User-created list
Great For Book Charcters
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Jessamine
English from Persian
"jasmine"
Jessamine, a charming name occasionally heard in England, is just beginning to be appreciated in the U.S. as a possible successor to all the Jess names of the past. It's also spelled Jessamyn, as in…
Joah
Hebrew
"Yahweh is his brother"
A simple and streamlined Biblical name, Joah borne by several figures in the Old Testament. Meaning "Yahweh is his brother" or "brother of God", it could be an unexpected way to honor a family Joe or…
Merrigan
Irish surname, related to the sea
A merry surname cousin of Kerrigan, could make a lively choice for a happy little girl.
Parthenia
Greek
"chaste maiden"
Parthenia may be a bit unwieldy, but does conjure up majestic images of the Parthenon. It was briefly in the US charts in the late 19th century.
Rilian
German
"small stream"
A male character in The Chronicles of Narnia , but could conceivably be used for a girl.
Salinger
French, Saint Léger
Fervent fans of The Catcher in the Rye might want to consider this as a literary tribute. More mainstream alternative: Holden.
Timo
Norwegian, Finnish, German, and Dutch variation of Timothy
"honoring God"
Popular in its own right in Germany and definitely makes a more intriguing and grownup short form of the classic Timothy than Timmy or even Tim.
Vasant
Sanskrit
"spring"
A name commonly used in India; Vasant Panchami is a Hindu festival dedicated to the goddess of learning.
Zoran
Croatian; Serbian; Slovene; Macedonian
"dawn"
Originating from the word "zora", meaning "dawn" in the South Slavic languages, Zoran is a handsome, edgy name with a distinct Z initial that could easily cross cultures.
Keila
Keila is a feminine name with diverse origins across multiple cultures. In Hebrew tradition, it derives from the Biblical place name Keilah, possibly meaning "citadel" or "fortress." In Finnish, it…
Cerelia
Latin
"relating to springtime"
Cerelia is a melodic and unusual choice, perfect for a child born in April or May. Another version is Cerella.
Oriana
Latin
"dawn; gold"
Oriana is a dashing medieval name, with a meaning similar to Aurora. At this point, though, Oriana is much more unusual than Aurora and makes a unique choice if you're searching for names that mean…
Camden
Scottish
"winding valley"
Newly popular boys' name could cross over in much the way the related Cameron has.
Chanson
French
"song"
This musical name would have to be spoken with a French accent--otherwise it would sound like a trendy boy's name, a la BRANSON.
Channing
English or Irish
"people of Cana or wolf cub"
Channing is a sophisticated surname name whose use is probably linked to actor Channing Tatum and Channing Crowder, former linebacker for the Miami Dolphins.
Catharina
Catharina is a feminine name with deep European roots, particularly common in Germanic, Scandinavian, and Dutch-speaking regions. It derives from the Greek name Aikaterine, later Latinized to…
Cosmo
Italian, English, Greek
"order, beauty, universe"
With a touch of celestial power, a hint of clunky charm, and the totally cool -o ending, Cosmo may well be finally shaking itself free of both the Seinfeld association (which made it a punchline of a…
Etana
Hebrew
"strength of purpose"
Girlish for Ethan: attractive and unusual.
Jacek
Polish, from Greek
"hyacinth"
This Polish name comes from the Greek Hyacinthos, through the older Polish form, Jacenty. Jacek's pronunciation may be unintuitive to those unfamiliar with Slavic languages, but no one can deny the…
Gavriel
Hebrew
"God is my strength"
An Israeli place-name as well as being the Hebrew form of Gabriel.