My Guilty Pleasure Names
- Shae
Origin:
Variation of Shay, IrishMeaning:
"the stately, dauntless one"Description:
The third-most-popular spelling of this name, after Shea and Shay, is notable mostly for its connection to Game of Thrones. Shae is a "camp follower" -- AKA prostitute -- who becomes the loyal mistress to Tyrion Lannister while he is serving as Hand of the King.
- Pelagia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"the sea"Description:
The name of several early saints, including one, Pelagia the Penitent, a beautiful and licentious dancing girl who repented, then, disguised as a man, spent the rest of her life living alone in a cave on the Mount of Olives. Because of her early vocation, she is the patron saint of actresses.
- Zebulon
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"exaltation or little dwelling"Description:
An Old Testament name with a Puritan feel and post-Zachary possibilities--one of several routes to the cool nickname Zeb.
- Rafaella
Origin:
Italian variation of Raphaela, HebrewMeaning:
"God has healed"Description:
Oh, the many spellings of Rafaella. Those with Fs and double-Ls denote Italian origins, while an F and a single L is Spanish and Portuguese. The original Hebrew form is Raphaela.
- Boston
Origin:
Place-nameDescription:
Unseen in the USA since 1901, Boston rocketed back into the Top 1000 in 2004 and, like other place-names such as Brooklyn, London and Paris, is now a reliable presence on the list.
- Nuria
Origin:
Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan, ArabicMeaning:
"place between the valleys; light"Description:
Deriving from the Catalan title for the Virgin Mary, Nostra Senyora de Núria , meaning "Our Lady of Nuria", this distinctive name is a popular choice in Spain and Portugal.
- Ara
Origin:
ArmenianMeaning:
"king"Description:
Ara is a unique boys' name that one of the most melodious in the Armenian name pool, familiarized by Notre Dame football coach Ara Parseghian. In Armenian mythology, Ara was a king so handsome that a rival queen went to war in order to make him her own. The name Ara is also known in the Arabic and Hebrew cultures.
- Ashlynn
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"dream"Description:
This Anglicized spelling of Irish Aislinn or Aisling has enjoyed some popularity in the US as an updated Ashley.
- Carlow
Origin:
Irish place-nameMeaning:
"four-part lake"Description:
Gives Carlo a place-name/surname spin.
- Anissa
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"friendly"Description:
A pretty and delicate cousin of Anna is often heard in Scotland and is also currently popular in France. In the US it was brought to public attention by child actress Anissa Jones, who played Buffy on the popular TV show Family Affair, which debuted in 1966, bringing her name onto the charts the following year. Born Mary Anissa, her middle/stage name reflected her Lebanese heritage.
- Ireland
Origin:
Place nameDescription:
Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin put Ireland on the map when they chose it as a first for their daughter, saying that geographic names were a family tradition. And it seems they were a bit ahead of the curve (or trendsetting)—Ireland has been among the fastest-rising names of recent years. Other Irish place names include Shannon, Kerry, Galway, and Dublin.
- Kisa
Origin:
"cat"Meaning:
"cat"
- Quintus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"fifth"Description:
A literary name figuring in the story of Ben Hur and the novels of Anthony Trollope that has the feel of Roman antiquity that is beginning to appeal to many parents. Quintus was one of only about twenty male first names in ancient Rome, and was often (though not exclusively) used for fifth sons.
- Pola
Origin:
Short form of Amapola, ArabicMeaning:
"poppy"Description:
Pola is an international name that still bears the femme fatalish air of Polish-born silent screen vamp Pola Negri, whole birth name was Apolonia. Rarely used, she could join sisters Lola and Nola.
- Alysanne
Description:
Alysanne is a feminine name with medieval roots that combines elements of Alice and Anne, both classical names with royal associations. With its ethereal, lyrical quality, Alysanne gained contemporary recognition through George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, where it belonged to a beloved queen. The name carries an elegant, fantasy-inspired feel while maintaining connections to traditional naming patterns. Alysanne likely derives from Germanic origins, with components meaning "noble" and "grace." Though rare in everyday use, it appeals to parents seeking a name with a romantic, literary quality that stands apart from more common alternatives. Its melodic sound and noble associations give it a timeless appeal despite its relative obscurity in mainstream naming trends.
- Peniel
Origin:
Biblical place name, HebrewMeaning:
"face of God"Description:
This rare Biblical place name refers to a river bank in Jordan where Jacob wrestled with an angel and changed his name to Israel.
- Lech
Origin:
PolishMeaning:
"a Pole"Description:
Lech (brother of Czech and Rus) was the mythical father of the Poles, and also the name of the Polish worker-president Lech Walesa, but it still isn't a name that travels well.
- Ignacy
Description:
Ignacy is the Polish form of the Latin name Ignatius, deriving from the Roman family name Egnatius, possibly meaning 'fiery' or 'ardent.' The name gained popularity among Christians through St. Ignatius of Loyola, the 16th-century founder of the Jesuit order. In Poland, Ignacy has remained consistently popular throughout the centuries, experiencing a revival in recent decades as parents return to traditional names. The diminutive forms include Ignaś and Ignuś. While primarily used in Poland and other Slavic countries, it has international variants such as Ignatius (English), Ignazio (Italian), and Ignace (French).
- Oneida
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"long awaited"Description:
One of the few familiar Native_American choices, but now associated with several trade names.
- Myrcella
Origin:
Variant of MarcellaDescription:
One of the many faux-Medieval names invented by George R.R. Martin for his A Song of Ice and Fire series of books, the source of HBO's Game of Thrones. Princess Myrcella Baratheon is the daughter of Cersei Lannister and (secretly) her brother Jaime. Their younger brother Tyrion sends her to Dorne to be married to the Dornish prince Trystane Martell to seal an alliance between the two houses.
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