User-created list
Names of Nobel Prize Winners
Across 36 pages
of 36
Aleksandr
Russian; Armenian, from Greek
"defending men"
A form of Alexander commonly used in Russia, Armenia, Estonia and Kazakhstan.
Ulf
Scandinavian
"wolf"
A common Scandinavian name , but hard to imagine being used elsewhere.
Federico
Italian and Spanish variation of Frederick, German
"peaceful ruler"
If Frederick feels too heavy, the Spanish and Italian has more energy. It's a long-term Top 20 name in Italy, and has neat nicknames like Fredo in Italian and Fede in Spanish. Famous bearers include…
Hannes
German, Dutch, Scandinavian variation of Johannes
"God is gracious"
Johannes never caught on in the US, but popular European short form Hannes may be more accessible.
Jan
Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Polish, Slovene, German, and Catalan variation of John, Hebrew
"God is gracious"
A standard form of John in Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Polish, Slovene, German, and Catalan. Properly pronounced yahn (in most of these languages), most Americans will still equate it…
Barton
English
"from the barley settlement"
More user-friendly, though less substantial, than Bartholomew.
Holley
Holley is a feminine name that originated as a variant spelling of Holly, derived from the English word for the holly tree with its distinctive red berries and green leaves. The name carries strong…
Lars
Scandinavian from Latin Laurentius
"crowned with laurel"
Lars is a perfect candidate for a cross-cultural passport: it has been heard often enough here to sound familiar and friendly, yet retains the charisma of a charming foreigner. In this country Lars…
Ángel
Ángel is a masculine name with deep Latin roots, directly meaning 'angel' or 'messenger.' This spiritual name appears across numerous cultures, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries where it…
Haldan
Scandinavian
"half Danish"
If you fit this definition, this might be a clever choice, especially as a middle name.
Ragnar
Norse
"powerful army; wise warrior; counsel from the army"
An fearsome old Norse name with a long history in Scandinavia. It's gotten a boost in the States from popularity of the History Channel drama "Vikings," in which the protagonist is named Ragnar.…
Manfred
German
"man of peace"
Hipsters might consider reviving this old German name, though we're not so sure their sons wouldn't have preferred the classic Fred name Frederick. Manfred B. Lee (born Manford) was half of the team…
Nelly
Variation of Nellie and Nell
"light"
Nelly or Nellie is an adorable nickname name that can be short for a wide range of more formal appellations or that can stand on its own, and is typical of the vintage nickname genre that is growing…
Brenton
English
"town near the burnt land"
Name hovering near the bottom of the Top 1000 that may move higher with the fashion for two-syllable surnames. You could do worse...but you probably could also do better.
Mikhail
Russian variation of Michael
"who is like God"
One of the most familiar Russian names in the West, thanks to ballet great Mikhail Baryshnikov and state head Mikhail Gorbachev.
Jacques
French variation of James and Jacob
"supplanter"
Regal and ancient feeling, Jacques has been declining in popularity in its native France, but in the UK, it saw a surprising revival in 2022. Jumping from somewhere around the #2500 mark straight to…
Michel
French form and German short form of Michael, Hebrew
"who is like God"
While the (male) French form is pronounced in English like the girls' name Michelle and the German form had a hard k-like sound in the middle, this variation of Michael is distinguished by being used…
Burns
Scottish and English
"from the burnt house"
The final s turns this name into a manservant.
Luther
German
"army people"
Once restricted to evangelical Protestants honoring the ecclesiastical reformer and theologian Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant revolution. In more recent times it has been favored by parents…
Feodor
Feodor is a masculine name of Russian origin, serving as a Slavic variant of Theodore, which comes from Greek roots meaning 'gift of God.' The name carries deep historical significance in Russian…