Names Categorized "word names"

This is a list of names in which the categories include word names.
gender
usage
Aamu f Finnish
Means "morning" in Finnish.
Aanakwad m & f Ojibwe
Means "cloud" in Ojibwe.
Aarre m Finnish
Means "treasure" in Finnish. It may also be used as a variant of the uncommon older name Aaretti, itself from a Low German form of Arnold.
Aatos m Finnish
Means "thought" in Finnish.
Aatto m Finnish
Finnish form of Adolf. It also means "eve, evening before" in Finnish, as the day before an important holiday.
Aava f Finnish
Means "wide, open" in Finnish.
Abaddon m Biblical
Means "ruin, destruction" in Hebrew. In Revelation in the New Testament this is another name of the angel of the abyss.
Abbas m Arabic, Persian, Azerbaijani, Urdu
Means "austere" in Arabic. This was the name of the Prophet Muhammad's uncle. It was also borne by a son of Ali, the fourth caliph.
Abbey f English
Diminutive of Abigail.
Abhay m Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit अभय (abhaya) meaning "fearless".
Acacia f English (Rare)
From the name of a type of tree, ultimately derived from Greek ἀκή (ake) meaning "thorn, point".
Ace 1 m English
From the English word meaning "highest rank". More commonly a nickname, it is occasionally used as a given name.
Aderyn f Welsh (Rare)
Means "bird" in Welsh. This is a modern Welsh name.
Adoración f Spanish
Means "adoration" in Spanish. This name refers to the event that is known in Christian tradition as the Adoration of the Magi, which is when the three Magi presented gifts to the infant Jesus and worshipped him.
Adorinda f Esperanto
Means "adorable" in Esperanto.
Ægir m Norse Mythology
Means "sea, ocean" in Old Norse. According to Norse mythology Ægir was a god or giant (jǫtunn) who lived under the ocean. His wife was Rán.
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".
Afërdita f Albanian
Means "daybreak, morning" in Albanian, from afër "nearby, close" and ditë "day". It is also used as an Albanian form of Aphrodite.
Afon f & m Welsh (Rare)
Means "river" in Welsh. This is a Welsh name of recent origin.
Africa 1 f African American (Rare)
From the name of the continent, which is of Latin origin, possibly from the Afri people who lived near Carthage in North Africa. This rare name is used most often by African-American parents.
Agape f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἀγάπη (agape) meaning "love". This name was borne by at least two early saints.
Age 1 m Frisian
Frisian form of Ago.
Aghavni f Armenian
Means "dove" in Armenian.
Ago m Germanic
From the Old High German element ekka, Old Saxon eggia meaning "edge, blade" (Proto-Germanic *agjō). Alternatively it could be from Old High German egi meaning "fear" (Proto-Germanic *agaz). This was the name of a 7th-century Duke of Friuli.
Ai 1 f Japanese
From Japanese (ai) meaning "love, affection", (ai) meaning "indigo", or other kanji with the same pronunciation.
Ailill m Old Irish, Irish Mythology
Means "elf" in Irish. This name was borne by several early Irish kings. It also occurs frequently in Irish legend, borne for example by the husband of Queen Medb. It was also the name of two saints, both bishops of Armagh in the 6th century.
Aimée f French
French form of Amy.
Aimo m Finnish
Means "generous amount" in Finnish.
Aina 1 f Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Variant of Aino. It also means "always" in Finnish.
Aina 4 f Latvian
Feminine form of Ainārs.
Aina 5 f Kazakh
Means "mirror" in Kazakh, ultimately from Persian آینه (āyneh).
Aino f Finnish, Estonian, Finnish Mythology
Means "the only one" in Finnish. In the Finnish epic the Kalevala this is the name of a girl who drowns herself when she finds out she must marry the old man Väinämöinen.
Aintza f Basque
Means "glory" in Basque.
Aisling f Irish
Means "dream" or "vision" in Irish. This name was created in the 20th century.
Ajei f Navajo
From Navajo ajéí meaning "heart".
Akane f Japanese
From Japanese (akane) meaning "deep red, dye from the rubia plant". Other kanji or combinations of kanji can form this name as well.
Akicita m Sioux
From Lakota or Dakota akíčhita meaning "warrior".
Alaia 1 f Basque
Means "joyful, happy" from Basque alai.
Alba 1 f Italian, Spanish, Catalan
This name is derived from two distinct names, Alba 2 and Alba 3, with distinct origins, Latin and Germanic. Over time these names have become confused with one another. To further complicate the matter, alba means "dawn" in Italian, Spanish and Catalan. This may be the main inspiration behind its use in Italy and Spain.
Alba 2 f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Albus.
Albino m Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
Italian, Portuguese and Spanish form of Albinus.
Alda 2 f Icelandic
Means "wave" in Icelandic.
Ale 1 m & f Finnish, Italian, Spanish
Finnish short form of Aleksanteri or Aleksi, an Italian short form of Alessandro, and a Spanish short form of Alejandro or Alejandra.
Aliki f Greek
Greek form of Alice. It also corresponds with the Greek word άλικη meaning "scarlet".
Alizée f French (Modern)
From French alizé meaning "trade wind".
Allegra f Italian, English (Rare)
Means "cheerful, lively" in Italian. It was borne by a short-lived illegitimate daughter of Lord Byron (1817-1822).
Allegria f Various (Rare)
Means "cheerfulness, joy" in Italian.
Alli f Finnish
Finnish diminutive of names beginning with Al. This is also the Finnish word for a type of duck.
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".
Alpha f & m English
From the name of the first letter in the Greek alphabet, Α.
Alta f Various
Possibly from Latin altus or Italian/Spanish alto meaning "high".
Altagracia f Spanish (Caribbean)
Means "high grace", taken from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, meaning "Our Lady of High Grace". She is considered the patron saint of the Dominican Republic, and it is there that this name is most often used.
Altan 1 m Turkish
Means "red dawn" in Turkish.
Amada f Spanish
Feminine form of Amado.
Amado m Spanish
Spanish form of Amatus.
Amador m Spanish
Spanish form of Amator.
Amandine f French
French diminutive of Amanda.
Amaruq m Inuit
Means "wolf" in Inuktitut.
Amaryllis f Literature
Derived from Greek ἀμαρύσσω (amarysso) meaning "to sparkle". This is the name of a character appearing in Virgil's pastoral poems Eclogues. The amaryllis flower is named for her.
Amata f Late Roman
Feminine form of Amatus.
Ámbar f Spanish (Modern)
Spanish cognate of Amber.
Amber f English, Dutch
From the English word amber that denotes either the gemstone, which is formed from fossil resin, or the orange-yellow colour. The word ultimately derives from Arabic عنبر (ʿanbar) meaning "ambergris". It began to be used as a given name in the late 19th century, but it only became popular after the release of Kathleen Winsor's novel Forever Amber (1944).
Ambra f Italian
Italian cognate of Amber.
Ambre f French
French cognate of Amber.
Ambrosia f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Ambrosios (see Ambrose).
Amethyst f English (Rare)
From the name of the purple semi-precious stone, which is derived from the Greek negative prefix (a) and μέθυστος (methystos) meaning "intoxicated, drunk", as it was believed to be a remedy against drunkenness. It is the traditional birthstone of February.
Amets m & f Basque
Means "dream" in Basque.
Amice f Medieval English
Medieval name derived from Latin amicus meaning "friend". This was a popular name in the Middle Ages, though it has since become uncommon.
Amika f Esperanto
Means "friendly" in Esperanto, ultimately from Latin amicus "friend".
Aminda f Esperanto
Means "lovable" in Esperanto.
Amity f English (Rare)
From the English word meaning "friendship", ultimately deriving from Latin amicitia.
Amor m & f Roman Mythology, Late Roman, Spanish (Rare), Portuguese (Rare)
Means "love" in Latin. This was another name for the Roman god Cupid. It also means "love" in Spanish and Portuguese, and as a feminine name it can be derived directly from this vocabulary word.
Amora f English (Modern)
Apparently a modern coinage based on Latin amor meaning "love".
Amore m & f Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Amor.
Amour m & f French (Rare)
French form of Amor.
Amparo f Spanish
Means "protection, shelter, refuge" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Amparo, meaning "Our Lady of Refuge".
An 1 m & f Chinese, Vietnamese
From Chinese (ān) meaning "peace, quiet" or other characters with a similar pronunciation. As a Vietnamese name, it is derived from Sino-Vietnamese meaning "safe, secure".
Anah f & m Biblical
Means "answer" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this name belongs to one female character and two male characters.
Anahera f Maori
Means "angel" in Maori.
Anemone f English (Rare)
From the name of the anemone flower, which is derived from Greek ἄνεμος (anemos) meaning "wind".
Ange m & f French
French masculine and feminine form of Angelus (see Angel).
Angel m & f English, Bulgarian, Macedonian
From the medieval Latin masculine name Angelus, which was derived from the name of the heavenly creature (itself derived from the Greek word ἄγγελος (angelos) meaning "messenger"). It has never been very common in the English-speaking world, where it is sometimes used as a feminine name in modern times.
Ángeles f Spanish
Means "angels", taken from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles, meaning "Our Lady the Queen of the Angels".
Angustias f Spanish
Means "anguishes", taken from a Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de las Angustias, meaning "Our Lady of Anguishes". She is the patron saint of Granada, Spain.
Anima 2 f English (Rare)
Means "soul, spirit" in Latin. In Jungian psychology the anima is an individual's true inner self, or soul.
Anise f English (Rare)
From the English word for the herb, also called aniseed.
Annunziata f Italian
Means "announced" in Italian, referring to the event in the New Testament in which the angel Gabriel tells the Virgin Mary of the imminent birth of Jesus.
Annunziato m Italian
Masculine form of Annunziata.
Anong f Thai
Means "beautiful woman" in Thai.
Ansa f Finnish
Derived from Finnish ansio "virtue" or ansa "trap".
Ante 2 m Frisian
Short form of names beginning with the Old German element anto "zeal".
Anunciación f Spanish
Means "annunciation" in Spanish, referring to the event in the New Testament in which the angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will give birth to Jesus.
Anush f Armenian
Means "sweet" in Armenian. This was the name of an 1890 novel by the Armenia writer Hovhannes Tumanyan. It was adapted into an opera in 1912 by Armen Tigranian.
Aoibhe f Irish
Variant of Aoife, or directly from Irish aoibh meaning "beauty".
Aoibhinn f Irish
Variant of Aoibheann. It also coincides with the related Irish word aoibhinn meaning "delightful, pleasant".
Aoide f Greek Mythology
Means "song" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was one of the original three muses, the muse of song.
Apanii f Siksika
Means "butterfly" in Siksika.
Aparecida f Portuguese
Means "appeared" in Portuguese, taken from the Brazilian title of the Virgin Mary Nossa Senhora da Conceição Aparecida, meaning "Our Lady of the Conception Who Appeared". It refers to a statue of the Virgin Mary that was said to have been pulled from a river by fishermen in the 18th century. Our Lady of Aparecida is regarded as the patron saint of Brazil.
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.
April f English
From the name of the month, probably originally derived from Latin aperire "to open", referring to the opening of flowers. It has only been commonly used as a given name since the 1940s.
Aquila m & f Biblical, Ancient Roman
From a Roman cognomen meaning "eagle" in Latin. In Acts in the New Testament Paul lives with Aquila and his wife Priscilla (or Prisca) for a time.
Aram 1 m Kurdish
Means "calm" in Kurdish.
Aras m Lithuanian
Means "eagle" in Lithuanian (a poetic word).
Arata m Japanese
From Japanese (arata) meaning "fresh, new". Other kanji or kanji combinations can also form this name.
Arcangelo m Italian
Means "archangel" in Italian.
Archer m English
From an English surname meaning "bowman, archer", of Old French origin. Although already slowly growing in popularity, this name accelerated its rise after the premiere of the American television series Archer in 2009.
Areg m Armenian
Means "sun, bright" in Armenian (a poetic word).
Arezou f Persian
Means "desire" in Persian.
Argi m Basque
Means "light" in Basque.
Ari 2 m Old Norse, Icelandic, Finnish
Old Norse byname meaning "eagle".
Aria 1 f English (Modern)
Means "song, melody" in Italian (literally means "air"). An aria is an elaborate vocal solo, the type usually performed in operas. As an English name, it has only been in use since the 20th century, its rise in popularity accelerating after the 2010 premier of the television drama Pretty Little Liars, featuring a character by this name. It is not traditionally used in Italy.
Aries m Astronomy
Means "ram" in Latin. This is the name of a constellation and the first sign of the zodiac. Some Roman legends state that the ram in the constellation was the one who supplied the Golden Fleece sought by Jason.
Arista f Astronomy
Means "ear of grain" in Latin. This is the name of a star, also known as Spica, in the constellation Virgo.
Aritz m Basque
From Basque haritz meaning "oak tree".
Armas m Finnish
Means "beloved" in Finnish (an archaic poetic word).
Armo m Finnish (Rare)
Means "grace, mercy" in Finnish.
Aroa f Basque, Spanish
Derived from Basque aro meaning "era, age, time".
Aroha f & m Maori
Means "love" in Maori.
Arpi f Armenian
Means "sun, ether" in Armenian (a poetic word).
Arrats m Basque
Means "afternoon, dusk" in Basque.
Arshaluys f & m Armenian
Means "dawn" in Armenian.
Art m English
Short form of Arthur.
Arvo m Finnish, Estonian
Means "value, worth" in Finnish and Estonian.
As'ad m Arabic
Means "happier, luckier" in Arabic, from the root سعد (saʿida) meaning "to be happy, to be lucky".
Ascensión f Spanish
Means "ascension" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the Ascension of Jesus into heaven.
Ash m & f English
Short form of Ashley. It can also come directly from the English word denoting either the tree or the residue of fire.
Ashanti f & m Various
From the name of an African people who reside in southern Ghana. It possibly means "warlike" in the Twi language.
Asia 1 f English (Modern), Italian (Modern)
From the name of the continent, which is perhaps derived from Akkadian asu, meaning "east".
Asiri f Quechua
Means "smile" in Quechua.
Ask m Norse Mythology
Derived from Old Norse askr "ash tree". In Norse mythology Ask and his wife Embla were the first humans created by the gods.
Aspen f English (Modern)
From the English word for a variety of deciduous trees in the genus Populus, derived from Old English æspe. It is also the name of a ski resort in Colorado.
Aster f & m English (Rare)
From the name of the flower, which is derived via Latin from Greek ἀστήρ (aster) meaning "star".
Asunción f Spanish
Means "assumption" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven.
Atlas m Greek Mythology
Possibly means "enduring" from Greek τλάω (tlao) meaning "to endure". In Greek mythology he was a Titan punished by Zeus by being forced to support the heavens on his shoulders.
Audra 1 f Lithuanian
Means "storm" in Lithuanian.
August m German, Polish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Catalan, English
German, Polish, Scandinavian and Catalan form of Augustus. This was the name of three Polish kings.... [more]
Augustus m Ancient Roman, Dutch (Rare)
Means "exalted, venerable", derived from Latin augere meaning "to increase". Augustus was the title given to Octavian, the first Roman emperor. He was an adopted son of Julius Caesar who rose to power through a combination of military skill and political prowess. In 26 BC the senate officially gave him the name Augustus, and after his death it was used as a title for subsequent emperors. This was also the name of three kings of Poland (called August in Polish).
Aulis m Finnish
Means "willing, helpful" in Finnish.
Aura f English, Italian, Spanish, Finnish
From the word aura (derived from Latin, ultimately from Greek αὔρα meaning "breeze") for a distinctive atmosphere or illumination.
Aureole f English (Rare)
From the English word meaning "radiant halo", ultimately derived from Latin aureolus "golden".
Aurora f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English, Romanian, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Roman Mythology
Means "dawn" in Latin. Aurora was the Roman goddess of the morning. It has occasionally been used as a given name since the Renaissance.
Ausma f Latvian
Means "dawn" in Latvian.
Aušra f Lithuanian
Means "dawn" in Lithuanian.
Auster m Roman Mythology
Means "south" in Latin (descended from the Indo-European root *hews- meaning "dawn", making it related to the English word east). Auster was the Roman god of the south wind.
Autumn f English
From the name of the season, ultimately from Latin autumnus. This name has been in general use since the 1960s.
Ave f Italian, Estonian
Possibly from the name of the prayer Ave Maria, in which Ave is Latin meaning "greetings, salutations". In Estonian it is also associated with the word ava meaning "open".
Avetis m Armenian
Means "good news" in Armenian.
Aviaaja f Greenlandic
Means "cousin" in East Greenlandic.
Awinita f Cherokee
Means "fawn" in Cherokee, derived from ᎠᏫ (awi) meaning "deer".
Axel m Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, German, French, English
Medieval Danish form of Absalom.
Aya 1 f Japanese
From Japanese (aya) meaning "colour", (aya) meaning "design", or other kanji characters with the same pronunciation.
Ayün f Mapuche
Means "love" in Mapuche.
Azad m Persian, Hindi, Bengali, Azerbaijani, Turkish, Kurdish
Means "free" in Persian. This word has derivatives in several other languages, such as Hindi and Turkish.
Azalea f English (Modern)
From the name of the flower (shrubs of the genus Rhododendron), ultimately derived from Greek ἀζαλέος (azaleos) meaning "dry".
Azucena f Spanish
Means "madonna lily" in Spanish.
Ąžuolas m Lithuanian
Means "oak tree" in Lithuanian.
Azure f & m English (Rare)
From the English word that means "sky blue". It is ultimately (via Old French, Latin and Arabic) from Persian لاجورد (lājvard) meaning "azure, lapis lazuli".
Azzurra f Italian
Means "azure, sky blue" in Italian.
Babe m & f English
From a nickname meaning "baby", also a slang term meaning "attractive person". As a feminine name, in some cases it is a diminutive of Barbara.
Baia f Georgian
From the Georgian name for the buttercup flower (or any flowering plant from the genus Ranunculus).
Bakar m Basque
Masculine form of Bakarne.
Bakır m Turkish
Turkish form of Baqir. It coincides with the Turkish word bakır meaning "copper".
Banks m English (Modern)
From an English surname that that was given to a person who lived near a hillside or a bank of land.
Baptist m German
German form of Baptiste. It is often paired with the name Johann, in honour of Saint John the Baptist.
Baptiste m French
Means "baptist" in French, originally deriving from Greek βάπτω (bapto) meaning "to dip". This name is usually given in honour of Saint John the Baptist, and as such it is often paired with the name Jean.
Baraka m Swahili
Means "blessing" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic بركة (baraka).
Barb f English
Short form of Barbara.
Basil 1 m English
From the Greek name Βασίλειος (Basileios), which was derived from βασιλεύς (basileus) meaning "king". Saint Basil the Great was a 4th-century bishop of Caesarea and one of the fathers of the early Christian church. Due to him, the name (in various spellings) has come into general use in the Christian world, being especially popular among Eastern Christians. It was also borne by two Byzantine emperors.
Bear m English (Modern)
From the English word for the animal, derived from Old English bera, probably derived from a root meaning "brown".
Beat m German (Swiss)
Swiss German form of Beatus.
Beau m & f English, Dutch (Modern)
Means "beautiful, handsome" in French. It has been used as a given name since the middle of the 20th century. In Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone with the Wind (1936) this is the name of Ashley and Melanie's son.... [more]
Bee f English
Short form of Beatrix and other names beginning with B.
Bella f English
Short form of Isabella and other names ending in bella. It is also associated with the Italian word bella meaning "beautiful". It was used by the American author Stephenie Meyer for the main character in her popular Twilight series of novels, first released 2005, later adapted into a series of movies beginning 2008.
Belladonna f Various
From the name of a toxic plant, also called deadly nightshade (species Atropa belladonna). The plant's name is of Italian origin, probably derived from Latin bladona "mullein plant" and altered through association with the Italian words bella "beautiful, fair" and donna "lady".
Belle f English
Short form of Isabella or names ending in belle. It is also associated with the French word belle meaning "beautiful". A famous bearer was Belle Starr (1848-1889), an outlaw of the American west, whose real given name was Maybelle.
Benedict m English
From the Late Latin name Benedictus, which meant "blessed". Saint Benedict was an Italian monk who founded the Benedictines in the 6th century. After his time the name was common among Christians, being used by 16 popes. In England it did not come into use until the 12th century, at which point it became very popular. This name was also borne by the American general Benedict Arnold (1741-1801), who defected to Britain during the American Revolution.
Benoît m French
French form of Benedict.
Bent 2 m Frisian
Frisian variant of Ben 2.
Berach m Old Irish
Derived from Old Irish berach meaning "sharp, pointed". This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint.
Berezi f Basque
Means "special" in Basque.
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.
Beryl f English
From the English word for the clear or pale green precious stone, ultimately deriving from Sanskrit. As a given name, it first came into use in the 19th century.
Beste f Turkish
Means "melody" in Turkish.
Betony f English (Rare)
From the name of the minty medicinal herb.
Biddy f Irish, English
Diminutive of Bridget.
Bienvenida f Spanish
Derived from Spanish bienvenido meaning "welcome".
Biff m English (Rare)
From a nickname that was based on the English word biff, which means "punch, hit, strike".
Bihotz f Basque
Means "heart" in Basque.
Bijou f & m French (African)
Means "jewel" in French. It is mostly used in French-speaking Africa.
Bill m English
Short form of William. This spelling was not commonly used before the 19th century. The change in the initial consonant may have been influenced by an earlier Irish pronunciation of the name. Famous bearers include basketball player Bill Russell (1934-2022), comedian Bill Cosby (1937-), American president Bill Clinton (1946-), and Microsoft founder Bill Gates (1955-), all of whom were born with the name William.
Birdie f English
Diminutive of Bertha, Bernice and other names with a similar sound, or sometimes simply from the English word bird.
Birûsk m Kurdish
Means "lightning" in Kurdish.
Bishop m English
Either from the English occupational surname, or else directly from the English word. It is ultimately derived from Greek ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos) meaning "overseer".
Bituin f Tagalog
Means "star" in Tagalog.
Björk f Icelandic
Means "birch tree" in Icelandic.
Blagorodna f Macedonian, Bulgarian
Means "noble" in Macedonian and Bulgarian.
Blanca f Spanish, Catalan
Spanish and Catalan cognate of Blanche.
Blanch f English
Variant of Blanche.
Blanche f French, English
From a medieval French nickname meaning "white, fair-coloured". This word and its cognates in other languages are ultimately derived from the Germanic word *blankaz. An early bearer was the 12th-century Blanca of Navarre, the wife of Sancho III of Castile. Her granddaughter of the same name married Louis VIII of France, with the result that the name became more common in France.
Blaze m English (Modern)
Modern variant of Blaise influenced by the English word blaze.
Blejan f Cornish
Means "flower" in Cornish.
Blessing m & f English (African)
From the English word blessing, of Old English origin. This name is most common in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa.
Blodeuyn f Welsh (Rare)
Means "flower" in Welsh.
Blossom f English
From the English word blossom, ultimately from Old English blóstm. It came into use as a rare given name in the 19th century.
Blue m & f English (Rare)
From the English word for the colour, derived via Norman French from a Frankish word (replacing the native Old English cognate blaw). Despite the fact that this name was used by the American musicians Beyoncé and Jay-Z in 2012 for their first daughter, it has not come into general use in the United States.
Boglárka f Hungarian
Means "buttercup (flower)" in Hungarian (genus Ranunculus), derived from the archaic word boglár meaning "ornament".
Bonita f English
Means "pretty" in Spanish, ultimately from Latin bonus "good". It has been used as a name in the English-speaking world since the beginning of the 20th century.
Bonnie f English
Means "pretty" from the Scottish word bonnie, which was itself derived from Middle French bon "good". It has been in use as an American given name since the 19th century, and it became especially popular after the movie Gone with the Wind (1939), in which it was the nickname of Scarlett's daughter.
Booker m English
From an English occupational surname meaning "maker of books". A famous bearer was Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), an African-American leader.
Bora 1 m Turkish
Means "storm, squall" in Turkish, ultimately related to Greek Βορέας (Boreas), the name of the god of the north wind.
Boróka f Hungarian
Hungarian diminutive of Borbála. It also means "juniper" in Hungarian.
Bosco m Spanish, Italian (Rare)
From the surname Bosco, given in honour of the Italian saint John Bosco (1815-1888).
Bradán m Medieval Irish
Means "salmon" in Irish. It could also be formed from Irish brad "thief" and a diminutive suffix.
Brân m Welsh Mythology
Means "raven" in Welsh. According to the Second Branch of the Mabinogi, Brân the Blessed (called Bendigeidfran) was a giant king of Britain. He was the son of the divine figure Llŷr. After his sister Branwen was mistreated by her husband the Irish king Matholwch, Brân led an attack on Ireland (the text says that he was so big he was able to wade there). Although victorious, the British lost all except seven men with Brân being mortally wounded by a poisoned spear. He asked the survivors to cut of his head and return with it to Britain. The head continued to speak for many years until it was buried in London.
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.
Brand m English (Rare)
From a surname, a variant of Brant.
Brândușa f Romanian
Means "crocus" in Romanian.
Brandy f English
From the English word brandy for the alcoholic drink. It is ultimately from Dutch brandewijn "burnt wine". It has been in use as a given name since the 1960s.
Brava f Esperanto
Means "valiant, brave" in Esperanto.
Briallen f Welsh (Rare)
Derived from Welsh briallu meaning "primrose". This is a modern Welsh name.
Briar m & f English (Modern)
From the English word for the thorny plant.
Brin m Slovene
Means "juniper" in Slovene.
Britannia f English (Rare)
From the Latin name of the island of Britain, in occasional use as an English given name since the 18th century. This is also the name of the Roman female personification of Britain pictured on some British coins.
Bron f Welsh
Short form of Bronwen.
Brónach f Irish
Means "sad", derived from Irish brón meaning "sorrow". Saint Brónach was a 6th-century Irish mystic.
Brook m & f English
From an English surname that denoted one who lived near a brook.
Bruno m German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Croatian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Latvian, Germanic
Derived from the Old German element brunna meaning "armour, protection" (Proto-Germanic *brunjǭ) or brun meaning "brown" (Proto-Germanic *brūnaz). Saint Bruno of Cologne was a German monk of the 11th century who founded the Carthusian Order. The surname has belonged to Giordano Bruno, a philosopher burned at the stake by the Inquisition. A modern bearer is the American singer Bruno Mars (1985-), born Peter Gene Hernandez.
Bryn m & f Welsh, English (Modern)
Means "hill, mound" in Welsh. In Wales it is almost always a masculine name, though elsewhere in the English-speaking world it can be unisex (see Brynn).
Brynja f Icelandic, Old Norse
Means "armour" in Old Norse.
Bryony f English (Rare)
From the name of a type of Eurasian vine, formerly used as medicine. It ultimately derives from Greek βρύω (bryo) meaning "to swell".
Buck m English
From an English nickname meaning simply "buck, male deer", ultimately from Old English bucc.
Bud m English
Short form of Buddy.
Buddy m English
From the English word meaning "friend". It probably originated as a nursery form of the word brother.
Buenaventura m Spanish
Spanish form of Bonaventura.
Bugs m Popular Culture
From the slang term bugs meaning "crazy, unstable". Bugs Bunny is an animated cartoon rabbit originally developed in the 1930s by staff at Leon Schlesinger Productions. He was named for the animator Ben "Bugs" Hardaway.
Bugsy m English
From a nickname derived from the slang term bugsy meaning "crazy, unstable". It was notably borne by the American gangster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel (1906-1947).
Bunny f English
Diminutive of Berenice.
Burgundy f English (Rare)
This name can refer either to the region in France, the wine (which derives from the name of the region), or the colour (which derives from the name of the wine).
Burim m Albanian
Means "spring, well, water source" in Albanian.
Buster m English
Originally a nickname denoting a person who broke things, from the word bust, a dialectal variant of burst. A famous bearer was the American silent movie star Buster Keaton (1895-1966), whose real first name was Joseph.
Butch m English
From the English slang word butch meaning "manly, masculine", itself from the word butcher. This is typically a nickname. A famous bearer was the American outlaw Butch Cassidy (1866-1908), born Robert LeRoy Parker.
Buttercup f Literature
From the English word for the yellow flower (genus Ranunculus). Author William Goldman used it for Princess Buttercup in his book The Princess Bride (1973) and the subsequent film adaptation (1987).
Buzz m English
From a nickname derived from the onomatopoeic word buzz meaning "buzz, hum, murmur". A notable bearer is American astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin (1930-), one of the first people to walk on the moon. The character Buzz Lightyear from the movie Toy Story (1995) was named after Aldrin.
Cadence f English (Modern)
From an English word meaning "rhythm, flow". It has been in use only since the 20th century.
Cadhla f Irish
Means "beautiful" in Irish.
Calanthe f English (Rare)
From the name of a type of orchid, ultimately meaning "beautiful flower", derived from Greek καλός (kalos) meaning "beautiful" and ἄνθος (anthos) meaning "flower".
Călin m Romanian
From Romanian călin meaning "viburnum tree" (of Slavic origin).
Calla f English
From the name of two types of plants, the true calla (species Calla palustris) and the calla lily (species Calla aethiopica), both having white flowers and growing in marshy areas. Use of the name may also be inspired by Greek κάλλος (kallos) meaning "beauty".
Camellia f English (Rare)
From the name of the flowering shrub, which was named for the botanist and missionary Georg Josef Kamel.
Candelaria f Spanish
Means "Candlemas" in Spanish, ultimately derived from Spanish candela "candle". This name is given in honour of the church festival of Candlemas, which commemorates the presentation of Christ in the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary.
Candida f Late Roman, English
Late Latin name derived from candidus meaning "white". This was the name of several early saints, including a woman supposedly healed by Saint Peter. As an English name, it came into use after George Bernard Shaw's play Candida (1898).
Candide m & f French (Rare), Literature
French form of Candidus or Candida. The French philosopher and author Voltaire used this name for the main character (a male) in his satire Candide (1759). In French candide also means "naive", which is descriptive of the book's protagonist.
Candy f English
Diminutive of Candace. It is also influenced by the English word candy.
Cannon m English
From an English surname, which was derived from Middle English canon, referring to a church official or servant who worked in a clergy house. This name may also be used in reference to the vocabulary word for the large gun, derived from Italian cannone "large tube", from Latin canna "cane, reed".
Caomh m Irish (Rare)
Means "dear, beloved, gentle" in Irish.
Capri f English (Modern)
From the name of the picturesque Italian island of Capri. It is likely from Greek κάπρος (kapros) meaning "wild boar", though it could also be of Etruscan origin or from Latin capri meaning "goats".
Caprice f English
From the English word meaning "impulse", ultimately (via French) from Italian capriccio.
Capucine f French
Means "nasturtium" in French. This was the stage name of the French actress and model Capucine (1928-1990).
Cara f English
From an Italian word meaning "beloved" or an Irish word meaning "friend". It has been used as a given name since the 19th century, though it did not become popular until after the 1950s.
Caridad f Spanish
Means "charity" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Caridad, meaning "Our Lady of Charity". This is the name of the patron saint of Cuba, with a shrine located in the town of El Cobre.
Carina 1 f English, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Late Roman
Late Latin name derived from cara meaning "dear, beloved". This was the name of a 4th-century saint and martyr. It is also the name of a constellation in the southern sky, though in this case it means "keel" in Latin, referring to a part of Jason's ship the Argo.
Carita f Swedish
Derived from Latin caritas meaning "dearness, esteem, love".
Carmen f Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese, French, Romanian, German
Medieval Spanish form of Carmel, appearing in the devotional title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora del Carmen meaning "Our Lady of Mount Carmel". The spelling has been altered through association with the Latin word carmen meaning "song". This was the name of the main character in George Bizet's opera Carmen (1875).
Carmine m Italian
Italian masculine form of Carmen.
Carol 1 f & m English
Short form of Caroline. It was formerly a masculine name, derived from Carolus. The name can also be given in reference to the English vocabulary word, which means "song" or "hymn".
Carry f English
Diminutive of Caroline.
Carver m English (Rare)
From an English surname that meant "wood carver".
Case m English (Modern)
Short form of Casey.
Cash m English
From an English occupational surname for a box maker, derived from Norman French casse meaning "case", from Latin capsa. It coincides with the English word cash meaning "money" (derived from the same French and Latin roots). A famous bearer of the surname was American musician Johnny Cash (1932-2003).
Cassia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Cassius.
Cəsur m Azerbaijani
Means "bold, brave" in Azerbaijani.
Cat f & m English
Diminutive of Catherine. It can also be a nickname from the English word for the animal.
Cedar f & m English (Rare)
From the English word for the coniferous tree, derived (via Old French and Latin) from Greek κέδρος (kedros). Besides the true cedars from the genus Cedrus, it is also used to refer to some tree species in the cypress family.
Celandine f English (Rare)
From the name of the flower, which is derived from Greek χελιδών (chelidon) meaning "swallow (bird)".
Celeste f & m Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, English
Italian feminine and masculine form of Caelestis. It is also the Portuguese, Spanish and English feminine form.
Celyn m & f Welsh
Means "holly" in Welsh. It appears briefly in the Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen, belonging to a son of Caw, but was not typically used as a given name until the 20th century.
Cerise f French
Means "cherry" in French.
Chalice f English (Rare)
Means simply "chalice, goblet" from the English word, derived from Latin calix.
Chance m English
Originally a diminutive of Chauncey. It is now usually given in reference to the English word chance meaning "luck, fortune" (ultimately derived from Latin cadens "falling").
Chanté f African American (Modern)
From French chanter meaning "sing". This spelling corresponds with the past participle, meaning "sung".
Chara f Greek
Means "happiness, joy" in Greek.
Charisma f English (Rare)
From the English word meaning "personal magnetism", ultimately derived from Greek χάρις (charis) meaning "grace, kindness".
Charity f English
From the English word charity, ultimately derived from Late Latin caritas "generous love", from Latin carus "dear, beloved". Caritas was in use as a Roman Christian name. The English name Charity came into use among the Puritans after the Protestant Reformation. It is currently most common in parts of English-influenced Africa.
Chase m English
From an English surname meaning "chase, hunt" in Middle English, originally a nickname for a huntsman.
Chastity f English
From the English word chastity, which is ultimately from Latin castus "pure". It was borne by the child of Sonny Bono and Cher, which probably led to the name's increase in popularity during the 1970s.
Cherie f English
Derived from French chérie meaning "darling". In America, Cherie came into use shortly after the variant Sherry, and has not been as common.
Cherish f English
From the English word meaning "to treasure".
Cherry f English
Simply means "cherry" from the name of the fruit, derived from Latin cerasium, Greek κεράσιον (kerasion). It can also be a diminutive of Charity. It has been in use since the late 19th century.
Chifundo m & f Chewa
Means "mercy" in Chewa.
Chimwemwe m & f Chewa
Means "joy, pleasure" in Chewa.
China f English (Modern)
From the name of the Asian country, ultimately derived from Qin, the name of a dynasty that ruled there in the 3rd century BC.
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.
Chisomo m & f Chewa
Means "grace" in Chewa.
Chiyembekezo m & f Chewa
Means "hope" in Chewa.
Chou f Japanese (Rare)
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji (see Chō).
Christian m English, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
From the medieval Latin name Christianus meaning "a Christian" (see Christos 1 for further etymology). In England it has been in use since the Middle Ages, during which time it was used by both males and females, but it did not become common until the 17th century. In Denmark the name has been borne by ten kings since the 15th century.... [more]
Christmas m & f English (Rare)
From the name of the holiday, which means "Christ festival".