Names Categorized "food"

This is a list of names in which the categories include food.
gender
usage
​
Aeron m & f Welsh
From the name of the Welsh river Aeron, itself probably derived from the hypothetical Celtic goddess Agrona. Alternatively, the name could be taken from Welsh aeron meaning "berries".
Aerona f Welsh
Variant of Aeron.
Aeronwen f Welsh (Rare)
Combination of Aeron and the Welsh element gwen meaning "white, blessed".
Aeronwy f Welsh (Rare)
Extended form of Aeron.
Aina 3 f Japanese
From Japanese 愛 (ai) meaning "love, affection" and 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens", as well as other character combinations.
Airi 1 f Japanese
From Japanese 愛 (ai) meaning "love, affection" combined with 莉 (ri) meaning "white jasmine" or 梨 (ri) meaning "pear". Other combinations of kanji characters are possible.
Aithne f Irish (Rare)
Possibly a variant of Eithne.
Ajda 2 f Slovene
Means "buckwheat" in Slovene.
Alcyone f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἀλκυόνη (Alkyone), derived from the word ἀλκυών (alkyon) meaning "kingfisher". In Greek myth this name belonged to a daughter of Aeolus and the wife of Ceyx. After her husband was killed in a shipwreck she threw herself into the water, but the gods saved her and turned them both into kingfishers. This is also the name of the brightest of the Pleiades, a group of stars in the constellation Taurus, supposedly the daughters of Atlas and Pleione.
Alma 1 f English, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Albanian, Slovene, Croatian
This name became popular after the Battle of Alma (1854), which took place near the River Alma in Crimea and ended in a victory for Britain and France. However, the name was in rare use before the battle; it was probably inspired by Latin almus "nourishing". It also coincides with the Spanish word meaning "the soul".
Amandine f French
French diminutive of Amanda.
Ambrosia f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Ambrosios (see Ambrose).
Anar 2 f Kazakh
Variant of Anara.
Anara f Kazakh, Kyrgyz
From Kazakh and Kyrgyz анар (anar) meaning "pomegranate", a word ultimately derived from Persian.
Anargul f Kazakh
Means "blooming pomegranate tree" in Kazakh.
Angus m Scottish, Irish, English
Anglicized form of Aonghus.
Apple f English (Rare)
From the English word for the fruit, derived from Middle English appel, Old English æppel. The American actress Gwenyth Paltrow and British musician Chris Martin gave this name to their daughter in 2004.
Arista f Astronomy
Means "ear of grain" in Latin. This is the name of a star, also known as Spica, in the constellation Virgo.
Árpád m Hungarian
From Hungarian árpa meaning "barley". This was the name of a 9th-century Magyar ruler who led his people into Hungary. He is considered a Hungarian national hero.
Asal f Persian
Means "honey" in Persian (of Arabic origin).
Asel f Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkish
From Arabic عسل (ʿasal) meaning "honey".
Assol f Russian (Rare), Literature
From the 1923 Russian novel Scarlet Sails by Alexander Grin, adapted into a 1961 Soviet movie. In the story, Assol is a young girl who is told by a prophetic old man that she will one day marry a prince. The meaning of the name is not uncertain, but it has been suggested that it was inspired by the Russian question а соль (a sol) meaning "and the salt?".
Aswathi m Malayalam
From Sanskrit अशवत्थ (aśvattha) meaning "sacred fig tree".
Avalon f English (Rare)
From the name of the island paradise to which King Arthur was brought after his death. The name of this island is perhaps related to Welsh afal meaning "apple", a fruit that was often linked with paradise.
Aveline f English (Rare)
From the Norman French form of the Germanic name Avelina, a diminutive of Avila. The Normans introduced this name to Britain. After the Middle Ages it became rare as an English name, though it persisted in America until the 19th century.
Aýnabat f Turkmen
Derived from Turkmen aý "moon" and nabat, a type of crystallized sugar candy.
Başak f Turkish
Means "ear of wheat" in Turkish. This is also the Turkish name for the constellation Virgo.
Belén f Spanish
Spanish form of Bethlehem, the name of the town in Judah where King David and Jesus were born. The town's name is from Hebrew בֵּית־לֶחֶם (Beṯ-leḥem) meaning "house of bread".
Berry 1 m English
Variant of Barry.
Berry 2 f English (Rare)
From the English word referring to the small fruit. It is ultimately derived from Old English berie. This name has only been in use since the 20th century.
Boróka f Hungarian
Hungarian diminutive of Borbála. It also means "juniper" in Hungarian.
Bradán m Medieval Irish
Means "salmon" in Irish. It could also be formed from Irish brad "thief" and a diminutive suffix.
Bran 1 m Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish
Means "raven" in Irish. In Irish legend Bran mac Febail was a mariner who was involved in several adventures on his quest to find the Otherworld.
Caesar m Ancient Roman
From a Roman cognomen that possibly meant "hairy", from Latin caesaries "hair". Julius Caesar and his adopted son Julius Caesar Octavianus (commonly known as Augustus) were both rulers of the Roman Empire in the 1st century BC. Caesar was used as a title by the emperors that came after them.
Çağla f Turkish
Means "almonds" in Turkish.
Cam 1 f & m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 柑 (cam) meaning "orange (fruit)".
Candy f English
Diminutive of Candace. It is also influenced by the English word candy.
Carpus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latin form of the Greek name Καρπός (Karpos), which meant "fruit, profits". The name is mentioned briefly in the New Testament in the second epistle of Timothy.
Cassia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Cassius.
Cerise f French
Means "cherry" in French.
Cherry f English
Simply means "cherry" from the name of the fruit. It can also be a diminutive of Charity. It has been in use since the late 19th century.
Chip m English
Diminutive of Charles or Christopher. It can also be from a nickname given in reference to the phrase a chip off the old block, used of a son who is similar to his father.
Cicero m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen derived from Latin cicer meaning "chickpea". Marcus Tullius Cicero (now known simply as Cicero) was a statesman, orator and author of the 1st century BC. He was a political enemy of Mark Antony, who eventually had him executed.
Clementine f English
English form of Clémentine.
Coco f Various
Diminutive of names beginning with Co, influenced by the word cocoa. However, this was not the case for French fashion designer Coco Chanel (1883-1971; real name Gabrielle), whose nickname came from the name of a song she performed while working as a cabaret singer.
Colby m English
From an English surname, originally from various place names, derived from the Old Norse byname Koli (meaning "coal, dark") and býr "farm, settlement". As a given name, its popularity spiked in the United States and Canada in 2001 when Colby Donaldson (1974-) appeared on the reality television show Survivor.
Dagan m Semitic Mythology
Variant of Dagon.
Dagon m Semitic Mythology
Perhaps related to Ugaritic dgn meaning "grain". This was the name of a Semitic god of agriculture, usually depicted with the body of a fish.
Dáire m Irish, Irish Mythology
Means "fruitful, fertile" in Irish. This name is borne by many figures in Irish legend, including the Ulster chief Dáire mac Fiachna who reneged on his promise to loan the Brown Bull of Cooley to Medb, starting the war between Connacht and Ulster as told in the Irish epic The Cattle Raid of Cooley.
Dáirine f Irish, Irish Mythology
Possibly derived from Dáire. This was the name of the daughter of the legendary Irish king Túathal Techtmar.
Dara 1 m Irish
Anglicized form of Dáire.
Darach m Irish
Means "of oak" in Irish, from the genitive case of dair.
Daragh m Irish
Anglicized form of Dáire or Darach.
Dardan m Albanian
From the name of the Dardani, an Illyrian tribe who lived on the Balkan Peninsula. Their name may derive from an Illyrian word meaning "pear". They were unrelated to the ancient people who were also called the Dardans who lived near Troy.
Dardana f Albanian
Feminine form of Dardan.
Dardanos m Greek Mythology
Possibly from Greek δαρδάπτω (dardapto) meaning "to devour". In Greek mythology Dardanos was a son of Zeus and Electra. He was the founder of the city of Dardania in Asia Minor.
Darina 1 f Irish
Anglicized form of Dáirine.
Darragh m Irish
Anglicized form of Dáire or Darach.
Dekel m Hebrew
Means "palm tree" in Hebrew.
Denver m & f English
From an English surname that was from a place name meaning "Dane ford" in Old English. This is the name of the capital city of Colorado, which was named for the politician James W. Denver (1817-1892).
Diane f French, English
French form of Diana, also regularly used in the English-speaking world.
Dikla m & f Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Diklah. In modern Hebrew it is also used as a feminine name.
Diklah m Biblical
Possibly means "palm grove" in Hebrew or Aramaic. In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of Joktan.
Dos-teh-seh f Apache
Possibly means "something at the campire already cooked" in Apache. This was the name of the wife of the Chiricahua Apache chief Cochise.
Dulce f Spanish, Portuguese
Means "sweet" or "candy" in Spanish.
Dulce María f Spanish
Combination of Dulce and María.
Dunja f Serbian, Croatian, Slovene
Means "quince" in the South Slavic languages, a quince being a type of fruit similar to a pear.
Efraim m Hebrew
Hebrew form of Ephraim.
Efraín m Spanish
Spanish form of Ephraim.
Efrat f Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Ephrath.
'Efrayim m Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Ephraim.
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.
Ekin f & m Turkish
Means "harvest, culture" in Turkish.
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.
Elvis m English
Meaning unknown. It could possibly be a derivative of Alvis or Elwin. More likely, it is from the rare surname Elvis, a variant of Elwes, which is ultimately derived from the given name Eloise. The name was brought to public attention by the singer Elvis Presley (1935-1977), whose name came from his father's middle name.... [more]
Ena 1 f Irish
Anglicized form of Eithne.
Enya f Irish
Anglicized form of Eithne.
Ephraim m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
From the Hebrew name אֶףְרָיִם (ʾEfrayim) meaning "fruitful". In the Old Testament Ephraim is a son of Joseph and Asenath and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This name was also borne by two early saints: Ephraim or Ephrem the Syrian, a 4th-century theologian, and Ephraim of Antioch, a 6th-century patriarch of Antioch.
Ephrath f Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Means "fruitful place" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this name is borne by one of the wives of Caleb. Also in the Bible, it is the name of the place where Rachel was buried.
Esti 1 f Basque (Rare)
Means "sweet, honey", from Basque ezti.
Estiñe f Basque (Rare)
Variant of Esti 1.
Ethna f Irish
Anglicized form of Eithne.
Ethne f Irish Mythology
Variant of Eithne.
Ethniu f Irish Mythology
Variant of Eithne.
Eustace m English
English form of Eustachius or Eustathius, two names of Greek origin that have been conflated in the post-classical period. Saint Eustace, who is known under both spellings, was a 2nd-century Roman general who became a Christian after seeing a vision of a cross between the antlers of a stag he was hunting. He was burned to death for refusing to worship the Roman gods and is now regarded as the patron saint of hunters. Due to him, this name was common in England during the Middle Ages, though it is presently rare.
Eustache m French
French form of Eustachius or Eustathius (see Eustace).
Eustachio m Italian
Italian form of Eustachius (see Eustace).
Eustachius m Late Roman
Possibly from the Greek name Eustachys, or from the same elements. This (or Eustathius) is the Latin name of Saint Eustace.
Eustachy m Polish (Archaic)
Polish form of Eustachius (see Eustace).
Eustachys m Ancient Greek
Means "fruitful" in Greek. It is ultimately from the elements εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and στάχυς (stachys) meaning "ear of corn".
Eustacia f English (Rare)
Feminine form of Eustace.
Eustaquia f Spanish
Spanish feminine form of Eustachius (see Eustace).
Eustáquio m Portuguese (Brazilian)
Portuguese form of Eustachius (see Eustace).
Eustaquio m Spanish
Spanish form of Eustachius (see Eustace).
Evron m Hebrew (Rare)
From a biblical place name, also called עַבְדּוֹן (ʿAvdon) meaning "servile", for which it may be a clerical error.
Fábia f Portuguese
Portuguese feminine form of Fabius.
Fabia f Italian, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Fabius.
Fábián m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Fabianus (see Fabian).
Fabián m Spanish
Spanish form of Fabianus (see Fabian).
Fabian m German, Dutch, Polish, Romanian, English
From the Roman cognomen Fabianus, which was derived from Fabius. Saint Fabian was a 3rd-century pope.
Fabiana f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Fabianus (see Fabian).
Fabiano m Italian, Portuguese
Italian and Portuguese form of Fabianus (see Fabian).
Fabianus m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Fabian.
Fabien m French
French form of Fabianus (see Fabian).
Fabienne f French
French feminine form of Fabianus (see Fabian).
Fabijan m Croatian, Slovene
Croatian and Slovene form of Fabianus (see Fabian).
Fábio m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Fabius.
Fabio m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Fabius.
Fabíola f Portuguese
Portuguese form of Fabiola.
Fabiola f Italian, Spanish, Ancient Roman
Latin diminutive of Fabia. This was the name of a 4th-century saint from Rome.
Fabius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from Latin faba meaning "bean". Quintus Fabius Maximus was the Roman general who used delaying tactics to halt the invasion of Hannibal in the 3rd century BC.
Fabó m Hungarian (Rare)
Diminutive of Fábián.
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.
Fructuoso m Spanish
Spanish form of Fructuosus.
Fructuosus m Late Roman
Derived from Latin fructuosus meaning "fruitful, productive", from fructus meaning "enjoyment, product, fruit". Saint Fructuosus was a 3rd-century bishop of Tarragona and a martyr under the Roman emperor Valerian. Another saint by this name was a 7th-century archbishop of Braga.
Galaktion m Late Greek, Georgian
Probably a derivative of Greek γάλα (gala) meaning "milk" (genitive γάλακτος). This was the name of a 3rd-century saint (also called Galation) who was martyred in Emesa, Syria. It was also borne by the Georgian poet Galaktion Tabidze (1892-1959).
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.
Gefen f & m Hebrew
Means "grape vine" in Hebrew.
Gera m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Possibly means "a grain" in Hebrew. This is the name of several members of the tribe of Benjamin in the Old Testament.
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.
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".
Ginger f English
From the English word ginger for the spice or the reddish-brown colour. It can also be a diminutive of Virginia, as in the case of actress and dancer Ginger Rogers (1911-1995), by whom the name was popularized.
Golnar f Persian
Means "pomegranate flower", derived from Persian گل (gol) meaning "flower" and نار (nār) meaning "pomegranate".
Gölnara f Tatar
Tatar form of Golnar.
Gráinne f Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish
Possibly derived from Old Irish grán meaning "grain" or gráin meaning "hatred, fear". In the Irish legend The Pursuit of Diarmaid and Gráinne she escaped from her arranged marriage to Fionn mac Cumhaill by fleeing with her lover Diarmaid. Another famous bearer was the powerful 16th-century Irish landowner and seafarer Gráinne Ní Mháille (known in English as Grace O'Malley), who was sometimes portrayed as a pirate queen in later tales.
Grania f Irish
Latinized form of Gráinne.
Granuaile f History
From Irish Gráinne Mhaol meaning "bald Gráinne". This was another name of Gráinne Ní Mháille, given in reference to her close-cropped hair as a young woman.
Granya f Irish (Rare)
Variant of Grania.
Grozda f Bulgarian, Macedonian
Feminine form of Grozdan.
Grozdan m Bulgarian, Macedonian
Derived from Bulgarian грозде (grozde) or Macedonian грозје (grozje) meaning "grapes".
Grozdana f Bulgarian, Macedonian, Croatian
Feminine form of Grozdan.
Gulnar f Kazakh
Kazakh form of Golnar.
Gulnara f Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Georgian, Azerbaijani
Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Georgian form of Golnar, as well as a simplified Azerbaijani variant.
Gulnora f Uzbek
Uzbek form of Golnar.
Gwenith f Welsh
Variant of Gwyneth, influenced by the Welsh word gwenith meaning "wheat".
Ham m Biblical
Means "hot, warm" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, Ham is one of Noah's three sons, along with Shem and Japheth. He was the ancestor of the Egyptians and Canaanites.
Harland m English
From a surname that was a variant of Harlan.
Haruna 1 f Japanese
From Japanese 晴 (haru) meaning "clear weather", 遥 (haru) meaning "distant, remote" or 春 (haru) meaning "spring" combined with 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Heinz m German
Diminutive of Heinrich.
Hilla f Finnish
Short form of names beginning with Hil. It also means "cloudberry" in Finnish.
Hina f Japanese
From Japanese 陽 (hi) meaning "light, sun" or 日 (hi) meaning "sun, day" combined with 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Hokolesqua m Shawnee
Means "cornstalk" in Shawnee. This was the name of an 18th-century Shawnee chief.
Honey f English (Rare)
Simply from the English word honey, ultimately from Old English hunig. This was originally a nickname for a sweet person.
Hranislav m Serbian
Derived from the Slavic element xorniti (Serbo-Croatian hraniti) meaning "to feed, to protect" combined with slava meaning "glory".
Ieva f Lithuanian, Latvian
Lithuanian and Latvian form of Eve. This is also the Lithuanian and Latvian word for a type of cherry tree (species Prunus padus).
Ike m English
Diminutive of Isaac. This was the nickname of the American president Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), based on the initial sound of his surname.
Isagani m Tagalog
Possibly from Tagalog masaganang ani meaning "bountiful harvest". This is the name of a character in the novel El Filibusterismo (1891) by José Rizal.
Itamar m Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, Portuguese (Brazilian)
Hebrew form of Ithamar, also used in Brazil.
Ithamar m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
From the Hebrew name אִיתָמָר (ʾIṯamar) meaning "date palm island", derived from אִי (ʾi) meaning "island" and תָּמָר (tamar) meaning "date palm". This is the name of a son of Aaron in the Old Testament.
Itzel f Mayan
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Classic Maya itz meaning "resin, nectar, dew, liquid, enchanted". Otherwise, it might be a variant of Ixchel.
Ivaaq m Greenlandic
Means "egg" in Greenlandic.
Jacobina f Dutch (Rare)
Feminine form of Jacob.
Jaga f Croatian, Serbian, Polish
Croatian, Serbian and Polish diminutive of Agatha, Jagoda, Jadwiga and other names containing ja.
Jagoda f Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Polish
Means "strawberry" in South Slavic, and "berry" in Polish. Also in Poland, this can be a diminutive of Jadwiga.
Jam m Persian Mythology
Persian form of Avestan 𐬫𐬌𐬨𐬀 (Yima) meaning "twin" (related to Sanskrit Yama). This was the name of a mythological king, more commonly called Jamshid.
Jarah m Biblical
Means "honeycomb" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a descendant of Saul.
Javor m Croatian, Serbian
Means "maple tree" in South Slavic.
Jemima f Biblical, English
Traditionally said to mean "dove", it may actually be related to Hebrew יוֹמָם (yomam) meaning "daytime". This was the oldest of the three daughters of Job in the Old Testament. As an English name, Jemima first became common during the Puritan era.
Jesenia f Spanish (Latin American)
Variant of Yesenia.
Jessenia f Spanish (Latin American)
Variant of Yesenia.
Jevrem m Serbian
Serbian form of Ephraim.
Ji-U f & m Korean
From Sino-Korean 芝 (ji) meaning "sesame" or 志 (ji) meaning "will, purpose, ambition" combined with 雨 (u) meaning "rain" or 宇 (u) meaning "house, universe". Other combinations of hanja characters can form this name as well.
Ji-Woo f & m Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 지우 (see Ji-U).
Joe m English
Short form of Joseph. Five famous sports figures who have had this name are boxers Joe Louis (1914-1981) and Joe Frazier (1944-2011), baseball player Joe DiMaggio (1914-1999), and football quarterbacks Joe Namath (1943-) and Joe Montana (1956-). It is also borne by the American president Joe Biden (1942-).
Juniper f English (Modern)
From the English word for the type of tree, derived ultimately from Latin iuniperus.
Junípero m Various (Rare)
This was the name assumed by the 18th-century Spanish Franciscan monk Miguel José Serra, a missionary to California. He named himself after one of Saint Francis's companions, who was named from Latin iuniperus "juniper".
Kaede f & m Japanese
From Japanese 楓 (kaede) meaning "maple" or other kanji that are pronounced the same way.
Kale m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Charles.
Kanako f Japanese
From Japanese 加 (ka) meaning "increase" or 香 (ka) meaning "fragrance" combined with 奈 (na), a phonetic character, or 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens" and finished with 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations can form this name as well.
Kandaĵa f Esperanto
Means "made of candy" in Esperanto, a derivative of kando meaning "candy, rock sugar".
Kanna f Japanese
From Japanese 栞 (kan) meaning "bookmark" and 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens". Other kanji combinations can form this name as well.
Karp m Russian (Rare)
Russian form of Karpos (see Carpus).
Karpos m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of Carpus.
Katsu m Japanese
From Japanese 勝 (katsu) meaning "victory", as well as other kanji having the same pronunciation.
Kawacatoose m Cree (Anglicized)
From Cree ᑲᐋᐧᐦᑲᑐᐢ (Kawâhkatos) meaning "poor man, weak from hunger". This was the name of a 19th-century Plains Cree chief in Saskatchewan.
K'awil m Mayan Mythology
Possibly means "powerful one" in Classic Maya. This was the name of the Maya god of lightning, generations and corn. He was sometimes depicted with one of his legs taking the form of a serpent. His name was also used as a title for other gods.
Keto f Georgian
Diminutive of Ketevan.
Ketut m & f Balinese
Possibly from a Balinese word meaning "small banana". This name is traditionally given to the fourth child.
Kimmernaq f Greenlandic
Means "cowberry, lingonberry" in Greenlandic.
Kiraz f Turkish
Means "cherry" in Turkish.
Kiri f Maori
Means "skin of a tree or fruit" in Maori. This name has been brought to public attention by New Zealand opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa (1944-).
Kirsikka f Finnish
Means "cherry" in Finnish.
Kyo m & f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 協 or 京 or 郷 or 杏 (see Kyō).
Kyou m & f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 協 or 京 or 郷 or 杏 (see Kyō).
Lady f Spanish (Latin American)
From the English noble title Lady, derived from Old English hlæfdige, originally meaning "bread kneader". This name grew in popularity in Latin America after the marriage of Diana Spencer, known as Lady Di, to Prince Charles in 1981 and her death in 1997.
Layton m English
From a surname that was originally derived from the name of English towns meaning "town with a leek garden" in Old English. Like similar-sounding names such as Peyton and Dayton, this name began rising in popularity in the 1990s.
Lina 1 f Arabic
Means "soft, tender" in Arabic, derived from لان (lāna) meaning "to be soft". It can also be from Arabic لينة (līna), a type of palm tree, likely derived from the same root.
Linden m & f English
From a German and Dutch surname that was derived from Old High German linta meaning "linden tree".
Lindon m English (Rare)
From a surname that was a variant of Lyndon.
Linford m English (Rare)
From a surname that was originally taken from place names meaning either "flax ford" or "linden tree ford" in Old English.
Linton m English
From a surname that was originally from place names meaning either "flax town" or "linden tree town" in Old English.
Livia 2 f English
Short form of Olivia.
Livvy f English
Diminutive of Olivia.
Lucy f English
English form of Lucia, in use since the Middle Ages.
Luther m English
From a German surname, itself derived from the Old German given name Leuthar. The surname was borne by Martin Luther (1483-1546), a monk and theologian who started the Protestant Reformation by nailing his famous 95 theses to a church door. It has since been used as a given name in his honour, especially among Protestants. A notable bearer from the modern era was the American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968).
Lyndon m English
From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "linden tree hill" in Old English. A famous bearer was American president Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973).
Lynton m English (Rare)
Variant of Linton.
Madeleine f French, English, Swedish
French form of Magdalene.
Madhu f & m Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu
From Sanskrit मधु (madhu) meaning "honey, sweet". This is another name of Chaitra, the first month of the Hindu year (which occurs in March and April).
Madhukar m Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit मधुकर (madhukara) meaning "bee, honey-maker".
Magdalena f Polish, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Lithuanian, Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, Slovene, Czech, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Croatian, Serbian, Romanian, English
Latinate form of Magdalene.
Mai 1 f Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 梅 (mai) meaning "plum, apricot" (refers specifically to the species Prunus mume).
Maire f Finnish, Estonian
Derived from Finnish mairea meaning "gushing, sugary".
Makvala f Georgian
Derived from Georgian მაყვალი (maqvali) meaning "blackberry".
Malina 2 f Bulgarian, Serbian, Polish
Means "raspberry" in several Slavic languages.
Mami f Japanese
From Japanese 真 (ma) meaning "real, genuine" or 麻 (ma) meaning "flax" combined with 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful". Other combinations of kanji can form this name as well.
Mao f Japanese
From Japanese 真 (ma) meaning "real, genuine" or 舞 (mai) meaning "dance" combined with 央 (o) meaning "center", 緒 (o) meaning "thread" or 桜 (o) meaning "cherry blossom". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Maple f English
From the English word for the tree (comprising the genus Acer), derived from Old English mapul. This is the name of a girl in Robert Frost's poem Maple (1923) who wonders about the origin of her unusual name.
Margherita f Italian
Italian form of Margaret. This is also the Italian word for the daisy flower (species Bellis perennis, Leucanthemum vulgare and others).
Marianne f French, English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish
Combination of Marie and Anne 1, though it could also be considered a variant of Mariana or Mariamne. Shortly after the formation of the French Republic in 1792, a female figure by this name was adopted as the symbol of the state.
Marja f Finnish, Sorbian, Dutch
Finnish and Sorbian form of Maria, as well as a Dutch variant. It also means "berry" in Finnish.
Marjolaine f French
Means "marjoram" in French, from Latin maiorana. Marjoram is a minty herb.
Marjolein f Dutch
Dutch cognate of Marjolaine.
Marjolijn f Dutch
Variant of Marjolein.
Masamba m Yao
Means "leaves, vegetables" in Yao.
Mei 1 f Chinese
From Chinese 美 (měi) meaning "beautiful" or 梅 (méi) meaning "Chinese plum" (species Prunus mume), as well as other characters that are pronounced similarly.
Melba f English
From the surname of the Australian opera singer Nellie Melba (1861-1931). This was a stage name that she got from the name of the city Melbourne, where she was born.
Melia f Greek Mythology
Means "ash tree" in Greek, a derivative of μέλι (meli) meaning "honey". This was the name of a nymph in Greek myth, the daughter of the Greek god Okeanos.
Mélina f French
French form of Melina.
Melina f English, Greek
Elaboration of Mel, either from names such as Melissa or from Greek μέλι (meli) meaning "honey". A famous bearer was Greek-American actress Melina Mercouri (1920-1994), who was born Maria Amalia Mercouris.
Méline f French
French form of Melina.
Melita f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Melite. However, in the case of Queen Victoria's granddaughter Princess Victoria Melita (1876-1936), it was derived from Melita, the Latin name of the island country of Malta where she was born.
Melite f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek μέλι (meli) meaning "honey" (genitive μέλιτος). This is the name of several figures from Greek mythology, including a nymph who was the mother of Hyllus by Herakles.
Meliton m Ancient Greek, Georgian
Derived from Greek μέλι (meli) meaning "honey" (genitive μέλιτος). This was the name of a 2nd-century bishop of Sardis who is regarded as a saint in the Orthodox Church.
Miela f Esperanto
Means "sweet" in Esperanto, derived from mielo "honey", ultimately from Latin mel.
Mignon f Literature
Means "cute, darling" in French. This is the name of a character in Ambroise Thomas's opera Mignon (1866), which was based on Goethe's novel Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship (1796).
Miho 2 f Japanese
From Japanese 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful" and 穂 (ho) meaning "grain" or 保 (ho) meaning "protect, maintain". Other kanji combinations are also possible.
Mike m English
Short form of Michael.
Milton m English, Spanish (Latin American)
From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "mill town" in Old English. A famous bearer of the surname was John Milton (1608-1674), the poet who wrote Paradise Lost.
Minoru m & f Japanese
From Japanese 実 (minoru) meaning "to bear fruit", as well as other kanji or kanji combinations with the same pronunciation.
Minttu f Finnish
Means "mint" in Finnish.
Miski f Quechua
Means "honey" in Quechua.
Miyu f Japanese
From Japanese 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful" or 実 (mi) meaning "fruit, good result, truth" combined with 優 (yu) meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" or 結 (yu) meaning "tie, bind" or 夕 (yu) meaning "evening". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Momoka f Japanese
From Japanese 百 (momo) meaning "hundred" or 桃 (momo) meaning "peach" combined with 花 (ka) meaning "flower" or 香 (ka) meaning "fragrance". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Momoko f Japanese
From Japanese 百 (momo) meaning "hundred" or 桃 (momo) meaning "peach" combined with 子 (ko) meaning "child". This name can be constructed from other kanji combinations as well.
Mynte f Danish
Means "mint" in Danish.
Nacho m Spanish
Diminutive of Ignacio.
Nana 2 f Japanese
From Japanese 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens" and/or 奈 (na), a phonetic character. The characters can be in either order or the same character can be duplicated, as indicated by the symbol 々. Other kanji with the same pronunciations can also be used to form this name.
Nanako f Japanese
From Japanese 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens" duplicated and 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations are possible as well.
Nanami f Japanese
From Japanese 七 (nana) meaning "seven" and 海 (mi) meaning "sea". It can also come from 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens" duplicated and 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful". Other kanji combinations are also possible.
Narine f Armenian
Probably from Persian نار (nār) meaning "pomegranate", considered a sacred fruit in Armenian culture. Alternately, it could be derived from Arabic نار (nār) meaning "fire".
Natsuki f Japanese
From Japanese 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens" and 月 (tsuki) meaning "moon". Alternatively, it can come from 夏 (natsu) meaning "summer" and 希 (ki) meaning "hope". Other kanji combinations can form this name as well.
Natsumi f Japanese
From Japanese 夏 (natsu) meaning "summer" and 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful". It can also come from 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens" and 摘 (tsumi) meaning "pick, pluck". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Nektaria f Greek
Feminine form of Nektarios.
Nektarios m Greek, Late Greek
Derived from Greek νέκταρ (nektar) meaning "nectar, drink of the gods".
Nigella f English (Rare)
Feminine form of Nigel.
Ninurta m Sumerian Mythology, Semitic Mythology
Derived from Sumerian 𒎏 (nin) meaning "lord" and 𒅁 (urta) meaning "ear of barley". In Sumerian, Akkadian and Babylonian mythology Ninurta was a god of agriculture, hunting and healing, later associated with war. He was also called Ningirsu, though they may have originally been separate deities.
Noll m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Oliver.
Oli m English
Short form of Oliver.
Olindo m Literature, Italian
Used by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso for the lover of Sophronia in his epic poem Jerusalem Delivered (1580). It might be a variant of Olinto, the Italian form of the ancient Greek city Ὄλυνθος (Olynthos) meaning "wild fig".
Oliva f Late Roman, Spanish, Italian
Late Latin name meaning "olive". This was the name of a 2nd-century saint from Brescia.
Olive f English, French
From the English and French word for the type of tree, ultimately derived from Latin oliva.
Olivér m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Oliver.
Oliver m English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian, Catalan, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Czech, Slovak, Carolingian Cycle
From Old French Olivier, which was possibly derived from Latin oliva "olive tree". Alternatively there could be an underlying Germanic name, such as Old Norse Áleifr (see Olaf) or Frankish Alawar (see Álvaro), with the spelling altered by association with the Latin word. In the Middle Ages the name became well-known in Western Europe because of the French epic La Chanson de Roland, in which Olivier is a friend and advisor to the hero Roland.... [more]
Olivera f Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian
Feminine form of Oliver.
Olivette f Literature
Feminine form of Oliver. This was the name of the title character in the French opera Les noces d'Olivette (1879) by Edmond Audran.
Olívia f Portuguese, Slovak, Hungarian
Portuguese, Slovak and Hungarian form of Olivia.
Olivia f English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch
This name was used in this spelling by William Shakespeare for a character in his comedy Twelfth Night (1602). This was a rare name in Shakespeare's time that may have been based on Oliva or Oliver, or directly on the Latin word oliva meaning "olive". In the play Olivia is a noblewoman wooed by Duke Orsino. Instead she falls in love with his messenger Cesario, who is actually Viola in disguise.... [more]
Olivie f Czech
Czech variant form of Olivia.
Olivier m French, Dutch, Carolingian Cycle
French and Dutch form of Oliver. This is also a French word meaning "olive tree".
Oliviero m Italian
Italian form of Oliver.
Oliwia f Polish
Polish form of Olivia.
Oliwier m Polish
Polish form of Oliver.
Ollie m & f English
Diminutive of Oliver, Olivia or Olive.
Oluwakanyinsola f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "God has dropped honey into wealth" in Yoruba.
Olyvia f English (Rare)
Variant of Olivia.
Oscar m English, Irish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, French, Irish Mythology
Possibly means "deer friend", derived from Old Irish oss "deer" and carae "friend". Alternatively, it may derive from the Old English name Osgar or its Old Norse cognate Ásgeirr, which may have been brought to Ireland by Viking invaders and settlers. In Irish legend Oscar was the son of the poet Oisín and the grandson of the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill.... [more]
Ostap m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Eustathius.
Palmer m & f English
From an English surname meaning "pilgrim". It is ultimately from Latin palma "palm tree", since pilgrims to the Holy Land often brought back palm fronds as proof of their journey.
Palmira f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Feminine form of Palmiro.
Palmiro m Italian
Means "pilgrim" in Italian. In medieval times it denoted one who had been a pilgrim to Palestine. It is ultimately from the word palma meaning "palm tree", because of the custom of pilgrims to bring palm fronds home with them. The name is sometimes given to a child born on Palm Sunday.
Pamela f English
This name was invented in the late 16th century by the poet Philip Sidney for use in his romance Arcadia (1593). He possibly intended it to mean "all sweetness" from Greek πᾶν (pan) meaning "all" and μέλι (meli) meaning "honey". It was later employed by author Samuel Richardson for the heroine in his novel Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded (1740), after which time it became used as a given name. It did not become popular until the 20th century.
Pamelia f English
Elaborated form of Pamela.
Pamella f English
Variant of Pamela.
Pamila f English (Rare)
Variant of Pamela.
Pan m Greek Mythology
Possibly from the Indo-European root *peh- meaning "shepherd, protect". In Greek mythology Pan was a half-man, half-goat god associated with shepherds, flocks and pastures.
Paniz f Persian
Possibly means "sugar" in Persian.
Patty f English
Originally a variant of Matty, a 17th-century diminutive of Martha. It is now commonly used as a diminutive of Patricia.
Paul m English, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian, Romanian, Biblical
From the Roman family name Paulus, which meant "small" or "humble" in Latin. Paul was an important leader of the early Christian church. According to Acts in the New Testament, he was a Jewish Roman citizen who converted to Christianity after the resurrected Jesus appeared to him. After this he travelled the eastern Mediterranean as a missionary. His original Hebrew name was Saul. Many of the epistles in the New Testament were authored by him.... [more]
Pepito m Spanish
Spanish diminutive of Joseph.
Pepper f & m English (Modern)
From the English word for the spice, which is prepared from the dried berries of the pepper plant. The word is derived from Latin piper, ultimately from an Indo-Aryan source. In popular culture, Pepper is the nickname of Virginia Potts from the Iron Man series of comic books and movies, created 1963.
Perry m English
From a surname that is either English or Welsh in origin. It can be derived from Middle English perrie meaning "pear tree", or else from Welsh ap Herry, meaning "son of Herry". A famous bearer of the surname was Matthew Perry (1794-1858), the American naval officer who opened Japan to the West.
Philomel f Literature
From an English word meaning "nightingale" (ultimately from Philomela). It has been used frequently in poetry to denote the bird.
Philomela f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Φιλομήλη (Philomele), derived from φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend" and μῆλον (melon) meaning "fruit". The second element has also been interpreted as Greek μέλος (melos) meaning "song". In Greek myth Philomela was the sister-in-law of Tereus, who raped her and cut out her tongue. Prokne avenged her sister by killing her son by Tereus, after which Tereus attempted to kill Philomela. However, the gods intervened and transformed her into a nightingale.
Philomele f Greek Mythology
Greek form of Philomela.
Phyllis f Greek Mythology, English
Means "foliage" in Greek. In Greek mythology this was the name of a woman who killed herself out of love for Demophon and was subsequently transformed into an almond tree. It began to be used as a given name in England in the 16th century, though it was often confused with Felicia.
Pipra f Esperanto
From Esperanto pipro meaning "pepper".
Pit m Limburgish
Limburgish short form of Pitter.
Polycarp m Ancient Greek (Anglicized)
From the Greek name Πολύκαρπος (Polykarpos) meaning "fruitful, rich in fruit", ultimately from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning "much" and καρπός (karpos) meaning "fruit". Saint Polycarp was a 2nd-century bishop of Smyrna who was martyred by being burned at the stake and then stabbed.
Polykarpos m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Polycarp.
Pomona f Roman Mythology
From Latin pomus "fruit tree". This was the name of the Roman goddess of fruit trees.
Prasad m Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Odia, Bengali, Nepali
From Sanskrit प्रसाद (prasāda) meaning "brightness, clearness, graciousness, offering". This is a word referring to an offering of food made to a deity.
Princess f English (Modern)
Feminine equivalent of Prince.
Prune f French
Means "plum" in French.
Prunella f English (Rare)
From the English word for the type of flower, also called self-heal, ultimately a derivative of the Latin word pruna "plum".
Ramsey m English
From an English and Scottish surname that was derived from a place name meaning "garlic island" in Old English.
Rapunzel f Literature
From the name of an edible plant. It is borne by a long-haired young woman locked in a tower in an 1812 German fairy tale recorded by the Brothers Grimm. An evil sorceress gave her the name after she was taken as a baby from her parents, who had stolen the rapunzel plant from the sorceress's garden. The Grimms adapted the story from earlier tales (which used various names for the heroine).
Reuben m Biblical, Hebrew, English
Means "behold, a son" in Hebrew, derived from רָאָה (raʾa) meaning "to see" and בֵּן (ben) meaning "son". In the Old Testament he is the eldest son of Jacob and Leah and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Reuben was cursed by his father because he slept with Jacob's concubine Bilhah. It has been used as a Christian name in Britain since the Protestant Reformation.
Riley m & f English
From a surname that comes from two distinct sources. As an Irish surname it is a variant of Reilly. As an English surname it is derived from a place name meaning "rye clearing" in Old English.... [more]
Rina 4 f Japanese
From Japanese 莉 (ri) meaning "white jasmine" or 里 (ri) meaning "village" combined with 奈 (na), a phonetic character, or 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens". Other kanji combinations are possible.