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Why do bad names happen to good people?

theirishsaint
By theirishsaint
Updated Sat May 06 2023
This is purely my opinion and a bit of a joke.
  1. Agnes

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pure, virginal"

    • Description:

      Agnes is the Latin variation of the name Hagne, which itself derived from the Greek word hagnos, meaning "chaste." In medieval times, St. Agnes was a very popular saint, leading to its popularity as a girl's name. Agnes Grey is the title of one of the two novels written by Anne Brontë.
  2. Chester

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "fortress, walled town,"

    • Description:

      Chester is a comfortable, little-used teddy-bear of a name that suddenly sounds both quirky and cuddly.
  3. Agatha

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "good woman"

    • Description:

      Agatha until recently summoned up visions of martyred saints, mauve silk dresses, and high lace collars, but now that some dauntless excavators have begun to resurrect it, we're sure more will follow their lead. Actor Thomas Gibson used it for his daughter in 2004.
  4. Allegra

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "joyous"

    • Description:

      In music, the term allegro means "quickly, lively tempo," which makes this quintessential Bohemian ballet dancer's name all the more appealing. Allegra is one of the most distinctive yet accessible girl names starting with A.
  5. Nero

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "stern"

    • Description:

      The association with the infamous Nero, the fiddling Roman emperor, would be unavoidable. But there was also the detective Nero Wolfe, hero of many mystery stories.
  6. Yolanda

    • Origin:

      Spanish from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "violet flower"

    • Description:

      Bold and distinctive, Yolanda is a floral name that doesn't sound frilly or delicate. Ultimately deriving from the Greek words ioles meaning "violet" and anthos meaning "flower", it appears in a variety of forms internationally, including Jolanda, Jolanta, Iolanthe, Iolanta, Iolanda, and Jolana.
  7. Londyn

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of London, place name

    • Description:

      Londyn is now a more popular name than the original London for girls. Some parents feel that varying the spelling nudges the name away from over-identification with the British capitol. Substituting a y for another vowel is also seen by some as more feminine. For boys, London is five times as popular as Londyn -- though both variations are far more popular for girls.
  8. Napoleon

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "lion of the new city"

    • Description:

      Overly ambitious choice, recently borne by the hapless hero of cult movie hit Napoleon Dynamite.
  9. Radmila

    • Origin:

      Slavic

    • Meaning:

      "industrious for the people"

    • Description:

      Like cousin Ludmila, a Russian name rarely heard in this country.
  10. Lettice

    • Origin:

      English variation of Letitia

    • Meaning:

      "joy, gladness"

    • Description:

      Lettice is still occasionally heard in upper-class British families, but we fear it would cause too much salad-green teasing to be considered in the U.S. Calling your little Lettice Lettie could help make the name more user-friendly, or go all the way to the original Letitia.
  11. Aristotle

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "superior; the best purpose"

    • Description:

      The great philosopher's name is commonly used in Greek families, and is one that could work for daring, philosophical American ones. With user friendly nicknames such as Ari, Aris, Artie, and Ris, Aristotle is a ambitious choice, associated with morality, ethics, literature, and psychology.
  12. Alfreda

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "elf power,"

    • Description:

      With a meaning like "elf power," Alfreda could find some appeal among fantasy enthusiasts. "Freda" makes for a pleasant nickname.
  13. Peaches

    • Origin:

      English fruit name

    • Description:

      Unlike the other fruit names that are just coming onto the baby name menu, Peaches is an old-timey nickname previously reserved for spangled showgirls, and now would be considered an outrageous -- verging on hip -- choice. Or perhaps it was, until 2023, when it entered the UK Top 1000, not sounding too out of place beside other 2023 favorites, Honey, Blossom, Sage, Halo, and Dolly.
  14. Frostine

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "freezing"

    • Description:

      Frostine, best known in the U.S. as the name of the Candyland queen, is newly fashionable in France and is certainly a choice that any little girl the world over would love. Fanciful, if over-the-top, but a perfect name for a winter baby girl.
  15. Ovila

    • Description:

      Ovila is a rare masculine name with Latin origins, derived from the word 'ovilis' meaning 'relating to sheep.' It could be considered a variation of Avila or related to names like Ovid. The name has historical usage in French-Canadian communities, particularly in Quebec, where it appeared during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Ovila carries a gentle, pastoral quality in its meaning and sound. While uncommon in contemporary naming practices, it represents a connection to agricultural heritage and simpler times. The name has a distinctive quality that balances uniqueness with historical grounding, making it an interesting choice for parents seeking a name with both character and subtlety.

  16. Fyodor

    • Origin:

      Russian variation of Theodore

    • Meaning:

      "God's gift"

    • Description:

      This variation of Theodore is familiar here mostly via the great Russian novelist Dostoyevsky. It was also the name of three early tsars of Russia.
  17. Gwenore

    • Origin:

      Variation of Guinevere

    • Meaning:

      "white shadow, white wave"

    • Description:

      An offbeat way to get to Gwen.
  18. Favorite

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      Maybe if you're planning to have only one child -- and iffy even then.
  19. Quintessence

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      Sounds pretty. But pretentious.
  20. Nathaniella

    • Description:

      Nathaniella is a feminine elaboration of Nathaniel, which itself comes from the Hebrew name Netan'el meaning 'gift of God.' This feminine variant emerged as part of the trend of creating feminine counterparts to masculine biblical names by adding feminine suffixes. Nathaniella is quite rare, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive yet traditional-sounding name with clear biblical connections. The name maintains the spiritual significance of its root while offering a graceful, elaborate feminine form. Potential nicknames include Nella, Ella, Thani, or Nate. While uncommon in official records, Nathaniella represents the continuing tradition of adapting ancient names for contemporary use, particularly for parents wanting a name with religious significance and feminine elegance.