Anglicized form of Aodhán. When combined with variants like Aiden, Ayden, Aydan, and Aden, Aidan was the most popular name for boys in the U.S. in 2006.
St Aidan was the founder of the monastery of Lindisfarne in north England. He is credit
A modern respelling of Aidan. May also be a variant of Eden. When combined with variants like Ayden, Aydan, and Aden, Aiden was the most popular name for boys in the U.S. in 2006.
Diminutive of Alexander, originally popular in Scotland.
Bearers include former British Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home, and actors Alec Guinness and Alec Baldwin.
Alec Stoke-d'Urberville is one of the main characters in Tho
From the Old English elements 'ælf' (elf) and 'ræd' (counsel).
Alfred the Great was King of the Anglo-Saxons in southern England in the 9th century. His reign was well-documented by a contemporary Welsh Monk named Asser, in his 'Life of Kin
From the Old English elements 'ald' (old) and 'tun' (town, village).
Andrew was a disciple of Jesus and of John the Baptist, who it is said was martyred by being crucified on a cross in the shape of an "X". He became a saint. This symbol is now referred to as Saint Andrew's cross. Andrew was the brother of Peter.
Anthony is from the Roman family name Antonius. Commonly shortened to "Tony" in the English speaking world, Anthony is one of the most common male names in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, and Australia.
Saint Anthony the Great was the fa
From the Old English 'aesc' - ash tree, and 'tun' - settlement.
The name is borne by American actor Ashton Kutcher.
Augustus was a title first adopted by the Roman emperor Octavian. It is connected with the Latin verb 'augere', which means 'to augment'. There were several kings of Poland named Augustus.
Augustus Pugin was an architect who helped to desi
Benjamin is the anglicized form of the Hebrew Binyamin. In the Old Testament, Benjamin was the twelfth and youngest son of Jacob. Benjamin was the 24th most popular boy's name in the US in 2006, and the 11th most popular in the UK. It is also commonly fou
There have been various saints named Bernard. The St Bernard dogs are named for St Bernard of Menthon who established a hospice on what is now known as the St Bernard Pass. This is the pass over the Pennine Alps of Switzerland and Italy. The dogs were use
Often used as a nickname for names containing -bert-. It is the name of a saint as well as the name of a character in Sesame Street.
Nickname for William.
Of ultimately Greek origins, brought to English via Latin.
Either from the Old English 'blæc' (black, dark) or 'blac' (bright, shining). Originally a surname this is now also used as a given name. Blake's 7 was a British science fiction TV series, shown in the late 1970s. The main character was named Roj Blake.
Surname from the Old English words 'brad' (broad) and 'ford' (ford). Several places in England bear this name, the largest being a city in West Yorkshire.
Originally a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "broom hill" in Old English. Brandon is the name of the second-largest city in the Canadian province of Manitoba, and is the name of several towns throughout the U.S. and U.K.
Most known as the name of a popular tourist town in Missouri.
Trendy modern respelling of the traditional form Braden.
Trendy modern respelling of the legitimate form Braden.
Modern trendy coinage that came into being with the popularity of name like Brandon, Braydon, Kaylen etc.
The exact meaning of this name is unknown and has no traceble etymolgy. On can assume there is some sort of tie to Braden or Brandon,
Modern trendy coinage that came into being with the popularity of name like Brandon, Braydon, Kaylen etc.
The exact meaning of this name is unknown and has no traceable etymology. One can assume there is some sort of tie to Braden or Brando
Originated as a surname for those who lived by or in an area that had been burned. Also comes from a old Celtic word that meant "steep" or "steep hill" and was granted to those living on one.
It was also a reference to those who had been
In origin a Germanic name derived from the Gothic 'brunjô', 'armour'. Aside from this the interpretation 'brown' is too among the possibilities. Sometimes the name is associated with the element 'bert', 'shining'.
Saint Bruno was the found
In the Old Testament, Caleb and Joshua were among the Israelites who left Egypt for Canaan with Moses. They were the only two who lived to see the promised land. Caleb is sometimes translated as "faithful" or "loyal," probably because a dog displays the
Callum was the 13th most popular boy's name in the UK in 2006, but is extremely rare in the US.
From the Germanic word karl meaning "free man", akin to Old English ceorl "man".
Charles is the French form of the name. There have been ten French kings named Charles, including Charlemagne (Charles the Great). Under Charlemagne's rule the Frankis
Charlie is very popular as a stand-alone name in the UK, rated 6h in 2007 (Charles came in at 52nd). It was ranked only 337th in the US.
Charlie is also used occasionally as a nickname for the feminine name Charlotte, or other female "Char"
Variant form that charted on the American top 1000 names in 1989.
Coleman is a name and (more commonly) a surname with several different origins. As both an Irish and an English surname it is derived through Old Irish from the Latin 'columba' ('dove'). It can also be an anglicization of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Clumhá
Modern English respelling of the traditional form Christopher.
Darnell is a name that has become a given name but originated as an Old English habituation surname given to or taken by those who lived in a hidden copse or a hard to find area. Another line of etymology points to an Old French origination brought to En
A deacon is the name given to someone who works in the Christian church but is not a priest or minister - the role can change from denomination to denomination. As a verb, to deacon has various meanings. It can mean 'to pack fruit or vegetables so that on
A dean can also be a member of the clergy or, in universities and similar, someone with control over a certain academic department.
Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti) was an American actor and musician, and was a member of the 'Rat Pack'
A recently coined name made by combining the prefix De with the name Marco.
The name Derek is borne by actor Derek Jacobi, baseball player Derek Jeter and film director Derek Jarman. It is also the name of a character in the popular TV series 'Grey's Anatomy'.
'Dexter's Laboratory' is the name of an animated children's television show - the lead character is boy genius Dexter. 'Dexter' is also the name of a TV series based on books by Jeff Lindsay, in which the lead character, Dexter Morgan, is a serial killer
This is a variant spelling of Dominic commonly encountered in English-speaking countries.
Of uncertain origin, but its meaning is probably connected to the word for 'sea'. In Welsh mythology Dylan was a god of the sea and the son of Gwyddion and Arianrhod. He was accidentally killed by his uncle, a Smith God called Govannon. The Welsh poet Dyl
Elijah was a Hebrew prophet who appeared mysteriously during the 9th century B.C.E. and left this earth in a blazing chariot ascending into the heavens. He appears in the Bible in 1 and 2 Kings, and is seen with Moses during the Transfiguration of Jesus.<
Ervin is a variant of the surname Irvine, which has three separate origins. It can be from one of two places in Scotland, either Irvine or Irving. Both places are named for a Celtic river whose name probably meant 'green water'. It can also be derived fro
Ethan means strong and optimistic, solid and enduring, or permanent. The name Ethan appears eight times in the Hebrew Bible. Ethan the Ezrahite, is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. It may be that Ethan was a cymbal-player in King David's court. He authored
Evan is considered to be Welsh and is, like Ieunan, a form of John and means "God is gracious". Evan and Even are used also in Britanny where they are linked to John the Baptist. These forms overlap in Ireland and Scotland with forms of Eoghan, which are
St. Francis is the patron saint of animals. He also founded the Franciscan monastic order.
The co-founder of the Jesuit order was St Francis Xavier.
There have been various rulers named Francis, including 2 Kings of France, 2
Gary can be used as a nickname for many names, including Gerhard, Garrison, Gareth and Garrett.
Gavin is a form of Gawain. Gawain was one of King Arthur's knights of the Round Table.
There have been six British kings called George, and Saint George is the patron saint of England, knights, armorers and archers. This is also the first name of US President, George H. W. Bush and his son, President George W. Bush, and the first US Preside
Gordon is a Scottish clan name, that is now used as a first name. Gordon Brown is the current British Prime Minister.
Flash Gordon was a comic strip, television show and film. Gordon is also the name of the Big Engine in Thomas the Tank Eng
Originally a pet form of Hankin, which itself was a medieval diminutive for John, Hank is now also used as a nickname for Henry. It experienced a sudden rise in popularity in the United States in the 1940s but has since become very rare on babies.
Harry started out as a nickname for Henry, but is now used as a name in its own right. In the US it was the 593rd most popular name for boys in 2006. In the UK however, where it is the popular name of one of the royal princes, the name comes in fifth. It
Latinised form of the Greek Hektor. In Greek mythology Hector was the son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. According to Homer's Iliad, the warrior Hector was killed by Achilles in a fit of vengeful wrath after slaying Achilles' comrade Patroclus in
Howard is the family surname of the English Dukes of Norfolk. Famous members of the family include Katherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII and Thomas Howard, her uncle and the uncle of Anne Boleyn.
Other people bearing the surname H
Irvin is a variant of the surname Irvine, which has three separate origins. It can be from one of two places in Scotland, either Irvine or Irving. Both places are named for a Celtic river whose name probably meant 'green water'. It can also be derived fro
Irving is a variant of the surname Irvine, which has three separate origins. It can be from one of two places in Scotland, either Irvine or Irving. Both places are named for a Celtic river whose name probably meant 'green water'. It can also be derived fr
Irwin is a variation on the surname Irvine, as descended from one of the Middle English names composed of elements meaning 'wild boar' and 'friend'.
Though originally a nickname for John, Jack is frequently given as a stand-alone name today. In the UK, it has been the most popular name for baby boys for the last thirteen years.
In cards, a jack is the lowest-ranking of the face cards.
Originally a nickname for Jacob, Jake has attained considerable success in the UK, where it was rated as the 15th most popular boy's name in 2006. It was ranked 107th in the US.
There are many saints called James, the most famous being Saint James the Elder, one of the Apostles. As a common name it has many namesakes, such as the author James Joyce or the fictional British spy James Bond ("007"). The name has been used for royalt
Surname of third US President Thomas Jefferson, who penned the Declaration of Independence. It was also the middle name of William Jefferson Clinton.
Biblically, Jeremiah was a prophet. He prophesied the besieging and taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon but was ignored by the princes of Jerusalem. His writings are found in the book of Jeremiah and, according to tradition, he wrote the book
The French variant of the name is spelled Jérémie.
An anglicized form of the name Jeremiah that originally gained popularity in the Middle Ages. Famous bearers include British TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, political interviewer Jeremy Paxman, actor Jeremy Irons and talk show host Jeremy Kyle.
Variant spelling of Jeremy.
John was the name of two characters in the New Testament.
John is the personal name of four US Presidents: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John Tyler, and John F. Kennedy.
This is a combination of both names John and Paul. It seems to be a popular combination, helped along in many countries by the association with Popes John Paul I and II.
In the Old Testament, Jonathan was the eldest son of King Saul and the best friend of the future king David. Jonathan was a courageous defender of Israel and was killed in battle against the Philistines.
There are several Josephs in the Bible, including the husband of Mary in the New Testament and Joseph, son of Jacob - nowadays known for his many coloured coat. Joseph of Arimathea donated his own tomb for the burial of Jesus.
Joseph was th
In the Old Testament, Joshua was appointed by God to lead the Israelites after Moses' death. The Greek form of Joshua is Jesus.
Joshua was the 3rd most popular boy's name in the US in 2006, and 4th most popular in the UK.
Fam
Spelt Julián in Spanish.
Julian is a common saint name. Saint Julian the Hospitaler was a saint from the Middle Ages and is the patron saint of travelers. Julian is rarely used as a female name; Julian of Norwich, the only famous female be
Ken is a short form of Kenneth, from the Gaelic meaning "born on fire".
As a Japanese name, Ken may be written with the character for "build". Other possibilities include the characters for "respect" or "authority".
A variant spelling of the name Lane, Layne is commonly encountered as a surname.
Anglicized spelling of the surname, Leighton.
This name was taken from the Latin noun 'leo', meaning 'lion' (itself from the Greek 'leon'). Leo is slowly climbing in popularity - it reached the 236th spot in the US charts in 2006. Ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair used it for his son in 2000, a hi
The original Lincoln is a city in England, although there are now Lincolns all over the world. It was taken as a surname and is now becoming popular as a first name (it was the 300th most popular boy's name in the US in 2006). For those who don't live nea
St Luke was the author of the Biblical books of Luke and of the Acts of the Apostles. He is traditionally seen as being a physician or a doctor.
Luke was ranked as the 17th most popular boy's name in the UK in 2006, but was rated 43rd in t
Most famous bearer of this surname turned personal name is 36th President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson. Other famous bearers include political activist and economist Lyndon LaRouche,
Gaelic name meaning "follower or devotee of the dove", where the dove is usually St. Columba.
It was a popular name among Scottish nobility, and the first name of black Muslim Minister and Civil Rights leader Malcolm X.
English form of Marcus.
Saint Mark the Evangelist is traditionally believed to be the author of the second Gospel (Gospel of Mark) and a companion of Peter.
A famous Roman bearer of the name was Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius), politi
Modern American English trendy variant and phoenetic respelling of the traditional Michael.
The name Milo is of uncertain derivation.
Of Germanic origin, adopted by the French as Milon, and established in English-speaking countries as Miles.
Milo might come from the German 'mild' (mild, peaceful, calm), which is d
From the Arabic "hamida" (to praise). The name, one of the most popular in the Muslim world, was borne by the Arabic Prophet and founder of Islam.
From the Arabic "hamida" (to praise).
The name, one of the most popular in the Muslim world, was borne by the Arabic Prophet and founder of Islam.
In the Old Testament, Nathan is a prophet who served King David and his son, who was also called Nathan. Nathan is also used as a short form of Nathaniel or Jonathan.
Famous Neils include the first man to walk on the Moon, Neil Armstrong, writers Neil Gaiman and Neil Postman, and singers Neil Diamond and Neil Tennant of the 'Pet Shop Boys'. Neil Kinnock is a British politician, who was leader of the Labour Party in the
From the French Olivier, believed to be an old French version of the Germanic name Alfihar. The name is also associated with the olive tree and therefore peace. Oliver was the 173rd most popular boy's name in the US in 2006, but the third most popular i
From medieval times this was a nickname for Piers or Percival. It is also a surname ultimately derived from the Gallo-Roman name Persius.
St Peter was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, and became the first pope of the Church. Peter's original name was Simon, but it was changed by Jesus to the Aramaic name Cephas (rock). Peter is the Greek equivalent of Cephas.
The first R
To pierce something is to make a hole in something or to penetrate it.
Pierce Brosnan is an actor, most famous for playing James Bond. Franklin Pierce was the 14th American President.
Elvis Presley was an American musician and actor, also known as 'The King'. Since his death in 1977, his home, Graceland, has become a site of pilgrimage for Elvis fans, and there are numerous Elvis tribute acts.
Randall Flagg is a fictional character created by Stephen King in his nine part 'Dark Tower' series.
Randall is commonly found as a surname.
Singer and musician Elton John's birth name was Reginald Dwight.
Reuben is the transliterated and anglicized form of the Hebrew name Re'uven. In the Bible, Reuben is the oldest son of Jacob and Leah and the founder of the tribe of Reuben.
Reuben is the name of a British alternative rock band. There is a
There have been various saints named Robert. St Robert of Molesme was one of the founders of the Cistercian monastic order. St Robert Bellarmine was a Catholic Cardinal, and is one of the Doctors of the Church.
There were three kings of Sc
Roderick is from the Latin Rodericus, which is from the Old High German Hrodrich, a compounding of the elements 'hruod' meaning "fame" and 'rik' meaning "ruler; king". King Roderick was supposedly the 'last king of the Goths' in the 8th century, but very
From the Old norse, composed of the elements meaning "Advice; decision; the gods" and "ruler".
Ronald Reagan was President of the United States 1981-9. Ronald McDonald is the clown mascot of restaurant chain McDonald's and Ronald Weasley is
In the Old Testament, Samuel was the son of Hannah, a prophet and a judge who anointed Saul as the first king of Israel. Samuel was the 25th most popular boy's name in the US in 2006 and the 8th most popular in the UK.
Anglicised form of Sean.
This surname has four separate origins. In English-speaking countries it is simply an occupational surname for a tanner (a tanner is someone who treats animal hide to make leather). In German it is either a variant of the surname Tann (meaning 'forest', a
The name was borne by a Roman writer of comedies, Publius Terentius Afer, commonly known as Terence.
This is an alternate spelling of Terence or Terrence.
This is a variant spelling of Terence.
From a Middle English dialect word from the north of England.
Anthony is from the Roman family name Antonius. Commonly shortened to "Tony" in the English speaking world, Anthony is one of the most common male names in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, and Australia. Saint Anthony the Great was the father of Christi
The River Trent is an English river that traditionally marked the divide between north and south England. It flows through towns such as Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent and Burton upon Trent.
Name borne by the 29th US President, Warren Gamaliel Harding. Other famous bearers include Rapper Warren G., film star Warren Beatty, rock star Warren Zevon and philanthropist Warren Buffet.
The Warren Commission was the unofficial name of
Historically, Wesley was used in memory of the founders of the Methodist church, John and Charles Wesley. At first, it was principally used by Methodists, but it has since spread to general use.
Famous bearers include actor Wesley Snipes,
William comes from the Germanic elements 'wil' (will, desire) and 'helm' (helmet, protection). It was the 10th most popular name for boys in the US in 2006, and the 7th most popular in the UK.
There have been many rulers named William, incl
Winston was the first name of British prime minister Winston Churchill. His ancestor - John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough's father was named Winston, as it was the maiden name of this Winston Churchill's mother, Sarah Winston.
O
Modern respelling of Winter. Popularized in part by MTV's television show "Liquid Televison" on which a puppet character was named Wynter Steel.
Modern respelling of the legitimate Xavier.
Abigail was an Old Testament character who saved her negligent husband from the wrath of King David. After her husband's death, she later married David. David's sister was also named Abigail.
Abigail was quite commonly used in English-sp
There have been various Alexandras in royalty: Alexandra of Hesse was the wife of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia, Alexandra of Denmark was the wife of British King Edward VIII and Princess Alexandra is a cousin of British Queen Elizabeth II.
Alice was an extremely common name in medieval England, though it frequently appeared in the alternate form Alys. It is found several times in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," most famously as the name of the Wife of Bath. The name fell into disuse for man
Of uncertain origin. It may be from an Arabic word for 'noble' or, in Scotland, a feminine form of Alistair.
It could also be a form of Adelaide.
The name is borne by ballerina Alina Cojocaru.
Variant of Alison, a Norman French diminutive of Alice.
Since 1963 in the US, Allison has been more popular than Alison.
The name is borne by news anchor Allison Stewart, Canadian singer Allison Crowe, and actresses Allison M
A variant of Alicia first used in the 1980s.
A recently coined variant of Alicia. Most often pronunced ah-LISS-ee-ah it is occasionally said ah-LEESH-yah or ah-LEES-ee-ah.
Amelia is actually derived from two names: "Emilia," a Latin name meaning "rival," and "Amalia," a Germanic name meaning "work" or "labor." Henry Fielding popularized this name with his novel "Amelia" in 1751. More recently, the name took center stage i
Angela is derived from the same origin as the vocabulary word 'Angel' - angels being the messengers of God.
Famous bearers include German Chancellor Angela Merkel (who pronounces her name with a hard 'g'), actress Angela Lansbury and Briti
Ann is the English spelling of Anne, the French form of Hannah, that has been used since Medieval times.
Ann Arbor is a city in Michigan, the 'Ann' part of the name comes from the first name of the wives of its founders John Allen and Elish
Either an elaboration of Anna, or a past misreading of the name Amabel.
'Annabel Lee' is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, about a woman who Poe loved, even after her death.
The name is borne by former English tennis player Annabel
Either an elaboration of Anna, or a past misreading of the name Amabel.
St Etheldreda is also known as St Audrey. She was an East Anglian princess who formed the monastery of Ely, and became its first Abbess. The word 'tawdry' comes from St Audrey. Admirers of St Audrey brought lacework to the annual fair in Ely, this later b
One of the four seasons, known as 'fall' in North America. As part of Vivaldi's 'Four seasons' concerto set, Autumn is in F major, and features the harvest and the hunt.
Bríd was the name of a Celtic fire goddess. St Brigid or Bridget of Kildare was a 5th century saint, who formed the monastery at Kildare. Many of the qualities associated with Bríd have since become associated with her.
St Bridget or Birgi
A nickname for Cal-names such as Calandra, Calanthe, Calista etc.
A modern feminine form of Carl or a pet form of names such as Carlene. Also often found as a surname.
A modern feminine form of Carl or a pet form of names such as Carlene.
French cognate of Carolina. It was borne by Caroline Brunswick, queen consort to King George IV, Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach, queen consort to King George II and by Lady Caroline Lamb, mistress of the poet Lord Byron. "Sweet Caroline" is the name of
A French form of Katherine commonly used in English. Catherine is the name of several important Christian saints, and has been used by European royal families for centuries.
Catrina is an anglicised form of Catríona, a Scottish and Irish form of Katherine.
Charlotte is a feminine form of the name Charles; though often interpreted as "woman" or "feminine," Charlotte might equally be interpreted as "masculine." Many texts reconcile these differences by defining Charlotte as "strong woman." Whilst moderately
Diminuative for any feminine name starting with 'Cor' such as Corrine, Coral, Corabel, Cordelia, etc.
Modern respelling of Kristin or Kristen which first became popular in the early 1970's.
Daisy can also be a nickname for Margaret. The French word for "daisy" is "marguerite," and English speakers have historically adopted this parallel for themselves, translating "Margaret" into "Daisy" (though in English, these two names have no true etym
From the Anglo-Saxon eád-gyth, with 'eád' meaning 'good, prosperity, fortune, inheritance' and 'gyth' meaning 'battle' or 'strife'. Another possible meaning is 'warrior for the good'. Eadgyth was the name of the daughter of King Edgar (see Edgar). She is
Derived from French name Aliénor, which is of obscure meaning.
Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204), whilst being a wealthy and powerful woman in her own right, was married to the King of France (Louis VII) and the King of England (Henry II). S
Except for its roots to Helen this name can also be linked to more common El-names such as Eleanor.
There are various actresses named Ellen such as comedian Ellen DeGeneres, 'Grey's Anatomy' star Ellen Pompeo, Ellen Barkin and Academy awar
Ellie is a nickname for El- names, most commonly Eleanor. As a stand-alone name it has only recently made the top 200 in the US, but it has seen great popularity in the UK, where it fell to 13th place in 2007.
Originally a pet form of Elizabeth, Elsa is now in common use as an independent given name. Elsa may also be taken as coming from the Hebrew meaning "joyful".
Elsa Schiaparelli was a fashion designer of the 1920s and 30s. Elsa was the name
Similar in sound to the name Amber, Ember is a far less common alternative.
This compound name combines the names "Emma" and "Lee" to become a form of "Emily."
A modern respelling of Erin.
From the Hebrew name Chava, which was derived from the Hebrew word Chai "life". In the Genesis, Eve was the first woman, wife of Adam and "the mother of all that lives". It is her role as a mother that is put forward in this name.
Eve is al
Pet form of Eve or Evelyn. It is particularly popular in the UK, where it was the 15th most popular name in 2007. Over the course of five years it has shot up 46 places.
The English word "faith" ultimately derives from the Latin "fides," from which names like Fido are derived.
Faith Evans is an American R & B singer, and Faith Hill is a country singer. Faith is also the name of a British shoe shop, named af
Famous bearers include actress Fiona Shaw, singer Fiona Apple, British journalist Fiona Bruce and Princess Fiona from the 'Shrek' films.
Fiona pinnata is the name of a species of sea slug. It is the only species belonging to the Fiona genu
Lady Gabriella Windsor is the daughter of Prince Michael of Kent, and is a member of the British royal family. The main female character in Disney's 'High School Musical' is Gabriella Montez.
Whilst not that unusual in the UK (and also used in Italy and Spain), Gemma is very rare in the US. The name derives ultimately from the Latin feminine noun 'gemma', meaning a jewel or precious stone. The word was also used for a bud or a jewelled cup.
Grace was the 17th most popular girl's name in the US in 2006, and the most popular (#1) name in the UK in 2007. It is also very popular as a middle name. To Christians, grace means free salvation from God. Grace is also the name of the prayer said before
In medieval European lore, Griselda was the wife of nobleman who tolerated any annoyance or grief he caused her. She is known in several literary works, including the Canterbury Tales and the Decameron, as "Patient Griselda."
Alternate trendy spelling of the traditional Hailey or Hayley. Haily did not feature on the US top 1000 popular baby names in 2006. However, if you go by sound and combine all the HAY lee pronunciations together (eg Hailey, Hayley, Haley, Hayleigh etc.)
In the Old Testament, Hannah was the mother of the prophet Samuel. She had been unable to bear her husband Elkanah a child, and so prayed at the temple that if God gave her a son then she would give him up to be a priest. When the child, Samuel, was born,
The English name Helen comes from the ancient Greek Helene. In Greek mythology it famously belonged to Helen of Troy, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta who caused the Trojan War by sailing to Troy with Paris. For a discussion on the etymology of the nam
The holly is a type of plant with red berries and a serrated leaf edge. It is usually associated with Christmas - especially with the song: 'The Holly and the Ivy'.
Holly Hunter is an Academy Award winning, or Oscar winning, actress. Holly
Although of disputed origin, Isabel is often taken as a form of Elizabeth. Isabel first gained popularity in Spain in the Middle Ages, and it was soon exported to France and England.
Isabel was the name of the Princess Imperial of Brazil
Jasmine is the name of a flower. In the Disney film Aladdin, Jasmine is the name of one of the main characters.
This name became popular in the U.S. in the mid-twentieth century, but has recently fallen out of favor. Jolene appears to be the name Jo or Joe with the feminine -lene suffix attached; it became popular along with other -ene names like Charlene.
Julia is a feminine form of the name Julius; this name was given to every female in the Julius family in ancient Rome. Julia was the name of several early Christian saints and martyrs. Julia was also the name of a character in William Shakespeare's "Two G
From the Greek Aikaterine of uncertain origin, but associated with the Greek 'katharos' (pure). The name Katherine has been popular since the Dark Ages, and was used by many European royal families over the centuries.
Katherine Swynford wa
A short form of Michaela (McKayla), or perhaps an elaboration on Kayley.
Lillian Bounds was the wife of animator Walt Disney. Lillian Gish and Lillian Roth were American actresses, and Lillian Hellman was a playwright. The name was most popular around 1900, and these four examples of bearers of the name Lillian were all born w
Lily is the name of a flower and is ultimately derived from the Latin word lilium. They are often showy, with a noticeable scent and long stamens. 'Lily' is also used in the names of other plants such as the water lily (Latin name Nymphaeaceae) - which fl
Also used as a Russian nickname for Larisa.
"Lucinda" first appears in literature in Cervantes' "Don Quixote," though it is unclear whether Cervantes invented this name himself. Lucinda first became popular in the nineteenth century; it is currently quite uncommon in the U.S.
Lucy can be used as a full name, or as a nickname for names such as:
Lucille
Lucinda
Lucine
Lucia
Lucasta
Lucetta or
Lucretia.
Oddly, it is also used in Russia as a nickname for Taty
English form of French Madeleine, itself from Magdalene.
The 'Madeline' books were written by Ludwig Bemelmans, and follow the adventures of a young girl living in Paris.
Madeline Kahn was an American actress.
Pet form of Marcia.
Pet form of Marcia.
Marcy is sometimes found in historical documents as an alternate spelling of the name Mercy.
Mattie was a very common nickname for Matilda in the 18th century in Britain. It fell out of use in the 19th century before having a brief, unexplained rise in popularity in the 1940s.
Modern American English variant of the traditional Michaela.
Pet form shared by several names including Millicent, Mildred and Camilla.
It is also used independently.
Pet form of Mary used independently.
The song 'Molly Malone' or 'Cockles and Mussels' is popular in Ireland, where it is considered to be an unofficial Irish national anthem.
Famous bearers include actresses Molly Ringwald,
Famous Natashas include actresses Natasha Richardson and Natasha Lyonne, singer Natasha Bedingfield and British newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky.
Nicole is a feminine form of Nicholas. Bearers include actress Nicole Kidman, socialite Nicole Richie and singer Nicole Appleton.
An invented name of uncertain origin which gained later popularity in Britain as a feminine form of Norman.
Paisley is a town in Scotland, near to Glasgow. It was famous for its weaving industry in the 19th century - Paisley pattern, which involves a Persian inspired tear-shaped design, comes from the town.
The French name Pauline has a double etymology. It is a diminutive form of Paule, the feminine form of Paul, but it may also be derived from the Roman family name Paulinus.
In literature Pauline appears in Noel Streatfeild's classic childre
Pearl is also a surname, and was used with some frequency on boys in the early twentieth century. Its use as a masculine name faded as Pearl grew in popularity as a feminine name.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" protagonist H
In Greek mythology Phoebe was the Titan mother of Leto, who was in turn mother of Apollo and Artemis. In popular culture Phoebe is a character from the popular sitcom Friends.
Phonetic spelling of Portia.
Priscilla was an early convert to Christianity, she is mentioned in the book of Acts and some of Paul's letters.
Priscilla Wagner was the wife of Elvis Presley.
'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' was a film ab
A nickname for Rachael or a feminine form of Ray. Possibly also taken from the vocabulary word 'ray' or the Scottish surname (Mac)Rae.
Can also be a nickname for names like Serena.
The Japanese name Rena (pronounced REH nah) may be written with the characters for "actor" (re) and "Nara; what?" (na).
A modern coinage formed by blending the name Rhoda and Rhona. However, it is often taken as a Welsh name - 'rhon' (pike, lance) + 'da' (good).
Pet form of Margarita, and also a Sanskrit name meaning "righteous".
From the Latin and Italian Rosalia, an elaborated form of Rosa.
Rosalia is also an Ancient festival during which garlands of roses were laid to honor the memory of fallen soldiers.
Combination of Rose and Anna.
Rosemary is a herb and a member of the mint family.
'Rosemary's Baby' is a horror novel by Ira Levin. It was made into a film in 1968 by Roman Polanski. Rosemary is the main character of the story.
Rosemary Clooney was an Am
Rosie is typically a nickname for names beginning with Rose. In J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", Rosie Cotton was a hobbit who married Samwise Gamgee.
Rosie O'Donnell is a talk show host, actress and comedian. Rosie Perez is a fam
Whilst remaining moderately popular in the US (ranked 137th in 2006), Ruby has shot up the British charts and in 2007 was the second most popular name in the UK.
Ruby Sweetheart is the name of actor Tobey Maguire's daughter.
Of uncertain etymology, most think it is derived from a contraction of the Hebrew re'uth ("companion, friend"). The name is borne in the Bible by the wife of Mahlon and daughter-in-law of Naomi. After the death of her husband, father-in-law, and brother-i
In the Old Testament, Sarah was the wife of Abraham, and the mother of Isaac.
Her name was first Sarai ("my princess"), which God changed to Sarah ("princess") as her descendants were to be the future nation of Israel.
Famous bearer
A savanna (also spelled "savannah") is a large, grassy plateau. Savannah is the name of a large city in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is also the name of a breed of cat.
Made popular in contemporary times by British actress Sienna Miller.
Sophie is a traditional French name, derived from the Greek meaning "wisdom".
"Les Malheurs de Sophie" ("Sophie's Misfortunes") is a famous children's novel in France, written by Madame La Comtesse de Ségur and published in 1859.
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Susan B Anthony was an American suffrage leader, who helped to secure the vote for women in USA. Susan Sarandon is an Oscar-winning actress.
Susan Pevensie is one of four siblings that find their way to Narnia in CS Lewis' 'The Lion, the W
Tanya is a nickname of Tatyana, which is probably derived from the Latin "Tatianus" or "Tatius," a family name of unknown definition.
Victoria was the Roman goddess of victory, the equivalent of the Greek Nike.
A notable bearer of this name is Queen Victoria who reigned between 1819 - 1901 and is the longest reigning British monarch. Victoria was not a common name when Qu
Violets are small plants, whose flowers are usually violet or purple in colour.
There are several fictional characters named Violet: in the comic 'Peanuts', Violet Beauregarde is a chewing-gum addict golden ticket winner in Roald Dahl's 'C
Wilhelmina is the feminine equivalent of the masculine Wilhelm, the German cognate of English William. The name comes from the Germanic elements 'wil' (will, desire) and 'helm' (helmet, protection). This German name became used in English-speaking countri
Likely a modern trendy respelling of the Arabic Zara.
Very modern trendy coinage probably derived from the masculine Xavier.
Zara is the name of a clothing store. Zara Phillips is the daughter of British Princess Anne, and a successful equestrian sportswoman.
Zoe is a direct transliteration of the ancient Greek word 'zoe' (written 'zeta-omega-eta'). It is usually listed as meaning 'life', but it can also mean 'a (means of) living', 'subsistence', 'goods' or 'property'. It was the 54th most popular name for gir
A nickname for Abigail, and also a surname from Middle English originally used for someone who worked at an abbey. Abbey is also the name of a British bank.
Alfie is a nickname for names beginning with 'Alf-', most commonly Alfred. In the UK Alfie has attained considerable success as a stand-alone name, and was ranked as the 16th most popular boy's name in 2006. It has not made the US top 1000 since the 1960s
A feminine name in the English speaking world, but used for boys in Italy.
Examples of it being used as a female name include Irish singer Andrea Corr, and author Andrea Levy.
Male Andreas include singer Andrea Bocelli, pain
A place name and surname from the Old English words 'æsc' (ash) and 'leah' (wood). This name transferred from surname to male first name but in recent decades has become increasingly popular for girls.
From the Germanic name Alberic, composed from the elements 'alb' (elf) and 'ric' (ruler, king). This male name has gained popularity for females in recent times, probably due to its similarity with the female name Audrey.
Famous male beare
A bailey can also mean the outer wall of a castle, or the courtyard between the two outer walls of a castle.
Baileys Irish Cream is a whiskey and cream alcoholic drink.
Bailey features in the top 30 most popular names of most
English and Scottish surname from the Old English words 'brad' (broad) and 'leah' (wood, clearing).
The Bradley method is a way of natural childbearing developed by obstetrician Robert Bradley. More about it can be found on our sister site,
Cain has four separate origins. From the Hebrew, it means 'a spear'. In Jewish, Christian and Islamic tradition, Cain was the world's first murderer. In Welsh Cain is a feminine name meaning 'beautiful' or 'fair' (this usage is completely unrelated to the
A Christian is someone who follows the religion of Christianity, based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Christian is the main character of John Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress', which is a Christian allegory.
Famous peopl
This is the name of a county in the south of England. It comes from a British tribal name which may mean 'worshippers of the god Dumnonos'.
Erin is taken from the Gaelic Eirinn, meaning "of Eire" - Eire being the Irish name for Ireland. Erin was used as a poetic name for Ireland for several centuries but it is not normally bestowed as a given name in that country.
It became po
Of German roots, Evelyn is an English variant of Aveline. Aveline is itself related to Ava, Medieval short form of Germanic names beginning with the element "avi", of unknown meaning, possibly "desired".
It can also be considered a cognate
In the Old and New Testament, the angel Gabriel makes several appearances; he is the angel who informs Mary that she will give birth to Jesus. According to Hebrew tradition, Gabriel is one of the seven archangels.
Bearers include Columbia
The name Gillian is pronounced with a 'J' sound (hence its alternative spelling 'Jillian'), but it is occasionally found pronounced with a hard 'G'. Gillian Anderson is an American actress known for her role in TV show The X-Files.
A common spelling of this name, it is found mostly on females. It was the 25th most popular name in the US in terms of spelling. If you go by sound and combine all the HAY lee pronunciations together (eg Hailey, Hayley, Haley, Hayleigh etc.) then Hailey (
The second given pronunciation is used for Jami as a Hindu name.
Jamie started out as a nickname for James, but has become increasingly popular as a stand-alone name. In the UK Jamie was the 32nd most popular name (for boys) in 2006. There it is most commonly associated with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, the "Naked Chef
Jordan is the name of a country in the Middle East; it is also the name of the river that runs along Israel's eastern border in the Great Rift Valley. Jordan was in use as a male name in Europe by the Dark Ages, but it has recently become a popular choic
Jude, a form of Judah, is a male name, but it is also used as a feminine nickname (usually for Judith). Jude is used in the Bible opposite Judas Iscariot to distinguish between the two apostles of the same name. In popular culture the name is associated w
From the town Kilby in Leicestershire. The town was initially called Cilebi which meant Child's town, with Child being a personal name in this case. The town's name comes from the Old English cild meaning child and tun meaning town or settlement. Tun w
From the place name Kendal in Cumbria, recorded in 1095 as Kircabikendala ‘village with a church in the valley of the Kent river’.
It is also an Anglicized form of the Welsh personal name Cynddelw, which was borne by a famous 12th-century Welsh poe
As a female name, Kira is a variant of the name Ciara, from the Gaelic meaning "dark".
As a Japanese male name, Kira may be written with the character for "glitter; gleam; twinkle".
As a Russian name Kira is taken from the fe
Laurence is an English masculine name and a French feminine name. Friar Laurence is a character from Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet".
Lindsay is derived from the Brithonic name "Lindissi," a corruption of the Latin "Lindum Colonia" - the Roman name for Lincoln. "Lindum" may derive from the old Gaeli "lindu," meaning "dark lake." Lindsay is a unisex name today, usually feminine in the
Lindsey is a variant spelling of Lindsay, but can also come from a Middle English phrase meaning "Lelli's island."
London itself is of obscure etymology, but is possibly connected with the Celtic element 'lond' which means 'wild'. The Latinised Roman name for London was Londinium.
The name of one of the four sacred creatures in Viet Nam, the dragon. It is in part taken from several place names such as Ha Long Bay.
A short form of Amanda or Miranda, Mandy is also bestowed as an independent given name. Very occasionally Mandy is used as a male name.
From the Old Welsh masculine name Morcant, which is derived from Welsh mor (sea) or mawr (great), and can (bright, white) or cant (circle, completion).
This name is common as a surname in both Wales and Ireland and is becoming increasingly popular
Masculine in Italian, feminine in English.
Originally an occupational surname denoting a position as a page in a noble household, Paige is now a popular girls' name in English-speaking countries.
Robin is a pet form of Robert and has strong literary ties. Robin Hood is a legendary champion of the poor and Robin is also the name of two character's in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", including the trickster Robin Goodfellow who is also kn
Rohan is a legitimate Sanskrit name, but in English-speaking countries it is often associated with the Riders of Rohan in Tolkien's fantasy 'The Lord of the Rings'. In 2006 it was the 521st most popular boy's name in the US.
As a Hebrew boys' and girls' name, Ron means "song" or "joy; gaiety". It is best known in English-speaking countries as a short form of boys' name Ronald.
One form of Rowan comes from the Gaelic word for red, ruadh, and a Gaelic diminutive suffix. The other form, from the tree, comes from a Norse word for the European plant. This word refers to the red leaves and berries of the rowan tree.
From the Old English personal name 'Tata', possibly a short form of various compound names with the obscure first element tat, or else a nursery formation. Tate is a common surname in Britain.
Henry Tate established the Tate Gallery in Lond
Taylor was originally an occupational surname which denoted someone who worked as a tailor.
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States. Taylor is a brand of guitars and the name of Taylor University in Indiana. Taylor Alis
From the name Thierry (Germanic for "ruler of the people") or a pet form of Terence (Latin name of uncertain origin) or Theresa (meaning "harvester").
Can also be a nickname for Valentine.