The Names on This Site I Like
- Clemence
Origin:
French feminine variation of ClementMeaning:
"mild, merciful"Description:
Calm, composed, and chic. Often seen with an accent in France, as Clémence.
- Megumi
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"blessing"Description:
An Asian name not widely known in the West.
- Ishmael
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God will hear"Description:
Ishmael is most familiar through "Call me Ishmael," the opening line spoken by the youthful narrator of Moby-Dick. Few American parents have followed that advice, though the Spanish and Arabic spelling, Ismael, ranks at Number 362. With its warm and pleasant sound, though, we could see Ishmael tagging along behind Isaiah and Isaac.
- Silvius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"wood, forest"Description:
With the rise of ancient Roman names, the now-obscure Silvius may be rediscovered. Sleek and silvery, Silvius was the name of several legendary kings and an early saint. It survives in the contemporary world in its Spanish and Italian form Silvio, used for the character played by Steven Van Zandt on The Sopranos, while its traditional form appears in the Shakespeare play, As You Like It.
- Iolo
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"weathy lord"Description:
Rhythmic Welsh nickname name, derived from the Welsh royal name Iorwerth, which has sometimes been anglicized as Edward.
- Geraint
Origin:
Celtic, meaning unknownDescription:
The connection to a knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend gives this name a hint of nobility. Geraint Thomas was a Welsh cyclist who competed in the 2008 Olympics.
- Cadmus
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"one who excels"Description:
Cadmus is the name of the serpent-slaying hero of Greek mythology who also founded the city of Thebes and is credited with inventing the alphabet. Its ancient feel might appeal to modern parents — especially since Cadmus Peverell is a human Harry Potter character, one of the three original owners of the Deathly Hallows.
- Anemone
Origin:
Flower name; GreekMeaning:
"daughter of the wind"Description:
Anemone is a floral name that relates to the ancient Greek myth of the famous love story of Aphrodite and Adonis, in which Aphrodite transforms her wounded lover's blood into a flower, the crimson anemone, whose blossoms are opened by the wind — accounting for its other name, windflower.
- Letty
Origin:
English, diminutive of Letitia or similarMeaning:
"joy, gladness"Description:
Letty is a sweet vintage gem, playful and cosy and more unexpected than Lottie, the popular pet form of popular Charlotte. Originally used as a nickname for Letitia or Lettice, it could also work for Scarlett, Juliet, Violet, Leighton, Arlette, Loretta, Colette, or Liberty.
- Lileas
Origin:
Scottish variation of LilyDescription:
Adds some thorns to the smooth texture of Lily.
- Bran
Origin:
Diminutive of BrandonMeaning:
"broom-covered hill"Description:
A little heavy on the fiber content; we prefer Bram. But Bran is also the Celtic god of the underworld, whose symbol is the raven.
- Danae
Origin:
GreekDescription:
An intriguing mythological name whose one challenge might be pronunciation questions.
- Pavel
Origin:
Russian variation of PaulMeaning:
"small"Description:
Pavel may be widespread in the former Soviet Union, but it has a somewhat impoverished image here.
- Miren
Description:
Miren is a feminine Basque name meaning 'beloved' or 'wished-for child.' It is the Basque form of Mary/Maria, connecting it to a rich religious tradition while maintaining a distinct cultural identity. Common in the Basque Country of northern Spain and southwestern France, Miren remains relatively rare outside these regions, giving it an air of uniqueness internationally. The name combines simplicity with an intriguing cultural depth, making it appealing to parents drawn to short, meaningful names with European heritage. Its pronunciation (MEE-ren) is relatively intuitive for non-Basque speakers. In recent years, as interest in distinctive cultural names has grown, Miren has gained modest international recognition while remaining true to its Basque roots.
- Giovanna
Origin:
Italian, feminine variation of GiovanniDescription:
Like Galilea and Livia, one of the Italian names that fashionable American parents—with or without Italian roots—have started to choose for their daughters. It has endured ups and downs since entering the popularity charts in 1991.
- Vasco
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"someone from the Basque region"Description:
Schoolchildren will recognize this name via Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.
- Minty
Origin:
English diminutive of Aminta and Araminta, GreekMeaning:
"defender"Description:
Minty isn't a fresh word name — it's an old-fashioned nickname for Araminta, the romantic smoosh name coined by playwright William Congreve in 1693.
- Silvano
Origin:
Italian form of SilvanusMeaning:
"wood, forest"Description:
Silvanus was the Roman god of the forests and is also an alternate name in the New Testament for Silas. Relatives include Silvio, Silvius, and Sylvia.
- Aina
Origin:
Scandinavian and Finnish variation of Aino, Catalan variation of Anna, Japanese, Latvian, Kazakh, YorubaMeaning:
"always; grace; lover of green; sight; mirror; delivery had complications [umbilical cord twisted around neck]"Description:
A bright-sounding name with multicultural appeal, used regularly as a first name in Japan, Scandinavia, Latvia, and Spain.
- Sanjay
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"triumphant"Description:
Historic and popular Indian name, borne by the son of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. On classic Hindu epics, it was the name of the charioteer of King Dhritarashtra; in the UK is was a character on the TV series Eastenders.