User-created list
The Names on This Site I Like
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Atalanta
Greek mythology name
"equal in weight"
Atalanta was a beautiful mythological maiden who refused to marry any man who couldn't beat her in a footrace -- quite a role model. This myth is found in Ovid's Metamorphoses and later in…
Air
Word name
This nature name hasn't escaped the hippie dippy air of others like River or Sky.
Bran
Diminutive of Brandon
"broom-covered hill"
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. It's probably not a coincidence that George R.R. Martin chose this…
Essie
English diminutive of Esther, Persian, or Estelle, French
"star"
Cute short form of Esther, now associated with the iconic nail polish brand.
Gwyneira
Welsh
"white snow"
An unusual Gwyn name with a lovely meaning, this compound name pairs Gwyn with the name Eira, meaning "snow". A relatively modern creation, it remains very rare.
Jeff
Diminutive of Jeffrey, Jefferson
"pledge of peace"
The ultimate dad name.
Joan
English feminine variation of John, Hebrew
"God is gracious"
Joan was the perfect name choice for one of the leading characters on Mad Men , being a quintessential girls' name of the period. A Top 10 name in the 30s, a Top 50 name from the 40s through the…
Joanie
Diminutive of Joan, English
"God is gracious"
Although Joan was the more popular name in the 20th century, it's the nickname Joanie that is coming back in style, in tune with the likes of Bonnie, Margot, and Billie, or Sadie, Elsie, and Libby. A…
Jotham
Hebrew
"the Lord is perfect"
Jotham is an Old Testament name that today would certainly be the only one in his class, having something of an urban feel via its similarity to the word 'gotham'. In the Bible one Jotham is the sole…
Ludmila
Slavic
"beloved of the people"
This Slavic classic name might begin to make its mark with American parents, what with the growing popularity of the short form Mila. Borne by a tenth century saint who had been a princess from…
Nyx
Greek mythology name
"night"
In Greek mythology, Nyx was a powerful goddess and the embodiment of the night, giving this name a dark yet mystical feel. She is often depicted as one of the first deities, an offspring of Chaos who…
Perla
Spanish variation of Pearl
Consistently popular Latina gem name; good choice for those who can't shake Pearl's grandmotherly vibe.
Rita
Spanish, Hindi
"pearl; truth, order"
One of the glamour girl names of the Rita Hayworth 1940s, Rita was once a Top 50 name and stayed on the SSA list until 2002. The name Rita still has enough Latin zip to be a lively, revivable short…
Ruzha
Bulgarian
"hollyhock; rose"
A botanical name of Bulgarian origin, it could refer to plants from the Alcea genus, or be a variation on the Macedonian name, Ruža, meaning "rose".
Sheila
Irish variation of Cecilia
"blind"
Sheila peaked in popularity from the 1930s to the 1960s (she reached Number 49 in 1965), along with Maureen and Colleen; parents today would probably go back to the original Cecilia or forward to…
Tasoula
Tasoula is a feminine name of Greek origin, functioning primarily as an affectionate diminutive of Anastasia, though it can sometimes stand as an independent name. The suffix '-oula' in Greek adds an…
Arrietty
Literary name, variation of Harriet
A pretty, dainty name for one of the little characters in the children's book series The Borrowers . It was the basis for a later Studio Ghible animated film, The Secret World of Arrietty . While the…
Anastasie
Anastasie is a feminine name of Greek origin, derived from 'anastasis' meaning 'resurrection.' It's the French form of Anastasia, a name with deep historical and religious significance in Orthodox…
Branwen
Celtic
"blessed raven"
This is an attractive Celtic mythological name, popular in Wales and a cousin of the better known Bronwyn. In Welsh mythology, Branwen was turned into a bird.
Chiara
Italian
"light, clear"
Chiara is a lovely and romantic Italian name that's familiar but not widely used here: a real winner. You might consider Chiara instead of Claire, Clara, Cara, or even Keira. Santa Chiara, Aglicized…