Roberta

It was many years before the house on Maple Street was forgotten as "The Quimby Place" and called by its now correct name of "The Carter House", and it was many years before Mrs. Carter succeeded in making Peyton Place call her "Roberta" instead of the frivolous and, to her, harlotish-sounding name of "Bobbie".

1956, Grace Metalious, Peyton Place, UPNE, published 1999, →ISBN, Book Two, Chapter 7:

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


Desmond

I call him Bradford because it makes me feel like I'm in a soap opera. That's what they name men on soap operas. Bradford and Desmond and Elliott and Royce.

1988, K. C. Constantine, Joey's Case, →ISBN, page 132:

A male given name transferred from the surname; popular in Britain in the first half of the twentieth century.


Mehmet

From Ottoman Turkish محمد (Mehmed, Mehmet), from Arabic مُحَمَّد (muḥammad). Doublet of Muhammad, Mahomet, and Baphomet.

doublet

A male given name from Turkish, variant of Muhammad.


Enos

From Hebrew אֱנוֹשׁ (enósh, “mortal man”).

A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.


Sherman

/ˈʃɜː(ɹ)mən/

Sense 1: From Middle English schereman, scherman; equivalent to shear + -man.

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Patty

"That sounds like Aunt Isabel. They always called me Patricia there. Don't you think, papa, now that I'm getting so grown up, I ought to be called Patricia? Patty is such a baby name."
"Patty is good enough for me," said Mr. Fairfield.

1904, Carolyn Wells, “Shopping”, in Patty at Home, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, →OCLC, page 56:

A female given name, a diminutive of the female given name Patricia.


Griffith

en-proper noun

Griffith (countable and uncountable, plural Griffiths)

A male given name from Welsh used in Wales.


Bennett

Bennett (countable and uncountable, plural Bennetts)

A male given name from Latin transferred back from the surname.


Harrison

Harrison (countable and uncountable, plural Harrisons)


Harris

Harris (countable and uncountable, plural Harrises)

From Harry + -s (“patronymic suffix”). From Harry, a male given name derived from a Middle English pronunciation of Old French Henri.


Jude

Jude (countable and uncountable, plural Judes)

Short form of Judas, used in an attempt to distinguish the Apostle Judas Thaddaeus from Judas Iscariot. From Old Testament Judah, Hebrew יְהוּדָה (yehudá), said to mean “praised”.


Esther

From Ancient Greek Ἐσθήρ (Esthḗr), from Biblical Hebrew אֶסְתֵּר (ʾestēr). Has been connected to Old Persian 𐎠𐎿𐎫𐎼 (a-s-t-r /star-/, “star”) (whence Middle Persian 𐭮𐭲𐭫 (stl /star/, “star”), 𐭮𐭲𐭠𐭫𐭪 (stʾlk /stārag/, “star”), Persian ستاره (setâre, “star”), Northern Kurdish estêre), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr (if so, a distant doublet of star); or else to Akkadian 𒀭𒈹 (Ištar, “Ishtar”) (Hebrew עִשְׁתָּר (ʿištār)).

cog

Hebrew עִשְׁתָּר (ʿištār)


Joanne

From Old French Joanne, 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, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena.

doublet

"Ye've seen the Lady?"
"I have," said I; "and I have seen the young ladies too, except Miss Joanne."
"Ye may just as weel lay by the Miss, and ca' her Joan, like her mother afore her, noo—They've flung the puir lassie clean aff, Mr Waldie. Greeting for the father, and nae thought for the bairn—that's the warld's way, Mr Waldie.—But God strikes not wi' baith hands, young man...

1824, John Gibson Lockhart, The History of Matthew Wald, page 192:

Jocasta wasn't Jocasta's name: her real name was Joanne. She changed it when she was thirty-eight because, as she said what can you do with a name like Joanne? Too nice. She didn't dye her hair green or wear a safety pin in her ear but calling herself Jocasta was the equivalent. Good taste kills, said Jocasta.

1981, Margaret Atwood, Bodily Harm, →ISBN, page 24:


Joanne

From various feminine names clipped to Jo + Anne, q.v.


Parker

en-proper noun

Parker (countable and uncountable, plural Parkers)


Gabby

A diminutive form of the male given name Gabriel.

A diminutive form of the female given names Gabrielle, Gabriella and Gabriela.


Hussain

A male given name from Arabic: alternative spelling of Husayn


Coll

A medieval English short form of the male given name Nicholas; very rare today.


Gabrielle

From French Gabrielle, feminine form of Gabriel (see there for more).


Mitchell

Mitchell (countable and uncountable, plural Mitchells)

Translingual: markmitchelli

From a Middle English vernacular form of the Old French given name Michel (“Michael”), or in some cases from a Middle English nickname muchel (“big”).

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


Tariq

Borrowed from Arabic طَارِق (ṭāriq, “messenger, nocturnal visitor, or morning star”), from طَرَقَ (ṭaraqa, “to knock, to rap”)


Agnes

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἁγνή (Hagnḗ), coming from Ancient Greek ἁγνός (hagnós, “pure, chaste”), Ancient Greek ἁγνεία (hagneía, “purity, chastity”). Doublet of Inez.

der

Why do you call Mrs. Stone Aggie? Agnes is such a beautiful name, it is a shame to nick it in that way." Then, quickly regretting his impatience, he added, "You would not have been jealous, would you, Jenny?

1876, Annie Howells Fréchette, “Reuben Dale”, in The Galaxy, W.C. and F.P.Church, 1876, page 394:

Right then and there in her mind she had christened it Agnes, the only name she knew elegant enough for such a peerless creature. - - - She held the doll so her brothers could see. "Look, isn't she beautiful? Her name is Agnes.[...]Agnes? Agnes?" Jack gagged realistically. "What a soppy name! Why don't you call her Margaret or Betty?

1977, Colleen McCullough, The Thorn Birds, Harper & Row, →ISBN, page 3,5:

I found myself wanting to explain it to her, this middle-aged woman with the kind of haircut you call a hairdo, which needed to be set in rollers every night, who had a name like Agnes or Harriet, a name that even predated my mother's generation.

1995, Elizabeth Wurtzel, Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America, Riverhead Books, →ISBN, page 14:


Carter

As an English name, from the occupation carter. As an Irish name, from Irish Mac Artúir (literally “son of Arthur”).


Fritz

From German Fritz, pet form of Friedrich (“Frederick”).

A diminutive of the male given name Friedrich.


Collins

en-proper noun

Collins (countable and uncountable, plural Collinses)

* As an English surname, variant of Colin.
* As an Irish and Manx surname, from Ó Coileáin, see Cullen, McQuillan, and McCallion.
* As a French surname, Americanized from Collin and Colette.
* As a Slovene surname, Americanized from Kolenc, from koleno (“knee”) and the obsolete kolenc (“nipplewort”).


Sambo

A nickname from the given name Samantha.


Sim

From Middle English Sym, diminutive of Simeon and Simon.

The other [witness] was one Sim Doolittle, the fish hawker from Allerfoot, jogging home in his fish cart from Gledsmuir fair.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:

A male given name, diminutive of Simeon and Simon.


Powell

Powell (countable and uncountable, plural Powells)

The anglicized form of Welsh ap Hywel (“son of Hywel”). Related to Howell and Huell. Sometimes also associated with Paul by folk etymology.


Murphy

From Irish Ó Murchadha (“descendant of Murrough”), Mac Murchaidh (“Son of Murrough”), etc. See Muircath.

der

Sonja made me promise I would go to college. She said she'd wanted her daughter, Murphy, to go. She'd named her baby Murphy because it could never be a stripper name. But her daughter had changed her name to London.

2012, Louise Erdrich, The Round House, Corsair, published 2013, →ISBN, page 178:

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


Ellis

en-proper noun

Ellis (countable and uncountable, plural Ellises)

* As an English surname, from the Middle English personal name Elis, an Old French form of Elias. Compare Elijah, Lias, Ely. Also sometimes from the Elice, a pet form of Elizabeth.
* As a Welsh surname, shortened from the personal name Elisse, Elisedd, from the archaic elus (“benevolent, kind”).

A surname from Welsh [in turn originating as a patronymic] and a male given name from Welsh, an anglicization of Elisedd.

A unisex given name transferred from the surname.


Singh

From Hindi सिंघ (siṅgh, “lion”) or Punjabi ਸਿੰਘ (siṅgh, “lion”). Doublet of Sinha.

A male given name from Sanskrit used by Sikhs, often but not necessarily a middle name.


Ahmed

A male given name from Arabic, variant of Ahmad.


Madeline

Anglicized from French Madeleine, from Ancient Greek Μαγδαληνή (Magdalēnḗ). Doublet of Madeleine and Magdalene.


Angelina

Angelina (countable and uncountable, plural Angelinas)

/ˌænd͡ʒəˈliːnə/

A female given name from Ancient Greek, an Italian diminutive of Angela.


Wilkinson

Wilkinson (countable and uncountable, plural Wilkinsons)

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Sonny

'I was christened "Sonny"', the boy said with a protective formality which was clearly of some years' growth. ' It seems to have been all right then. Fashionable, you know. Now, of course, it's ghastly. Everyone calls me Sinclair, even Mother.'

1938, Margery Allingham, The Fashion in Shrouds, page 136:

Sonny had had to change his mind about so many things, as his life changed, as the very meaning of his ridiculous name changed - first a hangover from sentimental parents, then a nickname to reassure the crowds at rallies that he was one of them, then an addendum to his full names in a prison dossier: 'also known as Sonny'. A common criminal with aliases.

1990, Nadine Gordimer, My Son's Story, page 55:

Sonia was hired and quickly persuaded everyone to call her “Sonny.” Josie recalls, “For some reason, she did not care for her first name, but I thought it was beautiful. I was surprised that she spelled her nickname 'Sonny' rather than 'Sunny', but I suppose it was because of the letter 'o' in Sonia.

2009, Del Halterman, Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, →ISBN, page 58:

She couldn't believe Irina had said that so openly. Then Sonny gasped before she could stop herself. “What is it?” Irina looked down at herself. “What's the matter?” “Nothing.” Sonny shook her head and took up her notes as if to discuss them.

2009, Trish Perry, Sunset Beach, →ISBN, page 135:

"The guy who wrote Sonny her very first fan letter . . . Give it up for Eric!” [...] "Marshall, I have to say something." Marshall looked a little puzzled at Sonny's serious tone of voice, but he handed the microphone to her.

2011, N. B. Grace, Sonny With A Chance: Making the Cut, →ISBN, page 10:

Sonny suddenly recall a prayer her mother had said to her before she left for Colombia. They that hope in the Lord will [...] soar [...]. And then her mother had said, "Go soar, Sonny." Her mother had faith in her and she had to draw strength from that faith now. It was almost as if she'd known Sonny would need this verse at some point to keep her going.

2016, Lisa Mondello, Her Only Protector, →ISBN:

A diminutive of the female given name Sonia.


Marius

From Latin Marius, a Roman family name probably derived from Mars. By folk etymology seen as a masculine form of Maria.


Calvin

Latinization of Norman-Picard Cauvin, a nickname for a chauve (“bald”) person.

Marty McFly: Calvin? Wh… Why do you keep calling me Calvin?
Lorraine Baines: Well, that is your name, isn't it? Calvin Klein? It's written all over your underwear.

1985, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, Back to the Future:

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


Paola

Paola (countable and uncountable, plural Paolas)


Miller

Miller (countable and uncountable, plural Millers)

French: Miller

Translingual: Mill.

English surname, capitalization of miller. Doublet of Muller. Also compare Milner, Millward, Müller, Mueller, Mulder, Molenaar, Muenier, Molinaro, Molinero, Molnár, Mlinar, Mlynarczyk.


Anderson

Anderson (countable and uncountable, plural Andersons)

From Middle English Ander (“Andrew”) + -son, after Saint Andrew, patron saint of Scotland. In the United States, sometimes an anglicization of Danish and Norwegian Andersen or Swedish Andersson.


Stanford

Various place names from Old English stān (“stone”) + ford (“ford”).

Stanford (disambiguation)
Stanford University


Yuri

From Russian Ю́рий (Júrij, “George”). Doublet of George.

Ю́рий Юрий#Russian

A transliteration of the Russian male given name Ю́рий (Júrij), equivalent to George.

Yuri

Male given name originating from Russian


Yuri

* From Japanese Yuri (Yuri), from ゆり.
* From Japanese Yūri (Yūri), from ゆうり.
"Yuri" is a transliteration of several source forms, 由里, 由理, 由梨, 由利, 祐里, 友里, 友理, 悠里.

Yuri

Female given name originating from Japanese

ゆうり

由里, 由理, 由梨, 由利, 祐里, 友里, 友理, 悠里


Paula

From Latin Paula, feminine form of Paulus (“Paul”).

Names are fascinating, aren't they? I love mine. I think my parents had very good taste calling us Peter and Paula and Melinda.

1977, Ruth Rendell, A Judgement in Stone, Vintage Books, published 2000, →ISBN, pages 106–107:


Bryn

From Welsh bryn (“hill, mound”) or, in the Greater Manchester place-name, Cumbric brinn (“hill”).

A female given name from Welsh in occasional modern use.

Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester#English

A suburb of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England (OS grid ref SD5700).


Gretchen

A female given name from German of German origin; a pet form of Margaret.


Hilbert

From a Middle English given name of Proto-Germanic origin, from Old English hild (“battle”) + beorht (“bright”) (Proto-Germanic *Hildiberhtaz).

'An old family name,' he told his wife, though this was not true at all, his uncle's being thus christened having been an isolated instance of the use of Hilbert. There had been a fashion in the late nineteenth century for Germanic names and his uncle, born in 1902, had caught the tail end of it.
'I don't like that at all,' his wife had said. 'People will think it's really Gilbert or Albert. I don't want him teased, poor baby.'

1987, Barbara Vine, A Fatal Inversion, →ISBN, pages 48–49:

(rare) A male given name from the Germanic languages.


Gertrude

From Old French, from Proto-Germanic *gaizaz (“spear”) + *þrūþiz (“strength”) or *trut- (“maiden, dear”) ; name of a Belgian seventh century saint.

O Gertrude, Gertrude! / When sorrows come, they come not single spies, / But in battalions.

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]:

"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, lines 103–108:

A female given name from the Germanic languages.


Kwame

An ancient and traditional Akan day-name meaning "from Amen/Amon/Amun" that may be given to a male child born on a Saturday. Popularized in the 1960s when Kwame Nkrumah was the Prime Minister of Ghana.


Clare

The anglicized spelling of Irish Clár, from Old Irish clár (“plank, board”), from Proto-Celtic *klāros, *klārom (“table”).


Clare

Medieval English vernacular form of Clara, from the Latin clara, feminine of clarus (“bright, shining, clear”), a post-classical name made famous by the 13th century Saint Clara of Assisi.
In Oxfordshire, from Clarora, a clay slope.

Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more,
But rather wishing a more strict restraint
Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare.

Following Francis' example, Clare founded an order of religious women known as the Poor Ladies of Assisi (like Francis' Poor Men), and later as the Clarissas or Poor Clares in her honor.

1991, Thomas Head, "Clare of Assisi", An Encyclopedia of Continental Women Writers

"What's your name?"
"Clare Fairweather," she said. "Awful, isn't it?" and went away, hiding her mirth.

1999, Margaret York, The Price of Guilt, page 58:

A female given name from Latin, more often spelled Claire from the 20th century onward.


Clare

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


Kath

During her childhood she was a romanticized Katherine, dressed by her misty-eyed, fussy mother in dresses that looked like ruffled pillowcases. By high school she'd shed the frills and emerged as a bouncy, round-faced Kathy - - - At university she was Kath, blunt and no-bullshit in her Take-Back-the-Night jeans and checked shirt - - - When she ran away to England, she sliced herself down to Kat. It was economical, street-feline, and pointed as a nail.

1991, Margaret Atwood, Wilderness Tips, →ISBN, page 36:

A diminutive of the female given names Katherine, Kathleen, and related names.


Iain

From Scottish Gaelic. Cognate of John, see there for more.

A male given name from Scottish Gaelic, equivalent to English John.


Sammi

A female given name, diminutive of Samantha.


Sasha

Borrowed from the Slavic diminutive form of Alexander and Alexandra; in English mostly from Russian Са́ша (Sáša), a diminutive form for both Алекса́ндр (Aleksándr, “Alexander, male”) and Алекса́ндра (Aleksándra, “Alexandra, female”).

Са́ша

very common form of name for both men and women


Ade

The surname derives from medieval forms of Adam or Adrian.


Connel

Connel (countable and uncountable, plural Connels)


Philemon

Philemon (countable and uncountable, plural Philemons)

From Ancient Greek Φιλήμων (Philḗmōn), from φιλήμων (philḗmōn, “kindly, affectionate”), from φιλέω (philéō, “I love”).

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow labourer.


Marah

A female given name from Arabic, from Arabic, which means merriness, cheerfulness.


Marah

A female given name from Hebrew, from Hebrew which means bitterness. Biblical variant: Mara.


Alexandros

Transliteration of Greek Αλέξανδρος (Aléxandros), a male given name used in (modern) Greece. Cognate with English Alexander.

Αλέξανδρος Αλέξανδρος#Greek

A transliteration of the Greek male given name Αλέξανδρος (Aléxandros).


Olympias

A female given name from Ancient Greek, of historical usage.


Theresa

First used in Spain, supposedly derived from Latin Thēra, from Ancient Greek Θήρᾱ (Thḗrā), name of a city in Santorini, Greece.

"Theresa!" exclaimed the stranger, "is your name Theresa?" asked she, a death-like paleness at the same time overspreading her countenance.
"Is this name so frightful to you?" enquired the recluse.
"Frightful!" rejoined the stranger, "O, no, I venerate it, like the name of a saint. I had once an unknown friend, whose name was Theresa.

1810, Tales of real life: forming a sequel to miss Edgeworth's Tales of fashionable life, volume 1, London: Henry Colburn, page 72:

"Theresa,", he said. "I never cared for that name."
Justine nodded, chewing.
"I don't like difficult names. I don't like foreignness."
"Perhaps they're Catholic," Justine said.

1976, Anne Tyler, Searching for Caleb, Berkley Books, New York, published 1983, →ISBN, page 7:

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


Titus

Borrowed from Latin Titus, a Roman and Sabine praenomen meaning either "honorable" or "strong; of the giants".


Chandler

/ˈt͡ʃændləɹ/

A unisex given name transferred from the surname.


Shiva

From Sanskrit शिव (śivá, “the auspicious one”).

uder

A male given name from Sanskrit used in India.


Nehemiah

From Hebrew נְחֶמְיָה (“consolation of Yahweh”).

der

A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.


Monty

A diminutive of the male given names Montgomery and Montague.


Keisha

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


Philly

First syllable of Philadelphia or Philippa + -y.

A diminutive of the female given name Philippa.


Bethany

Bethany (disambiguation)
Bethany#Bethany
en:Bethany

From Ancient Greek Βηθανία (Bēthanía), from Aramaic בית עניא (beth anya, “house of wretchedness”). This etymology is highly disputed; see Bethany.

A female given name from Aramaic, transferred use of the biblical place name.


Gautama

A male given name from Sanskrit used in India; more often romanised as Gautam.


Stanislav

From Russian Станислав (Stanislav) or Bulgarian Станислав (Stanislav).

Станисла́в Станислав#Russian

A transliteration of the Russian male given name Станисла́в (Stanisláv), equivalent to Stanislaus.

Станислав Станислав#Bulgarian

A transliteration of the Bulgarian male given name Станислав (Stanislav), equivalent to Stanislaus.


Lars

Borrowed through North Germanic, from Latin Laurentius.

A male given name from Latin occasionally given to Anglophones.


Tracey

Emily. Em-il-y, three syllables, like a knock on the door of destiny. Such an odd, old-fashioned name, compared to those Kylies and Traceys and Jades — names that reeked of Impulse and grease and stood out in gaudy neon colours —

2010, Joanne Harris, blueeyedboy, Doubleday, →ISBN, page 102:

A female given name transferred from the surname, of popular British usage, variant of Tracy.


Siddhartha

From Sanskrit सिद्धार्थ (siddhārtha, “one who has accomplished an aim or object, successful, prosperous”), from सिद्ध (siddha, “achievement”) + अर्थ (artha, “meaning, purpose”).

A male given name from Sanskrit used by followers of various faiths of India; notably, the personal name of Buddha.


Kati

A rare modern spelling variant of Katie, diminutive of the female given name Katherine.


Mira

* Borrowed from Hindi मीरा (mīrā), name of a 16th century Indian poetess, also affectionately called Mirabai.
* As occasionally borne by anglophones in the West, the name may also be borrowed from Slavic, or be a short form of Miranda.

Dorothy's daughters were of exceptional beauty and the sisters could complain only that the Hindi names Dorothy had chosen - Mira, Leela, Lena - were meant to pass as Western ones.

1961, V. S. Naipaul, A House for Mr Biswas, Penguin Books, published 1977, →ISBN, page 366:

(by extension) A female given name from India.


Braxton

en-proper noun

Braxton (countable and uncountable, plural Braxtons)

Perhaps a habitational surname from the village of Branxton, in Northumberland.

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


Isaiah

From Ancient Greek Ἠσαΐας (Ēsaḯas) from Hebrew יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (yəšaʿyā́hū).

der

יְשַׁעְיָהוּ

Hebrew יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (yəšaʿyā́hū)


Emanuel

Variant of Emmanuel, borrowed from Spanish and from various other European languages.


Emmanuel

Cade. What is thy name? / Clerk. Emmanuel. / Dick. They use to write it on the top of letters. 'Twill go hard with you.

Some call their sons Emmanuel : this is too bold. The name is proper to Christ, therefore not to be communicated to any creature.

1629, Thomas Adams, Meditations upon Creed: The Works of Thomas Adams, James Nichol (1862), volume 3, page 212:

A male given name from Hebrew of Biblical origin.


Palmer

en-proper noun

Palmer (countable and uncountable, plural Palmers)

From Middle English palmer (“a pilgrim from the Holy Land”), from Old French.


Holmes

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


Maxwell

From an earlier form Mackeswell, meaning "Mack's well or spring", from Old English welle (“well”).


Carina

Name of a fourth century martyr, feminine of Latin carinus, derivative of carus "beloved"; also a latinization of Karina and Karin (= Catherine) in northern Europe.

A female given name from Latin occasionally used in English.


Micah

From Hebrew מִיכָה (mīḵāh), shortened form of מִיכַיְהוּ (mīḵāyᵊhū, “who is like Yahweh”).

"We will call the boy Micah," he announced at last.
"I had thought of some sweeter name, perhaps David," she suggested.
"We will call him Micah," Abner replied.

1959, James Michener, Hawaii, Corgi Books, published 1981, →ISBN, page 308:

A unisex given name originating from the Bible [in turn from Hebrew]

A male given name from Hebrew of Biblical origin. Used since the 17th century.

A female given name from Hebrew, of modern American usage.


Greg

An English and Scottish male given name, diminutive of Gregory or Gregor (and sometimes derived from the surname Greig)


Reggie

A diminutive of the male given name Reginald.

A diminutive of the female given name Regina.


Donnie

A male given name; diminutive of Don, Donald, Donovan, Adonis


Aimée

Unadapted borrowing from French Aimée (“beloved”).


Cameron

en-proper noun

Cameron (countable and uncountable, plural Camerons)

From Scottish Gaelic Camshròn, from cam (“crooked, bent”) + sròn (“nose”). Compare Campbell, from Scottish Gaelic cam (“crooked”) + beul (“mouth”).

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


Muhamed

A male given name from Arabic: alternative spelling of Muhammad


Mehmed

From Ottoman Turkish محمد (Mehmed, Mehmet), from Arabic مُحَمَّد (muḥammad). Doublet of Muhammad.

A male given name from Turkish, variant of Muhammad.


Jeanne

From French Jeanne, from Middle French Jehanne, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Latin Ioanna under influence from Latin Iōhannēs, 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, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena.


Dinah

From Hebrew דִּינָה (dīna, "judged, vindicated"); see דין.

Every child in the Square at once hurried and thrust and scrambled and pushed a way through the crowd, and in less than a minute Dinah and Dorinda were entirely surrounded by fifty or sixty boys and girls, all shouting […]

1944, Eric Linklater, The Wind on the Moon:

A female given name from Hebrew of biblical origin. Alternative form of Dina.


Krystina

A female given name from Ancient Greek. A rare modern spelling of Christina.


Zalika

Uncertain. Suggestions include a Swahili Muslim name meaning "ahead, brilliant", or an Egyptian Arabic name meaning 'well-born' or 'born into power'.


Dina

Equivalent of the biblical name Dinah in several European languages, ultimately from Hebrew דִּינָה.

der

Hebrew דִּינָה


Dina

Borrowed clipping of longer names in many languages, such as Italian Dina.


Laurence

From the name of a third century Roman martyr, Latin Laurentius, "a person from Laurentum", the place name possibly derived from laurus (“laurel”) .

Romeo: Bid her devise / Some means to come to shrift this afternoon; / And there she shall at Friar Laurence' cell / Be shriv'd and married.

c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:

"I will do any thing, however impossible, if you will only not call me Mr Hervey. Why am I not Laurence to you - Miss Vivian calls me Laurence - I am Laurence to every one but you - let me hear you call me Laurence," in an earnest manner.

1835, Mary Shelley, Lodore, Wallis&Newell, published 1835, page 30:

A male given name from Latin, feminine equivalent Lauren


Nahum

Derived from Hebrew נַחוּם (nakhúm, “consolation”).

der+

Nahum Tate's grandfather and father were both clergymen.

1853, Wiltshire Stanton Austin, John Ralph, The Lives of the Poets-Laureate, page 197:

(rare) A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.


Obadiah

/ˌoʊbəˈdaɪə/

From Hebrew עובדיה (Ovadya, “servant of Yahweh”); comparable to Arabic عبد اللّٰه (ʕabd-allah, “servant of God”).

der

A male given name from Hebrew, of biblical origin.


Emma

Brought to England by the Normans; short form of compound given names beginning with a Frankish prototheme Ermin- or Irmin- "entire", from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz.

Both Saxon and Norman chroniclers unite in representing the youthful Queen Emma as in a peculiar degree gifted with elegance and beauty; so that many flattering epithets had been bestowed on her - as "the Pearl," "the Flower," or "the Fair Maid" of Normandy.

1854, Matthew Hall, The Queens Before the Conquest, pages 259–260:

Emma Calvé...since Madame Bovary the name Emma suggests a solid bourgeois foundation, a country family...Emma Eames, a chilly name...a wind from the East.

1917, Carl Van Vechten, Interpreters and Interpretations., A.A.Knopf, page 92:

The cottage now belonged to Emma's mother Beatrix, who was a tutor in English literature at a women's college, specialising in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century novel. This may have accounted for Emma's Christian name, for it had seemed to Beatrix unfair to call her daughter Emily, a name associated with her grandmother's servants rather than the author of The Wuthering Heights, so Emma had been chosen, perhaps with the hope that some of the qualities possessed by the heroine of the novel might be perpetuated.

1980, Barbara Pym, A Few Green Leaves, →ISBN, page 8:

A female given name from the Germanic languages.


Habakkuk

Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew חֲבַקּוּק (ḥăḇaqqūq). The name perhaps comes from חָבַק (ḥāḇaq, “embrace”), or perhaps from Akkadian 𒄩𒄠𒁀𒄣𒄣 (ḫambaqūqu [ḫa-am-ba-qu-qu], “garden herb”).

It would be Bowditch's last voyage. He had been lucky: a younger brother William died on a voyage to Trinidad in 1799, and an older brother Habakkuk drowned in Boston Harbor in 1800.

2009, Jeff Suzuki, Mathematics in Historical Context, page 315:


Musa

Transliteration of Arabic مُوسَى (mūsā), Persian موسی (Musâ), and Turkish Musa; ultimately from Biblical Hebrew. Doublet of Moses.

A male given name from Arabic, equivalent to English Moses


Wendy

Popularized by the character in J.M. Barrie's play, Peter Pan (1904) (though occasionally found earlier); the author explained that he got it from Fwendy-Wendy ("friend"), a nickname given to him by a child.
Alternatively, from a diminutive of the Welsh Gwendolen; or from Wendelin, a diminutive of Wendel.
A habitational forename meaning, "island at the river bend", from Old English wende (“watercourse with a bend”) + ēġ (“island”).

inh

"What's your name?" he asked.
"Wendy Moira Angela Darling," she replied with some satisfaction. "What is your name?"
"Peter Pan."

1911, J. M. Barrie, chapter III, in Peter Pan, Wordsworth Editions Ltd, published 1993:

A female given name originating as a coinage.


Katharine

A variant spelling of Catherine, based on the folk etymology that it would derive from Greek καθαρός (katharos "pure").

Petruchio.Good morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear.
Katharina.Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing:
They call me Katharine that do talk of me.


Ezekiel

From Koine Greek Ἰεζεκιήλ (Iezekiḗl), from Biblical Hebrew יְחֶזְקֵאל (Y'ḥezqēl, “God strengthens”).

der

A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin. First used by 17th century Puritans; rare today.


Cathy

It was named Catherine, but he never called it the name in full, as he had never called the first Catherine short, probably because Heathcliff had a habit of doing so. The little one was always Cathy, it formed to him a distinction from the mother, and yet, a connection with her; ( - - - )

1847 December, Ellis Bell [pseudonym; Emily Brontë], Wuthering Heights: […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Thomas Cautley Newby, […], →OCLC:

'Cathy sounds like the name of a truck-stop waitress,' she overheard her father-in-law tell Adam after they returned from their honeymoon. 'Tell her to call herself Cat and, for Christ's sake, get her to stop biting her lip all the time.'

2007, Kate Jacobs, The Friday Night Knitting Club, Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN, page 124:

A diminutive of the female given name Catherine and of its variant forms, also used as a formal given name in the 20th century.


Kathleen

Anglicization of Caitlín, an Irish equivalent of the English Catherine.

Kathleen mavourneen! the gray dawn is breaking,
The horn of the hunter is heard on the hill,
The lark from her light wing the bright dew is shaking,
Kathleen mavourneen, what slumbering still?

1837, Marion Crawford - Frederick Nicholls Crouch, Kathleen Mavourneen (a song)


Alexa

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Alexa.wav

* Alex + -a. A feminine form of Alex.
* Short for Alexandra.

Coordinate term: Siri

(computing) A speech recognition and intelligent personal assistant application developed by Amazon Inc.


Elliott

en-proper noun

Elliott (countable and uncountable, plural Elliotts)

French: Éliot, Éliott, Élliot, Élliott

Swedish: Elliot

English surname derived from a Middle English diminutive of Elie, Old French form of Elias or Elijah, meaning "my God is Yahweh". As a Scottish surname it may also represent Gaelic Elloch from a word meaning a dam or bank.

(countable) A male given name
A male given name from Hebrew

A male given name transferred from the surname (today representing transferred use of the surname)


Dora

A diminutive of Dorothy used since early 19th century. Sometimes also short for Theodora or Isidora.

"I think," said Robert, after waiting in vain for his cousin to speak, "that I shall call you Dorothy. It is a much prettier name than Dora."
"No, thank you," said Dorothy, quickly; "Dora is good enough for the common purposes of life."

1856, Margaret Agnes Paull, Dorothy: A Tale, B. Tauchnitz, published 1857, page 63:


Amos

From Biblical Hebrew עמוס (Amos, “to carry; a burden”).


Stefanie

A female given name from French, a less common spelling of Stephanie, from the French Stéphanie, feminine form of Stephen.


Brandon

From Middle English Brandon, Brampdon, Bramdun, Bremedon, Bromdun, from Old English brōmdūn, from brōm (“broom shrub”) + dūn (“hill, dune”). Doublet of English Branton.

A male given name transferred from the surname, of 1980s and 1990s American and Canadian usage.


Brandon

From Irish Mac Breandáin (“son of Breandán”). Doublet of Brendan.

A male given name transferred from the surname, of 1980s and 1990s American usage, variant of Brendan.


Bret

A male given name transferred from the surname, variant of Brett, ultimately meaning "a Breton".


Zola

A female given name created from Zoë or from the surname.


Zechariah

Book of Zechariah
Zechariah (Hebrew prophet)
Zechariah (priest)
Zechariah of Israel

/ˌzɛkəˈɹaɪə/

From Hebrew זְכַרְיָה (zəḵaryā, “the Lord has remembered”).


Aidan

Name of an Irish saint, Anglicized from Irish Aodhán and Scottish Gaelic Aodhan, diminutives of Aodh (literally "fire", the name of a Celtic sun god).

(rare) A female given name from Irish of modern usage.


Riley

en-proper noun

Riley (countable and uncountable, plural Rileys)

* From Ryley in Lancashire, from Old English ryge (“rye”) + leah (“clearing, meadow”). Equivalent to rye + -ley (“lea”).
* Variant of Reilly, from Irish Ó Raghallaigh (see O'Reilly).

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

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

A town in Riley Township, Vigo County, Indiana, United States


Jeremiah

/ˌd͡ʒɛɹəˈmaɪə/

From Latin Jeremias, from Ancient Greek Ἰερεμίας (Ieremías), from Hebrew יִרְמְיָה (yirm'yá, “Jeremiah”, literally “Yahweh exalt”).

der

The man whom you call Diarmaid when you speak Irish, a low, pernicious, un-Irish, detestable custom, begot by slavery, and propagated by cringing, and fostered by flunkeyism, forces you to call Jeremiah when you speak English, or as a concession, Darby.

2000, David Pierce, Irish Writing in the Twentieth Century: A Reader, . Cork University Press., →ISBN, page 8:

A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.


Tiffany

From Old French Tifinie, Tiphanie, from Latin Theophania (“Epiphany”), from Ancient Greek θεό- (theó-, “god”) (combining form of θεός (theós, “god”)) + φαίνω (phaínō, “I shine, appear”). Doublet of theophany.
The given name (from circa 12th century) was usually given to girls born at Epiphany. The surname (from late 13th century) is a dialectal variant of the surname Tiffin, which derives from the given name variant Tiffania.
In modern times, the given name has been (re)popularized by the surname borne by Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of jewelry company Tiffany & Co.

"That's her real name, you know. I mean, a lot of girls working the topless joints, they take exotic, sexy names...well, Tiffany Carter, for example...but that was the name Tracy was born with."

1985, Ed McBain, Snow White and Rose Red, page 130:

A female given name transferred from the surname.


Jonah

From the Hebrew יוֹנָה (yonáh, “dove”). Doublet of Jonas.

'It's Jonah,' Ted says.
Simmy considers this. 'As in the whale?'
'Yep.'
'You know,' Simmy says, 'that people are going to say that to him for ever more?'
'What? The whale thing?'
'Yes.'
Ted shrugs again. 'Well. He'll get used to it. All names have got some associations. Anyway, he looks like a Jonah. And I like the name Jonah—'
'Obviously,' Simmy cuts in, 'since you chose it.'

2010, Maggie O'Farrell, The Hand That First Held Mine, Headline, →ISBN, page 165:


Norma

Coined name of an imaginary Celtic priestess in Bellini's opera Norma (1831). Sometimes explained as Latin norma (“pattern, model”), or as a feminine form of Norman.

I wish I could remember that girl's Christian name. Something connected with a song...Thora? Speak to me, Thora, Thora, Thora. Something like that, or Myra? Myra, oh Myra my love is all for thee... Norma? Or do I mean Maritana? Norma - Norma Restarick. That's right, I'm sure.

1966, Agatha Christie, Third Girl, page 6:

A female given name originating as a coinage.


Clifton

en-proper noun

Clifton (countable and uncountable, plural Cliftons)

*Literally meaning "town by a cliff." From Old English clif (“cliff”) + tūn (“town”). Analyzable as cliff + -ton.
*In Oregon County, Missouri, from Cliff + -ton. From being named after a Cliff, or which may be clipped to Clif.

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Geordie

A diminutive of the male given name George.

A diminutive of the female given names Georgia, Georgiana, Georgette, or Georgina.


Lexi

A female given name from Ancient Greek, a diminutive of the female given names Alexa Alexandra, Alexia, and Alexis.


Allie

A diminutive of the female given names Alice, Alison, or Alexandra or other names beginning with Al-, from the Germanic languages or Ancient Greek

A diminutive of the male given names Alfred, Albert, Alan, or Alexander or other names beginning with Al-, from the Germanic languages, the Celtic languages, or Ancient Greek


Ellie

"It's funny, because when Ellie was born, I really hoped she'd turn out like this, feisty and rebellious and loud and bright. That's why I called her Eleanor Toyah."
"Is that something classical?" Fiona asked.
"No, it's pop," said Will. Fiona laughed, although Will couldn't see why. "Toyah Wilcox."

1998, Nick Hornby, About A Boy, Victor Gollancz, →ISBN, page 285:


Law

Clipping of Lawrence; From the given name Lawrence.

A male given name diminutive of Lawrence.


Anthea

From Ancient Greek ἄνθη (ánthē, “blossom”).


Gladys

Anglicized from Welsh Gwladus, of uncertain origin, perhaps connected with gwlad (“country”).

Gladys was the eldest daughter of the house, and when her parents had chosen her name – a name which they considered emblematic of happiness, in spite of certain questionings that had arisen among the name fanciers on the subject – it would seem that some unseen fairy godmother had really bestowed that best of all gifts on their child, for Gladys was the happiest, most contented, sunshiny little person imaginable.

Anthony continued the prophecy:
"Of course Gladys and Eleanor, having graced the last generation of heroines and being at present in their social prime, will be passed on to the next generation of shopgirls -"

1922, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, The Beautiful and Damned, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, (please specify |book=1, 2, or 3):

R. Jeeves: In my experience, ladies who spell Gladys with a W are seldom noted for their reliability, sir. It gives them romantic notions.
B.W. Wooster: With a W, Jeeves? No, no, no, no. You spell it with a G.
R. Jeeves: If I might draw your attention to the signature on the portrait, sir.
B.W. Wooster: Good Lord! G-W?
R. Jeeves: I blame Alfred Lord Tennyson and his Idylls of the King. It also accounts for Kathryn, Ysabel, and Ethyl, all spelt with a Y, but Gwladys is a particularly virulent form, sir.

1993 May 16, “Return to New York”, in Jeeves and Wooster, Series 3, Episode 6:


Carly

A feminine form of Carl, taken to use in the latter half of the 20th century; also a pet form of Carla, Carlene and Carlotta.

She introduced herself. I said, 'Where'd you get a name like Carly?' and she said, from her aunt.

2008, Sheila Weller, Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon-- And the Journey of a Generation, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 263:

A female given name from the Germanic languages.


Casimir

From a Polish royal name and saint's name Kazimierz, of Slavic origin, meaning "proclamation of peace".

- Babushka wants you to call the poor little bugger Casimir after her uncle in the Resistance. Can you imagine what would happen in any schoolyard to a kid with a name like Casimir?

1992, Thomas Keneally, Woman of the Inner Sea, Plume, published 1994, →ISBN, page 19:


Barney

Barney (countable and uncountable, plural Barneys)

From either the Old English personal name Bera (genitive singular Beran) or from Old English beren (“growing with barley”) + īeġ (“island”).

inh

A male given name transferred from the surname

A diminutive of the male given names Barnabas, Barnaby, Bernard, or Barnett.

A male given name
A male given name from Old English


Rachael

My friends, we are now—Rachael my wife, and I—in the mansions of the rich and great.

1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, chapter LIV, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC:

A female given name from Hebrew, a spelling variant of Rachel first recorded in the 17th century.


Abbas

From Arabic عَبَّاس (ʕabbās, “one who frowns a lot; untamed lion”), from عَبَسَ (ʕabasa, “to frown”), the title of the eightieth sura of the Qur'an.


Minnie

en-proper noun

Minnie (countable and uncountable, plural Minnies)

When they are used to express the affectionate regard of near friends and relatives they also may be pretty and appropriate, but they look very silly in a formal signature, and surely do not befit the dignity of womanhood. We had, for instance, among these 800 names scores of Minnies, Mamies, and only here and there a Mary, a much more euphonious as well as a dignified name.

1880 Emily Faithfull, The Victoria Magazine, v.36 (July-Dec 1880), page 264

A diminutive of the female names Wilhelmina, Minerva, Mary, Mina and Mamie. Popular as a formal female given name in the 19th century.


Roland

From Old French, from Frankish *Hrōþiland (literally “fame-land”). Name of a paladin of Charlemagne in medieval French romance. Doublet of Orlando.

der

Chanson de Roland
Roland (disambiguation)

A male given name from the Germanic languages.


Becher

These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 26:35:


Campbell

* As a Scottish surname, from Scottish Gaelic Caimbeul, from cam (“crooked”) + beul (“mouth”). Compare Cameron, from Scottish Gaelic cam (“crooked”) + sròn (“nose”).
* As an Irish surname, from Mac Cathmhaoil (“son of Cathmhaol”), see Caulfield, Cowell.
* As an English surname, variant of Camel, probably influenced by the above.
* (duck breed): Developed by Adele Campbell.

A female given name transferred from the surname, of 2000s and later usage.


Wilhelmina

Borrowed from German Wilhelmina, equivalent to Wilhelm + -ina.

She comforted herself however, on the first appearance of her pregnancy, that so odious a surname should be qualified in her children with the genteelest and most elegant Christian names that history or romance could supply. - - - My eldest sister, who came into the world a year after, was called Wilhelmina Charlotta, the second Penthesilea, the third Telethusa, and the fourth Honoria.

1776 Adam Fitz-Adam: The World of Adam Fitz-Adam. Edinburgh, Apollo Press 1776: Numb. 187. Thursday, July 29, 1756

‘Wilhelmina’—I knew then that he was in deadly earnest, for he has never called me by that name since he asked me to marry him—‘you know, dear, my ideas of the trust between husband and wife: there should be no secret, no concealment.[…]’

1897, Bram Stoker, “Letter, Mina Harker to Lucy Westenra”, in Dracula, New York, N.Y.: Modern Library, →OCLC, chapter IX, page 115:

A female given name from German, masculine equivalent Wilhelm.


Celeste

Borrowed from French Céleste, ultimately from Latin caelestis (“heavenly”).

A female given name from French [in turn from Latin].


Sophocles

From Latin Sophoclēs from Ancient Greek Σοφοκλῆς (Sophoklês).

Σοφοκλής Σοφοκλής#Greek

A male given name from Ancient Greek, equivalent to Ancient Greek Σοφοκλῆς (Sophoklês) or Greek Σοφοκλής (Sofoklís).


José

Unadapted borrowing from Spanish or Portuguese José.

As an ardent admirer and devotee of Dr José Rizal, he collected Rizaliana material, going to great lengths to woo the sisters of Rizal in order for them to sell to him precious Rizaliana items.

2006, Cynthia Ongpin Valdes, At My Grandfather's Knee: A Portrait of Alfonso T. Ongpin, →ISBN, page 175:

A male given name from Spanish, variant of Jose


Pablo

Borrowed from Spanish Pablo from Latin Paulus. Doublet of Paul.

A male given name from Spanish, equivalent to English Paul.


Gemma

→ Cebuano: Gemma

→ Tagalog: Gemma

Ultimately from Latin gemma (“jewel”). The given name is mostly borrowed via Italian Gemma; the spelling Jemma in particular is associated with James. Doublet of gemma and gem.

Gemma. A curious name. He didn't think he had ever come across it before. She would have an outlandish name, either because her equally eccentric parents had labelled her with it or—more likely—she had adopted it herself on the grounds of originality.

1971, Ruth Rendell, No More Dying Then, Random House, published 2009, →ISBN, page 35:

Gemma gave him another gushing smile. She wanted to make amends for almost fouling up Blake's deal. "Gemma. What a beautiful name. You are indeed a jewel."

1998, Lisa Andrews, Too Late For Love, Robinson Pub., published 1998, →ISBN, page 200:


Glenn

An unincorporated community in Glenn County, California, United States.

census-designated place
census-designated place

An unincorporated community and census-designated place in Heard County, Georgia, United States.

An unincorporated community in Jackson County, Illinois, United States.

An unincorporated community in Ripley County, Missouri, United States.

The Glen was the prettiest place she knew, so pretty she thought she ought to name her first baby after it. With another "n" added "to make it look more like a name", she called him Glenn Hammond Curtiss. The middle name was taken from the town itself, or its first settler, Lazarus Hammond.
The whimsy of naming her son after a local landmark was typical of Lua Curtiss. Then too a name like Glenn Hammond Curtiss has sweep and resonance, was much less commonplace than Harry or Jim or Charlie; or Frank, like his father.

1937, Clara Studer, Sky storming Yankee, Stackpole sons, 1937, page 19:

Of course Crake wasn't Crake yet, at that time; his name was Glenn. Why did it have two n's instead of the usual spelling? "My dad liked music," was Crake's explanation, once Jimmy got around asking him about it, which had taken a while. "He named me after a dead pianist, some boy genius with two n's."

2003, Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake, Virago, published 2004, →ISBN, page 80:

A male given name transferred from the surname, fairly popular in the middle of the 20th century.

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


Rabia

From Arabic رَابِعَة (rābiʕa), the feminine of رَبِيع (rabīʕ, “spring”) as well as رَابِع (rābiʕ, “fourth”), from أَرْبَعَة (ʔarbaʕa, “four”). Hence Rabia means both "spring" and "the fourth female".

A female given name from Arabic, meaning spring, meant to symbolize the beginning of life, hope and the advent of happiness after a dark winter. The name of the first female Sufi saint, Rabia El Basri.


Rajindra

From Sanskrit राज (rāja, “king”) + इन्द्र (indra, “Indra”).

A male given name from Sanskrit used in India.


Rajesh

From Sanskrit राज (rāja, “king”) + ईश्वर (īśvara, “God, the ultimate power”).


Mindy

Her twin daughters were on the playground equipment. Cynthia and Melinda, reduced to Cindy and Mindy, as Carella had dreaded would happen from the moment she named them.

1999, Ed McBain, The Big Bad City, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 139:

A diminutive of the female given name Melinda and of Miranda.


Cade

* As an English surname, from an old personal name Cada, from a Germanic root meaning "lump, swelling" and perhaps related to the next sense.
* Also as an English occupational surname for a cooper, from Old French cade (“barrel, cask”), from Latin cadus.
* Also as an English surname, from the noun cade (sense 1) (“domestic animal”).
* As a French surname, spelling variant of Cadé, from cade (“juniper”).

They're fine lads, but if it's Cade Calvert you're setting your cap after, why, 'tis the same with me.

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

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Chester

en-proper noun

Chester (countable and uncountable, plural Chesters)

From Middle English Chestre, from Old English Ċeaster, from ceaster, a borrowing from Latin castra (“camp”).
The village in Nova Scotia is likely named after the city in Pennsylvania.

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


Missy

A diminutive of the female given name Melissa.


Cath

A diminutive of the female given name Catherine.


Debbie

A diminutive of the female given name Deborah.


Lizzie

A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth


Melinda

Coined in the eighteenth century from names such as Melanie and Melissa + -inda.

A female given name originating as a coinage.


Cassidy

From the Irish surname, Anglicized from Ó Caiside (“descendant of Caiside”), from cas (“curly-haired”).

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

Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island#English

British Columbia
British Columbia#English

A community in southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.


Quinn

Quinn (countable and uncountable, plural Quinns)

The surname is borrowed from Irish Ó Coinn (“descendant of Chief”).

bor+

As a junior at Lawndale High School, Daria isn't popular (unlike the shallow Quinn, whom others adore), but she actually prefers not to be popular.

2011, David Mansour, From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century:

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

A ghost town in Macomb County, Michigan.


Eleanor

The first known bearer was Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122–1204), Provençal Aliénor, perhaps from Latin alia (“other”) and her mother's name Aenor, its meaning thereby said to be “the other Aenor”. This Aenor seems to come from earlier Adenordis, which might be some corruption of Adamardis, feminine form of Ademar or Adamarus, from Proto-West Germanic *Audamār, from the Proto-Germanic elements *audaz (“riches”) + *mēraz (“fame”).
An Arabic origin from نُور (nūr, “light”) has also been suggested. Eleanor has often been erroneously interpreted as a variant of Helen.
More at Eleanor. Also see Aenor.

Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright: / Presumptuous dame! ill-nurtured Eleanor! / Art thou not second woman in the realm, / And the protector's wife, belov'd of him?

When you hear a young lady called Eleanor, you think of a tall, beautiful, interesting creature directly - the very opposite of me! With my personal appearance, Eleanor sounds ridiculous - and Neelie, as you yourself remarked, is just the thing. No! no! don't say any more - - -

1866, William 'Wilkie' Collins, Armadale, Kissinger Publishing, published 2004, →ISBN, page 288:


Jenkin

Either transferred from the surname Jenkins or derived from the medieval given name Jankin, the pet form of Jan.


Nathan

en-proper noun

Nathan (countable and uncountable, plural Nathans)

From Hebrew נָתָן (natán, “gave”). Also short for Jonathan.

I used to envy my brother his name, and recall once accusing my mother of having favored him, else why did she name me Nathan and him Philip, tell me that, ma, tell me that. He had king Philip and if day-dreaming that association wasn't pleasure enough, there was the then movie star, Phillips Holmes. All I had was Nathan Hale. Admittedly, Nathan Hale would have been fine — except among our schoolyard ditties was the couplet: Nathan Hale, / Nathan Hale, / He shit in a pail, / Shit in a pail. Being a Nathan was sometimes trying.

1972, Nate Perlmutter, A Bias of Reflections: Confessions of an Incipient Old Jew, Arlington House, →ISBN, page 27:

He was so proud he'd had a son. He talked me into naming him Nathan saying he had always loved that name. I was surprised to see when I looked it up in a name book it meant gift from God. And yes that was a very appropriate name.

2007, Rose Lamatt, Lifeline Online, →ISBN, page 128:

A male given name from Hebrew, of Biblical origin.


Dixon

Dixon (countable and uncountable, plural Dixons)


Trent

Trent (countable and uncountable, plural Trents)

*From Welsh tros (“over”) + hynt (“way”), often taken to mean "the trespasser"
*Another possibility: a shortening of "Tranent", or "Tranant" in Scottish Gaelic, a geographical location in East Lothian. "Tranant" itself is possibly of Brythonic (Celtic) origin.


Kimberly

Kimberly (countable and uncountable, plural Kimberlys)

What was her name? Kimberly. ( - - - ) Jesus, everybody was named Kimberly, four in her class. Three guys named Sean. Kimberly with her soap opera name tried to fix herself, punched all those holes in her ears trying to look pretty, trying to decorate herself.

1988, Thomas Harris, The Silence of the Lambs, page 210:

A unisex given name transferred from the surname, popular in the 1960s and the 1970s.


Levi

Ultimately from Biblical Hebrew לֵוִי (Leví), of uncertain origin. Doublet of Lewi.


Jefferson

Jefferson (countable and uncountable, plural Jeffersons)

/ˈd͡ʒɛfɚsən/

From Jeffrey + -son. The placenames in the United States are named for Thomas Jefferson.


Jamie

"Let's choose something simple. Children with simple names are never embarrassed with them. How about Jamie?"
Matthew looked doubtful. "Jamie's fine," he said. "But if he's called Jamie he's going to end up being a particular sort, if you know what I mean. He'll play rugby, he'll go to New Town bars after the international matches. Being called Jamie signs you up to an awful lot of Scottish upper-middle-class stuff."

2010, Alexander McCall Smith, The Importance of Being Seven, Polygon, →ISBN, page 112:

A diminutive of the male given name James, from English and Scottish, also used as a formal given name.

A female given name from Hebrew derived from James, of modern American usage.

A unisex given name
Alternative form of Jaime


Phyllis

From Ancient Greek Φυλλίς (Phullís, “foliage”).

bor

Fair Phyllis I saw sitting all alone / Feeding her flock near to the mountain side

1599 John Farmer, Fair Phyllis (a madrigal)

But the name to which the Pages were given of yore, / And the name of the Page I am speaking of, bore / As much likeness as Sukey to Eleonore, / or Betty to Phyllis or Lalage;

1855 A.W., The Little Foot-Page, in Chambers's Journal, No. 92, Oct. 6, 1855

"Look," said Bobbie, "I've made the nest all right again. Give me the bit of stick to mark your initial name on it. But how can you? Your letter and Peter's are the same. P. for Peter, P. for Phyllis." "I put F. for Phyllis," said the child of that name. "That's how it sounds. The swallows wouldn't spell Phyllis with a P., I'm certain-sure."

1906, Edith Nesbit, The Railway Children, Chapter 11:

"Well, you know when a father's name is Paul and they name the baby girl, Paulette?" "Or Paula." "That's right. Or his name is Philip and they name her Phyllis?" "Or Phillipa. Don't forget Phillipa. I love the name Phillipa." Lark smiled and played the game with Holly.

2002, Patricia McCune Irvine, A Tinkling Cymbal, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 183:

A female given name from Ancient Greek derived from the mythological character.


Blake

en-proper noun

Blake (countable and uncountable, plural Blakes)

A surname derived from either English black, from Old English blæc (“black”) or from Old English blāc (“pale, fair, shining, white”), or as an anglicisation of Irish Ó Bláthmaic.

der

A male given name transferred from the surname.

(rather rare) A female given name transferred from the surname.

An unincorporated community in Owsley County, Kentucky, United States.


Gwen

A female given name from Welsh, shortened from Gwendolen or Guinevere.

Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl was a hit in 2004.


Daria

Feminine form of Darius, of Old Persian origin. Name of an early Christian saint.


Tobias

Derived from Ancient Greek Τοβίας (Tobías), from Hebrew טוֹבִיָּה (toviyá, literally “my good is YHWH”).


Nicola

A feminine version of Nicholas, first used in the 20th century.

Nicola Sturgeon ― (name of a Scottish politician)

"Come in with me, if you like. You can help me to find the child." She fumbled in her bag and found a slip of paper. "Her name is Nicola Anna Magdalene Elisabeth Stephanie Lenke." Peter laughed. "She ought to be easy to find with that lot. What do they call her for short?"

1936, Jerrard Tickell, See How They Run, W. Heinemann, page 10:

He had never called her by her full name so many times in a row. Usually it was Nicky, or sometimes Nick. But never Nicola. Her full name sounded very ominous coming now from Nathaniel Sheridan's lips.

2002, Meg Cabot, Nicola and the Viscount, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 244:


Nikki

20th-century fanciful respelling of Nicky.

A diminutive of the female given name Nicole, variant of Nicky


Diego

From Spanish Diego, from an Iberian Didacus, of uncertain origin.


Benito

A male given name from Spanish and Italian, equivalent to English Benedict.


Georgina

/dʒɔː(ɹ)ˈdʒiːnə/


Salome

From Ancient Greek Σαλώμη (Salṓmē), from Hebrew שְׁלוֹמִית (sh'lomít) (belonging to the same root as שָׁלוֹם (shalóm, “peace”)).

en:Salome
en:Salome (disambiguation)
en:Salome (disciple)
en:Salome (given name)

(rare) A female given name from Ancient Greek [in turn from Hebrew], masculine equivalent Solomon


Catie

A diminutive of the female given names Catherine or Caitlin


Cate

A diminutive of the female given name Catherine


Clement

en-proper noun

Clement (countable and uncountable, plural Clements)

From Late Latin Clēmens (genitive Clēmentis), name of early saints and popes, from clēmens (“merciful”). Doublet of Clemens and San Clemente.

And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

A male given name from Latin, borne by an early pope and by several saints.


Hank

A diminutive of the male given name Henry.


Diane

→ Portuguese: Daiane

An anglicization of French Diane, from Latin Diāna. Doublet of Diana

A female given name from Latin. Popular in the middle of the 20th century.


Lorraine

Borrowed from French Lorraine, from Old French Loherraine, from Latin Lotharingia, Lothringia (ultimately named for Lothair II, who ruled it); compare Lotharingia, German Lothringen.

A female given name transferred from the place name, associated with Laura by folk etymology.


Isidore

French form of the name of early Spanish saints, from Ancient Greek Ἰσίδωρος (Isídōros), meaning "gift of (the goddess) Isis".


Perry

Perry (countable and uncountable, plural Perrys or Perries)

A unisex given name transferred from the surname.

A diminutive of the unisex given name Peregrine.


Anirvan

From Sanskrit अ- (a-, “un-”) + निर्वाण (nirvāṇa, “dying”). Hence it refers to the inner self or soul or the self beyond the mortal body.

A male given name from Sanskrit. One of the common Hindu names for boys.


Armaghan

From Persian and Urdu ارمغان (armağân), meaning a present or a gift.

A transliteration of a Persian and Urdu male given name from Urdu.


Animesh

From Sanskrit अनिमिष (animiṣa, “almighty, unblinking, vigilant”), the name of a Deva, also said of a fish, अ- (a, “not”) + निमिष (nimiṣa, “twinkling, closing of the eye, moment”), in turn from निमिषति (nimiṣati, “shut one's eyes, wink, fall asleep”).

der

A male given name from Sanskrit, used by Hindus.


Ajish

English spelling of a Malayalam name അജീഷ് (ajīṣŭ), that derives from Sanskrit अज (ajá, “unborn, angels”) + ईश (īśá, “Lord”), meaning Lord of the unborn.

A male given name from Malayalam used in India.


Arnab

Transliteration of Bengali অর্ণব (ornob), from Sanskrit अर्णव (arṇava). Doublet of Arnav.

transliteration

A male given name from Sanskrit or Bengali, meaning “sea”.


Zachary

Unto whom I will giue for leaders, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, Ioel, Abdias, and Ionas, Nahum, and Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zacharie, and Malachie, which is called also an Angel of the Lord.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Esdras 1:39-40:

Albeit in our late Reformation, some of good consideration have brought in Zachary, Malachy, Josias, &c. as better agreeing with our faith, but without contempt of countrey names (as I hope), which have both good and gracious significations,

1605, William Camden, Remains Concerning Britain, John Russell Smith, published 1870, page 56:

"Zachary!" Her lips smacked at the name. "That's not a...well,a...Jewish name, is it?"
"Oh yes, Zechariah, my father was born in the U.S.S.R., in Podolsk, and my mother's family came from Russia also, a long time ago. I suppose it's Russian or something."
"Russian? It doesn't sound Russian."
"Well I don't know exactly; my mother liked Zachary Scott in the pictures."

2003, Alan Grayson, Mile End, PageFree Publishing Inc., →ISBN, page 366:

A male given name from Hebrew, English vernacular form of Zacharias, Zachariah and Zechariah.


Arijit

An Indian name. It derives from a Sanskrit word.

A male given name from Sanskrit, meaning a person who wins over his enemies.


Visuvabharathy

From Sanskrit [Term?], from the root words visuva (worldly) and bharathy (man of India).


Natasha

Borrowed from Russian Ната́ша (Natáša), an informal pet form of Ната́лия (Natálija), cognate to Natalie.

A female given name from Russian borrowed from Russian in the twentieth century.

Ната́ша

pet or diminutive form only for Ната́лья (Natálʹja) or Ната́лия (Natálija)


Nora

Short form of Eleanor or, rarely, of Honora.


Chirag

A male given name meaning “lamp, lightsource”, borrowed from Persian چراغ (čerâğ, čarâğ).

der

čerâğ, čarâğ

A male given name from Ancient Persia often used in India.


Aly

A diminutive of the female given name Alison, Alyssa, or Alexandra.

A male given name from Arabic, a variant spelling of the Muslim Ali.


Lexie

→ Scottish Gaelic: Leagsaidh

And then a curious postscript: I share your dislike of the shortening of names but I must say that I'm not sure 'Alexandra' is entirely suitable for you. It seems to me that you require a name with rather more brio. I see you as a 'Lexie'. What do you think?

2010, Maggie O'Farrell, The Hand That First Held Mine, Headline, →ISBN, page 34:

A female nickname, diminutive of the given names Alexis, Alexia, Alexandra or Alexandria.


Chrissy

A diminutive of the female given names Christine or Christina


Josie

A diminutive of the female given name Josephine.


Josephine

From French Joséphine, diminutive of Josèphe, feminine form of Joseph. Popularized in English by Josephine Bonaparte, the empress of Napoleonic France.

"I hate my name, too, so sentimental! I wish every one would say Jo instead of Josephine. How did you make the boys stop calling you Dora?”

1868, Louisa May Alcott, chapter 3, in Little Women:

I'm going to call him Joseph
or Josephine if it's a girl.
Why?
Because it's a strong name,
Joe, Joseph.

1998, Steven Herrick, A Place Like This, Univ. of Queensland Press, →ISBN, page 86:


Jameson

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Zack

A diminutive of the male given names Zachariah or Zachary


Ceylon

Borrowed from Portuguese Ceilão, from Old French Seilan (Marco Polo), from Persian سیلان (saylān), ultimately from Pali sīhaḷa, from Sanskrit सिंहल (siṃhala). Doublet of Sinhala.

(very rare) A male given name transferred from the place name.


Carrie

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


Cary

A male given name transferred from the surnames.

A diminutive of the female given name Caroline.

Aroostook County
Aroostook County#English

A number of places in the United States:

An unorganised township in Aroostook County, Maine.

A town in Wake County, Chatham County and Durham County, North Carolina.


Enobakhare

From Edo, literally "the edict of the king."


Tvisha

A female given name from Sanskrit of Hindi origin, meaning light, splendor, brilliant, illuminated.


Kiran

From Sanskrit किरण (kiraṇa, “ray of light”).

A male given name from Sanskrit used by Hindus and Jains.

A female given name from Sanskrit used by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs.


Suraj

A male given name from Hindi used by Hindus.


Abbott

An occupational surname for someone employed by an abbot. In the U.S., sometimes an anglicization of Italian Abate, Spanish Abad or German Abt. Doublet of Abad.

Abat

surnames derived from the equivalents of “abbot”

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


Adlai

A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.


Supriya

A female given name from India, of Hindu usage. It means "loved by all".


Norah

A female given name, a pseudo-Hebrew spelling of Nora, diminutive of Eleonora or Honora.


Sailesh

A male given name from India, meaning god or lord of the mountain.


Santhosh

From Goddess Santhoshi Mata. It also mean happiness in many Indian languages including Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi.

A male given name from India, of Indian usage.


Sapan

A male given name from Hindi used in India.


Saikat

Transliteration of Bengali সৈকত (śōikot, “seashore, sandbank”), from Sanskrit सैकत (saikata), from सिकता (sikatā, “gravel, sand”).

translit

A male given name from Bengali used in India.


Clemens

From Late Latin Clēmens (genitive Clēmentis), name of early saints and popes, from clēmens (“merciful”). Doublet of Clement and San Clemente.

A male given name, equivalent to English Clement.


Alessandra

A female given name from Italian, equivalent to English Alexandra.


Ritesh

A male given name from India, common amongst people from India, meaning "god of seasons".


Zachariah

A male given name from Hebrew, variant of Zachary or Zechariah.


Keiran

A male given name from Irish. An Irish spelling of the name Kieran or Kieron.


Alessandro

en-proper noun

Alessandro (countable and uncountable, plural Alessandros)

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


Sawyer

Sawyer (countable and uncountable, plural Sawyers)

* As an English occupational surname, from sawyer (“one who saws”). Senses loaned from various languages include Jewish/German Seger and Sager, Slovene Žagar.
* As a French surname, variant of Seguin.

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Audrey

From Old English Æðelþryð (from æþele (“noble”) + þryþ (“strength”)).

inh

Touchstone. Come, sweet Audrey, / We must be married, or we must live in bawdry.

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 iii]:

She hates her name. What was wrong with the name Audrey? It may not have been something Elise would choose now, but she'd been eighteen when her daughter was born, and the name had seemed pretty damn cool.

(very rare) A male given name from Old English.


Priya

From Sanskrit प्रिया (priyā). Doublet of Frigg (and variants).

A female given name from India. A common Hindu female name which means beloved. It is usually used in conjunction with another name, mostly those of gods to imply "beloved of ________".


Tamara

Of Slavic origin, mainly from Russian Тама́ра (Tamára), name of a 12th-century saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, cognate with English biblical Tamar, from Hebrew תמר (tāmār, “date palm”).

A female given name from Hebrew, regularly used in English since the mid-twentieth century.


Ambrose

From Latin saints' name Ambrosius, from Ancient Greek ἀμβρόσιος (ambrósios, “immortal, divine”). Compare Athanasius.


Alexius

From Latin Alexius, from Ancient Greek Ἀλέξιος (Aléxios) or Ἄλεξις (Álexis, “helper, defender”).


Marion

en-prop

Marion (countable and uncountable, plural Marions)

From Middle English Marion, from Old French Marion, a diminutive of Marie, used in England since the Middle Ages.

The name of the captain of the sloop was Captain Maryon, and therefore it was no news to hear from Mrs. Belltott, that his sister, the beautiful young unmarried English lady, was Miss Maryon. The novelty was, that her Christian name was Marion too. Marion Maryon. Many a time I have run off those two names in my thoughts, like a bit of verse. O many, and many, and many, a time.

1857, Charles Dickens, chapter 1, in The Perils of Certain English Prisoners:

"And the name was Marion. Not Mary or Marie or anything similar? You're absolutely certain about that?" Stacey nodded. "It's not a common name," she said. "I mean I know two Maries and even a Mary though she's older than me. But Marion. I don't think I've ever met a Marion. So I know I've got it right."

1998, Jane Adams, Fade to Grey, page 132:

"I spose you want to be a cattleboy," drawled the multicolored beard whose name was Carrol Day, a curiously feminine name, thought Martin, not yet acquaintanced with the bearded Marions, Fannys and Abbys of Texas who, saddled by their unthinking mothers with dainty names, built savagely masculine frames of character.

2002, Annie Proulx, That Old Ace in the Hole, →ISBN, page 81:

(chiefly US) A male given name transferred from the surname, or by folk etymology seen as a masculine form of Mary.


Apollonia

From Latin Apollōnia, from Ancient Greek Ἀπολλωνία (Apollōnía).

Ապոլոնիա

the name of a number of Ancient Greek cities and colonies


Augustine

/ˈɔːɡəˌstiːn/

From Latin Augustīnus, derivative of Augustus. Doublet of Austin.

en:Augustine (disambiguation)
en:Augustine (given name)

A male given name from Latin, notably borne by Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430), a church father and a writer.


Pedro

Spanish and Portuguese, given name. Doublet of Peter, Piers, and Boutros.

A male given name from Spanish or Portuguese, equivalent to English Peter.


Omkaar

From an ancient Sanskrit name ओंकार (oṃkāra, “om, aum”) adopted by Hindus which translated means “the primordial sound from which the universe was manifest,” shortened to ॐ (oṃ).


Charley

A unisex given name. Alternative form of Charlie

A male given name. diminutive of Charles.

A female given name. diminutive of Charlotte or Charlene.


Eva

The (Vulgate) Latin Eva, from Ancient Greek Εὔα (Eúa), from Biblical Hebrew חַוָּה (ḥawwā). A Latinate variant of the English Eve.

"Eve," said Poirot thoughtfully. "The fashions in names change, do they not? Hardly ever, nowadays, do you hear of an Eva. But Eve, it is popular."

1951, Agatha Christie, Mrs. McGinty's Dead, Bantam Books, published 1988, →ISBN, page 150:

Mrs Saunders referred to Aoife throughout this talk as 'Eva' and when Gretta corrected her, Mrs Saunders replied that didn't Gretta think it would be better 'for everyone' to use what she termed 'the proper spelling' of the name? If only to give Eva a better chance of learning to write it?

2013, Maggie O'Farrell, Instructions for a Heatwave, Tinder Press, →ISBN, page 79:

A female given name from Latin, ultimately from Hebrew.


Mandip

A male given name from India, of Indian usage, meaning "Light of the mind".


Bartholomew

/bɑːˈθɒləmjuː/

From Latin Bartholomaeus, from Ancient Greek Βαρθολομαῖος (Bartholomaîos), from Aramaic בר תלמי (bar tolmai, “son of Talmai; son of Ptolemy”), from בר (bar, “son”) and תלמי (tolmai, “Talmai; Ptolemy”). It has long been unclear whether the Apostle's father was named after the biblical Talmai, king of Geshur, or one of the Greek Ptolemies, as the two originally unrelated names were conflated in Jewish Aramaic.
The name's pronunciation was changed to match the spelling; contrast French Barthélemy from the same source.

der

Βαρθολομαῖος

A male given name from Aramaic of biblical origin.


Agatha

Borrowed from Latin Agatha, from Ancient Greek Ἀγαθή (Agathḗ), from Ancient Greek ἀγαθός (agathós, “good”).

Agatha was as cloddish as her name – plain and thick, pasty-faced.

1991, Anne Tyler, Saint Maybe, Penguin Canada, →ISBN, page 13:


Gerald

en-proper noun

Gerald (countable and uncountable, plural Geralds)

From Old French, ultimately from Frankish *gaiʀ (“spear”) + *wald (“might, power”). The name was brought to England by the Normans. It survived in Ireland, and was revived in the 19th century.

Helen interrupted her sister, by asking her opinion of the how the name, Gerald Vernon, sounded.
"Oh, charmingly!" said Charlotte, and, raising herself above her sister, and reclining her splendid head upon her arm, continued she, "Why, do you know such a one?"
"I do," said Helen, "It's a pretty name, that's all," and she tried to draw her sister's attention off, […]

1855, Maturin Murray Ballou, The Turkish Spies Ali Abubeker Kaled, and Zenobia Marrita Mustapha., A.R.Orton, page 150:

"You're saying my father's favourite names were Gerald and Candless?"
"Not likely, is it? But Gerald must have been a favourite name with Kathleen and George Candless or they wouldn't have called their son by it?"

1998 Barbara Vine ( Ruth Rendell ): The Chimney Sweeper's Boy. →ISBN page 168

A male given name from the Germanic languages.


Evelyn

Medieval English form of the Old French female name Aveline, diminutive of the Germanic root *avi-, of uncertain meaning, possibly “desired, wished for“ (compare Latin aveo (“to wish for”)), or aval “strength”. By folk etymology the name Eve is seen as a diminutive of the female given name. Doublet of Eileen. Also compare Ava.

Beautiful Evelyn Hope is dead! / Sit and watch by her side an hour.

"I don't wear flowers," Evelyn Lilith said, and tossed the unwanted chain into the air, spearing it before it fell with a pellet from her unerring Daisy air-pistol. Destroying flowers with a Daisy, she served notice that she was not to be manacled, not even by a necklace: she was our capricious, whirligig Lill-of-the-Hill. And also Eve. The Adam's-apple of my eye.

1980, Salman Rushdie, Midnight's Children, Alfred A.Knopf, published 1981, →ISBN, page 179:

A female given name from the Germanic languages.

Evelyn Waugh


Nirali

From Hindi निराली (nirālī), meaning unique or different.


Abdinasir

From Arabic عَبْد النَّاصِر (ʕabd an-nāṣir, “servant of the Protector”).

der

عَبْد النَّاصِر

A male given name from Arabic (Islamic).


Debadutta

From Sanskrit [Term?]. The name means "given by God".

A male given name from India, of Indian usage.


Lukas

Borrowed from Latin Lucas (“a man from Lucania”).

A male given name from Latin, of rare usage, variant of Lucas.


Ashton

From Old English æsc (“ash (tree species)”) + tūn (“enclosure, settlement”).

A unisex given name transferred from the surname.


Augusta

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Augusta.wav

From Latin Augusta, feminine of Augustus. The places are mostly named for British royalty.

August, Charis named her, because that's when she was born. Warm breezes, baby powder, languorous heat, the smell of mown hay. Such a soft name. Too soft for her daughter, who has added an a. Augusta, she is now — a very different resonance. Marble statues, Roman noses, tight-lipped commanding mouths.

1993, Margaret Atwood, Robber Bride, Virago Press, published 2013, →ISBN, page 48:

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


Helena

A Latinate form of Helen, from Latin Helena.

Stay gentle Helena, heare my excuſe: / My loue, my life, my ſoule, faire Helena.

c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:


Kristin

Borrowed in the 20th century from Norwegian Kristin, a variant of Christina.

Kristin Lund looked exactly like her name. Blonde hair and blue eyes, a full tempestuous mouth, and a figure that reminded Hawes of the gently sloping hills of Sweden, where he'd never been.

1990, Ed McBain, Vespers, Mandarin, published 1991, →ISBN, page 35:

A female given name from Ancient Greek, a variation of Christine, of mostly American use.


Constance

A medieval form of the Latin Constantia from a word meaning constancy.

And forth she sailed the ocean salt and rude. / O Constance, full of sweet solicitude, / O Emperor's daughter of a mighty realm, / He that is Lord of Fortune guide thy helm!

1951, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Man of the Law's Tale”, in Nevill Coghill, transl., The Canterbury Tales: Translated into Modern English (Penguin Classics), Penguin Books, published 1977:

My name is Constance; I was Geffrey's wife; / Young Arthur is my son, and he is lost: / I am not mad:—I would to heaven I were!


Tyler

en-proper noun

Tyler (countable and uncountable, plural Tylers)

From Middle English Tyler, Tylere, Tygler, Tygheler, Tyghelere, Tyghelare, Tygelere, from Middle English tiler, tylere, tylare, tylier (“tiler”).

However, the whippet-like appearance of most Tyler Corp. executives suggests what McKinney really wants is a spring-legged crew that can run its competitors into the ground. - - - It's no coincidence, either, that his seven-year-old son is named Tyler.

1930, Henry Robinson Luce, Fortune, Time, inc:

"Yeah, I guess. I'm part Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth - on paper."
Zermatt sucked his teeth, still dubious. "I thought Cobb was Tyrus."
"Sounded too foreign for my mom or something. And there was some Scottish rebel named Tyler - maybe a cousin, so they compromised. It's kind of presidential, too, I guess. And my middle name is for - da-dum! - George Herman Ruth."

1977, Peter Tauber, The Last Best Hope, →ISBN, page 78:

A male given name transferred from the surname.

(uncommon relative to the male given name) A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1980s and later usage.

An unincorporated community in Pemiscot County, Missouri; named for lumber businessman H. A. Tyler.

A city, the county seat of Smith County, Texas; named for John Tyler, 10th president of the United States.

An unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington.


Beatrice

Either 1) from the Latin Beatrix, name of early Christian saints, from beatrix (“she who makes happy”), or 2) from beata, influenced by viatrix (“female wayfarer, traveller”).

I, with your two helps, will so practise on Benedick that, in despite of his quick wit and his queasy stomach, he shall fall in love with Beatrice.

Petrarca had his Laura, and Dante his Beatrice, but Lorenzo has studiously concealed the name of the sovereign of his affections.

1797, William Roscoe, chapter II, in The Life of Lorenzo di Medici, London:

"Seventeen years old - a senior in high school. Beatrice, her name is."
Beatrice! Rebecca was struck dumb with admiration. Beatrice would be a female version of Tristram. Rebecca pictured her in a modest muslin dress from the nineteeth century, although she knew that was unlikely.

2001, Anne Tyler, Back When We Were Grownups, Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN, page 132:


Kennedy

Borrowed from Irish Ó Cinnéidigh (ceann (“head”) + éidigh (“ugly”)) or Scottish Gaelic Ceannaideach (ceann (“head”) + aideach (“ugly”). Compare Kenneth and Irish eitigh (“refuse, reject”).

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

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


Allan

"If I had been a man," she said, "I should so like to have been called Allan!"
"Call me by my name, if you really like it," he whispered persuasively. "Call me 'Allan', for once - just to try."

1866, William 'Wilkie' Collins, Armadale, Kissinger Publishing, published 2004, →ISBN, page 288:

A male given name from the Celtic languages, a less common spelling of Alan.


Elkanah

From Hebrew אֶלְקָנָה (ʾelqānā, “God has created”).

bor

(rare) A male given name from Hebrew of Biblical origin.


Kira

Variant of Kyra or borrowed from Russian Ки́ра (Kíra), ultimately from Persian کوروش (Kūrūš). Also used as a respelling of Ciara, from Irish [Term?].

A female given name from Persian or Irish.


Michele

A female given name from Hebrew, anglicized form of Michèle, a French spelling variant of Michelle


Karina

A female given name from Ancient Greek of modern usage, a form of Karin (Catherine) long used in Scandinavia, or from Carina.


Winifred

A female given name from Welsh Gwenfrewi.


Jodi

The baby has a name at last, I suppose if it had been left much longer Vinny, the Keeper of Cat Names, would have ended up christening it Tibbles or something. Although Tibbles might suit it better than the new-fashioned name it's been given - Jodi.

1997, Kate Atkinson, Human Croquet, Black Swan, published 1998, →ISBN, page 254:

Alternative form of Jody in its female senses.


Darlene

A 20th-century coinage from darling and names like Charlene and Marlene.

(chiefly US and Australia) A female given name from English.


Charlene

A feminine form of Charles coined in the nineteenth century. Compare Marlene, Helene and Magdalene for the suffix.

"Be grateful for our blessings, Charlie." My name's really Charlene. Sounds like a southern romance, Fabio drooling over Charlene's heaving bosom. I'm no Charlene, even at fourteen.

1997, Roderick Peter MacIntyre, Takes: Stories for Young Adults, Thistledown Press, →ISBN, page 58:

A female given name from the Germanic languages; most used in the U.S. in the 1940s.


Kathryn

R. Jeeves: In my experience, ladies who spell Gladys with a W are seldom noted for their reliability, sir. It gives them romantic notions.
B.W. Wooster: With a W, Jeeves? No, no, no, no. You spell it with a G.
R. Jeeves: If I might draw your attention to the signature on the portrait, sir.
B.W. Wooster: Good Lord! G-W?
R. Jeeves: I blame Alfred Lord Tennyson and his Idylls of the King. It also accounts for Kathryn, Ysabel, and Ethyl, all spelt with a Y, but Gwladys is a particularly virulent form, sir.

1993 May 16, “Return to New York”, in Jeeves and Wooster, Series 3, Episode 6:

"Having lunch with the Gorgons today?" Andrew had asked her. It was his oft-stated opinion that the "y"'s in Kathryn and Jayne's names were their compensation for a missing, but coveted, male chromosome.

1997, Sharyn McCrumb, “The Luncheon”, in Foggy Mountain Breakdown and Other Stories, →ISBN, page 118:

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


Paige

en-proper noun

Paige (countable and uncountable, plural Paiges)

Variant of Page, from page, from Old French page, possibly via Old Italian paggio, from Late Latin pagius (“servant”), probably from Ancient Greek παιδίον (paidíon, “boy, lad”), from παῖς (paîs, “child”); some sources consider this unlikely and suggest instead Latin pagus (“countryside”), in sense of "boy from the rural regions".

der

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


Katy

A diminutive of the female given name Katherine, variant of Katie.


Beverly

en-proper noun

Beverly (countable and uncountable, plural Beverlys)

Everybody in Washington's social and diplomatic circles admired the beautiful Beverly Calhoun.

1904, George Barr McCutcheon, Beverly of Graustark, Kissinger Publishing, published 2005, →ISBN, page 6:

Mama had chosen the name Lark. - - - Papa had wanted to call me Beverly Mary; Mary after the Blessed Virgin. Mama said she wouldn't hang a name like Beverly Mary on a pet skunk.

1989, Faith Sullivan, The Cape Ann, Penguin, →ISBN, page 2:

A unisex given name transferred from the surname

A female given name transferred from the surname. Popular in the 1930s to the 1950s in the U.S., partly because of its association with Beverly Hills (where the stars live).

Having a name some people thought of as feminine had turned Beverly Lamartine to building up his muscles in his youth, and they still bulged, hard as ingots in some places, now lost in others.

1984, Louise Erdrich, Love medicine, Bantam Books, →ISBN, page 74:

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Kendra

Coined in the latter half of the twentieth century, presumably a blend of Kenneth + Sandra.

A female given name originating as a coinage.


Jody

Variant of Judy, diminutive of Judith, q.v.


Jody

From a blend of Jo or Joe with Jody or Judy. Doublet of Ivanka, Jan, Janelle, Janet, Janey, Janine, Jeanette, Jeanie, Jeannette, Jeannine, Jen, Jenna, Jenny, Jessie, Jo, Juanita, Shanae, Sinead, and Vanna in relation to most derivations of Jo as a female name.


Justine

From French Justine, from Latin Iūstīna, name of early saints, feminine of Iūstīnus, derivative of Iūstus, from iūstus (“just”). The feminine equivalent of Justin.

O you who have wept tears upon hearing of Virtue's miseries; you who have been moved to sympathy for the woe-ridden Justine; the while forgiving the perhaps too heavy brushstrokes we have found ourselves compelled to employ, may you at least extract from this story the same moral which determined Madame de Lorsange!

1953 Austryn Wainhouse, Justine, or Good Conduct Well Chastised, Grove Press 1990, page 743 ( translation of 1788 Marquis de Sade, Justine )

"What are you going to call your noisy daughter?" he asked as the door closed and they were alone.
"Justine."
"It's a very good name, but why did you choose it?"
"I read it somewhere, and I liked it."

1977, Colleen McCullough, The Thorn Birds, Gramercy Books, published 1998, →ISBN, page 377:

A male given name from French and Latin, of chiefly Philippine usage, variant of Justin.


Jenni

Me and Jenni went halves on six litres of White Lightning, […]

A diminutive of the female given name Jennifer.


Guinevere

From Middle English Gwenyver, from Middle Welsh Gwenhwyfar, from Proto-Brythonic *Gwɨnnohuɨβar. Doublet of Jennifer.

A female given name from Welsh or Proto-Celtic.


Narayan

A male given name from Sanskrit used in India.


Bessie

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


Esau

From Ancient Greek Ἡσαῦ (Hēsaû), from Biblical Hebrew עֵשָׂו (ʿēśāw).


Ross

* As a Scottish surname, from several places such as Roose in Cumbria or Roos in Yorkshire, both from Scottish Gaelic ros (“promontory”) or a Brythonic parallel of its source such as Welsh rhos (“moor, heath”). There were also several Norman families in Scotland who took their name from Rots in Calvados. Compare Rose, Rhodes.
* As an English surname, from Wrose in Shipley, with loss of initial w.
* As an English and German surname, from derivatives of the old Germanic root common in names *hrōþi (“fame”). Compare Rossell.
* As a Cornish surname, from several places in Cornwall deriving from ros (“heathland”), related to the above Celtic word meaning "heath" or "promontory." See Rouse.
* As a Jewish and German occupational surname for a breeder of horses, from the regional/poetic noun Ross (“horse”).
* Also as a Jewish surname, Americanized from Rose.

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


Garrick

From Old English *Gārrīċ, from Proto-Germanic *Gaizarīks. Doublet of Gaiseric.


Burton

Usually from Old English burhtun (fortified farmstead, farmstead near or belonging to a stronghold or manor), from burh + tun.


Antiochus

From Latin Antiochus, from Ancient Greek Ἀντίοχος (Antíokhos).

A Greek male given name from Ancient Greek, notably borne by the thirteen kings of the Seleucid dynasty.


Julianna

A female given name from Latin, variant of Juliana.


Vladimir

From Russian Влади́мир (Vladímir) and reinforced by Medieval Latin Vladimirus, name of several saints in the Eastern Orthodox Church, from Old East Slavic Володимѣръ (Volodiměrŭ), Old Church Slavonic Владимѣръ (Vladiměrŭ), from Proto-Slavic *Voldiměrъ (which see for more), equivalent to владь (vladĭ, “power”) (which is from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- (“be strong”)) and мѣръ (měrŭ, “great”), changed by folk etymology into миръ (mirŭ, “peace”). Compare Waldemar.

der

Влади́мир Владимир#Russian

A transliteration of the Russian male given name Влади́мир (Vladímir), popular throughout the history of Slavic countries and societies.

A male given name from Russian, but rare as a name of English-speaking persons.


Absalom

From Hebrew אַבְשָׁלוֹם (avshalóm, literally “father of peace”), from אָב (av, “father”) + שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”).


Antony

Demetrius. Is Caesar with Antonius priz'd so slight?
Philo. Sir, sometimes, when he's not Antony,
He comes too short of that great property
Which still should go with Antony.

c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:

A male given name from Latin, a mostly British spelling variant of Anthony.


Luther

(chiefly US) A male given name transferred from the surname, originally in honor of Martin Luther.


Doris

"My Doris—may I call you that, dearest?"
"Call me Sappho, call me Chloris, call me Lalage, or Doris—only call me thine," I should have answered, if it had not been a little too sentimental.… I am afraid I omitted to state, in the proper place, that Doris is a name which has descended through a dozen generations of our family, that it belongs to myself as well as to my niece […]

1866, Mary A. Prescott, “Doris Daylesford, A Story”, in Beadle's Monthly Magazine of To-day, volume 2, page 149:

I've never met an old person named Judy. Now that's true. Maybe something happens to girls with young names like Debby, Judy, and Susie. At a certain age they make you change it to Doris, Edna, or Myrtle.

1989, Judy Carter, Stand-up Comedy: A Book, →ISBN, page 35:

A female given name from Ancient Greek, taken to regular use at the end of the 19th century.


Demetrius

From Ancient Greek Δημήτριος (Dēmḗtrios, literally “belonging to Δημήτηρ (Dēmḗtēr), the earth goddess”); from Δή (Dḗ), an early form of γῆ (gê, “earth”) + μήτηρ (mḗtēr, “mother”). Doublet of Dimitris and Dmitry.

der

Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the trueth it ſelfe: yea, and we alſo beare record, and ye know that our record is true.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 3 John 1:12, column 2:

The easy names were the ones she forgot. But this one wasn't easy and it was like the swaggering name of some football player from Alabama and that's how she remembered it, Demetrius, badly burned in the other tower, the south tower.

2007, Don DeLillo, Falling Man, Scribner, →ISBN, page 105:


Canute

Inherited from Middle English Canut, from Anglo-Norman *Canut, Kenut (compare Medieval Latin Canūtus), from Old Norse Knútr, possibly originally a byname meaning "knot".

(historical) A male given name from the Germanic languages used in England from the eleventh to the thirteenth century.


Elias

The New Testament form of Elijah, a Hebrew prophet, from Ancient Greek Ἠλίας (Ēlías).

Some ſay that thou art John the Baptiſt, ſome Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of yͤ Prophets.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 16:14, column 2:


Alyssa

A 20th-century invention, either derived from the flower alyssum, or from Alicia, of Germanic origin.

The leading lady's name is Alyssa Aldine - I think Aldine sounds like nice people; I suppose because the Aldine editions of books are so famous.

1916, Marion Ames Taggart, Hollyhock House: A Story for Girls, Doubleday, Page & co., page 40:

And throughout most of his days and nights, daydreamed about Brady's mother, liking everything about her. Particularly her name. Alyssa. Over and over, her name whispered inside his head. Alyssa. Alyssa. Beautiful.

1978, Charlotte Vale Allen, Meet Me in Time, Island Nation Press LLC, published 1998, →ISBN, page 208:

A female given name from the Germanic languages, popular in the US in the 1990s and the 2000s.


Spencer

en-proper noun

Spencer (countable and uncountable, plural Spencers)

An occupational surname from Middle English Spenser, Spencer, Spensier, from the common noun spenser (“spencer”), denoting someone who works in a spense (“spence”), or as a butler or steward.

Speiser

surnames derived from the equivalent of “spencer”

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

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


Rio

Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand / Just like that river twisting through a dusty land

1982, Duran Duran (lyrics and music), “Rio”, in Rio:

An unincorporated community in Spalding County, Georgia, United States.

Albemarle County
Albemarle County#English

An unincorporated community in Albemarle County, Virginia, United States.


Robbi

A diminutive of the female given name Roberta.


Damon

From Ancient Greek Δάμων (Dámōn), a name famous for the story of Damon and Pythias; derivative of δαμάζω (damázō, “to tame, subdue”).


Miranda

Invented by William Shakespeare for a character in The Tempest; feminine of Latin mirandus (“admirable”).

Admir'd Miranda!
Indeed, the top of admiration; worth
What's dearest in the world!

~1611 William Shakespeare: The Tempest: Act III, Scene I


Clarence

Originally a ducal title of the English and British royal family, from Clārensis (“from the town of Clare”), (the town of Clare, Suffolk), although it has also been associated with Italian Chiarenza, Clarentza, &c., a former fortress and settlement in the medieval Frankish Principality of Achaea in Greece.

There is one of the novels of Miss Edgeworth - we forget which - in which a gentleman of the name of Harvey figures as a hero. Harvey! Only fancy John, Peter, or William Harvey as the hero of a novel! But Miss Edgeworth was too well acquaintanced with the philosophy of names to commit such a blunder: she made the individual Clarence Harvey, and the name has never to this day been objected to even among the female teens.

1847 William Chambers, Robert Chambers, Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, W. Orr July-December 1847, page 61 ( "The Aristocracy of Names")

Got rather a silly name. Like a hotel. You know, the Royal Clarence. That's his name. Clarence."

1973, Agatha Christie, Postern of Fate, page 221:

A male given name transferred from the surname.


Amara

"Amara? That's a beautiful name." He smiled, teasing. "And she was a wife of Pharaoh Mentuhotep the First. - - - Amara, Amara, Amara. A guy can fall in love with a name like that.

2002, Richard Laymon, To Wake the Dead, Leisure Books, published 2004, →ISBN, page 11:

A female given name originating as a coinage, of modern usage taken from fantasy fiction; explained, for example, as a Sanskrit word for "eternal".


Luis

Borrowed from Spanish Luis and Portuguese Luís. Doublet of Louis.


Hayley

Localities in England, from Old English hēg (“hay”) + lēah (“wood, clearing”). Equivalent to hay + -ley (“lea”).

A habitational surname from Old English. (More often spelled Haley.)

A unisex given name transferred from the surname

A male given name transferred from the surname; rare compared to the female name.

A female given name transferred from the surname. Popular in the UK in the 1970s and the 1980s.


Giovanni

Borrowed from Italian Giovanni. Doublet of John.

(very rare) A female given name from Italian


Becky

A diminutive of the female given name Rebecca.


Jimmie

A diminutive of the male given name James.


Dudley

Translingual: Dudleya

From Old English, literally "wood or clearing of Dudda (a personal name of unknown meaning)".

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


Edwin

→ Danish: Edvin

→ Latvian: Edvīns

→ Norwegian Bokmål: Edvin

→ Norwegian Nynorsk: Edvin

→ Polish: Edwin

→ Swedish: Edvin

Inherited from Old English Ēadwine, from Proto-West Germanic *Audawini, from Proto-Germanic *Audawiniz. Akin to Old Norse Auðun, Icelandic Auðunn, German Otwin, Norwegian Audun, and the Lombard king's name Audoin (French Ouen).


Jared

Jared (countable and uncountable, plural Jareds)

From Latin Iared, from Ancient Greek Ἰαρέδ (Iaréd), from Biblical Hebrew יֶרֶד (yéred). Often explained as deriving from the root י־ר־ד (y-r-d), which forms words relating to descending (see Jordan and ירדן for more); some interpret the Book of Enoch as suggesting that the Jared in the Bible was so named because it was in his time that two hundred angels descended from Heaven to Mount Hermon. Alternatively, sometimes explained as deriving from the root ר־ד־ה (r-d-), which forms words relating to ruling.

A male given name from Hebrew of Biblical origin; rare in the English-speaking world until the 1960s.


Giles

Medieval English form of Old French saints' name Giles, modern Gilles, an altered form of Latin Aegīdius, from Ancient Greek Αἰγίδιος (Aigídios), derivative of αἰγίδιον (aigídion, “kid, young goat”).