Browse Names

Ælfstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ælf "elf" and stan "stone".

Æðelstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements æðele "noble" and stan "stone". This was the name of a 10th-century English king, the first to rule all of England. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest, though it enjoyed a modest revival (as Athelstan) in the 19th century.

Ahenobarbus m Ancient Roman
From a Roman cognomen meaning "bronze beard" in Latin. This name was borne by a series of consuls of the late Roman Republic.

Aija f Latvian
Of uncertain meaning, possibly related to Latvian aijāt meaning "to rock, to lull". It was used by the Latvian writer Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš for the title character of his novel Aija (1911).

Ailbhe f & m Irish, Irish Mythology
From Old Irish Ailbe, possibly derived from the old Celtic root *albiyo- "world, light, white" or Old Irish ail "rock". In Irish legend this was the name of a female warrior of the Fianna. It was also the name of a 6th-century masculine saint, the founder of a monastery at Emly.

Aizere f Kazakh
Means "golden moon" from Kazakh ай (ay) meaning "moon" and Persian زر (zar) meaning "gold".

Ajax m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Αἴας (Aias), perhaps deriving from Greek αἰαστής (aiastes) meaning "mourner" or αἶα (aia) meaning "earth, land". In Greek mythology this was the name of two of the heroes who fought for the Greeks in the Trojan War, the son of Telamon and the son of Oileus. When the armour of the slain hero Achilles was not given to Ajax Telamonian, he became mad with jealousy and killed himself.

Akari f Japanese
From Japanese 明 (aka) meaning "bright" or 朱 (aka) meaning "vermilion red" combined with 里 (ri) meaning "village" or 莉 (ri) meaning "white jasmine". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.

Ala 2 f Igbo Mythology
Means "earth, land" in Igbo. In traditional Igbo religion Ala (called Ani or Ana in other dialects) is an earth goddess associated with fertility and ancestors.

Alan m English, Scottish, Breton, French, Polish
The meaning of this name is not known for certain. It was used in Brittany at least as early as the 6th century, and it possibly means either "little rock" or "handsome" in Breton. Alternatively, it may derive from the tribal name of the Alans, an Iranian people who migrated into Europe in the 4th and 5th centuries.... [more]

Almog m & f Hebrew
Means "coral" in Hebrew.

Altin m Albanian
Derived from Turkish altın meaning "gold".

Altwidus m Germanic (Latinized)
Derived from the Old German elements alt "old" and witu "forest".

Anargyros m Greek
From the Greek term ἀνάργυρος (anargyros) meaning "poor, incorruptible", derived from Greek ἀ (a), a negative prefix, combined with ἄργυρος (argyros) meaning "silver". This term referred to saints who did not accept payment for their services.

Aranka f Hungarian
Derived from Hungarian arany meaning "gold". It is used as a vernacular form of Aurélia.

Ardit m Albanian
Means "golden day" in Albanian, from ar "gold" and ditë "day".

Argyros m Ancient Greek
Means "silver" in Greek.

Arianrhod f Welsh Mythology
Probably means "silver wheel" from Welsh arian "silver" and rhod "wheel". According to the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, Arianrhod was the mother of the twins Dylan and Lleu Llaw Gyffes, whom she spontaneously birthed when she stepped over a magical wand. It is speculated that in earlier myths she may have been a goddess of the moon.

Arianwen f Welsh
Derived from Welsh arian "silver" and gwen "white, blessed". This was the name of a 5th-century Welsh saint, one of the supposed daughters of Brychan Brycheiniog.

Arkaitz m Basque
Means "rock" in Basque.

Arnsteinn m Old Norse
Derived from Old Norse ǫrn meaning "eagle" and steinn meaning "stone".

Arvid m Swedish, Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Arnviðr, derived from the elements ǫrn "eagle" and viðr "tree".

Aðalsteinn m Icelandic, Old Norse
Derived from the Old Norse elements aðal "noble" and steinn "stone".

Avani f Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi
Means "earth" in Sanskrit.

Ayako f Japanese
From Japanese 彩 (aya) meaning "colour", 綾 (aya) meaning "design" or 絢 (aya) meaning "brilliant fabric design, kimono design" combined with 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji characters are also possible.

Ayane f Japanese
From Japanese 彩 (aya) meaning "colour", 綾 (aya) meaning "design" or 絢 (aya) meaning "brilliant fabric design, kimono design" combined with 音 (ne) meaning "sound". Other kanji combinations are possible.

Barzillai m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
From Hebrew בַּרְזִלָּי (Barzillai), derived from בַּרְזֶל (barzel) meaning "iron". This is the name of three different characters in the Old Testament, including Barzillai the Gileadite.

Bhumi f Hinduism
Means "earth, soil" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a Hindu earth goddess. She is the wife of Varaha, an avatar of Vishnu.

Bolat m Kazakh
From a Turkic word meaning "steel", ultimately from Persian.

Boyce m English
From an English surname that was derived from Old French bois "wood".

Briscoe m English (Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "birch wood" in Old Norse.

Carver m English (Rare)
From an English surname that meant "wood carver".

Çelik m Turkish
Means "steel" in Turkish.

Cephas m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Means "rock" in Aramaic. The apostle Simon was called Cephas by Jesus because he was to be the rock upon which the Christian church was to be built. In most versions of the New Testament Cephas is translated into Greek Πέτρος (Petros) (in English Peter).

Chalkis f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek χαλκός (chalkos) meaning "copper, bronze". According to Greek mythology this was the name of a naiad, said to be the namesake of the city of Chalkis on Euboia.

Chimwala m & f Yao
Means "stone" in Yao.

Chrysostomos m Greek
Means "golden mouth", from Greek χρυσός (chrysos) meaning "gold" and στόμα (stoma) meaning "mouth". This was an epithet applied to eloquent orators, notably Saint John Chrysostom, a 4th-century archbishop of Constantinople.

Chthonia f Greek Mythology
Means "of the earth, underground" in Greek, a derivative of χθών (chthon) meaning "earth, ground, soil". This was an epithet of the Greek goddess Demeter.

Clay m English
From an English surname that originally referred to a person who lived near or worked with clay. This name can also be a short form of Clayton.

Clayton m English
From a surname that was originally derived from various English place names, all meaning "clay settlement" in Old English.

Coral f English, Spanish
From the English and Spanish word coral for the underwater skeletal deposits that can form reefs. It is ultimately derived (via Old French and Latin) from Greek κοράλλιον (korallion).

Craig m Scottish, English
From a Scottish surname that was derived from Gaelic creag meaning "crag, rocks, outcrop", originally indicating a person who lived near a crag.

Cthulhu m Literature
Created by author H. P. Lovecraft for a gigantic, horrible, octopus-like god, first introduced in the short story The Call of Cthulhu (1926). Lovecraft may have based the name on the word chthonic meaning "under the earth, subterranean", a derivative of Greek χθών (chthon) meaning "earth, ground, soil".

Cybele f Near Eastern Mythology (Latinized)
Meaning unknown, possibly from Phrygian roots meaning either "stone" or "hair". This was the name of the Phrygian mother goddess associated with fertility and nature. She was later worshipped by the Greeks and Romans.

Daichi m Japanese
From Japanese 大 (dai) meaning "big, great" combined with 地 (chi) meaning "earth, land" or 智 (chi) meaning "wisdom, intellect". Other kanji combinations are possible.

Damir 2 m Tatar, Kazakh
Meaning uncertain. It might be from a variant of Turkic temür meaning "iron" or from Arabic ضمير (damir) meaning "mind, heart, conscience". It could also be an acronym of the Russian phrase даёшь мировую революцию "bring on the world revolution".

Demeter 1 f Greek Mythology
Possibly means "earth mother", derived from Greek δᾶ (da) meaning "earth" and μήτηρ (meter) meaning "mother". In Greek mythology Demeter was the goddess of agriculture, the daughter of Cronus, the sister of Zeus, and the mother of Persephone. She was an important figure in the Eleusinian Mysteries, which were secret rites performed at Eleusis near Athens.

Demir m Turkish, Bosnian
Means "iron" in Turkish.

Dunstan m English (Rare), Anglo-Saxon
From the Old English elements dunn "dark" and stan "stone". This name was borne by a 10th-century saint, the archbishop of Canterbury. It was occasionally used in the Middle Ages, though it died out after the 16th century. It was revived by the Tractarian movement in the 19th century.

Ealhstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English element ealh "temple" combined with stan "stone".

Eartha f English
Combination of the English word earth with the feminine name suffix a. It has been used in honour of African-American philanthropist Eartha M. M. White (1876-1974). Another famous bearer was American singer and actress Eartha Kitt (1927-2008).

Ebenezer m Literature, English
From the name of a monument erected by Samuel in the Old Testament, from Hebrew אֶבֶן הָעָזֶר ('Even Ha'azer) meaning "stone of help". Charles Dickens used it for the miserly character Ebenezer Scrooge in his novel A Christmas Carol (1843). Currently the name is most common in parts of English-influenced Africa, such as Ghana.

Ebony f African American
From the English word ebony for the black wood that comes from the ebony tree. It is ultimately from the Egyptian word hbnj. In America this name is most often used in the black community.

Emerson m & f English
From an English surname meaning "son of Emery". The surname was borne by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), an American writer and philosopher who wrote about transcendentalism.

Emery m & f English
Norman French form of Emmerich. The Normans introduced it to England, and though it was never popular, it survived until the end of the Middle Ages. As a modern given name, now typically feminine, it is likely inspired by the surname Emery, which was itself derived from the medieval given name. It can also be given in reference to the hard black substance called emery.

Enki m Sumerian Mythology
From Sumerian 𒂗 (en) meaning "lord" and 𒆠 (ki) meaning "earth, ground" (though maybe originally from 𒆳 (kur) meaning "underworld, mountain"). Enki, called Ea by the Akkadians, Assyrians and Babylonians, was the Sumerian god of water and wisdom and the keeper of the Me, the divine laws.

Enkidu m Sumerian Mythology, Semitic Mythology
Probably means "lord of the good place", from Sumerian 𒂗 (en) meaning "lord", 𒆠 (ki) meaning "place" and 𒄭 (du) meaning "good". This was the name of a wild man who became a companion of the Sumerian hero Gilgamesh, notably appearing in the Akkadian poem the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Ereshkigal f Sumerian Mythology
Means "lady of the great earth", from Sumerian 𒊩𒌆 (ereš) meaning "lady, queen" combined with 𒆠 (ki) meaning "earth" and 𒃲 (gal) meaning "great, big". In Sumerian mythology she was the goddess of death and the underworld.

Eun m & f Korean
From Sino-Korean 恩 (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity" or 銀 (eun) meaning "silver, money", as well as other hanja characters that are pronounced in the same way. It usually occurs in combination with another character, though it is sometimes used as a stand-alone name.

Eun-Gyeong f Korean
From Sino-Korean 恩 (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity" or 銀 (eun) meaning "silver" combined with 敬 (gyeong) meaning "respect, honour" or 景 (gyeong) meaning "scenery, view". Other hanja character combinations can also form this name.

Eun-Jeong f Korean
From Sino-Korean 恩 (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity" or 慇 (eun) meaning "careful, anxious, attentive" combined with 廷 (jeong) meaning "courtyard" or 婷 (jeong) meaning "pretty, graceful". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.

Eun-Ji f Korean
From Sino-Korean 恩 (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity" combined with 智 (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or 地 (ji) meaning "earth, soil, ground". Other hanja character combinations are possible.

Eurig m Welsh
Derived from Welsh aur meaning "gold" combined with a diminutive suffix.

Eurwen f Welsh
Derived from Welsh aur "gold" and gwen "white, blessed".

Eysteinn m Old Norse, Icelandic
Derived from the Old Norse elements ey meaning "island" or "good fortune" and steinn meaning "stone".

Ferruccio m Italian
Derived from the Late Latin name Ferrutius, a derivative of ferrum meaning "iron, sword". Saint Ferrutius was a 3rd-century martyr with his brother Ferreolus.

Fidda f Arabic
Means "silver" in Arabic.

Fihr m Arabic
Means "stone pestle" in Arabic. This was the name of an ancestor of Muhammad.

Flint m English
From the English vocabulary word, from Old English flint.

Frankenstein m Popular Culture
From the surname Frankenstein, used by Mary Shelley in her 1818 novel of the same name for the scientist Victor Frankenstein. The monster that Frankenstein created, which has no name in the novel, is sometimes called Frankenstein in modern speech, as if it were his given name.

Gaia f Greek Mythology, Italian
From the Greek word γαῖα (gaia), a parallel form of γῆ (ge) meaning "earth". In Greek mythology Gaia was the mother goddess who presided over the earth. She was the mate of Uranus and the mother of the Titans and the Cyclopes.

Ganbaatar m Mongolian
Means "steel hero" in Mongolian, from ган (gan) meaning "steel" and баатар (baatar) meaning "hero".

Ganbold m Mongolian
From Mongolian ган (gan) and болд (bold), both words meaning "steel".

Gantulga m Mongolian
Means "steel cooking stand" in Mongolian, from ган (gan) meaning "steel" and тулга (tulga) meaning "cooking stand".

Ganzorig m Mongolian
Means "steel courage" in Mongolian, from ган (gan) meaning "steel" and зориг (zorig) meaning "courage".

Geb m Egyptian Mythology
From Egyptian 𓎼𓃀𓃀 (gbb) meaning "earth". In Egyptian mythology he was the god of the earth and crops. His consort was his sister the sky goddess Nut.

Gemma f Italian, Catalan, English (British), Dutch
Medieval Italian nickname meaning "gem, precious stone". It was borne by the wife of the 13th-century Italian poet Dante Alighieri.

George m English, Romanian, Indian (Christian)
From the Greek name Γεώργιος (Georgios), which was derived from the Greek word γεωργός (georgos) meaning "farmer, earthworker", itself derived from the elements γῆ (ge) meaning "earth" and ἔργον (ergon) meaning "work". Saint George was a 3rd-century Roman soldier from Cappadocia who was martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian. Later legends describe his defeat of a dragon, with which he was often depicted in medieval art.... [more]

Golda f Yiddish
From Yiddish גאָלד (gold) meaning "gold". This is the name of Tevye's wife in the musical Fiddler on the Roof (1964). It was also borne by the Israeli prime minister Golda Meir (1898-1978).

Goldilocks f Folklore
From the English words gold and locks, referring to blond hair. This is best known as the name of the trespassing girl in the English fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Granit m Albanian
Means "granite" in Albanian, from Italian granito, ultimately derived from Latin granum meaning "grain".

Gwenllian f Welsh
Derived from the Welsh elements gwen meaning "white, blessed" and possibly lliain meaning "flaxen, made of linen" or lliant meaning "flow, flood". This name was used by medieval Welsh royalty, notably by a 12th-century princess of Deheubarth who died in battle with the Normans. It was also borne by the 13th-century daughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last prince of Gwynedd.

Ha-Eun f Korean
From Sino-Korean 夏 (ha) meaning "summer, great, grand" combined with 恩 (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity". This name can also be formed by other hanja character combinations.

Haldor m Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Hallþórr, which meant "Thor's rock" from hallr "rock" combined with the name of the Norse god Þórr (see Thor).

Hallam m English (Rare)
From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning either "at the rocks" or "at the nook" in Old English.

Hallbjǫrg f Old Norse
Derived from the Old Norse elements hallr "rock" and bjǫrg "help, save, rescue".

Hallbjǫrn m Old Norse
Derived from the Old Norse elements hallr "rock" and bjǫrn "bear".

Hallr m Old Norse
Derived from Old Norse hallr meaning "rock".

Hallstein m Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Hallsteinn, derived from the elements hallr "rock" and steinn "stone".

Halvard m Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Hallvarðr, which meant "rock guardian" from hallr "rock" combined with vǫrðr "guard, guardian".

Harlow f & m English
From an English surname derived from a place name, itself derived from Old English hær "rock, heap of stones" or here "army", combined with hlaw "hill". As a name for girls, it received some attention in 2008 when the American celebrity Nicole Richie used it for her daughter.

Haywood m English
From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "fenced wood" in Old English.

Hermes m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek, Spanish
Probably from Greek ἕρμα (herma) meaning "cairn, pile of stones, boundary marker". Hermes was a Greek god associated with speed and good luck, who served as a messenger to Zeus and the other gods. He was also the patron of travellers, writers, athletes, merchants, thieves and orators.... [more]

Horst m German
Means "wood, thicket" in Low German. Alternatively, it may derive from Horsa. This name was popular in the first half of the 20th century but has since become uncommon. It is now a German slang word for an unintelligent person.

Huri m Biblical
Means "linen weaver" in Hebrew. This was the name of the father of Abihail in the Old Testament.

Ila f Hindi
Means "earth" or "speech" in Sanskrit.

İpek f Turkish
Means "silk" in Turkish.

Itzcoatl m Nahuatl
Means "obsidian snake" in Nahuatl, from itztli "obsidian" and cōātl "snake". Itzcoatl was the fourth king of Tenochtitlan and the first emperor of the Aztec Empire (15th century).

Itzel f Mayan
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Classic Maya itz meaning "resin, nectar, dew, liquid, enchanted". Otherwise, it might be a variant of Ixchel.

Ivory m & f African American
From the English word for the hard, creamy-white substance that comes from elephant tusks and was formerly used to produce piano keys.

Ji-Min f & m Korean
From Sino-Korean 志 (ji) meaning "will, purpose, ambition" or 智 (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" combined with 旼 (min) meaning "gentle, affable", 敏 (min) meaning "quick, clever, sharp" or 珉 (min) meaning "jade, stone resembling jade". Other hanja character combinations are possible.

Jin 1 m & f Chinese
From Chinese 金 (jīn) meaning "gold, metal, money", 锦 (jǐn) meaning "tapestry, brocade, embroidered" or 津 (jīn) meaning "ferry". Other Chinese characters can form this name as well.

Jordanes m Late Roman
The name of a 6th-century Roman author of Gothic background, who wrote a history of the Goths. His name is probably derived from that of the Jordan River. However, some theories suggest that it could contain a trace of the Germanic root *erþō meaning "earth" (Gothic airþa, Old Norse jǫrð).

Jostein m Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Jósteinn, derived from the elements jór "horse" and steinn "stone".

Kalju m Estonian
Means "rock, boulder" in Estonian.

Kamen m Bulgarian
Means "stone" in Bulgarian. This is a translation of the Greek name Πέτρος (Petros).

Kasun m Sinhalese
Means "gold" in Sinhala.

Kaya 1 m Turkish
Means "rock, cliff" in Turkish.

Keith m English, Scottish
From a Scottish surname that was originally derived from the name of a place in East Lothian, itself possibly derived from the Celtic root *kayto- meaning "wood". This was the surname of a long line of Scottish nobles. It has been used as a given name since the 19th century, becoming fairly common throughout the English-speaking world in the 20th century.

Keone m & f Hawaiian
Means "the homeland" from Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and one "sand, homeland".

Kham m & f Lao
Means "gold" in Lao.

Khamphet m & f Lao
From Lao ຄຳ (kham) meaning "gold" and ເພັດ (phet) meaning "diamond, gem".

Ki f Sumerian Mythology
Means "earth" in Sumerian. This was the name of the Sumerian goddess of the earth, the consort of An.

Kim 3 f Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 金 (kim) meaning "gold, metal".

Kingsley m English (Modern)
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "king's wood" in Old English. This name may have received a boost in popularity after the release of the 2007 movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, featuring the character Kingsley Shacklebolt.

Koralia f Greek, Late Greek
Derived from Ancient Greek κοράλλιον (korallion) meaning "coral" (in Modern Greek κοράλλι). This was the name of an obscure 4th-century saint and martyr from Thrace.

Koraljka f Croatian
From Croatian koralj meaning "coral", ultimately from Latin corallium.

Koralo m Esperanto
Means "coral" in Esperanto, ultimately from Latin corallium.

Kou m Hmong
Means "gold" in Hmong.

Kshitij m Hindi, Marathi
Means "born of the earth" or "horizon" in Sanskrit.

Kshitija f Marathi, Hindi
Feminine form of Kshitij.

Kullervo m Finnish, Finnish Mythology
Derived from Finnish kulta "gold". In the Finnish epic the Kalevala this is the name of tragic character, a young man who seeks revenge on his uncle Untamo for destroying his tribe and selling him into slavery.

Kun f & m Chinese
From Chinese 坤 (kūn) meaning "earth, female", as well as other characters with a similar pronunciation.

Langston m English
From an English surname, itself from a place name, derived from Old English lang "long" and stan "stone". A famous bearer was the American author Langston Hughes (1901-1967).

Lei 2 m & f Chinese
From Chinese 磊 (lěi) meaning "pile of stones" (which is typically masculine) or 蕾 (lěi) meaning "bud" (typically feminine). Other characters can also form this name.

Leofstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English element leof "dear, beloved" combined with stan "stone".

Licarayen f Mapuche
Means "stone flower" in Mapuche, from likan "a type of black stone" and rayen "flower". According to a Mapuche legend this was the name of a maiden who sacrificed herself in order to stop the wrath of the evil spirit of a volcano.

Lujayn f Arabic
Means "silver" in Arabic.

Mai 2 f Japanese
From Japanese 舞 (mai) meaning "dance" or 麻衣 (mai) meaning "linen robe". It can also come from 真 (ma) meaning "real, genuine" combined with 愛 (ai) meaning "love, affection". Other kanji or kanji combinations can also form this name.

Málmfríðr f Old Norse
Old Norse form of Målfrid.

Mandawuy m Yolngu
Means "from clay" in Yolngu.

Maquinna m Nuu-chah-nulth (Anglicized)
From Nuu-chah-nulth Mukwina, possibly meaning "possessor of pebbles". This was the name of a late 18th-century chief of the Mowachaht people.

Marigold f English (Modern)
From the name of the flower, which comes from a combination of Mary and the English word gold.

Marijani m Swahili
Means "coral" in Swahili, originally a borrowing from Arabic.

Mercan f Turkish
Means "coral" in Turkish, of Arabic origin.

Merjen f Turkmen
Turkmen form of Mercan.

Miltiades m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek μίλτος (miltos) meaning "red earth" and the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This was the name of the general who led the Greek forces to victory against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon.

Min 1 m & f Chinese, Korean
From 敏 (mǐn) meaning "quick, clever, sharp", 民 (mín) meaning "people, citizens", or other Chinese/Sino-Korean characters that are pronounced similarly.

Mina 3 f Persian
Means "azure, enamel" in Persian.

Mor f & m Hebrew
Means "myrrh" in Hebrew.

Mu m & f Chinese
From Chinese 慕 (mù) meaning "admire, desire", 木 (mù) meaning "tree, wood", or other characters with similar pronunciations.

Mulan f Chinese Mythology
From Chinese 木兰 (mùlán) meaning "magnolia". This is the name of a legendary female warrior who disguises herself as a man to take her ailing father's place when he is conscripted into the army.

Myrrhine f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek μύρρα (myrrha) meaning "myrrh". This is the name of a character in the comedy Lysistrata by the Greek playwright Aristophanes.

Napier m English (Rare)
From an English and Scots surname meaning "linen keeper" in Middle English, from Old French nappe "table cloth".

Ngọc f & m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 玉 (ngọc) meaning "jade, precious stone, gem".

Nhung f & m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 絨 (nhung) meaning "velvet".

Norwood m English
From a surname that was originally taken from a place name meaning "north wood" in Old English.

Ọbatala m Yoruba Mythology
Means "king of white cloth" in Yoruba, derived from ọba "king" and àlà "white cloth". According to traditional Yoruba religion he is the creator of the earth and human beings. He also founded the first Yoruba city, Ife.

Obelix m Popular Culture
The name of a character in the Asterix series of comic books. A friend of the main character Asterix, Obelix is a heavyset and immensely strong carver of menhirs. His name (Obélix in the original French) is a pun on the French word obélisque meaning "obelisk, stone monument" using the ending -ix common to the Gauls in the series.

Orabela f Esperanto
Means "golden-beautiful" in Esperanto, ultimately from Latin aurea "gold" and bella "beautiful".

Oriana f Italian, Spanish
Possibly derived from Latin aurum "gold" or from its derivatives, Spanish oro or French or. In medieval legend Oriana was the daughter of a king of England who married the knight Amadis.

Orinda f English (Rare)
Probably an elaboration of Spanish oro "gold". This was the pseudonym of the English poet Katherine Philips (1631-1664).

Órlaith f Irish, Old Irish
Means "golden ruler", from Old Irish ór "gold" combined with flaith "ruler, sovereign, princess". This name was borne by several medieval Irish royals, including a sister of the king Brian Boru.

Pachamama f Inca Mythology
Means "earth mother" in Quechua, from pacha "world, time" and mama "mother". This was the name of an Inca goddess of the earth and fertility.

Pankaja m Hinduism
Means "born of mud", referring to the lotus flower, derived from Sanskrit पङ्क (panka) meaning "mud" and ज (ja) meaning "born". This is another name of the Hindu god Brahma.

Papa f Polynesian Mythology
Means "earth" in Maori. In Maori and other Polynesian mythology Papa or Papatuanuku was the goddess of the earth and the mother of many of the other gods. She and her husband Rangi, the god of the sky, were locked in a tight embrace. Their children decided to separate them, a feat of strength accomplished by the god Tāne.

Paz 2 f & m Hebrew
Means "gold" in Hebrew.

Peleus m Greek Mythology
Probably derived from Greek πηλός (pelos) meaning "clay". In Greek mythology Peleus was a king of Phthia. With his wife the sea nymph Thetis he was the father of the hero Achilles.

Pelias m Greek Mythology
Perhaps derived from Greek πέλεια (peleia) meaning "rock pigeon". In Greek mythology, Pelias was the king of Iolcus who sent Jason on the quest for the Golden Fleece.

Peninnah f Biblical
Means "precious stone, pearl" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the wives of Elkanah, the other being Hannah.

Peter m English, German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Slovene, Slovak, Biblical
Derived from Greek Πέτρος (Petros) meaning "stone". This is a translation used in most versions of the New Testament of the name Cephas, meaning "stone" in Aramaic, which was given to the apostle Simon by Jesus (compare Matthew 16:18 and John 1:42). Simon Peter was the most prominent of the apostles during Jesus' ministry and is often considered the first pope.... [more]

Pinja f Finnish
Means "stone pine" in Finnish.

Polat m Turkish
Turkish form of Bolat.

Poseidon m Greek Mythology
Possibly derived from Greek πόσις (posis) meaning "husband, lord" and δᾶ (da) meaning "earth". The name first appears in Mycenaean Greek inscriptions as po-se-da-o. In Greek mythology Poseidon was the unruly god of the sea and earthquakes, the brother of Zeus. He was often depicted carrying a trident and riding in a chariot drawn by white horses.

Prithvi m & f Hindi, Nepali, Hinduism
From Sanskrit पृथ्वी (prthvi) meaning "earth", derived from पृथु (prthu) meaning "wide, vast". This is the name of a Hindu goddess, a personification of the earth in the Rigveda. She is the consort of the sky god Dyaus. When used as a given name in modern times it is typically masculine.

Psamathe f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek ψάμαθος (psamathos) meaning "sand of the seashore". This was the name of several characters in Greek mythology, including one of the Nereids. One of the small moons of Neptune is named after her.

Quispe m & f Quechua (Hispanicized)
From Quechua qispi meaning "free" or q'ispi meaning "glass".

Ramil m Tatar, Bashkir, Azerbaijani
Derived from Arabic رمْل (raml) meaning "sand, geomancy, divination, magic".

Ramlah f Arabic, Malay
Means "sand" in Arabic. This was the name of one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad.

Reshma f Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Telugu
From Hindi रेशम (resham) meaning "silk", ultimately of Persian origin.

Rhea f Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology
Meaning unknown, perhaps related to ῥέω (rheo) meaning "to flow" or ἔρα (era) meaning "ground". In Greek mythology Rhea was a Titan, the wife of Cronus, and the mother of the Olympian gods Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter and Hestia. Also, in Roman mythology a woman named Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome.

Ritika f Hindi
Means either "movement, stream" or "brass" in Sanskrit.

Rizpah f Biblical
Means "coal, hot stone" in Hebrew. According to the Old Testament Rizpah was one of Saul's concubines. After her sons were put to death by the Gibeonites, she guarded the displayed bodies for five months to prevent animals from eating them.

Rochelle f English
From the name of the French city La Rochelle, meaning "little rock". It first became commonly used as a given name in America in the 1930s, probably due to the fame of actress Rochelle Hudson (1914-1972) and because of the similarity to the name Rachel.

Rosaura f Spanish
Means "golden rose", derived from Latin rosa "rose" and aurea "golden". This name was (first?) used by Pedro Calderón de la Barca for a character in his play Life Is a Dream (1635).

Rukmini f Hinduism, Marathi, Kannada
Means "adorned with gold" in Sanskrit. In Hindu belief this is the name of a princess who became the wife of Krishna.

Sakhr m Arabic
Means "solid rock" in Arabic. This name appears in the poems of the 7th-century poetess Al-Khansa.

Saki f Japanese
From Japanese 咲 (sa) meaning "blossom" and 希 (ki) meaning "hope", besides other combinations of kanji characters.

Sanford m English
From an English surname, originally from a place name, which meant "sand ford" in Old English.

Sango f Popular Culture
Means "coral" in Japanese. This name is used in the Japanese comic book and television show InuYasha.

Saori f Japanese
From Japanese 沙 (sa) meaning "sand" or 早 (sa) meaning "already, now" combined with 織 (ori) meaning "weaving". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.

Sawyer m & f English (Modern)
From an English surname meaning "sawer of wood". Mark Twain used it for the hero in his novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876).... [more]

Sayaka f Japanese
From Japanese 沙 (sa) meaning "sand" or 紗 (sa) meaning "thread, silk" with 也 (ya) meaning "also" or 耶 (ya), an interjection, combined with 香 (ka) meaning "fragrance" or 加 (ka) meaning "increase". This name can also be composed of other kanji combinations. It is often written using the hiragana writing system.

Seok m Korean
From Sino-Korean 石 (seok) meaning "stone" or 錫 (seok) meaning "tin", as well as other characters that are pronounced the same way.

Seok-Jin m Korean
From Sino-Korean 碩 (seok) meaning "large, great" and 珍 (jin) meaning "precious, rare". Other hanja characters can form this name as well.

Shi m & f Chinese
From Chinese 时 (shí) meaning "time, era, season", 实 (shí) meaning "real, honest", 史 (shǐ) meaning "history" or 石 (shí) meaning "stone". Other characters can form this name as well.

Silver m & f English (Rare)
From the English word for the precious metal or the colour, ultimately derived from Old English seolfor.

Silverius m Late Roman
Probably from Latin silva meaning "wood, forest" (compare Silvanus, Silvester and Silvius). This name was borne by a 6th-century pope who served for less than a year but is considered a saint.

Silvius m Late Roman, Roman Mythology
Derived from Latin silva meaning "wood, forest". This was the family name of several of the legendary kings of Alba Longa. It was also the name of an early saint martyred in Alexandria.

Simay f Turkish
Means "silver moon" in Turkish, from sim meaning "silver, glitter" and ay meaning "moon".

Sixten m Swedish
From the Old Norse name Sigsteinn, which was derived from the elements sigr "victory" and steinn "stone".

Smith m English
From an English surname meaning "metal worker, blacksmith", derived from Old English smitan "to smite, to hit". It is the most common surname in most of the English-speaking world.

Solon m Ancient Greek
Possibly from Greek σόλος (solos) meaning "lump of iron". This was the name of an Athenian statesman who reformed the laws and government of the city.

Sona 1 f Hindi
Means "gold" in Hindi, derived from Sanskrit सुवर्ण (suvarna) meaning literally "good colour".

Sonal f Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati
From Hindi सोना (sona), Marathi सोन (son) or Gujarati સોનું (sonum) meaning "gold", all derived from Sanskrit सुवर्ण (suvarna) meaning literally "good colour".

Sovann m & f Khmer
Means "gold" in Khmer, ultimately from Sanskrit सुवर्ण (suvarna).

Sovanna f & m Khmer
Variant of Sovann.

Ståle m Norwegian
From the Old Norse byname Stáli, which was derived from stál meaning "steel".

Stanford m English
From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "stone ford" in Old English.

Stanley m English
From an English surname meaning "stone clearing" (Old English stan "stone" and leah "woodland, clearing"). A notable bearer of the surname was the British-American explorer and journalist Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904), the man who found David Livingstone in Africa. As a given name, it was borne by American director Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999), as well as the character Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire (1947).

Steinar m Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Steinarr, derived from the elements steinn "stone" and herr "army, warrior".

Steingrímur m Icelandic
From the Old Norse name Steingrímr, derived from the elements steinn "stone" and gríma "mask".

Steinunn f Icelandic, Old Norse
Derived from the Old Norse elements steinn "stone" and unnr "wave".

Sten m Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Estonian
Derived from the Old Norse name Steinn meaning "stone".

Stone m English (Modern)
From the English vocabulary word, ultimately from Old English stan.

Swaran m & f Punjabi
Punjabi form of Swarna.

Sylvan m English
Either a variant of Silvanus or directly from the Latin word silva meaning "wood, forest".

Temujin m History
Means "of iron" in Mongolian, derived ultimately from the Turkic word temür "iron". This was the original name of the Mongolian leader better known by the title Genghis Khan. Born in the 12th century, he managed to unite the tribes of Mongolia and then conquer huge areas of Asia and Eastern Europe.

Temür m Medieval Turkic
Old Turkic form of Timur.

Tierra f Various
Means "earth" in Spanish.

Timur m Tatar, Chechen, Kazakh, Uzbek, Turkish, Russian, History
From the Turkic and Mongol name Temür meaning "iron". This was the name of several Mongol, Turkic and Yuan leaders. A notable bearer was Timur, also known as Tamerlane (from Persian تیمور لنگ (Timur e Lang) meaning "Timur the lame"), a 14th-century Turkic leader who conquered large areas of western Asia.

Tlalli f Nahuatl
Means "earth, land, soil" in Nahuatl.

Tlaloc m Aztec and Toltec Mythology, Nahuatl
Possibly from Nahuatl tlālloh meaning "covered with earth", derived from tlālli meaning "earth, land, soil". This was the name of the Aztec god of rain and fertility, the husband of Chalchiuhtlicue.

Tömörbaatar m Mongolian
Means "iron hero" in Mongolian, from төмөр (tömör) meaning "iron" and баатар (baatar) meaning "hero".

Torsten m Swedish, Danish, German
From the Old Norse name Þórsteinn, which meant "Thor's stone" from the name of the Norse god Þórr (see Thor) combined with steinn "stone".

Trahaearn m Medieval Welsh
Means "very much like iron", derived from Welsh tra "very, over" prefixed to haearn "iron". This name was borne by an 11th-century king of Gwynedd.

Tunç m Turkish
Means "bronze" in Turkish.

Tuncay m Turkish, Azerbaijani
Means "bronze moon" in Turkish and Azerbaijani.

Ujarak m & f Greenlandic
Means "stone" in Greenlandic.

Ujaraq m Inuit
Means "stone" in Inuktitut.

Velvet f English
From the English word for the soft fabric. It became used as a given name after the main character in Enid Bagnold's book National Velvet (1935) and the movie (1944) and television (1960) adaptations.

Voski f & m Armenian
Means "gold" in Armenian.

Walton m English
From a surname that was originally taken from various Old English place names meaning "stream town", "wood town", or "wall town".

Widald m Germanic
Old German name composed of the elements witu "wood" and walt "power, authority".

Wido m Germanic
Originally a short form of names beginning with the Old Frankish or Old Saxon element widu, Old High German witu, meaning "wood" (Proto-Germanic *widuz). This was the name of two 11th-century saints, one from Belgium and one from northern Italy, both commonly called Guido or Guy. From early times this name has been confused with the Latin name Vitus.

Widogast m Germanic
Old German name composed of the elements witu "wood" and gast "guest, stranger".

Widukind m Germanic
Old Saxon name composed of the elements widu "wood" and kind "child". This was the name of an 8th-century Saxon leader who fought against the Franks, in the end unsuccessfully.

Woodrow m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "row of houses by a wood" in Old English. It was borne by the American president Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), who was given his mother's maiden name as his middle name (his first name was Thomas). During his candidacy and presidency (1912-1921) the name became popular, reaching the 44th rank in 1913, though it quickly declined after that.

Workneh m Amharic
Means "you are gold", from Amharic ወርቅ (warq) meaning "gold".

Worknesh f Amharic
Feminine form of Workneh.

Wulfstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wulf "wolf" and stan "stone".

Wynnstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wynn "joy" and stan "stone".

Wystan m English (Rare)
From the Old English name Wigstan, composed of the elements wig "battle" and stan "stone". This was the name of a 9th-century Anglo-Saxon saint. It became rare after the Norman Conquest, and in modern times it is chiefly known as the first name of the British poet W. H. Auden (1907-1973).

Yan 2 f & m Chinese
From Chinese 艳 (yàn) meaning "beautiful, gorgeous" (which is usually only feminine) or 岩 (yán) meaning "cliff, rocks", as well as other Chinese characters pronounced in a similar fashion.

Yin f & m Chinese
From Chinese 银 (yín) meaning "silver, money", 音 (yīn) meaning "sound, tone" or 荫 (yīn) meaning "shade, shelter, protect", as well as other Chinese characters pronounced similarly.

Yu f & m Chinese
From Chinese 玉 (yù) meaning "jade, precious stone, gem", 愉 (yú) meaning "pleasant, delightful" or 雨 (yǔ) meaning "rain". Other characters can form this name as well.

Zareen f Urdu
Variant of Zarina.

Zerina f Bosnian
Bosnian form of Zarina.

Zhelyazko m Bulgarian
Derived from Bulgarian желязо (zhelyazo) meaning "iron".

Zlata f Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian
Feminine form of Zlatan.

Zlatan m Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Slovene
Derived from South Slavic zlato meaning "gold", a derivative of Old Slavic zolto.

Zlatica f Croatian, Slovak
Diminutive of Zlata.

Zlatka f Bulgarian
Diminutive of Zlata.

Zlatko m Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Macedonian
Diminutive of Zlatan.

Zlatuše f Czech
Diminutive of Zlata.

Zlota f Jewish (Rare)
From Polish złoto "gold", used as a translation of Yiddish Golda.

Zubair m Arabic, Urdu
Derived from Arabic زبر (zubar) meaning "iron". Zubair ibn al-Awwam was a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad and an early Muslim military commander.

Zuriel m Biblical
Means "my rock is God" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this name is borne by a chief of the Merarite Levites at the time of the Exodus.