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The Names on This Site I Like
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Pascal
French; English
"of the Passover; Easter"
The French-accented Pascal was historically used for sons born at Easter, and can make an interesting choice for a boy with Gallic roots arriving around that holiday. Pascal has a number of notable…
Rain
Word name
Among a small shower of rain-related names, this pure version can have a cool, refreshing image. Richard Pryor named his now-grown daughter Rain, and Rain is also one of the nature-named Phoenix…
Sally
Diminutive of Sarah
"princess"
Sally is a cheerful, fresh-faced girl-next-door name that was originally a nickname for Sarah, but has long been used independently. Sally was popular in the eighteenth century and then again from…
Tamsin
English, contracted form of Thomasina
"twin"
Tamsin is an offbeat name occasionally heard in Britain and just waiting to be discovered here. U.K. actress Tamsin Greig is a star of the show Episodes , Tamsin Olivier is the daughter of Joan…
Veronique
French form of Veronica
"true image"
Veronica seems poised to rise again, along with many other V names, and with it may follow this more romantic French version.
Willoughby
English
"farm near the willows; willow town"
Energetic Willoughby is a familiar last name, but, as yet, makes for a unique choice in the first spot. An unexpected way to get to popular short forms Will and Billy, Willoughby could make an…
Kolina
Kolina is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant of Colina, which has Scottish Gaelic roots meaning "young maiden" or "girl." Alternatively, it could be related to Nicole…
Bartholomew
Aramaic
"son of the furrow"
Bartholomew is an apostle's name that's been out of favor for centuries but might appeal again to the parent in search of an old but rare choice. The challenge could be to avoid the Simpson-ish…
Calixto
Greek
"beautiful"
Calixto is known in Spain as the name of three popes, one of whom was the martyr, Callixtus I, regarded as a saint. Calixto has a lot of energy and futuristic spirit, thanks in part to the…
Danica
Slavic
"morning star"
While Danica may sound similar to Dana, Danielle, and Daniela, Danica is not a variation. Danica, a delicate and unique Slavic name meaning "Morning Star," is synonymous with Venus in many countries.…
Edwige
French from German Hedwig
"war"
Haitian writer Edwidge Danticat highlighted this sophisticated, chignon-wearing choice for literate parents.
Fenna
Dutch and Frisian
"peace"
The vintage Fenna, an old lady name making a comeback in the Netherlands, originates in Friesland in the northern part of the country, where the Fries language is spoken. Rhyming with Jenna, it's…
Geneva
Swiss place-name or French
"juniper tree"
Unlike its somewhat formal Swiss city namesake, this is a lively and appealing place-name that also has a real history as a female name. Geneva was a relatively popular American name at one time: it…
Jahan
Sanskrit
"the world, the universe, the cosmos"
A Persian name with an evocative meaning, Jahan was notably borne by the 17th century Indian emperor, Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal for his wife Mumtaz. Associated with one of the Seven…
Katya
Russian, diminutive of Ekatarina, Russian variation of Katherine
"pure"
One of the warm and earthy Russian nickname names now coming into style. Denzel Washington gave his daughter the Katia spelling.
Magdalone
Danish variation of Magdalena
"from Magdala"
Magdalone is Danish variation of Magdalene or Magdalena, which derive from Mary Magdalene, a prominent figure in the New Testament. The name originates from Magdala, an ancient town on the Sea of…
Nabil
Arabic
"highborn"
Pleasant and accessible and not as widely-used as some other African names .
Oksana
Russian from Hebrew
"praise to God"
Ukrainian figure-skating champion Oksana Baiul made it known here.
Patricia
Latin
"noble, patrician"
Patricia still sounds patrician, though its scores of nicknames definitely don't. Wildly popular from the forties (alternately Number 3 and 4 throughout the decade) to the sixties, Patricia has been…
Tanisha
American invented name
Many invented names that end in -isha spring from the Arabic Aisha, an important name in the Muslim religion. The Ta- or Te- prefix was especially stylish for both girls and boys in the eighties.…