Names Deemed "refined"

This is a list of names in which the community's impression is refined.
gender
usage
impression
Fernanda f Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
Spanish, Portuguese and Italian feminine form of Ferdinand.
Fernande f French
French feminine form of Ferdinand.
Fernando m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Ferdinand.
Ffion f Welsh
Means "foxglove" in Welsh (species Digitalis purpurea). This is a recently created Welsh name.
Fiammetta f Italian
Diminutive of Fiamma. This is the name of a character appearing in several works by the 14th-century Italian author Boccaccio. She was probably based on the Neapolitan noblewoman Maria d'Aquino.
Fianna f Irish (Modern)
From Irish fiann meaning "band of warriors".
Fidan f Turkish, Azerbaijani
Means "sapling" in Turkish and Azerbaijani.
Fidelia f Spanish (Latin American)
Feminine form of Fidel. It appears in the epic poem The Faerie Queene (1590) belonging to the sister of Speranza.
Fidelis m Late Roman
Original form of Fidel.
Fidelma f Irish
Latinized form of Fedelm.
Fien f Dutch
Short form of Josefien and other names ending with a similar sound.
Fifi f French
Diminutive of Joséphine and other names containing the same sound.
Fikri m Arabic, Turkish, Indonesian
Means "intellectual" in Arabic, a derivative of فكر (fakara) meaning "to think, to reflect".
Filbert m Eastern African
Possibly a form of Philibert. It is particularly used in Tanzania due to track star Filbert Bayi (1953-), who set a world record running the 1500 meter in 1974.
Filipa f Portuguese
Feminine form of Philip.
Filippa f Greek, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Italian
Greek, Scandinavian and Italian feminine form of Philip.
Filomena f Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Lithuanian
Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Lithuanian form of Philomena.
Fina f Italian, Spanish
Short form of Serafina. Saint Fina, also known as Saint Serafina, was a 13th-century girl from the town of San Gimignano in Italy.
Findlay m Scottish
Anglicized form of Fionnlagh.
Finella f Scottish
Variant of Fenella.
Finnian m Irish
Derived from Old Irish finn "white, blessed". This was the name of several Irish saints, including the founders of monasteries at Clonard and Movilla (both 6th century).
Finola f Irish
Anglicized form of Fionnuala.
Fíona f Irish
Derived from Irish fíon meaning "wine".
Fiona f Scottish, English
Feminine form of Fionn. This name was (first?) used by the Scottish poet James Macpherson in his poem Fingal (1761), in which it is spelled as Fióna.
Fionnuala f Irish, Irish Mythology
Means "white shoulder" from Old Irish finn "white, blessed" and gúala "shoulder". In Irish legend Fionnuala was one of the four children of Lir who were transformed into swans for a period of 900 years.
Fionola f Irish (Rare)
Anglicized form of Fionnuala.
Fioralba f Italian (Rare)
Combination of Italian fiore "flower" (Latin flos) and alba "dawn".
Fiore f & m Italian
Means "flower" in Italian. It can also be considered an Italian form of the Latin names Flora and Florus.
Fiorella f Italian
From Italian fiore "flower" combined with a diminutive suffix.
Fiorenza f Italian
Italian feminine form of Florentius (see Florence).
Flavian m History (Ecclesiastical)
From the Roman family name Flavianus, which was derived from Flavius. This was the name of several early saints including a 5th-century patriarch of Constantinople who was beaten to death.
Flávio m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Flavius.
Flavio m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Flavius.
Flavius m Ancient Roman, Romanian
Roman family name meaning "golden" or "yellow-haired" from Latin flavus "yellow, golden". Flavius was the family name of the 1st-century Roman emperors Vespasian, Titus and Domitian. It was used as a personal name by several later emperors, notably by Constantine.
Fleur f French, Dutch, English (British)
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).
Flóra f Hungarian
Hungarian form of Flora.
Flora f English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, French, Greek, Albanian, Roman Mythology
Derived from Latin flos meaning "flower" (genitive case floris). Flora was the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, the wife of Zephyr the west wind. It has been used as a given name since the Renaissance, starting in France. In Scotland it was sometimes used as an Anglicized form of Fionnghuala.
Flore f French
French form of Flora.
Florence f & m English, French
From the Latin name Florentius or the feminine form Florentia, which were derived from florens "prosperous, flourishing". Florentius was borne by many early Christian saints, and it was occasionally used in their honour through the Middle Ages. In modern times it is mostly feminine.... [more]
Florencia f Spanish
Spanish feminine form of Florentius (see Florence).
Florencio m Spanish
Spanish form of Florentius (see Florence).
Florent m French
French masculine form of Florentius (see Florence).
Florentia f Late Roman
Original feminine form of Florence.
Florentin m Romanian, French, German (Rare)
Romanian, French and German form of Florentinus.
Florentine f French
French form of Florentina.
Floretta f English
Latinate diminutive of Flora.
Florette f French (Rare)
French diminutive of Flora.
Florian m German, French, Romanian, Polish, History
From the Roman cognomen Florianus, a derivative of Florus. This was the name of a short-lived Roman emperor of the 3rd century, Marcus Annius Florianus. It was also borne by Saint Florian, a martyr of the 3rd century, the patron saint of Poland and Upper Austria.
Floriana f Italian, Romanian, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Florianus (see Florian).
Floriane f French
French feminine form of Florian.
Floriano m Italian
Italian form of Florian.
Florin m Romanian
Romanian form of Florinus.
Florinda f Spanish, Portuguese
Elaborated form of Spanish or Portuguese flor meaning "flower".
Florine f French
French feminine form of Florinus.
Floris m Dutch
Dutch form of Florentius (see Florence).
Florizel m Literature
From Latin floris, the genitive case of flos meaning "flower". This name was used by Shakespeare for the prince of Bohemia and the lover of Perdita in his play The Winter's Tale (1610).
Florry f English
Diminutive of Florence or Flora.
Florus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was derived from Latin flos meaning "flower" (genitive case floris). It was borne by a 2nd-century saint who was martyred with Laurus in Illyricum.
Flutura f Albanian
Means "butterfly" in Albanian.
France 1 f French
From the name of the country, sometimes considered a feminine form of Frank or short form of Françoise, both of which are ultimately related to the name of the country.
Frances f English
Feminine form of Francis. The distinction between Francis as a masculine name and Frances as a feminine name did not arise until the 17th century. A notable bearer was Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917), a social worker and the first American to be canonized.
Francesca f Italian, Catalan
Italian and Catalan feminine form of Franciscus (see Francis).
Francesca Pia f Italian
Combination of Francesca and Pia.
Francesco m Italian
Italian form of Franciscus (see Francis). Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374) was an Italian Renaissance poet, usually known in English as Petrarch.
Francette f French
Feminine diminutive of François.
Francis m & f English, French
English form of the Late Latin name Franciscus meaning "Frenchman", ultimately from the Germanic tribe of the Franks, who were named for a type of spear that they used (Proto-Germanic *frankô). This name was borne by the 13th-century Saint Francis of Assisi, who was originally named Giovanni but was given the nickname Francesco by his father, an admirer of the French. Francis went on to renounce his father's wealth and devote his life to the poor, founding the Franciscan order of friars. Later in his life he apparently received the stigmata.... [more]
Francisca f Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Late Roman
Feminine form of Franciscus (see Francis).
Francisco m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Franciscus (see Francis). This is the Spanish name of Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552). Other notable bearers include the Spanish painter and engraver Francisco de Goya (1746-1828) and the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco (1892-1975).
Francisco Javier m Spanish
Combination of Francisco and Javier, referring to Saint Francis Xavier.
François m French
French form of Franciscus (see Francis). François Villon (1431-1463) was a French lyric poet. This was also the name of two kings of France.
Françoise f French
Feminine form of François.
Franklin m English
From an English surname that was derived from Middle English frankelin "freeman". A famous bearer of the surname was Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), an American statesman, inventor, scientist and philosopher. The name has commonly been given in his honour in the United States. It also received a boost during the term of American president Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945).
Frañseza f Breton
Breton feminine form of Franciscus (see Francis).
Franz m German
German form of Franciscus (see Francis). This name was borne by the Austrian composer Franz Schubert (1797-1828), the Hungarian composer Franz Liszt (1811-1886) and the Austrian-Czech author Franz Kafka (1883-1924), whose works include The Trial and The Castle. It was also the name of rulers of Austria and the Holy Roman Empire.
Freda f English
Short form of names ending in freda or fred, such as Winifred or Alfreda.
Frédéric m French
French form of Frederick. A famous bearer was the Polish composer Fryderyk or Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849).
Frederick m English
English form of an Old German name meaning "peaceful ruler", derived from fridu "peace" and rih "ruler, king". This name has long been common in continental Germanic-speaking regions, being borne by rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, and Prussia. Notables among these rulers include the 12th-century Holy Roman emperor and crusader Frederick I Barbarossa, the 13th-century emperor and patron of the arts Frederick II, and the 18th-century Frederick II of Prussia, known as Frederick the Great.... [more]
Frédérique f French
French form of Frederica.
Freja f Danish, Swedish
Danish and Swedish form of Freya.
Freya f Norse Mythology, English (Modern), German
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.... [more]
Freyja f Icelandic, Norse Mythology
Icelandic and Old Norse form of Freya.
Freyr m Norse Mythology, Icelandic
Means "lord" in Old Norse, derived from the Germanic root *fraujô. This is the name of a Norse god. He may have originally been called Yngvi, with the name Freyr being his title. Freyr is associated with fertility, sunlight and rain, and is the husband of the giantess Gerd. With his twin sister Freya and father Njord he is one of the group of deities called the Vanir.
Frida 2 f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Derived from Old Norse fríðr meaning "beautiful, beloved".
Friederike f German
German feminine form of Frederick.
Friedrich m German
German form of Frederick. This was the name of several rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, Austria and Prussia. The philosophers Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) and Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) are two other famous bearers of this name.
Frosina f Macedonian
Macedonian form of Euphrosyne.
Frøya f Norwegian
Norwegian form of Freya.
Fuad m Arabic, Azerbaijani, Indonesian, Malay
Means "heart" in Arabic.
Fuyuko f Japanese
From Japanese (fuyu) meaning "winter" and (ko) meaning "child", as well as other combinations of kanji.
Gabriel m French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Catalan, English, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Georgian, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
From the Hebrew name גַבְרִיאֵל (Ḡavriʾel) meaning "God is my strong man", derived from גֶּבֶר (gever) meaning "strong man, hero" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". Gabriel is an archangel in Hebrew tradition, often appearing as a messenger of God. In the Old Testament he is sent to interpret the visions of the prophet Daniel, while in the New Testament he serves as the announcer of the births of John to Zechariah and Jesus to Mary. According to Islamic tradition he was the angel who dictated the Quran to Muhammad.... [more]
Gabriele 1 m Italian
Italian form of Gabriel.
Gabriele 2 f German
German feminine form of Gabriel.
Gabrielė f Lithuanian
Lithuanian feminine form of Gabriel.
Gabriëlle f Dutch
Dutch feminine form of Gabriel.
Gabrielle f French, English
French feminine form of Gabriel. This was the real name of French fashion designer Coco Chanel (1883-1971).
Gaby f & m French, Spanish, English
Diminutive of Gabrielle or Gabriel.
Gaël m French, Breton
Form of Gael using French orthography.
Gaëlle f French, Breton
Feminine form of Gaël.
Gaetano m Italian
Italian form of the Latin name Caietanus, which meant "from Caieta". Caieta (now called Gaeta) was a town in ancient Italy, its name deriving either from Kaiadas, the name a Greek location where prisoners were executed, or else from Caieta, the name of the nurse of Aeneas. Saint Gaetano was a 16th-century Italian priest who founded the Theatines.
Gaia f Greek Mythology, Italian
From the Greek word γαῖα (gaia), a parallel form of γῆ (ge) meaning "earth". In Greek mythology Gaia was the mother goddess who presided over the earth. She was the mate of Uranus and the mother of the Titans and the Cyclopes.
Gaiana f Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Γαϊανή (Gaiane), a derivative of Gaia. This was the name of a (perhaps fictional) martyr who was killed in Armenia during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian in the late 3rd century.
Gala 1 f Russian
Short form of Galina.
Gala 2 f Spanish
Spanish feminine form of Gallus.
Galadriel f Literature
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.
Galatea f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Γαλάτεια (Galateia), probably derived from γάλα (gala) meaning "milk". This was the name of several characters in Greek mythology including a sea nymph who was the daughter of Doris and Nereus and the lover of Acis. According to some sources, this was also the name of the ivory statue carved by Pygmalion that came to life.
Galen m English
Modern form of the Greek name Γαληνός (Galenos), which meant "calm" from Greek γαλήνη (galene). It was borne by a 2nd-century BC Greco-Roman physician who contributed to anatomy and medicine. In modern times the name is occasionally given in his honour.
Galene f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek feminine form of Galen.
Galia f Hebrew
Elaboration of Gal 1. It could also be considered a compound meaning "wave from God", using the element יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God.
Galilahi f Cherokee
Possibly from Cherokee ᎤᎵᎶᎯ (ulilohi) meaning "attractive, adorable".
Galileo m Italian (Rare)
Medieval Italian name derived from Latin galilaeus meaning "Galilean, from Galilee". Galilee is a region in northern Israel, mentioned in the New Testament as the site of several of Jesus's miracles. It is derived from the Hebrew root גָּלִיל (galil) meaning "district, roll".... [more]
Galina f Russian, Bulgarian
Russian and Bulgarian feminine form of Galenos (see Galen).
Gamaliel m Biblical, Biblical Greek
Means "my reward is God" in Hebrew, from the roots גָּמַל (gamal) meaning "to reward" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This name appears in the Old Testament belonging to a son of Pedahzur. It was also borne by a 1st-century Jewish priest and scholar, mentioned in Acts in the New Testament as a teacher of Saint Paul.
Gardenia f English (Rare)
From the name of the tropical flower, which was named for the Scottish naturalist Alexander Garden (1730-1791).
Garnett m & f English
Variant of Garnet 2.
Gauri f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi
Derived from Sanskrit गौर (gaura) meaning "white, pale, yellow". This is a Hindu goddess, another name of Parvati the wife of Shiva, so named because of her fair complexion.
Gauthier m French
French form of Walter.
Gavino m Italian
From the Late Latin name Gabinus, which possibly referred to the ancient city of Gabii in central Italy. Saint Gavino was martyred in Sardinia in the 3rd century.
Gavriel m Hebrew
Hebrew form of Gabriel.
Gavriil m Greek, Russian
Greek and Russian form of Gabriel.
Gelsomina f Italian
Italian form of Jasmine.
Gemma f Italian, Catalan, English (British), Dutch
Medieval Italian nickname meaning "gem, precious stone". It was borne by the wife of the 13th-century Italian poet Dante Alighieri.
Gena 2 m Russian
Diminutive of Gennadiy.
Geneva f English
Possibly a shortened form of Genevieve. It could also be inspired by the name of the city in Switzerland. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the 19th century.
Geneviève f French
From the medieval name Genovefa, which is of uncertain origin. It could be derived from the Germanic elements *kunją "clan, family, lineage" and *wībą "wife, woman". Alternatively it could be of Gaulish origin, from the related Celtic element *genos "kin, family" combined with a second element of unknown meaning. This name was borne by Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, who inspired the city to resist the Huns in the 5th century.
Genevieve f English
English form of Geneviève.
Genoveva f Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan
Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan form of Geneviève.
Gentian m Albanian
From the name of the flowering plant called the gentian, the roots of which are used to create a tonic. It is derived from the name of the Illyrian king Gentius, who supposedly discovered its medicinal properties.
Geoffrey m English, French
From a Norman French form of a Frankish name. The second element is Old German fridu "peace", while the first element could be *gautaz "Geat" (a North Germanic tribe), gawi "territory" or walah "foreigner". It is possible that two or more names merged into a single form. In the later Middle Ages Geoffrey was further confused with the distinct name Godfrey.... [more]
George m English, Romanian, Indian (Christian)
From the Greek name Γεώργιος (Georgios), which was derived from the Greek word γεωργός (georgos) meaning "farmer, earthworker", itself derived from the elements γῆ (ge) meaning "earth" and ἔργον (ergon) meaning "work". Saint George was a 3rd-century Roman soldier from Cappadocia who was martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian. Later legends describe his defeat of a dragon, with which he was often depicted in medieval art.... [more]
Georgeta f Romanian
Romanian feminine form of George.
Georgia f English, Greek
Latinate feminine form of George. This is the name of an American state, which was named after the British king George II. The country of Georgia has an unrelated etymology. A famous bearer was the American painter Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986).
Georgiana f English, Romanian
Feminine form of George. This form of the name has been in use in the English-speaking world since the 18th century.
Georgina f English, Spanish, Hungarian
Feminine form of George.
Geraldine f English
Feminine form of Gerald. This name was created by the poet Henry Howard for use in a 1537 sonnet praising Lady Elizabeth FitzGerald, whom he terms The Geraldine.
Gerasim m Russian, Bulgarian, Macedonian
Russian, Bulgarian and Macedonian form of Gerasimos.
Gerel f Mongolian
Means "light" in Mongolian.
Gervais m French
French form of Gervasius.
Gethsemane f Various (Rare)
From a biblical place name, the garden where Jesus was arrested, located on the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem. It is derived from Γεθσημανί (Gethsemani), the Greek form of an Aramaic name meaning "oil vat". It is very rarely used as a given name.
Ghislaine f French
Feminine form of Ghislain.
Giada f Italian
Italian form of Jade.
Giang f & m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese (giang) meaning "river".
Gianmaria m Italian
Combination of Gianni and Maria.
Gianna f Italian, Greek, English (Modern)
Italian short form of Giovanna and a Modern Greek variant of Ioanna.... [more]
Giannina f Italian
Diminutive of Giovanna.
Gifty f English (African)
From the English word gift. This name is most common in Ghana in Africa.
Gigi 1 f French
French diminutive of Georgine or Virginie.
Giiwedinokwe f Ojibwe
Means "woman of the north" in Ojibwe, derived from giiwedin "north" and ikwe "woman".
Giles m English
From the Late Latin name Aegidius, which is derived from Greek αἰγίδιον (aigidion) meaning "young goat". Saint Giles was an 8th-century miracle worker who came to southern France from Greece. He is regarded as the patron saint of the crippled. In Old French the name Aegidius became Gidie and then Gilles, at which point it was imported to England. Another famous bearer was the 13th-century philosopher and theologian Giles of Rome (Egidio in Italian).
Gillian f English
Medieval English feminine form of Julian. This spelling has been in use since the 13th century, though it was not declared a distinct name from Julian until the 17th century.
Ginette f French
Diminutive of Geneviève.
Ginevra f Italian
Italian form of Guinevere. This is also the Italian name for the city of Geneva, Switzerland. It is also sometimes associated with the Italian word ginepro meaning "juniper".
Gintaras m Lithuanian
Means "amber" in Lithuanian.
Gio m Georgian
Short form of Giorgi.
Giorgia f Italian, Greek
Italian feminine form of George, as well as a Greek variant form.
Giorgina f Italian
Diminutive of Giorgia.
Giorgio m Italian
Italian form of George.
Giosetta f Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Josette.
Giosuè m Italian
Italian form of Joshua.
Giovanna f Italian
Italian form of Iohanna (see Joanna), making it the feminine form of Giovanni.
Giovanni m Italian
Italian form of Iohannes (see John). This name has been very common in Italy since the late Middle Ages, as with other equivalents of John in Europe. The Renaissance writer Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375), the painter Giovanni Bellini (1430-1516) and the painter and sculptor Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) were famous bearers of the name.
Gisela f German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese
German, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese form of Giselle.
Gisèle f French
French variant of Giselle.
Gisella f Italian
Italian form of Giselle.
Giselle f French, English (Modern)
Derived from the Old German element gisal meaning "hostage, pledge" (Proto-Germanic *gīslaz). This name may have originally been a descriptive nickname for a child given as a pledge to a foreign court. This was the name of both a sister and daughter of Charlemagne. It was also borne by a daughter of the French king Charles III who married the Norman leader Rollo in the 10th century. Another notable bearer was the 11th-century Gisela of Swabia, wife of the Holy Roman emperor Conrad II.... [more]
Gita 1 f Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Nepali
From Sanskrit गीत (gīta) meaning "song". The word appears in the name of the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred text of Hinduism (meaning "divine song").
Giuditta f Italian
Italian form of Judith.
Giulia f Italian
Italian feminine form of Julius.
Giuliana f Italian
Feminine form of Giuliano.
Giuliano m Italian
Italian form of Iulianus (see Julian).
Giulietta f Italian
Diminutive of Giulia.
Giuseppe m Italian
Italian form of Joseph. Two noteworthy bearers were Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882), a military leader who united Italy, and Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), a composer of operas.
Gizella f Hungarian
Hungarian form of Giselle.
Gladwin m English (Rare)
From a surname that was derived from the Old English given name Glædwine.
Glædwine m Anglo-Saxon
Old English name derived from the elements glæd "bright, cheerful, glad" and wine "friend". This name was not actually recorded in the Old English era, though it is attested starting in the 11th century.
Glaphyra f Ancient Greek
From Greek γλαφυρός (glaphyros) meaning "polished, subtle".
Glenda f English
Probably a feminine form of Glenn using the suffix da (from names such as Linda and Wanda). This name was not regularly used until the 20th century.
Glendower m Welsh
Anglicized form of Glyndwr.
Glenice f Welsh
Anglicized form of Glenys.
Glenna f English
Feminine form of Glenn.
Glenys f Welsh
Probably an elaboration of the Welsh word glân "pure, clean, holy" or glyn "valley". This name was created in the late 19th century.
Glinda f Literature
Created by author L. Frank Baum for his character Glinda the Good Witch, a kind sorceress in his Oz series of books beginning in 1900. It is not known what inspired the name.
Gloria f English, Spanish, Italian, German
Means "glory", from the Portuguese and Spanish titles of the Virgin Mary Maria da Glória and María de Gloria. Maria da Glória (1819-1853) was the daughter of the Brazilian emperor Pedro I, eventually becoming queen of Portugal as Maria II.... [more]
Gloriana f English (Rare)
Elaborated form of Latin gloria meaning "glory". In Edmund Spenser's poem The Faerie Queene (1590) this was the name of the title character, a representation of Queen Elizabeth I.
Glory f English (Rare)
Simply from the English word glory, ultimately from Latin gloria.
Glynis f Welsh
Variant of Glenys.
Glynn m Welsh
Variant of Glyn.
Godelieve f Flemish
Dutch (Flemish) form of Godeliva.
Godfrey m English
From the Germanic name Godefrid, which meant "peace of god" from the Old German elements got "god" and fridu "peace". The Normans brought this name to England, where it became common during the Middle Ages. A notable bearer was Godfrey of Bouillon, an 11th-century leader of the First Crusade and the first ruler of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Godiva f Anglo-Saxon (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Old English name Godgifu meaning "gift of god", from the elements god and giefu "gift". Lady Godiva was an 11th-century English noblewoman who, according to legend, rode naked through the streets of Coventry to protest the high taxes imposed by her husband upon the townspeople.
Godwine m Anglo-Saxon
Means "friend of god", derived from Old English god combined with wine "friend". This was the name of the powerful 11th-century Earl of Wessex, the father of King Harold II of England.
Goodwin m English (Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from the given name Godwine.
Grace f English
From the English word grace, which ultimately derives from Latin gratia. This was one of the virtue names created in the 17th century by the Puritans. The actress Grace Kelly (1929-1982) was a famous bearer.... [more]
Gracia f Spanish
Means "grace" in Spanish, making it a cognate of Grace.
Graciana f Spanish, Portuguese
Feminine form of Graciano.
Gracie f English
Diminutive of Grace.
Graciela f Spanish
Elaboration of Gracia.
Gracja f Polish
Polish form of Gracia.
Grania f Irish
Latinized form of Gráinne.
Gratian m History
From the Roman name Gratianus, which was derived from Latin gratus meaning "grateful". Saint Gratian was the first bishop of Tours (4th century). This was also the name of a Roman emperor.
Gratiana f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Gratianus (see Gratian).
Grazia f Italian
Means "grace" in Italian, making it a cognate of Grace.
Gregoria f Spanish, Italian (Rare)
Feminine form of Gregorius (see Gregory).
Gregorio m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Gregorius (see Gregory).
Grenville m English (Rare)
From a surname that was a variant of Granville.
Gréta f Hungarian, Icelandic
Short form of Margaréta (Hungarian) or Margrét (Icelandic).
Guillaume m French
French form of William.
Guillem m Catalan
Catalan form of William.
Guinevere f Arthurian Cycle
From the Norman French form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar meaning "white phantom", ultimately from the old Celtic roots *windos meaning "white" (modern Welsh gwen) and *sēbros meaning "phantom, magical being". In Arthurian legend she was the beautiful wife of King Arthur. According to the 12th-century chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth, she was seduced by Mordred before the battle of Camlann, which led to the deaths of both Mordred and Arthur. According to the 12th-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes, she engaged in an adulterous affair with Sir Lancelot.... [more]
Gül f Turkish
Means "rose" in Turkish, ultimately from Persian.
Gulistan f Kurdish
Kurdish form of Gülistan.
Gwen f Welsh, English
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.
Gwenaëlle f French, Breton
Feminine form of Gwenaël.
Gwendolen f Welsh
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. Geoffrey later used it in Vita Merlini for the wife of the prophet Merlin. An alternate theory claims that the name arose from a misreading of the masculine name Guendoleu by Geoffrey.... [more]
Gwendolyn f English
Variant of Gwendolen. This is the usual spelling in the United States.
Gweneth f Welsh
Variant of Gwyneth.
Gwenllian f Welsh
Derived from the Welsh elements gwen meaning "white, blessed" and possibly lliain meaning "flaxen, made of linen" or lliant meaning "flow, flood". This name was used by medieval Welsh royalty, notably by a 12th-century princess of Deheubarth who died in battle with the Normans. It was also borne by the 13th-century daughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last prince of Gwynedd.
Gwenneth f Welsh
Variant of Gwyneth.
Gwenyth f Welsh
Variant of Gwyneth.
Gwyneira f Welsh
Means "white snow" from the Welsh element gwyn meaning "white, blessed" combined with eira meaning "snow". This is a recently created Welsh name.
Gwyneth f Welsh, English
Probably a variant of Gwynedd. It has been common in Wales since the 19th century, perhaps after the Welsh novelist Gwyneth Vaughan (1852-1910), whose real name was Ann Harriet Hughes. A modern famous bearer is the American actress Gwyneth Paltrow (1972-).
f & m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese () meaning "river".
Hadassah f Biblical, Hebrew
From Hebrew הֲדַס (haḏas) meaning "myrtle tree". In the Old Testament this is the Hebrew name of Queen Esther.
Hadia 1 f Arabic
Means "gift" in Arabic, ultimately a derivative of هدى (hadā) meaning "to lead the right way, to guide".
Hajnalka f Hungarian
Means "morning glory (flower)" in Hungarian.
Hala f Arabic
Means "halo around the moon" in Arabic. This was the name of a sister-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad.
Halcyon f Various (Rare)
From the name of a genus of kingfisher birds, derived from Greek ἀλκυών (from the same source as Alcyone).
Halima f Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Hausa, Swahili
Feminine form of Halim. Halima was the name of the foster mother of the Prophet Muhammad.
Halina f Polish, Belarusian
Polish and Belarusian form of Galina.
Halldóra f Icelandic
Icelandic feminine form of Haldor.
Halyna f Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Galina.
Hamed m Arabic, Persian
Alternate transcription of Arabic حامد (see Hamid 2), as well as the usual Persian transcription.
Hamilton m English
From a Scottish and English surname that was derived from Old English hamel "crooked, mutilated" and dun "hill". The surname was originally taken from the name of a town in Leicestershire, England (which no longer exists). A famous bearer of the surname was Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), a founding father of the United States who was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr.
Hamlet m Literature, Armenian
Anglicized form of the Danish name Amleth. Shakespeare used this name for the main character in his tragedy Hamlet (1600), which he based upon earlier Danish tales. In the play, Hamlet is a prince of Denmark seeking to avenge the death of his father (also named Hamlet) at the hands of his uncle Claudius.
Hana 1 f Arabic, Bosnian
Means "bliss, happiness" in Arabic, from the root هنأ (hanaʾa) meaning "to gladden, to enjoy".
Hana 3 f Japanese
From Japanese (hana) or (hana) both meaning "flower". Other kanji or kanji combinations can form this name as well.
Hana 4 f Korean
Means "one" in Korean.
Hanaa f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic هناء (see Hana 1).
Hanae f Japanese
From Japanese (hana) or (hana), which both mean "flower", combined with (e) meaning "picture" or (e) meaning "favour, benefit". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Hanako f Japanese
From Japanese (hana) meaning "flower" and (ko) meaning "child", as well as other kanji combinations.
Hanan 2 f Arabic
Means "mercy, compassion" in Arabic, derived from the root حنّ (ḥanna) meaning "to sympathize, to pity".
Handan f Turkish
From Persian خندان (khandān) meaning "laughing, smiling".
Hande f Turkish
From Persian خنده (khandeh) meaning "laughter, smile".
Haneul m & f Korean
Means "heaven, sky" in Korean.
Hani m Arabic
Means "happy, delighted" in Arabic, from the root هنأ (hanaʾa) meaning "to gladden, to enjoy".
Hania 1 f Polish
Polish diminutive of Hanna 1.
Hania 2 f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic هنيّة (see Haniyya).
Hankin m Medieval English
Diminutive of Hann.
Hannah f English, Hebrew, German, Dutch, Arabic, Biblical
From the Hebrew name חַנָּה (Ḥanna) meaning "favour, grace", derived from the root חָנַן (ḥanan) meaning "to be gracious". In the Old Testament this is the name of the wife of Elkanah. Her rival was Elkanah's other wife Peninnah, who had children while Hannah remained barren. After a blessing from Eli she finally became pregnant with Samuel.... [more]
Hannelore f German
Combination of Hanne 1 and Eleonore.
Hans m German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
German short form of Johannes, now used independently. This name has been very common in German-speaking areas of Europe since the late Middle Ages. From an early period it was transmitted to the Low Countries and Scandinavia. Two famous bearers were Hans Holbein (1497-1543), a German portrait painter, and Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), a Danish writer of fairy tales.
Harding m English
From an English surname that was derived from the Old English given name Heard. A famous bearer of the surname was American president Warren G. Harding (1865-1923).
Harmonia f Greek Mythology
Means "harmony, agreement" in Greek. She was the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, given by Zeus to Cadmus to be his wife.
Harmony f English
From the English word harmony, ultimately deriving from Greek ἁρμονία (harmonia).
Harriet f English
English form of Henriette, and thus a feminine form of Harry. It was first used in the 17th century, becoming very common in the English-speaking world by the 18th century. Famous bearers include the Americans Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, and the abolitionist Harriet Tubman (1820-1913).
Harsha m Kannada, Telugu, Sanskrit
Means "happiness" in Sanskrit. Harsha (or Harṣa, also called Harshavardhana) was a 7th-century emperor of northern India. He was also noted as an author.
Haruka f & m Japanese
From Japanese (haruka) meaning "distant, remote". It can also come from (haru) meaning "spring" or (haru) meaning "clear weather" combined with (ka) meaning "flower, blossom" or (ka) meaning "fragrance". Additionally, other kanji combinations can form this name.
Hasan m Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Indonesian, Malay, Albanian, Bosnian
Means "handsome" in Arabic, from the root حسن (ḥasuna) meaning "to be beautiful, to be good". Hasan was the son of Ali and the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. He was poisoned by one of his wives and is regarded as a martyr by Shia Muslims. This was also the name of two kings of Morocco. It is sometimes transcribed as Hassan, though this is a distinct name in Arabic.
Hasib m Arabic, Urdu
Means "noble, respected" in Arabic.
Hasna f Arabic
Means "beauty" in Arabic, a derivative of حسن (ḥasuna) meaning "to be beautiful, to be good".
Hatice f Turkish
Turkish form of Khadija.
Haven f & m English
From the English word for a safe place, derived ultimately from Old English hæfen.
Havilah m Biblical
Probably means "to dance, to circle, to twist" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is both a place name and a masculine personal name.
Havryil m Ukrainian (Rare)
Ukrainian form of Gabriel.
Hawise f Medieval English
English form of a medieval French name appearing in various spellings such as Haueis or Haouys, which were derived from Hadewidis. The name was borne by a number of Norman and Anglo-Norman noblewomen from the 11th to 13th centuries.
Haya f Arabic
Means "hurry, come quickly" in Arabic.
Hayat f & m Arabic, Persian, Urdu
Means "life" in Arabic, from حيي (ḥayiya) meaning "to live". In Arabic and Persian it is a feminine name, while in Urdu it is masculine.
Haytham m Arabic
Means "young eagle" in Arabic.
Ha-Yun f Korean
From Sino-Korean (ha) meaning "summer, name" combined with (yun) meaning "sunlight". Other hanja character combinations are possible.
Hazan f Turkish
Means "autumn" in Turkish.
Hazel f English
From the English word hazel for the tree or the light brown colour, derived ultimately from Old English hæsel. It was coined as a given name in the 19th century and quickly became popular, reaching the 18th place for girls in the United States by 1897. It fell out of fashion in the second half of the 20th century, but has since recovered.
Heather f English
From the English word heather for the variety of small shrubs with pink or white flowers, which commonly grow in rocky areas. It is derived from Middle English hather. It was first used as a given name in the late 19th century, though it did not become popular until the last half of the 20th century.