​
​
Advanced Search

My Guilty Pleasure Names

  1. Cashel

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "castle, stone fort"

    • Description:

      Cashel is one of the many appealing Irish names that have not yet emigrated to the US. Cashel was chosen by actor Daniel Day-Lewis and his writer-director wife Rebecca Miller for their son.
  2. Shae

    • Origin:

      Variation of Shay, Irish

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  3. Melchior

    • Origin:

      Dutch from Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "city of the king; king of light"

    • Description:

      The least used of the Three Wise Men's names, but a strong option for bold namers to consider.
  4. Pelagia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  5. Boston

    • Origin:

      Place-name

    • Description:

      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.
  6. Snowdrop

    • Description:

      Snowdrop is a delicate nature-inspired feminine name derived from the early-blooming white flower that often emerges while snow still covers the ground. This botanical name symbolizes hope, purity, and resilience as snowdrops are among the first flowers to bloom at winter's end. Though uncommon as a given name, Snowdrop belongs to the category of modern flower and nature names that have gained popularity in recent decades. The name carries a whimsical, ethereal quality that appeals to parents drawn to nature-themed names. Snowdrop combines the purity associations of snow with the gentle beauty of a small flower, creating a name that's both distinctive and meaningful.
  7. Yael

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "ibex"

    • Description:

      Yael is an Old Testament name often heard in Israel that could work well here: just remember that it's pronounced with two syllables...it is also spelled Ya'el. In the Bible she was a Kenite woman in the time of Deborah who killed the enemy general, Sisera.
  8. Cerelia

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "relating to springtime"

    • Description:

      Cerelia is a melodic and unusual choice, perfect for a child born in April or May. Another version is Cerella.
  9. Ashlynn

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "dream"

    • Description:

      This Anglicized spelling of Irish Aislinn or Aisling has enjoyed some popularity in the US as an updated Ashley.
  10. Rafaella

    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Raphaela, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  11. Nairi

    • Origin:

      Armenian place name

    • Description:

      This was the old name for ancient Armenia, land of canyons.
  12. Ireland

    • Origin:

      Place name

    • Description:

      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.
  13. Nuria

    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan, Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  14. Jacek

    • Origin:

      Polish, from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "hyacinth"

    • Description:

      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 appeal of its unique snappy sound and sweet floral meaning.
  15. Oneida

    • Origin:

      Native American

    • Meaning:

      "long awaited"

    • Description:

      One of the few familiar Native_American choices, but now associated with several trade names.
  16. Myrcella

    • Origin:

      Variant of Marcella

    • Description:

      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.
  17. 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.

  18. Kisa

    • Origin:

      "cat"

    • Meaning:

      "cat"
  19. 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).
  20. Carlow

    • Origin:

      Irish place-name

    • Meaning:

      "four-part lake"

    • Description:

      Gives Carlo a place-name/surname spin.