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Names I Have Used in Books

Clueless_Author
By Clueless_Author
Updated Thu Apr 27 2023
This list contains names I have used in writing projects, and ones that I want to use. (These are not for the same project)
  1. Archie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Archibald, Teutonic

    • Meaning:

      "truly brave"

    • Description:

      Archie made global news as the surprise first name of the newborn royal baby, son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aka Harry and Meghan. Archie has now officially transcended Archie Bunker and Riverdale's Archie to take the, um, throne as the quintessential retro nickname name.
  2. Blake

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "fair-haired, dark"

    • Description:

      Blake -- an early unisex option -- dropped out of the Top 100 in 2017 for the first time since 1988, but remains a sophisticated choice. And yes, both conflicting meanings of Blake are accurate. It originated as a surname in England derived from a nickname. Much of its masculine image was influenced by the wealthy, silver-haired character Blake Carrington in the massively popular 80s TV series Dynasty. Rosie O'Donnell has a son named Blake.
  3. Brandon
    • Danny

      • Description:

        Danny as a feminine name represents a trend of traditionally masculine nicknames adopted as independent given names for girls. Originally a diminutive of Daniel (meaning "God is my judge" in Hebrew), Danny crossed gender boundaries in the mid-20th century. While more commonly used for males, its adoption for females reflects naming trends that favor gender-neutral choices. As a feminine name, Danny has an approachable, unpretentious quality with a touch of tomboy charm. Its simplicity and familiarity make it distinctive yet accessible. The name peaked in popularity for girls in the 1970s but has maintained steady, if uncommon, usage. Danny offers a straightforward, unfussy option with friendly, energetic associations.
    • Derick

      • Description:

        Derick is a masculine name that originated as a variation of Derek, which itself derives from the Germanic name Theodoric, meaning 'ruler of the people.' This Old German name combines 'theud' (people) and 'ric' (ruler, power). Derick emerged as an alternative spelling that gained its own usage pattern, particularly in the United States during the mid-20th century. The name carries a solid, traditional quality while being less common than its variant Derek. It reached modest popularity in the 1960s-1980s but has become less frequent in recent decades. Derick conveys strength and reliability, appealing to parents who appreciate traditional masculine names with straightforward pronunciations and a slight touch of distinction through its spelling.

    • Eli
      • Grant

        • Origin:

          Scottish from French

        • Meaning:

          "large"

        • Description:

          One-time beach-boy compadre of Glenn, Greg, and Gary that originated as a nickname for a tall person, Grant has become a no-nonsense, career-oriented grown-up and one that is seeing new appreciation. It was chosen for his son by actor Morris Chestnut. It has cultural cred via artist Grant Wood, whose best known painting is 'American Gothic.'
      • Iris

        • Origin:

          Flower name; Greek

        • Meaning:

          "rainbow"

        • Description:

          Iris has so much going for it. It's a fashionable flower name. It's a mythological name, from the Greek goddess of the rainbow. And it's a classic name, always ranking in the girls' Top 1000 but now at its highest point ever.
      • Janet

        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Jane

        • Meaning:

          "God is gracious"

        • Description:

          Janet started as a pet form of Jane but has long been used independently. Jane is a feminine form of John, which derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan. Janet can also be considered a variation of Jeannette, a derivative of Joan and another feminization of the name John.
      • Jo

        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Joanna or Josephine, Hebrew

        • Meaning:

          "Jehovah increases"

        • Description:

          The name Jo still evokes the spunky image of the character in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Its literary status makes Jo one of the OG boyish nicknames for girls, ala Frankie, Billie, and Stevie. If you like that form, you can lengthen it to Joey.
      • Lee

        • Origin:

          English

        • Meaning:

          "pasture, meadow"

        • Description:

          A name that has a bit of a shouldn't-I-be-a-middle-name sound, though still in use as a first for both genders. Lee might be a good choice if you want something that sounds at once traditional yet modern, unisex but not newly-minted.
      • Luke

        • Origin:

          Greek

        • Meaning:

          "man from Lucania"

        • Description:

          Luke is a cool-yet-strong Biblical name with a relaxed cowboy feel, which has been on the rise since the advent of Luke Skywalker.
      • Marissa

        • Origin:

          Variation of Maris or a combination of Maria + Louisa

        • Meaning:

          "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + famous battle"

        • Description:

          Pretty feminissima name that never became as overused as cousin Melissa. The more streamlined Maris is a more modern sounding option.
      • Nate

        • Origin:

          English, diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel

        • Description:

          Very much in style, especially after its starring role in Six Feet Under, Nate is one of a new generation of nicknames that go directly on the birth certificate. Other similar names: Sam, Jack, Mack.
      • Nikki

        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Nicole or Indian, Punjabi, Sikh

        • Meaning:

          "people of victory; little one"

        • Description:

          Nikki was the it-girl name of the 1970s and '80s as both a short form of Top 10 favorite Nicole and as a given name itself.
      • Reggie

        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Reginald

        • Meaning:

          "counsel power"

        • Description:

          Old time nickname that's starting to sound fresh again, à la Alfie and Freddie.
      • Ross

        • Origin:

          English and Scottish

        • Meaning:

          "upland, peninsula"

        • Description:

          Like Friends, Ross is off the air and into syndication as a baby name, having plummeted from its zenith in the late 80s to fall off the US Top 1000 in 2013. Today, Ross is more likely to be a dad name than a newborn name.
      • Tuesday

        • Origin:

          English

        • Meaning:

          "Tiu's Day,"

        • Description:

          When actress Susan Ker Weld changed her name to Tuesday, she opened up a whole calendar of possibilities. This was decades before the arrival of Sunday Rose Urban.