tolkienscholar's Personal Name List

Abilene
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Various (Rare)
Other Scripts: Ἀβιληνή(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: AB-i-leen(English) ab-i-LEE-nee(English)
Personal remark: Nesselevië / Talaneth
Rating: 30% based on 1 vote
From a place name mentioned briefly in the New Testament. It is probably from Hebrew אָבֵל (ʾavel) meaning "meadow, grassy area". It has occasionally been used as a given name in modern times.
Adela
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Spanish, Romanian, Polish, Slovak, Germanic [1]
Pronounced: ə-DEHL-ə(English) a-DHEH-la(Spanish) a-DEH-la(Polish) A-deh-la(Slovak)
Personal remark: Artië / Taereth
Rating: 30% based on 1 vote
Originally a short form of names beginning with the Old German element adal meaning "noble" (Proto-Germanic *aþalaz). Saint Adela was a 7th-century Frankish princess who founded a monastery at Pfazel in France. This name was also borne by a daughter of William the Conqueror.
Adèle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: A-DEHL
Personal remark: Artië / Taereth
Rating: 40% based on 1 vote
French form of Adela.
Aelia
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Ancient Roman
Pronounced: IE-lee-a
Personal remark: Anarië / Anoreth
Rating: 50% based on 1 vote
Feminine form of Aelius.
Aelita
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature, Russian, Latvian
Other Scripts: Аэлита(Russian)
Pronounced: ui-LYEE-tə(Russian)
Personal remark: Telutirelië / Methtiriel
Rating: 40% based on 1 vote
Created by Russian author Aleksey Tolstoy for his science fiction novel Aelita (1923), where it belongs to a Martian princess. In the book, the name is said to mean "starlight seen for the last time" in the Martian language.
Aella
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Ἄελλα(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: A-EHL-LA(Classical Greek)
Personal remark: Hwinwaiwië / Hwiniagwaeth
Rating: 40% based on 1 vote
Means "whirlwind" in Greek. In Greek myth this was the name of an Amazon warrior killed by Herakles during his quest for Hippolyta's girdle.
Aila
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Finnish
Pronounced: IE-lah
Personal remark: Airië / Aereth
Rating: 40% based on 1 vote
Finnish form of Áile.
Aileen
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Scottish, Irish, English
Pronounced: ie-LEEN(English) IE-leen(English)
Personal remark: Peccottulië / Pecholeth
Rating: 40% based on 1 vote
Variant of Eileen.
Ailís
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish
Pronounced: A-lyeesh
Personal remark: Aranostalië / Aranoseth
Rating: 40% based on 1 vote
Irish form of Alice.
Áine
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish [1]
Pronounced: A-nyə(Irish)
Personal remark: Altië / Galadeth
Rating: 40% based on 1 vote
Means "radiance, brilliance" in Irish. This was the name of a goddess of love and fertility in Irish legend, thought to dwell at the hill of Cnoc Áine in Limerick. It has sometimes been Anglicized as Anne.
Ainsley
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Scottish, English (Modern)
Pronounced: AYNZ-lee(English)
Personal remark: Erdataurië / Airgladeth
Rating: 30% based on 1 vote
From an English surname that was from a place name: either Annesley in Nottinghamshire or Ansley in Warwickshire. The place names themselves derive from Old English anne "alone, solitary" or ansetl "hermitage" and leah "woodland, clearing".

In America, this name received a boost of popularity in 2000 when a character bearing it began appearing on the television series The West Wing.

Aislin
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish (Rare)
Pronounced: ASH-lyən
Personal remark: Lórië / Loreth
Rating: 30% based on 1 vote
Variant of Aisling.
Akane
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: , etc.(Japanese Kanji) あかね(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: A-KA-NEH
Personal remark: Moricarnië / Morcaraneth
Rating: 30% based on 1 vote
From Japanese (akane) meaning "deep red, dye from the rubia plant". Other kanji or combinations of kanji can form this name as well.
Akemi
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 明美, etc.(Japanese Kanji) あけみ(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: A-KEH-MEE
Personal remark: Calavanimië / Galadeileth
Rating: 20% based on 1 vote
From Japanese (ake) meaning "bright" and (mi) meaning "beautiful". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Aki 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 晶, 明, 秋, 亜希, 亜樹, 亜紀, etc.(Japanese Kanji) あき(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: A-KYEE
Personal remark: Liquistië / Glanneth
From Japanese (aki) meaning "clear, crystal", (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear" or (aki) meaning "autumn". It can also come from (a) meaning "second, Asia" combined with (ki) meaning "hope". Other kanji or combinations of kanji can form this name too.
Akilah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Arabic, African American
Other Scripts: عقيلة(Arabic)
Pronounced: ‘a-KEE-la(Arabic) ə-KEE-lə(English)
Personal remark: Sailië / Saeleth
Alternate transcription of Arabic عقيلة (see Aqila).
Alanis
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: ə-LAN-is
Personal remark: Nityondië / Pingonneth
Feminine form of Alan. Canadian musician Alanis Morissette (1974-) was named after her father Alan. Her parents apparently decided to use this particular spelling after seeing this word in a Greek newspaper.
Alayah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: ə-LIE-ə, ə-LAY-ə
Personal remark: Aratië / Taereth
Probably a variant of Aaliyah based on names such as Amaya and Anaya.
Alazne
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque
Pronounced: a-LAS-neh
Personal remark: Elmendië / Elveneth
From Basque alatz meaning "miracle". It is an equivalent of Milagros, proposed by Sabino Arana in his 1910 list of Basque saints names.
Alcyone
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Other Scripts: Ἀλκυόνη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: al-SIE-ə-nee(English)
Personal remark: Aranraitië / Limnetaraneth
Latinized form of Greek Ἀλκυόνη (Alkyone), derived from the word ἀλκυών (alkyon) meaning "kingfisher". In Greek myth this name belonged to a daughter of Aeolus and the wife of Ceyx. After her husband was killed in a shipwreck she threw herself into the water, but the gods saved her and turned them both into kingfishers. This is also the name of the brightest of the Pleiades, a group of stars in the constellation Taurus, supposedly the daughters of Atlas and Pleione.
Aleks
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Russian, Ukrainian, Slovene, Polish, Armenian
Other Scripts: Алекс(Russian, Ukrainian) Ալեքս(Armenian)
Pronounced: A-lyiks(Russian) A-lehks(Polish)
Personal remark: Varnië / Barneth
Short form of Aleksey, Aleksandr or Aleksandra.
Alessa
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Italian
Pronounced: a-LEHS-sa
Personal remark: Varnië / Barneth
Short form of Alessandra.
Alethea
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: al-ə-THEE-ə, ə-LEE-thee-ə
Personal remark: Naitië / Nanueth
Derived from Greek ἀλήθεια (aletheia) meaning "truth". This name was coined in the 16th century.
Ali 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: AL-ee
Personal remark: Aranostalië / Aranoseth
Diminutive of Alison 1, Alexandra and other names beginning with the same sound.
Aliénor
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: A-LYEH-NAWR
Personal remark: Calië / Galadeth
French form of Eleanor.
Aline
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), English
Pronounced: A-LEEN(French) a-LEE-nee(Portuguese) ə-LEEN(English)
Personal remark: Aratië / Taereth
Medieval short form of Adeline. As an English name, in modern times it has sometimes been regarded as a variant of Eileen. This was the name of a popular 1965 song by the French singer Christophe.
Alíz
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hungarian
Pronounced: AW-leez
Personal remark: Aranostalië / Aranoseth
Hungarian form of Alice.
Alizée
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French (Modern)
Pronounced: A-LEE-ZEH
Personal remark: Bangavailië
From French alizé meaning "trade wind".
Alya 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Arabic, Indonesian, Malay, Turkish
Other Scripts: علياء(Arabic)
Pronounced: ‘al-YA(Arabic)
Personal remark: Erumanië
Means "sky, heaven, loftiness" in Arabic.
Alys
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: AL-is
Personal remark: Aranostalië / Aranoseth
Variant of Alice.
Alyssa
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: ə-LIS-ə
Personal remark: Aranostalië / Aranoseth
Rating: 50% based on 2 votes
Variant of Alicia. The spelling has probably been influenced by that of the alyssum flower, the name of which is derived from Greek (a), a negative prefix, combined with λύσσα (lyssa) meaning "madness, rabies", since it was believed to cure madness.
Amada
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
Pronounced: a-MA-dha
Personal remark: Meldië / Melloneth
Feminine form of Amado.
Amani
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Arabic
Other Scripts: أماني(Arabic)
Pronounced: a-MA-nee
Personal remark: Mermië / Iesteth
Means "wishes" in Arabic, related to the root منا (manā) meaning "to tempt, to put to the test".
Amari
Gender: Feminine
Usage: African American (Modern)
Pronounced: ə-MAHR-ee(English)
Personal remark: Coiviandavië / Echuiandeth
Meaning uncertain, perhaps from Arabic Ammar. This name has risen in popularity in America at the same time as similar-sounding names such as Jamari and Kamari.
Amaryllis
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature
Pronounced: am-ə-RIL-is(English)
Personal remark: Tintilië / Tineth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
Derived from Greek ἀμαρύσσω (amarysso) meaning "to sparkle". This is the name of a character appearing in Virgil's pastoral poems Eclogues [1]. The amaryllis flower is named for her.
Amaya
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque, Spanish, English (Modern)
Pronounced: a-MA-ya(Spanish) ə-MIE-ə(English)
Personal remark: Mettië / Methedeth
Variant of Amaia.

In America, this name was popularized in 1999 by a contestant on the reality television series The Real World [1].

Amber
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Dutch
Pronounced: AM-bər(English) AHM-bər(Dutch)
Personal remark: Maliconië / Malthugeth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From the English word amber that denotes either the gemstone, which is formed from fossil resin, or the orange-yellow colour. The word ultimately derives from Arabic عنبر (ʿanbar) meaning "ambergris". It began to be used as a given name in the late 19th century, but it only became popular after the release of Kathleen Winsor's novel Forever Amber (1944).
Amberly
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: AM-bər-lee
Personal remark: Maliconië / Malthugeth
Elaboration of Amber, influenced by the spelling of the name Kimberly.
Amberlynn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: AM-bər-lin
Personal remark: Maliconendië / Malthugaelineth
Elaboration of Amber using the popular name suffix lyn.
Ambre
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: AHNBR
Personal remark: Maliconië / Malthugeth
French cognate of Amber.
Amedea
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Italian
Pronounced: a-meh-DEH-a
Personal remark: Erumelië / Erumeleth
Italian feminine form of Amadeus.
Amélie
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: A-MEH-LEE
Personal remark: Oialië / Himmeth
French form of Amelia.
Amethyst
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: AM-ə-thist
Personal remark: Mirumírië / Mirumireth
From the name of the purple semi-precious stone, which is derived from the Greek negative prefix (a) and μέθυστος (methystos) meaning "intoxicated, drunk", as it was believed to be a remedy against drunkenness. It is the traditional birthstone of February.
Amika
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Esperanto
Pronounced: a-MEE-ka
Personal remark: Málondonië / Mellonebeth
Means "friendly" in Esperanto, ultimately from Latin amicus "friend".
Anaïs
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: A-NA-EES
Personal remark: Alavahtainië / Almaeleth
Meaning uncertain, possibly a derivative of Anne 1 or Agnès. It was used in Jean-Henri Guy's opera Anacréon chez Polycrate (1798), where it is borne by the daughter (otherwise unnamed in history) of the 6th-century BC tyrant Polycrates of Samos. Guy could have adapted it from a classical name such as Anaitis or Athénaïs.

A famous bearer was the Cuban-French writer Anaïs Nin (1903-1977), known for her diaries.

Anaya
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: ə-NIE-ə, ə-NAY-ə
Personal remark: Mettië / Methedeth
Meaning unknown, possibly from the Spanish surname Anaya (itself from the name of a Spanish town), used because of its similarity to Amaya [1].
Anemone
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: ə-NEHM-ə-nee
Personal remark: Vailië / Sûleth
From the name of the anemone flower, which is derived from Greek ἄνεμος (anemos) meaning "wind".
Aneta
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Macedonian
Other Scripts: Анета(Bulgarian, Macedonian)
Pronounced: a-NEH-ta(Polish) A-neh-ta(Czech)
Personal remark: Listië / Listeth
Polish, Czech, Bulgarian and Macedonian diminutive of Anna.
Anett
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hungarian
Pronounced: AW-neht
Personal remark: Listië / Listeth
Hungarian form of Annette.
Ani 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Armenian
Other Scripts: Անի(Armenian)
Pronounced: ah-NEE
Personal remark: Laivanimië / Daebaineth
From the name of an old Armenian city, of unknown meaning. Now in eastern Turkey, in the 10th and 11th centuries it was the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia, though it was later abandoned and is now only ruins.
Aniela
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Polish
Pronounced: a-NYEH-la
Personal remark: Mayawendë / Maewen
Polish form of Angela.
Anima 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: AN-i-mə
Personal remark: Thulië / Hueth
Means "soul, spirit" in Latin. In Jungian psychology the anima is an individual's true inner self, or soul.
Antigone
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek [1]
Other Scripts: Ἀντιγόνη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: AN-TEE-GO-NEH(Classical Greek) an-TIG-ə-nee(English)
Personal remark: Tyazonnië / Mavheneth
Derived from Greek ἀντί (anti) meaning "against, compared to, like" and γονή (gone) meaning "birth, offspring". In Greek legend Antigone was the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. King Creon of Thebes declared that her slain brother Polynices was to remain unburied, a great dishonour. She disobeyed and gave him a proper burial, and for this she was sealed alive in a cave.
Aoibhín
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish
Pronounced: EE-vyeen
Personal remark: Vanessië / Beinaseth
Diminutive of Aoibhe.
Aoide
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Ἀοιδή(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: ay-EE-dee(English)
Personal remark: Lírië / Laereth
Means "song" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was one of the original three muses, the muse of song.
Aoife
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish, Irish Mythology
Pronounced: EE-fyə(Irish)
Personal remark: Vanessië / Beinaseth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
From Old Irish Aífe, derived from oíph meaning "beauty" (modern Irish aoibh). This was the name of several characters in Irish legend, including a woman at war with Scáthach (her sister in some versions). She was defeated in single combat by the hero Cúchulainn, who spared her life on the condition that she bear him a child (Connla). Another legendary figure by this name appears in the Children of Lir as the jealous third wife of Lir.

This name is sometimes Anglicized as Eve or Eva.

Aphrodite
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Ἀφροδίτη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: A-PRO-DEE-TEH(Classical Greek) af-rə-DIE-tee(English)
Personal remark: Ostolyë / Gostedeth
Meaning unknown, possibly of Phoenician origin. Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and beauty, identified with the Roman goddess Venus. She was the wife of Hephaestus and the mother of Eros, and she was often associated with the myrtle tree and doves. The Greeks connected her name with ἀφρός (aphros) meaning "foam", resulting in the story that she was born from the foam of the sea. Many of her characteristics are based on the goddess known as Ashtoreth to the Phoenicians and Ishtar to the Mesopotamian Semitic peoples, and on the Sumerian goddess Inanna.
Aranka
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hungarian
Pronounced: AW-rawng-kaw
Personal remark: Laurië / Gloriel
Derived from Hungarian arany meaning "gold". It is used as a vernacular form of Aurélia.
Arden
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: AHR-dən
Personal remark: Tarië / Areth
From an English surname, originally taken from various place names, which were derived from a Celtic word meaning "high".
Arete
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek [1]
Other Scripts: Ἀρετή, Ἀρέτη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: A-REH-TEH(Classical Greek)
Personal remark: Máralië / Maeraseth
Means "virtue" in Greek. In Greek mythology Arete was the personification of virtue and excellence.
Aretha
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: ə-REE-thə
Personal remark: Máralië / Maeraseth
Possibly derived from Greek ἀρετή (arete) meaning "virtue". This name was popularized in the 1960s by American singer Aretha Franklin (1942-2018).
Aria 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: AHR-ee-ə
Personal remark: Lírië / Laereth
Means "song, melody" in Italian (literally means "air"). An aria is an elaborate vocal solo, the type usually performed in operas. As an English name, it has only been in use since the 20th century, its rise in popularity accelerating after the 2010 premier of the television drama Pretty Little Liars, featuring a character by this name. It is not traditionally used in Italy.
Ariadne
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Ἀριάδνη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: A-REE-AD-NEH(Classical Greek) ar-ee-AD-nee(English)
Personal remark: Anairë / Anaereth
Rating: 50% based on 2 votes
Means "most holy", composed of the Greek prefix ἀρι (ari) meaning "most" combined with Cretan Greek ἀδνός (adnos) meaning "holy". In Greek mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos. She fell in love with Theseus and helped him to escape the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, but was later abandoned by him. Eventually she married the god Dionysus.
Arianrhod
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh Mythology
Pronounced: ar-YAN-rawd(Welsh)
Personal remark: Tyelpequermië / Celebiruineth
Probably means "silver wheel" from Welsh arian "silver" and rhod "wheel". According to the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi [1], Arianrhod was the mother of the twins Dylan and Lleu Llaw Gyffes, whom she spontaneously birthed when she stepped over a magical wand. It is speculated that in earlier myths she may have been a goddess of the moon.
Ariel
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hebrew, English, French, Spanish, Polish, Biblical, Biblical Greek
Other Scripts: אֲרִיאֵל(Hebrew) Ἀριήλ(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: a-ree-EHL(Hebrew) EHR-ee-əl(English) AR-ee-əl(English) A-RYEHL(French) a-RYEHL(Spanish) A-ryehl(Polish)
Personal remark: Eruravennië / Eruraweth
Means "lion of God" in Hebrew, from אֲרִי (ʾari) meaning "lion" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". In the Old Testament it is used as another name for the city of Jerusalem. Shakespeare utilized it for a spirit in his play The Tempest (1611) and Alexander Pope utilized it for a sylph in his poem The Rape of the Lock (1712), and one of the moons of Uranus bears this name in his honour. As an English name, it became more common for females in the 1980s, especially after it was used for the title character in the Disney film The Little Mermaid (1989).
Ariella
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: ar-ee-EHL-ə, ehr-ee-EHL-ə
Personal remark: Eruravennië / Eruraweth
Strictly feminine form of Ariel.
Arielle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French, English
Pronounced: A-RYEHL(French)
Personal remark: Eruravennië / Eruraweth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
French feminine form of Ariel, as well as an English variant.
Arista
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Astronomy
Pronounced: ə-RIS-tə(English)
Personal remark: Mulië / Mâdeth
Means "ear of grain" in Latin. This is the name of a star, also known as Spica, in the constellation Virgo.
Arlene
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Filipino
Pronounced: ahr-LEEN(English)
Personal remark: Vandië / Bandeth
Variant of Arline. Since the onset of the 20th century, this is the most common spelling of this name.
Arlet
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Catalan
Pronounced: ər-LEHT
Personal remark: Liyúmenyarnië / Othrinarneth
Catalan form of Arlette.
Armelle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: AR-MEHL
Personal remark: Lísröaranelië / Grawbrethil
Feminine form of Armel.
Artemis
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology, Greek
Other Scripts: Ἄρτεμις(Ancient Greek) Άρτεμις(Greek)
Pronounced: AR-TEH-MEES(Classical Greek) AHR-tə-mis(English)
Personal remark: Varnië / Barneth
Meaning unknown, possibly related either to Greek ἀρτεμής (artemes) meaning "safe" or ἄρταμος (artamos) meaning "a butcher". Artemis was the Greek goddess of the moon and hunting, the twin of Apollo and the daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was known as Diana to the Romans.
Arya 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Persian, Hindi, Malayalam
Other Scripts: آریا(Persian) आर्य, आर्या(Hindi) ആര്യ, ആര്യാ(Malayalam)
Pronounced: aw-ree-YAW(Persian) awr-YAW(Persian) AR-yə(Hindi) AR-ya(Hindi, Malayalam) AR-yu(Malayalam)
Personal remark: Tarië / Areth
From an old Indo-Iranian root meaning "Aryan, noble". In India, this is a transcription of both the masculine form आर्य and the feminine form आर्या. In Iran it is only a masculine name.
Asenath
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Biblical
Other Scripts: אָסְנַת(Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: AS-i-nath(English)
Personal remark: Néndilië / Mellonneneth
Means "belonging to the goddess Neith" in Ancient Egyptian. In the Old Testament this is the name of Joseph's Egyptian wife. She was the mother of Manasseh and Ephraim.
Ash
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: ASH
Personal remark: Farnelantië, Farnië or Littië / Farandanneth, Faraneth or Litheth
Short form of Ashley. It can also come directly from the English word denoting either the tree or the residue of fire.
Ashley
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: ASH-lee
Personal remark: Farnelantië / Farandanneth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
From an English surname that was originally derived from place names meaning "ash tree clearing", from a combination of Old English æsc and leah. Until the 1960s it was more commonly given to boys in the United States, but it is now most often used on girls. It reached its height of popularity in America in 1987, but it did not become the highest ranked name until 1991, being overshadowed by the likewise-popular Jessica until then. In the United Kingdom it is still more common as a masculine name.
Ashling
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish
Pronounced: ASH-ling(English)
Personal remark: Lórië / Loreth
Anglicized form of Aisling.
Ashlyn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: ASH-lin
Personal remark: Farnenendië / Faranaelineth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
Combination of Ashley and the popular name suffix lyn.
Aspen
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: AS-pən
Personal remark: Aldaquasyë / Pastedegaladh
From the English word for a variety of deciduous trees in the genus Populus, derived from Old English æspe. It is also the name of a ski resort in Colorado.
Astarte
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Semitic Mythology (Hellenized), Biblical Greek
Other Scripts: Ἀστάρτη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: as-TAHR-tee(English)
Personal remark: Elenyuyalië / Elenuialeth
Greek form of Ashtoreth.
Aster
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: AS-tər
Personal remark: Elenië / Eleneth
From the name of the flower, which is derived via Latin from Greek ἀστήρ (aster) meaning "star".
Astrid
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, French, English
Pronounced: AS-strid(Swedish) AHS-tri(Norwegian) AS-trit(German) AS-TREED(French) AS-trid(English)
Personal remark: Valavanië / Balanbaineth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
Modern Scandinavian form of Ástríðr. This name was borne by the Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002), the author of Pippi Longstocking. It was also borne by a Swedish princess (1905-1935) who became the queen of Belgium as the wife of Leopold III.
Asya 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Russian, Bulgarian
Other Scripts: Ася(Russian, Bulgarian)
Pronounced: A-syə(Russian)
Personal remark: Enortië / Adortheth
Diminutive of Anastasiya or Aleksandra.
Atarah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Biblical
Other Scripts: עֲטָרָה(Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: AT-ə-rə(English)
Personal remark: Laureríë / Glorerieth
Means "crown" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament Atarah is a minor character, the wife of Jerahmeel.
Atenea
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
Pronounced: a-teh-NEH-a
Personal remark: Sailastalië / Saeltaugeth
Spanish form of Athena.
Athénaïs
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: A-TEH-NA-EES
Personal remark: Sailastalië / Saeltaugeth
French form of Athenais.
Avalon
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: AV-ə-lahn
Personal remark: Orvië / Orfeth
From the name of the island paradise to which King Arthur was brought after his death. The name of this island is perhaps related to Welsh afal meaning "apple", a fruit that was often linked with paradise.
Ave
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, Estonian
Pronounced: A-veh(Italian) AH-veh(Estonian)
Personal remark: Allië / Aieth
Possibly from the name of the prayer Ave Maria, in which Ave is Latin meaning "greetings, salutations". In Estonian it is also associated with the word ava meaning "open".
Avis
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: AY-vis
Personal remark: Aiwië / Aeweth
Probably a Latinized form of the Germanic name Aveza, which was derived from the element awi, of unknown meaning. The Normans introduced this name to England and it became moderately common during the Middle Ages, at which time it was associated with Latin avis "bird".
Axelle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: A-KSEHL
Personal remark: Atarnyasívie / Adarenidheth
Feminine form of Axel.
Ayah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Arabic
Other Scripts: آية(Arabic)
Pronounced: A-ya
Personal remark: Nembalië / Nemmaseth
Alternate transcription of Arabic آية (see Aya 2).
Ayaka
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 彩花, 彩華, 彩香, etc.(Japanese Kanji) あやか(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: A-YA-KA
Personal remark: Quilalmië / Cruiloth
From Japanese (aya) meaning "colour" combined with (ka) or (ka) both meaning "flower". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Ayala
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hebrew
Other Scripts: אַיָּלָה(Hebrew)
Pronounced: ie-ah-LAH
Personal remark: Celvië / Celefeth
Means "doe, female deer" in Hebrew.
Ayane
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 彩音, 綾音, 絢音, etc.(Japanese Kanji) あやね(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: A-YA-NEH
Personal remark: Quilámië / Cruilhoneth
From Japanese (aya) meaning "colour", (aya) meaning "design" or (aya) meaning "brilliant fabric design, kimono design" combined with (ne) meaning "sound". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Ayesha
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Arabic, Urdu, Bengali
Other Scripts: عائشة(Arabic) عائشہ(Urdu) আয়েশা(Bengali)
Pronounced: ‘A-ee-sha(Arabic)
Personal remark: Coinië / Cuilebeth
Alternate transcription of Arabic عائشة or Urdu عائشہ (see Aisha), as well as the usual Bengali transcription.
Azalea
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: ə-ZAY-lee-ə
Personal remark: Parahtië / Baracteth
From the name of the flower (shrubs of the genus Rhododendron), ultimately derived from Greek ἀζαλέος (azaleos) meaning "dry".
Azélie
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French (Rare)
Pronounced: A-ZEH-LEE
Personal remark: Aranostalië / Aranoseth
Perhaps a form of Azalaïs. It was borne by Saint Marie-Azélie Guérin (1831-1877), also called Zélie, the mother of Thérèse of Lisieux.
Azeneth
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish (Latin American, Rare)
Pronounced: a-seh-NEHT
Personal remark: Néndilië / Mellonneneth
Possibly a Spanish variant of Asenath.
Azra
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Arabic, Turkish, Bosnian, Persian, Urdu
Other Scripts: عذراء(Arabic) عذرا(Persian, Urdu)
Pronounced: ‘adh-RA(Arabic)
Personal remark: Vendië / Gweneth
Means "virgin, maiden" in Arabic.
Azure
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: AZH-ər
Personal remark: Luinië / Luineth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From the English word that means "sky blue". It is ultimately (via Old French, Latin and Arabic) from Persian لاجورد (lājvard) meaning "azure, lapis lazuli".
Beatrix
Gender: Feminine
Usage: German, Hungarian, Dutch, English, Late Roman
Pronounced: beh-A-triks(German) BEH-a-triks(German) BEH-aw-treeks(Hungarian) BEH-ya-triks(Dutch) BEE-ə-triks(English) BEE-triks(English)
Personal remark: Aianië / Athaleth
Rating: 90% based on 2 votes
Probably from Viatrix, a feminine form of the Late Latin name Viator meaning "voyager, traveller". It was a common name amongst early Christians, and the spelling was altered by association with Latin beatus "blessed, happy". Viatrix or Beatrix was a 4th-century saint who was strangled to death during the persecutions of Diocletian.

In England the name became rare after the Middle Ages, but it was revived in the 19th century, more commonly in the spelling Beatrice. Famous bearers include the British author and illustrator Beatrix Potter (1866-1943), the creator of Peter Rabbit, and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (1938-).

Bláithín
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish, Irish Mythology
Personal remark: Nityalmië / Pinlotheth
Modern Irish form of Bláthíne.
Blanche
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French, English
Pronounced: BLAHNSH(French) BLANCH(English)
Personal remark: Fánië / Glaneth
From a medieval French nickname meaning "white, fair-coloured". This word and its cognates in other languages are ultimately derived from the Germanic word *blankaz. An early bearer was the 12th-century Blanca of Navarre, the wife of Sancho III of Castile. Her granddaughter of the same name married Louis VIII of France, with the result that the name became more common in France.
Blue
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: BLOO
Personal remark: Luinië / Luineth
From the English word for the colour, derived via Norman French from a Frankish word (replacing the native Old English cognate blaw). Despite the fact that this name was used by the American musicians Beyoncé and Jay-Z in 2012 for their first daughter, it has not come into general use in the United States.
Blythe
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: BLIEDH
Personal remark: Lalulië / Lalwegeth
Rating: 80% based on 1 vote
From a surname meaning "cheerful" in Old English.
Bryony
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: BRIE-ə-nee
Personal remark: Lícië / Ligeth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
From the name of a type of Eurasian vine, formerly used as medicine. It ultimately derives from Greek βρύω (bryo) meaning "to swell".
Calanthe
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: kə-LAN-thee
Personal remark: Vanalmië / Bainlotheth
Rating: 90% based on 1 vote
From the name of a type of orchid, ultimately meaning "beautiful flower", derived from Greek καλός (kalos) meaning "beautiful" and ἄνθος (anthos) meaning "flower".
Calypso
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Other Scripts: Καλυψώ(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: kə-LIP-so(English)
Personal remark: Cuvyawendë / Toblaieth
From Greek Καλυψώ (Kalypso), which probably meant "she that conceals", derived from καλύπτω (kalypto) meaning "to cover, to conceal". In Greek myth this was the name of the nymph who fell in love with Odysseus after he was shipwrecked on her island of Ogygia. When he refused to stay with her she detained him for seven years until Zeus ordered her to release him.
Cassarah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: kə-SEHR-ə, kə-SAR-ə, KAS-ə-rə
Personal remark: Námanië / Namaneth
Recently created name intended to mean "what will be, will be". It is from the title of the 1956 song Que Sera, Sera, which was taken from the Italian phrase che sarà sarà. The phrase que sera, sera is not grammatically correct in any Romance language.
Cassidy
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: KAS-i-dee
Personal remark: Locinipsinië / Loethafineth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
From an Irish surname (Anglicized from Irish Gaelic Ó Caiside), which is derived from the byname Caiside. Very rare as a given name before the 1970s, it established itself in the 80s and then surged in popularity during the 90s.
Cedar
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: SEE-dər
Personal remark: Nísimaldië / Dimalteth
From the English word for the coniferous tree, derived (via Old French and Latin) from Greek κέδρος (kedros). Besides the true cedars from the genus Cedrus, it is also used to refer to some tree species in the cypress family.
Céleste
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: SEH-LEST
Personal remark: Menelwië / Menelebeth
Rating: 50% based on 2 votes
French feminine and masculine form of Caelestis.
Ceres
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Roman Mythology
Pronounced: KEH-rehs(Latin) SIR-eez(English)
Personal remark: Alië / Galeth
Derived from the Indo-European root *ker- meaning "grow, increase". In Roman mythology Ceres was the goddess of agriculture, equivalent to the Greek goddess Demeter.
Ceridwen
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh
Pronounced: keh-RID-wehn
Personal remark: Locinissië / Raeneth
Possibly from cyrrid "bent, crooked" (a derivative of Old Welsh cwrr "corner") combined with ben "woman" or gwen "white, blessed". According to the medieval Welsh legend the Tale of Taliesin (recorded by Elis Gruffyd in the 16th century) this was the name of a sorceress who created a potion that would grant wisdom to her son Morfan. The potion was instead consumed by her servant Gwion Bach, who was subsequently reborn as the renowned bard Taliesin.

This name appears briefly in a poem in the Black Book of Carmarthen in the form Kyrridven [1] and in a poem in the Book of Taliesin in the form Kerrituen [2]. Some theories connect her to an otherwise unattested Celtic goddess of inspiration, and suppose her name is related to Welsh cerdd "poetry".

Channary
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Khmer
Personal remark: Isilestirië / Ithilstireth
Means "moon-faced girl" from Khmer ចន្ទ (chan) meaning "moon" and នារី (neari) meaning "woman, girl".
Charlotte
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French, English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch
Pronounced: SHAR-LAWT(French) SHAHR-lət(English) shar-LAW-tə(German) sha-LOT(Swedish) shahr-LAW-tə(Dutch)
Personal remark: Nerndonië / Ebdireth
Rating: 95% based on 2 votes
French feminine diminutive of Charles. It was introduced to Britain in the 17th century. It was the name of a German-born 18th-century queen consort of Great Britain and Ireland. Another notable bearer was Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855), the eldest of the three Brontë sisters and the author of Jane Eyre and Villette. A famous fictional bearer is the spider in the children's novel Charlotte's Web (1952) by E. B. White.

This name was fairly common in France, England and the United States in the early 20th century. It became quite popular in France and England at the end of the 20th century, just when it was at a low point in the United States. It quickly climbed the American charts and entered the top ten in 2014.

Chelle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: SHEHL
Personal remark: Valandonië / Balanebeth
Diminutive of Michelle.
Chryseis
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Χρυσηΐς(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: KRUY-SEH-EES(Classical Greek) krie-SEE-is(English)
Personal remark: Laurië / Gloriel
Patronymic derived from Chryses. In Greek legend she was the daughter of Chryses, a priest of Apollo. After she was taken prisoner by the Greeks besieging Troy, Apollo sent a plague into their camp, forcing the Greeks to release her.
Circe
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Other Scripts: Κίρκη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: SUR-see(English)
Personal remark: Fionyë / Fioneth
Latinized form of Greek Κίρκη (Kirke), possibly from κίρκος (kirkos) meaning "hawk". In Greek mythology Circe was a sorceress who changed Odysseus's crew into hogs, as told in Homer's Odyssey. Odysseus forced her to change them back, then stayed with her for a year before continuing his voyage.
Clematis
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: KLEHM-ə-tis, klə-MAT-is
Personal remark: Tuistië / Rovoroneth
From the English word for a type of flowering vine, ultimately derived from Greek κλήμα (klema) meaning "twig, branch".
Cleo
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: KLEE-o
Personal remark: Alcarië / Aglareth
Short form of Cleopatra, Cleon or Cleopas.
Cléopâtre
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Ancient Greek (Gallicized)
Pronounced: KLEH-AW-PATR(French)
Personal remark: Alcaratarië / Aglaradareth
French form of Cleopatra.
Cressida
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature
Pronounced: KREHS-i-də(English)
Personal remark: Laurië / Gloriel
Form of Criseida used by Shakespeare in his play Troilus and Cressida (1602).
Cyan
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: SIE-an
Personal remark: Laicaluinyë / Luincaleneth
From the English word meaning "greenish blue, cyan", ultimately derived from Greek κύανος (kyanos).
Dakota
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: də-KO-tə
Personal remark: Málorië / Melloneth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
From the name of the Native American people of the northern Mississippi Valley, or from the two American states that were named for them: North and South Dakota (until 1889 unified as the Dakota Territory). The tribal name means "allies, friends" in the Dakota language.

It was rare as an American given name before 1975. In the mid-1980s it began growing in popularity for boys after a character by this name began appearing on the soap opera Ryan's Hope. It is now more common as a feminine name, probably due to the fame of the actress Dakota Fanning (1994-).

Dalisay
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Tagalog
Pronounced: da-LEE-sie
Personal remark: Poitië / Glanneneth
Means "pure" in Tagalog.
Damaris
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek [1]
Other Scripts: Δάμαρις(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: DAM-ə-ris(English)
Personal remark: Mundollië / Munnegeth
Probably means "calf, heifer, girl" from Greek δάμαλις (damalis). In the New Testament this is the name of a woman converted to Christianity by Saint Paul.
Danaë
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Δανάη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: DA-NA-EH(Classical Greek) DAN-ay-ee(English)
Personal remark: Navië / Daveth
Rating: 50% based on 2 votes
From Δαναοί (Danaoi), a word used by Homer to designate the Greeks. In Greek mythology Danaë was the daughter of the Argive king Acrisius. It had been prophesied to her father that he would one day be killed by Danaë's son, so he attempted to keep his daughter childless. However, Zeus came to her in the form of a shower of gold, and she became the mother of Perseus. Eventually the prophecy was fulfilled and Perseus killed Acrisius, albeit accidentally.
Danette
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: də-NEHT
Personal remark: Erunámië / Erudavoreth
Feminine diminutive of Daniel.
Dawn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: DAWN
Personal remark: Tindomië / Tinnuialeth
From the English word dawn, ultimately derived from Old English dagung.
Deirdre
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Irish, Irish Mythology
Pronounced: DIR-drə(English) DIR-dree(English) DYEHR-dryə(Irish)
Personal remark: Seldië / Selleth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
From the Old Irish name Derdriu, meaning unknown, possibly derived from der meaning "daughter". This was the name of a tragic character in Irish legend who died of a broken heart after Conchobar, the king of Ulster, forced her to be his bride and killed her lover Naoise.

It has only been commonly used as a given name since the 20th century, influenced by two plays featuring the character: William Butler Yeats' Deirdre (1907) and J. M. Synge's Deirdre of the Sorrows (1910).

Delaney
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: di-LAYN-ee
Personal remark: Ulweotaurië / Uluitauroeth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
From a surname: either the English surname Delaney 1 or the Irish surname Delaney 2.
Delilah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Biblical, English
Other Scripts: דְּלִילָה(Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: di-LIE-lə(English)
Personal remark: Lelyë / Daileth
Means "delicate, weak, languishing" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament she is the lover of Samson, whom she betrays to the Philistines by cutting his hair, which is the source of his power. Despite her character flaws, the name began to be used by the Puritans in the 17th century. It has been used occasionally in the English-speaking world since that time.
Demeter 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Δημήτηρ(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: DEH-MEH-TEHR(Classical Greek) də-MEET-ər(English)
Personal remark: Kemenamilië / Cevenemeleth
Possibly means "earth mother", derived from Greek δᾶ (da) meaning "earth" and μήτηρ (meter) meaning "mother". In Greek mythology Demeter was the goddess of agriculture, the daughter of Cronus, the sister of Zeus, and the mother of Persephone. She was an important figure in the Eleusinian Mysteries, which were secret rites performed at Eleusis near Athens.
Demi
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek, English (Modern)
Other Scripts: Δήμη, Ντίμι, Ντίμη(Greek)
Pronounced: də-MEE(English) DEHM-ee(English)
Personal remark: Kemenamilië / Cevenemeleth
Alternate transcription of Greek Δήμη or Ντίμι or Ντίμη (see Dimi), as well as a short form of Demetria. A famous bearer is American actress Demi Moore (1962-), and it is because of her that the name rose in popularity in the United States in the late 1980s. Though some sources claim Moore's birth name is Demetria, the actress herself has said she was born as Demi and named after a makeup product. The name received a further boost after 2008 with the release of the debut album by the singer Demi Lovato (1992-), who pronounces the name differently than the older actress. Lovato's birth name is Demetria.
Desiree
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: dehz-i-RAY
Personal remark: Írimë / Íruieth
English form of Désirée. It was popularized in the English-speaking world by the movie Désirée (1954).
Destiny
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: DEHS-ti-nee
Personal remark: Ambarië / Amartheth
Means simply "destiny, fate" from the English word, ultimately from Latin destinare "to determine", a derivative of stare "to stand". It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world only since the last half of the 20th century.
Dezi
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: DEHZ-ee
Personal remark: Hyarincë / Haradeg
Diminutive of Desmond and other names beginning with a similar sound.
Diamond
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare), African American (Modern)
Pronounced: DIE-mənd(English)
Personal remark: Tinwírië / Tinwireth
From the English word diamond for the clear colourless precious stone, the traditional birthstone of April. It is derived from Late Latin diamas, from Latin adamas, which is of Greek origin meaning "unconquerable, unbreakable".
Dian
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Indonesian
Pronounced: DEE-an
Personal remark: Lícumië / Lígueth
Means "candle" in Indonesian.
Dike
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Δίκη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: DEE-KEH(Classical Greek)
Personal remark: Failië / Faeledeth
Means "justice, custom, order" in Greek. In Greek mythology Dike was the goddess of justice, one of the Ὥραι (Horai).
Dove
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: DUV
Personal remark: Kukië / Cucheth
From the English word for the variety of bird, seen as a symbol of peace.
Ea 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Danish, Norwegian
Personal remark: Hanúvincë / Anwathrenegeth
Short form of names ending in ea.
Eavan
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish
Pronounced: EE-vən(English)
Personal remark: Nemestavanië / Cruithbaineth
Anglicized form of Aoibheann.
Ebere
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Igbo
Personal remark: Lissië / Listeth
Means "mercy, kindness" in Igbo.
Ebony
Gender: Feminine
Usage: African American
Pronounced: EHB-ən-ee(English)
Personal remark: Moritöanië / Mortaweth
From the English word ebony for the black wood that comes from the ebony tree. It is ultimately from the Egyptian word hbnj. In America this name is most often used in the black community.
Echo
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Ἠχώ(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: EH-ko(English)
Personal remark: Lámië / Lammeth
From the Greek word ἠχώ (echo) meaning "echo, reflected sound", related to ἠχή (eche) meaning "sound". In Greek mythology Echo was a nymph given a speech impediment by Hera, so that she could only repeat what others said. She fell in love with Narcissus, but her love was not returned, and she pined away until nothing remained of her except her voice.
Edana
Gender: Feminine
Usage: History (Ecclesiastical)
Personal remark: Felmië / Felfeth
Latinized form of Étaín. This was the name of an early Irish saint.
Eden
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hebrew, English (Modern), French (Modern)
Other Scripts: עֵדֶן(Hebrew)
Pronounced: EE-dən(English)
Personal remark: Kelië / Gelleth
Rating: 100% based on 3 votes
From the biblical place name, itself possibly from Hebrew עֵדֶן (ʿeḏen) meaning "pleasure, delight" [1], or perhaps derived from Sumerian 𒂔 (edin) meaning "plain". According to the Old Testament the Garden of Eden was the place where the first people, Adam and Eve, lived before they were expelled.
Ederne
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque (Rare)
Pronounced: eh-DHEHR-neh
Personal remark: Vanimië / Baineth
Feminine variant of Eder 2.
Eike
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Low German, German
Pronounced: IE-kə(German)
Personal remark: Címië / Cimeth
Originally a short form of Ekkehard and other names beginning with the Old High German element ekka, Old Saxon eggia meaning "edge, blade". This name was borne by Eike of Repgow, who compiled the law book the Sachsenspiegel in the 13th century.
Eileen
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish, English
Pronounced: ie-LEEN(English) IE-leen(English)
Personal remark: Írimë / Íruieth
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.
Eilís
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish
Pronounced: EH-lyeesh
Personal remark: Aranostalië/ Aranoseth
Irish Gaelic form of Elizabeth (or sometimes of Alice).
Eirene
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek [1]
Other Scripts: Εἰρήνη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: EH-REH-NEH(Classical Greek) ie-REE-nee(English)
Personal remark: Sívië / Îdheth
Ancient Greek form of Irene.
Eirian
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh
Personal remark: Calië / Galadeth
Means "bright, beautiful" in Welsh [1].
Eirlys
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh
Pronounced: AYR-lis
Personal remark: Nieninquië / Ninnimeth
Means "snowdrop (flower)" in Welsh, a compound of eira "snow" and llys "plant".
Eirwen
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh
Personal remark: Ninquelossië / Nimlosseth
Means "white snow" from the Welsh elements eira "snow" and gwen "white, blessed". This name was created in the early 20th century.
Eithne
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish [1]
Pronounced: EH-nyə(Irish)
Personal remark: Mulië / Mauleth
Possibly from Old Irish etne meaning "kernel, grain". In Irish mythology Eithne or Ethniu was a Fomorian and the mother of Lugh Lámfada. It was borne by several other legendary and historical figures, including a few early saints.
Ekene
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Igbo
Personal remark: Hantië / Hannadeth
Means "thanks, gratitude" in Igbo.
Elain
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh
Pronounced: EH-lien
Personal remark: Vinyacelvië / Gweinaraseth
Means "fawn" in Welsh. This name was created in the 19th century [1].
Elanor
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature
Personal remark: Élanarië
Means "star sun" in the fictional language Sindarin. In The Lord of the Rings (1954) by J. R. R. Tolkien this is Sam's eldest daughter, named after a type of flower.
Elea
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Personal remark: Nárrundincië / Naurronegeth
Short form of Eleanor. This was also the name of an ancient Italian town (modern Velia) that is well known for being the home of the philosopher Parmenides and his student Zeno of Elea, who was famous for his paradoxes.
Electra
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Other Scripts: Ἠλέκτρα(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: i-LEHK-trə(English)
Personal remark: Maliconië / Malthugeth
Latinized form of Greek Ἠλέκτρα (Elektra), derived from ἤλεκτρον (elektron) meaning "amber". In Greek myth she was the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra and the sister of Orestes. She helped her brother kill their mother and her lover Aegisthus in vengeance for Agamemnon's murder. Also in Greek mythology, this name was borne by one of the Pleiades, who were the daughters of Atlas and Pleione.
Elena
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Slovak, Czech, Lithuanian, Estonian, Finnish, Russian, Greek, German, English
Other Scripts: Елена(Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian) Έλενα(Greek)
Pronounced: EH-leh-na(Italian, Czech, German) eh-LEH-na(Spanish, German) eh-lyeh-NU(Lithuanian) yi-LYEH-nə(Russian) i-LYEH-nə(Russian) EHL-ə-nə(English) ə-LAY-nə(English)
Personal remark: Nárrundië / Naurroneth
Rating: 50% based on 2 votes
Form of Helen used in various languages, as well as an alternate transcription of Russian Елена (see Yelena).
Eleri
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh
Pronounced: eh-LEH-ri
Personal remark: Laisárië / Daesaureth
From the name of a Welsh river, also called the Leri, of unknown meaning. This was also the name of a 7th-century Welsh saint (masculine).
Eli 3
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish, Norwegian, Danish
Pronounced: EH-lee(Spanish)
Personal remark: Eruinkië / Eruegeth
Spanish, Norwegian and Danish short form of Elisabet or Elin.
Elian
Gender: Masculine
Usage: Dutch (Rare)
Pronounced: EH-lee-yahn
Personal remark: Eruincë / Erueg
Dutch variant of names beginning with Eli, such as Elijah or Elisabeth.
Elidi
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Various (Rare)
Personal remark: Anarannië / Anoranneth
Meaning unknown, possibly of Greek or Welsh origin. It may have been inspired by the name of the Ήλιδα (Ilida) valley and ancient city in western Greece (Elis in English).
Elita
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Latvian
Personal remark: Tyasië / Lebbeth
Meaning unknown.
Elke 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Low German, Frisian, German, Dutch
Pronounced: EHL-kə(German, Dutch)
Personal remark: Artië / Taereth
Low German and Frisian diminutive of Adelheid.
Ellery
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: EHL-ə-ree
Personal remark: Lalulië / Lalwegeth
From an English surname that was originally derived from the medieval masculine name Hilary.
Elodie
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Personal remark: Illiharmië / Ilmaeligeth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
English form of Élodie.
Elora
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Popular Culture, English (Modern)
Personal remark: Erucalanyië / Erugaladeneth
Probably an invented name. This is the name of an infant girl in the fantasy movie Willow (1988). Since the release of the movie the name has been steadily used, finally breaking into the top 1000 in the United States in 2015.
Elowen
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Cornish
Personal remark: Alvië / Alafeth
Means "elm tree" in Cornish. This is a recently coined Cornish name.
Elsa
Gender: Feminine
Usage: German, Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Finnish, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English
Pronounced: EHL-za(German) EHL-sah(Finnish) EHL-sa(Italian, Spanish) EHL-sə(English)
Personal remark: Eruinkië / Eruegeth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Short form of Elisabeth, typically used independently. In medieval German tales Elsa von Brabant was the lover of the hero Lohengrin. Her story was expanded by Richard Wagner for his opera Lohengrin (1850). The name had a little spike in popularity after the 2013 release of the animated Disney movie Frozen, which featured a magical princess by this name.
Elspeth
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Scottish
Pronounced: EHLS-peth
Personal remark: Eruvandanyië / Erubandeneth
Rating: 80% based on 1 vote
Scottish form of Elizabeth.
Elva 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Danish, Icelandic
Personal remark: Quendië / Edheleth
Feminine form of Alf 1.
Ember
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: EHM-bər
Personal remark: Yúlië / Uieleth
From the English word ember, ultimately from Old English æmerge.
Emberly
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: EHM-bər-lee
Personal remark: Yúlië / Uieleth
Elaboration of Ember, influenced by the spelling of Kimberly.
Emerald
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: EHM-ə-rəld
Personal remark: Laimaril / Legheledh
From the word for the green precious stone, which is the traditional birthstone of May. The emerald supposedly imparts love to the bearer. The word is ultimately from Greek σμάραγδος (smaragdos).
Emma
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Latvian, Dutch, German, Hungarian, Germanic [1]
Pronounced: EHM-ə(English) EH-MA(French) EHM-ma(Spanish) EHM-mah(Finnish) EH-ma(Dutch, German) EHM-maw(Hungarian)
Personal remark: Ilquië / Paneth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Originally a short form of Germanic names that began with the element irmin meaning "whole" or "great" (Proto-Germanic *ermunaz). It was introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, who was the wife both of King Ethelred II (and by him the mother of Edward the Confessor) and later of King Canute. It was also borne by an 11th-century Austrian saint, who is sometimes called Hemma.

After the Norman Conquest this name became common in England. It was revived in the 18th century, perhaps in part due to Matthew Prior's 1709 poem Henry and Emma [2]. It was also used by Jane Austen for the central character, the matchmaker Emma Woodhouse, in her novel Emma (1816).

In the United States, it was third in rank in 1880 (behind only the ubiquitous Mary and Anna). It declined steadily over the next century, beginning another rise in the 1980s and eventually becoming the most popular name for girls in 2008. At this time it also experienced similar levels of popularity elsewhere, including the United Kingdom (where it began rising a decade earlier), Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and the Netherlands. Famous bearers include the actresses Emma Thompson (1959-), Emma Stone (1988-) and Emma Watson (1990-).

Emmalyn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: EHM-ə-lin
Personal remark: Ilquanendië / Panaelineth
Variant of Emmeline, or else a combination of Emma and the fashionable name suffix lyn.
Enid
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh, English, Arthurian Cycle
Pronounced: EH-nid(Welsh) EE-nid(English)
Personal remark: Súlië / Thûleth
Probably derived from Welsh enaid meaning "soul, spirit, life". In Arthurian tales she first appears in the 12th-century French poem Erec and Enide by Chrétien de Troyes, where she is the wife of Erec. In later adaptations she is typically the wife of Geraint. The name became more commonly used after the publication of Alfred Tennyson's Arthurian poem Enid in 1859, and it was fairly popular in Britain in the first half of the 20th century.
Enisa
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Bosnian
Personal remark: Málië / Melloneth
Bosnian feminine form of Anis.
Enya
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish
Pronounced: EHN-yə(English)
Personal remark: Mulië / Mauleth
Anglicized form of Eithne.
Éowyn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature
Pronounced: AY-ə-win(English)
Personal remark: Roccalassië / Glassrocheth
Means "horse joy" in Old English. This name was invented by J. R. R. Tolkien who used Old English to represent the Rohirric language. In his novel The Lord of the Rings (1954) Eowyn is the niece of King Theoden of Rohan. She slays the Lord of the Nazgul in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Epona
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Gaulish Mythology
Personal remark: Roccië / Rocheth
Derived from Gaulish epos meaning "horse" with the divine or augmentative suffix -on. This was the name of a Gaulish goddess of horses and fertility. She was worshipped not only in Gaul, but elsewhere in the Roman Empire.
Era
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Albanian
Personal remark: Vailië / Gwaeth
Derived from Albanian erë meaning "wind".
Erato
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Ἐρατώ(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: EH-RA-TAW(Classical Greek) EHR-ə-to(English)
Personal remark: Írimë / Íruieth
Means "lovely" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was one of the nine Muses, the muse of lyric poetry.
Erin
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Irish
Pronounced: EHR-in(English)
Personal remark: Yavrenië / Iavreneth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
Anglicized form of Éireann. It was initially used by people of Irish heritage in America, Canada and Australia. It was rare until the mid-1950s.
Eris
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Ἔρις(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: EHR-is(English)
Personal remark: Ohtië / Autheth
Means "strife, discord" in Greek. In Greek mythology Eris was the goddess of discord. She was the sister and companion of Ares.
Erle 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Norwegian
Personal remark: Turcië / Turgeth
Feminine form of Jarl.
Erlea
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque (Rare)
Personal remark: Nierië / Nîweth
Means "bee" in Basque.
Eseld
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Cornish
Personal remark: Helkohtië / Helegdagoreth
Cornish form of Iseult.
Eshe
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Swahili
Personal remark: Eäwendë / Nawen
Variant of Asha 2.
Esmé
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: EHZ-may, EHZ-mee
Personal remark: Meldië / Melleth
Means "esteemed" or "loved" in Old French. It was first recorded in Scotland, being borne by the first Duke of Lennox in the 16th century. It is now more common as a feminine name.
Esperanza
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
Pronounced: ehs-peh-RAN-tha(European Spanish) ehs-peh-RAN-sa(Latin American Spanish)
Personal remark: Merië / Mereth
Spanish form of the Late Latin name Sperantia, which was derived from sperare "to hope".
Essence
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: EHS-əns
Personal remark: Nustië / Nosteth
From the English word essence, which means either "odour, scent" or else "fundamental quality". Ultimately it derives from Latin esse "to be".
Estee
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Jewish
Personal remark: Elenië / Eleneth
Diminutive of Esther. A famous bearer was the American businesswoman Estée Lauder (1908-2004), founder of the cosmetics company that bears her name. Her birth name was Josephine Esther Mentzer. Apparently she added the accent to her name Estee in order to make it appear French.
Estel
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Catalan
Pronounced: əs-TEHL
Personal remark: Estelië / Esteleth
Catalan cognate of Estelle.
Estella
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: ehs-TEHL-ə
Personal remark: Elenië / Eleneth
Latinate form of Estelle. This is the name of the heroine, Estella Havisham, in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations (1860).
Estelle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, French
Pronounced: ehs-TEHL(English) EHS-TEHL(French)
Personal remark: Elenië/ Eleneth
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
From an Old French name meaning "star", ultimately derived from Latin stella. It was rare in the English-speaking world in the Middle Ages, but it was revived in the 19th century, perhaps due to the character Estella Havisham in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations (1860).
Esteri
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Finnish
Pronounced: EHS-teh-ree
Personal remark: Elenië / Eleneth
Finnish form of Esther.
Esther
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Jewish, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Other Scripts: אֶסְתֵר(Hebrew) Ἐσθήρ(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: EHS-tər(English, Dutch) EHS-TEHR(French) ehs-TEHR(Spanish) EHS-tu(German)
Personal remark: Elenië / Eleneth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From the Hebrew name אֶסְתֵר (ʾEsṯer), which possibly means "star" in Persian. Alternatively it could be a derivative of the name of the Near Eastern goddess Ishtar. The Book of Esther in the Old Testament tells the story of Queen Esther, the Jewish wife of the king of Persia. The king's advisor Haman persuaded the king to exterminate all the Jews in the realm. Warned of this plot by her cousin Mordecai, Esther revealed her Jewish ancestry and convinced the king to execute Haman instead. Her original Hebrew name was Hadassah.

This name has been used in the English-speaking world since the Protestant Reformation. In America it received a boost in popularity after the birth of Esther Cleveland (1893-1980), the daughter of President Grover Cleveland [1].

Étaín
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish [1]
Pronounced: EH-teen(Irish)
Personal remark: Felmië / Felfeth
Possibly derived from Old Irish ét meaning "jealousy, passion". In Irish legend she is the subject of the 9th-century tale The Wooing of Étaín [2]. She was the wife of Midir, but his jealous first wife Fuamnach transformed her into a fly. She was accidentally swallowed, and then reborn to the woman who swallowed her. After she grew again to adulthood she married the Irish high king Eochaid Airem, having no memory of Midir. Midir and Étaín were eventually reunited after Midir defeated Eochaid in a game of chess.

In modern Irish this name is properly spelled Éadaoin.

Etel
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hungarian
Pronounced: EH-tehl
Personal remark: Atarinkië / Adaregeth
Short form of Etelka.
Eteri
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Georgian
Other Scripts: ეთერი(Georgian)
Pronounced: EH-TEH-REE
Personal remark: Vilyië / Gweleth
Form of Eter with the nominative suffix, used when the name is written stand-alone.
Ethelyn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: ETH-ə-lin
Personal remark: Aratanendië / Arodaelineth
Diminutive of Ethel.
Euri
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque (Rare)
Personal remark: Ulië / Uileth
Means "rain" in Basque.
Eurydice
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Other Scripts: Εὐρυδίκη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: ew-RUY-dee-keh(Latin) yuw-RID-i-see(English)
Personal remark: Yandafailië / Faelediandeth
From the Greek Εὐρυδίκη (Eurydike) meaning "wide justice", derived from εὐρύς (eurys) meaning "wide" and δίκη (dike) meaning "justice, custom, order". In Greek myth she was the wife of Orpheus. Her husband tried to rescue her from Hades, but he failed when he disobeyed the condition that he not look back upon her on their way out.
Evadne
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Other Scripts: Εὐάδνη(Ancient Greek)
Personal remark: Airië / Aereth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From Greek Εὐάδνη (Euadne), from εὖ (eu) meaning "good" possibly combined with Cretan Greek ἀδνός (adnos) meaning "holy". This name was borne by several characters in Greek legend, including the wife of Capaneus. After Capaneus was killed by a lightning bolt sent from Zeus she committed suicide by throwing herself onto his burning body.
Evangeline
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: i-VAN-jə-leen, i-VAN-jə-lien
Personal remark: Márasinyarië / Maermenteth
Rating: 90% based on 1 vote
Means "good news" from Greek εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and ἄγγελμα (angelma) meaning "news, message". It was (first?) used by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his 1847 epic poem Evangeline [1][2]. It also appears in Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) as the full name of the character Eva.
Eve
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Estonian, Biblical
Other Scripts: חַוָּה(Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: EEV(English)
Personal remark: Cuitië / Cuieth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From the Hebrew name חַוָּה (Ḥawwa), which was derived from the Hebrew word חָוָה (ḥawa) meaning "to breathe" or the related word חָיָה (ḥaya) meaning "to live". According to the Old Testament Book of Genesis, Eve and Adam were the first humans. God created her from one of Adam's ribs to be his companion. At the urging of a serpent she ate the forbidden fruit and shared some with Adam, causing their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

Despite this potentially negative association, the name was occasionally used by Christians during the Middle Ages. In the English-speaking world both Eve and the Latin form Eva were revived in the 19th century, with the latter being more common.

Evelyn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, German
Pronounced: EHV-ə-lin(English) EEV-lin(British English) EEV-ə-lin(British English) EH-və-leen(German)
Personal remark: Írimë / Íruieth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From an English surname that was derived from the given name Aveline. In the 17th century when it was first used as a given name it was more common for boys, but it is now regarded as almost entirely feminine, probably in part because of its similarity to Eve and Evelina.

This name was popular throughout the English-speaking world in the early 20th century. It staged a comeback in the early 21st century, returning to the American top ten in 2017.

Ever
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: EHV-ər
Personal remark: Úlumië / Himmeth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Simply from the English word ever, derived from Old English æfre.
Evonne
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: i-VAHN
Personal remark: Enortaldië / Adorthigaladheth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Yvonne.
Eydís
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Old Norse [1], Icelandic
Personal remark: Lónevalië / Tolbalaneth
Derived from the Old Norse elements ey "good fortune" or "island" and dís "goddess".
Fae
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: FAY
Personal remark: Quendië / Edheleth
Variant of Fay.
Faithe
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: FAYTH
Personal remark: Astarië / Astoreth
Rating: 90% based on 1 vote
Variant of Faith.
Farai
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Shona
Personal remark: Alastië / Gelleth
From Shona fara meaning "rejoice, be happy" [1].
Farrah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Arabic
Other Scripts: فرح(Arabic)
Pronounced: FA-rah
Personal remark: Alassië / Glasseth
Alternate transcription of Arabic فرح (see Farah).
Fawn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: FAWN
Personal remark: Vinyacelvië / Gweincelefeth
From the English word fawn for a young deer.
Faye
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: FAY
Personal remark: Quendië/ Edheleth
Rating: 90% based on 1 vote
Variant of Fay.
Felicity
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: fə-LIS-i-tee
Personal remark: Alassië / Glasseth
Rating: 90% based on 1 vote
From the English word felicity meaning "happiness", which ultimately derives from Latin felicitas "good luck". This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans around the 17th century. It can sometimes be used as an English form of the Latin name Felicitas. This name jumped in popularity in the United States after the premiere of the television series Felicity in 1998. It is more common in the United Kingdom.
Fern
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: FURN
Personal remark: Lassequessië / Lasspeseth
From the English word for the plant, ultimately from Old English fearn. It has been used as a given name since the late 19th century.
Fleur
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French, Dutch, English (British)
Pronounced: FLUUR(French, Dutch) FLU(British English) FLUR(American English)
Personal remark: Lótië / Lotheth
Means "flower" in French. Saint Fleur of Issendolus (Flor in Gascon) was a 14th-century nun from Maurs, France. This was also the name of a character in John Galsworthy's novels The Forsyte Saga (1922).
Freya
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Norse Mythology, English (Modern), German
Pronounced: FRAY-ə(English) FRAY-a(German)
Personal remark: Herië / Heryneth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From Old Norse Freyja meaning "lady". This is the name of a goddess associated with love, beauty, war and death in Norse mythology. She claims half of the heroes who are slain in battle and brings them to her realm of Fólkvangr. Along with her brother Freyr and father Njord, she is one of the Vanir (as opposed to the Æsir). Some scholars connect her with the goddess Frigg.

This is not the usual spelling in any of the Scandinavian languages (in Sweden and Denmark it is Freja and in Norway it is Frøja) but it is the common spelling of the goddess's name in English. In the 2000s it became popular in Britain.

Galadriel
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature
Pronounced: gə-LAD-ree-əl(English)
Personal remark: Altariel
Means "maiden crowned with a radiant garland" in the fictional language Sindarin. Galadriel was a Noldorin elf princess renowned for her beauty and wisdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels. The elements are galad "radiant" and riel "garlanded maiden". Alatáriel is the Quenya form of her name.
Genesis
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: JEHN-ə-sis
Personal remark: Celië / Celleth
Means "birth, origin" in Greek. This is the name of the first book of the Old Testament in the Bible. It tells of the creation of the world, the expulsion of Adam and Eve, Noah and the great flood, and the three patriarchs.
Gladys
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh, English, French, Spanish
Pronounced: GLAD-is(English) GLA-DEES(French) GLA-dhees(Spanish)
Personal remark: Nórië / Dôreth
From the Old Welsh name Gwladus, probably derived from gwlad meaning "country". Alternatively, it may have been adopted as a Welsh form of Claudia. Saint Gwladus or Gwladys was the mother of Saint Cadoc. She was one of the daughters of Brychan Brycheiniog. This name became popular outside of Wales after it was used in Ouida's novel Puck (1870).
Gray
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: GRAY
Personal remark: Sindië / Thinneth
From an English surname meaning "grey", originally given to a person who had grey hair or clothing.
Grey
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: GRAY
Personal remark: Sindië / Thinneth
Variant of Gray.
Gwen
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh, English
Pronounced: GWEHN
Personal remark: Vanië / Baineth
From Welsh gwen, the feminine form of gwyn meaning "white, blessed". It can also be a short form of Gwendolen, Gwenllian and other names beginning with Gwen.
Gwendolen
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh
Pronounced: GWEHN-də-lin(English)
Personal remark: Fánacormië / Glâncoreth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Possibly means "white ring", derived from Welsh gwen meaning "white, blessed" and dolen meaning "ring, loop". This name appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 12th-century chronicles, written in the Latin form Guendoloena, where it belongs to an ancient queen of the Britons who defeats her ex-husband in battle [1]. Geoffrey later used it in Vita Merlini for the wife of the prophet Merlin [2]. An alternate theory claims that the name arose from a misreading of the masculine name Guendoleu by Geoffrey [3].

This name was not regularly given to people until the 19th century [4][3]. It was used by George Eliot for a character in her novel Daniel Deronda (1876).

Gweneth
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh
Pronounced: GWEHN-ith
Personal remark: Hostemehtarië / Hadorothrimeth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Gwyneth.
Halcyon
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Various (Rare)
Pronounced: HAL-see-ən(English)
Personal remark: Aranraitië / Limnetaraneth
From the name of a genus of kingfisher birds, derived from Greek ἀλκυών (from the same source as Alcyone).
Harriett
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: HAR-ee-it, HEHR-ee-it
Personal remark: Márturië / Bardhtûreth
Variant of Harriet.
Hillary
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: HIL-ə-ree
Personal remark: Laldië / Lalwegeth
Variant of Hilary. A famous bearer of the surname was Edmund Hillary (1919-2008), the first man to climb Mount Everest. It is borne by the American politician Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947-). The name dropped in popularity in 1993 after she became the first lady as the wife of Bill Clinton.
Ianthe
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Ἰάνθη(Ancient Greek)
Personal remark: Luicarnelótë / Luincaranlotheth
Means "violet flower", derived from Greek ἴον (ion) meaning "violet" and ἄνθος (anthos) meaning "flower". This was the name of an ocean nymph in Greek mythology.
Ida
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Italian, French, Polish, Finnish, Hungarian, Slovak, Slovene, Germanic [1]
Pronounced: IE-də(English) EE-da(German, Dutch, Italian, Polish) EE-dah(Swedish, Norwegian, Danish) EE-daw(Hungarian)
Personal remark: Mólië / Drabeth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Derived from the Germanic element id possibly meaning "work, labour" (Proto-Germanic *idiz). The Normans brought this name to England, though it eventually died out there in the Middle Ages. It was strongly revived in the 19th century, in part due to the heroine in Alfred Tennyson's poem The Princess (1847), which was later adapted into the play Princess Ida (1884) by Gilbert and Sullivan.

Though the etymology is unrelated, this is the name of a mountain on the island of Crete where, according to Greek myth, the god Zeus was born.

Idelle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: ie-DEHL, i-DEHL
Personal remark: Mólië / Drabeth
Elaboration of Ida.
Idony
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Archaic)
Personal remark: Melnanië / Meladeth
Medieval English vernacular form of Idonea.
Idril
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature
Personal remark: Itarillë
Means "sparkle brilliance" in the fictional language Sindarin. In the Silmarillion (1977) by J. R. R. Tolkien, Idril was the daughter of Turgon, the king of Gondolin. She escaped the destruction of that place with her husband Tuor and sailed with him into the west.
Ileana
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Romanian, Spanish, Italian
Pronounced: ee-LYA-na(Romanian) ee-leh-A-na(Spanish)
Personal remark: Nárrundië / Naurroneth
Possibly a Romanian variant of Elena. In Romanian folklore this is the name of a princess kidnapped by monsters and rescued by a heroic knight.
Ilsa
Gender: Feminine
Usage: German
Pronounced: IL-za
Personal remark: Eruvandanyië / Erubandeneth
Variant of Ilse.
Indigo
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: IN-di-go
Personal remark: Luinluicarnië / Luinluicaraneth
From the English word indigo for the purplish-blue dye or the colour. It is ultimately derived from Greek Ἰνδικόν (Indikon) meaning "Indic, from India".
Inés
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
Pronounced: ee-NEHS
Personal remark: Vénië / Gweneth
Spanish form of Agnes.
Inessa
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Russian, Ukrainian
Other Scripts: Инесса(Russian) Інесса(Ukrainian)
Pronounced: i-NEHS-sə(Russian)
Personal remark: Vénië / Gweneth
Russian and Ukrainian form of Inés.
Ingrid
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian, German, Dutch
Pronounced: ING-rid(Swedish) ING-ri(Norwegian) ING-grit(German) ING-greet(German) ING-ghrit(Dutch)
Personal remark: Vanontamië / Baingontoreth
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From the Old Norse name Ingríðr meaning "Ing is beautiful", derived from the name of the Germanic god Ing combined with fríðr "beautiful, beloved". A famous bearer was the Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982).
Io
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Ἰώ(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: EE-AW(Classical Greek) IE-o(English)
Personal remark: Isilië / Ithileth
Meaning unknown. In Greek mythology Io was a princess loved by Zeus, who changed her into a heifer in order to hide her from Hera. A moon of Jupiter bears this name in her honour.
Iola
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Personal remark: Luicarnelótë / Luincaranlotheth
Probably a variant of Iole.
Iolanthe
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Various (Rare)
Pronounced: ie-o-LAN-thee(English)
Probably a variant of Yolanda influenced by the Greek words ἰόλη (iole) meaning "violet" and ἄνθος (anthos) meaning "flower". This name was (first?) used by Gilbert and Sullivan in their comic opera Iolanthe (1882).
Iole
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Ἰόλη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: EE-O-LEH(Classical Greek) IE-ə-lee(English)
Means "violet" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was a woman beloved by Herakles.
Iona 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Scottish
Pronounced: ie-O-nə(English)
From the name of the island off Scotland where Saint Columba founded a monastery. The name of the island is Old Norse in origin, and apparently derives simply from ey meaning "island".
Ira 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Russian
Other Scripts: Ира(Russian)
Short form of Irina.
Irati
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque
Pronounced: ee-RA-tee
Means "fern field" in Basque.
Ireland
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: IER-lənd(American English) IE-ə-lənd(British English)
From the name of the European island country, derived from Irish Gaelic Éire, which may mean something like "abundant land" in Old Irish.
Irene
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, German, Dutch, Ancient Greek (Latinized), Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Other Scripts: Εἰρήνη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: ie-REEN(English) ie-REE-nee(English) ee-REH-neh(Italian, Spanish) EE-reh-neh(Finnish) ee-REH-nə(German, Dutch)
From Greek Εἰρήνη (Eirene), derived from a word meaning "peace". This was the name of the Greek goddess who personified peace, one of the Ὥραι (Horai). It was also borne by several early Christian saints. The name was common in the Byzantine Empire, notably being borne by an 8th-century empress, who was the first woman to lead the empire. She originally served as regent for her son, but later had him killed and ruled alone.

This name has traditionally been more popular among Eastern Christians. In the English-speaking world it was not regularly used until the 19th century.

Iria
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Portuguese, Galician
Pronounced: EE-ryu(Galician)
Possibly a Portuguese and Galician form of Irene. This was the name of a 7th-century saint (also known as Irene) from Tomar in Portugal. This is also the name of an ancient town in Galicia (now a district of Padrón).
Iris
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology, English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, French, Spanish, Catalan, Italian, Slovene, Croatian, Greek
Other Scripts: Ἶρις(Ancient Greek) Ίρις(Greek)
Pronounced: IE-ris(English) EE-ris(German, Dutch) EE-rees(Finnish, Spanish, Catalan, Italian) EE-REES(French)
Means "rainbow" in Greek. Iris was the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow, also serving as a messenger to the gods. This name can also be given in reference to the word (which derives from the same Greek source) for the iris flower or the coloured part of the eye.
Isabelle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French, English, German, Dutch, Swedish
Pronounced: EE-ZA-BEHL(French) IZ-ə-behl(English) ee-za-BEH-lə(German, Dutch)
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
French form of Isabel.
Ishani
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hindi
Other Scripts: इशानी(Hindi)
Means "ruling, possessing" in Sanskrit.
Isi
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Choctaw
Means "deer" in Choctaw.
Iside
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Egyptian Mythology (Italianized)
Pronounced: EE-zee-deh(Italian)
Italian form of Isis.
Isla
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Scottish, English
Pronounced: IE-lə
Variant of Islay, typically used as a feminine name. It also coincides with the Spanish word isla meaning "island".
Islay
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Scottish
Pronounced: IE-lə
From the name of the island of Islay, which lies off of the west coast of Scotland.
Isolde
Gender: Feminine
Usage: German, Arthurian Cycle
Pronounced: ee-ZAWL-də(German) i-SOL-də(English) i-ZOL-də(English) i-SOLD(English) i-ZOLD(English) EE-ZAWLD(French)
German form of Iseult, appearing in the 13th-century German poem Tristan by Gottfried von Strassburg. In 1865 the German composer Richard Wagner debuted his popular opera Tristan und Isolde and also used the name for his first daughter.
Iva 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Bulgarian, Croatian, Serbian
Other Scripts: Ива(Bulgarian, Serbian)
Means "willow tree" in South Slavic.
Ivette
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Catalan
Catalan form of Yvette.
Ivory
Gender: Feminine
Usage: African American
Pronounced: IE-və-ree(English) IEV-ree(English)
From the English word for the hard, creamy-white substance that comes from elephant tusks and was formerly used to produce piano keys.
Ivy
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: IE-vee
From the English word for the climbing plant that has small yellow flowers. It is ultimately derived from Old English ifig.
Jacinth
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: JAY-sinth, JAS-inth
From the English word for the orange precious stone, originating from the same source as Hyacinth.
Jade
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, French
Pronounced: JAYD(English) ZHAD(French)
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
From the name of the precious stone that is often used in carvings. It is derived from Spanish (piedra de la) ijada meaning "(stone of the) flank", relating to the belief that jade could cure renal colic. As a given name, it came into general use during the 1970s. It was initially unisex, though it is now mostly feminine.
Jae 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: JAY
Variant of Jay 1.
Janae
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: jə-NAY
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Elaborated form of Jane.
Janet
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: JAN-it
Medieval diminutive of Jane. This was a popular name throughout the English-speaking world in the 20th century, especially the 1930s to the 60s. Its popularity has since faded.
Jaslene
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: JAZ-leen
Combination of the popular phonetic elements jaz and lene. It was brought to some public attention in 2007 by Puerto Rican-born model Jaslene Gonzalez (1986-), the eighth winner of the reality television series America's Next Top Model.
Jasmin 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: German, Finnish, English
Pronounced: yas-MEEN(German) YAHS-meen(Finnish) JAZ-min(English)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
German and Finnish form of Jasmine, as well as an English variant.
Jaye
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: JAY
Variant or feminine form of Jay 1.
Jaylynn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: JAY-lən
An invented name, a combination of the popular phonetic elements jay and lyn.
Jeanette
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French, English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch
Pronounced: ZHA-NEHT(French) jə-NEHT(English) shah-NEHT(Swedish)
Variant of Jeannette.
Jemma
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (British)
Pronounced: JEHM-ə
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Gemma.
Jenae
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Diminutive of Jennifer.
Jenesis
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (American, Modern)
Pronounced: JEHN-ə-sis(American English)
Variant of Genesis.
Jenna
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Finnish, French
Pronounced: JEHN-ə(English) YEHN-nah(Finnish)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Jenny. Use of the name was popularized in the 1980s by the character Jenna Wade on the television series Dallas [1].
Jennifer
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Spanish
Pronounced: JEHN-i-fər(English) JEH-ni-fu(German) GYEH-nee-fehr(Spanish)
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (see Guinevere). This name has only been common outside of Cornwall since the beginning of the 20th century, after it was featured in George Bernard Shaw's play The Doctor's Dilemma (1906). It barely ranked in the United until the late 1930s, when it began steadily growing in popularity, accelerating into the early 1970s. It was the most popular name for girls in America between 1970 and 1984, though it was not as common in the United Kingdom.

Famous bearers include the American actresses Jennifer Aniston (1969-), Jennifer Garner (1972-) and Jennifer Lawrence (1990-), as well as the singer/actress Jennifer Lopez (1969-).

Jess
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: JEHS
Short form of Jesse or Jessica.
Jessamyn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: JEHS-ə-min
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Jessamine.
Jewel
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: JOO-əl, JOOL
In part from the English word jewel, a precious stone, derived from Old French jouel, which was possibly related to jeu "game". It is also in part from the surname Jewel or Jewell (a derivative of the Breton name Judicaël), which was sometimes used in honour of the 16th-century bishop of Salisbury John Jewel. It has been in use as a given name since the 19th century.
Jezebel
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Biblical
Other Scripts: אִיזֶבֶל(Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: JEHZ-ə-behl(English)
From Hebrew אִיזֶבֶל (ʾIzevel), probably from a Phoenician name, possibly containing the Semitic root zbl meaning "to exalt, to dwell". According to one theory it might be an altered form of the Phoenician name 𐤁𐤏𐤋𐤀𐤆𐤁𐤋 (Baʿlʾizbel) meaning "Ba'al exalts" with the first element removed or replaced [1].

According to the Old Testament Jezebel was the Phoenician wife of Ahab, a king of Israel. She is portrayed as an evil figure because she encouraged the worship of the god Ba'al. After she was thrown from a window to her death her body was eaten by dogs, fulfilling Elijah's prophecy.

Jia
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Chinese
Other Scripts: 佳, 家, etc.(Chinese)
Pronounced: CHYA
From Chinese (jiā) meaning "good, auspicious, beautiful", (jiā) meaning "home, family", or other characters that are pronounced similarly.
Jillian
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: JIL-ee-ən
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Gillian.
Jinny
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: JIN-ee
Diminutive of Virginia.
Jolene
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: jo-LEEN
Formed from Jo and the common name suffix lene. This name was created in the early 20th century. It received a boost in popularity after the release of Dolly Parton's 1973 song Jolene.
Jordyn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: JAWR-dən(American English) JAW-dən(British English)
Feminine variant of Jordan.
Joye
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: JOI
Variant of Joy.
Judith
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Jewish, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Spanish, French, Biblical
Other Scripts: יְהוּדִית(Hebrew)
Pronounced: JOO-dith(English) YOO-dit(German) YUY-dit(Dutch) khoo-DHEET(Spanish) ZHUY-DEET(French)
From the Hebrew name יְהוּדִית (Yehuḏiṯ) meaning "Jewish woman", feminine of יְהוּדִי (yehuḏi), ultimately referring to a person from the tribe of Judah. In the Old Testament Judith is one of the Hittite wives of Esau. This is also the name of the main character of the apocryphal Book of Judith. She killed Holofernes, an invading Assyrian commander, by beheading him in his sleep.

As an English name it did not become common until after the Protestant Reformation, despite a handful of early examples during the Middle Ages. It was however used earlier on the European continent, being borne by several European royals, such as the 9th-century Judith of Bavaria.

Juliet
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: joo-lee-EHT, JOOL-yət
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Anglicized form of Giulietta or Juliette. This spelling was used for the ill-fated lover of Romeo in the play Romeo and Juliet (1596) by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare based his story on earlier Italian tales such as Giulietta e Romeo (1524) by Luigi Da Porto.
Juniper
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: JOON-i-pər
From the English word for the type of tree, derived ultimately from Latin iuniperus.
Kadriye
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Turkish
Feminine form of Kadri 2.
Kae
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: KAY
Variant of Kay 1.
Kaede
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: , etc.(Japanese Kanji) かえで(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: KA-EH-DEH
From Japanese (kaede) meaning "maple" or other kanji that are pronounced the same way.
Kaelyn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: KAY-lin
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Kaylyn.
Kai 3
Gender: Masculine & Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Pronounced: KIE
Means "sea" in Hawaiian.
Kaia
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Norwegian, Estonian
Diminutive of Katarina or Katariina.
Kaidi
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Estonian
Short form of Katariina.
Kailani
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Pronounced: kie-LA-nee
From Hawaiian kai "ocean, sea" and lani "sky, heaven".
Kala 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Tamil
Other Scripts: கலா(Tamil)
Means "art form, virtue" in Sanskrit.
Kalani
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Pronounced: ka-LA-nee
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Means "the heavens" from Hawaiian ka "the" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".
Kalea
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Pronounced: ka-LEH-a
Means "joy, happiness" in Hawaiian.
Kalei
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Pronounced: ka-LAY
Rating: 90% based on 1 vote
Means "the flowers" or "the child" from Hawaiian ka "the" and lei "flowers, lei, child".
Kalena
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Pronounced: ka-LEH-na
Hawaiian form of Karen 1.
Kali 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hinduism, Bengali, Tamil
Other Scripts: काली(Sanskrit) কালী(Bengali) காளி(Tamil)
Pronounced: KAH-lee(English)
Means "the black one", derived from Sanskrit काल (kāla) meaning "black". The Hindu goddess Kali is the fierce destructive form of the wife of Shiva. According to stories in the Puranas, she springs from the forehead of Durga in order to defeat various demons. She is typically depicted with black skin and four arms, holding a severed head and brandishing a sword. As a personal name, it is generally masculine in India.
Kaliyah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: African American (Modern)
Pronounced: kə-LEE-ə(English)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
An invented name, based on the sound of Aaliyah.
Kallisto
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek [1]
Other Scripts: Καλλιστώ(Ancient Greek)
Derived from Greek κάλλιστος (kallistos) meaning "most beautiful", a derivative of καλός (kalos) meaning "beautiful". In Greek mythology Kallisto was a nymph who was loved by Zeus. She was changed into a she-bear by Hera, and subsequently became the Great Bear constellation. This was also an ancient Greek personal name.
Kallistrate
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Ancient Greek [1]
Other Scripts: Καλλιστράτη(Ancient Greek)
Means "beautiful army" from the Greek elements κάλλος (kallos) meaning "beauty" and στρατός (stratos) meaning "army".
Kalyn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: KAY-lin
Rating: 90% based on 1 vote
Variant of Kaylyn.
Kalyna
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Ukrainian (Rare)
Other Scripts: Калина(Ukrainian)
Pronounced: ku-LI-nu
From the Ukrainian word for a type of shrub, also called the guelder rose (species Viburnum opulus).
Kalypso
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Καλυψώ(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: KA-LUYP-SAW(Classical Greek)
Greek form of Calypso.
Kalysta
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: kə-LIS-tə
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Calista.
Kamari
Gender: Feminine
Usage: African American (Modern)
Pronounced: kə-MAHR-ee(English)
Combination of the sounds found in names such as Jamari, Amari and Kamaria.
Kamiyah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: African American (Modern)
Pronounced: kə-MIE-ə(English)
An invented name, blending the popular phonetic prefix ka and Maya 2.
Kanako
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 加奈子, 香菜子, 香奈子, etc.(Japanese Kanji) かなこ(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: KA-NA-KO
From Japanese (ka) meaning "increase" or (ka) meaning "fragrance" combined with (na), a phonetic character, or (na) meaning "vegetables, greens" and finished with (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations can form this name as well.
Kanti
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hindi, Bengali, Hinduism
Other Scripts: कान्ति, कान्ती(Hindi) কান্তি(Bengali) कान्ति(Sanskrit)
Means "beauty" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
Kanya
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Thai
Other Scripts: กัญญา(Thai)
Pronounced: kan-YA
Means "young woman" in Thai.
Kaori
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 香, 香織, etc.(Japanese Kanji) かおり(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: KA-O-REE
From Japanese (kaori) meaning "fragrance". It can also come from an alternate reading of (ka) combined with (ori) meaning "weaving". Other kanji combinations are possible. It is often written using the hiragana writing system.
Kari 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Norwegian
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Norwegian short form of Katarina.
Karissa
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: kə-RIS-ə
Rating: 80% based on 1 vote
Variant of Charissa.
Karme
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Κάρμη(Ancient Greek)
Greek form of Carme 2.
Kashi
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hindi
Other Scripts: काशी(Hindi)
From the name of a holy city in India, famous for its many temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Its name is derived from Sanskrit काशि (kāśi) meaning "shining".
Kassidy
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: KAS-i-dee
Variant of Cassidy.
Kasumi
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 霞, 花澄, etc.(Japanese Kanji) かすみ(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: KA-SOO-MEE
From Japanese (kasumi) meaning "mist". It can also come from (ka) meaning "flower, blossom" combined with (sumi) meaning "clear, pure". Other kanji combinations are also possible.
Katalin
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hungarian, Basque
Pronounced: KAW-taw-leen(Hungarian) ka-TA-leen(Basque)
Hungarian and Basque form of Katherine.
Katar
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Armenian
Other Scripts: Կատար(Armenian)
Pronounced: kah-TAHR(Eastern Armenian) gah-DAHR(Western Armenian)
Means "summit, crest" in Armenian.
Kate
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Croatian
Pronounced: KAYT(English)
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
Short form of Katherine, often used independently. It is short for Katherina in Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew (1593). It has been used in England since the Middle Ages. A famous bearer is the British actress Kate Winslet (1975-).
Katell
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Breton
Breton form of Katherine.
Kateri
Gender: Feminine
Usage: History
From the Mohawk pronunciation of Katherine. This was the name adopted by the 17th-century Mohawk saint Tekakwitha upon her baptism.
Kathleen
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish, English
Pronounced: kath-LEEN(English)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Anglicized form of Caitlín.
Kati
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Finnish, Estonian, Hungarian
Pronounced: KAH-tee(Finnish) KAW-tee(Hungarian)
Finnish and Estonian diminutive of Katariina and a Hungarian diminutive of Katalin.
Katniss
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature
Pronounced: KAT-nis(English)
From the English word katniss, the name of a variety of edible aquatic flowering plants (genus Sagittaria). Katniss Everdeen is the protagonist of The Hunger Games series of novels by Suzanne Collins, released 2008 to 2010, about a young woman forced to participate in a violent televised battle.
Kaulana
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Pronounced: kow-LA-na
Means "famous" in Hawaiian.
Kaveri
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hindi
Other Scripts: कावेरी(Hindi)
From the name of the Kaveri River in southern India.
Kavita
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hindi, Marathi
Other Scripts: कविता(Hindi, Marathi)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From Sanskrit कविता (kavitā) meaning "poem".
Kay 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: KAY
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Short form of Katherine and other names beginning with K.
Kaya 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: KIE-ə
Possibly from the Scandinavian name Kaia, or simply an invented name based on the sounds found in other names such as Maya.
Kazue
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 和枝, 一恵, 一枝, etc.(Japanese Kanji) かずえ(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: KA-ZOO-EH
From Japanese (kazu) meaning "harmony, peace" or (kazu) meaning "one" combined with (e) meaning "branch" or (e) meaning "favour, benefit". Other combinations of kanji characters can potentially form this name.
Keala
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Means "the path" from Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and ala "path".
Kei
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 慧, 圭, 慶, 恵, etc.(Japanese Kanji) けい(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: KEH
From Japanese (kei) meaning "intelligent", (kei) meaning "gemstone" or (kei) meaning "celebration". This name can also be formed from other kanji or kanji combinations.
Keiko
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 慶子, 敬子, 啓子, 恵子, etc.(Japanese Kanji) けいこ(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: KEH-KO
From Japanese (kei) meaning "celebration", (kei) meaning "respect", (kei) meaning "open, begin" or (kei) meaning "favour, benefit" combined with (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Kelda
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Possibly derived from Old Norse kildr meaning "a spring".
Kelsey
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: KEHL-see
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From an English surname that is derived from town names in Lincolnshire. It may mean "Cenel's island", from the Old English name Cenel "fierce" in combination with eg "island".
Kennedy
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Irish
Pronounced: KEHN-ə-dee(English)
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Ó Cinnéidigh, itself derived from the given name Cennétig. The name has sometimes been given in honour of assassinated American president John F. Kennedy (1917-1963). It was popularized as a name for girls by Lisa Kennedy Montgomery (1972-), known simply as Kennedy, the host of the television program Alternative Nation on MTV from 1992 to 1997.
Kenya
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, African American
Pronounced: KEHN-yə(English)
From the name of the African country. The country is named for Mount Kenya, which in the Kikuyu language is called Kĩrĩnyaga meaning "the one having stripes". It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the 1960s.
Keone
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Pronounced: keh-O-neh
Means "the homeland" from Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and one "sand, homeland".
Kerensa
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Cornish
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Means "love" in Cornish.
Keri
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: KEHR-ee
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Feminine variant of Kerry.
Kerime
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Turkish
Turkish feminine form of Karim.
Kestrel
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: KEHS-trəl
From the name of the bird of prey, ultimately derived from Old French crecelle "rattle", which refers to the sound of its cry.
Keturah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Biblical
Other Scripts: קְטוּרָה(Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: kə-TOO-rə(English)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From the Hebrew name קְטוּרָה (Qeṭura) meaning "incense". In the Old Testament she is Abraham's wife after Sarah dies.
Keysha
Gender: Feminine
Usage: African American
Variant of Keisha.
Kiara
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: kee-AHR-ə
Variant of Ciara 1 or Chiara. This name was brought to public attention in 1988 after the singing duo Kiara released their song This Time. It was further popularized by a character in the animated movie The Lion King II (1998).
Kielo
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Finnish
Pronounced: KEE-lo
Means "lily of the valley" in Finnish (species Convallaria majalis).
Kitty
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: KIT-ee
Diminutive of Katherine.
Kleio
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology, Greek
Other Scripts: Κλειώ(Greek)
Pronounced: KLEH-AW(Classical Greek)
Derived from Greek κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". In Greek mythology she was the goddess of history and heroic poetry, one of the nine Muses. She was said to have introduced the alphabet to Greece.
Kleopatra
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Ancient Greek [1]
Other Scripts: Κλεοπάτρα(Ancient Greek)
Greek form of Cleopatra.
Klio
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek
Other Scripts: Κλειώ(Greek)
Modern Greek transcription of Kleio.
Kore
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Κόρη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: KO-REH(Classical Greek)
Means "maiden" in Greek. This was another name for the Greek goddess Persephone.
Koronis
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Κορωνίς(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: KO-RAW-NEES(Classical Greek)
Derived from Greek κορώνη (korone) meaning "crow". This was the name of several figures from Greek mythology, including the mother of the god Asklepios.
Kybele
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Near Eastern Mythology (Hellenized)
Other Scripts: Κυβέλη(Ancient Greek)
Ancient Greek form of Cybele.
Kyra
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: KEER-ə, KIE-rə
Variant of Kira 2, sometimes considered a feminine form of Cyrus.
Kyriake
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek
Other Scripts: Κυριακή(Greek)
Alternate transcription of Greek Κυριακή (see Kyriaki).
Kyveli
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek
Other Scripts: Κυβέλη(Greek)
Pronounced: kyee-VEH-lee
Modern Greek form of Cybele.
Lake
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: LAYK
From the English word lake, for the inland body of water. It is ultimately derived from Latin lacus.
Lark
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: LAHRK
From the English word for the type of songbird.
Laurel
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: LAWR-əl
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From the name of the laurel tree, ultimately from Latin laurus.
Lavanya
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hindi, Telugu, Tamil
Other Scripts: लावण्या(Hindi) లావణ్యా(Telugu) லாவண்யா(Tamil)
From Sanskrit लावण्य (lāvaṇya) meaning "beauty, loveliness, charm".
Leah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Hebrew, Biblical
Other Scripts: לֵאָה(Hebrew)
Pronounced: LEE-ə(English)
Rating: 80% based on 1 vote
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.

Lei 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Pronounced: LAY
Means "flowers, lei, child" in Hawaiian.
Leilani
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hawaiian
Pronounced: lay-LA-nee
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Means "heavenly flowers" or "royal child" from Hawaiian lei "flowers, lei, child" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".
Leire
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque, Spanish
Pronounced: LAY-reh
Basque form and Spanish variant of Leyre.
Leith
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: LEETH
From a surname, originally from the name of a Scottish town (now a district of Edinburgh), which is derived from Gaelic lìte "wet, damp". It is also the name of the river that flows though Edinburgh.
Lena
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Dutch, Polish, Finnish, Russian, Ukrainian, English, Italian, Portuguese, Greek, Georgian, Armenian
Other Scripts: Лена(Russian, Ukrainian) Λένα(Greek) ლენა(Georgian) Լենա(Armenian)
Pronounced: LEH-na(Swedish, German, Dutch, Polish, Italian) LYEH-nə(Russian) LEE-nə(English) LEH-NA(Georgian) leh-NAH(Armenian)
Short form of names ending in lena, such as Helena, Magdalena or Yelena. It is often used independently.
Lenore
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: lə-NAWR
Short form of Eleanor. This is the name of the departed love of the narrator in Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven (1845).
Lera
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Russian, Ukrainian
Other Scripts: Лера(Russian, Ukrainian)
Short form of Valeriya.
Leta
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Possibly derived from Latin laetus meaning "glad". Otherwise, it could be a short form of names ending in leta.
Leto
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Λητώ(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: LEH-TAW(Classical Greek) LEE-to(English)
Possibly from Lycian lada meaning "wife". Other theories connect it to Greek λήθω (letho) meaning "hidden, forgotten". In Greek mythology she was the mother of Apollo and Artemis by Zeus.
Levana 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Roman Mythology
Pronounced: leh-WA-na(Latin)
From Latin levare meaning "to raise, to lift". This was the name of a Roman goddess associated with newborn babies and the rituals of childbirth.
Leyre
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
Pronounced: LAY-reh
From the name of a mountain in Navarre in northern Spain, the site of the old monastery of San Salvador of Leyre. It is from Basque Leire, possibly derived from Latin legionarius meaning "pertaining to a legion".
Líadan
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish (Rare)
Pronounced: LYEE-dən
Possibly from Old Irish líath meaning "grey". According to an Irish tale this was the name of a poet who became a nun, but then missed her lover Cuirithir so much that she died of grief. The name was also borne by a 5th-century saint, the mother of Saint Ciarán the Elder.
Lian 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Chinese
Other Scripts: 莲, 濂, 廉, etc.(Chinese) 蓮, 濂, 廉, etc.(Traditional Chinese)
Pronounced: LYEHN
From Chinese (lián) meaning "lotus, water lily", (lián) meaning "waterfall", or other Chinese characters that are pronounced similarly.
Liana
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, English, Georgian
Other Scripts: ლიანა(Georgian)
Pronounced: LYA-na(Italian)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Short form of Juliana, Liliana and other names that end in liana. This is also the word for a type of vine that grows in jungles.
Lilac
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: LIE-lək
From the English word for the shrub with purple or white flowers (genus Syringa). It is derived via Arabic from Persian.
Lilavati
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Sanskrit
Other Scripts: लीलावती(Sanskrit)
Means "amusing, charming, graceful" in Sanskrit. The 12th-century mathematician Bhaskara gave this name to one of his books on mathematics, possibly after his daughter. This was also the name of a 13th-century queen of Sri Lanka.
Lilia
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish, Italian, Russian, Ukrainian
Other Scripts: Лилия(Russian) Лілія(Ukrainian)
Pronounced: LEE-lya(Spanish) LYEE-lyi-yə(Russian)
Spanish and Italian form of Lily, as well as an alternate transcription of Russian Лилия or Ukrainian Лілія (see Liliya).
Lilibet
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Diminutive of Elizabeth.
Lilith
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Semitic Mythology, Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend
Other Scripts: לילית(Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: LIL-ith(English)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
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.
Lillian
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: LIL-ee-ən
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Probably originally a diminutive of Elizabeth. It may also be considered an elaborated form of Lily, from the Latin word for "lily" lilium. This name has been used in England since the 16th century.
Linette
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, French
Pronounced: li-NEHT(English)
Variant of Lynette.
Linnéa
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Swedish
Pronounced: lin-NEH-a
From the name of a flower, also known as the twinflower. The Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus named it after himself, it being his favourite flower.
Lois 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek [1]
Other Scripts: Λωΐς(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: LO-is(English)
Possibly derived from Greek λωίων (loion) meaning "more desirable" or "better". Lois is mentioned in the New Testament as the mother of Eunice and the grandmother of Timothy. As an English name, it came into use after the Protestant Reformation. In fiction, this is the name of the girlfriend of the comic book hero Superman.
Londyn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: LUN-dən
Variant of London.
Lone
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Danish
Pronounced: LO-neh
Short form of Abelone.
Lore 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque
Pronounced: lo-REH
Means "flower" in Basque.
Lorea
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque
Pronounced: lo-REH-a
Variant of Lore 2.
Lorelei
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature, English
Pronounced: LAWR-ə-lie(English)
Rating: 90% based on 1 vote
From German Loreley, the name of a rock headland on the Rhine River. It is of uncertain meaning, though the second element is probably old German ley meaning "rock" (of Celtic origin). German romantic poets and songwriters, beginning with Clemens Brentano in 1801, tell that a maiden named the Lorelei lives on the rock and lures boaters to their death with her song.

In the English-speaking world this name has been occasionally given since the early 20th century. It started rising in America after the variant Lorelai was used for the main character (and her daughter, nicknamed Rory) on the television series Gilmore Girls (2000-2007).

Lotus
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: LO-təs
From the name of the lotus flower (species Nelumbo nucifera) or the mythological lotus tree. They are ultimately derived from Greek λωτός (lotos). In Greek and Roman mythology the lotus tree was said to produce a fruit causing sleepiness and forgetfulness.
Lova
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Swedish
Pronounced: LOO-va
Short form of Lovisa.
Lovise
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Norwegian
Norwegian feminine form of Louis.
Luca 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hungarian
Pronounced: LOO-tsaw
Hungarian form of Lucia.
Lucrèce
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: LUY-KREHS
French form of both Lucretia and its masculine form Lucretius.
Lumi
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Finnish
Pronounced: LOO-mee
Means "snow" in Finnish.
Luna
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Roman Mythology, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, English
Pronounced: LOO-na(Latin, Spanish, Italian) LOO-nə(English)
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.
Lunete
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Arthurian Cycle
Form of Eluned used by the 12th-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes in his poem Yvain, the Knight of the Lion. In the poem she is a servant of the Lady of the Fountain who aids the knight Yvain.
Lyda
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Perhaps a variant of Lydia.
Lydia
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, German, Dutch, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek [1]
Other Scripts: Λυδία(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: LID-ee-ə(English) LUY-dya(German) LEE-dee-ya(Dutch)
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
Means "from Lydia" in Greek. Lydia was a region on the west coast of Asia Minor, said to be named for the legendary king Lydos. In the New Testament this is the name of a woman converted to Christianity by Saint Paul. In the modern era the name has been in use since the Protestant Reformation.
Lynette
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Arthurian Cycle
Pronounced: li-NEHT(English)
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.
Lyra
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Astronomy
Pronounced: LIE-rə(English)
The name of the constellation in the northern sky containing the star Vega. It is said to be shaped after the lyre of Orpheus. This is the name of the main character in the His Dark Materials series of books by Philip Pullman (beginning 1995).
Lyric
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: LIR-ik
Means simply "lyric, songlike" from the English word, ultimately derived from Greek λυρικός (lyrikos).
Lys
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French (Rare)
Pronounced: LEES
Diminutive of Élisabeth. It is also the French word for "lily".
Lysette
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Variant of Lisette.
Lyssa 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Λύσσα(Ancient Greek)
Means "rage, fury, anger" in Greek. In Greek mythology Lyssa is a goddess associated with uncontrolled rage.
Mae
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: MAY
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of May. A famous bearer was the American actress Mae West (1893-1980), whose birth name was Mary.
Maeleth
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Other Scripts: Μαελέθ(Ancient Greek)
Form of Mahalath used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament.
Maëlys
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: MA-EH-LEES
Feminine form of Maël, possibly influenced by the spelling of Mailys.
Maeve
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish, English, Irish Mythology
Pronounced: MAYV(English)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Anglicized form of the Irish name Medb meaning "intoxicating". In Irish legend this was the name of a warrior queen of Connacht. She and her husband Ailill fought against the Ulster king Conchobar and the hero Cúchulainn, as told in the Irish epic The Cattle Raid of Cooley.
Mai 4
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Arabic
Other Scripts: مي(Arabic)
Pronounced: MIE
Means "water" in Arabic, a dialectal variant of ماء (māʾ) [1].
Maialen
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque
Pronounced: MIE-a-lehn, mie-A-lehn
Basque form of Magdalene.
Mailys
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: MAY-LEES, MA-EE-LEES
Variant of Maylis.
Maire
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Finnish, Estonian
Pronounced: MIE-reh(Finnish)
Derived from Finnish mairea meaning "gushing, sugary".
Mairwen
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh
Combination of Mair and Welsh gwen meaning "white, blessed".
Maite 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
Pronounced: MIE-teh
Combination of María and Teresa.
Maïwenn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French, Breton
Pronounced: MIE-WEHN(French)
Form of Maiwenn using French orthography.
Mallory
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: MAL-ə-ree
From an English surname that meant "unfortunate" in Norman French. It first became common in the 1980s due to the American sitcom Family Ties (1982-1989), which featured a character by this name.
Maple
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: MAY-pəl
From the English word for the tree (comprising the genus Acer), derived from Old English mapul. This is the name of a girl in Robert Frost's poem Maple (1923) who wonders about the origin of her unusual name.
Mari 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 真理, 真里, etc.(Japanese Kanji) まり(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: MA-REE
From Japanese (ma) meaning "real, genuine" combined with (ri) meaning "reason, logic" or (ri) meaning "village". Many other combinations of kanji characters can form this name.
Mariah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: mə-RIE-ə
Rating: 90% based on 1 vote
Variant of Maria. It is usually pronounced in a way that reflects an older English pronunciation of Maria. The name was popularized in the early 1990s by the American singer Mariah Carey (1970-).
Marian 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: MEHR-ee-ən, MAR-ee-ən
Variant of Marion 1. This name was borne in English legend by Maid Marian, Robin Hood's love. It is sometimes considered a combination of Mary and Ann.

This name spiked in popularity in several places around the world in 1954 after Pope Pius declared it to be a Marian year, in honour of the Virgin Mary. A similar declaration in 1987 did not have as marked an effect.

Mariel
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish (Latin American), Spanish (Philippines), English (American)
Pronounced: ma-RYEHL(Spanish) MEHR-ee-əl(American English) MAR-ee-əl(American English)
Diminutive of Maria. In the case of the American actress Mariel Hemingway (1961-), the name was inspired by the Cuban town of Mariel.
Mariko
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 真里子, etc.(Japanese Kanji) まりこ(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: MA-REE-KO
From Japanese (ma) meaning "real, genuine", (ri) meaning "village" and (ko) meaning "child". Many different combinations of kanji characters can form this name.
Marilène
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: MA-REE-LEHN
Combination of Marie and Hélène.
May
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: MAY
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Derived from the name of the month of May, which derives from Maia, the name of a Roman goddess. May is also another name of the hawthorn flower. It is also used as a diminutive of Mary, Margaret or Mabel.
Maylis
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: MAY-LEES, MA-EE-LEES
From the name of a town in southern France, said to derive from Occitan mair "mother" and French lys "lily". It is also sometimes considered a combination of Marie and lys.
Meade
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: MEED
From an English surname that indicated one who lived on a meadow (from Middle English mede) or one who sold or made mead (an alcoholic drink made from fermented honey; from Old English meodu).
Medea
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized), Georgian
Other Scripts: Μήδεια(Ancient Greek) მედეა(Georgian)
Pronounced: mə-DEE-ə(English) MEH-DEH-AH(Georgian)
From Greek Μήδεια (Medeia), derived from μήδεα (medea) meaning "plans, counsel, cunning". In Greek mythology Medea was a sorceress from Colchis (modern Georgia) who helped Jason gain the Golden Fleece. They were married, but eventually Jason left her for another woman. For revenge Medea slew Jason's new lover and also had her own children by Jason killed.
Mei 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Chinese
Other Scripts: 美, 梅, etc.(Chinese)
Pronounced: MAY
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From Chinese (měi) meaning "beautiful" or (méi) meaning "Chinese plum" (species Prunus mume), as well as other characters that are pronounced similarly.
Melati
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Indonesian, Malay
Pronounced: mə-LA-tee(Indonesian)
Means "jasmine flower" in Malay and Indonesian, ultimately from Sanskrit मालती (mālatī).
Melete
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Μελέτη(Ancient Greek)
Means "practice, exercise" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was one of the original three muses, the muse of meditation.
Melody
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: MEHL-ə-dee
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From the English word melody, which is derived (via Old French and Late Latin) from Greek μέλος (melos) meaning "song" combined with ἀείδω (aeido) meaning "to sing".
Meredith
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh, English
Pronounced: MEHR-ə-dith(English)
Rating: 95% based on 2 votes
From the Welsh name Maredudd or Meredydd, from Old Welsh forms such as Margetud, possibly from mawredd "greatness, magnificence" combined with iudd "lord". The Welsh forms of this name were well used through the Middle Ages. Since the mid-1920s it has been used more often for girls than for boys in English-speaking countries, though it is still a masculine name in Wales. A famous bearer of this name as surname was the English novelist and poet George Meredith (1828-1909).
Michele 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: mi-SHEHL
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Michelle.
Millaray
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Mapuche
Means "golden flower" in Mapuche, from milla "gold" and rayen "flower".
Miracle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: MIR-ə-kəl
From the English word miracle for an extraordinary event, ultimately deriving from Latin miraculum "wonder, marvel".
Naenia
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Roman Mythology
Means "incantation, dirge" in Latin. This was the name of the Roman goddess of funerals.
Naida
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Dagestani
Other Scripts: Наида(Russian)
Meaning uncertain, possibly derived from Greek Ναϊάς (Naias), a type of water nymph in Greek mythology (plural Ναϊάδες). Alternatively it might be related to Persian Nahid.
Naomi 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Hebrew, Biblical
Other Scripts: נָעֳמִי(Hebrew)
Pronounced: nay-O-mee(English) nie-O-mee(English)
Rating: 100% based on 2 votes
From the Hebrew name נָעֳמִי (Naʿomi) meaning "my pleasantness", a derivative of נָעַם (naʿam) meaning "to be pleasant". In the Old Testament this is the name of the mother-in-law of Ruth. After the death of her husband and sons, she returned to Bethlehem with Ruth. There she declared that her name should be Mara because of her misfortune (see Ruth 1:20).

Though long common as a Jewish name, Naomi was not typically used as an English Christian name until after the Protestant Reformation. A notable bearer is the British model Naomi Campbell (1970-).

Nerea
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Basque, Spanish
Pronounced: neh-REH-a
Possibly from Basque nere, a dialectal variant of nire meaning "mine". Alternatively, it could be a feminine form of Nereus. This name arose in Basque-speaking regions of Spain in the first half of the 20th century, though it is now popular throughout the country.
Nerissa
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature
Pronounced: nə-RIS-ə(English)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Created by Shakespeare for a character in his play The Merchant of Venice (1596). He possibly took it from Greek Νηρηΐς (Nereis) meaning "nymph, sea sprite", ultimately derived from the name of the Greek sea god Nereus, who supposedly fathered them.
Nerys
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh
Probably a feminized form of Welsh nêr meaning "lord".
Nessa 2
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Hebrew (Rare)
Means "miracle" in Hebrew.
Nevaeh
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: nə-VAY-ə
Rating: 0% based on 1 vote
The word heaven spelled backwards. It became popular after the musician Sonny Sandoval from the rock group P.O.D. gave it to his daughter in 2000. Over the next few years it rapidly climbed the rankings in America, peaking at the 25th rank for girls in 2010.
Niamh
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Irish, Irish Mythology
Pronounced: NYEEW(Irish) NYEEV(Irish)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Means "bright" in Irish. She was the daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir in Irish legends. She fell in love with the poet Oisín, the son of Fionn mac Cumhaill. It has been used as a given name for people only since the early 20th century.
Nika 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Russian
Other Scripts: Ника(Russian)
Russian short form of Veronika and other names ending in nika. It can also be a short form of Nikita 1 (masculine).
Nimue
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Arthurian Cycle
Pronounced: NIM-ə-way(English)
Meaning unknown. In Arthurian legends this is the name of a sorceress, also known as the Lady of the Lake, Vivien, or Niniane. Various versions of the tales have Merlin falling in love with her and becoming imprisoned by her magic. She first appears in the medieval French Lancelot-Grail Cycle.
Ninel
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Russian
Other Scripts: Нинель(Russian)
Pronounced: nyi-NEHL
Reversal of the surname Lenin. Lenin was the founder of the former Soviet state. This name was created by communist parents who were eager to reject traditional names.
Niobe
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Νιόβη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: NEE-O-BEH(Classical Greek) NIE-o-bee(English)
Meaning unknown. In Greek mythology Niobe was the daughter of Tantalos, a king of Asia Minor. Because she boasted that she was superior to Leto, Leto's children Apollo and Artemis killed her 14 children with poison arrows. In grief, Niobe was turned to stone by Zeus.
Noëlle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French, Dutch
Pronounced: NAW-EHL(French)
Feminine form of Noël.
Nova
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Swedish (Modern), Dutch (Modern)
Pronounced: NO-və(English) NO-va(Swedish, Dutch)
Derived from Latin novus meaning "new". It was first used as a name in the 19th century.
Nubia
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish (Latin American)
Pronounced: NOO-bya
From the name of the ancient region and kingdom in Africa, south of Egypt. It possibly derives from the Egyptian word nbw meaning "gold".
Nymphe
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Ancient Greek [1]
Other Scripts: Νύμφη(Ancient Greek)
Means "bride, nymph" in Greek.
Nyssa
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Various (Rare)
From the name of an ancient town of Asia Minor where Saint Gregory was bishop in the 4th century. Nyssa is also the genus name of a type of tree, also called the Tupelo.
Nyx
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Νύξ(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: NUYKS(Classical Greek) NIKS(English)
Means "night" in Greek. This was the name of the Greek goddess of the night, the daughter of Khaos and the wife of Erebos.
Ocean
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: O-shən
Simply from the English word ocean for a large body of water. It is ultimately derived from Greek Ὠκεανός (Okeanos), the name of the body of water thought to surround the Earth.
Onyx
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: AHN-iks
From the English word for the gemstone (a variety of chalcedony), which can be black, red or other colours. It is derived from Greek ὄνυξ (onyx) meaning "claw, nail".
Padmé
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Popular Culture
Pronounced: PAD-meh, pad-MAY
Possibly derived from Padma, meaning "lotus" in Sanskrit. Padmé Amidala is a fictional character in the 'Star Wars' saga, created by George Lucas.
Pearle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: PURL
Variant of Pearl.
Persephone
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Περσεφόνη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: PEHR-SEH-PO-NEH(Classical Greek) pər-SEHF-ə-nee(English)
Rating: 70% based on 1 vote
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.
Phoenix
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: FEE-niks
From the name of a beautiful immortal bird that appears in Egyptian and Greek mythology. After living for several centuries in the Arabian Desert, it would be consumed by fire and rise from its own ashes, with this cycle repeating every 500 years. The name of the bird was derived from Greek φοῖνιξ (phoinix) meaning "dark red".
Psyche
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Ψυχή(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: PSUY-KEH(Classical Greek) SIE-kee(English)
Means "the soul", derived from Greek ψύχω (psycho) meaning "to breathe". The Greeks thought that the breath was the soul. In Greek mythology Psyche was a beautiful maiden who was beloved by Eros (or Cupid in Roman mythology). She is the subject of Keats's poem Ode to Psyche (1819).
Rachele
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Italian
Pronounced: ra-KEH-leh
Rating: 50% based on 1 vote
Italian form of Rachel.
Rae
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: RAY
Short form of Rachel. It can also be used as a feminine form of Ray.
Rain 1
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: RAYN
Simply from the English word rain, derived from Old English regn.
Raya
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Bulgarian, Russian
Other Scripts: Рая(Bulgarian, Russian)
Diminutive of Rayna 1 or Raisa 1.
Rebeccah
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: rə-BEHK-ə
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Rebecca.
Rei
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 鈴, 麗, 玲, etc.(Japanese Kanji) れい(Japanese Hiragana)
Pronounced: REH
From Japanese (rei) meaning "bell", (rei) meaning "beautiful, lovely" or (rei) meaning "the tinkling of jade". This name can also be formed by other kanji with the same pronunciation.
Renée
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French, Dutch
Pronounced: RU-NEH(French) rə-NEH(Dutch) reh-NEH(Dutch)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
French feminine form of René.
Reverie
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: REHV-ə-ree
From the English word meaning "daydream, fanciful musing", derived from Old French resverie, itself from resver meaning "to dream, to rave".
Rhea
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology
Other Scripts: Ῥέα(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: REH-A(Classical Greek) REE-ə(English) REH-a(Latin)
Meaning unknown, perhaps related to ῥέω (rheo) meaning "to flow" or ἔρα (era) meaning "ground". In Greek mythology Rhea was a Titan, the wife of Cronus, and the mother of the Olympian gods Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter and Hestia. Also, in Roman mythology a woman named Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome.
Rhiannon
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh, English, Welsh Mythology
Pronounced: ri-AN-awn(Welsh) ree-AN-ən(English)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Probably derived from an unattested Celtic name *Rīgantonā meaning "great queen" (Celtic *rīganī "queen" and the divine or augmentative suffix -on). It is speculated that Rigantona was an old Celtic goddess, perhaps associated with fertility and horses like the Gaulish Epona. As Rhiannon, she appears in Welsh legend in the Mabinogi [1] as a beautiful magical woman who rides a white horse. She was betrothed against her will to Gwawl, but cunningly broke off that engagement and married Pwyll instead. Their son was Pryderi.

As an English name, it became popular due to the Fleetwood Mac song Rhiannon (1976), especially in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Ro
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
Diminutive of Rocío and Rodrigo.
Romilly
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (British, Rare)
Rating: 80% based on 1 vote
From an English surname that was derived from the name of various Norman towns, themselves from the given name Romilius.
Tamsin
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (British)
Pronounced: TAM-zin
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Contracted form of Thomasina. It was traditionally used in Cornwall.
Violette
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: VYAW-LEHT
French form of Violet.
Xanthe
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek [1]
Other Scripts: Ξάνθη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: KSAN-TEH(Classical Greek)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Derived from Greek ξανθός (xanthos) meaning "yellow, blond, fair-haired". This was the name of a few minor figures in Greek mythology.
Zoë
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Dutch, English
Pronounced: ZO-veh(Dutch) ZO-ee(English)
Rating: 90% based on 1 vote
Dutch form and English variant of Zoe.
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