Anglicisation of the Hebrew Aharon. In the Bible, Aaron was the brother of Moses. It is the name of 'the Moor', the lover of Tamora, in Shakespeare's 'Titus Andronicus'. Other famous bearers include TV producer Aaron Spelling, pop singer Aaron Carter and
In the Bible, Abraham was originally named Abram, but was bestowed the name of Abraham by God for he wanted him to be the "father of many nations". Abraham was married to Sarah and had eight sons. He is said to be the father of the Jewish nations through
"Ace" comes from the Latin "as," which was the name for a small-denomination Roman coin. In English vernacular, an "ace" is a very skilled person; it is also synonymous with "cool," in UK usage. "Ace" can also be: a suit of playing cards; a fighter pilot
In Hebrew this is a generic word for 'man' not used as a name, but it is also associated with 'adama' (earth), from which God was supposed to have made the first humans. According to the Bible Adam and Eve were the first humans, and lived in the Garden of
Anglicized form of Aodhán. When combined with variants like Aiden, Ayden, Aydan, and Aden, Aidan was the most popular name for boys in the U.S. in 2006.
St Aidan was the founder of the monastery of Lindisfarne in north England. He is credit
A modern respelling of Aidan. May also be a variant of Eden. When combined with variants like Ayden, Aydan, and Aden, Aiden was the most popular name for boys in the U.S. in 2006.
A modern respelling of Aidan, mostly seen in the US and Canada.
Italian form of Alexander.
Alessandro de' Medici was the first de' Medici to be the Duke of Florence, and was the grandson of Lorenzo the Magnificent. He was assassinated by his cousin Lorenzino de' Medici.
Other bearers incl
Anglicised version of the Greek name Alexandros.
Alexander appears in the Bible as the one who helps Jesus bear the cross on the journey to Calvary.
Alexander the Great was an ancient Macedon king. Greece was unified by his
Modern respelling of the name Elijah ("The Lord is my God"). Many times changing the spelling of the meaningful form - in this case, from Elijah to Alijah - negates the meaning of the name.
André is the French and Portuguese form of Andrew.
André was the 2nd most popular boy's name in France in the 1910s, 20s and early 30s, and has since declined in popularity. André is currently particularly popular in Norway as a middle name
Andrew was a disciple of Jesus and of John the Baptist, who it is said was martyred by being crucified on a cross in the shape of an "X". He became a saint. This symbol is now referred to as Saint Andrew's cross. Andrew was the brother of Peter.
Anthony is from the Roman family name Antonius. Commonly shortened to "Tony" in the English speaking world, Anthony is one of the most common male names in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, and Australia.
Saint Anthony the Great was the fa
Contemporary variant of Antoine. Possibly a misspelling of Antoine. Could also be derived from Anthony. Regardless, a modern coinage that had a short burst of popularity in the early 1990's.
A respelling of the French "Antoine."
A modern respelling of the name Antoine.
Alternative spelling of Aaron.
Italian and Spanish form of Arthur.
The name was borne by Italian musician and conductor Arturo Toscanini.
From the Old English 'aesc' - ash tree, and 'tun' - settlement.
The name is borne by American actor Ashton Kutcher.
Attica is the region of Greece which contains Athens, the capital city. Today, the name is mainly known from the character Atticus Finch in Harper Lee's novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Atticus was also the name of a number of ancient Greek philosophers and
A contracted form of Augustine and originally a surname. Austin is a city in Texas. Austin was a British car manufacturer, that was later called the British Motor Corporation. They were responsible for the first Mini and later the Austin Rover group.
A modern respelling of Austin.
Also an anglicisation of Fionbharr.
A nickname for Bartholomew and similar names.
French word for "handsome" (and therefore never used in French spaking countires as a given name) and American slang for "boyfriend". Its use as a first name likely came from a shortening of a surname such as Beauchamp or Beaufort in order to honor someon
Benjamin is the anglicized form of the Hebrew Binyamin. In the Old Testament, Benjamin was the twelfth and youngest son of Jacob. Benjamin was the 24th most popular boy's name in the US in 2006, and the 11th most popular in the UK. It is also commonly fou
There have been various saints named Bernard. The St Bernard dogs are named for St Bernard of Menthon who established a hospice on what is now known as the St Bernard Pass. This is the pass over the Pennine Alps of Switzerland and Italy. The dogs were use
Often used as a nickname for names containing -bert-. It is the name of a saint as well as the name of a character in Sesame Street.
Nickname for William. There are many famous bearers who go by the name "Bill" including comedian Bill Murray, 42nd US President William "Bill" Clinton, philanthropis and chairman of Microsoft Bill Gates, comedian Bill Cosby and political commentator and p
St. Blaze is the patron saint of sore throats!
Possibly a respelling of Beau meaning "handsome." Also a nickname for Boaz which means "fleetness."
Boston is the capital of Massachusetts, USA. Its name is a contraction of "Botolph's town"; St. Botolph is an English patron saint of farmers and the Danish patron saint of travellers.
Braden can come from an Old English word meaning "broad" or "wide," and can also be derived from the Irish surname "O Bradáin," meaning "son of the salmon."
Originally a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "broom hill" in Old English. Brandon is the name of the second-largest city in the Canadian province of Manitoba, and is the name of several towns throughout the U.S. and U.K.
Brandyn is a modern respelling of Brandon.
Possible respelling of Bryan. A modern American English coinage likely created as a response to the popularity of names ending in "aden" or "ayan".
Trendy modern respelling of the traditional form Braden.
Trendy modern respelling of the legitimate form Braden.
Modern trendy coinage that came into being with the popularity of name like Brandon, Braydon, Kaylen etc.
The exact meaning of this name is unknown and has no traceble etymolgy. On can assume there is some sort of tie to Braden or Brandon,
Modern trendy coinage that came into being with the popularity of name like Brandon, Braydon, Kaylen etc.
The exact meaning of this name is unknown and has no traceable etymology. One can assume there is some sort of tie to Braden or Brando
In origin a Germanic name derived from the Gothic 'brunjô', 'armour'. Aside from this the interpretation 'brown' is too among the possibilities. Sometimes the name is associated with the element 'bert', 'shining'.
Saint Bruno was the found
Respelling of Bryson.
Buddy may be taken as a variant of the surname Budd.
It is also the English vocabulary word for "a good friend".
Drummer Buddy Rich, ground dbreaking rock-n-roller Buddy Holly, actor and comedian Buddy Hackett, actor Buddy Ebsen and baseball
Cade is a surname with three separate English origins. It may be from an Old English first name which originally denoted something round or lumpy and swollen. Cade may also be derived from the Middle English word for barrel, thus denoting a barrel-maker.
The meaning and origin of Caden is unknown, though it is possible that it is derived from a Gaelic surname ultimately meaning "battle."
A respelling of the name Caden.
In the Old Testament, Caleb and Joshua were among the Israelites who left Egypt for Canaan with Moses. They were the only two who lived to see the promised land. Caleb is sometimes translated as "faithful" or "loyal," probably because a dog displays the
Originally a French surname; based on the Picard dialect form of the word 'chauve' meaning 'bald'.
John Calvin was a church reformer of the 16th century, after whom the Christian group Calvinism is named. Calvinists believe in predestinati
Camren is a modern invention, inspired by the surname Cameron.
Camron is a modern form of Cameron, used mostly in the US.
Name composed of the Old-English element 'ceadda' and the Germanic 'rijk'. The latter is one of the most common Germanic name elements and has been associated with 'powerful, might' but the meaning of 'ceadda' is uncertain.
In English, to "chase" means to hunt or pursue. Until about twenty years ago, Chase was encountered most frequently as a surname; it is now among the top 100 names for boys in the U.S.
Perhaps came into first-name use as a nickname for Nicholas. Cole is also a common surname, derived from the Old English "cola," meaning "coal." Perhaps the most well-known Cole in history is "Old King Cole," the subject of an English nursery-rhyme.
"Colt" can be used as a nickname for Colton.
"Colt" is also a well known U.S. firearms manufacturer.
Modern English respelling of the traditional form Christopher.
Modern coinage, from the name Marcus.
Damarion is a name of modern coinage with no known meaning.
In the Old Testament, Daniel was a Hebrew prophet and the Book of Daniel contains prophecies concerning the future. Daniel was among the Jews who were taken captive in Babylon. He rose to a high position in the Babylonian government by interpreting the ki
Respelling of Darren.
Modern coinage, possibly from Darius and Darren.
Respelling of Darian.
Darnell is a name that has become a given name but originated as an Old English habituation surname given to or taken by those who lived in a hidden copse or a hard to find area. Another line of etymology points to an Old French origination brought to En
Modern coinage, probably derived from David or Devon.
Short form of Theodoric.
A combonation of the prefix "De" and the proper name Jon.
Modern coinage; combination of the preffix 'de' with the Spanish name Juan.
A recently coined name made by combining the prefix De with the name Marco.
A name made from combining the prefix De- with the name Marcus.
A recently coined name made by combining the prefix De- with the name Mario.
Demarion is a modern coinage of uncertain derivation. Like the name Omarion, Demarion could be a contemporary American variant of the name Omari. It may also be a blend of the name Marion with the preffix 'de', or a variant of another modern coinage such
Modern coinage, most likely from the Italian surname meaning "of the mountain". The name might have been influenced by such coinage as Devonte.
Traditional Cornish name slightly anglicized with an additional "e", yet used for centuries.
Famous bearers include American actor Denzel Washington.
Respelling of Deandre.
Destin has no known meaning, and is most likely a variant on the name Dustin. There is a well known tourist destination in Florida called Destin.
Modern coinage derived from Vaughn.
In Hindu mythology one of the names of the sky-god Indra.
Modern coinage. Devonte is an elaboration of the name Devon with the suffix 'te'.
Of uncertain origin but possibly from a Norman place name.
A variant of the name Dejohn, Dijon is also a well-known kind of mustard.
Modern coinage, derived from Dion.
This is a variant spelling of Dominic commonly encountered in English-speaking countries.
Respelling of Dante.
A modern name with no known meaning, though it was possibly influenced by the surname Dryden. Drayden has gained popularity in recent years along with similar-sounding names like Jayden and Caden.
A shortened form of Andre now used on its own as a given name. Because Dre does not incorporate the An- prefix of Andre, it does not have any meaning on its own.
Dwight was the original middle name given to 34th US President Eisenhower. To avoid confusion with his father, who was also named David, he began to go by his middle name and used Dwight throughout his life. The nickname for Dwight is "Ike", which he also
Of uncertain origin, but its meaning is probably connected to the word for 'sea'. In Welsh mythology Dylan was a god of the sea and the son of Gwyddion and Arianrhod. He was accidentally killed by his uncle, a Smith God called Govannon. The Welsh poet Dyl
Respelling of Dylan.
A phonetic respelling of Ian.
This title from Old English 'eorl', meaning nobleman, was often used as a nickname for a servant employed in a noble household.
Famous bearers include acclaimed actor James Earl Jones, 39th American President James Earl Carter, former Chief
Nickname for Ed- names.
From the Old English elements 'ead' (prosperity, fortune) and 'mund' (protection). This concludes in the meaning 'prosperous protection' but another possible meaning is 'protector of prosperity (or inheritance)'.
The most famous Edmund was King St
Greek variant of the Hebrew Elijah. "Elias" is the name of an oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn. It is sometimes claimed that Elias is linked to the ancient Greek name Helios, though this theory is not strongly supported by onomastic evidence.
Elijah was a Hebrew prophet who appeared mysteriously during the 9th century B.C.E. and left this earth in a blazing chariot ascending into the heavens. He appears in the Bible in 1 and 2 Kings, and is seen with Moses during the Transfiguration of Jesus.<
A diminutive of the Old French Elie, possible cognate of Elijah. The popular medieval diminutive gave rise to a surname which is the immediate source for the modern use of Elliot.
Transferred use of the surname originating from the Old English elements for "noble" and "famous".
It may also be from the Medieval French name Aylmer, or a modification of Elmo, popularized in the 19th century by Augusta Jane Evans' novel
Elvis, borne by legendary rock-n'-roll American singer Elvis Presley, is a name of uncertain derivation. It has been suggested that it was related to such first names as Alvis, or Elwin, or even maybe to the surname Elwes.
Ethan means strong and optimistic, solid and enduring, or permanent. The name Ethan appears eight times in the Hebrew Bible. Ethan the Ezrahite, is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. It may be that Ethan was a cymbal-player in King David's court. He authored
Modern respelling of Ethan.
Evan is considered to be Welsh and is, like Ieunan, a form of John and means "God is gracious". Evan and Even are used also in Britanny where they are linked to John the Baptist. These forms overlap in Ireland and Scotland with forms of Eoghan, which are
Originally a surname derived from the first name Everard
Frank is an older name than Francis. Like Francis, it is an English form of the French name François, from the Germanic tribe "the Franks". It is highly possible that the name was first derived in English from the Germanic 'franca' meaning "javelin, spear
Gavin is a form of Gawain. Gawain was one of King Arthur's knights of the Round Table.
A modern respelling of Gavin.
Gerald Ford was the 38th President of United States of America. He became President following the resignation of Richard Nixon. President Ford was adopted as a boy; his birth name was Leslie Lynch King Jr.
There have been various saints nam
Respelling of Giovanni.
Originally a pet form of Hankin, which itself was a medieval diminutive for John, Hank is now also used as a nickname for Henry. It experienced a sudden rise in popularity in the United States in the 1940s but has since become very rare on babies.
Harrison is a common surname - examples of bearers include Beatle George Harrison and US Presidents William Henry and Benjamin Harrison, who were grandfather and grandson.
It is the first name of actor Harrison Ford, and Harrison Schmitt w
Holden is an English surname which was first taken from the same English place name. It is made up of the Old English elements 'hol' (deep, hollow) and 'denu' (valley). It is used fairly regularly as a first name in the USA, where it has been in the top 1
Houston is the name of largest city in the state of Texas, United States.
Originally a place in Scotland, the name Houston comes from the genitive case of the medieval personal name Hugh and the Middle English 'tune, toun', meaning "settlement, vi
St. Hubert is the patron saint of hunters.
This Russian form of John was the name of four rulers of Russia, including 'Ivan the Terrible', who was the first monarch to be called a 'tsar'. Ivan was also the codename given to 'Tsar Bomba', the largest nuclear bomb ever detonated, developed by the Ru
This form of the name Jabir gained popularity in the U.S. in the seventies among African-American communities, and has only risen in popularity over the years.
Modern variant form of Jason which has become vogue in recent years along with its counterpart, Jase. Therefore the exact meaning is compromised from Jason which does mean 'healer'.
Though originally a nickname for John, Jack is frequently given as a stand-alone name today. In the UK, it has been the most popular name for baby boys for the last thirteen years.
In cards, a jack is the lowest-ranking of the face cards.
Traditionally a surname, Jackson has gained recent popularity as a first name. This rise in popularity is probably due to parents using Jackson as a longer form of the nickname Jack. Jack is traditionally a nickname for the name John.
Fa
In the Old Testament, Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the twin brother of Esau and the father of twelve sons and a daughter. From his sons came the twelve tribes of Israel - the Israelites. God later changed Jacob's name to Israel.
O
Possibly a modern variation on the traditional Jacques with a phoenetic pronunciation.
The name Jahir has no known etymology or meaning. It is possible that it is derived from the Arabic/Swahili name Jaha meaning "dignified" but the link is tenuous at best. It also could be some sort of variant of Jabiri/Jaabir (Swahili meaning "comforter"
Most likely an English variant of the Arabic Jamal.
A recently coined name combining Marcus with the prefix Ja.
Modern coinage, derived from Jamar.
There are many saints called James, the most famous being Saint James the Elder, one of the Apostles. As a common name it has many namesakes, such as the author James Joyce or the fictional British spy James Bond ("007"). The name has been used for royalt
In the Bible, Yared is the grandfather of Methuselah. Jared may also be taken as a variant of Yered, one of the names applied to Moses.
Actor and musician Jared Leto is a famous bearer.
Captain Jared Bilby is a main charac
Modern variant form of Jason which has become vogue in recent years along with its counterpart, Jace. Therefore the exact meaning is compromised from Jason which does mean 'healer'.
A modern respelling of the name Jason.
Modern creation from the name Jack and the additon of the ending "ton".
Jayce, a modern coinage, can be a short form of the name Jason, or a lengthened version of the initials "J.C."
Surname of third US President Thomas Jefferson, who penned the Declaration of Independence. It was also the middle name of William Jefferson Clinton.
Jerel and Jerell are fairly modern coinages of unknown meaning. It is possible that they are modeled after the name Gerald, a name of Germanic origin meaning "spear ruler", however this link it tenuous at best.
Biblically, Jeremiah was a prophet. He prophesied the besieging and taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon but was ignored by the princes of Jerusalem. His writings are found in the book of Jeremiah and, according to tradition, he wrote the book
The French variant of the name is spelled Jérémie.
To pinpoint a direct ground for for this modern creation is difficult. It appears to be a misspelling of Jeremy, however the spelling could be intentional in many cases. therefore it could be considered a nickname for names such as Jerome, Jermaine, Jere
Variant spelling of Jeremy.
Spelt Joël in French.
Joel was a prophet in the Old Testament.
Famous bearers include film directors Joel Schumacher and Joel Coen, and singer Joel Madden.
It was the 124th most popular name in USA in 2006. It
Probably a misspelling of Johnathan, Johathan has somehow found its way onto the US Top 1000 chart 8 different times. Though it could be an intentional mixing of the names Joseph and Jonathan, the exact root of the name is conjecture.
John was the name of two characters in the New Testament.
John is the personal name of four US Presidents: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John Tyler, and John F. Kennedy.
Nickname for John- or Jon- names. Form of John adopted by popular American actor Johnny Depp.
This is a combination of both names John and Paul. It seems to be a popular combination, helped along in many countries by the association with Popes John Paul I and II.
In the Old Testament, Jonathan was the eldest son of King Saul and the best friend of the future king David. Jonathan was a courageous defender of Israel and was killed in battle against the Philistines.
Blending of the Spanish compound name José Luis.
There are several Josephs in the Bible, including the husband of Mary in the New Testament and Joseph, son of Jacob - nowadays known for his many coloured coat. Joseph of Arimathea donated his own tomb for the burial of Jesus.
Joseph was th
Josiah is the name of the 16th king of Judah. The book of Deuteronomy was rediscovered during his time as king.
Josiah Wedgwood was an 18th century potter, who helped industrialize the pottery industry.
Junior is often employed as a nickname for a son, usually one named after his father.
Juwan is a modern coinage most likely derived from either the arabic/Muslim Jawad, which means "open handed" or "liberal" or possiby Jahan, meaning "world". It could also simply be a phoentic play on the name Juan. Therefore, the etymology of this partic
The anglicized spelling of the arabic Khadim.
A respelling of the name Caden.
A variant spelling of Caden.
This seems to be a modern respelling of the legitimate name Cael, of Celtic/Gaelic origin. "K" is not a letter native to the language, so it's use in this respelling most certainly is by those of english speaking countries. Cael is the name that bears mea
Kanye is the name of a town in Botswana. The most famous bearer of this name is rapper Kanye West, but it is unknown whether he was named after the town, or whether his parents invented the name themselves.
Modern repselling of the surname Carter.
Modern coinage, built on the model of names such as Davon.
Modern coinage, related to the other modern coinage Deandre.
Modern coinage derived from Deion. Variant of Keon.
Of uncertain derivation.
It is perhaps an altered form of the Irish Kelan (from the Gaelic word for "slender").
It might also be a shortened form of the Scottish surname McKellen (Gaelic Mac Ailein "son of Alan", or Mac Cailein "son of Coli
Ken is a short form of Kenneth, from the Gaelic meaning "born on fire".
As a Japanese name, Ken may be written with the character for "build". Other possibilities include the characters for "respect" or "authority".
The etymology of this surname is uncertain. Kenyon is the name of one of the main characters of Hawthorne's novel "The Marble Faun." It is also the name of a small liberal arts college in the U.S.
Modern coinage, possibly copied on the name Deon.
A name created by combining the prefix Ke- with a variant of the name Sean.
Alternative spelling or phoenetic variation of the traditional Swahili masculine Kheri.
Although Khiry is speculated to have many different origins: Arabic, Punjabi, Sanskrit, African, none can be substantiated as fact. It appears to be more of a modern creation than an old name with any of these roots.
Often seen as an alternative spelling to the traditional Kyle, Kiel is, in fact, of a different line of etymology. Of unknown meaning, Kiel is a surname of Germanic origin which is derived from the town of the same name in Saxony.
Probably a back-formation from the surname MacKinley.
"Kinley" is an anglicization of Fhionnlaoich (Fionnlaigh/Fionnlagh), a patronymic from the early personal name that was later anglicized as Finley.
It is composed of the elements
Kobe is the name of a town in Japan and a last name, but it is not used as a first name there.
Kobe has been unusually used as a name in the United States in reference to the Japanese town, such as the name of basketball player Kobe Bryant.
A modern coinage that was influenced by the place-name Dakota.
Occasionally used in the United States, Kohen is not a personal name in Hebrew.
It is a surname and a specific lineage in the Jewish faith. A kohen is assumed to be a direct male descendant of the Biblical Aaron, brother of Moses.
Du
Respelling of Cordell.
Phoenetic respelling of the traditional Kai.
This modern American English coinage is likely a mixture of the names Tyler and Kyle, or simply that name Schuyler spelled Skyler with the "S" omitted.
This spelling is more commonly used in North America and Australia.
Modern coinage. LaMarcus is a blend of the the preffix 'la' and the name Marcus.
Often mistaken as a short form of Lancelot. It is also been associated with the Old French word for the weapon, lance.
Famous Lances include cyclist Lance Armstrong.
Respelling of Landon.
Originally a surname which was derived from an Old English place name
Respelling of Landon.
Modern coinage. LaTrell or Latrell is possibly adapted from the English surname Luttrell meaning "otter".
Anglicized spelling of Laurence.
This name was originally used as a surname.
Anglicized spelling of the surname, Leighton.
This name was taken from the Latin noun 'leo', meaning 'lion' (itself from the Greek 'leon'). Leo is slowly climbing in popularity - it reached the 236th spot in the US charts in 2006. Ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair used it for his son in 2000, a hi
Likely from the place name, Leicester, or in the 10th century "Ligora caester" more or less meaning Ligora's fort.
This is actually an Armenian variant of Leon, now used as a given name in North America.
The original Lincoln is a city in England, although there are now Lincolns all over the world. It was taken as a surname and is now becoming popular as a first name (it was the 300th most popular boy's name in the US in 2006). For those who don't live nea
Originally a surname which was derived from a Scottish place name
Anglicised nickname for Louis.
St Luke was the author of the Biblical books of Luke and of the Acts of the Apostles. He is traditionally seen as being a physician or a doctor.
Luke was ranked as the 17th most popular boy's name in the UK in 2006, but was rated 43rd in t
Respelling of the modern coinage Mekhi. Has increased in popularity to the credit of American actor Mekhi Phifer.
Modern variant of Malachi.
English form of Marcus.
Saint Mark the Evangelist is traditionally believed to be the author of the second Gospel (Gospel of Mark) and a companion of Peter.
A famous Roman bearer of the name was Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius), politi
Name apparently first brought to the public attention by the American actor Marlon Brando. The name was borne also by his father.
It is of uncertain origin, possibly derived from Marc with the addition of the French diminutive suffix 'lon'.
Used in the US as a variant spelling of Marquis.
Marqués is the Spanish word for the nobility rank marquis.
Marques is a surname of Southern French origin (Occitan), Catalan (Marquès), and Spanish origin (Marqués): from marqués ‘marq
The boy name Marquez is a variant of Marquis.
It is also a Spanish surname, derived from the personal name Marcos.
Principally in use in the US. Transferred used of the rank of nobility.
A Marquis (French spelling; also marquess in English) is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European monarchies and some of their colonies.
It is was derived from
Transferred use of the surname, derived from the Old French mareschal (marshal), which is from the Old High German, meaning "horse servant".
Surname occasionally found as a first name. Original meaning is undoubtedly traced back to Martinez from Martinus, meaning "belonging to Mars".
Martin is derived from Latin "Martinus," which came from the name "Mars," the Roman god of war.
Saint Martin of Tours was a bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. He
Marvin is generally considered a Medieval variant of Mervyn, resulting from the regular Middle English change of 'er' to 'ar'.
It could also be derived from the Welsh Myrddyn, meaning "sea fort". In this case Marvin is related to Merlin, as
Transferred use of a surname, derived from the French 'maçon' (bricklayer, stoneworker), connected with Old English 'macian' (to make). The Freemasons are a fraternal organisation or brotherhood with obscure origins.
It was the 39th most
Variant of Matthew.
Pet form of Matthew, occasionally found as an independent name.
Famous bearers include actor Matt Damon.
Matthew is the English form of the Hebrew name Mattityahu meaning "gift of God", through the Greek Matthaios.
Matthew the Evangelist, traditionally held as the author of the Gospel of Matthew, is an important Christian figure best known as
From the English word meaning "dissident", usually referring to semi-wild, unbranded cattle in the Western United States, from the surname of a 19th century Texas rancher who did not brand his calves.
Modern use of the surname as a first name. Mav
Short for of Maximilian, Maxwell, and the various name using it as a first syllable.
It is often bestowed as an independent name.
Modern creation formed from the name Max, and combining it with an ending "ton". No known meaning.
From the surname, meaning "son of Finley".
William McKinley Jr. was the 25th President of the United States; he was assassinated by an anarchist in 1901.
McKinley also the name of the highest mountain peak in North America -
Modern coinage. Possibly linked to the name Michael. Has increased in popularity to the credit of American actor Mekhi Phifer.
English name derived from the Hebrew Micha. It is often taken as short form of Micaiah, meaning "who is like God?".
It was the name of several characters of the Old Testament, including a Prophet titular of the Book of Micah.
Blending of the Spanish compound name Miguel Angel.
Short form of Michael, also used as an independent name, particularly in the US.
Modern American English trendy variant and phoenetic respelling of the traditional Michael.
Surname derived from the place names; from the Old English middel (middle) and tun (settlement); or mylentun (settlement by the mill).
The surname is most famous as that of the poet John Milton, and the given name is sometimes bestowed in h
Transferred use of a surname, derived from Michel, a Medieval variant of Michael.
Mitchell is a common surname, borne by 'Gone with the Wind' author Margaret Mitchell, and musician Joni Mitchell. Mitch is a character in Tennessee Williams'
Likely a modern coinage from Montel, or simply a name created to form a particular sound.
Variant spelling of Maurice, quite common in the Middle Ages.
Variant of Miles.
From a classical Greek name, derived from Greek 'myron' (myrrh).
Myrrh is a red-brown dried sap of a tree native to Somalia and the eastern parts of Ethiopia.
The name was borne by a famous sculptor of the 5th century BC.
It
Modern variant anglicized spelling of Naji or Naaji, which is often confused with the Swahili Nanji, which means "safe" or "secured". It is often seen in books and web sites as being or meaning the equivalent, although they are two different names and ety
In the Old Testament, Nathan is a prophet who served King David and his son, who was also called Nathan. Nathan is also used as a short form of Nathaniel or Jonathan.
This is generally a modern coinage influenced by the film The Matrix, but it can also be from a Tswana word which means 'gift'.
Nestor comes from the root 'nes', from which the ancient Greek language also developed 'neomai' ('to go away/back', 'to go to war') and 'nostos' ('a return home', 'a journey'). In Greek mythology Nestor was the son of Neleus and Chloris and King of Pylos.
In the Old Testament, Noah rounded up two of every species and built an ark in order to survive the great Flood. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights and everyone on earth died except Noah and his family. After the Flood God sent a rainbow as a sign of the
Contemporary American variant of the name Omari.
From medieval times this was a nickname for Piers or Percival. It is also a surname ultimately derived from the Gallo-Roman name Persius.
St Peter was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, and became the first pope of the Church. Peter's original name was Simon, but it was changed by Jesus to the Aramaic name Cephas (rock). Peter is the Greek equivalent of Cephas.
The first R
To pierce something is to make a hole in something or to penetrate it.
Pierce Brosnan is an actor, most famous for playing James Bond. Franklin Pierce was the 14th American President.
Elvis Presley was an American musician and actor, also known as 'The King'. Since his death in 1977, his home, Graceland, has become a site of pilgrimage for Elvis fans, and there are numerous Elvis tribute acts.
"Prince" is ultimately derived from the Latin "princeps," meaning "the first." Prince is a title used in most royal houses to indicate a son in line for the throne.
Prince is also the name of an American musician who famously changed his n
Quentin Blake is a British illustrator and author. He is most famous for illustrating Roald Dahl's books. The name is also borne by film director Quentin Tarantino.
Quincy is the middle name of sixth US President, John Quincy Adams. He was named after his great-grandfather, John Quincy, Speaker of the Massachusetts Assembly and militia officer in the Revolutionary War.
Famous bearers of Quinn as a surname include actor Anthony Quinn, journalist Kimberley Quinn and various politicians named John Quinn.
Completely modern creation who's popularity has been influenced greatly by recording artist Raekwon. No known meaning or clear etymological lineage.
Ramiro is ancient and Tuetonic in origin. The surname Ramirez derives from the name Ramiro. The meaning is derivative from Ramiro, a Spanish martial who served under King Leovigild of the Visigoths.
Randall Flagg is a fictional character created by Stephen King in his nine part 'Dark Tower' series.
Randall is commonly found as a surname.
Randy can be slang for 'sexually aroused', particularly in Britain.
Famous Randys include composer Randy Newman and musician Randy Jackson.
Although Rashaan gives the appearance of possibly being of Arabic or Punjabi lineage, it is most likely a very modern creation influenced by the sound of Arabic or Punjabi names. No known meaning for this name can be found, once again pointing to the lik
Singer and musician Elton John's birth name was Reginald Dwight.
Reuben is the transliterated and anglicized form of the Hebrew name Re'uven. In the Bible, Reuben is the oldest son of Jacob and Leah and the founder of the tribe of Reuben.
Reuben is the name of a British alternative rock band. There is a
Rhett is an aglicized form of a Dutch surname meaning "advice, counsel". Quite notably, it is the name of a character in Margaret Mitchell's "Gone with the Wind" and brought to the screen by legendary actor Clark Gable.
Nickname for Richard, Fredrick or Patrick.
Nickname for Ricardo and Federico. In use as a surname as well.
Nature name or noun used as both a given name and a surname,
Ridge Forrester is a character on the American Soap Opera "The bold and the Beautiful".
There have been various saints named Robert. St Robert of Molesme was one of the founders of the Cistercian monastic order. St Robert Bellarmine was a Catholic Cardinal, and is one of the Doctors of the Church.
There were three kings of Sc
Roberto Cavalli is a fashion designer.
Although Rocky could possibly have been adopted as a playful form of the name Rocco, it more than likely is utilized because of its existence as a noun. The name gained popularity as a given name over a nickname when the Sylvester Stallone movie "Rocky" c
Roderick is from the Latin Rodericus, which is from the Old High German Hrodrich, a compounding of the elements 'hruod' meaning "fame" and 'rik' meaning "ruler; king". King Roderick was supposedly the 'last king of the Goths' in the 8th century, but very
Transferred use of the surname, from the place name in Somerset, an area of land in the marshes near Markham.
This is first recorded in the form Rodenye; it derives from the genitive case of the Old English personal name Hroda (a short form of the
Variant of Roderick used mainly in the US.
From an Old French personal name of Germanic origin, from hrod (fame) and land (land, territory).
This was adopted by the Normans and introduced by them to Britain.
In Old French literature, it is borne by a legendary Frankish hero,
Spanish form of Roland.
This name appeared in the US top 1000 during the years 1995 and 1996, and it has seen it's share of use, there is no known meaning for the name and the etymological lineage is unclear.
From the Old norse, composed of the elements meaning "Advice; decision; the gods" and "ruler".
Ronald Reagan was President of the United States 1981-9. Ronald McDonald is the clown mascot of restaurant chain McDonald's and Ronald Weasley is
Portuguese form of Ronald.
Ronin is a respelling of the name Ronan. In Japanese feudal history, a "ronin" was a serf who abandoned his master's lands. The term later referred to a samurai who did not have a master (either because his master had died, or because his master had dis
Transferred use of the surname; often given in honour of American presidents Theodore Roosevelt or Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Ross is a region of north Scotland. The Ross Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, it was named after Captain James Ross who discovered it in 1841. It was the place where James Scott and his party died, having failed to become the first people
Originally a Scottish name, representing an Anglicized spelling of the Gaelic nickname "Ruadh" (red). It has since spread to other parts of the English-speaking world, where it is often reanalysed as Old French "roy" (king).
Although ironic in light of its meaning, very well known in respect to the Christmas tale "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".
Famous bearers include movie star Rudolph Valentino (known as "The World Greatest Lover"), politician and former may
This is a nick name or pet name for a person who's given name is Russel. It is also given sometimes as a pet name for one with red hair. Seldom used as a given name on it's own, Rusty charted on the Top 1000 names from 1940 to 1995.
Derived from the surname Ryland.
El Salvador is a country in Central America. El Salvador means 'the saviour' - it was named after Jesus Christ by Spanish conquistadors. The country is a similar size to the US state of Massachusetts with a population of 6.9 million.
Salva
Italian variation of Salvador
Alternate spelling of Sammy
Well known from the Biblical story of Samson and Delilah. Samson was a prophet during the time that the Israelites were being attacked by the Philistines. He fell in love with Delilah, who was working for the Philistines, and revealed to her that the sour
In the Old Testament, Samuel was the son of Hannah, a prophet and a judge who anointed Saul as the first king of Israel. Samuel was the 25th most popular boy's name in the US in 2006 and the 8th most popular in the UK.
A combination of san (saint) and Ana.
Biblically, Saul was the first king of Israel, as appointed by the prophet Samuel. He was replaced by David, who had fought against Goliath for him, but had later been his enemy as Saul did not want to give up the throne. Saul was also the name of the apo
Sawyer's rise in popularity on boys in the U.S. is likely the combined effect of the increasing popularity of surnames as first names, and public interest in the character named Sawyer on the television show "Lost."
Tom Sawyer is a literary
This name is commonly anglicized as Skyler.
Came originally from Old English to mean Scotsman.
Robert Scott was the leader of the losing team in the 'Race to the Pole', and died on his return. Walter Scott was a novelist.
'Beam me up, Scotty' is a phrase associated wi
Diminutive of Scott. Scottish Terriers are often called Scotties.
Common nickname for Scott.
The Irish form of John. Famous bearers include actors Sean Connery - the first James Bond, Sean Bean, Sean Astin - Samwise Gamgee in the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, Sean "Puffy" or "P. Diddy" Combs and Sean Penn.
James written backwards.
Nickname for Shadrach. This is also the name of a type of fish.
Shamar is the title of a line of Tibetan Bhuddist teachers.
As an American name, Shamar is most likely to be a modern coinage, copied on names such as Jamar and Lamar.
Anglicised form of Sean.
Alternate spelling of Shay.
Can also be a nickname for Seamus.
Shiloh (variant transcription of Shilo) is a Biblical place name. It was a gathering place and sanctuary of the Hebrew at the time of the Judges, between Jericho and Sachem.
It is also used as a reference to the Messiah, although this is l
This "one hit wonder" on the US popularity charts could possibly be influenced by the popularity of rapper and actor Shyheim. "Heim" traditionally is a Norse fragment meaning "home" or "dwelling." Other than that, it is hard to gather any meaning, if an
Silas was an early convert to Christianity, and a companion to St Paul, and later St Peter.
'Silas Marner' is a novel by George Eliot.
In 'The Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown, Silas is a murderous monk.
In the Bible Solomon is King David's son and successor. He is famous for his wisdom, wealth and writings. He was also said to possess the ability to communicate with animals.
From the French word to dispense.
Surname of the Princess of Wales, Lady Diana Spencer.
Stanley was the name of the character played by Marlon Brando in the film "A Streetcar Named Desire", which is based upon the play by Tennessee Williams. Stanley is also a place name across the UK and the US.
Morgan Stanley is an investm
Italian version of Stephen.
St Stephen was the first Christian martyr, his stoning is depicted in the New Testament book of Acts. St Stephen's Day is 26 December.
There have been nine Popes named Stephen, five kings of Hungary named Stephen and one King of England. G
Pound sterling is the official name for the British currency. As an adjective, sterling relates to something being thoroughly excellent. Sterling silver is an alloy of silver, commonly used to make cutlery.
From the English word, steward, or caretaker of the house.
Used almost exclusively as a surname.
Anglicization of the traditional Saeed.
Respelling of Taj.
May or may not be related to the astrological sign, Taurus. People who are born under the sign of Taurus are called Taureans.
Respelling of the surname Tavares.
Used as an abbreviation for Octavian.
Modern coinage, constructed similarly to such names as Javon or Davon.
Modern coinage, derived from the name Shawn.
The name was borne by a Roman writer of comedies, Publius Terentius Afer, commonly known as Terence.
This is an alternate spelling of Terence or Terrence.
This is a variant spelling of Terence.
Rare variant of Timothy.
Trenton is the capital city of the state of New Jersey.
Modern coinage from the Old French 'treis' (three).
Could either be a relation to Tremaine, which is a Cornish surname sometimes found used as a first name meaning "rock settlement" or it could be a modern creation from Truman, "faithful man". Modern coinage.
Nickname for names such as Tyler and Tyrone.
Tyler is a city in Texas, presumably named so after John Tyler, the 10th US President.
Modern coinage, perhaps a combination of the names Ty and Rhys.
A recently coined combination of the nickname Ty with the name Shawn.
Name borne by the 29th US President, Warren Gamaliel Harding. Other famous bearers include Rapper Warren G., film star Warren Beatty, rock star Warren Zevon and philanthropist Warren Buffet.
The Warren Commission was the unofficial name of
Wayne Rooney and Wayne Bridge are English football or soccer players. Wayne Gretzky is a former Canadian ice-hockey player and Wayne Newton is a singer.
The Wend were a Slavic people; this surname came from the Germanic personal name Wendel.
William comes from the Germanic elements 'wil' (will, desire) and 'helm' (helmet, protection). It was the 10th most popular name for boys in the US in 2006, and the 7th most popular in the UK.
There have been many rulers named William, incl
Historically, Wyatt was predominantly used only as a surname, though it occasionally made an appearance as a first name (e.g. the American cowboy Wyatt Earp). It is now very popular as a first name in the U.S.
Modern respelling of Winter. Popularized in part by MTV's television show "Liquid Televison" on which a puppet character was named Wynter Steel.
Modern respelling of the name Xavier.
Modern respelling of the legitimate Xavier.
A modern respelling of the more proper Xavier.
The origin and meaning of this name are completely unknown. Its recent popularity (from nothing to 674 on the US top 1000 names list according to the Social Security Administration) seems to have come from the popularity of the Grammy winning Puerto Rican
Zackary is a respelling of the traditional Zachary.
This particular spelling of the name Aliyah is extremely popular in the U.S., probably due to its association with the late singer and actress Aaliyah.
A modern respelling of Abigail.
Abigail was an Old Testament character who saved her negligent husband from the wrath of King David. After her husband's death, she later married David. David's sister was also named Abigail.
Abigail was quite commonly used in English-sp
Spanish vocabulary word for "April", used as a name by some.
Although some link this name to "Adaline" or "Adelaide", the true origin of this modern name is more likely what is found in "Marilyn" and "Arilyn/Aralyn", or "Madison" and "Adison" where a popular name is modified by dropping the first letter to give the
Addisyn is a respelling of the surname Addison, which means 'son of Adam'. The creation has been influenced by the modern trend of replacing vowels with the letter Y, believed by some to "make a name (more) feminine". This is also touted as "making a name
Adrianna is a variant of Adriana, the Spanish and Italian form of Adrian.
Adrianna Costa is an American television presenter.
Often claimed to be a Native American name meaning "blossoming" or "eternal flower," Aiyana's origins are actually quite obscure. It may be a respelling of the Somali name Ayanna.
Variant spelling of Alana, possibly influenced by the name 'Anna'. This spelling highlights the Gaelic pronunciation of Alana.
The name is borne by actress Alanna Ubach and journalist Alanna Nash.
Alternative modern spelling to the legitimate name Alaina. Feminine to the French form of Alan, Alain.
A modern respelling of Aliyah, perhaps also inspired by the biblical Leah.
The name first entered the US top 1000 in 1994, and since then has not risen higher than the 603rd most popular name in 2000.
Respelling of Alina.
Aleena is the name of the mother of cartoon character Sonic the Hedgehog, and a race of aliens in the 'Star Wars' franchise.
A modern variant of Alicia.
Short form of Alexandra or feminine form of Alexis.
Alexa Vega is an American actress.
There have been various Alexandras in royalty: Alexandra of Hesse was the wife of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia, Alexandra of Denmark was the wife of British King Edward VIII and Princess Alexandra is a cousin of British Queen Elizabeth II.
A modern respelling of Alexis, presumably inspired by the Lexus luxury brand of automobiles.
Of uncertain origin. It may be from an Arabic word for 'noble' or, in Scotland, a feminine form of Alistair.
It could also be a form of Adelaide.
The name is borne by ballerina Alina Cojocaru.
A Norman French diminutive of Alice.
The name was particularly popular in Scotland from the 16th century, and was revived in England in the 20th century. In the USA, Alison experienced it's highest popularity in the mid 1980s when it broke
Variant of Alicia. Alyssa is a more popular spelling of this pronunciation.
This is a modern respelling of the name Olivia. There is no known meaning for this modern coinage.
Variant of Alison, a Norman French diminutive of Alice.
Since 1963 in the US, Allison has been more popular than Alison.
The name is borne by news anchor Allison Stewart, Canadian singer Allison Crowe, and actresses Allison M
A more modern respelling of Allison.
Allyson Felix is an American athlete.
A recently coined variant of Alicia. Most often pronunced ah-LISS-ee-ah it is occasionally said ah-LEESH-yah or ah-LEES-ee-ah.
Alyssa might also be derived from the flower alyssum's name.
Actress Alyssa Milano is a famous bearer.
Amber is a fossilized tree resin commonly found on the shores of the Baltic and North Seas. Since ancient times, its primary use has been decorative. The Amber Road was the trade route from the Baltic to Italy through which amber was traded.
Modern name combining Amber with Lee.
Spanish of the masculine Italian name Amerigo. North and South America are named after Amerigo Vespucci, who explored the coast of South America at the turn of the 16th century.
The name is also borne by actress America Ferrera.
English form of the Old French Aimée, in use in the United States since the 18th century. It should be noted that the spellings Ami, and Amie are not used in France because they are the words used to refer to a friend.
Amy is the name of
Amya (ah-MY-ah) has been modernly used in English-speaking countries as a variant of the Basque name Amaya.
Amya (ahm-YAH) is also a Hebrew name, meaning "people of God".
Angelina Jolie is an American actress. The name is also shared by the character Angelina Ballerina - a dancing mouse.
Variant transcription of the Hebrew Aniya.
Aniya may also have been used as a variant of Anya.
Ann is the English spelling of Anne, the French form of Hannah, that has been used since Medieval times.
Ann Arbor is a city in Michigan, the 'Ann' part of the name comes from the first name of the wives of its founders John Allen and Elish
Antonia is the name of the main character in WIlla Cather's landmark American novel, "My Antonia."
April was not taken up as a name until the 20th century, possibly inspired by the French Avril, seen as a variant of Averil.
April 1 is April Fool's Day, when people play light-hearted jokes and hoaxes on one another.
Arlene is a modern coinage, most likely inspired by other names that end in arlene, such as Charlene.
Respelling of Ariana.
Respelling of Arianna.
This may also be an elaboration of the name Ashley.
A modern respelling of Ashley.
Anglicisation of the Irish name Aisling.
A modern respelling of Ashton, primarily used for girls, and has gained some popularity in recent years.
The word Asia may ultimately come from an Assyrian element for 'east'. It is sometimes used as a first name but belongs primarily to a continent.
A variant of Audrianna.
Variant on the traditional Audrey, made popular by V.C Andrews book "My Sweet Audrina" and reality show personality Audrina Patridge on MTV's "The Hills".
One of the four seasons, known as 'fall' in North America. As part of Vivaldi's 'Four seasons' concerto set, Autumn is in F major, and features the harvest and the hunt.
This name could be a respelling of Eva.
St Ava was a 9th century nun, the daughter of Pepin II of Aquitaine.
It has become more popular in the USA since the late 1980s, and in 2006 was the fifth most popular name.
Respelling of Aileen.
The patron saint of miners, sailors and architects, St. Barbara is called upon to defend them against untimely death like lightning strikes.
Barbara of Portugal was the Queen consort of Spain in the 18th century. She had, in total, 8 baptis
Nickname for Rebecca.
Biblically, the village of Bethany was identified as being approximately 2 miles from Jerusalem, on the slope of the Mount of Olives. It was in Bethany that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and was anointed with expensive perfume by a woman. A religiou
Nickname for Elizabeth.
Hurricane Betsy, which occurred in 1965, was the first American hurricane to cause more than a billion dollars of damage.
Notable bearers include actress Betsy Blair and Betsy Ross, who supposedly sewe
Beyonce is a modern invention and comes from the French surname Beyincé. Beyonce has been made popular by actress and singer Beyonce Knowles.
A modern coinage, perhaps a combination of the masculine name Braden and the popular suffix -lyn.
Respelling of the name of the alcoholic drink brandy.
Brandy is a spirit made from distilled wine or fermented fruit juices. The name "Brandy" can also be taken as a feminine form of "Brandon," though it is usually taken more literally as the alcoholic beverage.
Modern variant of Briana.
Modern variant of Brianna
Brenna's origins and meanings are still very much up for debate, but the Welsh origin seems the most likely.
Breonna is an American phonetic respelling of the name Brianna.
Bria is a diminutive form of Briana. It has also been used as an independent name.
Modern feminine form of Brian
Modern feminine form of Brian
Modern creation extrapolated from the name Gabrielle.
Short form of Gabrielle or a combination of 'Bri' from Bridget or Brittany with the 'elle' suffix.
Brielle is the name of a town in the Netherlands.
From the Spanish vocabulary word meaning "breeze". Brisa does not appear to be a first name in Spanish-speaking country.
Modern respelling of Brittany.
A respelling of Brittany that enjoyed the bulk of its popularity during the 1980s and 1990s.
The English name for the French province of Bretagne, named for the Briton settlers who arrived after the Anglo-Saxon invasion of England.
Brittany joined the US top 1000 in 1971 and experienced it's highest popularity (3rd most popular gir
One of the many respellings of Brittany that enjoyed immense popularity in the US during the '80s and '90s.
Altered spelling of the place name Brooklyn. The popularity of this name is probably reinforced as a name smush of Brooke and Lynn.
Modern feminine form of Bryan
Cadence means flow or rhythm as applied to language, music, or movement. In music, a cadence is a sequence of notes which indicates the end of a phrase. In the military, a cadence is a chant performed while marching or drilling. This noun has recently be
Caitlyn is a modern respelling of the traditional Irish Caitlin.
A nickname for Cal-names such as Calandra, Calanthe, Calista etc.
A modern feminine form of Carl or a pet form of names such as Carlene. Also often found as a surname.
A modern feminine form of Carl or a pet form of names such as Carlene.
A modern feminine form of Carl or a pet form of names such as Carlene.
Variation on Caroline under influence of Lynn.
A French form of Katherine commonly used in English. Catherine is the name of several important Christian saints, and has been used by European royal families for centuries.
Respelling of Chanel.
Variant of Charlotte under influence of Elizabeth.
Charlize Theron is a South African actress and model.
Chasity, a misspelling of the name Chastity, has become quite popular in its own right in the U.S.
Chelsea is a district of London, England and the name of several places in the States. A Chelsea Bun is a type of cake, formed in the shape of a spiral and made of a yeast dough with a sweet glaze.
A famous bearer is Chelsea Clinton, daught
Modern respelling of Chelsea.
Popular respelling of the placename China.
A modern misspelling of the name Sierra, possibly influenced by the Irish name Ciara (pronounced "KEER uh")
The origins and meaning for this name are unknown. Very well could be nothing more than a phoenetic pronunciation of the initials "C. G."
It is doubtless that the popularity of this name, which showed up on the US popularity charts in the e
Respelling of Cody.
From the Irish 'colleen' meaning 'girl'. It is not used as a given name in Ireland; the popularity of the name seems to originate in North America. It also enjoys considerable popularity in Australia.
Diminuative for any feminine name starting with 'Cor' such as Corrine, Coral, Corabel, Cordelia, etc.
Many English speakers became familiar with this name through the Whoopi Goldberg movie "Corrina, Corrina."
Modern respelling of Kristin or Kristen which first became popular in the early 1970's.
In ancient times Cynthia was a cult title of the Greek god Apollo (from Mount Kynthos on Delos, the island on which Apollo was born) and not used as a girl's first name. The Latin elegist Propertius did write love poetry to a woman called Cynthia, but he
Modern coinage from the name Aisha.
The feminine form of Daniel, Danielle rose to popularity in the US in the 1980s, when it was in the top 20. Author Danielle Steel is a famous bearer.
Respelling of Darcy.
Feminine form of Darian, or elaboration of the name Daria.
Said to be a play on the word "Darling", although that is not substantiated in any way. Made extremely popular in the USA by the character "Darla" in the well known American comedy series "The Little Rascals".
Dawn was an extremely popular name in the 1960s and 70s. The multiple pronunciations listed cover a range of accents.
It is possible that this name has Greek roots and is dervied from the name Deianira, but the link isn't entirely clear. It also may have roots in the Indian or Sanskrit name Daya or Dayamayee, which both mean "kind" or "kindness". Regardles of it's mury
A respelling of Diana also used as a feminine form of Dean.
Thought to have been an anglicization of either the Latin Diana or Diane or a feminine form of Dean.
The use of Deja as a name seems to come from the French expression 'déjà vu' meaning "already seen". Déjà is strictly a vocubulary word in French-speaking countries.
Dejah Thoris is Edgar Rice Burroughs's Martian princess in his Barsoom series. She first appeared in the initial Mars novel, A Princess of Mars (1917). It seems that Burrough created the name as a word-play on the French expression "déjà-vu", which is als
Nickname for Demetria which has become vogue to use as a "stand alone" name in the USA, probably from the popularity of actress Demi Moore.
Famous Denises include actresses Denise Richards and Denise van Outen. Denise Levertov was a poet, whose work was, in particular, critical of the Vietnam War. Denise Lewis is a British Olympic gold-winning heptathlete.
Respelling of Denise.
A modern respelling of Destiny.
From the English word which is ultimately derived from the Latin word "destinare," meaning "to determine".
Old French form of Greek Helen. Revived in Britain at the end of the 19th century and very popular in the 1950s, especially in Scotland.
In Arthurian legend, Elaine is a name shared by several different female characters, including King Art
Elena is the Spanish and Italian form of Helen.
Bearers include the Infanta Elena of Spain, eldest daughter of King Juan Carlos and tennis players Elena Dementieva and Elena Baltacha.
The name is particularly popular in Spa
From Elisabet, the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elisheva meaning "my God is a vow".
In the Old Testament, Elisheva is the wife of Aaron.
In the New Testament, the name is borne by a kinswoman of the Virgin Mary and mother of John the Bapti
Ella originated as a short form of any of the various names containing the Germanic element ali (foreign, other).
Ella is now taken as a variant of Ellen, and also a possible nickname to other names with a strong el-sound in them.
Elle could as well serve as a nickname to names with a strong el-sound (ex. Elisabeth, Eleanor, Helen, etc.) and is equivalent to the personal pronoun 'she' in the French language.
Inspiration may also come from the French fashion magazine "Elle".
Ellie is a nickname for El- names, most commonly Eleanor. As a stand-alone name it has only recently made the top 200 in the US, but it has seen great popularity in the UK, where it fell to 13th place in 2007.
Modern variation of Elise.
A variant of Elissa, a short form of Elizabeth.
Similar in sound to the name Amber, Ember is a far less common alternative.
Respelling of Emily.
Emilee is a popular modern respelling of Emily.
From the Latin Aemilia, a derivative of Aemilius, an old Roman family name believed to be derived from aemulus (trying to equal or excel, emulating, rival).
Another explanation concerning the meaning of the name could point in the direction
Emma might be a form of Erma, a short form of various names which begin with the Germanic element Erm(en), Irm(en) which can mean 'strong' but is more literally translated as "whole" or "universal".
For some, it is a diminutive of Emmanuell
This compound name combines the names "Emma" and "Lee" to become a form of "Emily."
A modern respelling of Erin.
Ultimately derives from a Latin word meaning "to be."
An alternate spelling of the diminutive feminine form of the Spanish cognate of Stephen, which is from the Latin Stephanus, a derivative of the Greek Stephanos, which has its root in stephanos (a crown, a garland).
The name Evangeline was invented by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for his Acadian epic poem, "Evangeline." Though it is derived from Greek elements [euangelion], its use is primarily in the English and French speaking worlds, particularly among the Acadian
In Arabic usage, Farrah is both a surname and a given name; in English usage, it is exclusively a first name. Farrah is also the name of a British indie-rock band.
Florence is the English equivalent name for the Italian city of Firenze.
A feminine form of Franciscus, Francisca is also the name of a type of Germanic throwing axe.
Lady Gabriella Windsor is the daughter of Prince Michael of Kent, and is a member of the British royal family. The main female character in Disney's 'High School Musical' is Gabriella Montez.
Grace was the 17th most popular girl's name in the US in 2006, and the most popular (#1) name in the UK in 2007. It is also very popular as a middle name. To Christians, grace means free salvation from God. Grace is also the name of the prayer said before
Gracelyn is a respelling of the city Graceland, made by combining the popular name Grace with the popular prefix Lyn.
In Grimm's fairy tale, Gretel and her brother Hansel were captured by a witch after stumbling across a gingerbread house in the forest. The witch plans to eat the children but the children manage to trick her and make their escape.
Greta a
Alternate trendy spelling of the traditional Hailey or Hayley. Haily did not feature on the US top 1000 popular baby names in 2006. However, if you go by sound and combine all the HAY lee pronunciations together (eg Hailey, Hayley, Haley, Hayleigh etc.)
Haleigh was the 596th most popular name in the US in 2006 in terms of spelling. However, if you go by sound and combine all the HAY lee pronunciations together (eg Hailey, Hayley, Haley, Hayleigh etc.) then Haleigh (or HAY lee) was the 6th most popular na
Hanna is a form of the name Hannah, as well as a name from the Hausa language meaning "joy."
In the Old Testament, Hannah was the mother of the prophet Samuel. She had been unable to bear her husband Elkanah a child, and so prayed at the temple that if God gave her a son then she would give him up to be a priest. When the child, Samuel, was born,
A modern respelling of Haley.
It was the 247th most popular name in the US in terms of spelling. If you go by sound and combine all the HAY lee pronunciations together (eg Hailey, Hayley, Haley, Hayleigh etc.) then Haylee (or HAY lee) was t
Hayleigh did not feature on the US top 1000 baby names in 2006 in terms of spelling. If you go by sound and combine all the HAY lee pronunciations together (eg Hailey, Hayley, Haley, Hayleigh etc.) then Hayleigh (or HAY lee) was the 6th most popular name
A modern respelling of the name Hayley.
It was the 427th most popular name in the US in terms of spelling. If you go by sound and combine all the HAY lee pronunciations together (eg Hailey, Hayley, Haley, Hayleigh etc.) then Haylie (or HAY
Ireland is the third-largest island in Europe, and contains the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, part of the UK. Éire is the traditional Gaelic name for Ireland; Ériu was one of three sister goddesses who were the patrons of pre-Christian Irelan
There have been various queens named Isabella. Isabella of Castile laid the foundations for the unification of Spain, with her husband Ferdinand of Aragon. They reconquered Granada, and patronised Christopher Columbus on his first voyage to America. She w
The etymology of the names Iyana and Iyanna are hard to trace. They are undoubtable modern coinages, but the roots are hard to determine. They could be modern variants of the Celtic Iana; or possibly Aiyanna, which also had a very blurred etymology. Rega
Pet form of Jason, or simply an elaboration from the initials J.C.
Jacqueline is the feminine form of Jacques, the French form of James.
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was the wife of assassinated American President John F Kennedy. She was noted for her style and grace. Following the death of Kennedy she married
Common English variant of Jacqueline.
Modern cognate, derived from the name Kayla.
Janae is perhaps a combination of the names Jennifer and Danae. It may also be an elaboration on the name Jane. Janae Timmins is a character in the Australian soap 'Neighbours'.
The name Janiah and it's counterparts are modern coinages that were probably created merely to attain a certain sound and therefore have no meaning. Possibly inspired by the popularity of the name Mariah. Janaya has recently become a popular name in Canad
Janessa is likely a variation on the name Vanessa.
The name Janiah and it's counterparts are modern coinages that were probably created merely to attain a certain sound and therefore have no meaning. Possibly inspired by the popularity of the name Mariah.
The name Janiah and it's counterparts are modern coinages that were probably created merely to attain a certain sound and therefore have no meaning. Possibly inspired by the popularity of the name Mariah.
Jasmine is the name of a flower. In the Disney film Aladdin, Jasmine is the name of one of the main characters.
Modern trendy variant spelling of the traditional Jasmine.
Jayce, a modern coinage, can be a short form of the name Jason, or a lengthened version of the initials "J.C." Jaycee (as well as its variant spellings) is more than likely just a play on popular names like Casie or Lacey.
Possibly a variation on the name Kayla. This name was recently borne by a contestant on the U.S. reality show "America's Next Top Model," which may partly account for its current popularity. Note its similarity to the word 'jailer'.
Modern American English coinage likely a combination of Jasmine and the common suffix "lyn".
A modern American English respelling of Jasmine.
A modern American English respelling of Jasmine.
A variant of Jenny or Jennifer. One of U.S. President George W. Bush's daughters is named Jenna, after his wife Laura's mother, Jenna Hawkins. Jenna Elfman is an actress.
Jennifer joined the US top 1000 names in 1938. It rose until in 1970 it was the #1 name in USA, it held that place until 1985 and has been in decline ever since. In 2006 it was the 51st most popular name in America.
Famous bearers include
Jerica may be based on the name Jericho. It is more likely that it is a elaboration on the name Erica or Ericka, however. More than likely to produce a sound that might be pleasant, but there is no true meaning.
Jessica first appeared in the Shakespeare's 'Merchant of Venice' and her origins are much debated. It is possible that Jessica comes from the Hebrew name found in the Bible as Iscah, which was translated in Shakespeare's time as Jesca.
Ha
There is much conjecture to what this name means. Many sources say that is is relevant to "heart" or "piece of" the heart. It is conjecture, though and there seems to be no hard and fast etymological line.
Joann can also be a contraction of Joan or Josephine and Ann.
This name became popular in the U.S. in the mid-twentieth century, but has recently fallen out of favor. Jolene appears to be the name Jo or Joe with the feminine -lene suffix attached; it became popular along with other -ene names like Charlene.
Modern American English variant respelling of the classic Georgia.
Julia is a feminine form of the name Julius; this name was given to every female in the Julius family in ancient Rome. Julia was the name of several early Christian saints and martyrs. Julia was also the name of a character in William Shakespeare's "Two G
Anglicisation and respelling of Caitlín.
An American respelling of the name Kalina.
Kaleigh may also be a variant on the name Callie, pronounced "KA lee."
A variant on the name Aliyah.
Variant of Kaylyn and Kaylynn.
Kamryn is a modern variation of the surname Cameron.
Kandice is a respelling of the name Candace, influenced by the modern trend of changing vowels and replacing a hard 'C' with a 'K'.
Modern coinage.
A respelling of the name Karina.
Modern respelling of the nickname Carly.
The popularity and use of this name can be attributed to the mexican born Karyme Lozano, one of the most recognizable actresses involved in international television. Another case of this same kind of popularity can be evidenced in the name Arleth.
Anglicisation and respelling of Caitlín.
Katelynn can be considered either a modern interpretation of the Gaelic Caitlin or as a combination of the names Kate and Lynn.
Variant of Katherine.
Anglicisation and respelling of Caitlín.
Anglicisation of Caitríona or a form of Katherine.
Hurricane Katrina occurred in 2005, devastating, in particular, New Orleans and Mississippi. The cost of reconstruction following the hurricane was set at $10.5 billion - making it the most
A variant spelling of Cadence.
A short form of Michaela (McKayla), or perhaps an elaboration on Kayley.
Kaylee was the name of a well-loved character on the short lived American television series "Firefly." It was used as a nickname for Kaywinnit.
The name Kayleen is a combination of the name Kay and the popular mid-century feminine suffix "-leen" or "-lene." It may also be influenced by the name Colleen.
Kaylynn is a modern invention and is most likely a combination of the name Kay and the name Lynn.
Modern coinage, probably the shortened form of Lakeisha - a name influenced by Aisha.
It may also have been influenced by West African language. One such suggested meaning is "favorite daughter", from nkisa.
A modern respelling of Kelly.
Likely an alternative spelling on Kenya.
This name is frequently miscategorized as a Hawaiian name meaning "God's gracious gift." There is actually no Hawaiian name that resembles "Keona," so it is likely a modern construction that "sounds" Hawaiian to non-Hawaiian ears.
A modern invention originating in Australia.
Respelling of the traditional Chloe made particularly popular in 2008 by Khloe Kardashian, reality TV personality.
Modern coinage, likely influenced by the name Diana.
English spelling variant of Kirsten.
Kimora is a name of uncertain derivation; it may simply be an elaboration on the nickname Kim.
The popularity of this name in recent times is undoubtedly due to its association with actress and designer Kimora Lee Simmons.
A modern coinage, perhaps inspired by Kyra or Kyla.
From the surname, Lassy
A modern respelling of Lacey.
Alternate spelling of Lacey.
Modern coinage. Ladonna is a blend of the prefix 'la' and the name Donna, from the Italian meaning "lady".
Pet form of Elaine
Modern coinage of unknown origin. Could possibly be a modern variation on the traditional Aisha. Boosted in modern popularity in the US by Mexican actress Laisha Wilkens.
A name creating by combining Kendra with the prefix La-.
Modern coinage; variant of Lakeisha.
Modern coinage; variant of Lakeisha.
The origin of this name is unknown. It is possibly from Alana or Alan and in Latin the word lana means "wool". However, there's no definite connection to this name.
Modern coinage. Some have suggested Laquita to be a blend of the preffix 'la' with the Spanish term of endearment "chiquita".
Larissa is a Greek city, the capital of Thessaly. It is situated in an area that has been inhabited for 12000 years. Larissa is also the name of a moon of Neptune. In Greek mythology, Larissa was a nymph from Thessaly.
Modern coinage; derived from the name Shawn.
This spelling variation is rarely used as simpler forms have taken its place.
In the 19th century, this name relates from the Middle English word for tree, "lorel" although the name was also recorded in the 16th century as a pet form of Laura.
There are various trees that contain laurel in their name, but the Bay Lau
This name is thought to have first come into popular use with the actress Lauren Bacall who starred in films with Humphrey Bogart in the 1940's. The name was wildly popular in the 1960's and peaked again in the late 1980s. Originally a rarely used pet f
Alternate spelling of Lauren.
In Persian and Arabic poetry, Layla was a beautiful girl with whom the poet Majnun fell in love. When Majnun asked for her hand in marriage, Layla's father refused to give his permission to the match. Layla was married off to another man and later died.
This name may come from the name, Lee or in more modern terms it could also be a nickname for Azalea.
Léa is also the French form of Leah, it is pronounced LAY ah. It is currently a popular name in France, and in Quebec.
In E
Possibly a converted spelling of Liane but more likely the simple combination of Lee and Anne.
Princess Leia is a fictional character of the Star Wars galaxy.
Leila is a common Persian name that has recently gained a measure of popularity in the English-speaking world.
A nickname for Alexandra, Alexis or Alex.
Shortened form of names ending in -lia, such as Rosalia, but also Cornelia, Julia etc. In the English speaking world it could be an alternate spelling for Leah.
This name started as a nickname for Elizabeth but is now used as a given name on its own.
Simple spelling for Leila.
As a Sanskrit name, Lila [lee-LAH] was the name of a queen who was enlightened by the Goddess Saraswati.
Lillian Bounds was the wife of animator Walt Disney. Lillian Gish and Lillian Roth were American actresses, and Lillian Hellman was a playwright. The name was most popular around 1900, and these four examples of bearers of the name Lillian were all born w
Lily is the name of a flower and is ultimately derived from the Latin word lilium. They are often showy, with a noticeable scent and long stamens. 'Lily' is also used in the names of other plants such as the water lily (Latin name Nymphaeaceae) - which fl
Respelling of Liliana.
The Linda used in English is of modern coinage and uncertain derivation.
This short form of Elisabeth is extremely popular as a full given name.
Also used as a Russian nickname for Larisa.
This misspelling of the name Lorelei gained popularity with the introduction of the character Lorelai Gilmore on the U.S. television show "Gilmore Girls."
Alternate spelling for Laurie, Lori etc.
This surname became a popular first name in Scotland in the 19th century.
"Lucinda" first appears in literature in Cervantes' "Don Quixote," though it is unclear whether Cervantes invented this name himself. Lucinda first became popular in the nineteenth century; it is currently quite uncommon in the U.S.
A modern respelling of Lindsey that enjoyed some popularity in the US during the 1980s.
Variant of Madeleine.
A modern phonetic spelling of Madeline or Madeleine.
A modern phonetic spelling of Madeline or Madeleine.
A respelling of the name Madison.
Trendy respelling of the popular Madison, a masculine surname that has recently become incredibly popular for baby girls.
A modern respelling of Madison.
Modern trendy American English respelling of the classic Megan.
Latinate form of Madgalene.
Makena means "happy one" in Kikuyu (a tribe of Kenya).
Makena is also sometimes used as a variant of MacKenna.
American variant spelling of Malia.
Variant of Melinda.
A recent modern english respelling, probably influenced by the names Molly or Malia.Or possibly a variant of the name Aliyah.
Malorie Blackman is a British children's author.
A respelling of Miranda.
Feminine form of Marcius, a variant of Marcus, which is derived from Mars, the Roman mythological god of war.
Of English and Spanish usage, as well as Portuguese when spelt Márcia.
Pet form of Marcia.
Pet form of Marcia.
Marcy is sometimes found in historical documents as an alternate spelling of the name Mercy.
Latin form of Mary.
It arose as a back-formation from the early Christian Greek name Mariam, which was taken as a Latin accusative case, and is ultimately derived from Hebrew Miryam.
In the English-speaking world, Maria was the writ
The pronunciation of our modern "Mariah" was actually a common pronunciation of the name "Maria" in nineteenth-century England. This alternate spelling has retained the nineteenth-century pronunciation. The "h" was probably added to appear more Biblical
Compound name formed of Maria and Anna.
French cognate of Maria; French form of Mary.
Also the earlier form of the name in England until the Authorized version of the Bible established Mary as the English spelling.
Marie was the name of various queens of France, in
From the French Marielle; pet form of Marie.
Commonly used as an independent given name.
It may also be a variant of Muriel or Meriel.
Occasional variant of Mariella or Mariel.
Elaborated form of Mary with the feminine suffix -lyn. Marilyn might have been a blend of Mary and Ellen.
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress of the 1950s, she committed suicide in 1962. Marilyn Manson is the stage name of musician Brian
Marissa is either a variant of Marisa, which is an elaboration upon Maria with the '-isa' suffix from names such as Louisa and Lisa or it is an elaboration of Maris - from the Latin phrase 'stella maris' meaning "star of the sea", Maris is one of the titl
Respelling of Maria.
Usual modern spelling of Margery.
It seems to have arisen as the result of popular etymological association of the name with that of the herb marjoram. This word is of uncertain origin; its Middle English and Old French form was majorane, w
Phoenetic respeling of Marquita. Modern coinage.
Modern alterned form of Marlene, or else a name invented as a feminine equivalent of Marlon.
Pet form of Marlene or variant of Marilee.
Variant respelling of Marlon.
Occasional variant of Marlene.
Variant of Marcia.
Modern coinage which is probably a spin off of Martina or any other name beginning with "Mart" such as Marta.
Originally a Middle English Anglicized form of the French "Marie," derived from the Latin "Maria," and ultimately from the Hebrew name of uncertain origin "Miryam".
This is the New Testament form of Miriam, which St. Jerome derives from ele
Compound name formed of Mary and Ann.
A smush of the names Mary and Jane. Maryjane was mostly used during the earlier part of the 20th century, but has fallen out of fashion presumably because it is a slang term for the marijuana plant.
Trendy phonetic respelling of the traditional Mattea.
Latinized form of Mathilda.
Matilda of Flanders was Queen consort of the Kingdom of England and the wife of William the Conqueror.
"Matilda," by Roald Dahl, is a children's book about a girl with extraordinary mental powers.<
Modern name derived from max, and the feminine suffix -ine.
Respelling of Myra.
Also possibly a respelling of Moyra.
A modern respelling of Michaela to incorporate the popular prefix 'Mc' with the also very popular name 'Kayla.'
Recent use of the English word as a name.
Respelling of Megan.
Respelling of Megan.
Megan is a Welsh diminutive form of Margaret, from Greek 'margaron', "pearl", and thus means "little pearl".
The form may have been borrowed from, or given rise to such abbreviated forms as Meg, Maggie and Mags.
In USA, Megan
Modern name, formed with the first syllable of names such as Melanie or Melissa, with the addition of the popular suffix -inda.
Some believe it to be a blend of specifically Melanie and Linda, a Spanish name meaning beauty, others see it as
Polish cognate of Melissa, also used as a variant of the name in English-speaking countries. It is a more modern name that is known as Melita in Lithuania.
From the Greek "honey bee".
In Greek mythology, this was the name of a nymph that saved Zeus from his father, Cronus.
The 16th century Italian poet Ariosto used the name for a good fairy in his poem "Orlando Furioso."
Occasional variant of Melissa.
Variant of Melissa.
English word, derived from the French 'melodie', from the Greek.
Spanish name associated with the cult of the Virgin Mary, from the liturgical title "Maria de las Mercedes" (Mary of the Mercies; 'Our Lady of Ransom').
Latin 'mercedes' originally meant 'wages' or 'ransom'.
In Christian theology, Christ's
Mia is the Danish and Swedish pet form of Maria, and is also commonly used as an independent given name. In other languages it is used as a nickname for Maria, and sometimes Amelia, among others. Mia is a possessive form in Italian and Spanish, and in som
Latinate feminine form of Michael.
French feminine form of Michel; variant of Michèle.
The name is now also used extensively in the English-speaking world.
It was popular in the 1970s and 1980s, possibly influenced by the famous Beatles song "Michelle".
Respelling of Michaela.
Modern American English variant of the traditional Michaela.
Modern respelling of Michaela, meaning "Who is like God?".
Derived from an Old English name, meaning "gentle strength, mild power".
The name was borne by a 7th century saint and abbess.
Phoenetic respelling of the Hawaiian name Maile.
Miley has been gaining in popularity due to the celebrity of Miley Cyrus and her character Hannah Montana. In her case, the name was a nickname given to her by her father, "Smiley".
Pet form of Melinda, or perhaps Miranda.
English word newly used by some as a name.
Miranda was created by Shakespeare for his play "The Tempest" from the feminine form of the Latin gerundive 'mirandus' (admirable, lovely), from the verb 'mirari' (to wonder at, to admire). This gives the meaning "she who must be admired".
Modern coinage based on the word misty (foggy, misty).
The name first became popular during the 1960s and 1970s.
It may also be thought of as a pet form of Melissa.
Pet form of Mary used independently.
The song 'Molly Malone' or 'Cockles and Mussels' is popular in Ireland, where it is considered to be an unofficial Irish national anthem.
Famous bearers include actresses Molly Ringwald,
Modern respelling of Maia.
Although the name Myla is growing in popularity, its roots are entirely obscure. Likely a modern coinage with no known meaning, but could have been modeled after the masculine Miles or Myles. Other sources feel it could be a spin on the traditional Mila.
Anglicized spelling of the Hawaiian Maile.
The name was invented in the 17th century by the poet Fulke Greville for use in his love poems.
He perhaps based it on Latin 'myron' from the Greek (myrrh, onguent - a sweet smelling oil), creating a feminine form of Myron.
It has also been
A modern trendy respelling of Miranda.
Modern American English variation on the traditional Nayeli.
Natalie is the English form of Natalia, which is derived from the Italian "natale," meaning "birthday." The term refers specifically to Christ's birthday - the Italian phrase for "merry Christmas" is "buon natale!", literally "good birthday!"
A variant spelling of Natalie.
Famous Natashas include actresses Natasha Richardson and Natasha Lyonne, singer Natasha Bedingfield and British newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky.
"Nautica" derives from the Latin term "nauticus," meaning "sailor" or "navigator." Nautica is a well-known brand of clothing in the U.S.
"Nayeli" is a Zapotec phrase meaning "I love you."
Nevaeh is a modern creation and is simply the word "heaven" spelt backwards. This first appeared in 2000 during an interview with a member of the American Christian rock band P.O.D. when he was explaining about his daughter's unusual name. Since then, N
Neveah is a modern creation and is a misspelling of Nevaeh which itself is simply the word heaven spelt backwards. Neveah has actually had some use in recent years. The pronunciation varies and is so up for debate.
Nicole is a feminine form of Nicholas. Bearers include actress Nicole Kidman, socialite Nicole Richie and singer Nicole Appleton.
Modern American English coinage, which could possibly have been fashioned after names such as Noelie and Nayeli. No known meaning or direct line of etymology.
"Nova" is perhaps best known for being the name of a model of Chevrolet. It is derived from the Latin word for "new."
Modern American English trendy coinage. This name has experienced a surge in popularity, but it's roots are unsure. No known etymological lineage except for the tenuous link to the name Nasia, which isn't pronounced alike at all.
Invented by Shakespeare for his play "Twelfth Night." Olivia was either meant to be a female form of Oliver or derived from the vocabulary word 'olive' which is a symbol of peace. Olivia was the fifth most popular name for girls in the US in 2005, and the
A modern respelling of the legitimate name Olivia.
Lyrical translation and modernization of the Hebrew Ofra. Most widely associated with American journalist and celebrity Oprah Winfrey.
The 1990 census placed Patricia as the 2nd most popular name in USA, accounting for just over 1% of all girls' names. Patricia peaked between the 1930s and mid-1960s when it was in the top 10.
There are several actresses named Patricia, in
The French name Pauline has a double etymology. It is a diminutive form of Paule, the feminine form of Paul, but it may also be derived from the Roman family name Paulinus.
In literature Pauline appears in Noel Streatfeild's classic childre
Pearl is also a surname, and was used with some frequency on boys in the early twentieth century. Its use as a masculine name faded as Pearl grew in popularity as a feminine name.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" protagonist H
It was common in the Middle Ages to exchange Ps for Ms in nicknames. Thus Margaret or "Meg" was transformed into "Peg" or "Peggy." The same exchange can be seen with Polly, a common nickname for Mary (via "Molly.")
In Greek mythology, Penelope was the wife of Odysseus who waited for him to return to her for twenty years. She avoided remarriage by claiming she would not remarry until she had completed her father-in-law's funeral shroud; every night, she unraveled pa
In Greek mythology Phoebe was the Titan mother of Leto, who was in turn mother of Apollo and Artemis. In popular culture Phoebe is a character from the popular sitcom Friends.
Phonetic spelling of Portia.
A spelling variant of Priscilla that has fallen into disuse.
Priscilla was an early convert to Christianity, she is mentioned in the book of Acts and some of Paul's letters.
Priscilla Wagner was the wife of Elvis Presley.
'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' was a film ab
A modern trendy respelling of Kiana.
Modern trendy respelling of Kiana.
In the Old Testament of the Bible, Rachel was a wife of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
Famous bearers include actresses Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams, and artist Rachel Whiteread. Rachel Green was a character on the TV sitco
A nickname for Rachael or a feminine form of Ray. Possibly also taken from the vocabulary word 'ray' or the Scottish surname (Mac)Rae.
Variant transcript of Rayna, Bulgarian form of Regina or Radka.
It may also be taken as a feminine form of Rainer; or a variant of Reina.
Bulgarian form of Regina.
It may also be a feminine form of Rayno, Bulgarian variant of Radko.
Medieval female personal name (from Old French reine ‘queen').
This name is very popular in southern Poland.
Regina was one epithet of the Roman goddess Juno. It is also the name of a city in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Yiddish for "clean; pure", Reina is the Yiddish form of Catherine.
It also means "queen" in Spanish.
As a Japanese name, Reina may be written with the characters for "summit; peak" (rei) and "Nara" (na) - among other possibil
Can also be a nickname for names like Serena.
The Japanese name Rena (pronounced REH nah) may be written with the characters for "actor" (re) and "Nara; what?" (na).
Modern respelling of Renee that enjoyed some popularity during the later part of the 20th century.
Modern coinage probably based on the Welsh name Rhiannon.
Rhiannon is the goddess of horses in Welsh mythology. Rhiannon is also the title of a Fleetwood Mac song.
A modern coinage formed by blending the name Rhoda and Rhona. However, it is often taken as a Welsh name - 'rhon' (pike, lance) + 'da' (good).
Rihanna is a misspelled version of the name Rhianna. It appeared on the top 1000 names chart in the U.S. in 2006, no doubt influenced by the popularity of the musical artist Rihanna.
Pet form of Margarita, and also a Sanskrit name meaning "righteous".
May also be a respelling of Rachelle.
Rosa is the Latin name and the name of the genus of the rose plant.
Rosa Parks was an African-American civil rights leader, who famously refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. This sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, wh
From the Latin and Italian Rosalia, an elaborated form of Rosa.
Rosalia is also an Ancient festival during which garlands of roses were laid to honor the memory of fallen soldiers.
Combination of Rose and Anna.
Rosemary is a herb and a member of the mint family.
'Rosemary's Baby' is a horror novel by Ira Levin. It was made into a film in 1968 by Roman Polanski. Rosemary is the main character of the story.
Rosemary Clooney was an Am
Rosie is typically a nickname for names beginning with Rose. In J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", Rosie Cotton was a hobbit who married Samwise Gamgee.
Rosie O'Donnell is a talk show host, actress and comedian. Rosie Perez is a fam
Roxana is from Roxane, the Greek form of a presumably Persian name belonging to the Bactrian wife of Alexander the Great. In 2005 Roxana sat low in the top 1000 girls' names in the US.
Modern spelling of the classic Ruby.
Of uncertain etymology, most think it is derived from a contraction of the Hebrew re'uth ("companion, friend"). The name is borne in the Bible by the wife of Mahlon and daughter-in-law of Naomi. After the death of her husband, father-in-law, and brother-i
Ryann is a modern feminization of Ryan.
A modern respelling of Riley.
A modern repselling of Riley.
Originally a pet form of Sarah it now stands on its own.
Sahara is the name of a vast desert in North Africa.
Sahara may also be taken as derived from the Hebrew "sahar" meaning "moon".
As Samantha is likely an English variation on Samuel, it does not retain the original Hebrew meaning "heard by God," as it is not a Hebrew name.
Samantha is a relatively new name, arising in the latter part of the 18th century. It was popu
Sanai is likely patterned after the Arabic name Sanaa which has meaning as both an Arabic and Swahili derived name. It could also be a play on the Arabic traditional Saiyya. Sanai, however, is merely a modern creation or anglicization of such names, and t
Respelling of the traditional Saniyya.
Respelling of the traditional Saniyya. Generally an Arabic name wouldn't contain an "H" as the last letter in such cases. This is an anglicization.
In the Old Testament, Sarah was the wife of Abraham, and the mother of Isaac.
Her name was first Sarai ("my princess"), which God changed to Sarah ("princess") as her descendants were to be the future nation of Israel.
Famous bearer
Modern trendy respelling of the traditional Savannah.
Alternate spelling of Savannah.
A savanna (also spelled "savannah") is a large, grassy plateau. Savannah is the name of a large city in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is also the name of a breed of cat.
Alternate spelling of Scarlett
Scarlett O'Hara is the protagonist of Margaret Mitchell's novel "Gone with the Wind". It is a little known fact that Scarlett's full name is "Katie Scarlett O'Hara", after her Irish father's mother.
Scarlett Johansson is a popular American
Selene was the Greek goddess of the Moon.
Derived from the Latin "serenus"
Serena Williams is an American tennis player.
The Nissan Serena is a minivan or people carrier.
A combination of the names Shay and Lynn.
Feminine form of Shakir
A modern American coinage with no known meaning.
Shanae is most likely a modern coinage, on the model of names such as Janae.
It has also be suggested that Shanae had been used as a phonetic American transcription of the Irish name Sinead.
Possibly from Chanel, the French word for "pipe". Modern American English coinage that more likely comes from a feminine suffix of "elle" being added to the popular element "shan".
Alternate spelling of Shannon.
A modern respelling of Chantal.
Creation of modern times possibly combining Sharon or Sheryl and Rita or simply the common prefix "Sha" with the common latinate ending "ita" or "rita". popular in the US in the mid 1080's.
A variant of Sharon influenced by the name Rhonda.
Shawnee is the name of a Native American Indian people.
Shaylee is a modern invention and, presumably, is a combination of the anglicized Shay and the popular suffix -lee.
This name is a Gaelic form of Jeanne or Jane, which are feminine forms of John.
In Australia this is a slang term for "woman".
Shelia is probably most widespread as a coinage, derived from the name Sheila (itself a Gaelic cognate of Cecilia, from the Latin meaning "blind").
Shelia could however be taken as a variant transcription of the Hebrew Sheliya, meaning "god
Shenna hit the US top 1000 in the year of 1984. There is no known meaning or etymological line to this name, however, it is interesting to note that the movie "Sheena" based on the Sheena: Queen of the Jungle series was released in 1984. One could guess t
Modern coinage, possibly based on the name Cheryl or Sherry.
The name reached rank #709 of the US top of names in 1985.
A possible variant of the classic Sheila, this modern coinage could also simply be a "name smush" of the popular elements "shy" and feminine suffix "la".
Made popular in contemporary times by British actress Sienna Miller.
The Spanish word for a range of mountains is sierra. The name's popularity likely came from Americans using it in homage to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Skyla has ranked in the US top 1000 girls' names since 1998. Skyla is possibly an elaboration of the word 'sky' coupled with the generally feminine element 'la'. Skyla may also be an anglicised form of the Dutch surname Schuyler, although the usual anglic
Soleil is not used as a first name in France. Marie-Soleil occurs in Québec.
Soleil Moon Frye is an American actress most notable for playing the title role in the 1980's television show "Punky Brewster".
Sonia Gandhi is the Italian-born President of the Indian National Congress. She is the widow of Rajiv Gandhi, the son of Indira Gandhi. Both Rajiv and Indira Gandhi were Indian Prime Minister.
Sonia O'Sullivan is an Irish athlete.
The name Sophia is derived from the Greek word for "wisdom." In early religious and philosophical texts, characters who personified wisdom are referred to as "Sophia figures."
Famous bearers include actress Sophia Loren, Sophia Myles and
Stefani is a rarely used respelling of Stephanie.
A respelling of the name Stephanie.
This season name was recently used for the name of a character on the TV series 'The OC'.
Susan B Anthony was an American suffrage leader, who helped to secure the vote for women in USA. Susan Sarandon is an Oscar-winning actress.
Susan Pevensie is one of four siblings that find their way to Narnia in CS Lewis' 'The Lion, the W
From the Greek form of the Hebrew name Shoshanah, traditionally translated as "lily" or occasionally as "rose".
Suzanne is the French form of Susanna.
A modern respelling of Sydney.
Sylvia is an alternate form of Silvia, though it is now more popular than the original in English-speaking contexts.
Sylvia Plath was an American poet and novelist, famous for works such as 'The Bell Jar'. She was married to English poet Te
Modern coinage of uncertain derivation. Tamia might be an elaboration of Tam or Tammy. It may also be modeled on the name Tania.
Apparently a pet form of Tania/Tanya, used infrequently as a name in its own right.
Tanya is a nickname of Tatyana, which is probably derived from the Latin "Tatianus" or "Tatius," a family name of unknown definition.
Modern coinage, possibly influenced by Tara and Karen.
Tawny describes a tan or ruddy color. Usually used in reference to the color of an animal's fur. It can be used as a nickname for the name Tanya or Tonya.
Tawny Kitaen is an American model and actress who was famous in the 1980's, particul
A modern respelling of Taylor, especially popular in Austraila where Taylor and Tayla are pronounced the same.
A modern respelling of Taylor, especially popular in Austraila where Taylor and Taylah are pronounced the same.
A modern coinage which has no real meaning or origin. It is interesting to note that this name broke the US top 1000 names in 1984, the same year that Masters of the Universe became popular in cartoon form on US television. Teela was an integral part of
Modern creation with no known meaning.
Also created as a feminine equivalent of Terry.
Possibly from the Greek 'thelema' (wish, act of will). The name was probably coined by the author Marie Corelli in her novel "Thelma, A Norwegian Princess." The name does not have any apparently relation to the Norwegian language.
Modern coinage of uncertain derivation, although this word means 'aunt' in Spanish. Possibly taken from the end of names such as Laetitia.
Modern coinage of no known meaning. Could be related to the name Christiana or Tatiana, or any name with a similar ending.
Of uncertain origin; means 'earth' in Spanish, but may also be a respelling of Tiara.
Modern coinage with no known meaning.
Tocarra was a perfume made by the company Avon in 1981. After then it was used as a given name for a few years but has since fallen into disuse.
Tori is a nickname for Victoria. This nickname is not common in the UK, possibly because it sounds like Tory, an alternative name for the Conservative Party. It entered the US top 1000 as a stand alone name in 1959 and has been of fluctuating popularity e
A modern respelling of Tracey.
From the English vocabulary world.
Trinity is a vocabulary word meaning 'threefold'. In Christianity, the trinity refers to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, all of whom are part of the single being of God.
Trinity was the name of the main female character in 'The Mat
Modern feminine form of Tristan.
It is also the Portuguese feminine form of the adjectif "sad". Trista is also a common nickname or shortened form of the name Beatrice, which is derived from Beatrix and means essentially "traveller through life".
A respelling of the name Tiana.
Victoria was the Roman goddess of victory, the equivalent of the Greek Nike.
A notable bearer of this name is Queen Victoria who reigned between 1819 - 1901 and is the longest reigning British monarch. Victoria was not a common name when Qu
Of uncertain etymology, Wanda is generally believed to be of Germanic origin, perhaps from 'vond' (wand, stem, young tree) or from Wend, a term denoting a member of the old Slavic people who now live in an enclave south of Berlin.
Author
Very modern trendy name that is likely meant to be a shortened from of Alexandra.
Modern coinage which is probably just a trendy spelling of the name Zanna which is a form of Suzanna.
Likely a modern trendy respelling of the Arabic Zara.
Very modern trendy coinage probably derived from the masculine Xavier.
Xena is perhaps best known today for being the name of the main character on a the hit US television show, "Xena: Warrior Princess."
Modern respelling of the legitimate Yasmina.
The etymology of this name is obscure. Many sources indicate that it is a modern creation of Hispanic origins with no known or true meaning.
Zaley and its variants is a modern American English coinage which could either come as a nickname for Azalea or from the name Azalea, or it is simply a case of someone exchanging a "Z" for the "H" in the popular Haley.
Zaley and its variants is a modern American English coinage which could either come as a nickname for Azalea or from the name Azalea, or it is simply a case of someone exchanging a "Z" for the "H" in the popular Haley.
Zaley and its variants is a modern American English coinage which could either come as a nickname for Azalea or from the name Azalea, or it is simply a case of someone exchanging a "Z" for the "H" in the popular Haley.
Zelma is an alternative spelling of the name Selma. Zelma was a popular name at the turn of the century in the US.
Zoe is a direct transliteration of the ancient Greek word 'zoe' (written 'zeta-omega-eta'). It is usually listed as meaning 'life', but it can also mean 'a (means of) living', 'subsistence', 'goods' or 'property'. It was the 54th most popular name for gir
A nickname for Abigail, and also a surname from Middle English originally used for someone who worked at an abbey. Abbey is also the name of a British bank.
Addison, which means 'son of Adam', is one of the surnames which has been enthusiastically taken up in the current trend to find 'unique' names for baby girls. It has been climbing the American charts since 1994 and in 2006 was the 27th most popular name
The Latin feminine form of Alan, but a unisex name in Hawaiian.
The name is borne by actress Alana de la Garza.
This traditionally male name is now also used for girls in the English-speaking world. In modern Greece it remains a male name, which might more literally be transliterated as 'Alexes': in the Greek alphabet it is written 'alpha-lambda-epsilon-xi-eta-sigm
Amanda is the feminine gerundive of the Latin verb 'amo' (I love) and thus literally means 'she who must be loved'. In the US, Amanda was particularly popular in the 1980s. Amanda can also be a male name which is Sanskrit in origin.
Notabl
Amari is a recent coinage that appears to possibly come from many different avenues, although it has no true meaning. It is closely related in sound to the name Imari which is likely a variation on the popular Imani. It could also be related somehow to
A feminine name in the English speaking world, but used for boys in Italy.
Examples of it being used as a female name include Irish singer Andrea Corr, and author Andrea Levy.
Male Andreas include singer Andrea Bocelli, pain
Angel is used mostly as a masculine name among Spanish-speaking communities, and mostly as a feminine name in English-speaking communities. The Spanish name is pronounced "ahn HEL," while the English version is pronounced "AYN jel")
"Angel
Modern respelling of the legitimate masculine Hebrew name, Areli.
Also could be a shortened form of nickname for Ariela or Aurelio/Aurelia. Found more frequently used in the Hispanic/Latino culture.
May come from the name Alexander but the origin is uncertain. It can be used as a pet form of various names including Arlene.
A place name and surname from the Old English words 'æsc' (ash) and 'leah' (wood). This name transferred from surname to male first name but in recent decades has become increasingly popular for girls.
Aspens are part of the Willow family, and are characterized by their trembling leaves, white bark, and beautiful fall foliage.
Aspen Matthews is the heroine of the comic book "Fathom."
Aspen, Colorado, is a world-famous ski r
A respelling of Aubrey which probably came about from the traditionally male name's modern use on females.
A respelling of Aubrey used for females.
Traditionally a masculine name, Avery is used on both boys and girls today. Avery is also fairly common as a last name.
It is the name of several towns and counties in the U.S.; there is also a crater on the Moon named Avery.
Aydan is a respelling of Aidan, the standard anglicization of the Gaelic Aodhán. In Turkish it is an unrelated female name.
The first name Briley may be an elaboration on the name Riley; alternatively, it might be derived from a surname like Briarly or Briarley. There seems to be no true etymology for the name and is of modern creation.
Transferred use of the surname.
Bearers include the actress Brooke Shields and philanthropist Brooke Astor.
Brooklyn is a borough of New York City. The name comes from the Dutch "Breukelen," probably meaning "broken land." The name has become extremely popular in the U.S., perhaps due to its similarity to two existing names, Brooke and Lynn. British celebrit
Modern coinage with no known etymology, possibly modeled on Rylee or surnames like Briarly or Briarley.
From the Welsh 'bryn' meaning 'hill', Brynn is a modern respelling that has become popular as a girl's name.
Carol was occasionally used as a boys' name in the early twentieth century, but it is almost exclusively feminine today. It may come directly from the Latin "Carolus," or it may simply be a shortened form of Caroline.
Two examples of it be
Casey was first used as an honorary nickname for American folk hero Jonathan 'Casey' Jones. He acquired his nickname from his birthplace, Cayce, in Kentucky. Casey is also a last name, an anglicised form of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Cathasaigh. This mean
Anglicised form of the Gaelic surname Ó Caiside ('descendant of Caiside'). This surname is currently also used as a first name for both genders. It was the surname of Wild West bank and train robber Butch Cassidy, and American singer Eva Cassidy.
Nickname for Chris- names.
A Christian is someone who follows the religion of Christianity, based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Christian is the main character of John Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress', which is a Christian allegory.
Famous peopl
"Dakota" is a Sioux word used to denote a certain tribe within the Sioux nation. It is not used as a first name by the Sioux, for obvious reasons. Dakota is also the name of two U.S states - North Dakota and South Dakota, both originally located in the
Dallas is a city in Texas that grew due to it's importance in the oil and cotton industries. 'Dallas' was a long-running TV show that focussed on the Ewing family.
Likely a modern creation derived from Dale.
A modern name of uncertain origin, Daylen has gained popularity along with similar-sounding names like Jaylen and Kaylen. Daylen has appeared on the Canadian top names.
As a male name, Deron may be taken as a variant of Darren.
As a girl name, Deron may be taken as a variant of Deryn.
Modern coinage. Devan is probably derived from the name Devon.
In the US this is an abbreviation of the Mason Dixon line and as such refers to the region south of the line.
Dusty is a common nickname for the given name Dustin, but is sometimes used on its own as a given name for both males and females.
Dusty Springfield was a successful british pop music singer in the 1960's.
English noun used by some as a name.
Name of a man of the Levi tribe in later Biblical texts.
The Garden of Eden is described in the Book of Genesis as being the place where the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, lived after they were created by God.
A male name in Hebrew, pronounced "eh LY shah." In the Old Testament, Elisha was a prophet - the disciple and successor of Elijah.
In modern times Elisha ("eh LEE shah") has gained popularity as an alternate spelling of the feminine name A
Transferred use of the surname originating from the personal name Elis.
Since recent times considered as an Anglicized form of the Welsh name Elisud though still more widely seen as a Middle English variant of Elias, or a derivation of Elisha.
Erin is taken from the Gaelic Eirinn, meaning "of Eire" - Eire being the Irish name for Ireland. Erin was used as a poetic name for Ireland for several centuries but it is not normally bestowed as a given name in that country.
It became po
In the Old and New Testament, the angel Gabriel makes several appearances; he is the angel who informs Mary that she will give birth to Jesus. According to Hebrew tradition, Gabriel is one of the seven archangels.
Bearers include Columbia
A common spelling of this name, it is found mostly on females. It was the 25th most popular name in the US in terms of spelling. If you go by sound and combine all the HAY lee pronunciations together (eg Hailey, Hayley, Haley, Hayleigh etc.) then Hailey (
Haley is a surname that has gained popularity as a first name for both sexes.
It was the 75th most popular female name in the US in terms of spelling. If you go by sound and combine all the HAY lee pronunciations together (eg Hailey, Hayley
Transferred use of the surname.
Nelle Harper Lee is the author of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Stephen Harper is the current Prime Minister of Canada.
Harper's Magazine is a monthly American magazine, that deals with the arts, p
Simply the word used as a name.
Originally a surname which was derived from the name of an English town.
It was the 306th most popular name in the US in terms of spelling. If you go by sound and combine all the HAY lee pronunciations together (eg Hailey, Hayley, Haley, Ha
Heather or Calluna is a perennial shrub. Heather is normally found in heathland.
'Heathers' was a comedy about a clique, almost all of whom are called Heather. Famous Heathers include actresses Heather Graham and Heather Locklear. Heather M
Hillary Rodham Clinton is an American presidential candidate, and wife of former president Bill Clinton.
Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
The name of a state of the United States, this means land of indians (referring to Native Americans). It was the first name of the main character in the Indiana Jones movie and its popularity on females is possibly due to it being seen as an alternative
"Iridian" may be derived from the Greek prefix "irid-", meaning "iris" (of the eye). The name is of modern coinage, and its meaning and origin are uncertain.
Jada is an English transcription of the Biblical male name Yada, from the Hebrew meaning "he knew". In the Old Testament, Yada was a man of the Tribe of Judah.
Today Jada is also used on girls as an elaboration of Jade, from the precious gr
Jaden and its variants are likely derived from the name Aidan, which is currently enjoying much popularity in the English speaking world. A similar name is the Hebrew "Jadon," meaning "grateful," but it is not likely that Jaden derives from this root.
A very popular variant of Jaden.
Jalon, Jalen, Jaylen, Jaylyn, Jalin and their counterparts are modern trendy creations without any true meaning. Could possibly have been modeled after the classic, Jason or perhaps be a combination of two separate names, such as Jay and Lynn, or Jane and
The second given pronunciation is used for Jami as a Hindu name.
Jamie started out as a nickname for James, but has become increasingly popular as a stand-alone name. In the UK Jamie was the 32nd most popular name (for boys) in 2006. There it is most commonly associated with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, the "Naked Chef
Jay may also be used as a nickname for names beginning with J, or as a full name independently.
A jay is a type of small bird.
Jay is the name of a character of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gasby" (1925).
Jayce, a modern coinage, can be a short form of the name Jason, or a lengthened version of the initials "J.C." Jaycee is more than likely just a play on popular names like Casie or Lacey.
Jalon, Jalen, Jaylen, Jaylyn, Jalin and their counterparts are modern trendy creations without any true meaning. Could possibly have been modeled after the classic, Jason or perhaps be a combination of two separate names, such as Jay and Lynn, or Jane and
Contracted form of the Old French Johanne, from Latin Io(h)anna. In England, this was the usual feminine form of John from the Middle English period onwards.
Joan of Arc translates in French as Jeanne d'Arc.
In past centuries an exclusively male name, Jocelyn is today given almost exclusively to females.
Jocelyn Bell Purnell is an astrophysicist, who helped discover pulsars. Other famous bearers include socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein and comedi
One of the best known American actresses by this name, Jodie Foster, was actually born Alicia Christian Foster.
Jodie and it's counterpart, Jody, are legitimate unisex names and have traditionally been used for both girls and boys.
Jody, along with it's variant Jodie, have both been traditionally used for boys and girls.
The main character in Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings classic Pulitzer Prize winning book "The Yearling" was 11 year old Jody Baxter, a boy who lived in the
Jordan is the name of a country in the Middle East; it is also the name of the river that runs along Israel's eastern border in the Great Rift Valley. Jordan was in use as a male name in Europe by the Dark Ages, but it has recently become a popular choic
Jordyn is a respelling of the name Jordan. It is used for both boys and girls but in the US is more popular for females, due to the recent trend of replacing vowels with the letter Y which some believe "makes a name more feminine".
Jude, a form of Judah, is a male name, but it is also used as a feminine nickname (usually for Judith). Jude is used in the Bible opposite Judas Iscariot to distinguish between the two apostles of the same name. In popular culture the name is associated w
A respelling of the Irish surname Kelly.
The surname Kelsey originated as a place name in Lincolnshire, England. It comes from the Old English name Cenel (which itself came from a word which meant 'fierce' or 'brave') plus the Old English noun 'eg' (meaning 'island' or 'low-lying land'). As a fi
John F Kennedy was the thirty-fifth President of the United States. He was President during the Cuban Missile Crisis, he proposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which outlawed segregation in public places and schools, and he set the goal for America having
As a Russian male name, Kesha is a pet form of various names, including Vikenti and Innokenti.
As a female American modern coinage, Kesha may be related to such names as Keisha or Lakeisha/Lakesha.
In Vietnamese this is a female name referring to the colour gold.
Can be used as a nickname for Kimberly.
As a female name, Kira is a variant of the name Ciara, from the Gaelic meaning "dark".
As a Japanese male name, Kira may be written with the character for "glitter; gleam; twinkle".
As a Russian name Kira is taken from the fe
Laken gained popularity as a girls' name in the US in the early 1990s, though it can be used for either sex. It has no known meaning, though it is probably based on the English word "lake." "Laken" is also a suburb of Brussels, Belgium.
Modern coinage. Lashawn is a blend of the prefix 'la' and the male name Shawn. It has been bestowed on both boys and girls.
Laurence is an English masculine name and a French feminine name. Friar Laurence is a character from Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet".
This evolved into its own name from being a nickname for Laurence or Laura.
Became popular in names such at Katie-Leigh, Jodi-Leigh.
First seen in a Robert Burn's poem, Lesley is a variant of the name Leslie.
From the Gaelic surname for the lands of Lesslyn in Aberdeenshire, the words "leas cuilinn" meaning garden of hollies.
Leslie was the birth name of the 38th President Gerald R. Ford. President Ford was adopted as a baby.
Liberty is freedom or independence.
The Statue of Liberty is a large statue of a woman (Liberty) which stands in New York Harbour. The Liberty Bell is found in Philadelphia, and was rung to summon the citizens of Philadelphia to the readi
Trendy respelling of the traditional masculine surname Mackenzie.
MacKenzie is a common Scottish surname, traditionally denoting membership in the MacKenzie clan. The MacKenzies have been a significant clan in Scotland for at least 700 years.
MacKenzie itself is an Anglicization of the Gaelic MacCoinneach
Macy's are a chain of American department stores founded by Rowland Macy.
William H Macy is an actor and Macy Gray is a singer, born Natalie Renee McIntyre
A respelling of Madison.
Transferred use of the surname meaning "son of Maud"; and also perhaps "Mad's son", Mad being a common pet form of Matthew during the Middle Ages.
Although Madison, today, is given as a name to both genders, it isn't a legitimate unisex nam
Popular variant of MacKenna.
Transferred use of the English surname, derived from the Old French meaning "luckless, unfortunate".
As a surname, famous bearers include Thomas Malory, author of 'Le Morte Darthur', and mountaineer George Mallory who died during an attemp
A short form of Amanda or Miranda, Mandy is also bestowed as an independent given name. Very occasionally Mandy is used as a male name.
Originally a medieval French diminutive form of Marie, introduced to Britain in the Middle Ages.
It is now used as an independent name in both countries.
It is sometimes taken as a pet form of Margaret or Margery.
As a
As a boy's name, Marley is the transferred use of a surname derived from place names.
The first element of these place names is respectively Old English (ge)maere ‘boundary’, myrig ‘pleasant’, and mearð ‘(pine) marten’. The second element in each c
Principally used in the US.
Used by some as a male name and a variant spelling of Marquis, a nobility title.
A marquise is a French noblewoman ranking above a countess and below a duchess, and is usually the wife of a marquis. The British eq
Short form of Martin, also used for Martha, Martina or various Mar- names.
It has been used as an independent boys names since the latter part of the 20th century.
Maya is mostly taken in English-speaking countries as a variant of the mythological name Maia, usage influenced by the common English word and name "May".
It is also the Spanish form of the name, and a common pet form of Amalia.
McKenzie is the name of a river in Oregon which flows into the Willamette. In British law, a "McKenzie friend" is someone who assists a person in court who does not have official legal representation. McKenzie is also a popular British clothing line.
From the name of the town in Tennessee.
Memphis is also the Greek name of the ancient capital of the first nome of Lower Egypt, and of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, which was known in Ancient Egyptian as the city of the "white walls". According
Meredith comes from the old Welsh male name Mareludd, which probably means 'great lord'. The second element '-iudd' means 'lord'; the first element probably means 'great', or maybe 'sea'. In recent years the name has been given to girls. In Welsh pronunci
From the Latin for mountainous; name of an American state.
Famous bearers include sports legend, football player Joe Montana.
From the Old Welsh masculine name Morcant, which is derived from Welsh mor (sea) or mawr (great), and can (bright, white) or cant (circle, completion).
This name is common as a surname in both Wales and Ireland and is becoming increasingly popular
Spanish elaborated form of Odilia.
Originally an occupational surname denoting a position as a page in a noble household, Paige is now a popular girls' name in English-speaking countries.
Nickname for Pat- names on either gender.
A form of both Patricius and Patricia. Used for boys in France but for girls in the English-speaking world.
A phoenix is a mythical bird with a colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or purple, blue, and green according to some legends). It has a 500 to 1,000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; bo
Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ríagáin ("descendent of Riagán").
The meaning is uncertain. It is likely to be related to rí and thus means "like a king", or it may come from ríogach and mean "impulsive".
Ronald Reagan was th
A variant spelling of Regan.
A respelling of the masculine Rhys, Reese is commonly used on girls in the United States. "Reese" is also the brand of a very famous peanut-butter candy in the U.S.
Reese Witherspoon is a popular American actress who has influenced the usa
In Shakespeare's 'King Lear', Regan is one of King Lear's daughters, who turns against her father once she has been given her inheritance.
In some cases a transferred use of the English surname, a local name from a place named with Old English ryge (rye) and leah (wood, clearing).
In other cases it probably represents a respelling of the Irish surname Reilly, which is from an old Iris
Rio is the Spanish vocabulary world for "river".
As a Japanese female name, Rio may be written with the characters for "jasmine" (ri) and "center; middle" (o). Other possibilities include "jasmine" (ri) an "cord; strap; beginning" (o), as well as "
Robin is a pet form of Robert and has strong literary ties. Robin Hood is a legendary champion of the poor and Robin is also the name of two character's in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", including the trickster Robin Goodfellow who is also kn
Rohan is a legitimate Sanskrit name, but in English-speaking countries it is often associated with the Riders of Rohan in Tolkien's fantasy 'The Lord of the Rings'. In 2006 it was the 521st most popular boy's name in the US.
As a Hebrew boys' and girls' name, Ron means "song" or "joy; gaiety". It is best known in English-speaking countries as a short form of boys' name Ronald.
As a boy's name, Ronny comes from the name Ronald and, as a girl's name, Ronny comes from Veronica.
Anglicized form of Ruaidhrí.
As a girl's name, Rory is a pet form of several names including Aurora or Aurelia.
Famous male Rorys include comedians Rory Bremner and Rory McGrath, and actors Rory Cochrane and Rory Culkin. Fam
Rudy Giuliani - full name Rudolph - was the mayor of New York during September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Respelling of Riley; popular on girls.
Sable is another name for the color black.
The sable is a species of marten which inhabits forest environments. It has been prized for its fur. The term has become a generic description for some black-furred animal breeds, such as sable cat
Either a short form of Samantha or Samuel.
Sam is a character in Stephenie Meyer's popular Twilight series of books. It is also the name of the lead character in John Hughes quintessential teen movie, starring Molly Ringwald, "Sixteen Cand
Common nickname for Samuel or Samantha.
Derived from Seamus.
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland.
Shannon Lucid is an astronaut and Shannon Elizabeth is an actress. Examples of male Shannons include musicians Shannon Hoon and Shannon Leto.
Diminutive of Sharon.
The Shasta Indians of the Northwest U.S. gave their name to the famous Mount Shasta.
In the U.S., Shasta is used as a girl's name, and also a popular brand of soda.
As a Sanskrit male name, Shasta means "teacher." It is a nam
Short form of Seamus. This may also be a variant spelling of the Hebrew male/female name of Shai.
May have also come from a contraction of the French city of Saint Denis.
Sincere has recently come to popularity as a first name for either sex in the U.S. It was not generally used as a name before the 1990s.
Skylar is an anglicised form of the Dutch surname Schuyler. It has been in the US top 1000 girls' names since the beginning of the 1990s, and so rose to popularity some ten years after the alternative spelling Skyler did for boys. The origins of this name
Skyler is an anglicised form of the Dutch surname Schuyler. It has been in the US top 1000 boys' names since the beginning of the 1980s. The origins of this name are ultimately Dutch but Skyler is not used in the Netherlands.
This name could have also originated with the surname, Eustace.
Taylor was originally an occupational surname which denoted someone who worked as a tailor.
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States. Taylor is a brand of guitars and the name of Taylor University in Indiana. Taylor Alis
As a girl's name, Teagan is likely to be a creation from the name Megan or Reagan; or a respelling of the Welsh Tegan.
As a male name, it can be an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Tadhgan.
From the name Thierry (Germanic for "ruler of the people") or a pet form of Terence (Latin name of uncertain origin) or Theresa (meaning "harvester").
This adjective is sometimes used as a given name for either gender.
The middle name of Nicole Richie and Joel Madden's firstborn daughter, Harlow Winter Kate Madden.