Palindrone Names

Face it, names you can spell both forwards and backwards and they still say the same thing is pretty awesome.
  1. Ava
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Latin or Germanic
    • Meaning:

      "life; bird; water, island"
    • Description:

      Ava is one of the prime examples of a modern classic name, rising thought the course of a generation into the Top 10, where it has lingered for nearly 20 years.
  2. Ada
    • Origin:

      German or Turkish
    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility, or island"
    • Description:

      Ada is one of the classic baby names for girls that is suddenly super stylish again. A favorite at the end of the nineteenth century, Ada is an alternative to the over-popular Ava. Ada is also part of the trend toward simple, old-fashioned names beginning with a vowel, like Ivy and Ella.
  3. 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.
  4. Asa
    • Origin:

      Hebrew; Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "healer; born in the morning"
    • Description:

      A short but strong biblical name with multicultural appeal, Asa is enjoying new visibility thanks to hot young actor Asa Butterfield of Hugo fame.
  5. Hannah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "grace"
    • Description:

      Hannah is one of the nation's top biblical girls' names — it surpassed Sarah in 1998, and ranks in the Top 100 along with Elizabeth, Abigail, Chloe, and Naomi. Hannah is a name with many sources of appeal: Old Testament roots, soft and gentle sound, and a homey yet aristocratic image.
  6. Eve
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "life"
    • Description:

      Eve, the oldest name in the Book, is now coming back into style, having the virtues of simplicity and purity, yet with more strength and resonance than other single-syllable names like Ann. British actor Clive Owen chose Eve for his daughter, as did Jessica Capshaw.
  7. Anna
    • Origin:

      Variation of Hannah, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "grace"
    • Description:

      Anna has become the dominant form of the Ann family, offering a touch of the international to English speakers and a bit more style than the oversimplified Ann or Anne.
  8. Elle
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "she"
    • Description:

      Combine the charming heroine of the movie Legally Blonde with supermodel Elle Macpherson and the trend toward all names beginning with "el"—Ellie, Ella, Eleanor—and you have one hit name.
  9. Aya
    • Origin:

      Japanese, Hebrew, Danish, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "colorful, design; honey buzzard, bird; rock, lull, happiness; sign, verse"
    • Description:

      Aya, barely more than a breath, is an international favorite, with origins in several languages and cultures. Popular throughout Europe, it ranks in the US Top 1000 and was chosen for nearly 470 babies in a recent year.
  10. Aviva
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "springlike, fresh, dewy"
    • Description:

      Aviva is vivacious and memorable, a fresh spin on the Vivian and Vivienne names that have been getting more popular since Angelina and Brad chose one for their twin daughter. Another A-beginning palindrome name: Aziza.
  11. Ana
    • Origin:

      Variation of Hannah
    • Meaning:

      "grace"
    • Description:

      Confident and compact, Ana is a widely used variation of the Biblical Hannah. Favored in Spain, Slovenia, Bosnia, Portugal, and Croatia, this shorter spelling has the same substance and versatility of its longer counterparts.
  12. Pip
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Philip
    • Meaning:

      "lover of horses"
    • Description:

      The original Pip was the main character in Great Expectations (full name Philip Pirrip). Cute for a tike, maybe too cute for an adult.
  13. Ara
    • Origin:

      Armenian
    • Meaning:

      "king"
    • Description:

      Simple and yet distinctive, Ara is a mythological name of a famously handsome king. Although it originated as a boys' name, in the contemporary US, it's now much more commonly used for girls.
  14. Aziza
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "powerful and beloved"
    • Description:

      Aziza is a zippy palindromic choice that is the female variation of Aziz and is found in several Middle Eastern and African languages and cultures. All in all, an attractive and interesting option; a Turkish variation is Azize. In African mythology, the Azizi are a supernatural race of forest dwellers who give practical and spiritual advice.
  15. Emme
    • Origin:

      Variation of Emmy, English diminutive of Emily and Emma
    • Meaning:

      "work; universal"
    • Description:

      Introduced by model Emme (born Melissa) and now a legitimate member of the Em-starting girls' name group, especially since it was chosen by Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony for their twin daughter.
  16. Anina
    • Origin:

      German, Aramaic
    • Meaning:

      "grace; let my prayer be answered"
    • Description:

      This pretty palindrome name is rarely heard in the US, but could make an interesting namesake for an aunt or grandma Ann. It's also a German diminutive form of Anna.
  17. Bob
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Robert
    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"
    • Description:

      Kids love Bob the Builder, but do they want to be Bob the Builder? Bob and Bobby have been out of style since the 1960s, but as vintage nickname-names -- Fred, Archie -- come back into vogue, Bob may tag along. Charlie Sheen used it for one of his twin sons.
  18. Aja
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "goat"
    • Description:

      Retro musical reference to classic Steely Dan rock album, but mostly for girls today.
  19. Halah
    • Description:

      Halah is a feminine name with multiple cultural connections. In Arabic, it can mean 'halo of light around the moon' or 'beauty,' giving it poetic celestial associations. The name also appears in the Bible (2 Kings) as a place name where Israelites were exiled. Halah has a melodic quality with its two syllables and soft consonants. Despite its ancient roots and cross-cultural presence, the name remains relatively uncommon in most Western countries, though it has modest usage in Arabic-speaking regions. Its brevity makes it easy to pronounce across languages while still feeling distinctive. The name's combination of biblical heritage and beautiful Arabic meaning might appeal to parents seeking a name with cultural depth and spiritual connections.

  20. Lil
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Lillian and Lily, flower name
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      Spunky old vaudeville era nickname name suddenly sounds new again.

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