Right now, I am trying to make a list of baby names with cool meanings. Meanings that are really awesome, like “she who intoxicates” ([name_f]Maeve[/name_f]) or “a heavenly flower” ([name_f]Leilani[/name_f]). I am not looking for names with biblical meanings as I’m not religious.
On my list so far:
[name_m]Ziven[/name_m], “vigorous, lively”
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f], “she who intoxicates”
[name_f]Ella[/name_f], “fairy maiden”
[name_f]Sophia[/name_f], “wisdom”
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], “bearer of good news”
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], “she who brings happiness”
[name_u]Everett[/name_u], “brave as a wild boar”
[name_m]Conrad[/name_m], “brave counsel”
[name_m]Marcellus[/name_m], “young warrior”
[name_f]Alessia[/name_f], “defending warrior”
[name_f]Eva[/name_f], “life”
[name_f]Marcheline[/name_f], “warrior”
[name_f]Blythe[/name_f], “happy, carefree”
[name_f]Zara[/name_f], “princess, to blossom”
[name_f]Thalia[/name_f], “to flourish”
[name_f]Leilani[/name_f], “a heavenly flower”
[name_f]Ziva[/name_f], “brilliance, brightness”
I am looking for other names like this but I am stumped for meanings to search on the Find A Name tool and using Google isn’t seeming to work to find whole lists of “names with cool meanings”, they’re usually biblical or ones I have come across before.
I have found that a lot of Hawaiian names have amazing meanings but I am struggling with that too, I can’t find any that are easy to pronounce/spell, minus [name_f]Leilani[/name_f], but I can’t say I’ve looked a whole lot at Hawaiian names.
So, I’m asking, what are your favourite names with the best meanings?
Thank you. These are great! I also saw [name_f]Cassiane[/name_f]/[name_f]Kassiani[/name_f] on the main page of Nameberry earlier and thought it was wonderful but completely forgot about it, so thank you!
[name_f]Pandora[/name_f] ‘All gifted’ and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] are my favourites in terms of meaning, but I love names with a good meaning! I find it particularly difficult to find them for boys (as per usual :p).
Enfys (En-viss)- [name_f]Rainbow[/name_f]
Lowenna- [name_f]Joy[/name_f]
Sowenna- Success
[name_f]Phaedra[/name_f]- [name_u]Bright[/name_u]
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] - [name_f]Beloved[/name_f] child (or maiden)
Elaphia- Deer
[name_f]Medora[/name_f]- Mother’s gift
[name_f]Caoimhe[/name_f]- Beautiful, gentle, precious
[name_f]Calista[/name_f]/[name_f]Calixta[/name_f]- Most beautiful
[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f] (thee sound at the end)- [name_f]Lovely[/name_f] flower
[name_f]Evadne[/name_f]- Pleasing one
Gelasia- Inclined to laughter
[name_f]Astra[/name_f]- Of the stars
[name_f]Astraea[/name_f]- [name_f]Star[/name_f]
[name_f]Melora[/name_f]- [name_u]Golden[/name_u] apple
[name_f]Valencia[/name_f]- Strong/healthy
[name_f]Enid[/name_f]- Life, spirit, soul
[name_f]Alcina[/name_f]- Strong willed
Celosia- Burning
Evanora- Life’s light ([name_f]Eva[/name_f]+[name_f]Nora[/name_f])
[name_f]Lumi[/name_f]- [name_f]Snow[/name_f]
[name_f]Calanthe[/name_f]- Beautiful flower
Aella (Ay-la)- Whirlwind
Aglaea- Beauty, splendour
[name_u]Alva[/name_u] ([name_u]Ailbhe[/name_u])- [name_m]Noble[/name_m], bright
Aldora- Winged gift
[name_f]Florence[/name_f]- Flourishing
Alecta- [name_f]Honesty[/name_f]
[name_f]Araceli[/name_f]- Altar of the skies
[name_f]Ignacia[/name_f]- Fiery
[name_u]Zia[/name_u]- Splendour, light (Arabic)
[name_f]Calliope[/name_f]- Beautiful voice
[name_f]Mairead[/name_f] (Muh-raid)- [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]
[name_f]Ilaria[/name_f]- [name_f]Happy[/name_f]
[name_f]Senara[/name_f] (Ze-NAR-uh)- [name_m]Light[/name_m] (Cornish)
[name_f]Orla[/name_f] ([name_f]Orlaith[/name_f])- [name_u]Golden[/name_u] princess
Calluna- To beautify/cleanse
Ailith (Ay-lith)- [name_m]Noble[/name_m] battle
[name_f]Elke[/name_f]- [name_m]Noble[/name_m] kind, of the noble sort
[name_f]Cerelia[/name_f]- Relating to springtime
Adamma (A-dahm-uh)- Beautiful girl
Merewen- Fanous joy
Muna- [name_f]Hope[/name_f], object of desire
Eirlys (AYR-liss)- [name_f]Snowdrop[/name_f]
[name_f]Hestia[/name_f]- [name_f]Star[/name_f]
[name_f]Ailsa[/name_f]- Elf victory
[name_f]Pari[/name_f]- [name_f]Fairy[/name_f]
[name_f]Roberta[/name_f]- [name_u]Bright[/name_u] flame
[name_f]Alberta[/name_f]- [name_m]Noble[/name_m], bright
[name_f]Sally[/name_f]- [name_f]Princess[/name_f]
[name_f]Anwen[/name_f]- Fair, very beautiful
[name_f]Lettie[/name_f]/[name_f]Letitia[/name_f]- [name_f]Joy[/name_f], gladness
[name_f]Tansy[/name_f]- Immortal
Hedeia- Sweet, pleasant, agreeable
Hesione- Knowing
[name_u]Damaris[/name_u]- Dominant woman
[name_f]Alma[/name_f]- Nuturing, soul
[name_f]Verity[/name_f]- [name_u]Truth[/name_u]
[name_f]Adira[/name_f]- Strong
Ashildr- God battle
[name_f]Adelpha[/name_f]- [name_f]Beloved[/name_f] sister
Vitalia- Life
[name_f]Querida[/name_f]- Dear, beloved
[name_f]Ilka[/name_f]- [name_u]Bright[/name_u], shining one
Luljeta- [name_f]Flower[/name_f] of life (Albanian)
[name_f]Delyth[/name_f]- Pretty
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]/Adelise- [name_m]Noble[/name_m]
Few! [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t hold me to all of these, some I added a while ago, and I’m not entirely sure of the accuracy of all the sources haha ;). I’ll do the boys later (don’t worry, there are nowhere near as many haha)!
[name_u]August[/name_u]- Venerable, majestic
[name_m]Julian[/name_m]- Youthful
[name_m]Lysander[/name_m]- [name_u]Free[/name_u] man
[name_m]Evander[/name_m]- Good man (I’ve often wished I had Goodman or [name_m]Freeman[/name_m] as a family surname to honour)
[name_m]Xavier[/name_m]/[name_m]Xavian[/name_m]- [name_u]Bright[/name_u]
[name_m]Timaeus[/name_m]- [name_f]Honour[/name_f]
[name_m]Adalius[/name_m]- [name_m]Noble[/name_m]
[name_m]Bennet[/name_m]/[name_m]Benedict[/name_m]/[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] etc.- Blessed
[name_m]Emrys[/name_m]- Immortal
[name_m]Leonardo[/name_m]- Brave lion
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m]- [name_m]Bear[/name_m]
[name_m]Lonan[/name_m]- Blackbird
[name_m]Frederick[/name_m]- Peaceful ruler
[name_m]Theron[/name_m]- [name_u]Hunter[/name_u]
[name_m]Ephraim[/name_m]- Fruitful
[name_m]Archie[/name_m]- [name_u]Truly[/name_u] brave
Aleron- Winged one / [name_u]Eagle[/name_u]
[name_m]Leopold[/name_m]- Brave people
[name_m]Altair[/name_m]- [name_u]Falcon[/name_u]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] - song of happiness
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] - she who brings happiness
[name_f]Norah[/name_f] - shining light
[name_f]Jemima[/name_f] - little dove
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] - from the forest
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] - bright, shining one
[name_f]Ginevra[/name_f] - White shadow
[name_f]Adabelle[/name_f] - from the beautiful scenery
[name_f]Alena[/name_f] - torch of light
[name_f]Althea[/name_f] - one who heals
Amitola - like a rainbow
[name_f]Anthea[/name_f] - blooming flower
[name_f]Ardella[/name_f]- blooming field
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f] - divine beauty
[name_f]Aveline[/name_f] - longed for
[name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] - female warrior
[name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] - as strong as a bear
[name_f]Calista[/name_f] - woman of most beauty
[name_f]Celeste[/name_f] - sublime
Crystanthe - flower of gold
[name_f]Cassiopeia[/name_f] - she whose words excel
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f] - beautiful goddess
[name_f]Iphigenia[/name_f] - born to be strong
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] - rainbow
[name_f]Sadie[/name_f] - princess, ladylike
[name_f]Margot[/name_f] - pearl
[name_f]Meryl[/name_f] - shiny sea
[name_f]Lila[/name_f] - woman of the night
Feminine
[name_f]Adela[/name_f]: noble
[name_f]Alessia[/name_f]: defender
[name_f]Alethea[/name_f]: truth
[name_f]Amada[/name_f]: beloved
[name_f]Drusilla[/name_f]: strong
[name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]: spear maiden, spear strength
[name_f]Ginevra[/name_f]: white spectre
[name_f]Gloria[/name_f]: glory
[name_f]Hypatia[/name_f]: supreme
[name_f]Muriel[/name_f]: bright sea
[name_f]Reyna[/name_f]: queen
[name_f]Roisin[/name_f]: rose
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]: dew of the sea
[name_f]Sophronia[/name_f]: sensible
[name_f]Ursula[/name_f]: she-bear
[name_f]Zosia[/name_f]: wise
Masculine
[name_m]Alaric[/name_m]: ruler of all
[name_m]Albert[/name_m]: bright
[name_m]Angus[/name_m]: excellence
[name_m]Bertram[/name_m]: bright raven
[name_m]Ferdinand[/name_m]: brave peace
[name_m]Gilbert[/name_m]: shining pledge
[name_m]Harvey[/name_m]: battle worthy
[name_m]Jethro[/name_m]: abundance
[name_m]Leopold[/name_m]: bold people
[name_m]Raoul[/name_m]: wolf counsel
[name_m]Robert[/name_m]: bright fame
Wolfram: wolf raven
Ambiguous
Gwenaël: blessed and generous
[name_m]Lorcan[/name_m]: little fierce one
[name_m]Maksim[/name_m]: greatest
[name_f]Milagros[/name_f]: miracles
[name_m]Nestor[/name_m]: homecoming
[name_f]Nuala[/name_f]: white shoulder
[name_m]Peregrine[/name_m]: pilgrim
[name_f]Pilar[/name_f]: pillar
[name_m]Ronan[/name_m]: little seal
[name_m]Russell[/name_m]: little red one
[name_u]Shay[/name_u]: gift
Tammikuu: [name_u]January[/name_u]
[name_f]Tamsyn[/name_f]: twin
Zoete: sweet
Thank you for the names, and thank you for the link @lainy - very helpful! I’m glad there’s an actual website with it all in one place, I scoured for one last week to no avail! I’ll look at these names in a second, my notebook is out of reach. Thanks again.
A lot of gems here ^^ behindthename.com is useful, you can also search for specific words in a name’s description or meaning, and you can do the same for all the user-submitted names where a lot of legit but obscure choices reside. I also love that on behindthename you can search for letter combinations and sounds very accurately if you know the trick
Another site I use for this kind of thing is 20000-names.com, if you click ‘special categories’ they have lists with all kinds of meanings, and the information is more reliable than you’d expect. I use it to look for possibilities and then usually check the legitimacy with other sites. (It’s super helpful for character naming!)
Some of my own favourites (boys first, I’ll do the girls after):
[name_m]Django[/name_m] - I awake
[name_m]Hugo[/name_m] - soul / mind / spirit
[name_m]Aneurin[/name_m] - noble
[name_m]Ambrose[/name_m] / [name_m]Emrys[/name_m] - immortal
[name_u]Columba[/name_u] - dove
[name_m]Corentin[/name_m] - hurricane
[name_m]Cosmo[/name_m] / [name_m]Cosimo[/name_m] - order / decency
Elouan / [name_u]Lior[/name_u] / [name_u]Valo[/name_u] - light
[name_m]Endymion[/name_m] - to dive into / enter
[name_m]Idris[/name_m] - ardent lord (Welsh) / interpreter (Arabic)
[name_m]Ignatius[/name_m] - fire
[name_m]Iver[/name_m] / [name_m]Ivo[/name_m] / [name_m]Yves[/name_m] / [name_m]Ives[/name_m] - yew / bow
[name_m]Llyr[/name_m] - the sea
Oisín - little seal
[name_m]Orpheus[/name_m] - the darkness of night
[name_m]Sirius[/name_m] - burning
Somerled - summer traveller
[name_m]Stellan[/name_m] - calm
[name_m]Sulien[/name_m] - born from the sun
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] / [name_m]Sylvester[/name_m] - from the forest
[name_u]Taliesin[/name_u] - shining brow
[name_m]Theron[/name_m] - to hunt
[name_u]Vega[/name_u] - swooping eagle
Viorel - bluebell
[name_u]Wyn[/name_u] - blessed / white / fair
[name_m]Aksel[/name_m] - my father is peace
Amadou - more commendable (a sweet [name_u]West[/name_u] African variant of [name_m]Ahmad[/name_m])
[name_u]Ari[/name_u] - eagle
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] - bear + man/king
[name_m]Asher[/name_m] - happy / blessed
[name_m]Aurelian[/name_m] - golden
[name_u]Bo[/name_u] - home / to live [someplace]
[name_m]Caius[/name_m] / [name_m]Gaius[/name_m] - to rejoice
[name_m]Conrad[/name_m] - brave counsel
[name_m]Cyrus[/name_m] - far-sighted / young
[name_m]Eilam[/name_m] / [name_m]Elam[/name_m] - hidden / eternity
[name_u]Elon[/name_u] / [name_m]Eilon[/name_m] - oak
Emre / [name_m]Amias[/name_m] - friend
Evren - cosmos / the universe
Faramond - journey + protection
[name_m]Hector[/name_m] - holding fast
[name_m]Isaac[/name_m] - he will laugh/rejoice
[name_m]Jorah[/name_m] - autumnal rain (also possibly connected to ‘moon’)
[name_m]Judah[/name_m] - praised
Loxias - the obscure (one of [name_m]Apollo[/name_m]'s titles)
[name_m]Phelan[/name_m] - little wolf
Pryderi - care
[name_m]Samson[/name_m] - sun
[name_m]Solomon[/name_m] - peace
[name_m]Bertram[/name_m] - bright raven
I also saw [name_f]Cassiane[/name_f]/[name_f]Kassiani[/name_f] on the main page of Nameberry earlier and thought it was wonderful but completely forgot about it, so thank you!
