User-created list
By hathorhasnot · Updated May 2023
Across 3 pages
of 3
English surname
"dark wood or clearing"
Blakeley is one of the many -ley ending surnames that is being adopted as a first name, updating the 80s darlings Blake and Ashley.
Diminutive of Elizabeth
"pledged to God"
This Elizabeth nickname has a decidedly retro feel--think Betsy Ross and the Betsy Wetsy doll-- once seen as a perkier, younger-sounding alternative to Betty. But with Betty on the brink of a…
Hebrew
"house of God"
A rarely used Biblical place-name with a soft and pleasant sound.
English diminutive of Rebecca, Hebrew
"servant of God"
Down to earth and versatile, Becky is a popular diminutive of the classic Biblical name, Rebecca. In the US, it was most popular as a stand alone name back in the 60s, while in the UK, it remained in…
English nature name
"small stream"
Brooke variation – or is the other way around? – that makes it more a nature name, less an eighties-style androgynous name.
Variation of Briana, English
"strong, virtuous and honorable"
More of the seemingly infinite variations of this name.
Greek
"she who brings victory"
A name with a surprising amount of history--it was the name of the wife of Ptolemy I of Egypt, occurs in the New Testament, and belonged to a fourth century saint. In the US, it has long been spelled…
Irish
"yellow"
She's the bff of Blair, Blake, and Brooke who shop at Bergdorf's, Bonwits and Bendel's.
Welsh
"hill"
You say Bryn, he says Bryana -- here's a name you might agree on.
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…
Scandinavian, variation of Birgit or Britt
"strength or exalted one"
If you want a pan-Scandinavian name with energy and style that could have been a winner, if not for the sound-alike water filtration company Brita.
Variation of Briar, English
"thorny patch"
Briar, but less wordy, more surname-y.
"white breast"
Bronwen is widespread in Wales, but still rare enough here to sound somewhat international — we think Bronwen is a real winner. (Note: the Bronwyn spelling is an Anglicization, since the -wyn ending…
Brinn is a feminine name with Celtic origins, primarily Welsh and Irish. It likely derives from Welsh elements meaning 'hill' or 'mound,' or possibly from the Irish word 'bron' meaning 'sorrow.' Some…
Pronounced a la Bette (Betty) Davis or Bette (Bet) Midler, a twentieth-century relic. Though if the equally vintage Betty comes back, Bette may be close behind.
Italian variation of Benedicta, Latin
"blessed"
The saintly Italian form of the saintly Latin Benedicta.
"to sprout, to swell"
Bryony is an unusually strong plant name --the bryony is a wild climbing vine with green flowers --that caught on in the U.K. before sprouting here. The name of the young character in the Ian McEwan…
Brionna is a feminine name that emerged as a modern variation of Briana or Brianna, which ultimately derive from Celtic and Irish origins meaning 'strong,' 'virtuous,' or 'high.' The distinctive…
Spelling variation of Bryony, Greek
Briony may be the variation and Bryony the original, but many parents will see this as the more authentic-feeling version of this attractive botanical name. Melodic and bright, it was once a Top 400…
English combination of Bertha and Bernice
One not-very-attractive name plus another not-very-attractive name equals a third not-very-attractive name.
