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JS Favorite Names

elephanza
By elephanza
Updated Sun May 14 2023
Very unique and under the radar names - just the way I like 'em! Enjoy and let me know what you think.
  1. Isla

    • Origin:

      Scottish place-name or Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "island"

    • Description:

      Isla is a hit name throughout the English-speaking world but hasn't found the same popularity in other western countries, perhaps because its spelling and pronunciation don't make sense for those whose native language is not English. Think island without the final two letters.
  2. Eloise

    • Origin:

      French and English variation of Heloise

    • Meaning:

      "healthy; wide"

    • Description:

      Well balanced between sleek, sweet, strong, and vintage, newly chic Eloise re-entered the US Top 1000 in 2009, following a 50-year absence. In 2022, it broke into the Top 100 in the US and across the pond in the UK. Given to nearly 3000 babies each year, Eloise is showing no sign of stepping out of the spotlight.
  3. Elodie

    • Origin:

      French, variation of Alodia, German

    • Meaning:

      "foreign riches"

    • Description:

      The lyrical and melodious Elodie, a Nameberry favorite, is starting to rise through the US popularity charts for the first time since the 1880s. This once uncommon member of the El- family is a Top 100 name in the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, while in the US, it was one of the fasted rising names of 2024 and now sits in the Top 400.
  4. Enzo

    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Henry, German

    • Meaning:

      "estate ruler"

    • Description:

      You may be surprised to know that Enzo is now a Top 100 boy name in the US and the UK, where it has been climbing straight uphill since the turn of this century.
  5. Otto

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "wealthy"

    • Description:

      Otto is cool again. Long a quintessential Old Man Name, Otto has been promoted to trending darling of adventurous baby namers.
  6. Zephyr

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "west wind"

    • Description:

      If you're looking for a name that's light and breezy, this could be it. A name from mythology: Zephyrus/Zephyr was the Greek god of the west wind, and with its similarity in sound to the likes of Stefan or Seth, its zippy Z initial and cool Y, it is primed to rise up the US charts.
  7. Ozias

    • Origin:

      Greek, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "my strength is God"

    • Description:

      A cool Biblical option that entered the US Top 1000 for the first time ever in 2024, Ozias gets extra points for its user-friendly nicknames Oz and Ozzie or Ozzy. Given to around 280 boys in 2024, it is five times more popular than it was in 2014.
  8. Soleil

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "sun"

    • Description:

      An attractive French word name known here via former child TV star Soleil Moon Frye, aka Punky Brewster. It started to be lightly used in the U.S. in the 1920s and is now attracting some attention as both a sunny nature and an international word name. It's currently in the Nameberry Top 500.
  9. Zinnia

    • Origin:

      Flower name, from German surname

    • Meaning:

      "Zinn's flower"

    • Description:

      Zinnia is an unusual floral choice with a bit more edge and energy than most and beginning to find its way onto namers' wish lists of botanical possibilities. Named after an eighteenth German botanist called Johann Gottfried Zinn, it appears in Roald Dahl's Matilda as the young protagonist's mother.
  10. Iona

    • Origin:

      Scottish place-name

    • Description:

      This name of a small island off the coast of Scotland is trending upwards along with other I names.
  11. Marcello

    • Origin:

      Italian and Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "young warrior"

    • Description:

      Based on the ancient name Marcellus, drawn from Mars the god of war, Marcello -- it's pronounced mar-chell-o -- is one of the most lush and attractive Latin names.
  12. Osric

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "divine ruler"

    • Description:

      Clad in armor. But while this name may have been forbiddingly antiquated not that long ago, the connection to the trendy nickname Os or Oz makes it a real possibility.
  13. Zelie

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "noble"

    • Description:

      A cute, zippy French saint's name that's picking up in popularity there, and starting to in the US as well. Zélie originated as a short form of Azélie, thought to derive from Adelaide via the Occitan form Azalaïs. Saint Zélie was born Marie-Azélie.
  14. Zeno

    • Origin:

      Anglicized form of Greek Zenon, related to Zeus, king of the gods

    • Description:

      Zeno, the name of two ancient philosophers, has a muscular dynamism that's lightened by its cheerful final vowel, resulting in a kind of offbeat sci-fi feel. Zeno of Citium was the founder of the Stoic school of thought, Zeno of Elea was another early, original Greek thinker, famed for his Paradoxes.
  15. Ximena

    • Origin:

      Feminization of Ximeno, Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "son"

    • Description:

      Ximena, sometimes spelled Jimena, is a variation of boys’ name Ximeno. Spanish origins and popularity in the Latino community have boosted this name's popularity. Ximena Diaz was the wife of the Spanish national hero known as El Cid. Several well known Latin American actresses bear this name.
  16. Amadeo

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "lover of God"

    • Description:

      Amadeo and Amedeo are both valid Italian forms of the Roman Amadeus, most famous as the middle name of the composer Mozart as well as the title of a movie about him. Mozart's name was actually the Greek Theophilus, but he transformed it to the Latin version. Amadeo is also used in Spain, where it was the name of a 19th century king who was born in Italy.
  17. Galilee

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "the province"

    • Description:

      Galilee is a highly unusual place name, Galilee being a large region in northern Israel, the home of Jesus during at least thirty years of his life, and also where he cured a blind man. The Sea of Galilee gets its name from the area.
  18. Zorina

    • Origin:

      Slavic

    • Meaning:

      "golden dawn"

    • Description:

      Both a first and last name, Zorina has a pretty, ballerina-like quality.
  19. Odion

    • Origin:

      Esan

    • Meaning:

      "first born of twins"

    • Description:

      Strong name from the Esan language of Nigeria, with a satisfyingly specific meaning for a child's place in the family.
  20. Felice

    • Description:

      Felice is traditionally a masculine name in Italian culture, though it may appear feminine to English speakers unfamiliar with Italian naming traditions. Derived from the Latin 'felix,' Felice literally means 'happy,' 'fortunate,' or 'lucky.' In Italy, the feminine counterpart is Felicia. The name has a long history dating back to early Christianity, with several saints bearing the name. While maintaining steady usage in Italy, Felice remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries. The name's association with happiness and good fortune makes it a meaningful choice with a positive connotation. Its melodic quality and simple pronunciation offer a distinctive yet accessible option for parents seeking a name with Mediterranean charm.