Family Names
- Moriah
Origin:
Biblical place name; HebrewMeaning:
"the Lord is my teacher"Description:
Where Abraham took his son Isaac to sacrifice him. Taylor Hanson chose this as the middle name for his son Viggo, his fourth child, but most will see it as a girls’ name. Make life simpler and spell it Mariah.
- Crystal
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"crystal, clear, ice"Description:
Peaking at #9 in 1982, Crystal's popularity in the 70s and 80s stems from its sparkling natural namesake and several notable bearers, like country music singer Crystal Gayle and Dynasty character Krystle Carrington. But it has since lost some of its luster for American parents, now ranking in the mid-600s. Ruby, Gemma and Pearl are fashionable alternatives, but nowadays Crystal could actually be a more unexpected choice for your little gem.
- Carl
Origin:
German variation of CharlesMeaning:
"free man"Description:
This no-nonsense German variation of Charles is strong and sturdy. A top choice throughout the 20th century, Carl is now verging on falling off the charts.
- Lafayette
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"faith"Description:
Foppish name with a distinguished forebear, French general Marquis de Lafayette, who fought in the American Revolution. It accounts for the L in L. Ron Hubbard. Old-time short form: Fayette or Fate.
- Elton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the old town"Description:
Elton is an unassuming, lesser-used place name belonging to several towns in the British Isles, the US and Canada, and even a lake in Russia. The singer Elton John gives it a bit of extra pizzazz.
- Terrance
Description:
Variation of Terence.
- Pamela
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"all honey"Description:
Pam was a somewhat pampered prom queen of the sixties who was never called by her full name, which is a pity because Pamela is so mellifluous and rich in literary history. A Top 25 name from the late 1940's through the late 60's, Pamela has just, sadly, dropped out of the Top 1000.
- Barbara
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"foreign woman"Description:
Barbara is back and among the fastest-rising names of recent years! Credit goes to 2023's breakout movie Barbie, which gave a new stylish feel to the classic Barbara and set it up to rank alongside clunky, retro choices like Deborah, Marjorie, Marilyn, and Dorothy.
- Edmond
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"wealthy protector"Description:
The sophisticated Edmond and its nearly-identical twin Edmund are coming out of mothballs now that Edward, inspired by Twilight, is once again a hot name. Parents looking for an alternative might gravitate to Edmond, a handsome classic that has both class and style.
- Wendy
Origin:
English, Celtic, WelshMeaning:
"friend or white"Description:
It is popularly claimed that the name Wendy was invented by Sir James Barrie in 1904 for the big sister character in his play Peter Pan, which was followed by the classic novel in 1911. Barrie supposedly took it from the nickname "fwendy-wendy", that he was called by a young girl acquaintance.
- Bell
Origin:
English and Scottish occupational nameMeaning:
"ringer of the bell"Description:
These days, it's more likely you'd call your daughter the popular Belle or Bella.
- Hassie
Description:
Hassie is a vintage feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Hasselene or as a nickname for names beginning with 'Has-'. It also appeared as a pet form of Hester or Esther in some communities. The name enjoyed modest popularity in the southern United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries but has become extremely rare today. Hassie has the characteristic friendly, informal quality of many nickname-names ending in '-ie' from that era. Like other revival vintage names, it combines old-fashioned charm with a distinctive quality that sets it apart from contemporary popular choices. The name's simple pronunciation and spelling make it accessible despite its unfamiliarity to modern ears. Hassie represents a category of names now being rediscovered by parents interested in authentic historical choices.
- Josh
Description:
Josh is a friendly, approachable masculine name that originated as a shortened form of Joshua, which comes from Hebrew meaning 'God is salvation.' While Joshua has biblical significance as the successor to Moses, Josh emerged as a standalone name in the 20th century, embodying a casual, down-to-earth quality. It gained significant popularity in the 1970s through the 1990s in the United States, ranking consistently in the top 100 names. Josh conveys an accessible, unpretentious character with its brief, one-syllable structure. The name suggests a straightforward, trustworthy personality and has maintained steady usage without seeming dated or trendy. Josh represents a perfect balance of familiarity and timelessness in contemporary naming practices.
- Jewel
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Just like Flora is for botanicals, Jewel is the generic gemstone name, not used much since the early twentieth century, when it was seen as a symbol of how precious a daughter could be. The French version, Bijou, feels more modern, as do Pearl and Ruby.
- Sonya
Description:
See SONIA.
- Terry
Origin:
Diminutive of Terence or Thierry, EnglishMeaning:
"soft; thresher; ruler of the people"Description:
One of the first breakaway unisex baby names, Terry, used independently since the days of Terry and the Pirates. Popular in the mid-20th-century, it has fallen out of favor in recent years, replaced by Tommy, Sonny, and Ozzy.
- Yolanda
Origin:
Spanish from GreekMeaning:
"violet flower"Description:
Bold and distinctive, Yolanda is a floral name that doesn't sound frilly or delicate. Ultimately deriving from the Greek words ioles meaning "violet" and anthos meaning "flower", it appears in a variety of forms internationally, including Jolanda, Jolanta, Iolanthe, Iolanta, Iolanda, and Jolana.
- Ronnie
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"she who brings victory; true image"Description:
Androgynous nickname for Veronica, Rhonda or Rona. Traditionally a male nickname for Ronald, Ronnie s finding new life as a girl's name amid the rising trend of boyish nicknames for girls. With its short, spunky style, Ronnie fits right in alongside other revived vintage picks like Frankie and Scottie.
- Tisha
Description:
Tisha is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. It can function as a diminutive of Patricia or Letitia, but also has independent roots as a Sanskrit name meaning 'auspicious' or 'fortunate.' In Hebrew contexts, it may relate to Tisha B'Av, a significant date in the Jewish calendar. The name gained modest popularity in the United States during the 1970s and early 1980s, partly influenced by actress Tisha Campbell. With its simple two-syllable structure and accessible pronunciation (TEE-sha), the name offers a friendly, approachable quality. Though less common today than in previous decades, Tisha maintains appeal for parents seeking a short, sweet name with cross-cultural connections. Its brevity and feminine sound make it distinctive without being complicated.
- Renee
Origin:
French from LatinMeaning:
"reborn"Description:
Chic in the fifties, now kept in the public eye mainly by actress Zellweger. Variations include Rene, Renae, and Renny.
The Nameberry App Is Live
- Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
- Names you match on are saved to your shared list
- Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
- Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
- Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
