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Names I might use

dylmar
By dylmar
Updated Sun Sep 06 2020
Alright, I've narrowed down my favorites to ones that would actually be usable in the non-Nameberry world.
  1. Adeliza

    • Origin:

      Medieval English and Old Swedish form of Adelaide

    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility"

    • Description:

      Adeliza is a unique member of the popular Adelaide-Adeline family. Different enough to distinguish it from all the others? Maybe, and it's definitely got an appealing sound that makes it sound a bit like a smoosh of Adele and Eliza.
  2. Aida

    • Origin:

      Arabic; Italian; Lithuanian

    • Meaning:

      "returning visitor; happy; echo"

    • Description:

      Aida is a melodic name largely associated with the title character of the 1871 Verdi opera, an enslaved Ethiopian princess who dies to save her people. In the past, her name was rarely heard outside the Latino community, but in the current time of love for all A-starting girls' names, this could very well change.
  3. Ailsa

    • Origin:

      Scottish from Norse

    • Meaning:

      "elf victory"

    • Description:

      Ailsa is a traditional Scottish name for girls related to a rocky island in the Firth of Clyde called Ailsa Craig. It might make an interesting alternative to the outdated Ashley or overly popular Ella, and could also be thought of as a relative of Elizabeth or Elsa.
  4. Amias

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "loved"

    • Description:

      Amias or Amyas is a unique name with an attractive sound and feel and a lovely meaning. Though it might sound like a Biblical name, it is not, but is a surname that may be related to Amadeus or even be a male version of Amy--which would make it one of the few boys' names to be derived from a girls'.
  5. Amoret

    • Origin:

      Literary name

    • Description:

      This lovely name from Spenser's The Faerie Queene is borne by a character who represents married love. A related unusual-yet-usable choice: Amabel.
  6. Annalise

    • Origin:

      German, combination of Anna and Lise

    • Meaning:

      "grace and pledged to God"

    • Description:

      Variously spelled Annalise and Annaliese as well as several other forms, this is not a modern smoosh but a traditional German combo-name with a definite Heidi-esque feel.
  7. Anthea

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "flowery"

    • Description:

      This unjustly neglected floral name has a BBC accent and a Greek mythological heritage: Anthea is an epithet of Hera, the Greek queen of the gods, and her name has been used as poetic symbol of spring.
  8. Arden

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "valley of the eagle; high"

    • Description:

      Arden, the name of the magical forest in Shakespeare's As You Like It, is a stylish A name with a strong, straightforward image. Another reason to love Arden: its similarity to "ardent." Arden is solidly unisex, with the current gender distribution running about 60 percent girls and 40 percent boys.
  9. Auden

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "old friend"

    • Description:

      A softly poetic surname name, associated with poet W.H., Auden is enjoying quiet but marked fashion status. It was chosen for his daughter by Noah Wyle and is definitely one to watch.
  10. Auriella

    • Description:

      Auriella is a feminine name with Latin roots, derived from 'aurum' meaning 'gold.' It can be viewed as an elaborate form of Aurelia or a combination of Auri (golden) with the popular feminine suffix 'ella.' This elegant, melodious name has gained modest attention in recent years as parents seek names with both classical roots and contemporary appeal. Auriella's four syllables create a flowing, romantic quality that fits current trends for elaborate feminine names. While still uncommon, it has seen increasing usage in the United States since the 2010s. The name carries associations with precious materials, light, and brightness. Its golden meaning conveys qualities of value, radiance, and warmth, making it appealing for parents seeking a name with both substance and beauty.
  11. Azure

    • Origin:

      English color name

    • Meaning:

      "sky blue"

    • Description:

      Azure is a colorful gender-neutral choice, currently used equally for baby girls and boys in the US. It refers to a specific shade of blue seen in a cloudless sky. Elon Musk recently revealed Azure to be the name of his daughter with Shivon Zilis, twin sister to Strider. While X and Y didn't stand a chance at greater popularity, parents may be inspired to use the name Azure following this celebrity endorsement.
  12. Calla

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "beautiful"

    • Description:

      Calla is a botanical name that is much more distinctive than popular Lily or similar Callie. Rarely heard today, it did appear in the popularity lists in the last decades of the nineteenth century.
  13. Ceire

    • Description:

      Ceire is a feminine Irish name, pronounced roughly as "KEER-ah" or "KEER-uh." It represents an alternative spelling of the more common Ciara or Keira, derived from the Irish word "ciar" meaning "dark" or "black." This could refer to dark features like hair or eyes. The name carries deep connections to Irish heritage and Gaelic traditions. While less commonly seen than its variant spellings, Ceire maintains the melodic quality characteristic of Irish names. In Ireland, names with Gaelic origins experienced a significant revival during the 20th century as part of a broader cultural renaissance. For families with Irish connections, Ceire offers a way to honor this heritage while using a spelling that's distinctive yet still connected to traditional roots. The name balances cultural authenticity with a gentle, feminine sound.

  14. Cormac

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "charioteer"

    • Description:

      Both offbeat and upbeat, this evocative traditional Irish name that runs through Celtic mythology is known here via award-winning novelist Cormac McCarthy (born Charles). The author's adopted name is related to Cormac Mac Airt, one of the great legendary high kings of Ireland.
  15. Danae

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Description:

      An intriguing mythological name whose one challenge might be pronunciation questions.
  16. Dixon

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "son of Dick"

    • Description:

      A relatively common surname, Dixon would be an inventive way to honor an ancestral Richard or Dick, the X form a lot livelier than the Dickson spelling, just as Dix is a more modern short form than Dick; it would be right at home alongside Dax and Jax.
  17. Donovan

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "dark"

    • Description:

      One of the first of the appealing Irish surnames to take off in this country, this boys’ name has long outgrown its "Mellow Yellow" association, which came via the single from a sixties singer-songwriter named Donovan.
  18. Dove

    • Origin:

      Nature name

    • Meaning:

      "dove, a bird"

    • Description:

      One of the new bird names, like Lark and Wren, this one's associated with the billing and cooing sounds of love. Soft and gentle, Dove also has the admirable association with peace.
  19. Eirian

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "silver"

    • Description:

      A modern Welsh name that will be misunderstood as Irene.
  20. Emrys

    • Origin:

      Welsh, variation of Ambrose

    • Meaning:

      "immortal"

    • Description:

      If you're looking for a Welsh name less common than Dylan, Griffin, Evan, or Morgan, you might want to consider this offbeat epithet of the wise wizard Merlin. It's currently in the Welsh top 100 and in the England and Wales top 1000 over all and has been rising in recent years.