User-created list
By madwomaninabluebox · Updated May 2023
Across 10 pages
of 10
Irish
"from the stream"
Irish name with an intriguing lilt.
"little dog"
A jovial and jaunty Irish name, the title of a long-gone TV crime drama, this would make an appealing choice. Slight downside: Maddy is already a mega-popular nickname for Madeline/Madelyn and…
Irish variation of Magnus
"greatest"
This is an old Irish name associated with such heroes as the seventeenth century chieftain, scholar and poet Manus O'Donnell. It is likely a variation of Magnus, itself derived from the Latin word…
"sweet; goodly"
Sadbh is the modern Irish form of the more streamlined but equally confusing Sadb or Sadhbh: these names are pronounced to rhyme with five. In Irish mythology Sadb or Sadbh or Sadhbh, a goddess lover…
Romani variation of Louis, German and French
"renowned warrior"
Lash might look an unexpected English word name, associated with eyelashes or hitting, striking, whipping, or heavily criticizing someone. It is however a Romani name and a form of the regal Louis,…
"free man"
This authentic form of the name of an Irish mythological hero with the power to make women fall instantly in love with him would work far better here as the Anglicized Dermot.
English, contracted form of Thomasina
"twin"
Tamsin is an offbeat name occasionally heard in Britain and just waiting to be discovered here. U.K. actress Tamsin Greig is a star of the show Episodes , Tamsin Olivier is the daughter of Joan…
Dutch, diminutive of Susanne
"lily"
Sanne is hugely popular in the Netherlands, but almost unknown here; which makes it an interesting prospect for the parent in search of an unusual name. Pronounced sah-na, Sanne is in keeping with…
"tiny one"
An attractive ancient Irish saint's name that conjures up a beacon of light, this Irish name for boys is well-used in Ireland but rarely heard in the US.
"battle rule"
The name of an ancient Irish saint is in the contemporary Irish Top 50. While it's one of the rare Irish names for boys that hasn't immigrated to the U.S., it may follow brothers Aidan and Declan to…
English, Gaelic
"minstrel, poet"
A literary word name, now synonymous with Shakespeare, Bard also refers more generally to a poet, particularly one who recited epics and traditional poems out loud. Similar in sound to Bernard,…
Irish, Gaelic
"swiftness, nimbleness"
An Irish mythology name belonging to a semi-legendary high king of Ireland, often equated with English David though not etymologically related.
Scandinavian
"helmet protector"
Old Norse name that lives on more appealingly in modern times as Jalmari, short form Jari. This form remains popular in Sweden, however.
Dutch variation of George
"farmer"
A fresh Dutch take on George, although you’re likely to get pronunciation errors upon first meetings.
Welsh
"white footprint"
Olwyn is a popular Welsh name that might be an alternative to the more familiar Bronwen or Rhonwen -- though in Wales the female form is usually spelled -wen and the male one -wyn.
French from Greek
"releaser of horses"
Hippolyte is the name of an Amazonian princess AND her son, both unfortunate mythical figures. The name Hippolyte, later borne by several saints, is a not an uncommon boys' name in France, but has…
French variation of Stephen, Greek
"garland, crown"
Appealingly gentle and romantic French classic--with a lot more charm than Steve.
Swedish, contracted form of Birgit
"high goddess"
Brisk but rather brittle. Britt Eklund was a Bond Girl in the 1974 The Man with the Golden Gun . Britt is a contracted form of Birgit, but be aware that it does come with the strong possibility of…
Old Norse
"quiet god"
Mythological son of Odin, powerful and mute.
"fair-haired"
This is an ancient saints' name well used in Ireland but a rarity here and unlikely to ever reach the popularity of other Finn-ish names. St. Finbarr (the more common spelling) is the patron saint of…
