1940s. It might make one of those…

Maureen

Irish variation of Mary, Hebrew or Egyptian

"drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"

Almost as popular in the 1950s among the Irish in Boston as it was with those back in Bray, Maureen was once among the most prominent Irish names for girls in the US but has fallen from favor along…

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…

Nicolette

French, diminutive of Nicole, feminine variation of Nicholas, Greek

"people of victory"

Frilly and feminine, Nicolette is the name of an enchanting princess in the medieval French romance, Aucassin et Nicolette , but really got its publicity from the heyday of Desperate Housewives and…