User-created list
The Names on This Site I Like
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of 75
Hesperos
Greek
"evening, evening star"
Hesperos or Hesperus is the personification of the evening star in Greek mythology; in Roman myth, that role is held by Venus. There's a Longfellow poem called "The Wreck of the Hesperus" about a…
Irina
Russian from Greek
"peace"
Irina is a Russian ballet-inflected classic, one of the Three Sisters in the Chekhov play. While some Americans will pronounce this like Irene with three syllables, the pronunciation used throughout…
Joachim
Hebrew
"Established by God"
Joachim is an undiscovered biblical name with potential, although most modern parents would probably prefer the more lively Spanish version, Joaquin. Like many Old Testament names, it was primarily…
Lilja
Icelandic, Faroese, and Finnish variation of Lily; "lily"
"lily"
Cute and quirky Lily alternative.
Mikkel
Danish variation of Michael
Unless you're Nordic, probably best to stick with Michael if you want to avoid a life of confusion and misspelling.
Octavius
Latin
"eighth"
Octavius, which was at one time used for the eighth child in a family, has the worn leather patina of all the ancient Roman names now up for reconsideration. As a Roman family name, it derives from…
Psyche
Greek
"breath"
This name of the mortal girl loved by Eros is too loaded with psyche/psycho/psychic associations. The mythological Psyche became goddess of the soul.
Rin
Japanese, Korean
"dignified, severe; jade, clear"
A very popular name for girls in Japan, though it is a unisex choice. It can mean "severe, cold", but also "dignified", "ethics" and "phosphorus", depending on the kanji used. It is notably used for…
Sophronia
Greek
"sensible, prudent"
Stately and elegant, but with the familiar sounds of Sophia and Sophie, Sophronia was a familiar choice back in the 19th century but has since fallen into obscurity. Derived from the Greek sophron ,…
Trixie
Diminutive of Beatrix, Latin
"she who brings happiness"
A sassy, spunky name for the bold parent who doesn't remember Mrs. Ed Norton on The Honeymooners or who's into the nicknames-as-given-names trend sweeping the UK and returning to the US. Trixie is a…
Valeska
German
"strong"
This diminutive of Valeria has a strong and striking sound to match its meaning. It has also been used in Brazil in recent decades.
Zinovia
Variation of Zenobia, Greek
"force of Zeus"
Zinovia and Zenobia might be thought of as mythological adjacent names, with their meaning connected to Zeus, king of the Gods. The name Zinovia was given to fewer than ten baby girls in the US last…
Aziza
Arabic
"powerful and beloved"
Aziza is a zippy palindromic choice that is the female variation of Aziz and is found in several Middle Eastern and African languages and cultures. All in all, an attractive and interesting option; a…
Cintia
Cintia is a feminine name derived from Cynthia, which originates from Greek mythology. The name refers to Mount Cynthus on the island of Delos, the birthplace of the goddess Artemis (known as Diana…
Duff
Irish
"swarthy"
This somewhat boisterous Celtic name would be at home in a noisy pub or out walking on the moors. In Scotland, it was originally a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion. Duff…
Ginette
Ginette is a feminine name of French origin, serving as a diminutive form of Geneviève or Virginia. The name carries an elegant, delicate quality with its French flair and '-ette' suffix that…
Hala
Arabic
"moon halo"
A simple and seamlessly international choice with a joyful sound and beautiful meaning.
Jody
Diminutive of Joan and Judith
One of the cute and bouncy nicknames so popular in the 1960s and 70s, but that hasn't made a comeback in the way Eames chairs and miniskirts have. Think of it as one of the original but now…
Kornel
Polish variation of Cornelius, Latin
"horn"
Cornell, without the Ivy League prestige. Kornel is a Top 100 name in Poland and Hungary.
Morten
Morten is a masculine name primarily used in Scandinavian countries, particularly Denmark and Norway. It derives from the Latin name Martinus (related to Mars, the Roman god of war), which became…