User-created list
The Names on This Site I Like
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of 75
Tristram
Medieval English variation of Tristan, “noise or sorrowful"
This version of Tristan, known to English Lit students from the novel Tristram Shandy , is rarely used in this country, but, though its similarity to the popular Tristan could prove confusing, still…
Vasco
Spanish
"someone from the Basque region"
Schoolchildren will recognize this name via Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.
Yoko
Japanese
"good girl; ocean child"
There are many in Japan, but for most Americans there's only one Yoko. Yoko Ono writes her name with characters meaning "ocean" and "child".
Anara
Kazakh, Persian, and Hindi
"pomegranate flower"
Anara is a name that strikes a perfect balance between simple and unusual. It's easy to understand and pronounce for a Westerner, and yet it's highly distinctive, used for only 24 girls in the US in…
Blanche
French
"white"
Blanche, which originated as a nickname for a pale blonde and then became associated with the notion of purity, was in style a century ago, ranking in the double digits until 1920. She then had to…
Dain
Variation of Dane, Dean, or Dáinn, literary, Norse
"from Denmark; valley; died"
Dain might simply be considered an unusual spelling variation of the familiar Dane and Dean, however, it may also have its roots in Norse mythology, in which it belonged to a several different…
Efrayim
Efrayim is a masculine name of Hebrew origin, being a variant spelling of Ephraim, one of the sons of Joseph in the Bible. The name derives from the Hebrew word 'parah' meaning 'fruitful' or…
Flavius
Latin
"yellow, blond"
Flavius is an ancient Roman family name associated with a dynasty of emperors. It has an appealingly flavorful first syllable, and is the name of a stylist in the Hunger Games series. Earlier…
Io
Greek mythology name
Io may be one of the slightest names in the book, but there aren't many two-letter names with as much substance as this Greek mythological example. Io, a name used for the largest moon of Jupiter,…
Jerome
Greek
"sacred name"
Jerome has a bespectacled, serious, studious image, just like its namesake saint, who was a brilliant scholar. St. Jerome is the patron saint of students, librarians, and archaeologists. Musical…
Kofi
Ghanaian, Akan, Twi
"born on Friday"
This Akan day name is very much associated with Kofi Annan, the seventh secretary general of the United Nations. The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the…
Lileas
Scottish variation of Lily
Adds some thorns to the smooth texture of Lily.
Marieke
Marieke is a Dutch and Frisian feminine name, serving as a diminutive form of Maria. Ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Miriam, it shares the same roots as Mary, meaning "sea of bitterness,"…
Natasha
Russian diminutive of Natalya
"birthday of the Lord"
Natasha, an appealing, still unusual name, entered the American mainstream post-Cold War but seems to have peaked in the eighties, replaced by the more straightforward Natalie. As is common for…
Odion
Esan
"first born of twins"
Strong name from the Esan language of Nigeria, with a satisfyingly specific meaning for a child's place in the family.
Polly
English variation of Molly, diminutive of Mary, Hebrew
"bitter"
An alternative to the no-longer-fresh Molly, the initial 'P' gives Polly a peppier sound, combining the cozy virtues of an old-timey name with the bounce of a barmaid. Associated with Tom Sawyer's…
Ren
Japanese, Latin
"water lily, lotus, romantic love, move forward; reborn"
A very popular unisex name in Japan, Ren is a concise and versatile choice that could work across multiple languages. A rising star in England and Wales where it ranks in the Top 1000, it is also on…
Soledad
Spanish
"solitude"
This strong Spanish name that refers to the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Solitude) has been made accessible by broadcaster Soledad O'Brien -- who shows how well it combines with an Anglo surname. Her…
Zsanett
Zsanett is a feminine Hungarian name, a derivative of the French Jeanette, which itself comes from Jean (John), ultimately meaning 'God is gracious.' Popular in Hungary and occasionally found in…
Albane
Feminine form of Alban, French, Latin
"white, bright; from Alba"
A stylish choice in France where it ranked in the Top 50 in a recent year, Albane is a relative of zippy Alba, but with the weightier feel of Constance, Mathilde, Hortense, and Ludivine. It…