Names Deemed "refined"

This is a list of names in which the community's impression is refined.
gender
usage
impression
Dalimil m Czech, Slovak
Derived from the Slavic elements dalĭ "distance" and milŭ "gracious, dear".
Damaris f Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
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.
Damayanti f Hinduism
Means "subduing" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of a beautiful princess, the wife of Nala.
Damhán m Irish
From Old Irish Damán meaning "calf, fawn", derived from dam "ox, deer" and a diminutive suffix. This was the name of an early Irish saint, a brother of Saint Abbán.
Damiana f Italian
Italian feminine form of Damian.
Danaë f Greek Mythology
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.
Danai 2 f Shona
From Shona dana meaning "call, summon".
Danail m Bulgarian
Bulgarian variant form of Daniel.
Dania 2 f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic دانية (see Daniya).
Danica f Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Slovak, Macedonian, English
From a Slavic word meaning "morning star, Venus". This name occurs in Slavic folklore as a personification of the morning star. It has sometimes been used in the English-speaking world since the 1970s.
Danièle f French
French feminine form of Daniel.
Daniella f English, Hungarian
Feminine form of Daniel.
Danielle f French, English, Dutch
French feminine form of Daniel. It has been commonly used in the English-speaking world only since the 20th century.
Danihel m Biblical Latin
Form of Daniel used in the Latin Bible.
Danijela f Slovene, Croatian, Serbian
Feminine form of Daniel.
Danique f Dutch (Modern)
Feminine form of Daniël.
Daniyah f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic دانية (see Daniya).
Danne m Swedish
Swedish diminutive of Daniel or Dan 3.
Danya 1 f Hebrew
Feminine form of Dan 1. It can also be considered a compound meaning "judgement from God", using the element יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God.
Danya 2 f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic دانية (see Daniya).
Danylo m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Daniel.
Daphne f Greek Mythology, English, Dutch
Means "laurel" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was a nymph turned into a laurel tree by her father in order that she might escape the pursuit of Apollo. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the end of the 19th century.
Daphné f French
French form of Daphne.
Daphnée f French (Rare)
French variant form of Daphne.
Darcey f English
Feminine variant of Darcy.
Darcy f & m English
From an English surname that was derived from Norman French d'Arcy, originally denoting one who came from the town of Arcy in La Manche, France. This is the surname of a character, Fitzwilliam Darcy, in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice (1813).
Darian m & f English
Probably an elaborated form of Darren.
Darina 1 f Irish
Anglicized form of Dáirine.
Darina 2 f Slovak, Czech, Bulgarian, Russian
Derived from the Slavic word darŭ meaning "gift". It is sometimes used as a diminutive of names beginning with Dar.
Darren m English
The meaning of this name is not known for certain. In the spelling Daren, it was used by the novelist Zane Grey for the central character in his novel The Day of the Beast (1922). Grey may have based it on a rare Irish surname, or perhaps created it as a variant of Darrell. It was brought to public attention in the late 1950s by the American actor Darren McGavin (1922-2006; born as William Lyle Richardson). It was further popularized in the 1960s by the character Darrin Stephens from the television show Bewitched.
Darwin m English
From a surname that was derived from the Old English given name Deorwine. The surname was borne by the British naturalist Charles Darwin (1809-1882), the man who first proposed the theory of natural selection and subsequently revolutionized biology.
Daryna f Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Darina 2.
Dashiell m English (Rare)
In the case of American author Dashiell Hammett (1894-1961) it was from his mother's surname, which was possibly an Anglicized form of French de Chiel, of unknown meaning.
Daumantas m Lithuanian
From Lithuanian daug "much" combined with mantus "intelligent" or manta "property, wealth". This name was borne by a 13th-century Lithuanian ruler of Pskov who is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Davide m Italian
Italian form of David.
Davina f English
Feminine form of David. It originated in Scotland.
Davinia f English (Rare), Spanish (Modern)
Probably an elaboration of Davina. About 1980 this name jumped in popularity in Spain, possibly due to the main character on the British television series The Foundation (1977-1979), which was broadcast in Spain as La Fundación.
Davion m African American (Modern)
Recently created name, based on the sounds found in names such as David and Darian.
Dawn f English
From the English word dawn, ultimately derived from Old English dagung.
Deanna f English
Either a variant of Diana or a feminine form of Dean. This name was popularized by the Canadian actress and singer Deanna Durbin (1921-2013), whose birth name was Edna. Her stage name was a rearrangement of the letters of her real name.
Dearbháil f Irish
From Old Irish Derbáil meaning "daughter of Fál", derived from the prefix der meaning "daughter" and Fál, a legendary name for Ireland.
Deborah f English, Biblical
From the Hebrew name דְּבוֹרָה (Devora) meaning "bee". In the Old Testament Book of Judges, Deborah is a heroine and prophetess who leads the Israelites when they are threatened by the Canaanites. She forms an army under the command of Barak, and together they destroy the army of the Canaanite commander Sisera. Also in the Old Testament, this is the name of the nurse of Rebecca.... [more]
Deepali f Hindi, Marathi
Alternate transcription of Hindi/Marathi दीपाली (see Dipali).
Defne f Turkish
Means "laurel" in Turkish, of Greek origin.
Deianeira f Greek Mythology
From Greek δηιόω (deioo) meaning "to slay" and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man". In Greek mythology this was the name of the wife of Herakles. She unwittingly poisoned her husband by giving him the Shirt of Nessus.
Deirdre f English, Irish, Irish Mythology
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.... [more]
Delaiah m Biblical
Means "Yahweh has drawn up" in Hebrew, from דָּלָה (dala) meaning "to draw up, to hang" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters.
Delano m English
From a surname, recorded as de la Noye in French, indicating that the bearer was from a place called La Noue (ultimately Gaulish meaning "wetland, swamp"). It has been used in honour of American president Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945), whose middle name came from his mother's maiden name.
Delara f Persian
Means "adorning the heart", from Persian دل (del) meaning "heart" and آرا (ārā) meaning "decorate, adorn".
Delfina f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Delphina.
Délia f Portuguese, French, Hungarian
Portuguese, French and Hungarian form of Delia 1.
Delia 1 f English, Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Greek Mythology
Means "of Delos" in Greek. This was an epithet of the Greek goddess Artemis, given because she and her twin brother Apollo were born on the island of Delos. The name appeared in several poems of the 16th and 17th centuries, and it has occasionally been used as a given name since that time.
Delia 2 f English
Short form of Adelia or Bedelia.
Delilah f Biblical, English
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.
Della f English
Diminutive of Adela or Adelaide. A famous bearer was American actress and singer Della Reese (1931-2017).
Delora f English
Altered form of Dolores.
Delores f English
Variant of Dolores.
Delphia f English
Possibly from the name of the Greek city of Delphi, the site of an oracle of Apollo, which is possibly related to Greek δελφύς (delphys) meaning "womb". It was used in the play The Prophetess (1647), in which it belongs to the title prophetess.
Delphina f Late Roman
Feminine form of the Latin name Delphinus, which meant "of Delphi". Delphi was a city in ancient Greece, the name of which is possibly related to Greek δελφύς (delphys) meaning "womb". The Blessed Delphina was a 14th-century Provençal nun.
Delphine f French
French form of Delphina.
Delphinus m Late Roman
Masculine form of Delphina. Saint Delphinus was a 4th-century bishop of Bordeaux.
Delyth f Welsh
From an elaboration of Welsh del "pretty". This is a recently created name.
Demetrio m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Demetrius.
Democritus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Δημόκριτος (Demokritos), a Greek name meaning "judge of the people" from the elements δῆμος (demos) meaning "the people" and κριτής (krites) meaning "judge, critic". This was the name of a Greek philosopher, the creator of the atomic theory.
Dénes m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Denis.
Denholm m English (Rare)
From a surname that was originally taken from a place name meaning "valley island" in Old English.
Denice f English
Variant of Denise.
Denisa f Czech, Slovak, Romanian, Albanian
Feminine form of Denis.
Denise f French, English, Dutch
French feminine form of Denis.
Desdemona f Literature
Derived from Greek δυσδαίμων (dysdaimon) meaning "ill-fated". This is the name of the wife of Othello in Shakespeare's play Othello (1603).
Desideria f Italian (Rare), Spanish (Rare), Late Roman
Feminine form of Desiderio. This was the Latin name of a 19th-century queen of Sweden, the wife of Karl XIV. She was born in France with the name Désirée.
Désiré m French
Masculine form of Désirée.
Désirée f French, Dutch, German
French form of Desiderata. In part it is directly from the French word meaning "desired, wished".
Desiree f English
English form of Désirée. It was popularized in the English-speaking world by the movie Désirée (1954).
Desmond m English, Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Deasmhumhain meaning "south Munster", referring to the region of Desmond in southern Ireland, formerly a kingdom. It can also come from the related surname (an Anglicized form of Ó Deasmhumhnaigh), which indicated a person who came from that region. A famous bearer is the South African archbishop and activist Desmond Tutu (1931-2021).
Despina f Greek
Modern Greek form of Despoina.
Devadas m Hindi
Means "servant of the gods" from Sanskrit देव (deva) meaning "god" and दास (dāsa) meaning "servant".
Devereux m English (Rare)
From an English surname, of Norman French origin, meaning "from Evreux". Evreux is a town in France.
Devi f Hinduism, Hindi, Tamil
Derived from Sanskrit देवी (devī) meaning "goddess". This name can be used to refer to Mahadevi.
Devika f Hindi
Means "little goddess" from Sanskrit देवी (devī) meaning "goddess" and (ka) meaning "little".
Dian m & f Indonesian
Means "candle" in Indonesian.
Diána f Hungarian
Hungarian form of Diana.
Diana f English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Catalan, German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Estonian, Lithuanian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Armenian, Georgian, Roman Mythology
Means "divine, goddesslike", a derivative of Latin dia or diva meaning "goddess". It is ultimately related to the same Indo-European root *dyew- found in Zeus. Diana was a Roman goddess of the moon, hunting, forests and childbirth, often identified with the Greek goddess Artemis.... [more]
Diane f French, English
French form of Diana, also regularly used in the English-speaking world.
Dianna f English
Variant of Diana.
Dianne f English
Variant of Diane.
Diantha f Dutch (Rare), English (Rare)
From dianthus, the name of a type of flower (ultimately from Greek meaning "heavenly flower").
Diệu f & m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese (diệu) meaning "mysterious, subtle, exquisite".
Dieudonné m French
Means "given by God" in French, used as a French form of Deusdedit. It is currently much more common in French-speaking Africa than it is in France.
Dilan f Turkish
Means "love" in Turkish.
Dilara f Turkish
Turkish form of Delara.
Dilay f Turkish
Derived from Persian دل (del) meaning "heart" and Turkish ay meaning "moon".
Diletta f Italian
Means "beloved" in Italian, from Latin dilectus.
Dilys f Welsh
Means "genuine" in Welsh. It has been used since the late 19th century.
Dima 1 f Arabic
Means "downpour" in Arabic.
Dimitrios m Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Demetrios.
Dinah f Biblical, English
Means "judged" in Hebrew, derived from דִּין (din) meaning "to judge". According to the Old Testament, Dinah was a daughter of Jacob and Leah who was abducted by Shechem. It has been used as an English given name since after the Protestant Reformation.
Dinis m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Denis, used mainly in Portugal as opposed to Brazil (where Dênis is more common). This name was borne by a well-regarded Portuguese king of the 13th and 14th centuries.
Diocletian m History
From the Roman cognomen Diocletianus, a derivative of Diokles. This was the name of a Roman emperor of the 3rd and 4th centuries (Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus). He is remembered for persecuting Christians, but he also reformed and stabilized the crumbling Empire.
Diogenes m Ancient Greek
Means "born of Zeus" from Greek Διός (Dios) meaning "of Zeus" and γενής (genes) meaning "born". This was the name of a Greek Cynic philosopher.
Diomedes m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek Διός (Dios) meaning "of Zeus" and μήδεα (medea) meaning "plans, counsel, cunning". In Greek legend Diomedes was one of the greatest heroes who fought against the Trojans. With Odysseus he entered Troy and stole the Palladium. After the Trojan War he founded the cities of Brindisi and Arpi in Italy.
Dione 1 f Greek Mythology
From Greek Διός (Dios) meaning "of Zeus". By extension, it means "goddess". This was the name of a Greek goddess who, according to some legends, was the mother of Aphrodite. A moon of Saturn is named after her.
Dionisia f Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish feminine form of Dionysius.
Dionne f English
Feminine form of Dion.
Dior f & m English (Modern)
From a French surname, possibly from doré meaning "golden". As a given name it has been inspired by the French luxury fashion house Dior, founded by the designer Christian Dior (1905-1957).
Dipali f Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit दिपाली (dipālī) meaning "row of lamps".
Dipti f Hindi, Marathi, Kannada
From Sanskrit दीपति (dīpti) meaning "brightness, light".
Divina f Spanish (Philippines), Portuguese (Brazilian)
From Spanish or Portuguese divina meaning "divine, godlike".
Divya f Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam
Means "divine, heavenly" in Sanskrit.
Dmytro m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Demetrius.
Doina f Romanian
Means "folk song", from Romanian doină.
Doireann f Irish, Irish Mythology
Possibly from the Old Irish prefix der "daughter" and finn "white, blessed". Alternatively it may be derived from Irish doireann "sullen, tempestuous". This was the name of several characters in Irish legend, including a daughter of Bodb Derg who poisoned Fionn mac Cumhaill after he spurned her advances.
Dolly f English
Diminutive of Dorothy. Doll and Dolly were used from the 16th century, and the common English word doll (for the plaything) is derived from them. In modern times this name is also sometimes used as a diminutive of Dolores.
Dolores f Spanish, English
Means "sorrows", taken from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, meaning "Our Lady of Sorrows". It has been used in the English-speaking world since the 19th century, becoming especially popular in America during the 1920s and 30s.
Domenica f Italian
Italian feminine form of Dominicus (see Dominic).
Domenico m Italian
Italian form of Dominicus (see Dominic). Domenico Veneziano was a Renaissance painter who lived in Florence.
Dominique f & m French
French feminine and masculine form of Dominicus (see Dominic).
Domitila f Spanish, Portuguese (Rare)
Spanish and Portuguese form of Domitilla.
Domitille f French
French form of Domitilla.
Donatella f Italian
Diminutive of Donata.
Donatello m Italian
Diminutive of Donato. The Renaissance sculptor Donato di Niccolò di Bette Bardi (1386-1466) was better known as Donatello.
Donatien m French
French form of Donatianus.
Donatienne f French
French feminine form of Donatianus.
Donatus m Late Roman
Latin form of Donato.
Donella f Scottish
Feminine form of Donald.
Donelle f English (Rare)
Feminine form of Don.
Doreen f English
Combination of Dora and the name suffix een. This name first appeared in the 19th century. It was used by the novelist Edna Lyall in her novel Doreen (1894).
Dorian m English, French, Romanian, Polish
The name was first used by Oscar Wilde in his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), which tells the story of a man whose portrait ages while he stays young. Wilde may have taken it from the name of the ancient Greek tribe the Dorians.
Doriane f French
French feminine form of Dorian.
Dorin m Romanian
Romanian, possibly a form of Dorian or a diminutive of Teodor.
Dorina 2 f Hungarian
Elaboration of Dóra.
Doroteja f Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian
Slovene, Croatian, Serbian and Macedonian form of Dorothea.
Dorothea f German, Dutch, English, Ancient Greek
Feminine form of the Greek name Δωρόθεος (Dorotheos), which meant "gift of god" from Greek δῶρον (doron) meaning "gift" and θεός (theos) meaning "god". The name Theodore is composed of the same elements in reverse order. Dorothea was the name of two early saints, notably the 4th-century martyr Dorothea of Caesarea. It was also borne by the 14th-century Saint Dorothea of Montau, who was the patron saint of Prussia.
Dorothée f French
French form of Dorothea.
Dorothy f English
Usual English form of Dorothea. It has been in use since the 16th century. The author L. Frank Baum used it for the central character, Dorothy Gale, in his fantasy novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and several of its sequels.
Dove f English
From the English word for the variety of bird, seen as a symbol of peace.
Do-Yun m Korean
From Sino-Korean (do) meaning "path, road, way" and (yun) meaning "allow, consent", as well as other hanja character combinations.
Drusilla f Biblical, Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin
Feminine diminutive of the Roman family name Drusus. In Acts in the New Testament Drusilla is the wife of Felix.
Dulcibella f English (Archaic)
From Latin dulcis "sweet" and bella "beautiful". The usual medieval spelling of this name was Dowsabel, and the Latinized form Dulcibella was revived in the 18th century.
Dulcie f English
From Latin dulcis meaning "sweet". It was used in the Middle Ages in the spellings Dowse and Duce, and was recoined in the 19th century.
Dulcinea f Literature
Derived from Spanish dulce meaning "sweet". This name was (first?) used by Miguel de Cervantes in his novel Don Quixote (1605), where it belongs to the love interest of the main character, though she never actually appears in the story.
Ea 2 f Danish, Norwegian
Short form of names ending in ea.
Éabha f Irish
Irish form of Eve.
Eadwine m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Edwin.
Ean m Manx
Manx form of John.
Éanna m Irish
Modern Irish form of Énna.
Eastmund m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Esmond.
Ebele f Igbo
Variant of Ebere.
Ebony f African American
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.
Ecaterina f Romanian
Romanian form of Katherine.
Ece f Turkish
Means "queen" or "beautiful woman" in Turkish.
Echo f Greek Mythology
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.
Edan m Hebrew
Alternate transcription of Hebrew עִידָן (see Idan).
Edana f History (Ecclesiastical)
Latinized form of Étaín. This was the name of an early Irish saint.
Edelgard f German
From an Old German name, which was derived from the elements adal "noble" and gart "enclosure, yard".
Eden f & m Hebrew, English (Modern), French (Modern)
From the biblical place name, itself possibly from Hebrew עֵדֶן (ʿeḏen) meaning "pleasure, delight", 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 f Basque (Rare)
Feminine variant of Eder 2.
Edgar m English, French, Portuguese, German
Derived from the Old English elements ead "wealth, fortune" and gar "spear". This was the name of a 10th-century English king, Edgar the Peaceful. The name did not survive long after the Norman Conquest, but it was revived in the 18th century, in part due to a character by this name in Walter Scott's novel The Bride of Lammermoor (1819), which tells of the tragic love between Edgar Ravenswood and Lucy Ashton. Famous bearers include author and poet Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), French impressionist painter Edgar Degas (1834-1917), and author Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950).
Edina f Hungarian
Possibly a diminutive of names beginning with the Old German element adal meaning "noble".
Edison m English, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish (Latin American), Albanian
From an English surname that meant either "son of Eda 2" or "son of Adam". A famous bearer of the surname was the American inventor Thomas Edison (1847-1931).
Edita f Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Lithuanian
Form of Edith in several languages.
Edite f Portuguese
Portuguese form of Edith.
Édith f French
French form of Edith. A notable bearer was the French cabaret singer Édith Piaf (1915-1963).
Edith f English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch
From the Old English name Eadgyð, derived from the elements ead "wealth, fortune" and guð "battle". It was popular among Anglo-Saxon royalty, being borne for example by Saint Eadgyeth;, the daughter of King Edgar the Peaceful. It was also borne by the Anglo-Saxon wife of the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I. The name remained common after the Norman Conquest. It became rare after the 15th century, but was revived in the 19th century.
Edmond m French, Albanian
French and Albanian form of Edmund. A notable bearer was the English astronomer Edmond Halley (1656-1742), for whom Halley's comet is named.
Edmund m English, German, Polish
Means "rich protection", from the Old English elements ead "wealth, fortune" and mund "protection". This was the name of two Anglo-Saxon kings of England. It was also borne by two saints, including a 9th-century king of East Anglia who, according to tradition, was shot to death with arrows after refusing to divide his Christian kingdom with an invading pagan Danish leader. This Old English name remained in use after the Norman Conquest (even being used by King Henry III for one of his sons), though it became less common after the 15th century.... [more]
Édouard m French
French form of Edward.
Edward m English, Polish
Means "rich guard", derived from the Old English elements ead "wealth, fortune" and weard "guard". This was the name of several Anglo-Saxon kings, the last being Saint Edward the Confessor shortly before the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. He was known as a just ruler, and because of his popularity his name remained in use after the conquest when most other Old English names were replaced by Norman ones. The 13th-century Plantagenet king Henry III named his son and successor after the saint, and seven subsequent kings of England were also named Edward.... [more]
Edwin m English, Dutch
Means "rich friend", from the Old English elements ead "wealth, fortune" and wine "friend". This was the name of a 7th-century Northumbrian king, regarded as a saint. After the Norman Conquest the name was not popular, but it was eventually revived in the 19th century. A notable bearer was the astronaut Edwin Aldrin (1930-), also known as Buzz, the second man to walk on the moon.
Edwina f English
Feminine form of Edwin.
Eemil m Finnish
Finnish form of Emil.
Eeva f Finnish, Estonian
Finnish and Estonian form of Eva.
Eevi f Finnish, Estonian
Finnish and Estonian form of Eva.
Efa f Welsh
Welsh form of Eva.
'Efrayim m Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Ephraim.
Efstathios m Greek
Modern Greek form of Eustathios.
Efthalia f Greek
Modern Greek form of Euthalia.
Eglantine f English (Rare)
From the English word for the flower also known as sweetbrier. It is derived via Old French from Vulgar Latin *aquilentum meaning "prickly". It was early used as a given name (in the form Eglentyne) in Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century story The Prioress's Tale (one of The Canterbury Tales).
Eha f Estonian
Means "dusk" in Estonian.
Eibhlín f Irish
Irish form of Aveline.
Eija f Finnish
Possibly from the Finnish happy exclamation eijaa.
Eiji m Japanese
From Japanese (ei) meaning "excellent, fine" or (ei) meaning "glory, honour, flourish, prosper" combined with (ji) meaning "two" or (ji) meaning "govern, administer". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Eileen f Irish, English
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.
Eilidh f Scottish Gaelic
Diminutive of Eilionoir, also taken to be a Gaelic form of Helen.
Eilionoir f Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Eleanor.
Eilís f Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Elizabeth (or sometimes of Alice).
Eilonwy f Literature
From Welsh eilon meaning "deer, stag" or "song, melody". This name was used by Lloyd Alexander in his book series The Chronicles of Prydain (1964-1968) as well as the Disney film adaptation The Black Cauldron (1985).
Eilwen f Welsh
Perhaps means "white brow", derived from Welsh ael "brow" and gwen "white, blessed". This is a recently created Welsh name.
Einrí m Irish
Irish form of Henry.
Eira 1 f Welsh
Means "snow" in Welsh. This is a recently created name.
Eira 2 f Swedish, Norwegian
Modern form of Eir.
Eirene f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Irene.
Eirian f & m Welsh
Means "bright, beautiful" in Welsh.
Eirlys f Welsh
Means "snowdrop (flower)" in Welsh, a compound of eira "snow" and llys "plant".
Eirwen f Welsh
Means "white snow" from the Welsh elements eira "snow" and gwen "white, blessed". This name was created in the early 20th century.
Eithne f Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish
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.
Ekaterina f Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian
Bulgarian and Macedonian form of Katherine, and an alternate transcription of Russian Екатерина (see Yekaterina).
Ekaterine f Georgian
Georgian form of Katherine.
Ekaterini f Greek
Modern Greek form of Katherine.
Ekene m & f Igbo
Means "thanks, gratitude" in Igbo.
Eladio m Spanish
Spanish form of Helladius.
Elah m Biblical
Means "terebinth tree" in Hebrew. This was the name of the fourth king of Israel, as told in the Old Testament. He was murdered by Zimri, who succeeded him.
Elaheh f Persian
Means "goddess" in Persian.
Elain f Welsh
Means "fawn" in Welsh. This name was created in the 19th century.
Elaina f English
Variant of Elaine.
Elaine f English, Arthurian Cycle
From an Old French form of Helen. It appears in Arthurian legend; in Thomas Malory's 15th-century compilation Le Morte d'Arthur Elaine was the daughter of Pelles, the lover of Lancelot, and the mother of Galahad. It was not commonly used as an English given name until after the publication of Alfred Tennyson's Arthurian epic Idylls of the King (1859).
Elanor f Literature
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.
Elara f Greek Mythology
Possibly derived from Greek ἄλαρα (alara) meaning "hazelnut, spear-shaft". In Greek mythology Elara was one of Zeus's mortal lovers and by him the mother of the giant Tityos. A moon of Jupiter bears this name in her honour.
Elea f English
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.
Eleanor f English
From the Old French form of the Occitan name Alienòr. Among the name's earliest bearers was the influential Eleanor of Aquitaine (12th century), who was the queen of Louis VII, the king of France, and later Henry II, the king of England. She was named Aenor after her mother, and was called by the Occitan phrase alia Aenor "the other Aenor" in order to distinguish her from her mother. However, there appear to be examples of bearers prior to Eleanor of Aquitaine. It is not clear whether they were in fact Aenors who were retroactively recorded as having the name Eleanor, or whether there is an alternative explanation for the name's origin.... [more]
Eleanora f English
Latinate form of Eleanor.
Eleanore f English
Variant of Eleanor.
Elena f Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Slovak, Czech, Lithuanian, Estonian, Finnish, Russian, Greek, German, English
Form of Helen used in various languages, as well as an alternate transcription of Russian Елена (see Yelena).
Elene f Georgian, Sardinian, Basque
Georgian, Sardinian and Basque form of Helen.
Eleni f Greek
Modern Greek form of Helen.
Elenora f English
Variant of Eleanor.
Eleonor f Swedish
Swedish variant of Eleanor.
Eléonore f French
French form of Eleanor.
Eleonore f German
German form of Eleanor.
Eleri f Welsh
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).
Elettra f Italian
Italian form of Electra.
Eleuterio m Spanish, Italian
Spanish and Italian form of Eleutherius.
Elfleda f English (Archaic)
Middle English form of both the Old English names Æðelflæd and Ælfflæd. These names became rare after the Norman Conquest, but Elfleda was briefly revived in the 19th century.
Elfriede f German
German form of Elfreda.
Elham f Persian
Persian form of Ilham.
Eli 1 m English, Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew
Means "ascension" in Hebrew, a derivative of עָלָה (ʿala) meaning "to ascend". In the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament he is a high priest of the Israelites. He took the young Samuel into his service and gave him guidance when God spoke to him. Because of the misdeeds of his sons, Eli and his descendants were cursed to die before reaching old age.... [more]
Eli 3 f Spanish, Norwegian, Danish
Spanish, Norwegian and Danish short form of Elisabet or Elin.
Èlia f Catalan
Catalan form of Aelia.
Elia m Italian
Italian form of Elijah.
Elián m Various (Rare)
In the case of Elián Gonzalez (1993-) it is a combination of Elizabeth and Juan 1, the names of his parents.
Eliana 1 f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English (Modern)
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Éliane.
Eliana 2 f Hebrew
Means "my God has answered" in Hebrew.
Éliane f French
Probably from Aeliana, the feminine form of the Roman name Aelianus, which was derived from the Roman family name Aelius. This was the name of an obscure early saint and martyr from Amasea.
Elías m Spanish, Icelandic
Spanish and Icelandic form of Elijah.
Elias m Portuguese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, English, Dutch, Greek, Amharic, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Form of Elijah used in several languages. This is also the form used in the Greek New Testament, as well as some English translations.
Élie m French
French form of Elijah.
Eliel m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Greek, Finnish, Portuguese (Brazilian)
Means "my God is God" in Hebrew. This name is borne by a number of characters in the Old Testament.
Elif f Turkish
Turkish form of Alif, the name of the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, ا. It also means "slender", from the Turkish phrase elif gibi, literally "shaped like elif".
Eliina f Finnish
Finnish form of Helen.
Eliisa f Finnish
Finnish short form of Elisabet.
Elina f Finnish, Estonian, Swedish
Finnish, Estonian and Swedish form of Helen.
Eline f Norwegian, Dutch, Danish
Norwegian and Dutch variant form of Helen. This is the name of the title character in the novel Eline Vere (1889) by the Dutch writer Louis Couperus.
Elinor f English
Variant of Eleanor.
Elio m Italian
Italian form of Aelius or Helios.
Elioenai m Biblical
Means "my eyes look to Yahweh" in Hebrew, derived from אֶל (ʾel) meaning "towards", יוֹ (yo) referring to the Hebrew God, and עַיִן (ʿayin) meaning "eye". This is the name of several minor characters in the Old Testament.
Elior m Hebrew
Means "my God is my light" in Hebrew.
Eliora f Hebrew
Feminine form of Elior.
Eliot m English
From a surname that was a variant of Elliott. A famous bearer of the surname was T. S. Eliot (1888-1965), an Anglo-American poet and dramatist, the writer of The Waste Land. As a given name, it was borne by the American mob-buster Eliot Ness (1903-1957).
Eliott m English (Rare)
From a surname that was a variant of Elliott.
Elis m Swedish, Medieval English
Swedish variant of Elias, as well as a medieval English form.
Elisabet f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Catalan, Spanish, Biblical Greek
Scandinavian and Finnish form of Elizabeth. It is also used in Spain alongside the traditional form Isabel.
Elisabeta f Romanian
Romanian form of Elizabeth.
Elisabete f Portuguese
Portuguese form of Elizabeth. This more recent form is used alongside the traditional Portuguese form Isabel.
Élisabeth f French
French form of Elizabeth.
Elisabeth f German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English, Biblical, Biblical Latin
German and Dutch form of Elizabeth. It is also a variant English form, reflecting the spelling used in the Authorized Version of the New Testament.
Elisabetĭ f Old Church Slavic
Old Church Slavic form of Elizabeth.
Elisabetta f Italian
Italian form of Elizabeth.
Elisavet f Greek
Modern Greek form of Elizabeth.
Elisaveta f Bulgarian, Macedonian
Bulgarian and Macedonian form of Elizabeth.
Élise f French
French short form of Élisabeth.
Elisedd m Old Welsh
Derived from Welsh elus meaning "kind, benevolent". This was the name of two kings of Powys in Wales.
Eliseo m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Elisha.
Elisha m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
From the Hebrew name אֱלִישַׁע (ʾElishaʿ), a contracted form of אֱלִישׁוּעַ (ʾElishuaʿ) meaning "my God is salvation", derived from אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning "to save, to deliver". According to the Old Testament, Elisha was a prophet and miracle worker. He was the attendant of Elijah and succeeded him after his ascension to heaven.
Eliška f Czech, Slovak
Czech and Slovak diminutive of Elizabeth.
Elissa 1 f Roman Mythology
Meaning unknown, possibly Phoenician in origin. This is another name of Dido, the legendary queen of Carthage.
Elissa 2 f English
Variant of Elisa.
Elita f Latvian
Meaning unknown.
Eliza f English, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Romanian, Hungarian, Georgian
Short form of Elizabeth. It was borne by the character Eliza Doolittle in George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion (1913) and the subsequent musical adaptation My Fair Lady (1956).
Elizabeta f Slovene, Croatian
Slovene and Croatian form of Elizabeth.
Elizabete f Latvian, Portuguese
Latvian form of Elizabeth, as well as a Portuguese variant of Elisabete.
Elizabeth f English, Biblical
From Ἐλισάβετ (Elisabet), the Greek form of the Hebrew name אֱלִישֶׁבַע (ʾElishevaʿ) meaning "my God is an oath", derived from the roots אֵל (ʾel) referring to the Hebrew God and שָׁבַע (shavaʿ) meaning "oath". The Hebrew form appears in the Old Testament where Elisheba is the wife of Aaron, while the Greek form appears in the New Testament where Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist.... [more]
Elizaveta f Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Елизавета (see Yelizaveta).
Elke 1 f Low German, Frisian, German, Dutch
Low German and Frisian diminutive of Adelheid.
Ella 1 f English
Norman name, originally a short form of Germanic names containing the element alles meaning "other" (Proto-Germanic *aljaz). It was introduced to England by the Normans and used until the 14th century, and it was later revived in the 19th century. A famous bearer was the American singer Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996).
Ella 2 f English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Hungarian
Diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen 1 and other names beginning with El. It can also be a short form of names ending in ella.
Elle f English (Modern)
Diminutive of Eleanor and other names beginning with El. This name can also be given in reference to the French pronoun elle meaning "she".... [more]
Ellen 1 f English, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Estonian
Medieval English form of Helen. This was the usual spelling of the name until the 19th century, when the form Helen also became common.
Ellery m & f English
From an English surname that was originally derived from the medieval masculine name Hilary.
Ellie f English
Diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen 1 and other names beginning with El. This name became popular in the United Kingdom in the 1990s, being ranked second for girls in 2003.
Ellington f & m English (Rare)
Derived from the English surname Ellington.
Ellinor f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Scandinavian form of Eleanor.