hebeCotogna's Personal Name List

From Middle English senith, from cinit, from Old French cenit and/or Latin cenit, a transliteration of Arabic سمت (samt, "direction, path") which is in itself a weak abbreviation of سمت الرأس (samt ar-ra's, "direction of the head").

In modern English, zenith means "the highest point or state; peak" and in astronomy, refers to "the point in the sky vertically above a given position or observer" or "the highest point in the sky reached by a celestial body."

In the English-speaking world, this name has been in occasional use from the late 19th century onwards.

Means "helper of the faith" or "defender of the faith", derived from Arabic ظهير (ẓahir) meaning "helper, assistant" combined with الدين (ad-dīn) "the faith, the religion".

Means "helper, supporter" in Arabic, related to ظهر (ẓahara) meaning "to be visible, to be clear". This can also be an alternate transcription of Arabic زاهر (see Zaahir 1) or ظاهر (see Zaahir 2).

Variant of Zacharie.

From Japanese 由 (yu) meaning "cause, reason", 紗 (sa) meaning "gauze, thin silk" combined with 乃 (no), a possessive particle. Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.

From Japanese 優 (yū) meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" or 柚 (yū) meaning "grapefruit, pomelo, citrus fruit" combined with 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens" or 奈 (na), a phonetic character. Other combinations of kanji are also possible.

From the Chinese 永 (yǒng) meaning "long, eternal, forever" and 恬 (tián) meaning "quiet, calm, tranquil, peaceful".

From Chinese 英 (yīng) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero", 颖 (yǐng) meaning "clever", or 影 (yǐng) meaning "image, shadow", as well as other characters that are pronounced similarly.

From native Korean 여름 (yeoreum) meaning "summer."

From the Chinese chatacter 霞 (xiá) meaning "mist, haze, rosy clouds" or 夏 (xià) meaning "summer" combined with 帆 (fān) meaning "sail".

Other character combinations can be possible.

From the English word for the small songbird. It is ultimately derived from Old English wrenna.

From Gothic widu-gauja "wood barker", a kenning for the wolf.

Witiko is the title of a novel by Adalbert Stifter published 1865–1867, featuring the historical Witiko of Prčice (c.1120–1194).

Variant of Winifred.

Diminutive of Winifred. Winnie-the-Pooh, a stuffed bear in children's books by A. A. Milne, was named after a real bear named Winnipeg who lived at the London Zoo.

From the name of the tree, which is ultimately derived from Old English welig.

From the Germanic name Willehelm meaning "will helmet", composed of the elements willo "will, desire" and helm "helmet, protection". An early saint by this name was the 8th-century William of Gellone, a cousin of Charlemagne who became a monk. The name was common among the Normans, and it became extremely popular in England after William the Conqueror was recognized as the first Norman king of England in the 11th century. From then until the modern era it has been among the most common of English names (with John, Thomas and Robert).

This name was later borne by three other English kings, as well as rulers of Scotland, Sicily (of Norman origin), the Netherlands and Prussia. Other famous bearers include William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish hero, and William Tell, a legendary 14th-century Swiss hero (called Wilhelm in German, Guillaume in French and Guglielmo in Italian). In the literary world it was borne by dramatist William Shakespeare (1564-1616), poet William Blake (1757-1827), poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850), dramatist William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), author William Faulkner (1897-1962), and author William S. Burroughs (1914-1997).

In the American rankings (since 1880) this name has never been out of the top 20, making it one of the most consistently popular names (although it has never reached the top rank). In modern times its short form, Liam, has periodically been more popular than William itself, in the United Kingdom in the 1990s and the United States in the 2010s.

The first element of this name is either derived from Baltic vyd meaning "to see" (which would then make this name a variant of Vydgailas) or from Baltic vyti meaning "to chase, to drive away" (see Vytautas). The second element is derived from old Lithuanian gailas, which usually means "strong, potent" but has also been found to mean "sharp, jagged" as well as "angry, fierce, violent" and "miserable, sorrowful, remorseful". Also compare the modern Lithuanian noun galia meaning "power, might, force".

Derived from the given name Vuk.

French form of Viviana.

Variant of Viveca. A famous bearer is actress Vivica Fox.

From the Roman name Vincentius, which was derived from Latin vincere meaning "to conquer". This name was popular among early Christians, and it was borne by many saints. As an English name, Vincent has been in use since the Middle Ages, though it did not become common until the 19th century. Famous bearers include the French priest Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) and the Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890).

Means "strong hope", derived from Baltic vil meaning "hope" (see Viltautas) combined with old Lithuanian gailas, which usually means "strong, potent" but has also been found to mean "sharp, jagged" as well as "angry, fierce, violent" and "miserable, sorrowful, remorseful". Also compare the modern Lithuanian noun galia meaning "power, might, force".

Form of Victor used in various languages.

Roman name meaning "victor, conqueror" in Latin. It was common among early Christians, and was borne by several early saints and three popes. It was rare as an English name during the Middle Ages, but it was revived in the 19th century. A famous bearer was the French writer Victor Hugo (1802-1885), who authored The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables.

From the name of the city in Italy, which is itself of unknown meaning.

From the name of the verbena plant, which is derived from Latin verbena meaning "leaves, twigs".

Means "faith" in Russian, though it is sometimes associated with the Latin word verus "true". It has been in general use in the English-speaking world since the late 19th century.

Feminine form of Vedran.

Diminutive of Varvara.

From the given name Valentin.

The first element of this name is either derived from the old Lithuanian verb vajoti meaning "to chase, to pursue" or from the old Lithuanian noun vajys meaning "messenger, courier". The second element is derived from old Lithuanian gailas, which usually means "strong, potent" but has also been found to mean "sharp, jagged" as well as "angry, fierce, violent" and "miserable, sorrowful, remorseful". Also compare the modern Lithuanian noun galia meaning "power, might, force".

From the Hebrew name אוּרִיאֵל (ʾUriʾel) meaning "God is my light", from אוּר (ʾur) meaning "light, flame" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". Uriel is an archangel in Hebrew tradition. He is mentioned only in the Apocrypha, for example in the Book of Enoch where he warns Noah of the coming flood.

Means "flax" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu goddess Parvati. In Hindu texts it is said to derive from the Sanskrit exclamation उ मा (u mā) meaning "O do not (practice austerities)!", which was addressed to Parvati by her mother.

Short form of Tyler, Tyson, Tyrone and other names beginning with Ty.

Anglicized form of Toirdhealbhach.

Tosta literally means "hard" in italian.

From Japanese 功 (toshi) "success, great achievement" combined with 直 (nao) meaning "straight, direct". Other kanji cobinations can be used.

From Japanese 富 (tomi) meaning "wealth, abundance" and 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji can also form this name.

Medieval form of Tobias. It was sometimes used as a feminine name in the 1930s and 40s due to the influence of American actress Toby Wing (1915-2001).

From an English surname that was itself derived from the given name Tobias.

Greek form of Tobiah. This is the name of the hero of the apocryphal Book of Tobit, which appears in many English versions of the Old Testament. It relates how Tobit's son Tobias, with the help of the angel Raphael, is able to drive away a demon who has plagued Sarah, who subsequently becomes his wife. This story was popular in the Middle Ages, and the name came into occasional use in parts of Europe at that time. In England it became common after the Protestant Reformation.

Said to mean "God is good" from the Hebrew elements טוֹב (tov) meaning "good" and אֵל ('el) meaning "God". John Aylmer (1521-1594), Bishop of London, used this name for his sixth son. Charles W. Bardsley wrote of Tobel Aylmer: 'Archbishop Whitgift was his godfather, and the reason for his singular appellation was his mother’s being overturned in a coach without injury when she was pregnant'.

Means "memory" in Amharic.

Diminutive of Tiffany.

Means "sea" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was the personification of the sea. A small moon of Neptune is named for her.

From a nickname denoting a person who came from the state of Texas. A famous bearer was the American animator Tex Avery (1908-1980), real name Frederick, who was born in Texas.

Means "doe" in Quechua.

From Japanese 太 (ta) meaning "thick, big, great" and 郎 (rō) meaning "son". Other kanji combinations are possible.

In Greek Mythology Talos was a bronze winged automaton given to Europa for protection in Crete from pirates and invaders.

Arabic alternate transcription of Tayyib as well as the Malay and Indonesian form.

Derived from Persian تهم (tahm) meaning "brave, valiant". This is the name of a character in the 10th-century Persian epic the Shahnameh. She is a daughter of the king of Samangan who marries the warrior hero Rostam and eventually bears him a son, whom they name Sohrab.

From Sino-Korean 泰 (tae) meaning "big, large, great; easy, calm" and 梨 (ri) meaning "pear (tree)" or 利 (ri) meaning "benefit, advantage," along with other hanja combinations.

Bearers of this name include actor Lee Tae-ri, born Lee Min-ho (1993-), and actress Kim Tae-ri (1990-), the latter of which caused the name to jump in popularity for girls since 2016, when she made her feature film debut in the film 'The Handmaiden'.

Spanish form of Thaddeus.

From Japanese 鈴 (suzu) meaning "bell" and 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood". This is the second most common surname in Japan. A notable bearer was the artist Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770).

Means "well conducted, wise", derived from the Sanskrit prefix सु (su) meaning "good" combined with नीत (nīta) meaning "conducted, led". In Hindu legend this is the name of the wife of King Anga of Bengal and the mother of Vena.

From an English place name composed of Old English suþ "south" and worþ "enclosure".

Form of Stephen used in several languages. Famous bearers include the Serbian rulers Stefan Nemanja, Stefan Nemanjić, and Stefan Lazarević, who are all considered saints in the Orthodox Church.

Derived from Latin solsticium and thus ultimately from sol "sun" and stito "to stand still". The English word solstice refers to two times of the year when the sun's apparent position in the sky reaches its northernmost or southernmost extremes.

Lionel Shriver (born Margaret Shriver), used Solstice for a character in her novel 'Big Brother' (2013).

Means "damage, harm" in Old Norse. In Norse mythology she was a giantess (jǫtunn) associated with the winter, skiing and mountains. After the gods killed her father, they offered her a husband from among them as compensation. She ended up marrying Njord.

Means "sweet" in Persian. This was the name of a character in Persian and Turkish legend.

Originally denoted someone who came from the city of Shiraz, located in southern Iran. The city's name is possibly of Elamite origin.

Combines Japanese shira meaning "white" and ne meaning "wave".

From Japanese 紫苑 (shion) meaning "aster". It can also come from 詩 (shi) meaning "poem" and 音 (on) meaning "sound". Other kanji combinations can form this name as well.

From Japanese 篠 (shino) meaning "dwarf bamboo" and 崎 (saki) meaning "cape, peninsula".

From Sino-Korean(Hanja) 詩(shi) meaning "Talented, Moral, Educated, Scholarly" or 時(shi) meaning "Excellent, Great, Good, Best" and 彦(eon) meaning "Noble, Great, Talented".
Other Hanja combinations are possible.

Possibly a feminine variant of Shannon.

Alternate transcription of Russian/Bulgarian Сергей (see Sergey).

Feminine form of the Late Latin name Seraphinus, derived from the biblical word seraphim, which was Hebrew in origin and meant "fiery ones". The seraphim were an order of angels, described by Isaiah in the Bible as having six wings each.

This was the name of a 13th-century Italian saint who made clothes for the poor. As an English name, it has never been common.

Means "scholar, student" in German, ultimately from Latin schola meaning "school".

Variant of Sadie.

Croatian, Serbian and Slovene diminutive of Aleksander or Aleksandra.

From native Korean 사랑 (sarang) meaning "love, affection." Several derivations of this word are possible, such as a shift from Sino-Korean 思量 (saryang) meaning "consideration," a derivation of either the verb 사르다 (sareuda) meaning "to make a fire" or 살 (sal) meaning "flesh."
It can also be written with hanja, combining a sa hanja, like 莎 meaning "sedge, nut grass," 仕 meaning "work, labour" or 思 meaning "thought, feeling," with a rang hanja, such as 朗/朖 meaning "bright; brilliant."

Bearers of this name include actress Kim Sa-rang (1978-), rock singer-songwriter Kim Sa-rang (1981-) and actress Park Sa-rang (2003-).

From the Greek name Σαπφείρη (Sappheire), which was from Greek σάπφειρος (sappheiros) meaning "sapphire" or "lapis lazuli" (ultimately derived from the Hebrew word סַפִּיר (sappir)). Sapphira is a character in Acts in the New Testament who is killed by God for lying.

Means "contract, agreement, promise" in Thai.

Diminutive of Aleksandr or Aleksandra.

Derived from the given name Sansone.

Derived from Latin salix meaning "willow tree". The name was originally given to one who lived near a willow tree.

From the English word sage, which denotes either a type of spice or else a wise person.

Means "hard, difficult" in Arabic.

Variant of Russell.

Derived from Old Norse rún meaning "secret lore, rune".

Feminine form of Rune.

Feminine form of Rufinus. Rufina and Secunda were sister saints who were martyred in Rome in the 3rd century.

Latin form of Ῥωξάνη (Rhoxane), the Greek form of an Old Persian or Bactrian name, from Old Iranian *rauxšnā meaning "bright, shining" [1]. This was the name of Alexander the Great's first wife, a daughter of the Bactrian nobleman Oxyartes. In the modern era it came into use during the 17th century. In the English-speaking world it was popularized by Daniel Defoe, who used it in his novel Roxana (1724).

Feminine variant of Rowan.

Late Latin name derived from rosa "rose". This was the name of a 12th-century Sicilian saint.

Short form of Rochus as well as of its variant forms Rocus and Rokus. This name is not to be confused with rook, the Dutch word for "smoke".

From Spanish ricial meaning "green field" or "rice field". A notable bearer was José Rizal (1861-1896), a Filipino nationalist and national hero.

Means "river" in Spanish or Portuguese. A city in Brazil bears this name. Its full name is Rio de Janeiro, which means "river of January", so named because the first explorers came to the harbour in January and mistakenly thought it was a river mouth.

Short form of Ricardo, Enrico and other names ending in rico.

Means "brave ruler", derived from the Old German elements rih "ruler, king" and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy". This was the name of three early dukes of Normandy. The Normans introduced it to England when they invaded in the 11th century, and it has been very common there since that time. It was borne by three kings of England including the 12th-century Richard I the Lionheart, one of the leaders of the Third Crusade.

During the late Middle Ages this name was typically among the five most common for English males (with John, William, Robert and Thomas). It remained fairly popular through to the modern era, peaking in the United States in the 1940s and in the United Kingom a bit later, and steadily declining since that time.

Famous bearers include two German opera composers, Richard Wagner (1813-1883) and Richard Strauss (1864-1949), as well as British explorer Richard Burton (1821-1890), American president Richard Nixon (1913-1994), American physicist Richard Feynman (1918-1988), British actor Richard Burton (1925-1984) and American musician Little Richard (1932-2020).

Spanish and Portuguese form of Richard.

From the Old Welsh name Riderch, probably derived from ri "king" combined with derch "exalted". Rhydderch Hael was a 6th-century king of Strathclyde. It has sometimes been Anglicized as Roderick.

Variant of Reina 1.

From the English word meaning "daydream, fanciful musing", derived from Old French resverie, itself from resver meaning "to dream, to rave".

From the English word remember, ultimately from the Latin rememorārī, "to remember again", containing the root memor, "mindful".

Diminutive of Reine.

Means "my secret is God" in Hebrew. This is the name of an archangel in Jewish tradition.

Either a Bulgarian form of Regina or a feminine form of Rayno.

From Japanese 蘭 (ran) meaning "orchid" or other kanji pronounced in the same way.

Short form of Rachel. It can also be used as a feminine form of Ray.

Means "son of Qulu".

From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Ó Cuinn, itself derived from the given name Conn. In the United States it was more common as a name for boys until 2010, the year after the female character Quinn Fabray began appearing on the television series Glee.

From an English surname that was derived (via the place name Cuinchy) from the personal name Quintus. A famous bearer was John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), sixth president of the United States, who was born in the town of Quincy, Massachusetts. Both the town and the president were named after his maternal great-grandfather John Quincy (1689-1767). Another notable bearer is the American musician Quincy Jones (1933-).

From the word for the red flower, derived from Old English popæg.

From Latin pomus "fruit tree". This was the name of the Roman goddess of fruit trees.

Variant form of Pomelline. This name is best known for being one of the middle names of Charlotte Casiraghi (b. 1986), who is the daughter of Princess Caroline of Hanover (formerly of Monaco). She was given this middle name in honour of her ancestor Pomellina Fregoso (c. 1387-1468), a Genovese noblewoman who was the wife of Jean I of Monaco (c. 1382-1454). Her name had been gallicized to Pomelline in Monaco, as it was (and still is) predominantly a French-speaking country.

Diminutive of Philippa.

Latinized form of the Greek name Φοίβη (Phoibe), which meant "bright, pure" from Greek φοῖβος (phoibos). In Greek mythology Phoibe was a Titan associated with the moon. This was also an epithet of her granddaughter, the moon goddess Artemis. The name appears in Paul's epistle to the Romans in the New Testament, where it belongs to a female minister in the church at Cenchreae.

In England, it began to be used as a given name after the Protestant Reformation. It was moderately common in the 19th century. It began to rise in popularity again in the late 1980s, probably helped along by characters on the American television shows Friends (1994-2004) and Charmed (1998-2006). It is currently much more common in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand than the United States.

A moon of Saturn bears this name, in honour of the Titan.

Swedish and Norwegian form of Peter.

From petrosino "parsley", a southern dialect variant of prezzemolo.

Feminine form of Peter. This was also the name of an ancient city in the region that is now Jordan.

Meaning unknown, probably of Pre-Greek origin, but perhaps related to Greek πέρθω (pertho) meaning "to destroy" and φόνος (phonos) meaning "murder". In Greek myth she was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. She was abducted to the underworld by Hades, but was eventually allowed to return to the surface for part of the year. The result of her comings and goings is the changing of the seasons. With her mother she was worshipped in the Eleusinian Mysteries, which were secret rites practiced at the city of Eleusis near Athens.

Taken from the name of the gemstone, whose name is of uncertain origin and meaning. A current theory, however, derives it from Anglo-Norman pedoretés, ultimately from Greek paiderôs (via Latin paederos): pais "child" and erôs "love".

As a given name, it has found occasional usage in the English-speaking world from the late 19th century onwards.

Means "peace" in Spanish, originally a nickname for a calm person.

Biblical Greek form of Paul.

Means "son of Patrick".

Means "landowner" in Gujarati.

From the English word for a type of flower, ultimately deriving from Old French pensee "thought".

Portuguese form of Palmer.

This name was invented by the 18th-century writer Fanny Burney, who perhaps intended it to mean "golden city" in French. Orville Wright (1871-1948), together with his brother Wilbur, invented the first successful airplane.

Means "son of Orti", a byname deriving either from Latin fortis meaning "brave, strong" or fortunius meaning "fortunate".

Derived from French orchidée "orchid".

Means "lost son" from Pashto ورک (worak) meaning "lost" and زوی (zoy) meaning "son".

From the English and French word for the type of tree, ultimately derived from Latin oliva.

Derived from ὠκῠ́ς (ōkús) meaning "quick, swift" and rheos (ῥέος) meaning "stream".

Unisex name of unknown origin used primarily in the southeastern US.

Anglicized form of Irish Ó Broin meaning "descendant of Bran 1".

Means "night" in Greek. This was the name of the Greek goddess of the night, the daughter of Khaos and the wife of Erebos.

Variant of Nivea, spelled the Spanish way, which means "Snow-White".

From Greenlandic nukaa meaning "younger sibling" [1].

Derived from Latin novus meaning "new". It was first used as a name in the 19th century.

Alternate transcription of Arabic نورة or نورا (see Nura).

Derived from Latin nonus meaning "ninth", referring to the nine months of pregnancy. This was the name of a Roman goddess of pregnancy. She was also one of the three Fates (or Parcae).

From the Hebrew name נֹעָה (Noʿa) meaning "motion". In the Old Testament this is the name of a daughter of Zelophehad. In English this name is typically spelled the same as the name of the male biblical character Noah, though in Hebrew they are written distinctly.

Modern Hebrew form of Noah 2, the daughter of Zelophehad in the Bible. It is also the form used in several other languages, as well as the spelling used in some English versions of the Old Testament.

Means "transformation" in Khmer.

From Sanskrit नील (nīla) meaning "dark blue".

Russian form of Nicodemus.

Indonesian, German and Finnish form of Nicodemus.

Finnish form of Nicholas, as well as a Croatian, Slovene, Georgian and German short form.

From the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos) meaning "victory of the people", derived from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and λαός (laos) meaning "people". Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop from Anatolia who, according to legend, saved the daughters of a poor man from lives of prostitution. He is the patron saint of children, sailors and merchants, as well as Greece and Russia. He formed the basis for the figure known as Santa Claus (created in the 19th century from Dutch Sinterklaas), the bringer of Christmas presents.

Due to the renown of the saint, this name has been widely used in the Christian world. It has been common in England since the 12th century, though it became a bit less popular after the Protestant Reformation. The name has been borne by five popes and two tsars of Russia.

Diminutive of names ending in nette, such as Annette or Jeanette.

Means "mist, fog, vapor" in Latin, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *nebh- "cloud". In astronomy, a nebula is an interstellar cloud of gas and dust where stars are formed.

Nebula is the name of a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Roger Stern and John Buscema, the character first appeared in 'The Avengers' 257 (July 1985). Originally depicted as a supervillain, Nebula was later depicted as an antihero and member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Short form of Linnéa.

Variant of native Korean 날개 (nalgae) meaning "wing." It can also be written with hanja, combining a na hanja, like 娜 meaning "beauty" or 羅 meaning "net(ting)," with a rae hanja, such as 萊, referring to the goosefoot, or 來 meaning "coming."

Means "wave, sea foam" in Basque.

This name combines 武 (bu, mu, take.shi) meaning "military, warrior" with 蔵 (sou, zou, osa.meru, kaku.reru, kura, sashi) meaning "own, possess, storehouse", the combination also being read as Takezō.

Musashi is classified as a hyakkanna (百官名), a court rank-style name that samurai used to announce oneself and give himself authority, since it comes from the name of a pre-Meiji Period (1868-1912) province where Tōkyō (formerly known as Edo) is located, thus is used for a provincial governor, mainly on the lines of Musashi-no-kami (武蔵守).
There are two theories to the name's etymology with one (likely a folk etymology) being a corruption of 身狭下 (Musa-shimo) (the upper section of Musa, 身狭上 (Musa-gami), corrupted into 相模 (Sagami)). The other theory suggests that it is borrowed from Ainu, two possibilities being mun-sar-i(hi) which would mean "marsh/wetland of weeds/inedible or otherwise useless plants," and mun-sa-shir meaning "nettle plain land," both probably making some sense since the province was located in the middle of the Kantō plain.

One male bearer of this name was swordsman Musashi Miyamoto (宮本 武蔵) (1584-1645), his childhood name being Bennosuke (弁之助). He won a duel against Kojirō Sasaki who died shortly after.
One female (fictional) bearer of this name is more commonly known around the world as Jessie, who is a villain in Pokémon (written as ムサシ).

Despite it being used on a female character in Pokémon, in real life, it is only used for males.

Variant of Murrin.

Modern form of Morgen, which was used by Geoffrey of Monmouth [1] in the 12th century for the Arthurian sorceress Morgan le Fay, who was unnamed in earlier stories. Geoffrey probably did not derive it from the Welsh masculine name Morgan, which would have been spelled Morcant in his time. It is likely from Old Welsh mor "sea" and the suffix gen "born of" [2].

Possibly originating from a nickname given to those who lived near a temple dedicated to Juno Moneta. A famous bearer of this surname is Nobel Prize for Peace recipient Ernesto Teodoro Moneta (1833–1918).

Of unknown origin and meaning. This name was usually Anglicized and Latinized as Monica.

From Japanese 最 (mo) meaning "utmost, most, extreme", 望 (mo) meaning "ambition, full moon, hope, desire, aspire to, expect", 杏 (mo) meaning "apricot", 杜 (mo) meaning "woods, grove", 桃 (mo) meaning "peach", 椛 (mo) meaning "autumn foliage, birch, maple, (kokuji)", 百 (mo) meaning "hundred", 花 (mo) meaning "flower", 苺 (mo) meaning "strawberry", 茂 (mo) meaning "overgrown, grow thick, be luxuriant", 萌 (mo) or 萠 (mo) both meaning "sprout, bud", 裳 (mo) meaning "skirt" or 雲 (mo) meaning "cloud" combined with 奈 (na) meaning "apple tree", 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens", 那 (na) meaning "what", 凪 (na) meaning "lull, calm", 南 (na) meaning "south", 愛 (na) meaning "love, affection", 渚 (na) meaning "beach", 真 (na) meaning "true, reality", 夏 (na) meaning "summer", 名 (na) meaning "name", 梨 (na) meaning "pear", 椰 (na) meaning "coconut tree", 永 (na) meaning "eternity, long, lengthy", 花 (na) meaning "flower", 隆 (na) meaning "noble, prosperous", 納 (na) meaning "settlement, obtain, reap, pay, supply, store" or 和 (na) meaning "harmony, Japanese style, peace, soften, Japan". Other kanji combinations are possible.

Anglicized form of Muadhnait. It is also associated with Greek monos "one" and Leonardo da Vinci's painting the Mona Lisa (in which case it is a contraction of Italian ma donna meaning "my lady").

From Japanese 百 (momo) meaning "hundred" or 桃 (momo) meaning "peach" combined with 子 (ko) meaning "child". This name can be constructed from other kanji combinations as well.

Medieval diminutive of Mary, now often used independently. It developed from Malle and Molle, other medieval diminutives. James Joyce used this name in his novel Ulysses (1922), where it belongs to Molly Bloom, the wife of the main character.

From Japanese 瑞 (mizu) meaning "felicitous omen, auspicious" and 希 (ki) meaning "hope", besides other kanji combinations.

From Japanese 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful", 夜 (ya) meaning "night" and 子 (ko) meaning "child". This name can be formed from other combinations of kanji as well.

German diminutive of Maria.

From Japanese 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful" and 咲 (saki) meaning "blossom". This name can be formed from other combinations of kanji as well.

From native Korean 미르 (mireu) meaning "dragon." It may be either derived from Old Chinese *mroːŋ (龍) or a cognate with 물 (mul) meaning "water."

Possibly derived from Latin mens meaning "intellect", but more likely of Etruscan origin. Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom and war, approximately equivalent to the Greek goddess Athena. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since after the Renaissance.

From native Korean 민들레 (mindeulle) meaning "dandelion."

Diminutive of Maria and other names beginning with M.

A thousand generations of beauty
Three thousand generations

Composed of Greek μελισσα (melissa) "honeybee" and ανθος (anthos) "flower". It is used as a Graecized form of Mélisande (e.g., the 12th-century queen Melisende of Jerusalem is known as Melissanthe in Greek). This was the pen name of Greek poet Eve Chougia-Skandalaki (1910-1991).

Means "ash tree" in Greek, a derivative of μέλι (meli) meaning "honey". This was the name of a nymph in Greek myth, the daughter of the Greek god Okeanos.

Italian, Spanish, Polish and Romanian form of Melanie.

Modern Persian form of Mithra. As a Persian vocabulary word it means "friendship, love, kindness". It is also the name of the seventh month of the Persian calendar. All of these derive from the same source: the Indo-Iranian root *mitra meaning "oath, covenant, agreement".

Either a variant of Megaera or derived from either the Ancient Greek city Megara in West Attica, Greece, or the Ancient Greek colony in Sicily Megara Hyblaea, both derived from megaron, from megas 'large, great, marvelous', referring to a large hall.

In Greek mythology, Megara was the oldest daughter of Creon, king of Thebes. In reward for Heracles' defending Thebes from the Minyans at Orchomenus in single-handed battle, Creon offered his daughter Megara to Heracles. She bore him a son and a daughter, whom Heracles killed when Hera struck him with temporary madness. In some sources Heracles slew Megara too, in others, she was given to Iolaus when Heracles left Thebes forever.

In the Disney animated film Hercules, Megara, also called Meg, is a young woman who was a pawn for the Lord of the Underworld, Hades. Sometime during the events of Hercules, Meg went to Hades and sold her soul to revive a lover of hers who had died. Hades agreed on the condition that she serve him forever, which she accepted. However, shortly after her lover was revived, he fell in love with someone else and ungratefully left Meg locked in servitude to Hades. This background story of the character alludes to the myth of Alcestis, who dies by proxy for her husband Admetus.

Anglicized form of Irish Mac Maghnuis meaning "son of Mághnus".

Variant of Maiara.

Means "gift of Yahweh" in Hebrew, derived from מַתָּן (mattan) meaning "gift" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This was the original name of Zedekiah, a king of Judah, in the Old Testament.

Derived from Arabic مرضيّ (marḍīy) meaning "satisfactory, pleasing", a derivative of رضي (raḍiya) meaning "to be satisfied".

French and Czech form of Maria. It has been very common in France since the 13th century. At the opening of the 20th century it was given to approximately 20 percent of French girls. This percentage has declined steadily over the course of the century, and it dropped from the top rank in 1958.

A notable bearer of this name was Marie Antoinette, a queen of France who was executed by guillotine during the French Revolution. Another was Marie Curie (1867-1934), a physicist and chemist who studied radioactivity with her husband Pierre.

In France it is occasionally used as a masculine name in pairings such as Jean-Marie.

Roman feminine form of Marianus. After the classical era it was sometimes interpreted as a combination of Maria and Ana. In Portuguese it is further used as a form of Mariamne.

Slovak, Czech and Hungarian form of Marianus.

Danish diminutive of Marina or Maria.

Means "bitter" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is a name that Naomi calls herself after the death of her husband and sons (see Ruth 1:20).

From Old French maloret meaning "unfortunate, unlucky", a term introduced to England by the Normans.

Irish form of Maria (see Mary). The form Muire is used to refer to the Virgin Mary.

Most commonly written as 麻衣子, from Japanese 麻衣 (mai) meaning "linen robe" combined with Japanese 子 (ko) meaning "child". Another popular combination was 舞子, from Japanese 舞 (mai) meaning "dance" and Japanese 子 (ko) meaning "child".

From Greek μαῖα (maia) meaning "good mother, dame, foster mother", perhaps in origin a nursery form of μήτηρ (meter). In Greek and Roman mythology she was the eldest of the Pleiades, a group of stars in the constellation Taurus, who were the daughters of Atlas and Pleione. Her son by Zeus was Hermes.

zambian (tumbuka) name meaning intelligent. "mwana wa mahalah" means intelligent child

Variant of Mahalah or Mahalath. It has occasionally been used as an English Christian name since the Protestant Reformation.

This name can be used as 円 (en, maru(.i), mado(.ka), maro.yaka) meaning "round, tranquil." It, along with 窓 (sou, su, (ten)mado, kemudashi) meaning "window" or 真 (shin, ma(-), makoto, mana, mado) meaning "real, true," can be combined with 香 (kou, kyou, ka, kao.ri/u) meaning "incense, smell, perfume," 花 or 華 (ka, ke, hana), both meaning "flower," or 佳 (ka) meaning "beautiful, good, excellent​."
Examples of 3-kanji combinations include 真登香 and 麻都香 with 麻 (ma, maa, asa) meaning "flax, hemp," 登 (tou, to, dou, shou, chou, nobo.ru, a.garu) meaning "ascend" and 都 (to, tsu, miyako) meaning "metropolis."

Bearers of this name include voice actress Madoka Kimura (木村 まどか) (1980-) and professional shōgi player Madoka Kitao (北尾 まどか) (1980-).

From the Old Welsh name Matauc, derived from mad meaning "good, fortunate" combined with a diminutive suffix. This is the name of a warrior mentioned in the 7th-century Welsh poem Y Gododdin. It was also borne by several medieval rulers, including the 12th-century Madoc ap Maredudd, the last prince of Powys. Another bearer, according to later folklore, was a son of the 12th-century Owain the Great who sailed to the Americas.

From Sanskrit मधु (madhu) meaning "honey, sweet". This is another name of Chaitra, the first month of the Hindu year (which occurs in March and April).

English form of Madeleine. This is the name of the heroine in a series of children's books by the Austrian-American author Ludwig Bemelmans, first published 1939.

Derived from the given name Madoc.

Means "curious", "annoying", "stubborn", "lost", "bewildered" and "kind"

Variant of Linnie. It is also regarded as a diminutive of Lynn or names that end in lyn.

Form of Lynet used by Alfred Tennyson in his 1872 poem Gareth and Lynette [1]. According to Tennyson, Gareth and Lynette were eventually married. In modern times it is also regarded as a diminutive of Lynn.

Means "light" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Luz, meaning "Our Lady of Light".

Derived from Latin lux meaning "light".

Short form of Guadalupe.

Means "the moon" in Latin (as well as Italian, Spanish and other Romance languages). Luna was the Roman goddess of the moon, frequently depicted driving a white chariot through the sky.

English form of Latin Lucas, from the Greek name Λουκᾶς (Loukas), probably a shortened form of Λουκανός (Loukanos) meaning "from Lucania", Lucania being a region in southern Italy. Luke was a doctor who travelled in the company of the apostle Paul. According to tradition, he was the author of the third gospel and Acts in the New Testament. He was probably of Greek ethnicity. He is considered a saint by many Christian denominations.

Due to the saint's renown, the name became common in the Christian world (in various spellings). As an English name, Luke has been in use since the 12th century alongside the Latin form Lucas. Both forms became popular throughout the English-speaking world towards the end of the 20th century. A famous fictional bearer was the hero Luke Skywalker from the Star Wars movies, beginning in 1977.

Alternate transcription of Armenian Լուսինե (see Lusine).

Derived from Latin lucus meaning "grove", but later associated with lux meaning "light". This was the name of a Roman goddess of childbirth.

Latin form of Greek Λουκᾶς (see Luke), as well as the form used in several other languages.

This name became very popular in the second half of the 20th century. It reached the top ten names for boys in France (by 1997), Belgium (1998), Denmark (2003), Canada (2008), the Netherlands (2009), New Zealand (2009), Australia (2010), Scotland (2013), Spain (2015) and the United States (2018).

Italian and Romanian form of Lucas (see Luke). This name was borne by Luca della Robbia, a Renaissance sculptor from Florence.

Means "little blackbird", derived from Old Irish lon "blackbird" combined with a diminutive suffix. This name was borne by several early saints.

Variant of Llewelyn.

Short form of Elisabet.

From the name of the flower, a symbol of purity. The word is ultimately derived from Latin lilium. This is the name of the main character, Lily Bart, in the novel The House of Mirth (1905) by Edith Wharton. A famous bearer is the American actress Lily Tomlin (1939-).

Derived from Akkadian lilitu meaning "of the night". This was the name of a demon in ancient Assyrian myths. In Jewish tradition she was Adam's first wife, sent out of Eden and replaced by Eve because she would not submit to him. The offspring of Adam (or Samael) and Lilith were the evil spirits of the world.

Spanish and Italian form of Lily, as well as an alternate transcription of Russian Лилия or Ukrainian Лілія (see Liliya).

Variant of Leila.

Romanian and Spanish form of Ligeia.

Means "flame" in Finnish.

Italian, Portuguese, Georgian and Greek form of Leah.

From Chinese 理 (lǐ) meaning "reason, logic", 立 (lì) meaning "stand, establish", 黎 (lí) meaning "black, dawn", 力 (lì) meaning "power, capability, influence" (which is usually only masculine) or 丽 (lì) meaning "beautiful" (usually only feminine). Other Chinese characters are also possible.

Derived from Greek λήθη "forgetfulness, oblivion" (source of the word alethes "true" (compare Alethea), literally "not concealing"). In Greek mythology this name belonged to a daimona of oblivion. She was the daughter of Eris and the counterpart Mnemosyne. Together with Hesychia and Aergia, she protects the realm of Hypnos. Lethe, one of the five rivers of the underworld of Hades, is named after her.

Derived from Greek λέων (leon) meaning "lion". During the Christian era this Greek name was merged with the Latin cognate Leo, with the result that the two forms are used somewhat interchangeably across European languages. In England during the Middle Ages this was a common name among Jews. A famous bearer was the communist revolutionary Leon Trotsky (1879-1940), whose name is Лев in Russian.

Means "heavenly flowers" or "royal child" from Hawaiian lei "flowers, lei, child" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".

From a surname that was a variant of Lee.

Means "beloved child" from Hawaiian lei "wreath" (by extension "child", carried on the shoulders like a lei) and aloha "love". This name was popular in Hawaii from 1900-1939.

From the Hebrew name לֵאָה (Leʾa), which was probably derived from the Hebrew word לָאָה (laʾa) meaning "weary, grieved" [1]. Alternatively it might be related to Akkadian littu meaning "cow". In the Old Testament Leah is the first wife of Jacob and the mother of seven of his children. Jacob's other wife was Leah's younger sister Rachel, whom he preferred. Leah later offered Jacob her handmaid Zilpah in order for him to conceive more children.

Although this name was used by Jews in the Middle Ages, it was not typical as an English Christian name until after the Protestant Reformation, being common among the Puritans.

Means "sky, heaven, royal, majesty" in Hawaiian.

French form of Landric. This name was borne by a few French saints, including a 5th-century bishop of Sées and a 7th-century bishop of Paris.

From the English word lake, for the inland body of water. It is ultimately derived from Latin lacus.

The title protagonist in the series of novels "Kushiel's Legacy" by Jacqueline Carey.

Also an angel in Judeo-Christian angeology.

From Japanese 琴 (koto), which refers to a type of musical instrument similar to a harp, combined with 音 (ne) meaning "sound". Other kanji combinations are also possible.

Tajik form of Katiba.

Variant of Cody.

Alternate spelling of Clarion, either from the brass instrument, middle english “clarion, trumpet”, originally “clear”, or from Scottish which derives from Laurence 1, “from laurentum, laurel”. The character from DC comics, Klarion the Witch Boy, has this name.

From Japanese 貴 (ki) meaning "valuable" with 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful" or 君 (kimi) meaning "lord, noble" combined with 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations are possible.

From Sino-Vietnamese 金 (kim) meaning "gold, metal".

Orginal spelling of the word karma; origin: sanscrit from ancient india; in hinduism and buddhism it is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect.

Alternate transcription of Arabic خديجة (see Khadija), as well as the usual Malay form.

Variant of Kiana 2.

As a unisex name, it combines 佳 (ka, kei) meaning "beautiful, excellent, good, pleasing, skilled", 伽 (ka, ga, kya, gya, togi) meaning "attending, entertainer, nursing", 嘉 (ka, yoi, yomi.suru) meaning "applaud, esteem, praise", 夏 (ka, ga, ge, natsu) meaning "summer", 歌 (ka, uta, uta.u) meaning "sing, song" or 加 (ka, kuwa.eru, kuwa.waru) meaning "add(ition), Canada, include, increase, join" with 月 (gatsu, getsu, tsuki) meaning "month, moon."
As a masculine name, it combines 克 (koku, ka.tsu) meaning "kindly, overcome, skillfully" or 勝 (shou, ka.tsu, katsu, -ga.chi, sugu.reru, masa.ru) meaning "excel, prevail, victory, win" with 己 (ki, ko, onore, tsuchinoto, na) meaning "self, serpent, snake", 希 (ki, ke, mare) meaning "beg, beseech, few, Greece, hope, phenomenal, pray, rare, request", 樹 (ju, ki) meaning "timber trees, wood" or 紀 (ki) meaning "account, annals, chronicle, geologic period, history, narrative."

One bearer of this name is film director Katsuki Iwauchi (岩内 克己) (1925-).

Katsuki is also used as a surname.

Derived from the Greek noun καιρός (kairos), which literally means "due measure, proportion, fitness" as well as "time, season", but has a more figurative meaning of "the right or opportune moment", as in: being in the right place at the right time.

In Greek mythology, Kairos was the personification of opportunity, luck and favorable moments.

Meaning uncertain, possibly a Frisian diminutive of Gerhard, Nicolaas, Cornelis or Gaius [1]. It is borne by a boy captured by the Snow Queen in an 1844 fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Spreading from Germany and Scandinavia, this name became popular in the English-speaking world and other places in Western Europe around the end of the 20th century.

From Japanese 淳 (jun) meaning "pure", 潤 (jun) meaning "moisture", 純 (jun) meaning "pure, clean, simple", or other kanji that are pronounced the same way.

From the Hebrew name יְהוּדָה (Yehuḏa), probably derived from יָדָה (yaḏa) meaning "praise". In the Old Testament Judah is the fourth of the twelve sons of Jacob by Leah, and the ancestor of the tribe of Judah. An explanation for his name is given in Genesis 29:35. His tribe eventually formed the Kingdom of Judah in the south of Israel. King David and Jesus were among the descendants of him and his wife Tamar. This name was also borne by Judah Maccabee, the Jewish priest who revolted against Seleucid rule in the 2nd century BC, as told in the deuterocanonical Books of Maccabees.

The name appears in the New Testament with the spellings Judas and Jude.

Alternate transcription of Chintana.

From Jin combined with 一 (ichi) meaning "one" or (occasionally) 市 (ichi) meaning "market, fair."

From Chinese 金 (jīn) meaning "gold".

From Japanese 神 (jin) meaning "deity; god". This may have been used by shrine masters, people who came from shrines, or people who were granted by the emperor of Japan.

From Chinese 佳 (jiā) meaning "good, auspicious, beautiful", 家 (jiā) meaning "home, family", or other characters that are pronounced similarly.

From native Korean 자랑 (jarang) meaning "pride, boast."

Means "archway" in Latin. Janus was the Roman god of gateways and beginnings, often depicted as having two faces looking in opposite directions. The month of January is named for him.

From the given name Jamshid.

Of unknown origin and meaning, maybe a hypochoristic form of Joachim.

It was borne as a stage name by the German drummer Jaki Liebezeit.

From Tupi îasy meaning "moon".

Possibly means "rainbow lady", from Classic Maya ix "lady" and chel "rainbow". Ixchel was a Maya goddess associated with the earth, jaguars, medicine and childbirth. She was often depicted with a snake in her hair and crossbones embroidered on her skirt.

Meaning uncertain, possibly from Classic Maya itz meaning "resin, nectar, dew, liquid, enchanted". Otherwise, it might be a variant of Ixchel.

Of debated origin and meaning; theories include a derivation from the Germanic element isan "iron".

German form of Jezebel.

From the Hebrew name יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Yeshaʿyahu) meaning "Yahweh is salvation", from the roots יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning "to save" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. Isaiah is one of the four major prophets of the Old Testament, supposedly the author of the Book of Isaiah. He was from Jerusalem and probably lived in the 8th century BC, at a time when Assyria threatened the Kingdom of Judah. As an English Christian name, Isaiah was first used after the Protestant Reformation.

Medieval French variant of Isabel. A famous bearer of this name was Isabeau of Bavaria (1385-1422), wife of the French king Charles VI.

From the Hebrew name יִץְחָק (Yitsḥaq) meaning "he will laugh, he will rejoice", derived from צָחַק (tsaḥaq) meaning "to laugh". The Old Testament explains this meaning, by recounting that Abraham laughed when God told him that his aged wife Sarah would become pregnant with Isaac (see Genesis 17:17), and later Sarah laughed when overhearing the same prophecy (see Genesis 18:12). When Isaac was a boy, God tested Abraham's faith by ordering him to sacrifice his son, though an angel prevented the act at the last moment. Isaac went on to become the father of Esau and Jacob with his wife Rebecca.

As an English Christian name, Isaac was occasionally used during the Middle Ages, though it was more common among Jews. It became more widespread after the Protestant Reformation. Famous bearers include the physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton (1643-1727) and the science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov (1920-1992).

Spanish, Portuguese and Italian form of Ireland.

From Japanese 稲 (ina) meaning "rice plant" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".

The name of the daughter of King Cymbeline in the play Cymbeline (1609) by William Shakespeare. He based her on a legendary character named Innogen, but it was printed incorrectly and never emended. Innogen is probably derived from Gaelic inghean meaning "maiden". As a given name it is chiefly British and Australian.

Means "tree" in Hebrew.

Finnish diminutive of Isaac.

Derived from the Georgian noun ია (ia) meaning "violet", as in the spring flower (also see Violet). In turn, it is thought to be derived from the Georgian noun იასამანი (iasamani) meaning "lilac", which might possibly be of Persian origin. However, ია (ia) could also be derived from ancient Greek ἴα (ia), which is the plural form of ἴον (ion) meaning "violet".

Known bearers of this name include the Georgian actresses Ia Parulava (b. 1967) and Iamze "Ia" Sukhitashvili (b. 1980).

Occupational name that referred to someone who hunted for a living, from Old English hunta.

From Chinese 侯 (hóu) meaning "lord, nobleman".

From Japanese 蛍 (hotaru) meaning "firefly".

Alternate transcription of Arabic حسني (see Husni).

From the English word for the holly tree, ultimately derived from Old English holen. Holly Golightly is the main character in the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) by Truman Capote.

Variant of Holly.

From Japanese 瞳 (hitomi) meaning "pupil of the eye". It can also come from 史 (hito) meaning "history" and 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful", as well as other kanji combinations. This name is often written with the hiragana writing system.

From Japanese 久 (hisa) meaning "long time ago" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".

From Phoenician 𐤇𐤓𐤌 (Ḥirom) meaning "exalted brother". This was the name of a king of Tyre according to the Old Testament. He may have reigned in the 10th century BC. As an English given name, Hiram came into use after the Protestant Reformation. In the 17th century the Puritans brought it to America, where it gained some currency.

From Japanese 姫 (hime) "princess" and 子 (ko) "child".

From Japanese 光 (hikari) meaning "light". Other kanji can also form this name. It is often written with the hiragana writing system.

Derived from Greek ἥβη (hebe) meaning "youth". In Greek mythology Hebe was the daughter of Zeus and Hera. She was a goddess of youth who acted as the cupbearer to the gods.

Transferred use of the surname Hazley or combination of the word haze with common suffix -ley.

Diminutive of Hazel.

From the English word hazel for the tree or the light brown colour, derived ultimately from Old English hæsel. It was coined as a given name in the 19th century and quickly became popular, reaching the 18th place for girls in the United States by 1897. It fell out of fashion in the second half of the 20th century, but has since recovered.

n/a

Variant spelling of Havelok; this spelling is most often encountered in the form of the surname Havelock.

Diminutive of Harriet.

Derived from Old English har meaning "grey" and graf "grove".

From Sino-Vietnamese 行 (hạnh) meaning "business, line, row" or 幸 (hạnh) meaning "luck, favour".

Variant of Gwyneth, influenced by the Welsh word gwenith meaning "wheat".

English variant of Gunnar, influenced by the vocabulary word gunner.

From a diminutive of the given name Guillaume.

From a Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, meaning "Our Lady of Guadalupe". Guadalupe is a Spanish place name, the site of a famous convent, derived from Arabic وادي (wādī) meaning "valley, river" possibly combined with Latin lupus meaning "wolf". In the 16th century Our Lady of Guadalupe supposedly appeared in a vision to a native Mexican man, and she is now regarded as a patron saint of the Americas.

From the English word grace, which ultimately derives from Latin gratia. This was one of the virtue names created in the 17th century by the Puritans. The actress Grace Kelly (1929-1982) was a famous bearer.

This name was very popular in the English-speaking world at the end of the 19th century. Though it declined in use over the next 100 years, it staged a successful comeback at the end of the 20th century. The American sitcom Will and Grace (1998-2006) may have helped, though the name was already strongly rising when it premiered. It was the top name for girls in England and Wales in 2006.

Meaning unknown, possibly from a Georgian dialectal word meaning "old man".

Variant of Giselle.

Derived from the Old German element gisal meaning "hostage, pledge" (Proto-Germanic *gīslaz). This name may have originally been a descriptive nickname for a child given as a pledge to a foreign court. This was the name of both a sister and daughter of Charlemagne. It was also borne by a daughter of the French king Charles III who married the Norman leader Rollo in the 10th century. Another notable bearer was the 11th-century Gisela of Swabia, wife of the Holy Roman emperor Conrad II.

The name was popular in France during the Middle Ages (the more common French form is Gisèle). Though it became known in the English-speaking world due to Adolphe Adam's ballet Giselle (1841), it was not regularly used until the 20th century.

Feminine form of Ginepro.

French diminutive of Georgine or Virginie.

English from the medieval personal name Gibbon, a pet form of Gibb.

Variant of Georgiana.

Diminutive of Genevieve or sometimes Jennifer.
Spanish diminutive of Genoveva.

Variant of Gage, apparently influenced by the English word that refers to an instrument for measuring.

From native Korean 가람 (garam) meaning "river."

Derived from Old French franc encens meaning "high quality incense"; the word is primarily used to refer to an aromatic resin from trees of the genus Boswellia, and is mentioned in the Christian Bible as one of the three gifts given to the baby Jesus by the wise men.

Character in the movie "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," 1954.

Diminutive of Frank or Frances.

Means "son of Floro" in Spanish.

From a Roman cognomen meaning "lucky, successful" in Latin. It was acquired as an agnomen, or nickname, by the 1st-century BC Roman general Sulla. It also appears in the New Testament belonging to the governor of Judea who imprisoned Saint Paul.

Due to its favourable meaning, this name was popular among early Christians, being borne by many early saints and four popes. It has been used in England since the Middle Ages, though it has been more popular in continental Europe. A notable bearer was the German composer Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847).

Feminine form of Farid.

Derived from the Chinese character 凡 (fán) meaning "every, all, in general" or 繁 (fán) meaning "numerous; many" or 帆 (fān) meaning "sail; sailboat" or 番 (fān) meaning "to repeat" or 范 (fàn) meaning "model, pattern" or 返 (fǎn) meaning "to return, to go back".

Other characters combinations are also possible.

Simply from the English word faith, ultimately from Latin fidere "to trust". This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans in the 17th century.

Means "help" in Hebrew. Ezra is a prophet of the Old Testament and the author of the Book of Ezra. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the Protestant Reformation. The American poet Ezra Pound (1885-1972) was a famous bearer.

Simply from the English word ever, derived from Old English æfre.

Derived from Greek εὔλαλος (eulalos) meaning "sweetly-speaking", itself from εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and λαλέω (laleo) meaning "to talk". This was the name of an early 4th-century saint and martyr from Mérida in Spain. Another martyr by this name, living at the same time, is a patron saint of Barcelona. These two saints might be the same person.

From the Hebrew name אֵיתָן (ʾEṯan) meaning "solid, enduring, firm". In the Old Testament this name is borne by a few minor characters, including the wise man Ethan the Ezrahite, supposedly the author of Psalm 89.

After the Protestant Reformation it was occasionally used as a given name in the English-speaking world, and it became somewhat common in America due to the fame of the revolutionary Ethan Allen (1738-1789). It only became popular towards the end of the 20th century. It is the name of the main character in Edith Wharton's novel Ethan Frome (1911), about a man in love with his wife's cousin.

Means "strife, discord" in Greek. In Greek mythology Eris was the goddess of discord. She was the sister and companion of Ares.

From Old French Emeline, a diminutive of Germanic names beginning with the element amal meaning "unceasing, vigorous, brave". The Normans introduced this name to England.

Italian and Spanish form of Aemilius (see Emil).

Norman French form of Emmerich. The Normans introduced it to England, and though it was never popular, it survived until the end of the Middle Ages. As a modern given name, now typically feminine, it is likely inspired by the surname Emery, which was itself derived from the medieval given name. It can also be given in reference to the hard black substance called emery.

Derived from an Old English given name, possibly *Ælfgod or *Æðelgod, in which the second element is god "god". (Another source gives the meaning "temple-god", presumably from ealh and god.)
According to surnamedb.com, 'Although recorded erratically in many parts of England, this unusual surname seems to originate in East Anglia, and specifically the Bury St. Edmunds region of Suffolk. Its survival through the Norman period after 1066 was probably because the fen country was for many years very remote and often untouched by events.'

Slovene and Croatian form of Elizabeth.

Form of Elijah used in several languages. This is also the form used in the Greek New Testament, as well as some English translations.

Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Éliane.

Means "ascension" in Hebrew, a derivative of עָלָה (ʿala) meaning "to ascend". In the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament he is a high priest of the Israelites. He took the young Samuel into his service and gave him guidance when God spoke to him. Because of the misdeeds of his sons, Eli and his descendants were cursed to die before reaching old age.

Eli has been used as an English Christian given name since the Protestant Reformation. A notable bearer was the American inventor of the cotton gin Eli Whitney (1765-1825).

Apparently derived from Greek ἔλαφος (elaphos) meaning "deer".

Anglicized form of Eibhlín. It is also sometimes considered an Irish form of Helen. It first became popular in the English-speaking world outside of Ireland near the end of the 19th century.

From a Germanic personal name composed of the elements agil "edge", "point (of a sword)" + hard "brave", "hardy", "strong" or ward "guard".

Spanish and Portuguese form of Edward.

Originally a Norman French nickname, derived from druerie "love, friendship" (itself a derivative of dru "lover, favourite, friend" - originally an adjective, apparently from a Gaulish word meaning "strong, vigourous, lively", but influenced by the sense of the Old High German element trut, drut "dear, beloved").

Alternatively (also as a French and English surname) it may be derived from a Germanic personal name composed of the Old High German elements triuwa "truth, trust" and ric "power".

As an Irish surname it is an anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an Druaidh meaning "son of the druid" (from draoi "druid", genitive druadh).

From the Greek name Δρακων (Drakon) which means "dragon, serpent"

Diminutive of Dorothy.

From Spanish dorar "to gild, to cover in gold". Dorado is one of the constellations created by Dutch explorers in the 16th century. It represents the dolphinfish.

French feminine and masculine form of Dominicus (see Dominic).

A nickname whose meaning is often particular to the individual bearing the name. Notable bearer baseball player Dizzy Dean, for instance, received the name because his on field antics were said to be dizzying to observers.

From late Middle English (in the sense ‘lacking confidence or trust in someone or something’) from Latin diffident- ‘failing in trust’, from the verb diffidere, from dis- (expressing reversal) + fidere ‘to trust’.

French form of Diana, also regularly used in the English-speaking world.

Means "oak" in Cornish. This is a modern Cornish name.

Meaning, "of brown."

Georgian and Armenian form of David.

Anglicized form of Dáire.

The English name, Dandelion, is a corruption of the French dent de lion meaning "lion's tooth", referring to the coarsely toothed leaves. It is usually is used as a nickname.

Simply from the English word for the white flower, ultimately derived from Old English dægeseage meaning "day eye". It was first used as a given name in the 19th century, at the same time many other plant and flower names were coined.

This name was fairly popular at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th. The American author F. Scott Fitzgerald used it for the character of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby (1925). The Walt Disney cartoon character Daisy Duck was created in 1940 as the girlfriend of Donald Duck. It was at a low in popularity in the United States in the 1970s when it got a small boost from a character on the television series The Dukes of Hazzard in 1979.

Anglicised form of Dáire.

From French chosette meaning "little thing". This is the nickname of the illegitimate daughter of Fantine in Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables (1862). Her real name is Euphrasie, though it is seldom used. In the novel young Cosette is the ward of the cruel Thénardiers until she is retrieved by Jean Valjean.

Variant of Conor, based on the usual spelling of the surname that is derived from the name. This is currently the most common way of spelling it in the English-speaking world, apart from Ireland.

From the name of a bay and seaside town in Conwy, Wales.

Variant of Colette.

From an English surname, itself originally derived from either a medieval short form of Nicholas or the byname Cola. A famous bearer was the songwriter Cole Porter (1891-1964), while a bearer of the surname was the musician Nat King Cole (1919-1965).

This name got more popular in the early 1980s, then got a boost in 1990 when it was used by the main character in the movie Days of Thunder.

From the Portuguese word for "rabbit", either a nickname or an occupational name referring to a hunter or seller of rabbits.

English diminutive form of Clara and Clarissa as well as an adoption of the name of the clary sage (salvia sclarea in Latin).
As a Swedish name, Clary is both an adoption of the English name as well as an adoption of the surname Clary which was first introduced by 19th-century Swedish queen Desideria who was born Désirée Clary.

From the Latin title Clarensis, which belonged to members of the British royal family. The title ultimately derives from the name of the town of Clare in Suffolk. As a given name it has been in use since the 19th century.

Feminine form of Ciar. This is another name for Saint Ciar.

Means "ancient, enduring" in Irish. In Irish mythology this was the name of the father of Lugh Lámfada. It was also borne by the mythical ancestor of the Ciannachta and by a son-in-law of Brian Boru.

From Chinese 春 (chūn) meaning "spring (the season)" combined with 梅 (méi) meaning "plum, apricot" or 美 (měi) meaning "beautiful". Other character combinations can form this name as well.

From Japanese 蝶 (chō) meaning "butterfly" and 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations can be possible.

From Japanese 力 (chikara) meaning "power, capability, influence". This name can also be formed by other kanji or combinations of kanji.

Means "God is greater" in Igbo.

From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning "thousand", 智 (chi) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or 散 (chi) meaning "scatter" combined with 佳 (ka) meaning "good, beautiful" or 花 (ka) meaning "flower". Other kanji combinations are also possible.

From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning "thousand" and 恵 (e) meaning "blessing, favour" combined with 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations are possible.

Possibly an anglicized form of Italian Cherubino, or directly from Latin cherubin meaning "cherubs, cherubim".

Simply means "cherry" from the name of the fruit. It can also be a diminutive of Charity. It has been in use since the late 19th century.

From Old French castan "chestnut tree" (Latin castanea), a name for someone who lived near a particular chestnut tree, or possibly a nickname for someone with chestnut-coloured hair.

Means "silver" in Hindi.

From a nickname for a lucky person or a gambler.

From a surname that was derived from the name of towns in England, meaning "settlement belonging to Chad" in Old English.

Allegedly means "affliction, sorrow". According to Irish legend Cessair was a granddaughter of Noah who died in the great flood. The name also belonged to a Gaulish princess who married the Irish high king Úgaine Mór in the 5th or 6th century BC.

Variant of Cecilia.

Habitational name from places in Dorset, Northamptonshire, and Somerset named Caswell, from Old English cærse '(water)cress' + well(a) 'spring', 'stream'.

From the Roman family name Cassianus, which was derived from Cassius. This was the name of several saints, including a 3rd-century martyr from Tangier who is the patron saint of stenographers and a 5th-century mystic who founded a monastery in Marseille.

Short form of Cassandra, Cassidy and other names beginning with Cass.

Latinate feminine form of Carolus. This is the name of two American states: North and South Carolina. They were named for Charles I, king of England.

Means "white-haired, old" in Spanish, from Latin canus.

French feminine and masculine form of Camilla. It is also used in the English-speaking world, where it is generally only feminine.

Variant of Calix.

Feminine form of Calenus.

Derived from Old Welsh cat "battle" and an uncertain element, possibly gwallon "ruler" or uualaun, uualon "valorous" or guallaun "good, best". (Also compare Cadwal and Cadwaladr.)

Notable bearers of this name include Cadwallon Lawhir, a 6th-century king of Gwynedd; Cadwallon ap Cadfan (died 634), a 7th-century king of Gwynedd; a 7th-century king of Wessex (also known as Cædwalla); and Cadwallon ab Ieuaf, a 10th-century king of Gwynedd.

From native Korean 별빛 (byeolbit) meaning "starlight," effectively a combination of Byeol and Bit (compare Bitbyeol).

Anglicized form of Brónach.

From the name of the city of Bristol, originally Brycgstow in Old English, meaning "the site of the bridge".

Anglicized form of Brígh. It can also be a short form of Brianna, Gabriella and other names containing bri.

Means "thunderstorm" in Turkish.

From a place name.

Variant of Beau or diminutive of Robert, Beaufort, Beauregard, Bonita or Bonnie.

From native Korean 빛 (bit) meaning "light, glow." and From native Korean 나라 (nara) meaning "country, nation, state, kingdom."

Derived from dialectal bil, standard Croatian bijel, meaning "white".
Famous bearer: Croatian football (soccer) coach Slaven Bilić

From various place names in Italy and Spain meaning "beautiful mountain".

Short form of Isabella or names ending in belle. It is also associated with the French word belle meaning "beautiful". A famous bearer was Belle Starr (1848-1889), an outlaw of the American west, whose real given name was Maybelle.

Means "gift" in Tuvan and Kyrgyz. It is unisex among the Tuvans and solely masculine in Kyrgyzstan.

From the Welsh name Bedwyr, possibly from bedwen "birch" and gwr "man". In Arthurian legends Bedivere was one of the original companions of King Arthur. He first appears in early Welsh tales, and his story was later expanded by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century. He is the one who throws the sword Excalibur into the lake at the request of the dying Arthur.

Feminine form of Basim.

It means precious or gem.

From the Hebrew name עֲזַרְיָה (ʿAzarya) meaning "Yahweh has helped", derived from עָזַר (ʿazar) meaning "help" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of many Old Testament characters including of one of the three men the Babylonian king ordered cast into a fiery furnace. His Babylonian name was Abednego.

Variant form of Axt.

German, Polish, Scandinavian and Catalan form of Augustus. This was the name of three Polish kings.

As an English name it can also derive from the month of August, which was named for the Roman emperor Augustus.

From Japanese 明日 (asu) meaning "tomorrow" and 香 (ka) meaning "fragrance", or from 飛 (asu) meaning "to fly" and 鳥 (ka) meaning "bird". Other kanji combinations can be possible as well.

Perhaps derived from Semitic roots meaning "she who walks in the sea". This was the name of a Semitic mother goddess. She was worshipped by the Israelites before the advent of monotheism.

Means "happy, blessed" in Hebrew, derived from אָשַׁר (ʾashar) meaning "to be happy, to be blessed". Asher in the Old Testament is a son of Jacob by Leah's handmaid Zilpah, and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The meaning of his name is explained in Genesis 30:13.

Derived from the Japanese kanji 朝 (asa) meaning "morning" or 麻 (asa) meaning "hemp, flax".

Other kanji combinations are also possible.

The meaning of this name is unknown. It could be derived from the Celtic elements *artos "bear" (Old Welsh arth) combined with *wiros "man" (Old Welsh gur) or *rīxs "king" (Old Welsh ri). Alternatively it could be related to an obscure Roman family name Artorius.

Arthur is the name of the central character in Arthurian legend, a 6th-century king of the Britons who resisted Saxon invaders. He may or may not have been based on a real person. He first appears in Welsh poems and chronicles (perhaps briefly in the 7th-century poem Y Gododdin and more definitively and extensively in the 9th-century History of the Britons [1]). However, his character was not developed until the chronicles of the 12th-century Geoffrey of Monmouth [2]. His tales were later taken up and expanded by French and English writers.

The name came into general use in England in the Middle Ages due to the prevalence of Arthurian romances, and it enjoyed a surge of popularity in the 19th century. Famous bearers include German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), mystery author and Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), and science-fiction author Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008).

Meaning uncertain. It was perhaps inspired by the fictional place name Arlo Hill from the poem The Faerie Queene (1590) by Edmund Spenser. Spenser probably got Arlo by altering the real Irish place name Aherlow, meaning "between two highlands".