Names Deemed "refined"

This is a list of names in which the community's impression is refined.
gender
usage
impression
Tomislav m Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian, Bulgarian
Probably derived from the Slavic element tomiti "to torment" combined with slava "glory". This was the name of the first king of Croatia (10th century).
Tomoko f Japanese
From Japanese (tomo) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or (tomo) meaning "friend" combined with (ko) meaning "child". This name can be formed of other kanji characters as well.
Tomomi f & m Japanese
From Japanese (tomo) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or (tomo) meaning "friend" combined with (mi) meaning "beautiful" or (mi) meaning "fruit, good result, truth". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Tomyris f History
Hellenized form of a Scythian name, possibly from an Iranian root meaning "family". This was the name of a 6th-century BC queen of the Massagetae (a Scythian people) who defeated Cyrus the Great during his invasion of Central Asia.
Tonje f Norwegian
Variant of Torny.
Topʉsana f Comanche
Means "prairie flower" in Comanche.
Tōru m Japanese
From Japanese (tōru) meaning "pierce, penetrate", as well as other kanji or kanji combinations with the same pronunciation.
Toshiko f Japanese
From Japanese (toshi) meaning "quick, clever, sharp" and (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji characters can also form this name.
Toussaint m French
Means "all saints" in French. This is the name of a Christian festival celebrated on November 1 (All Saints' Day).
Tova 1 f Hebrew
Means "good" in Hebrew.
Tova 2 f Swedish
Swedish variant of Tove.
Treasa f Irish
Possibly from Irish treise meaning "strength" or treas meaning "battle". It is also used as an Irish form of Theresa.
Tricia f English
Short form of Patricia.
Trinity f English
From the English word Trinity, given in honour of the Christian belief that God has one essence, but three distinct expressions of being: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It has only been in use as a given name since the 20th century.
Truman m English
From a surname that meant "trusty man" in Middle English. A famous bearer of the surname was American president Harry S. Truman (1884-1972). It was also borne by American writer Truman Capote (1924-1984).
Tryphena f Biblical
From the Greek name Τρύφαινα (Tryphaina), derived from Greek τρυφή (tryphe) meaning "softness, delicacy". This name is mentioned briefly in the New Testament.
Tsholofelo f Tswana
Means "hope, expectation" in Tswana.
Tsisia f Georgian
Derived from Georgian ცის (tsis) meaning "of the sky", the genitive case of ცა (tsa) meaning "sky, heaven".
Tsiuri f Georgian
Means "heavenly, celestial" in Georgian, a derivative of ცა (tsa) meaning "sky, heaven".
Tsubaki f Japanese
From Japanese 椿 (tsubaki) meaning "camellia (flower)", as well as other combinations of kanji that are pronounced the same way.
Tsubasa m & f Japanese
From Japanese (tsubasa) meaning "wing", as well as other kanji or kanji combinations with the same pronunciation.
Tsukiko f Japanese
From Japanese (tsuki) meaning "moon" and (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji are possible.
Tülay f Turkish
Means "tulle moon" in Turkish.
Tullia f Italian, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Tullius (see Tullio).
Tünde f Hungarian
Derived from Hungarian tündér meaning "fairy". The Hungarian poet Mihály Vörösmarty created this name in the 19th century.
Tuuli f Finnish, Estonian
Means "wind" in Finnish and Estonian.
Twila f English
Meaning unknown. Perhaps based on the English word twilight, or maybe from a Cajun pronunciation of French étoile "star". It came into use as an American given name in the late 19th century.
Twyla f English
Variant of Twila.
Tzeitel f Yiddish (Rare)
Yiddish diminutive of Sarah. This is the name of Tevye's oldest daughter in the musical Fiddler on the Roof (1964), based on Sholem Aleichem's stories from the late 19th century.
Ugène m Norman
Norman form of Eugenius (see Eugene).
Uʻilani f & m Hawaiian
Means "heavenly beauty" or "royal beauty" from Hawaiian uʻi "youth, beauty" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".
Uliana f Russian, Ukrainian
Alternate transcription of Russian Ульяна or Ukrainian Уляна (see Ulyana).
Ulisse m Italian
Italian form of Ulysses.
Úna f Irish, Medieval Irish
Probably derived from Old Irish úan meaning "lamb". This was a common name in medieval Ireland.
Una f English
Anglicized form of Irish Úna or Scottish Ùna. It is also associated with Latin una, feminine form of unus meaning "one". The name features in Edmund Spenser's poem The Faerie Queene (1590).
Unathi m & f Xhosa
Means "he or she is with us" in Xhosa, from the prefix u- meaning "he, she" and nathi meaning "with us".
Uriel m Biblical, Hebrew
From the Hebrew name אוּרִיאֵל (ʾUriʾel) meaning "God is my light", from אוּר (ʾur) meaning "light, flame" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". Uriel is an archangel in Hebrew tradition. He is mentioned only in the Apocrypha, for example in the Book of Enoch where he warns Noah of the coming flood.
Usagi f Popular Culture
Means "rabbit" in Japanese. This name was used on the Japanese television show Sailor Moon, which first aired in the 1990s.
Usoa f Basque
Means "dove" in Basque.
Uzma f Arabic
Means "supreme, greatest" in Arabic, a derivative of عظم (ʿaẓuma) meaning "to be great".
Vaishnavi f Hinduism, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi
Derived from the name of the Hindu god Vishnu, meaning "belonging to Vishnu". This is the name of the shakti (power) of Vishnu, identified with the goddess Lakshmi.
Valarie f English
Variant of Valerie.
Vale f English (Rare)
From the English word meaning "wide river valley".
Valencia f Various
From the name of cities in Spain and Venezuela, both derived from Latin valentia meaning "strength, vigour".
Valens m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen (see Valentine 1). This name was borne by a 4th-century Roman emperor.
Valent m Croatian
Croatian short form of Valentin.
Valente m Italian, Spanish (Mexican), Portuguese (Rare)
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Valens.
Valentijn m Dutch
Dutch form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1).
Valentín m Spanish, Slovak
Spanish and Slovak form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1).
Valentin m French, Romanian, German, Czech, Russian, Bulgarian, Slovene, Croatian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish
Form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1) in several languages.
Valentína f Slovak
Slovak feminine form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1).
Valentina f Italian, Russian, Lithuanian, German, Croatian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Slovene, Albanian, Romanian, Spanish, Greek, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1). A famous bearer is the Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova (1937-), who in 1963 became the first woman to visit space.
Valentine 1 m English
From the Roman cognomen Valentinus, which was itself a derivative of the cognomen Valens meaning "strong, vigorous, healthy" in Latin. Saint Valentine was a 3rd-century martyr. His feast day was the same as the Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia, which resulted in the association between Valentine's Day and love.... [more]
Valentine 2 f French
French feminine form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1).
Valentino m Italian
Italian form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1).
Valentyn m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1).
Valère m French
French form of Valerius.
Valeri m Bulgarian, Georgian, Russian
Bulgarian and Georgian form of Valerius, as well as an alternate transcription of Russian Валерий (see Valeriy).
Valéria f Portuguese, Hungarian, Slovak
Portuguese, Hungarian and Slovak form of Valeria.
Valeria f Italian, Spanish, Romanian, German, Russian, Ukrainian, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Valerius. This was the name of a 2nd-century Roman saint and martyr.
Valerian m Russian, Georgian, Romanian, History
From the Roman cognomen Valerianus, which was itself derived from the Roman name Valerius. This was the name of a 3rd-century Roman emperor (Publius Licinius Valerianus) who was captured by the Persians. Several saints have also borne this name, including a 2nd-century martyr of Lyons.
Valeriana f Spanish, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Valerianus (see Valerian).
Valérie f French, Czech
French and Czech form of Valeria.
Valerie f English, German, Czech
English and German form of Valeria, as well as a Czech variant of Valérie.
Valerio m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Valerius.
Valeriu m Romanian
Romanian form of Valerius.
Valerius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from Latin valere "to be strong". This was the name of several early saints.
Valeriya f Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian
Russian and Ukrainian feminine form of Valerius, as well as an alternate transcription of Belarusian Валерыя (see Valeryia).
Valéry m French
Derived from the Old German elements walah "foreigner, Celt, Roman" and rih "ruler, king". It has been frequently confused with the name Valère. Saint Walaric (or Valery) was a 7th-century Frankish monk who founded an abbey near Leuconaus at the mouth of the Somme River.
Valorie f English
Variant of Valerie.
Valya f & m Russian, Bulgarian
Diminutive of Valentina or Valentin.
Vana f Macedonian
Short form of Ivana or Jovana.
Vanamo f Finnish (Modern)
Means "twinflower" in Finnish.
Vanesa f Spanish, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Croatian
Form of Vanessa in several languages.
Vanessa f English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Dutch
Invented by author Jonathan Swift for his 1726 poem Cadenus and Vanessa. He arrived at it by rearranging the initial syllables of the first name and surname of Esther Vanhomrigh, his close friend. Vanessa was later used as the name of a genus of butterfly. It was a rare given name until the mid-20th century, at which point it became fairly popular.
Vanna 2 f & m Khmer
From Khmer វណ្ណ (von) meaning "colour", ultimately from Sanskrit वर्ण (varṇa).
Vanya m Russian
Diminutive of Ivan.
Vasanti f Marathi
Feminine form of Vasanta.
Vashti f Biblical
Probably of Persian origin, possibly a superlative form of 𐎺𐎢 (vahu) meaning "good". According to the Old Testament this was the name of the first wife of King Ahasuerus of Persia before he married Esther.
Vasia f Greek
Diminutive of Vasiliki.
Vasili m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Василий (see Vasiliy).
Vasilios m Greek
Modern Greek form of Basil 1.
Vasilisa f Russian
Russian feminine form of Basil 1.
Vassily m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Василий (see Vasiliy).
Vasundhara f Hindi, Telugu
Means "possessor of wealth" in Sanskrit, used to refer to the earth.
Vasyl m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Basil 1.
Veera f Finnish, Estonian
Finnish and Estonian form of Vera 1.
Veeti m Finnish
Finnish diminutive of Fredrik or Ferdinand.
Velia f Italian
From the Roman family name Velius, which possibly means "concealed" in Latin.
Velvel m Yiddish (Rare)
Means "little wolf" in Yiddish, a diminutive of װאָלףֿ (volf) meaning "wolf". This is a vernacular form of Zeev.
Velvet f English
From the English word for the soft fabric. It became used as a given name after the main character in Enid Bagnold's book National Velvet (1935) and the movie (1944) and television (1960) adaptations.
Vencel m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Václav.
Vendela f Swedish
Swedish feminine form of Wendel.
Vendelín m Czech, Slovak
Czech and Slovak form of Wendelin.
Venera 1 f Russian, Bulgarian, Albanian
Form of Venus, from the genitive form Veneris.
Venetia f English (Rare), Greek
From the Latin name of the Italian region of Veneto and the city of Venice (see the place name Venetia). This name was borne by the celebrated English beauty Venetia Stanley (1600-1633), though in her case the name may have been a Latinized form of the Welsh name Gwynedd. Benjamin Disraeli used it for the heroine of his novel Venetia (1837).
Veniamin m Russian, Greek
Russian and Greek form of Benjamin.
Venus f Roman Mythology
Means "love, sexual desire" in Latin. This was the name of the Roman goddess of love and sex. Her character was assimilated with that of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. As the mother of Aeneas she was considered an ancestor of the Roman people. The second planet from the sun is named after her.
Vera 1 f Russian, English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian, Slovene, Serbian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Belarusian, Georgian
Means "faith" in Russian, though it is sometimes associated with the Latin word verus "true". It has been in general use in the English-speaking world since the late 19th century.
Vered f Hebrew
Means "rose" in Hebrew, originally a borrowing from an Iranian language.
Verena f German, Late Roman
Possibly related to Latin verus "true". This might also be a Coptic form of the Ptolemaic name Berenice. Saint Verena was a 3rd-century Egyptian-born nurse who went with the Theban Legion to Switzerland. After the legion was massacred she settled near Zurich.
Vérène f French (Rare)
French form of Verena.
Vergil m English
Variant of Virgil.
Verity f English
From the English word meaning "verity, truth", from Latin verus "true, real". This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans in the 17th century.
Verona f Various
From the name of the city in Italy, which is itself of unknown meaning.
Verónica f Spanish, Galician, Portuguese (European)
Spanish, Galician and European Portuguese form of Veronica.
Verônica f Portuguese (Brazilian)
Brazilian Portuguese form of Veronica.
Veronica f English, Italian, Romanian, Late Roman
Latin alteration of Berenice, the spelling influenced by the ecclesiastical Latin phrase vera icon meaning "true image". This was the name of a legendary saint who wiped Jesus' face with a towel and then found his image imprinted upon it. Due to popular stories about her, the name was occasionally used in the Christian world in the Middle Ages. It was borne by the Italian saint and mystic Veronica Giuliani (1660-1727). As an English name, it was not common until the 19th century, when it was imported from France and Scotland.
Véronique f French
French form of Veronica.
Veselin m Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian
Derived from South Slavic vesel meaning "cheerful".
Vespasian m History
From the Roman cognomen Vespasianus, derived either from Latin vesper meaning "west" or "evening" or vespa meaning "wasp". This was the name of a 1st-century Roman emperor, Titus Flavius Vespasianus, the founder of the Flavian dynasty.
Vespasien m French (Rare)
French form of Vespasianus (see Vespasian).
Vesper m & f Roman Mythology, Dutch (Modern)
Latin cognate of Hesperos. This name was used by the British author Ian Fleming for a female character, a love interest of James Bond, in his novel Casino Royale (1953). She also appears in the film adaptations of 1967 and 2006.
Vespera f Esperanto
Means "of the evening", derived from Esperanto vespero "evening", ultimately from Latin vesper.
Vianne f English (Rare)
Meaning unknown, perhaps a combination of Vi and Anne 1 or a short form of Vivianne.
Viatrix f Late Roman
Earlier form of Beatrix.
Vibeke f Danish, Norwegian
Danish form of Wiebke. It was borne by an influential mistress of Christian IV of Denmark (17th century).
Vicente m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Vincent.
Victoire f French
French form of Victoria.
Victor m English, French, Portuguese, Romanian, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Late Roman
Roman name meaning "victor, conqueror" in Latin. It was common among early Christians, and was borne by several early saints and three popes. It was rare as an English name during the Middle Ages, but it was revived in the 19th century. A famous bearer was the French writer Victor Hugo (1802-1885), who authored The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables.
Victoria f English, Spanish, Romanian, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, French, Late Roman, Roman Mythology
Means "victory" in Latin, being borne by the Roman goddess of victory. It is also a feminine form of Victorius. This name was borne by a 4th-century saint and martyr from North Africa.... [more]
Victorine f French
French feminine form of Victorinus.
Vidal m Spanish, Catalan
Spanish and Catalan form of Vitalis (see Vitale).
Vidya f Hinduism, Marathi, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil
Means "knowledge, science, learning" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu goddess Saraswati.
Vienna f English (Modern)
From the name of the capital city of Austria, Vienna.
Vienne f Various (Rare)
From the French name for Vienna, the capital city of Austria.
Vieno f & m Finnish (Rare)
Means "gentle" in Finnish.
Viera f Slovak, Belarusian
Slovak form of Vera 1, as well as an alternate transcription of Belarusian Вера (see Vera 1).
Viktória f Hungarian, Slovak
Hungarian and Slovak form of Victoria.
Viktoriya f Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Belarusian
Russian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian form of Victoria, as well as an alternate transcription of Belarusian Вікторыя (see Viktoryia).
Vilde 1 f Norwegian
Short form of Alvilde.
Vilhelm m Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish
Scandinavian and Finnish form of William.
Vina f Indonesian
From Sanskrit वीणा (vīṇā) meaning "lute".
Vinay m Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil
From Sanskrit विनय (vinaya) meaning "leading, guidance, modesty".
Vincent m English, French, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Slovak
From the Roman name Vincentius, which was derived from Latin vincere meaning "to conquer". This name was popular among early Christians, and it was borne by many saints. As an English name, Vincent has been in use since the Middle Ages, though it did not become common until the 19th century. Famous bearers include the French priest Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) and the Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890).
Vincente f French
French feminine form of Vincent.
Vincenza f Italian
Italian feminine form of Vincent.
Vinh m & f Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese (vinh) meaning "glory".
Vinicio m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of the Roman family name Vinicius, which was possibly derived from Latin vinum "wine".
Vinícius m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Vinicius (see Vinicio). It gained popularity in Brazil due to the poet and musician Vinícius de Moraes (1913-1980).
Viola f English, Italian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak
Means "violet" in Latin. This is the name of the heroine of William Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night (1602). In the play she is the survivor of a shipwreck who disguises herself as a man named Cesario. Working as a messenger for Duke Orsino, she attempts to convince Olivia to marry him. Instead Viola falls in love with the duke.
Violet f English
From the English word violet for the purple flower, ultimately derived from Latin viola. It was common in Scotland from the 16th century, and it came into general use as an English given name during the 19th century.
Violetta f Italian, Russian, Hungarian
Italian, Russian and Hungarian form of Violet.
Violette f French
French form of Violet.
Viona f English (Rare)
Possibly a variant of Fiona influenced by Viola.
Viorel m Romanian
Derived from viorea, the Romanian word for the alpine squill flower (species Scilla bifolia) or the sweet violet flower (species Viola odorata). It is derived from Latin viola "violet".
Viorica f Romanian
Derived from Romanian viorea (see Viorel).
Vipin m Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam
From Sanskrit विपिन (vipina) meaning "forest".
Vira f Ukrainian
Ukrainian cognate of Vera 1.
Virgil m English, Romanian
From the Roman family name Vergilius, which is of unknown meaning. This name was borne by the 1st-century BC Roman poet Publius Vergilius Maro, commonly called Virgil, who was the writer of the Aeneid. Due to him, Virgil has been in use as a given name in the English-speaking world since the 19th century.
Virginia f English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Greek, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of the Roman family name Verginius or Virginius, which is of unknown meaning, but long associated with Latin virgo "maid, virgin". According to a legend, it was the name of a Roman woman killed by her father so as to save her from the clutches of a crooked official.... [more]
Virginie f French
French form of Virginia.
Virva f Finnish
Possibly derived from Finnish virvatuli meaning "will o' the wisp". In folklore, will o' the wisp is a floating ball of light that appears over water.
Vishal m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali
From Sanskrit विशाल (viśāla) meaning "wide, broad, spacious".
Vita 2 f Ukrainian, Belarusian
Ukrainian and Belarusian short form of Viktoriya.
Vitale m Italian
Italian form of the Late Latin name Vitalis, which was derived from Latin vitalis meaning "of life, vital". Vitalis was the name of several early saints and martyrs.
Vitalia f Italian (Rare)
Feminine form of Vitale.
Vitalis m Late Roman
Latin form of Vitale.
Vitaliy m Russian, Ukrainian
Russian and Ukrainian form of Vitalis (see Vitale).
Vitaliya f Russian, Ukrainian
Russian and Ukrainian feminine form of Vitalis (see Vitale).
Vítor m Portuguese, Galician
Portuguese and Galician form of Victor.
Vittoria f Italian
Italian form of Victoria.
Vittorio m Italian
Italian form of Victorius.
Vivian m & f English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
From the Latin name Vivianus, which was derived from Latin vivus "alive". Saint Vivian was a French bishop who provided protection during the Visigoth invasion of the 5th century. It has been occasionally used as an English (masculine) name since the Middle Ages. In modern times it is also used as a feminine name, in which case it is either an Anglicized form of Bébinn or a variant of Vivien 2.
Viviana f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Late Roman
Feminine form of Vivianus (see Vivian). Saint Viviana (also known as Bibiana) was a Roman saint and martyr of the 4th century.
Viviane f French, Portuguese
French form of Viviana, as well as a Portuguese variant. It is also the French form of Vivien 2.
Vivianne f French
Variant of Viviane.
Vivien 1 m French
French form of Vivianus (see Vivian).
Vivien 2 f Literature, Hungarian
Used by Alfred Tennyson as the name of the Lady of the Lake in his Arthurian epic Idylls of the King (1859). Tennyson may have based it on Vivienne, but it possibly arose as a misreading of Ninian. A famous bearer was British actress Vivien Leigh (1913-1967), who played Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind.
Vivienne f French
French form of Viviana.
Viviette f English (Rare)
Diminutive of Vivienne. William John Locke used this name for the title character in his novel Viviette (1910).
Vladyslav m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Vladislav.
Waimarie f Maori
Means "good luck" in Maori.
Wallace m English, Scottish
From a Scottish and English surname that was derived from Norman French waleis meaning "foreigner, Celt, Welshman" (of Germanic origin). It was first used as a given name in honour of William Wallace, a Scottish hero who led the fight against the English in the 13th century.
Walter m English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Italian, Germanic
From the Germanic name Waltheri meaning "power of the army", from the elements walt "power, authority" and heri "army". In medieval German tales (notably Waltharius by Ekkehard of Saint Gall) Walter of Aquitaine is a heroic king of the Visigoths. The name was also borne by an 11th-century French saint, Walter of Pontoise. The Normans brought it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate Wealdhere.... [more]
Watson m English
From an English surname meaning "son of Wat". A famous fictional bearer of the surname was Dr. Watson, the assistant to Sherlock Holmes in Arthur Conan Doyle's mystery stories beginning in 1887.
Wen m & f Chinese
From Chinese (wén) meaning "literature, culture, writing", as well as other characters with a similar pronunciation. A famous bearer was the 2nd-century BC Emperor Wen of Han (posthumous name).
Wendell m English
From a German and Dutch surname that was derived from the given name Wendel. In America this name has been given in honour of the poet Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894) and his son the Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841-1935). The elder's middle name came from his mother's maiden name (which had been brought to America by a Dutch ancestor in the form Wendel, with the extra l added later).
Wendy f English
In the case of the character from J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan (1904), it was created from the nickname fwendy "friend", given to the author by a young friend. However, the name was used prior to the play (rarely), in which case it could be related to the Welsh name Gwendolen and other names beginning with the element gwen meaning "white, blessed". The name only became common after Barrie's play ran.
Westley m English
From a surname that was a variant of Wesley.
Whitaker m English (Rare)
From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "white field" in Old English.
Whitney f & m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "white island" in Old English. Its popular use as a feminine name was initiated by actress Whitney Blake (1925-2002) in the 1960s, and further boosted in the 1980s by singer Whitney Houston (1963-2012).
Wiesława f Polish
Feminine form of Wielisław.
Wiktoria f Polish
Polish form of Victoria.
Wilbert m Dutch
Means "bright will", derived from the Old German elements willo "will, desire" and beraht "bright".
Wilford m English
From a surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "willow ford" in Old English.
Wilfred m English
Means "desiring peace" from Old English willa "will, desire" and friþ "peace". Saint Wilfrid was a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon bishop. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest, but it was revived in the 19th century.
Wilhelm m German, Polish, Germanic
German cognate of William. This was the name of two German emperors. It was also the middle name of several philosophers from Germany: Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831), Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900), and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), who was also a notable mathematician. Another famous bearer was the physicist Wilhelm Röntgen (1845-1923).
Wilhelmina f Dutch, German (Rare), English
Dutch and German feminine form of Wilhelm. This name was borne by a queen of the Netherlands (1880-1962).
Wilhelmine f German
German feminine form of Wilhelm.
Wilkin m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of William.
Willa f English
Feminine form of William.
Willard m English
From an English surname that was derived from the Old German given name Willihard (or the Old English cognate Wilheard).
Willem m Dutch
Dutch form of William. Willem the Silent, Prince of Orange, was the leader of the Dutch revolt against Spain that brought about the independence of the Netherlands. He is considered the founder of the Dutch royal family. In English he is commonly called William of Orange.
Willemina f Dutch
Feminine form of Willem.
William m English
From the Germanic name Willehelm meaning "will helmet", composed of the elements willo "will, desire" and helm "helmet, protection". An early saint by this name was the 8th-century William of Gellone, a cousin of Charlemagne who became a monk. The name was common among the Normans, and it became extremely popular in England after William the Conqueror was recognized as the first Norman king of England in the 11th century. From then until the modern era it has been among the most common of English names (with John, Thomas and Robert).... [more]
Willoughby m & f English (Rare)
From a surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "willow town" in Old English.
Willow f English (Modern)
From the name of the tree, which is ultimately derived from Old English welig.
Wilson m English, Spanish (Latin American), Portuguese
From an English surname meaning "son of William". The surname was borne by Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), the American president during World War I.
Wilton m English
From a surname that was derived from the names of several English towns. The town names mean variously "willow town", "well town" or "town on the River Wylye" in Old English. The river name is itself of Celtic origin, possibly meaning "tricky".
Wincenty m Polish
Polish form of Vincent.
Windsor m & f English (Rare)
From an English surname that was from a place name meaning "riverbank with a windlass" in Old English (a windlass is a lifting apparatus). This has been the surname of the royal family of the United Kingdom since 1917.
Winfred m English
Means "friend of peace" from the Old English elements wine "friend" and friþ "peace". This was the birth name of the 8th-century missionary Saint Boniface. It became rare after the Norman Conquest, though it was revived in the 19th century.
Winifred f English, Welsh
From Latin Winifreda, possibly from a Welsh name Gwenfrewi (maybe influenced by the Old English masculine name Winfred). Saint Winifred was a 7th-century Welsh martyr, probably legendary. According to the story, she was decapitated by a prince after she spurned his advances. Where her head fell there arose a healing spring, which has been a pilgrimage site since medieval times. Her story was recorded in the 12th century by Robert of Shrewsbury, and she has been historically more widely venerated in England than in Wales. The name has been used in England since at least the 16th century.
Winona f English, Sioux
Means "firstborn daughter" in Dakota or Lakota. According to folklore, this was the name of a daughter of a Dakota chief (possibly Wapasha III) who leapt from a cliff to her death rather than marry a man she hated. Numerous places in the United States have been named after her. The actress Winona Ryder (1971-) was named after the city in Minnesota where she was born.
Winslow m & f English (Rare)
From a surname that was derived from an Old English place name meaning "hill belonging to Wine". A famous bearer of this name was American painter Winslow Homer (1836-1910).
Winston m English
From an English surname that was derived from the Old English given name Wynnstan. A famous bearer was Winston Churchill (1874-1965), the British prime minister during World War II. This name was also borne by the fictional Winston Smith, the protagonist in George Orwell's 1949 novel 1984.
Winter f English (Modern)
From the English word for the season, derived from Old English winter.
Winton m English
From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "enclosure belonging to Wine" in Old English.
Wioletta f Polish
Polish form of Violet.
Wisteria f English (Rare)
From the name of the flowering plant, which was named for the American anatomist Caspar Wistar.
Wright m English
From an occupational surname meaning "craftsman", ultimately from Old English wyrhta. Famous bearers of the surname were the Wright brothers (Wilbur 1867-1912 and Orville 1871-1948), the inventors of the first successful airplane, and Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), an American architect.
Wyn m Welsh
Derived from Welsh gwyn meaning "white, blessed".
Wynn m Welsh
Variant of Wyn.
Wynne 1 m & f Welsh
Variant of Wyn, sometimes used as a feminine form.
Wynne 2 m & f English (Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from the given name Wine.
Xanthe f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ξανθός (xanthos) meaning "yellow, blond, fair-haired". This was the name of a few minor figures in Greek mythology.
Xia m & f Chinese
From Chinese (xià) meaning "summer, great, grand", (xiá) meaning "rosy clouds", or other characters that are pronounced similarly.
Xián m Galician
From Xulián, the Galician form of Julian.
Xiana f Galician
From Xuliana, the Galician form of Juliana.
Ximena f Spanish
Feminine form of Ximeno. This was the name of the wife of El Cid.
Xinyi m & f Chinese
From Chinese (xīn) meaning "happy, joyous, delighted" or (xīn) meaning "heart, mind, soul" combined with () meaning "joy, harmony". This name can also be formed from other character combinations.
Xiomara f Spanish
Possibly a Spanish form of Guiomar.
Xiu f Chinese
From Chinese (xiù) meaning "luxuriant, beautiful, elegant, outstanding" or other characters that are pronounced similarly.
Xiulan f Chinese
From Chinese (xiù) meaning "luxuriant, beautiful, elegant, outstanding" combined with (lán) meaning "orchid, elegant". This name can be formed of other character combinations as well.
Xiuying f Chinese
From Chinese (xiù) meaning "luxuriant, beautiful, elegant, outstanding" combined with (yīng) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero". Other character combinations are possible.
Yaara f Hebrew
Means "honeycomb" and "honeysuckle" in Hebrew.
Yadira f Spanish (Latin American), American (Hispanic)
Meaning unknown, possibly derived from an Arabic name. It has been used in Mexico since at least the 1940s, perhaps inspired by the Colombian actress Yadira Jiménez (1928-?), who performed in Mexican films beginning in 1946.
Yaeko f Japanese
From Japanese (ya) and (e) meaning "multilayered" and (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji characters can also form this name.
Yale m English (Rare)
From a Welsh surname, which was itself derived from a place name meaning "fertile upland" (from Welsh ial).
Yaling f Chinese
From Chinese () meaning "elegant, graceful, refined" combined with (líng) meaning "tinkling of jade". This name can be formed of other character combinations as well.
Yan 2 f & m Chinese
From Chinese (yàn) meaning "beautiful, gorgeous" (which is usually only feminine) or (yán) meaning "cliff, rocks", as well as other Chinese characters pronounced in a similar fashion.
Yana f Bulgarian, Russian, Ukrainian
Bulgarian, Russian and Ukrainian form of Jana 1.
Yara 1 f Arabic
From Persian یار (yār) meaning "friend, helper".
Yasaman f Persian
Variant of Yasamin.
Yasamin f Persian
Persian form of Yasmin.
Yasemin f Turkish
Turkish form of Jasmine.
Yasir m Arabic, Urdu
Means "easy, wealthy" in Arabic, derived from the root يسر (yasira) meaning "to be easy, to be rich". This was the name of an early Islamic martyr. It was also borne by Yasir Arafat (1929-2004), a leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Yasmeen f Arabic, Urdu
Alternate transcription of Arabic ياسمين or Urdu یاسمین (see Yasmin).
Yasmin f Arabic, Hebrew, Urdu, English (Modern), Spanish (Modern), Portuguese (Modern)
Means "jasmine" in Arabic and Hebrew, derived from Persian یاسمین (yāsamīn). In modern times it has been used in the western world, as an Arabic-influenced variant of Jasmine.
Yasmine f Arabic, French (Modern), English (Modern)
Alternate transcription of Arabic ياسمين (see Yasmin).
Yasu 1 f & m Japanese
From Japanese (yasu) meaning "peace, quiet", (yasu) meaning "peaceful" or (yasu) meaning "flat, smooth, level", as well as other kanji that are pronounced the same way.
Yawen f Chinese
From Chinese () meaning "elegant, graceful, refined" combined with (wén) meaning "cloud patterns". This name can be formed of other character combinations as well.
Ye-Jun m Korean
From Sino-Korean (ye) meaning "art, talent, craft" combined with (jun) meaning "talented, handsome", as well as other hanja combinations.
Yelena f Russian
Russian form of Helen.
Yelysaveta f Ukrainian
Traditional Ukrainian form of Elizabeth.
Yelyzaveta f Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Elizabeth.
Yeong-Hui f Korean
From Sino-Korean (yeong) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero" or (yeong) meaning "dive, swim" combined with (hui) meaning "beauty" or (hui) meaning "enjoy, play". Other combinations of hanja characters can form this name as well.
Yeshua m Biblical Hebrew, Ancient Aramaic
Contracted form of Yehoshuaʿ (see Joshua) used in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible. The form was also used in Aramaic, and was most likely the name represented by Greek Iesous (see Jesus) in the New Testament. This means it was probably the real name of Jesus.
Yevhen m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Eugene.
Yi f & m Chinese
From Chinese () meaning "suitable, proper", () meaning "resolute, decisive, firm", () meaning "justice, righteousness", () meaning "profit, benefit", () meaning "joy, harmony" (which is usually only feminine) or () meaning "ceremony, rites" (also usually feminine). Other characters can also form this name.
Yijun m & f Chinese
From Chinese () meaning "joy, harmony" combined with (jūn) meaning "king, ruler". This name can also be formed from other character combinations.
Yıldız f Turkish
Means "star" in Turkish.
Yoan 1 m French
French form of Johann.
Yohan m French
French form of Johann.
Yōko f Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "light, sun, male" or () meaning "ocean" combined with (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.
Yoko f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 陽子 or 洋子 (see Yōko).
Yolande f French
French form of Yolanda. A notable bearer of the 15th century was Yolande of Aragon, who acted as regent for the French king Charles VII, her son-in-law. She was a supporter of Joan of Arc.
Yona m & f Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Jonah. It is a unisex name in modern Hebrew.
Yoshi m & f Japanese
From Japanese (yoshi) meaning "good luck", (yoshi) meaning "righteous", or (yoshi) meaning "good, virtuous, respectable", as well as other kanji with the same reading.
Yoshiko f Japanese
From Japanese (yoshi) meaning "good, virtuous, respectable", (yoshi) meaning "fragrant, virtuous, beautiful" or (yoshi) meaning "joy, pleased" combined with (ko) meaning "child". This name can be formed from other kanji combinations as well.
Yosyp m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Joseph.
Younes m Arabic (Maghrebi), Persian
North African and Persian form of Yunus.
Ysabel f Spanish (Archaic)
Medieval Spanish form of Isabel.
Yu f & m Chinese
From Chinese () meaning "jade, precious stone, gem", () meaning "pleasant, delightful" or () meaning "rain". Other characters can form this name as well.
m & f Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness", () meaning "permanence", () meaning "brave", or other kanji that are pronounced the same way.
Yua f Japanese
From Japanese (yu) meaning "tie, bind" and (a) meaning "love, affection". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Yui f Japanese
From Japanese (yu) meaning "tie, bind" or (yu) meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" combined with (i) meaning "clothing, garment". It can also come from stand-alone (yui) using a different nanori reading. This name can be formed of other kanji or kanji combinations as well.
Yūka f Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" and (ka) meaning "flower, blossom". It can also be composed of different kanji that have the same pronunciations.
Yuka f Japanese
From Japanese (yu) meaning "reason, cause" combined with (ka) meaning "fragrance" or (ka) meaning "good, beautiful". It can also be formed from different kanji that have similar pronunciations.
Yūki m & f Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" or () meaning "permanence" combined with (ki) meaning "hope", (ki) meaning "brightness" or (ki) meaning "living". Other combinations of kanji can form this name as well.
Yuki f & m Japanese
From Japanese (yuki) meaning "happiness" or (yuki) meaning "snow". It can also come from (yu) meaning "reason, cause" combined with (ki) meaning "valuable" or (ki) meaning "chronicle". Other kanji or kanji combinations are also possible.
Yukiko f Japanese
From Japanese (yuki) meaning "happiness" or (yuki) meaning "snow" combined with (ko) meaning "child". Alternatively, it can come from (yu) meaning "reason, cause" with (ki) meaning "joy" or (ki) meaning "valuable" combined with (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Yuko f Japanese
From Japanese (yu) meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" and (ko) meaning "child", as well as other combinations of kanji.
Yuli m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Юлий (see Yuliy).
Yulia f Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian
Alternate transcription of Russian Юлия or Ukrainian/Belarusian Юлія (see Yuliya).
Yulian m Russian, Bulgarian
Russian and Bulgarian form of Julian.
Yuliana f Russian, Bulgarian, Indonesian
Russian, Bulgarian and Indonesian form of Juliana.
Yulianna f Russian
Russian form of Juliana.
Yuliy m Russian, Ukrainian
Russian and Ukrainian form of Julius.
Yume f Japanese
From Japanese (yume) meaning "dream, vision". It can also come from (yu) meaning "abundant, rich, plentiful" and (me) meaning "bud, sprout", as well as other kanji or kanji combinations.
Yu-Mi f Korean
From Sino-Korean (yu) meaning "have, possess" and (mi) meaning "beautiful". Other hanja character combinations can also form this name.
Yumi f Japanese
From Japanese (yumi) meaning "archery bow". It can also come from (yu) meaning "reason, cause", (yu) meaning "friend" or a nanori reading of (yu) meaning "archery bow" combined with (mi) meaning "beautiful". Other kanji or kanji combinations are also possible.
Yumiko f Japanese
From Japanese (yumi) meaning "archery bow" or (yu) meaning "reason, cause" with (mi) meaning "beautiful" combined with (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Yun f & m Chinese
From Chinese (yún) meaning "cloud" or (yǔn) meaning "allow, consent", as well as other Chinese characters that are pronounced in a similar way.
Yūna f Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" or () meaning "grapefruit, pomelo, citrus fruit" combined with (na) meaning "vegetables, greens" or (na), a phonetic character. Other combinations of kanji are also possible.
Yūri f Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "permanence" and (ri) meaning "village". This name can also be formed from other combinations of kanji.