Beulah

A biblical name applied to the land of Israel in Isaiah 62:4, from Biblical Hebrew בְּעוּלָה (bəʿûlâ, “married (woman)”), taken up as a given name by Puritans and used figuratively for the New Earth.

bor

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 62:4:

I was into names then for some reason, and hit upon the name Beulah. When I was a child it was a name like Bertha, and you made a joke about Beulah, Big Beulah. I thought, wouldn't it be nice to use the name Beulah and try to get it in a poem.

2003, Rita Dove, Earl G. Ingersoll, Conversations with Rita Dove, Univ. of Mississippi, →ISBN, page 43:


Jeannette

From French Jeannette, from Jeanne + -ette, q.v.
Doublet of Ivanka, Jan, Janelle, Janet, Janey, Janine, Jeanette, Jeanie, Jeannine, Jen, Jenna, Jenny, Jessie, Jo, Jody, Juanita, Shanae, Sinead, and Vanna.


Irma

From German Irma in the nineteenth century. Short form of Germanic names beginning with irm(en)-, erm(en) "whole, entire", from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. Cognate with English Emma.

- - -, she thanked God for Irma: thanked God that Irma's hair was rich and beautiful, that she had the aristocratic richness of a name like Irma and not the common poverty of a name like May or Flo;

1939, Herbert Ernest Bates, The Flying Goat, Ulverscroft Large Print Books, published 1995, →ISBN, page 52:

A female given name from the Germanic languages.


Etta

A short form of Henrietta or of other female given names ending in -etta.


Jorja

A female given name from Ancient Greek, a new Australian spelling of Georgia.


Essie

A diminutive form of the female given name Esther.


Freda

A feminine form of Frederick and Fred, also a short form of Winifred.

Now Freda is a beautiful name, but to this day I am glad my bataa was so insistent. I have come to agree there is something magical about one's own name. Later in my life, the name Princess has opened many doors that may not have been opened were I called Freda.

2009, Princess Kasune Zulu, Warrior Princess, IVP Books, →ISBN, page 22:


Callie

From a 19th-century diminutive of Caroline.


Goldie

A female given name from English for a girl with golden hair, mostly American usage around 1900. It was further popularized by actress Goldie Hawn

A male or female given name from English for a golden-colored dog or bird


Eula

A female given name from Ancient Greek, a short form of Eulalia.


Flossie

'Otto's at a conference about Free Open-Source Software. It's his big passion. That's why we called the baby Flossie―F-O-S-S. The French geeks stuck an 'L' in for femininity.'

2012, Marina Lewycka, Various Pets Alive and Dead, Fig Tree, →ISBN, page 291:

A diminutive of the female given name Florence

"Big School is more fun than Primary School," said Flossie to her mother as they both sat at the kitchen table, eating their lunch together. "Isn't it, Mum?"

1982, Hunter Davies, Flossie Teacake's Fur Coat:

A diminutive of the female given name Flora


Janie

A diminutive of the female given name Jane.


Raaya

Associated with Hindi [Term?], meaning "royal" or "royalty", from the terms rai, raj, etc. Some texts also indicate it means "always". Also associated with the term Rah, meaning path, road or journey.

A female given name from India, masculine equivalent Rai.


Grover

A male given name transferred from the surname. Popular in the USA in the 1880s and 1890s when Grover Cleveland was President.


Eulalie

French from the saints' name Eulalia, from Ancient Greek "sweetly speaking".

Till the fair and gentle Eulalie became my blushing bride - / Till the yellow-haired young Eulalie became my smiling bride.

Come along, Eulalie" (this was her friend's strange name) […]

1953, L. P. Hartley, The Go-Between, Hamish Hamilton, published 1974, page 60:


Frieda

A female given name from the Germanic languages, the German equivalent of Freda.


Inez

Anglicised form of Spanish Inés and Portuguese Inês, both from Latin Agnes, from Ancient Greek Ἁγνή (Hagnḗ). First used in 18th century English poetry and plays referring to Inês de Castro. Doublet of Agnes.

Before the frowning King fair Inez stands; / Her tears of artless innocence, her air / So mild, so lovely, and her face so fair;

1796 Translation by Mr Mickle of The Lusiads (1572) by Camoens:, The Scots Magazine, Vol. 58, page 174

My name, you know, is Inez Elizabeth - Inez Elizabeth Mordaunt." "I think Inez is a perfectly beautiful name," said Sir Gwyn, enthusiastically. "So do I, surely," said Bessie; "it is so entirely. In France they all called me Inez, but dear, darling Iny set the fashion of calling me Bessie; - - - Still, I think Inez is awfully lovely, and it's uncommon and romantic.

1873, James De Mille, An Open Question, D. Appleton and company, page 79:


Estella

Latinized and Italian variant of the French Estelle.

To stand in the dark in a mysterious passage of an unknown house, bawling Estella to a scornful young lady neither visible nor responsive, and feeling it a dreadful liberty so to roar out her name, was almost as bad as playing to order. But she answered at last, and her light came along the dark passage like a star.

1860 December – 1861 August, Charles Dickens, Great Expectations […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Chapman and Hall, […], published October 1861, →OCLC:


Dewey

Possibly from a place name in Northern France, Douai. Welsh origin from Dewi (David) has also been suggested.

A male given name transferred from the surname, of 1890s American usage.


Ina

Short form of given names ending in -ina, e.g. Georgina, Christina, Wilhelmina.

Miss Ina Claire tells me that half her acquaintances call her "Eenah" and the other half "Eynah". She answers docilely to either.

1935, Winthrop Ames, What Shall We Name the Baby?, New York: Simon and Schuster, page 18:

The eldest, originally called Christina in spite of her Jewish father's protests, eventually had her name sliced in half. "Stop sulking, Abe," Aurora commanded. "From now on she's plain Ina without the Christ." So poor Ina grew up with only half a handle, and when the second child was born a year later matters were made worse because this time Aurora insisted on "Inamorata". Abraham protested again: "People will confuse," he said plaintively. "And this Ina-more it is like saying she is Ina-plus."

1995, Salman Rushdie, The Moor's Last Sigh, →ISBN, page 139:


Shaquille

A fanciful spelling of Arabic شَكِيل (šakīl, “handsome”).

A male given name from Arabic of modern American usage.


Allyson

A female given name from the Germanic languages, variant of Alison.


Breanna

A female given name from the Celtic languages, of American usage, variant of Brianna.


Camryn

A unisex given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage, variant of Cameron.


Arianne

A female given name from Ancient Greek, variant of Ariane or Ariadne.


Kameron

(US) A male given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage, variant of Cameron.


Kristy

A variant of Christie, a diminutive of Christina and related female names.


Erick

A male given name from the Germanic languages, a rare spelling variant of Eric that can also be explained as a form of Frederick.


Kamryn

"What kind of name is Kamryn, anyway?" Adele asked me without shame. "A made-up one," was my terse reply. - - - So, her asking about my moniker when she was Girly Two-Hyphen Name was an audacious step to take. "It's not a spelling mistake? Your name is Kamryn. K-A-M-R-Y-N," she spelled it out. "Not C-A-M-E-R-O-N, Cameron like the boy's name?" "Actually, it is. I thought it'd be fun to pretend it was spelled differently. I love people asking me about it. You're so wise, you caught me. You're clearly Miss Marple's clever younger sister."

2006, Dorothy Koomson, My Best Friend's Girl, Random House, published 2008, →ISBN, page 25:

A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage, variant of Cameron.


Christy

A diminutive of the male given name Christopher.

Alternative form of Christie, a diminutive of the female given name Christina and related names.


Jaden

A unisex given name originating as a coinage, variant of Jayden.


Jayden

Invented at the end of the 20th century by American parents who wanted to combine the initial "J" with the fashionable sound of Aidan, Braden, Caden and Hayden. It has been unisex from the very beginning because it resembles both Jay and Jade.

A unisex given name originating as a coinage.


Brandi

'Brandi's father owns a number of radio stations across the country.' He smiled. 'Beware of women whose first names are potable.'
'I'll keep it in mind.'
'Actually, her real name is Brenda. She was named after Brenda Marshall, who was an actress in the forties. Apparently, my father-in-law was a huge fan.'

1997, Joy Fielding, Missing Pieces, page 85:

A female given name from English, variant of Brandy.


Arianna

From Italian Arianna, from Ancient Greek Ἀριάδνη (Ariádnē).


Lazlow

(rare) A male given name from the Slavic languages of modern usage.


Alix

A female given name from the Germanic languages, an Old French form of Alice.


Caden

Invented by American parents in the 1990s to rhyme with the equally fashionable Aidan, Braden, Hayden and Jayden.

A male given name originating as a coinage.

(rare) A female given name originating as a coinage.


Emil

From German Emil, from Latin Aemilius, a Roman family name possibly from aemulus (“rival”). Cognate with French Émile.


Beverley

en-proper noun

Beverley (countable and uncountable, plural Beverleys)

From Old English befer (“beaver”) + lēah (“clearing”). Equivalent to Beaver + -ley (“lea”).

(countable) A unisex given name transferred from the surname.


Brodie

Scottish habitational surname of uncertain meaning. Probably of Pictish or Gaelic origin. Some of the suggestions that have been advanced as to the meaning of the name Brodie are:
* "ditch" or "mire", from the old Irish word broth;
* "muddy place", from the Gaelic word brothach;
* "a point", "a spot", or "level piece of land", from the Gaelic word Brodha;
* or originated from the Pict name Brude, Bruid or Bridei from King Bridei of the Picts.

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Brady

From Old English brād (“broad”) + ēage (“eye”) and brād (“broad”) + ēġ (“island”); or from Irish Ó Brádaigh.


Hayden

Originally a place name, from Old English heg (“hay”) + denu (“valley”). Alternatively, from Middle Dutch heiden (“heathen”).

A female given name transferred from the surname, in general use since the 1990s.

A town in Gila County and Pinal County, Arizona.

A place in the United States:
A town in Routt County, Colorado.

A place in the United States:
A city in Kootenai County, Idaho.

census-designated place
census-designated place

A census-designated place in Spencer Township, Jennings County, Indiana.


Bernadette

From French Bernadette, made famous by St. Bernadette of Lourdes.

Bernadette Woolley was aware that her name was professionally inappropriate. She tended to get a lot of jokes about it. There had even been recommendations that she change it. The pious connotations put men off, it was averred. Non-Catholics recognised her allegiance at once because of the label, and scorned her for it; while co-religionists, reminded inappropriately of the Virgin apparition at Lourdes, blushed, or sniggered, or asked for another girl.

1983, A. N. Wilson, Scandal: or Priscilla's Kindness, Penguin, published 1985, →ISBN, page 1:

As they walked farther along the concourse, Bernadette said, "You call me Bernadette. Aunt won't be necessary. And I don't like Bernie. Or Aunt Bernie or Auntie. For a while, when I was twelve, I wanted everyone to call me Detta. No reason except that I was twelve and trying to fit whatever name sounded more glamorous than Bernadette. I like to be called Bernadette. I've become my name."

1995, E. L. Konigsburg, T-Backs, T-Shirts, Coat, and Suit, Simon & Schuster, published 2008, →ISBN, page 13:


Lynnette

A female given name from Welsh, variant of Lynette.


Loretta

A female given name from Latin, variant of Lauretta, Italian diminutive of Laura; or a form of Loreto.


Lynda

A female given name from the Germanic languages, variant of Linda.


Sallie

A less common spelling of Sally; see -ie.

A diminutive of the female given name Sarah.


Nannie

A diminutive of the female given names Ann or Annie.


Lottie

My Charlotte conquers with a smile, / And reigneth queen of love.
In the home-circle and among her companions, Charlotte lays aside her queenship and becomes a gentle Lottie.

1852 August, D. H. Jacques, “A Chapter on Names”, in The Knickerbocker, or, New-York Monthly Magazine, volume XL, page 117:

A pet form of the female given name Charlotte.


Mable

And "Mable"'s a name that ever sounds sweetly / And charms and enchants a mortal completely

1892, Walter Malone, “Mary”, in Narcissus: and Other Poems, J. B. Lippincott Company, page 133:

A female given name from Latin, variant of Mabel.


Leona

A female given name from Latin, a feminine form of Leo through Leon.


Lynette

Anglicized form of Welsh Eluned, first used by Tennyson in the Idylls of the King(1859-85), altered by folk etymology to be Lynn + -ette.

'My name?' she said -
'Lynette, my name; noble; my need, a knight,

1872, Alfred Tennyson, Gareth and Lynette:


Leonie

From French Léonie, from Latin Leonia, feminine of Leonius, derived from leo (“lion”).


Patsy

From the clipping of Patricia or Patrick + -sy (hypocoristic suffix).

A diminutive of the female given name Patricia.

A diminutive of the male given name Patrick.

A diminutive of the female given name Martha.


Paulette

Borrowed in the twentieth century from French Paulette, a diminutive feminine form of Paul.


Marlene

A female given name from Hebrew borrowed from German in early 20th century.


Kristine

A female given name from Ancient Greek, variant of Christine.


Tiare

From Tahitian Tiare, from tiare, a small white gardenia (Gardenia tahitiensis ), the national flower of Tahiti.

Tiare — her father had called her by the name of the white, scented flower which, they tell you, if you have once smelt, will always draw you back to Tahiti in the end, however far you may have roamed — Tiare remembered Strickland very well.

1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 49”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:

A female given name. Used in Hawaii since the 1980s.


Valeria

/vəˈlɪəɹi.ə/

Feminine form of Roman family name Valerius, from Latin valere (“to be healthy, to be strong”). Doublet of Valerie.


Tilda

A female given name from the Germanic languages, short form of Matilda.


Lola

What lovely names for girls there are!
There's Stella like the Evening Star,
And Sylvia like a rustling tree,
And Lola like a melody,

1933, Eleanor Farjeon, “Girls' Names”, in Over the Garden Wall, Faber and Faber, page 91:


Peder

A male given name from Danish, equivalent to English Peter.


Portia

Cato the Elder
Portia (moon)
The Merchant of Venice

From Latin Porcia, a feminine form of the gens name Porcius (the gens of the Cato the Elder and his famous descendants), from porcus (“pig”). The moon is named for the character in The Merchant of Venice.


Cassie

From Cass + -ie. diminutive of Cassandra or Cassidy.


Geoff

He had become increasingly petty, irritated by details, by the diminishing, for example, of their forenames—Bill, Bert, Mike, Geoff, Steve. He wanted to inquire peevishly if a commitment to Marxism was incompatible with a disyllabic forename.

2012 April 17, P.D. James, Innocent Blood, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 41:

The place in Malibu belongs to my husband, Geoff. He's a G-E-O-F-F Geoff, not the J-E-F-F kind.

2015 August 27, Sue Grafton, X, Pan Macmillan, →ISBN:

A diminutive of the male given name Geoffrey.


Elroy

A male given name originating as a coinage, a pseudo-Spanish variant of Leroy.


LeRoy

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Leroy

Transferred from the common French surname Leroy since the nineteenth century, for no apparent reason except its transparent meaning, le roi "the king".


Ronnie

Shortening of Ronald or Veronica, + -ie.

A diminutive of the male given name Ronald.

A diminutive of the female given name Veronica.


Micheal

Anglicised form of Irish Mícheál or Scottish Gaelic Mìcheil. Also a spelling variant of Michael, generally considered erroneous.


Lester

en-proper noun

Lester (countable and uncountable, plural Lesters)

* As an English surname, from the placename Leicester.
* Also as an English surname of Norman origin, from Lestre in Normandy, from Old French Lestra, from Medieval Latin Laxtra, perhaps from extera (“exterior (part of a property)”).
* As an English and Scottish surname, variant of Lister.
* Also as an English surname, variant of Laster.
* As a Scottish and Irish surname, shortened from McLester.

A male given name transferred from the surname, of 19th century and later usage.


Sergius

A saint's name, from Latin Sergius. Doublet of Sergey.

Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 13:7:


Alucard

/ˈæləˌkɑː(ɹ)d/

(chiefly fiction) A male given name originating as a coinage, often used in Dracula or vampire-related fiction.


Aseem

Borrowed from Hindi असीम (asīm, “boundless, infinite”), from अ- (a-, “un-, not”) + सीम (sīm, “limit”). Compare सीमा (sīmā, “boundary, limit”) for second element.

com

A male given name from Hindi used in India.


Kaitlin

A female given name from Irish, one of the modern spelling variants of Caitlin.


Aaliyah

Popularized by American singer Aaliyah Haughton (1979-2001). Transliteration of Arabic عَالِيَة (ʕāliya).


Cicely

, Induction, Scene II
First Servant. - - - Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket.
Sly. Ay, the woman's maid of the house.

A female given name from Latin, a variant of Cecily and Cecilia used since the Middle Ages.


Jazmine

A female given name from Persian, variant of Jasmine.


Annabelle

A variant of Annabel, by folk etymology, "beautiful Anna".


Tiana

Modern contraction of Tatiana and Christiana. In the USA it is also explained as a form of Diana in such unrelated languages as Samoan and Cherokee (but the author Tiana Bighorse is a Navajo).

By Cherokee custom he married Tiana Rogers Gentry; within the tribe it was a real marriage, not a casual liaison. To Houston and to other whites his wife was known as Diana.

1962, Marion Karl Wisehart, Sam Houston, American Giant, R. B. Luce, page 60:


Jaylen

A male given name originating as a coinage, of modern American usage, also spelled Jalen.


Cecily

"We two," she said, "will seek the groves
Where the lady Mary is,
With her five handmaidens, whose names
Are five sweet symphonies,
Cecily, Gertrude, Magdalen,
Margaret and Rosalys.

1850, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, The Blessed Damozel:

A female given name from Latin, from the medieval vernacular form of Cecilia.


Candice

A variant of Candace associated with Late Latin candida (“whiteness”) via folk etymology.

A female given name from Ancient Greek, variant of Candace.


Jalen

A male given name originating as a coinage, of modern American usage, also spelled Jaylen.


Cara

20th-century English coinage from Italian cara (“dear”) or Irish cara (“friend”).

'Okay, Cara Burrows. Can I take a look in your bag?'
'My bag? Why?' This is getting a bit ridiculous. And he pronounced my name wrong: Carrah. Didn't even try to say it the way he heard me say it.

2017, Sophie Hannah, Did You See Melody?: The stunning page turner from the bestselling author of Haven't They Grown?, Hachette UK, →ISBN:

A female given name originating as a coinage.


Chantal

Borrowed from French Chantal in the 1960s, from the surname of a French saint Jeanne de Chantal, actually a Baroness of Chantal, a place name in France from Old Occitan cantal (“stone, moellon, rubblestone”).


Aliyah

Ultimately from Arabic عَالِيَة (ʕāliya).

A female given name from Arabic of modern American usage, a variant of Aaliyah.


Aliyah

Ultimately from Hebrew עלייה \ עֲלִיָּה (aliyá, “ascent”)

der

עלייה \ עֲלִיָּה


Gaynor

A female given name from Welsh, a variant of Welsh Gaenor or Guinevere, popular in Britain in the 1960s and 1970s.


Karla

A female given name from the Germanic languages, feminine form of Karl.


Kiana

Borrowed from Hawaiian Kiana, itself from English Diana. Also used as a modern feminine form of Kian.

A female given name from Hawaiian, of 1970s and later American usage.


Candace

From Latin Candacē, from Ancient Greek Κανδάκη (Kandákē), from Meroitic 𐦲𐦷𐦲𐦡 (kdke /kandakə/), a hereditary title of ancient queens of Napata (Northern Sudan).

and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning,

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 8:27–28:


Jasmin

He replied, what I mean is not the jasmine that people smell; but a slave girl whose name is Jasmin, whom my father would not buy for me.

1847, Edward William Lane, The Thousand and One Nights (translation from Arabic): Aladdin Abushamat:


Brennan

From Irish Ó Braonáin (“descendant of Braonán”), a diminutive of braon (“moisture, drop”). Alternatively, from Irish Ó Branáin (“descendant of Branán”), a diminutive of bran (“raven”).

bor

A male given name transferred from the surname, of mostly American usage.


Colm

From Irish Colm, from Late Latin Columba (literally “dove”), the name of a sixth century saint, one of the patron saints of Ireland and Scotland. Doublet of Calum.


Jace

A twentieth century diminutive of the male given name Jason.


Donovan

From Irish Ó Donndubháin (“descendant of (a person named) brown & black”), from donn (“brown”) and dubh (“black”).

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Garry

A male given name transferred from the surname, a mostly British variant of Gary.


Elliot

en-proper noun

Elliot (countable and uncountable, plural Elliots)

(countable) A male given name from Hebrew, a variant of Elliott.


Gregor

A male given name from Ancient Greek, a Scottish form of Gregory.


Caspar

A name given to one of the Magi in Western church tradition, from Biblical Hebrew גִּזְבָּר (gizbar), ultimately from Old Median *ganǰabarah; see it for more. Compare Hatran Aramaic 𐣢𐣦𐣡𐣣𐣩 (gzbry /Gazzabray/, “a given name”), also from Iranian.

cog

A male given name from Old Persian, more popular in the form Jasper.


Jaime

They call you "Jim", don't they?' 'No,' I replied, hiding my irritation. 'I prefer James. My father named me Jaime, but no one ever seemed to pronounce it right, so I changed it to James. Not legally,' I added.

1971, Charles Willeford, The Burnt Orange Heresy, page 220:

A male given name from Spanish from the Spanish form of James.

A few minutes later, Jaime stood and rubbed her shoulders. "You okay?" I asked. She made a noncommittal noise […]

2004, Kelley Armstrong, Industrial Magic, page 134:

A unisex given name
A female given name, variant of Jamie.

A unisex given name
Alternative form of Jamie


Becca

A diminutive of the female given name Rebecca, from Hebrew.


Catriona

A female given name from Scottish Gaelic, a Scottish form of Catherine.


Cierra

A female given name from Irish of modern American usage, variant of Ciara or Sierra.


Deanna

A female given name from Latin, a twentieth century variant of Diana, sometimes also seen as a feminine form of Dean.


Desiree

A female given name from French, anglicized from French Désirée.


Eloïse

Alternative spelling of Eloise, a female given name from French.


Amaya

Heroine of a Spanish historical novel Amaya o los vascos del siglo VIII (1877) by F. Navarro Villoslada, explained as Basque amai (“the end”).

A female given name from Spanish borrowed from Spanish in the 1990s.


Eloise

From French Éloïse, from the Medieval Latin and French forms that gave rise to its doublet Heloise.

Alternative form of Heloise, a female given name from French.


Davina

(mostly Britain) A female given name from Hebrew, a feminine form of David.


Evie

A diminutive of the female given names Eva, Eve, Evelyn, or Evangeline.


Haylee

A female given name transferred from the surname, variant of Hayley.


Isobel

A female given name from Hebrew, variant of Isabel.


Desirée

A female given name from French, variant of Désirée.


Gracie

A diminutive of the female given name Grace.


Jaclyn

A female given name from French, one of the 20th-century spelling variants of Jacqueline.


Jordyn

A female given name from Hebrew, of modern usage, variant of Jordan.

A male given name from Hebrew, a rare modern spelling variant of Jordan.


Julissa

John said Julissa used scissors to cut the tape he had placed around an electrical socket to protect the children. He thought she was trying to give the scissors to John Stephan to cause him to electrocute himself.

2016, Laura Tillman, The Long Shadow of Small Ghosts: Murder and Memory in an American City:

A female given name from Spanish recently borrowed from Spanish.


Jillian

A female given name from Latin, variant of Gillian.


Darcy

Originally from Bois-d'Arcy, Yvelines in Northern France. Related to archaic French ardre (“to burn, consume”).

A male given name transferred from the surname.

A female given name transferred from the surname, of mostly mid-20th century and later American usage.


Eveline

A female given name from the Germanic languages, variant of Evelyn.


Ernestine

A female given name from the Germanic languages, feminine form of Ernest borrowed from French.


Felicia

A female given name from Latin, feminine form of Felix.


Jada

A female given name, a 2000s variant of Jade.

(biblical) A male given name, David's second cousin five times removed according to 1 Chronicles 2.


Jada

A local government area of Adamawa State, Nigeria.


Jodie

Alternative form of Jody in its female senses.


Gianna

Borrowed from Italian Gianna and Greek Γιάννα (Giánna). Doublet of Jane.

A female given name from Italian or Greek


Janis

Variant of Janice, q.v.
Doublet of Ivana, Jana, Janice, Jean, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena.


Iva

A female given name of Slavic origin, recorded in the United States since 1900.


Gabriella

/ˌɡæbɹiˈɛlə/

A female given name from Hebrew from the Italian feminine form of Gabriel.


Gabriela

A female given name from Hebrew, a latinate feminine form of Gabriel.


Glynis

A female given name from Welsh, variant of Glenys.


Kailey

A female given name transferred from the surname, variant of Kaylee.


Kerrie

A female given name transferred from the surname, variant of Kerry.


Glenys

A twentieth century coinage from Welsh glân (“clean, holy”) + -ys.


Hollie

(rare) A male given name transferred from the surname.


Kyla

Modern invention that can be explained as a feminine form of Kyle.

A female given name originating as a coinage.


Layla

A female given name from Arabic, variant of Leila.


Keira

A modern feminine form of Kieran, from Irish ciar (“black, dark, little dark one”).


Kirsty

A female given name, Scottish diminutive of Christine.


Kaylee

Coined toward the end of the 20th century
* A combination of Kay + Lee.
* A variant of the surname Cayley or Keeley.

A female given name transferred from the surname.


Latoya

Possibly La- + Toya (“a Spanish pet form of Victoria”).

prefix

A female given name originating as a coinage, of latter 20th-century African-American usage.


Laverne

19th-century invention, possibly from the Californian town La Verne, named in the belief that it means "the green" in French. Laverne is a genuine French surname, from Gaulish la verne "the alder (tree place)" but - as in the case of Leroy - there is no apparent reason to turn it into an American given name.

(chiefly US) A female given name transferred from the surname.


Keeley

Reduced Anglicized from Irish Ó Caollaidhe (“descendant of Caollaidhe”), a personal name based on the adjective caol (“slender, graceful”).

der

A unisex given name transferred from the surname, of recent usage.


Kyra

Name of a Greek Orthodox saint, from Byzantine Greek κυρά (kurá, “lady”), or from Cyra, feminine form of Cyrus. The English name may also be a variant of Keira.


Lizbeth

A female given name from Hebrew, variant of Elizabeth.


Krystal

But when Krystal McConnell and Ashley Flynn were named deep in the heart of the '80s the thing was cuteness, feminine delicacy raised to an aesthetic paradigm. --- Krystal : light refracted through the grooves and crests of fancy cut glass, a fragility tempered with the Eastern European heartiness of an imported K.

1999, Andrew Pyper, chapter 10, in Lost Girls:

A female given name from English, a re-spelling of Crystal.


Kelli

A female given name transferred from the surname, variant of Kelly.


Lela

A female given name from Georgian ლელა (lela)

A female given name from Arabic, possibly a variant of Leila.


Louella

A nineteenth century coinage from Lou + the diminutive suffix -ella.


Lucinda

Derived from Lucia with the suffix -inda, first used by Cervantes in Don Quixote (1605).


Luella

There was only one person in the village who had actually known Luella Miller. That person was a woman well over eighty, but a marvel of vitality and unextinct youth.

1902, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, Luella Miller:

A female given name originating as a coinage, variant of Louella.


Maisie

A Scottish diminutive of the female given name Margaret.


Marjory

If Barbara Gordon was like a name from a Scottish ballad, Marjory Taylor was the kind of name he heard on the radio sometimes, in English pop songs. Jennifer Eccles. Angela Jones. Marjory Taylor.

2010, James Robertson, And the Land Lay Still, Hamish Hamilton, →ISBN, page 444:

A female given name from Ancient Greek, variant of Margery.


Imogen

First used by William Shakespeare in Cymbeline, a misprint for Innogen, from Gaelic inghean (“girl, maiden”)

Ile write to my lord ſhe's dead: O Imogen! / Safe mayſt thou wander, ſafe returne agen.

1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v], page 385, column 1:

She would have to change her own name as well, she'd never liked Tracy. Imogen or Isabel, something feminine and romantic. She supposed she didn't look like an Imogen. Imogens were middle-class Home Counties girls with long blonde hair and vaguely Bohemian mothers.

2010, Kate Atkinson, Started Early, Took My Dog, Doubleday, →ISBN, pages 83–84:

(chiefly British) A female given name from the Celtic languages.


Margie

A pet form of the female given name Margaret.


Mavis

Coined at the end of the 19th century from mavis, a poetical name for the song thrush.

"Rather an odd name, Mavis, isn't it?" I at last ventured to observe. "Yes, - but it suits her wonderfully. She sings quite as sweetly as any thrush, so she merits her designation."

1895, Marie Corelli, chapter IX, in The Sorrows of Satan:


Lacey

"Where'd you get a prissy name like Lacey from, anyway?"
"I don't know," Cash tells Alice, keeping his hands on the wheel and his eye trained ahead. "It was Alma thought of it. I think she liked the TV show with the lady cops. Lacey and somebody."

1993, Barbara Kingsolver, Pigs in Heaven, →ISBN, page 322:

A unisex given name transferred from the surname

A male given name transferred from the surname, of mostly 19th century usage.

Lacey Thrush died last night. Isn't that a name? Her mother was a Lacey. They were an old family here, but she was the last of the Laceys, and the Thrushes went on to California.

2009, Marilynne Robinson, Gilead: Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Hachette UK, →ISBN:

A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage.

A township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States.


Lorna

Coined by English novelist R. D. Blackmore in 1869. Invented by R. D. Blackmore for his novel Lorna Doone, possibly from the Scottish place name Lorn(e) in Argyll.

coin

"Lorna Doone," she answered in a low voice as if afraid of it, and hanging her head, so that I could see only her forehead and eyelashes; "if you please, my name is Lorna Doone; and I thought you must have known it."

1869, Richard Doddridge Blackmore, chapter 8, in Lorna Doone:

A female given name from Scottish Gaelic of mostly Scottish usage.


Kaye

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Janine

From French Janine and Jeannine under influence from Jane, from Jeanne + -ine, q.v.
Doublet of Ivanka, Jan, Janelle, Janet, Janey, Jeanette, Jeanie, Jeannette, Jeannine, Jen, Jenna, Jenny, Jessie, Jo, Jody, Juanita, Shanae, Sinead, and Vanna.


Lilly

A diminutive of the female given names Lillian or Lilian, from Latin.

A diminutive of the female given names Elizabeth or Elisabeth, from Ancient Greek.

A surname transferred from the given name, based on the given name

A surname transferred from the place name, variant of Lilley, from the English place name Lilley.


Lucile

A female given name from Latin, variant of Lucille.


Laverna

(chiefly US) A female given name from Latin, probably a latinized version of the earlier and much more popular Laverne.


Hermione

From the Ancient Greek Ἑρμῐόνη (Hermiónē). Not related to German Hermine.

Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, King of Sicilia, thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason

c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

“Are you sure that’s a real spell?” said the girl. “Well, it’s not very good, is it? I’ve tried a few simple spells just for practise and it’s all worked for me… I’m Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?”

1997, J. K. Rowling, “The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters”, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, pages 105–106:


Karin

From Swedish Karin or Danish Karin, a medieval form of Katarina, ultimately from Ancient Greek Αἰκατερῑ́νη (Aikaterī́nē). See also Karen.

A female given name from Danish [in turn from Ancient Greek Αἰκατερῑ́νη (Aikaterī́nē)], variant of Karen.

Karin

female given name from a Swedish form of Catherine


Elena

From Italian and Spanish Elena, cognate to English Helen.

A female given name from Italian, Spanish, or Ancient Greek.


Juliana

A female given name from Latin, Latin feminine form of Julianus, derivative of Julius.


Mariana

Latinized form of Marian, ultimately from Mary or Mary + Ann. It is also the feminine form of Latin Mariānus, derivative of Marius, but these rather rare Roman names have been completely intertwined with Maria in the Christian era.


Davey

Worse, if your name is Dave, the only possible nickname is "Davey", which makes you sound like you should be wearing a coonskin cap.

1994, Caroline Knapp, The Merry Recluse: A Life in Essays, Counterpoint Press, published 2004, →ISBN, page 170:

A diminutive of the male given name David.


Laila

Variant of Leila and Layla, from Arabic لَيْلَى (laylā), related to لَيْلَة (layla, “night”).

“Laila it is,” Fariba said, smiling tiredly. “Night Beauty. It’s perfect.”

2007, Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns, BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING (2018), page 101:

A female given name from Arabic, variant of Leila.


Leila

From Arabic لَيْلَى (laylā). Taken into English usage through nineteenth-century literature.

Oh! who young Leila’s glance could read / And keep that portion of his creed / Which saith, that woman is but dust, / A soulless toy for tyrant's lust?

1813, Lord Byron, The Giaour, a Fragment of a Turkish Tale, London: […] T[homas] Davison, […], for John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 12:

"Leila!" she said enigmatically. "Have you seen her?" / "I went to her flat last week with Dad—he likes her." / "Delilah is her real name, you know. All men like her. And Captain Fort is her lover."

1919 October, John Galsworthy, chapter I, in Saint’s Progress, London: William Heinemann, published December 1919, →OCLC, part III, 1 §, page 220:


Madelyn

A female given name from French, variant of Madeline.


Makenzie

A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1990s and later usage, variant of MacKenzie.


Marisa

A female given name from Spanish, variant of Marissa.


Makenna

A variant of McKenna invented in the 1980s.

A female given name transferred from the surname.


Maddison

en-proper noun

Maddison (countable and uncountable, plural Maddisons)

From Madde (a medieval diminutive of Maud and Magdalene) + -son.

A female given name transferred from the surname, of mostly British usage, variant of Madison.

A male given name transferred from the surname, less common than the female name today.


McKenna

From the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, variant of McKinney.

A female given name transferred from the surname, of mostly American usage.


Maxine

From Max + -ine. An English feminine form of Max coined at the end of the nineteenth century.

Her real name suggested a second runner-up for a Junior Miss pageant, or maybe a budding actress whose real name is Wanda Maxine Smith.

1986, Sue Grafton, C is for Corpse, St. Martin's Press, published 2005, →ISBN, page 153:


Mariah

A female given name from Hebrew, variant of Maria used since the nineteenth century. Popularized by singer Mariah Carey in the 1990s


Misty

From the adjective misty, but sometimes also (like Missy) used as a nickname for Melissa.

A female given name from English, reasonably popular in the 1970s and the 1980s.


Nichola

A female given name from Ancient Greek, variant of Nicola.


Macy

Norman baronial surname from places named Massy in France, derived from a Gallo-Roman personal name Maccius.


Millicent

From the Old French Melisende, from Old High German Amalasuntha, Amalaswintha, from the Proto-Germanic roots *amalaz, *am- (“to urge; drive; press”) + *swinþaz (“strong”).

A female given name from the Germanic languages used since the Middle Ages.


Pavel

Па́вел Павел#Russian

A transliteration of the Russian male given name Па́вел (Pável).


Monique

A female given name from French equivalent to Monica.


McKenzie

A female given name transferred from the surname, variant of MacKenzie.


Mayme

A 19th-century alternative spelling of Mamie, diminutive of the female given name Mary.


Nikita

From the Russian Ники́та (Nikíta), a male given name, from Ancient Greek Νικήτας (Nikḗtas, “conqueror”) also a male given name (and name of various saints). The Greek word derives from νῑ́κη (nī́kē, “victory”). Made known in the West by Nikita Khrushchev, Soviet Union leader in 1953–1964. It was reanalyzed as a form of Nicholas and taken up as a girls' name first in French and then in English.

der

Ники́та Никита#Russian

A male given name from Russian, from Russian Ники́та (Nikíta).

Ники́та Никита#Russian

A transliteration of the Russian male given name Ники́та (Nikíta).


Myra

First used by the poet Fulke Greville, possibly as an anagram of Mary.

My Saint is dear to me, / Myra herself is she, / She fair and true. / Myra that knows to move / Passions of love with love: / Fortune, Adieu.

1633, Fulke Greville, Cælica, Sonnet XXVIII:

A female given name originating as a coinage.


Nadine

A female given name from French, a French diminutive form of Nadia.


Ollie

From Germanic, from Latin olivarius (“olive tree”) (from oliva (“olive”)), and from Welsh.

A diminutive of the male given name Oliver, from French [in turn from Latin, in turn from Germanic]

A diminutive of the female given names Olivia or Olive, from Latin [in turn from Etruscan, in turn from Greek]

A diminutive of the female given name Olwen, from Welsh

To my surprise and pleasure, it was Olwen that Esme chose to use when speaking of, and to, the baby - though she showed an unhappy tendency to shorten it to Ollie, in spite of my protests that this brought to mind not a stately princess, but the fat man in the Laurel and Hardy comedy series.

1994, Robertson Davies, The Cunning Man, Viking, published 1995, →ISBN, page 429:


Rylee

A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage, variant of Riley.

A male given name transferred from the surname, also a modern spelling of Riley.


Natalia

Latin natale (“birthday (of the Lord)”), referring to birth on Christmas Day, name of an early martyr.

A female given name from Latin, today more common in the French style form Natalie.


Muriel

/ˈmjʊəɹɪ.əl/

Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Muireall, from muir (“sea”), from Old Irish muir, from Proto-Celtic *mori, from Proto-Indo-European *móri; + geal (“white, bright”), from Old Irish gel, from Proto-Celtic *gelos, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₂- (“to shine”).

She was named Muriel — after the rather peculiar name of John's mother. Her own mother would have it so; only wishing out of her full heart, happy one! that there should be a slight alteration made in the second name. Therefore the baby was called Muriel Joy — Muriel Joy Halifax.

1857, Dinah Craik, chapter XXI, in John Halifax, Gentleman:

Funny sort of name. Who would think of calling a little newborn baby Muriel?

1985, Anne Tyler, The Accidental Tourist, →ISBN, page 198:

A female given name from Scottish Gaelic of mostly British usage.


Rosalie

French form of the Latin saints' name Rosalia, derived from rosa (“rose”).

"I'm crazy about things that sound French - I guess you can tell from we naming my daughter Rosalie," she said.

1995, Anne Tyler, Ladder of Years, Knopf, →ISBN:


Mya

A modern phonetic spelling of Maia or Maya.


Patti

A mid-20th-century spelling of Patty, a diminutive of the female given name Patricia.


Nadia

Originally the French spelling of На́дя (Nádja), an informal Russian pet form of the virtue name Наде́жда (Nadéžda, “Nadezhda, Nadyezhda”, literally “Hope”), from наде́жда (nadéžda, “hope”), entered as a translation of the Ancient Greek word from ἐλπίς (elpís, “hope”) with the same meaning. See also Ἐλπίς (Elpís, “Elpis”).

A female given name from Russian used since the twentieth century.


Leanne

A female given name originating as a coinage, variant of Lee Ann.


Roisin

A female given name from Irish, anglicized form of Róisín, an Irish diminutive of Rose.


Payton

Habitational surname from a minor place in Sussex, from the Old English personal name Pǣga + tūn (“enclosure; settlement, town”).

A habitational surname from Old English.

A male given name transferred from the surname.

A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage.


Rosamond

"I am quite aware," she added, "that we shall be in a certain sense gambling with a conscipious, individualizing name, for she may grow up commonplace-looking or a fright; but we must take some chances in life, mustn't we, Fred?"
"Either Rosamond, Eleanor, or Guendolen is appropriate for a beauty," said I, with non-committal subserviency,

1892, Robert Grant, The Reflections of a Married Man, Scribner, page 101:

A female given name from the Germanic languages, variant of Rosamund.


Peyton

A male given name transferred from the surname.

A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage.

(uncountable) A placename, from the surname:

A census-designated place in El Paso County, Colorado, United States.

An unincorporated community in Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States.


Deepak

Borrowed from Hindi दीपक (dīpak), meaning a part of a flame, or someone who enlightens everyone's heart with hope.

A male given name from Hindi used in India.


Rosina

An Italian pet form of Rosa borrowed in the nineteenth century, particularly from the character in Rossini's opera The Barber of Seville (1816).


Rosalind

From Proto-Germanic *hrussą (“horse”) and *linþaz (“soft; weak, tender”), associated by medieval folk etymology with Latin rosa linda "lovely rose".

Jaques. Rosalind is your love's name?
Orlando. Yes, just.
Jaques. I do not like her name.
Orlando. There was no thought of pleasing you when she was christened.

c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

A female given name from the Germanic languages.


Rhoda

From Ancient Greek Ῥόδη (Rhódē, “woman from Rhodes”) or ῥόδον (rhódon, “rose”).

And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 12:13-14:

'One little girl. Her name is Rhoda.'
'What? Roader?' The others all looked suspicious of a name nobody had ever heard.
'It's in the Bible,' he said.

1970, Patrick White, The Vivisector, Viking Press, page 13:


Scarlett

'There now, Scarlett! You admit it is true. What would you be doing with a husband like Ashley? 'Tis moonstruck they all are, all the Wilkes.'

1936 June 30, Margaret Mitchell, chapter III, in Gone with the Wind, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC; republished New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, 1944, →OCLC:

A female given name transferred from the surname, of general post-1936 usage.


Shelly

A surname from Old English, variant of Shelley.

A male given name transferred from the surname, of mostly pre-1930 usage.

A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1930s and later usage, variant of Shelley.


Shauna

From Shaun + -a, variant of Irish Seán, from Old French Jehan, from Latin Johannes, variant of Ioannes, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (Yōḥānān, literally “God is gracious”). Doublet of Ivana, Jana, Jane, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, and Sheena.

doublet

A female given name from Irish, a modern feminine of Shaun (“Sean”).


Shari

A diminutive of the female given name Sharon, variant of Sherry


Sheryl

A female given name originating as a coinage, variant of Cheryl or Shirley.


Skylar

Phonetic spelling of Schuyler used since the 1980s.

A unisex given name transferred from the surname.


Stacie

A unisex given name from Ancient Greek, variant of Stacey.


Skyler

Phonetic spelling of Schuyler, used since the 1980s.

It is a catchy name isn't it? Skyler: sky. A name specifically chosen by my father, who'd expected great things from me, his firstborn child, and male. A name, my father Bix Rampike believed, to set its bearer apart from the merely commonplace.

2008, Joyce Carol Oates, My Sister, My Love, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 4:

A female given name transferred from the surname.


Susannah

And trust me, Susy, added the corporal, turning to Susannah, whose eyes were swimming with water, before that time comes round again, a bright eye will be dim.

1765, Laurence Sterne, chapter VIII, in Tristram Shandy:

Had she changed the baby's name? They had decided to call her Susannah for no very clear reason; they had both liked it, and it seemed to fit the crumpled little face.

1985, Margaret Yorke, Intimate Kill, page 54:

A female given name from Hebrew, variant of Susanna.


Sheena

Anglicization of Scottish Gaelic Sìne and Síne, ultimately from Latin Joanna, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān) which produced John and its many doublets.
Doublet of Ivana, Jana, Jane, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, and Shauna.

doublet

I imagined her tall, horsy and thirty-something with a name like Sheena. There had been a time when I had regarded Sheenas as the backbone of England.

1995, John le Carré, Our Game, Knopf, published 1995, →ISBN, page 30:

A female given name from Scottish Gaelic.


Sabrina

A female given name from the Celtic languages, in regular but quiet use after the release of the film Sabrina (1954).


Schuyler

Dutch surname "scholar, student", from German Schüler; brought to America by seventeenth-century Dutch immigrants.

A male given name transferred from the surname, of 19th century and later usage.

A city, the county seat of Colfax County, Nebraska, United States.


Skye

Derived from Scottish Gaelic An t-Eilean Sgitheanach, of long disputed (probably non-Indo-European substrate) origin, with several theories proposed and none widely accepted; see Etymology of Skye.

A female given name transferred from the place name, of modern usage, or a fanciful spelling of the word sky.


Selena

Either a variant of Selina, from Latin Caelīna (“heavenly”, from caelum (“sky, heaven”)), or from Selene, the Ancient Greek goddess of the moon.

der

from <i class="Latn mention" lang="la">caelum</i> (“sky, heaven”)

I promised Selena — her full name I ascertained in due course was Selena Judith Hephzibah — that I would. I would have promised her anything.

1893, William Wallace, After the Revolution: And Other Holiday Fantasies, W. Hodge, →ISBN, page 163:

I have a younger sister, Jessica, who insists that everyone call her Selena because she feels the pain of the murdered Latin American rock star, and who just dropped out of school for the second time.

2004, D. L. Lepidus, The Best Men's Stage Monologues of 2003, Smith and Kraus, →ISBN, page 27:


Susanne

A female given name from German [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], variant of Susan.


Abhishikt

From Sanskrit अभिषिक्त (abhiṣikta, “a person on whom the ceremony of Abhisheka has performed”).

(rare) A male given name from Sanskrit, of Indian usage.


Lacy

A unisex given name transferred from the surname, variant of Lacey

A male given name transferred from the surname, of mostly 19th century usage, variant of Lacey.

Caught a glimpse of Lacy squatted like she was pissing […].

2022, Sean Thor Conroe, Fuccboi, Hachette, →ISBN:

A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage, variant of Lacey.


Tayla

A female given name, a 1990s invention based on Taylor.


Tammie

A female given name, a spelling variant of Tammy.


Tamsin

Medieval contraction of Thomasina, a feminine form of Thomas, revived in the UK in the twentieth century.


Tricia

A diminutive of the female given name Patricia.


Velma

Coined at the end of the 19th century, by analogy with Thelma and Wilma.

A female given name originating as a coinage


Ulrica

A feminine form of the male given name Ulric (modern German Ulrich), Germanic for "ruler of all" or "wolf[like] ruler".

Farewell, Front-de-Boeuf! — May Mista, Skogula, and Zernebock, gods of the ancient Saxons – fiends, as the priests now call them – supply the place of comforters at your dying bed, which Ulrica now relinquishes!

1819, Walter Scott, chapter XXX, in Ivanhoe:

"Forever is a word forbidden to men," asserted Ulrica and, to lighten the emphasis, she asked me to repeat my name, which she had not caught. "Javier Otárola," I told her. She tried to repeat it and couldn't. I failed, equally, with the name Ulrikke.

1975, Jorge Luis Borges, “Ulrica”, in The Book of Sand:

A female given name from the Germanic languages, rare in English.


Zoey

A female given name from Ancient Greek, a phonetic spelling of Zoë.


Tonia

A short form of the female given name Antonia.


Zara

A 20th-century variant of Sarah, or explained as Arabic زَهْرَة (zahra, “flower”); given to the daughter of Princess Anne in 1981.

A female given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], variant of Sarah

A female given name
A female given name from Arabic


Verna

Coined in the 19th century, from Latin vernus (“spring-like”) or as a feminine of Vernon.

I dislike peppermint flavouring to this day. And the name Verna — I dislike that. It doesn't sound like spring to me, or like green grass or garlands of flowers or girls in flimsy dresses. It sounds more like a trail of obstinate peppermint, […]

2009, Alice Munro, Too Much Happiness, Chatto & Windus, →ISBN, page 196:


Veronica

From the Latin form of Berenice, from Ancient Greek Φερενίκη (Phereníkē). Influenced by the Church Latin phrase vera icon ("true image") associated with the veil of Saint Veronica, who wiped the face of Jesus on the way to Calvary, resulting in an image of his face miraculously appearing on the veil. Doublet of Berenice.

My own name, Veronica — an ugly enough thing I had always thought, it sounded like either the ointment or the disease — was one her great favourites. St Veronica wiped the face of Christ on the road to Calvary and He left His face on her tea towel. Or the picture of His face. It was the first-ever photograph, she said.

2007, Anne Enright, The Gathering, Jonathan Cape, →ISBN, page 128:


Brooklynn

A female given name transferred from the place name, variant of Brooklyn.


Chauncey

From the Norman name based on several locations in France called Chancé. See Old French chance.

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Kian

A male given name from Irish, anglicized spelling of Cian.


Killian

An anglicized spelling of Irish Cillian.


Cedric

→ Finnish: Sedrik

→ French: Cédric m

→ French: Cédrika f

Invented by Walter Scott for Ivanhoe, possibly misread for Cerdic, name of a Saxon king, anglicized from Welsh caredig (“beloved”), in which case a doublet of Caradoc, Caradog, Caratacus, Craddock, Cradock, McCarthy, and McCarty. Alternatively Scott based Cedric on the Welsh name Cedrych (“spectacular bounty”).

dbt

In a hall, the height of which was greatly disproportioned to its extreme length and width, a long oaken table, formed of planks rough-hewn from the forest, and which had scarcely received any polish, stood ready prepared for the evening meal of Cedric the Saxon.

"It's Cedric Errol, Lord Fauntleroy," answered Cedric. "That's what Mr. Havisham called me. - - -

1886, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Chapter 2:


Flynn

Anglicized from Irish Ó Floinn, "descendant of Flann (red)".


Chance

en-proper noun

Chance (countable and uncountable, plural Chances)

A male given name from English, an American pet form of Chauncey, in modern usage also associated with the word chance.


Jaxon

en:Jaxon (disambiguation)
en:Jaxon (name)

A male given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage, variant of Jackson.


Esmé

First recorded as a male given name in Scotland in the sixteenth century, probably from French esmé (“esteemed”), or confused with Aimé / Aimée.

unk

probably

A female given name from French, simplified spelling of the feminine form Esmée


Grayson

en-proper noun

Grayson (countable and uncountable, plural Graysons)

From Middle English greyve (“steward”) + -son.


Esme

A unisex given name from French
A male given name from French.

A unisex given name from French
A female given name from French.


Esme

A diminutive of the female given name Esmeralda


Colby

Colby (countable and uncountable, plural Colbys)

From either the Old Norse personal name Koli or kol (“charcoal”) + býr (“settlement”).


Ivor

→ Welsh: Ifor

Medieval form of Old Norse Ívarr. Doublet of Igor.

I'd weave through the throng — scanning for empties to return while flirting, sniffing out kids smoking grass and sharing smokes with Ivor and Carl on the door. With a name like Carl you can imagine a six-foot tall and wide bouncer, but Ivor...I couldn't but help to think of the name as belonging to a skinny Welshman getting sand kicked into his face. His name didn't do him justice — this guy was almost as big as Carl and probably faster with his fists.

2004, David W. Scott, The Disillusioned:A Story of Our Times, Fraser Books, →ISBN, page 204:


Granville

The commune of France is from Old French Granville, Grandvilla, Grande Villa, Grandivilla, from grant (“grand”) + ville (“settlement”). The surname is of Norman baronial origin, from Grainville, a former commune in Normandy, from the given name Guarin + ville, meaning “Guarin's town”. Guarin ultimately derives from Proto-Germanic *warduz (“guard”).


Landon

Place names in England, from Old English lang (“long”) + dūn (“hill”).


Lonnie

(US) A pet form of the male given name Alonzo.


Keegan

Borrowed from Irish Mac Aodhagáin (“son of Aidan”).

bor+

A unisex given name transferred from the surname.


Mathew

A male given name from Hebrew, of occasional usage, variant of Matthew.


Lachlan

en-proper noun

Lachlan (countable and uncountable, plural Lachlans)

From Scottish Gaelic Lachlann, Lochlann (“land of the lochs, loch or fjord land, i.e. Scandinavia”), said to refer to an immigrant from Norway, a Norseman.

(countable) A male given name from Scottish Gaelic mainly used in Scotland, recently also popular in Australia.


Kendall

From the placename Kendal in Cumbria, "valley of the river Kent", and Kendale in Humberside, from Old Norse kelda (“spring”) + dalr (“valley”).

A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage.

Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County#English

A number of places in the United States:

A census-designated place in Miami-Dade County, Florida.


Leigh

A unisex given name transferred from the surname.

(UK) A female given name, female equivalent of Lee.


Nelson

Nelson (countable and uncountable, plural Nelsons)

From Middle English Neil + -son and Nell + -son.
* In the United States, also an Anglicisation of North Germanic (Scandinavian) surnames such as Nilsen, Nielsen, and Nilsson, equivalent to "son of Nicholas".

Africans of my generation - and even today - generally have both a Western and an African name. Whites were either unable or unwilling to pronounce an African name, and considered it uncivilized to have one. That day, Miss Mdingane told me that my new name was Nelson. Why she bestowed this particular name upon me I have no idea. Perhaps it had something to do with the great British sea captain Lord Nelson, but that would only be a guess.

1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom:


Nolan

Anglicized from Irish Ó Nualláin (literally “descendant of Nuallán”), diminutive of nuall (“chariot-fighter, champion”).


Orville

Invented by Fanny Burney for the hero of her novel Evelina. It has been suggested that it is based on the very old Welsh forename of Eurfyl, meaning 'gold'.

I saw that the rank of Lord Orville was his least recommendation, his understanding and his manners being far more distinguished.

1778, Fanny Burney, Evelina, Derby & Jackson, published 1857, page 38:

Orville Wright was born in 1871. Milton and Susan selected the names of their offspring with great care and considered middle names unnecessary.

1998, Fred Howard, Wilbur and Orville: A Biography of the Wright Brothers, Courier Dover, →ISBN, page 4:

A male given name originating as a coinage.


Rian

A male given name transferred from the surname, of modern Irish usage, variant of Ryan.


Rees

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Rhys

From Welsh Rhys; related to Price, Reece, Rees, Reese, and Rice.


Regan

A female given name transferred from the surname or from the name of the evil daughter of King Lear. William Shakespeare may have got the name from the ultimately same Irish source.

A minor city in Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States.


Reese

A male given name from Welsh, derived from the surname or directly from Rhys.

A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1980s and later American usage.


Rickey

A variant of Ricky, diminutive of the male given name Richard.


Ronan

He'd said that his mother was from Ireland, that he had been born there but came to England when he was just a little boy, he had changed his name from Ronan to Robert, to fit in, and she'd said, fancy that.

2013, Maggie O'Farrell, Instructions for a Heatwave, Tinder Press, →ISBN, page 188:


Rory

Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh and Irish Ruairí (“red-haired king”), from Old Irish Ruaidrí (“red king”).

A unisex given name
A male given name from Irish


Otis

A patronymic surname derived from Middle English genitive case of the Germanic given name Ote, Ode, cognate to modern Otto.

[…] in a world of mandatory diminutives, a corporation of jolly Bills and Jacks and Herbs and Teds in which an unabbreviable given name like Earl must have been a minor handicap, "Oat" was the best that could be done for a man with the given name of Otis.

1961, Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road, Vintage Contemporaries, published 2000, →ISBN, page 74:

(chiefly US) A male given name from the Germanic languages, transferred from the surname.


Reagan

Audio (US)

Anglicized from Irish Gaelic Ó Riagáin "descendant of Riagán", a personal name possibly derived from ríodhgach "impulsive, furious".

Of the administration of Ronald Reagan, U.S. President from 1981–1989.

A male given name transferred from the surname, of occasional usage.

A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1970s and later American usage.


Dione

en-proper noun

Dione (countable and uncountable, plural Diones)

From Latin Diōnē (“of Jupiter”), from Ancient Greek Διώνη (Diṓnē, “of Zeus”).


Apostle

Απόστολος Απόστολος#Greek

A transliteration of the Greek male given name Απόστολος (Apóstolos). A rare transcription; usually transliterated as Apostolos.


Syd

Syd (countable and uncountable, plural Syds)

(countable) A diminutive of the unisex given name Sydney.


Vic

A diminutive of the male given name Victor

A diminutive of the female given name Victoria


Terrance

A male given name from Latin, variant of Terence.


Woodrow

(US) A male given name transferred from the surname, given in the 1910s in honor of President Woodrow Wilson.


Wilbur

From an Old English female given name Wilburg, from wil (“will”) + burh (“fortress”).

(chiefly US) A male given name transferred from the surname.


Ryder

Ryder (countable and uncountable, plural Ryders)

(countable) A male given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage.


Zackary

A male given name from Hebrew, of occasional usage, variant of Zachary.


Kyler

An American anglicization of Dutch Cuyler "archer" and German Keiler "wild boar".
* The surname is quite rare. The given name may be a recent coinage based on Kyle and Tyler.

A male given name transferred from the surname, of 1980s and later usage.

A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1990s and later usage.


Declan

From Old Irish Declán, whence the modern Irish equivalent Deaglán.

A male given name from Old Irish, borne notably by Declán of Ardmore


Wyatt

Ultimately from the Old English personal name Wigheard, from wīg (“war”) + heard (“hard, brave”), later also used as a Middle English diminutive of the names Guy and William.

A male given name from the Germanic languages, modern transferred use of the surname.


Willard

From Old English wil (“will”) + heard (“brave, strong”).

The date on the document corresponded to Bill's date of birth, which Scott had seen many times on records and forms, and the name of the child was Willard Skansey Jr. - - - A bank robber's name. Or a tough welterweight of the 1930s with his hair parted in the middle. A bank robber lying low between jobs.

1991, Don DeLillo, Mao II, Viking, →ISBN, page 144:

A male given name from Old English of mostly American usage. Partly transferred back from the surname.


Delaney

From a Norman baronial surname, from a place in France, Old French del aunaie (“from the alder grove”). In Ireland an anglicization of Irish Ó Dubhshláine (descendant of Black (dubh) + Challenge (slán)).

A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage.

An unincorporated community in Madison County, Arkansas, United States.

An unincorporated community in Wood County, West Virginia, United States.


Lennon

From Irish Ó Leannáin (“descendant of Lover (Leannán)”) and from Ó Lonáin (“descendant of Blackbird (Lonán)”).

der

descendant of Lover (<i class="Latn mention" lang="ga">Leannán</i>)


Brenden

A male given name from Irish, of occasional usage, variant of Brendan.


Cecelia

A female given name from Latin, variant of Cecilia.


Oren

A male given name from Hebrew, probably from the Bible (1 Chronicles 2:25), Hebrew "pine tree".


Malinda

Variant of Melinda, used since the eighteenth century.

A female given name originating as a coinage, variant of Melinda.


Orin

A male given name from Irish of obscure origin, possibly a variant of Oren or Oran.


Asif

From Hebrew אסף (asef, “to gather”); or Persian, Urdu آصف (āsaf, “name of Solomon's vizier”).


Malik

From Arabic مَالِك (mālik) and مَلِك (malik, “Leader”).


Iona

Probably a misreading of Latin Ioua, an attempt to Latinize Old Irish Í.

Skye

other given names derived from Scottish islands

A female given name transferred from the place name, of mostly Scottish usage.


Esmeralda

/ɛzməˈɹɑːldə/

/ɛzməˈɹɛldə/

From Spanish esmeralda (“emerald”), as first used in the novel Notre-Dame de Paris (1831) by Victor Hugo.


Asa

en-proper noun

Asa (countable and uncountable, plural Asas)

Via Late Latin Asa from Koine Greek Ἀσά (Asá) from Biblical Hebrew אָסָא (ʾĀsāʾ), from Aramaic אָסְיָא (ʾāsyā, “physician, doctor, healer”), from Akkadian 𒀀𒍪 (A.ZU /asû/) from Sumerian 𒀀𒍪 (A.ZU /azu/, “physician, healer”); compare Classical Syriac ܐܵܣܝܵܐ (ʾāsyā, “healer, physician, medical doctor”) whence Arabic آسٍ (ʔāsin).

cog

A male given name from Hebrew first used by Puritans.


Giselle

"Giselle? That's not the name on the documents — "
"Oh no." Bob gave her a sad smile. "Her real name was Staci, but she once studied ballet, and Jeb thought she was so graceful, with her big brown eyes. Like Bambi. So the pet name went from Gazelle to Giselle. Giselle is a famous ballet," he added, in case A. P. Hill were culturally challenged.

1995, Sharyn McCrumb, If I'd Killed Him When I Met Him, page 85:


Isla

A female given name transferred from the place name. Coined in the twentieth century from an archaic spelling of Islay, an island in the Hebrides.


Braeden

A male given name transferred from the surname, of somewhat uncommon usage, variant of Braden.


Rylan

Possibly a variant of Ryland, meaning "rye field" and from Old English.

A unisex given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage.


Glenna

From male given name Glen, from Scottish glen (“secluded valley”).

A female given name originating as a coinage, in quiet use since the 19th century.


Yannick

From French Yannick, from Breton Yannig.


Adria

From Latin Adria, Hadria. Compare Adriatic.


Fitz

en-proper noun

Fitz (countable and uncountable, plural Fitzs or Fitzes)


Katia

A female given name from Russian, variant of Katya.


Katya

Transliteration of Russian Ка́тя (Kátja), diminutive of Екатери́на (Jekaterína).

translit

A female given name from Russian, equivalent to English Kate.


Branden

A male given name transferred from the surname, of rather rare usage, variant of Brandon.


Maruthini

Borrowed from Tamil மருதம் (marutam) refers to all land used towards agricultural cultivation in the Tamil heartland in South India, signifying the enchanting princess of the traditional Tamil fertile land called Marutham from the Sangam literature landscape.

A female given name from India, of South Indian usage.


Gabriele

A male given name from Italian, equivalent to English Gabriel.


Marita

Borrowed in the late 19th century from Norwegian Marita. By folk etymology, explained as a Spanish diminutive of Maria, by analogy with Anita.

A female given name from Ancient Greek occasionally used in English.


Jana

From Czech Jana, ultimately from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān) which produced John and its many doublets. As a placeholder name, cf. similar use of John and Jack and earlier use of Joan in the same role.
Doublet of Ivana, Jane, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena.


Darian

A 20th-century invention, possibly based on Darius or Dorian.

A unisex given name originating as a coinage.


Ebenezer

From Hebrew אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר (éven ha`ézer, “stone of help”).

der

אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר

"I have none to give," the Ghost replied. "It comes from other regions, Ebenezer Scrooge, and is conveyed by other ministers, to other kinds of men."

1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “(please specify the page number)”, in A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC:

A male given name from Hebrew taken up by Puritans in the 17th century.


Gitte

A diminutive of the female given name Birgitte, from Danish.


Birgitte

Borrowed from Danish Birgitte and Norwegian Birgitte.

A female given name from Danish or Norwegian, equivalent to English Bridget.


Rehoboam

After Rehoboam, Judean king, the name of which in Biblical Hebrew was רְחַבְעָם (Rəḥaḇʿām)

A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin, in rare use.


Greta

From German and Swedish Greta, a contraction of Margareta.


Marthe

Borrowed from French Marthe and Norwegian Marthe.

A female given name from French or Norwegian, equivalent to English Martha.


Elspeth

A female given name from Hebrew, a Scottish variant of Elizabeth.


Lise

From the French, and possible also from Scandinavian, Lise. Variant of more common English Lisa.

The urge to tell Lise everything was almost overpowering.

2013, Allison Amend, A Nearly Perfect Copy:

Then I smelled something funny. “Do you guys smell that?” “No. What do you smell?” said Lise. “I think I smell smoke.”

Lisa said, “This is gonna be the best birthday breakfast Mom ever had.” And Bart earnestly replied, “Hey, Lise, you think that's enough for her?”

2001, J. Alison Bryant, Television and the American Family:

A diminutive of the female given name Lisa


Elsa

From German Elsa, contraction of Elisabeth, occasionally used in English after its appearance in Wagner's opera Lohengrin (1847).

A friend that I envied — it was the same friend who had benefited from admiring Cosette's jewelry, a girl whose name was Elsa and whom naturally we called Lioness —

1988, Barbara Vine, The House of Stairs, Onyx, published 1990, →ISBN, page 35:

Do you remember the wave of Elsas that arrived shortly after the release of Frozen at the end of 2013? It became one the fastest-climbing names of the following year before dropping back, and then had another (smaller) spike in 2019 when Frozen II came out.

2022, Eleanor Turner, “On-screen inspo”, in Baby Names 2023, White Ladder, Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN, part one (Naming your baby):

A female given name from German or Hebrew.


Salvatore

Borrowed from Italian Salvatore. Doublet of Salvador.


Isabell

A female given name from Hebrew, a less common spelling of Isabel or Isabelle.


Rie

* Japanese りえ (Rie), a given name with numerous possible original kanji.
* Danish Rie
* Dutch Rie

A female given name
A female given name from Japanese

A female given name
A female given name from Dutch

A female given name
A female given name from Danish


Yatish

"Yatish" means "master of all saints" according to Hindu books.


Balthazar

/ˈbælθəˌzɔɹ/

From Middle English Balthasar, from Latin Baltassar, from Ancient Greek Βαλτασαρ (Baltasar), from Hebrew בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר (bēlšaṣṣar), attested in the Tanakh and the Old Testament (Daniel 5:1), from Akkadian 𒂗𒈗𒋀 (bēl-šarra-uṣṣur, literally “May Bel protect the king”). Doublet of Belshazzar.

בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר

Hebrew בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר (bēlšaṣṣar)


Helene

en-proper noun

Helene (countable and uncountable, plural Helenes)

From French Hélène and from German Helene. Doublet of Helen, Helena, and Elaine.

She lost only one battle - the pronunciation of her name. The people in Bottom refused to say Helene. They called her Helen Wright and left it at that.

1973, Toni Morrison, Sula, Penguin, published 1973, →ISBN, page 18:


Ronja

A female given name from Swedish, variant of Ronia

A female given name from Russian, variant of Ronia


Ilona

From Hungarian Ilona. A rare variant of Helen or Helena.


Johanne

A female given name from Hebrew occasionally used in English.


Cormac

Borrowed from Irish, from Old Irish Cormac.


Viv

A diminutive of the unisex given name Vivian.


Frederica

And there was the basic yet awful matter of my name, Frederica Hatch, due to the unfortunate coincidence of a maternal grandmother named Frieda, who died six weeks before I was born, and a favorite paternal great-uncle Frederic, who'd been a Freedom Rider at eighty. - - - When I asked if an accidental boy would have been Frederic, they said no. It was Frederica they loved.

2007, Elinor Lipman, My Latest Grievance, →ISBN, page 16:

A female given name from the Germanic languages, feminine form of Frederick. Quite rare in English.


Lauri

A less common spelling of Laurie, a diminutive of the female given name Laura.


Mika

* (Japanese given name): Borrowed from Japanese みか (Mika).
* (Hebrew given name): From Hebrew מִיכָה (mīḵāh)

A unisex given name
A female given name from Japanese.

A unisex given name from Hebrew, variant of Micah


Morten

A male given name, of Danish and Norwegian origin.


Ellery

An English surname transferred from the given name, variant of Hilary or Eulalie.

A male given name transferred from the surname.

Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County#English

A town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States.

An unincorporated community in Edwards County and Wayne County, Illinois, United States.


Christiana

Christiana (countable and uncountable, plural Christianas)

A medieval literate form of the female name Christian.


Asya

From Russian Ася (Asja), informal pet form of Анастасия (Anastasija, “Ann”)).

A female given name from Russian of modern usage.


Algernon

From Old French als gernons (“having mustaches”), from als (contraction of a and les) + gernon, variant of grenon (“mustache”), from Vulgar Latin *granonem (“facial hair, mustache”), from Proto-Germanic *granō (“awn, beard-hair, hair-tips, mustache”), related to Old High German grana, granu (“mustache”), Old Norse grǫn (“mustache, (upper) lip”), Old English granu (“mustache”).
Mustaches were often a prominent cultural component for men of early medieval Germanic societies, whence the name originates from. However, the particular distinction owing this name vis-a-vis other families is unclear.

cog

A male given name from the Germanic languages.


Anand

en-proper noun

Anand (countable and uncountable, plural Anands)

From Sanskrit आनन्द (ānanda, “joy, delight, pleasure”).

der

(countable) A male given name from Sanskrit.


Kristopher

A male given name from Ancient Greek of modern usage, a rare spelling variant of Christopher.


Christa

Contraction of Christina and Christiana. Rare until the second half of the 20th century, reinforced by the German Christa.


Behrouz

بهروز بهروز#Persian

A transliteration of the Persian male given name بهروز (behruz).


Risto

A transliteration of the Macedonian male given name Ристо (Risto)


Georg

“Ah!” Georg said, noncommittal. “A problem I think you may have had,” the man said. “I got drunk and didn't wake up.” “Yes,” Georg said. “I've been known to do that. Last night, in fact. And the night before.”

2011 July 1, Eric Flint, Ring of Fire III, Baen Publishing Enterprises, →ISBN:

Georg said nothing as he glanced toward Cameron, who stuck his head over the edge of the loft again. “Rest easy, Georg,” Cameron said. “Next week I'll be on my honeymoon, and your worries will be over.”

2013 December 20, Elizabeth D. Michaels, Anita Stansfield, Behind the Mask, White Star Press, →ISBN:

A male given name, a Scandinavian and continental Germanic variant of George.


Joselyn

A female given name from the Germanic languages, of modern usage, variant of Jocelyn.


Jilly

A diminutive of the female given names Jill, Jillian and Julia.


Sonja

'At first I couldn't work out what had killed her,' said Sonja Lundin, frowning again, 'but because her head was shaved, I soon discovered it when I looked a bit closer.'


Mossie

(Ireland) A diminutive of the male given name Maurice.


Jemima

From the name of a minor biblical character, from Hebrew יְמִימָה (“dove”). By folk etymology also used as a feminine form of James.

He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 42:13-15:

-- and at last Jemima was fixed upon, because it would do either for a Scripture name or for a heroine out of a book."
"I did not know Jemima was a Scripture name," said Ruth.
"Oh yes, it is. One of Job's daughters; Jemima, Kezia, and Keren-Happuch. There are a good many Jemimas in the world, and some Kezias, but I never heard of a Keren-Happuch; and yet we know just as much of one as of another. People really like a pretty name, whether Scripture or out of it."

1853, Elizabeth Gaskell, chapter XVII, in Ruth:

But then, thought Kiki, they were brought up that way, these white American boys: I'm the Aunt Jemima on the cookie boxes of their childhoods, the pair of thick ankles Tom and Jerry played around. Of course they find me funny.

2005, Zadie Smith, On Beauty, Penguin, published 2006, →ISBN, page 51:

Fancy southern names which she couldn't remember five minutes after they'd told her. Camilla? Amelia? Jemima? It didn't matter. Ashworth would have made a note of them.

2011, Ann Cleeves, Hidden Depths, Pan Macmillan, →ISBN, page 165:a:


Alexandre

Borrowed from French Alexandre and Portuguese Alexandre.

A male given name from French or Portuguese, equivalent to English Alexander.


Isidora

Name of a fourth-century saint. The feminine equivalent of Isidore, from Ancient Greek Ἰσιδώρα (Isidṓra, “gift of Isis”).

uder

A female given name from Ancient Greek; rare in the Anglo-Saxon world.


Cnut

A male given name from Old Norse, an alternative spelling of Canute (Scandinavian Knut) in historical context.


Henny

Cecilia, who only through compassion to the blushing Henrietta forbore repressing this forwardness more seriously, merely answered Mrs Belfield by wishing her good morning: but, while she was taking a kinder leave of her timid daughter, the mother added "As to the present, ma'am, you was so kind to make us, Henny can witness for me every penny of it shall go to my son."

1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia/Book 5/Chapter ii:

A diminutive of the female given name Henrietta.


Hallie

I'm dreaming now of Hallie, sweet Hallie, sweet Hallie.

1855 Septimus Winner, Listen to the Mockingbird ( a song )

A diminutive of the female given name Harriet.


Petronella

/ˌpɛt.ɹəˈnɛlə/

From Latin Petronella, feminine diminutive of Petronius, a Roman family name possibly derived from petra "rock". Name of an obscure early saint; because of similarity of sound, used as a feminine form of Peter.

A female given name from Latin, rare in English after Middle Ages.


Ulric

From Old High German uodil (“heritage, homestead”) + rihhi (“ruler”); compare German Ulrich. English sources also suggest Old English wulf (“wolf”) + ric (“ruler”).

der

A male given name from the Germanic languages


Stephan

Ultimately from Ancient Greek στεφανίζω (stephanízō, “to crown”) & Ancient Greek στέφανος (stéphanos, “that which surrounds, crown, wreath”).


Jacklyn

A female given name from French, a re-spelling of Jacqueline.


Jimmi

A diminutive of the male given name James


Benedicta

A female given name from Latin, a rare feminine form of Benedict.


Jaqueline

A female given name, variant of Jacqueline


Cristian

/ˈkɹɪʃt͡ʃən/

/ˈkɹɪst͡ʃən/


Bastian

A male given name from Ancient Greek, diminutive of Sebastian


Gertie

Mrs Conchita Warren is an unusual name, I thought as I cycled towards Limehouse. Most local women were Doris, Winnie, Ethel (pronounced Eff) or Gertie.

2002, Jennifer Worth, Call the Midwife, Phoenix, →ISBN, page 127:

A diminutive of the female given name Gertrude.


Marko

A male given name, equivalent to English Mark


Melchior

From Latin Melchior, from Hebrew מלכיאור (“king of light”), from מלך (“king”) + אור (“light”).

So twin boys, our fathers, were born in the USA. Melchior and Peregrine. What names, eh? What delusions of grandeur went into the naming of them? If you shorten them to 'Mel' and 'Perry', they've got a democratically twentieth-century and transatlantic ring to them.

1991, Angela Carter, Wise Children, Chatto & Windus, →ISBN, page 16:

(rather rare) A male given name from Hebrew.


Kaleb

From Hebrew כלב (“dog”), possibly referring to a dog’s unconditional devotion to its master.

A male given name from Hebrew, a less common modern spelling variant of Caleb.


Nicki

A diminutive of the female given name Nicola and Nicole.

A diminutive of the male given name Nicholas


Lucie

A female given name from Latin, variant of Lucy.


Nikolai

Николай Николай#Russian

A transliteration of the Russian male given name Николай (Nikolaj), equivalent to Nicholas.


Lina

Short form of any female name ending in -lina, such as Angelina, Carolina, Evelina. It can also be construed as a rare feminine form of Linus.

"Lina - did not Moore call you Lina sometimes?"¶ "Yes: it is sometimes used as the abbreviation of Caroline in his native country."

1849, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], chapter 12, in Shirley. A Tale. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC:

A female given name, occasionally used in English.


Vladislav

Transliteration of Russian Владисла́в (Vladisláv). See Ladislaus.

Владисла́в Владислав#Russian

A transliteration of the Russian male given name Владисла́в (Vladisláv).


Rudi

A diminutive of the male given name Rudolf, from German.


Nikola

Никола Никола#Bulgarian

A transliteration of the Bulgarian, Macedonian, or Serbo-Croatian male given name Никола (Nikola), equivalent to Nicholas


Ivana

From various Slavic languages, such as Russian Ивана (Ivana).
Doublet of Jana, Jane, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena.


Rudy

A diminutive of the male given name Rudolph.


Evelina

A female given name from the Germanic languages, variant of Evelyn.


Mikaela

A female given name from Hebrew, of modern usage, variant of Michaela


Arne

en-proper noun

Arne (countable and uncountable, plural Arnes)

For the given name, a short form of Old Norse compound names beginning with arn- (“eagle”).

A male given name from the Germanic languages occasionally used in English.


Rudolf

Borrowed from Czech Rudolf and German Rudolf.

A male given name from Czech or German, equivalent to English Rudolph.


Lindsay

Lindsay (countable and uncountable, plural Lindsays)

From Lindsey in Lincolnshire, from Old English Lindesēġe, Lindesīġe (“Isle of Lind”), the Old English name of the city of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, in which "Lind" comes from the Common Brittonic form of the name of Lincoln and "isle" refers to Lincoln being surrounded by fenland; from Proto-Brythonic *llɨnn (“pool”), from Proto-Celtic *lindos (“lake, liquid”), in reference to the Brayford + Old English ēġ (“island”); cf. modern Welsh llyn and Dublin.

A unisex given name transferred from the surname

A male given name transferred from the surname.

A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1940s and later usage.

A number of places in the United States:


Benjy

A diminutive of the male given name Benjamin.


Paulina

From Latin Paulīna, feminine form of Paulīnus, derivative of Paulus, from paulus (“small”). Name of a third-century saint.

O grave and good Paulina, the great comfort / That I have had of thee!

She smells like expensive soap and her teeth are shiny-white. She does not in any way look like her name. It's not her fault that she was born in a time when people believed in names like Wanda, Dottie and Betty. She's more of a Vanessa or Paulina.

1991, Peter Hedges, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Simon & Schuster, published 1999, →ISBN, page 60:


Williamina

A female given name from the Germanic languages, a rare feminine form of William, best known in Scotland.


Alisa

A female given name from Finnish or Russian, equivalent to English Alice.


Torquil

Anglicized from Scottish Gaelic Torcall, from Old Norse Þorkell, from older Þorketill, from Þórr (“Thor”) + ketill (“(sacrificial) cauldron”).

af

(rare outside Scotland) A male given name from Scottish Gaelic.


Thurston

A male given name from the Germanic languages, occasional transferred use of the surname.


Tyra

A female given name originating as a coinage, of African American usage.


Thora

Short form of Old Norse female given names beginning with Þórr (“Thor”).

A female given name from Old Norse occasionally borrowed from Scandinavia.


Helga

From Old Norse Helga ("holy"), a pre-Christian term, feminine form of Helgi. Doublet of Olga.


Emmie

A diminutive of the female given names Emily and Emma.


Emile

A male given name from Latin of Latin origin, an anglicized spelling of French Émile.


Trudie

A female given name, variant spelling of Trudy, a pet form of Gertrude.


Trudy

A diminutive of Gertrude, also used as a formal female given name.


Trudi

In some cases, a 20th-century spelling of Trudy; in other cases borrowed from German Trudi.

She had a twin sister named Heidi and neither Trudi or Heidi liked their names. They were the names (in the opinion of Heidi and Trudi) of goat-herding girls and American hookers, of girls who wore their hair in plaits and drank milk or had sex dressed as French maids and nurses. Of girls who never grew up. Trudi and Heidi had no idea why they were so called.

2002, Kate Atkinson, Not the End of the World, Doubleday, →ISBN, page 10:

A female given name from the Germanic languages.


Emmy

There was a buxom Irish servant-girl, who […] had […] striven to give Amelia aid or consolation. Emmy was much too sad to answer, or even to be aware of the attempts the other was making in her favour.

1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:

A diminutive of Emily, Emma, Emmeline or Amelia, also used as a female given name.


Gerda

Latinate variant of Scandinavian Gerd, from Old Norse Gerðr, garðr (“protection”). The name occurs in nineteenth century Swedish poetry and in Hans Christian Andersen's Snow Queen (1844).

A female given name from the Germanic languages occasionally used in English, mostly around 1900.


Chic

A diminutive of the male given name Charles.


Rutherford

From Old English hryþer (“cattle”) + ford (“ford”). The first element is from Proto-Germanic *hrunþaz.

(rare) A male given name transferred from the surname.


Aleisha

A female given name from the Germanic languages, a modern nonstandard spelling of Alicia.


Beatrix

A Latinate variant of the standard English Beatrice.

Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated children's books.


Astrid

Borrowed from modern Scandinavian (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish) Astrid since the 19th century.

Astrid, the person is saying. Astrum, astralis. How does it feel to have such a starry name?

2005, Ali Smith, The Accidental, Penguin, published 2006, →ISBN, page 31:


Dagmar

/ˈdæɡmɑː(ɹ)/

A female given name from the Germanic languages of Danish origin, in occasional use since the end of the 19th century.


Hooman

From Persian هومن (human, literally “good-natured”), from Middle Persian [Term?].

bor

هومن هومن#Persian

A transliteration of the Persian male given name هومن (human).


Magnolia

Our blooming friend, the handsome and stalworth Magnolia, having got a confidential hint from agitated Mrs. Mack, trudged up to the mills, in a fine frenzy, vowing vengeance on Mary Matchwell, for she liked poor Sally Nutter well.

1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:

"Nobody could have a name like Magnolia."
"They could if they came from South Carolina, as she did. In the southern states of America you can't throw a brick without hitting a Magnolia."

1971, P.G. Wodehouse, Much Obliged, Jeeves, Barrie and Jenkins, published 1971, page 24:

A female given name from English, one of the less common flower names invented in the 19th century.


Sigrid

From modern Scandinavian (Norwegian, Danish and Swedish Sigrid), a name known in Norse saga, and used by Swedish royalty; Old Norse Sigríðr.

A female given name from the Scandinavian languages, of fairly rare usage


Siri

From Norwegian Siri, a variant of Sigrid, whence also English Sigrid.


Ingrid

From Swedish, Norwegian and Danish Ingrid, from Old Norse Ingiríðr.


Krystin

A female given name from Ancient Greek, one of the modern spelling variants of Kristin.


Ellinor

A rare spelling variant of Elinor or Eleanor.


Linnea

A female given name from Latin of Swedish origin, occasionally used since the twentieth century.


Aanya

From Sanskrit [Term?] (“inexhaustible”).

A female given name from Sanskrit, of Indian usage.


Radhesh

From a Hindi words radha (Lord Krishna's devotee) and eesh (God). Hindi grammar thus give the meaning as radha's god i.e. Krishna.

A male given name from India, of Indian usage.


Amadeus

/ˌæməˈdeɪəs/

From Latin Amadeus. From Latin amo (“love”) + deus (“god”).


Nestor

From Ancient Greek Νέστωρ (Néstōr), possibly from νέομαι (néomai, “to return safely”), νόστος (nóstos, “homecoming”).

A male given name from Ancient Greek, rare in English.


Bradlee

A male given name transferred from the surname, of rare usage, variant of Bradley.


Loren

A male given name from German Lorenz, Spanish Lorenzo, or Italian Lorenzo, equivalent to English Laurence, all in turn derived from Latin Laurentius (“Lawrence”).

A female given name from Latin, of rare usage, variant of Lauren.


Xander

A diminutive of the male given name Alexander, from Ancient Greek, of modern usage


Sander

en-proper noun

Sander (countable and uncountable, plural Sanders)

(obsolete) A diminutive of the male given name Alexander, from Ancient Greek.


Sacha

A unisex given name from French, equivalent to English Sasha.


Bazza

From Barry (or any personal name starting Ba-) + -zza.

“Barry, you've been on the Coast too long. Tomorrow morning I'm going to organize a job for you elsewhere. I'd start packing if I were you.”
However, Bazza wasn't put off that easily.

(British, Ireland, Australia) A diminutive of the male given name Barry.

‘I′m standing at me own door, Bazza. Nothing illegal in that, is there?’
‘Do you want a lift, Basil?’ I asked him.

2001, Kerryn Higgs, All That False Instruction, page 181:

(British, Ireland, Australia) A diminutive of the male given name Basil.


Casper

Alternative spelling of Caspar. The slur denoting a white person is an allusion to Casper the Friendly Ghost. The skateboarding term is named after Bobby Boyden, a professional skateboarder who was given the nickname "Casper" as a child because of his pale skin (again in allusion to the friendly ghost).

A male given name from Old Persian, of occasional usage, variant of Caspar.


Eloi

From French Éloi, from Medieval Latin Eligius, chiefly after Saint Eligius, from Latin ēligere (“to pick, to choose from”) + -ius (“-y: forming adjectives and names”).


Daniella

A female given name from Hebrew derived from Daniel, variant of Daniela and Danielle.


Meridith

A female given name from Welsh, variant of Meredith


Timon

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 6:5:

Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon!
Ah! when the means are gone that buy this praise,
The breath is gone whereof this praise is made.

~1607 William Shakespeare: Timon of Athens, Act II, Scene II

A male given name from Ancient Greek of mostly historical use.


Obed

From Hebrew אובד or עוֹבֵד (Oved, “servant”).

A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.


Irina

From Russian Ири́на (Irína), akin to English Irene.

Ири́на Ирина#Russian

A transliteration of the Russian female given name Ири́на (Irína).


Deryck

A male given name from the Germanic languages, a less common spelling of Derek.


Derick

A male given name from the Germanic languages, variant of Derek.


Ronny

Shortening of Ronald + -y. A less common spelling of Ronnie.

A diminutive of the male given name Ronald.


Alina

Borrowed from Italian Alina, or a Latinate form of French Aline, ultimately from diminutives of the same Germanic name Adela, Adele.

A female given name from the Germanic languages.


Hilma

Used in early 19th-century Scandinavian literature, probably as a variant of Wilhelmina.

A female given name from the Germanic languages in occasional use at the turn of the 20th century.


Dorian

Constructed like the French Doriens. From the Latin root of Dōres + -ian. Compare Ancient Greek Δωριεύς (Dōrieús, “of Doris”).

cog

A male given name from Ancient Greek, famously used by Oscar Wilde in his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891).


Liv

A female given name. From Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish, from Old Norse "hlíf," meaning "defense, protection; byrnie, shield" Influenced by the modern Scandinavian word "liv" meaning "life."


Raul

A male given name from Spanish, an Anglicized form of Spanish Raúl.


Herschel

(Uranus): after its discoverer, William Herschel.


Meggan

A female given name from Welsh, a rare nonstandard spelling of the Welsh Megan.


JoAnne

A female given name from Hebrew, variant of Joanne.


Pippa

A female given name, diminutive of Philippa.


Ynez

A female given name from Spanish, a less common spelling of Inez.


Rico

A diminutive of the male given names Ricardo, Federico, or Enrico.


Avinash

From Hindi अविनाश (avināś, “indestructible”).


Alfreda

Originally a variant of Elfreda, used as a feminine form of Alfred since the 19th century.


Elfreda

From Old English Ælfþrȳþ (from ælf (“elf”) + þrȳþ (“strength”)); later partly merged with æþel (“noble”) + þrȳþ (“strength”) ( =Audrey).

inh

1914?, Jessie Graham Flower, Grace Harlowe's Fourth Year at Overton College
“When you are at Wayne Hall do as the Wayne Hallites do,” quoted Miriam, who had followed Elfreda into the room.

A female given name from Old English borne by a medieval English queen; rare today.


Lucretia

A female given name from Latin. The feminine form of Lucretius.


Angelique

A female given name from French anglicized from French Angélique, occasionally used in English since the 20th century.


Gideon

Borrowed from Hebrew גִּדְעוֹן (gid'ón, “Gideon”) ("feller", "hewer", "mighty warrior").

A male given name from Hebrew, popularized by Puritans.


Dodie

A diminutive of the female given name Dorothy.


Livvy

A diminutive of the female given name Olivia.


Gopala

A male given name from Sanskrit used in India, also anglicised as Gopal.


Govinda

From Sanskrit गोविन्द (Govinda, “finder of cows”).

der

A male given name from Sanskrit used in India; also transliterated as Govind.


Thea

Shortened from Dorothea and Theodora, ultimately from Ancient Greek θεά (theá, “goddess”).

A female given name from Ancient Greek (rather rare in English).


Angeline

Boughton had christened her, as I said, but I laid my hand on her just to bless her, and I could feel her pulse, her warmth, the damp of her hair. The Lord said, 'Their angels in Heaven always see the face of my Father in Heaven' (Matthew 18:10). That's why Boughton named her Angeline.

2009, Marilynne Robinson, Gilead: Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Hachette UK, →ISBN:


Hildegarde

A female given name from the Germanic languages, variant of Hildegard.


Hildegard

Borrowed from German Hildegard in the 19th century; ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *Hildigardu.


Zacharias

From Ancient Greek Ζαχαρίας (Zakharías), the New Testament form of the figure's name in the Old Testament, Hebrew זְכַרְיָה (Zəḵaryā, “Yahweh has remembered”). Compare Zachariah and Zechariah.


Volha

Во́льга Вольга#Belarusian

A transliteration of the Belarusian female given name Во́льга (Vólʹha).


Rafael

Compare Spanish Rafael, Portuguese Rafael.


Ganga

Transliteration of Hindi गंगा (gaṅgā) or Sanskrit गङ्गा (gaṅgā). Doublet of Ganges.


Srimati

From Sanskrit श्रीमत् (śrīmat, “beautiful, charming, lovely, pleasant, splendid, glorious”).


Joselin

A female given name from the Germanic languages, of modern usage, variant of Jocelyn.


Silvester

A male given name, variant of Sylvester.


Joumana

Borrowed from Arabic جُمَانَة (jumāna), meaning a perfect pearl.


Ajay

Transliteration of Hindi अजय (ajay), etc.


Hillary

From Latin Hilarius or Hilaria, from hilare (“cheerfully”) (compare English hilarious).

A unisex given name from Latin
A female given name from Latin Hilaria.

A male given name from Latin Hilarius, variant of Hilary.


Maudie

A pet form of the female given name Maud or Maude.


Mathilda

A female given name from the Germanic languages, a less common spelling of Matilda.


Tillie

Without reason, against prudence, and at a moment’s notice, he fell in love with a frivolous, golden-haired girl who used to tear about Simla Mall on a high, rough waler, with a blue velvet jockey-cap crammed over her eyes. Her name was Venner—Tillie Venner—and she was delightful.

1887, Rudyard Kipling, Wressley of the Foreign Office:

A diminutive of the female given name Matilda.


Erwin

A male given name from the Germanic languages, of rare usage, variant of Irwin.


Norbert

From Old High German nord (“north”) + beraht (“bright”).

Norbert is a moniker one normally doesn't associate with one of the game's most intimidating midfielders, but "Nobby" provided the steel for the England side that prevailed in the 1966 World Cup, and his gap-toothed visage would have earned him a guest spot in the movie Halloween.

2009, Jeff Carlisle, Soccer's Most Wanted II, Potomac Books, Inc., →ISBN, page 234:

A male given name from the Germanic languages.


Gita

en-proper noun

Gita (countable and uncountable, plural Gitas)

From Sanskrit गीता (gītā, “song”), sometimes in reference to Bhagavad Gita.

A female given name from Sanskrit, used in India.


Galina

Borrowed from Russian Гали́на (Galína), from Ancient Greek γαλήνη (galḗnē, “calm”), name of a Nereid and of early martyrs venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Гали́на Галина#Russian

A transliteration of the Russian female given name Гали́на (Galína).