kitkat95's Personal Name List
ADA
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: AY-də (English), A-da (Polish), AH-dah (Finnish)
Rating: 71% based on 11 votes
Short form of
ADELAIDE and other names beginning with the same sound. This name was borne by Augusta Ada King (1815-1852), the Countess of Lovelace (known as Ada Lovelace), a daughter of Lord Byron. She was an assistant to Charles Babbage, the inventor of an early mechanical computer.
ADELAIDE
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: A-də-layd (English), a-de-LIE-de (Italian), ə-də-LIED (Portuguese)
Rating: 69% based on 14 votes
From the French form of the
Germanic name
Adalheidis, which was composed of the
elements adal "noble" and
heid "kind, sort, type". It was borne in the 10th century by
Saint Adelaide, the wife of the Holy Roman Emperor Otto the Great. The name became common in Britain in the 19th century due to the popularity of the German-born wife of King William IV, for whom the city of Adelaide in Australia was named in 1836.
ADELINE
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: A-DU-LEEN (French), AD-ə-lien (English)
Personal note: nickname: Addie
Rating: 72% based on 12 votes
ALEXANDER
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Hungarian, Slovak, Biblical, Ancient Greek (Latinized), Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Pronounced: a-lig-ZAN-dər (English), a-le-KSAN-du (German), ah-lək-SAHN-dər (Dutch), AW-lek-sawn-der (Hungarian)
Rating: 69% based on 11 votes
Latinized form of the Greek name
Αλεξανδρος (Alexandros), which meant "defending men" from Greek
αλεξω (alexo) "to defend, help" and
ανηρ (aner) "man" (genitive
ανδρος). In Greek
mythology this was another name of the hero
Paris, and it also belongs to several characters in the
New Testament. However, the most famous bearer was Alexander the Great, King of Macedon. In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. Due to his fame, and later medieval tales involving him, use of his name spread throughout Europe.
The name has been used by kings of Scotland, Poland and Yugoslavia, emperors of Russia, and eight popes. Other notable bearers include English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744), American statesman Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), Scottish-Canadian explorer Sir Alexander MacKenzie (1764-1820), Russian poet Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), and Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922), the Scottish-Canadian-American inventor of the telephone.
AUDREY
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: AW-dree
Rating: 70% based on 10 votes
Medieval
diminutive of
ÆÐELÞRYÐ. This was the name of a 7th-century
saint, a princess of East Anglia who founded a monastery at Ely. It was also borne by a character in
Shakespeare's comedy 'As You Like It' (1599). At the end of the Middle Ages the name became rare due to association with the word
tawdry (which was derived from
St. Audrey, the name of a fair where cheap lace was sold), but it was revived in the 19th century. A famous bearer was British actress Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993).
AUSTIN
Gender: Masculine
Pronounced: AWS-tin
Rating: 31% based on 11 votes
Medieval contracted form of
AUGUSTINE (1). Modern use of the name is probably also partly inspired by the common surname
Austin, which is of the same origin. This is also the name of a city in Texas.
BELLA
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: BEL-ə
Rating: 51% based on 13 votes
Short form of
ISABELLA and other names ending in
bella. It is also associated with the Italian word
bella meaning "beautiful".
CALEB
Gender: Masculine
Other Scripts: כָּלֵב (Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: KAY-ləb (English)
Rating: 59% based on 11 votes
Most likely related to Hebrew
כֶּלֶב (kelev) meaning "dog". An alternate theory connects it to Hebrew
כָּל (kal) "whole, all of" and
לֵב (lev) "heart". In the
Old Testament this is the name of one of the twelve spies sent by
Moses into Canaan. Of the Israelites who left Egypt with Moses, Caleb and
Joshua were the only ones who lived to see the Promised Land.
As an English name, Caleb came into use after the Protestant Reformation. It was common among the Puritans, who introduced it to America in the 17th century.
CALLUM
Gender: Masculine
Pronounced: KAL-um
Rating: 68% based on 13 votes
CASEY
Gender: Masculine
Pronounced: KAY-see (English)
Rating: 46% based on 11 votes
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of
Ó Cathasaigh meaning "descendant of
CATHASACH". This name can be given in honour of Casey Jones (1863-1900), a train engineer who sacrificed his life to save his passengers. In his case,
Casey was a nickname acquired because he was raised in the town of Cayce, Kentucky.
CHLOÉ
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: KLO-E
Rating: 56% based on 12 votes
CORRINA
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: kə-REEN-ə
Rating: 45% based on 11 votes
ÉLODIE
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: E-LAW-DEE
Rating: 70% based on 10 votes
EMMELINE
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: EM-ə-leen, EM-ə-lien
Rating: 66% based on 12 votes
From an Old French form of the
Germanic name
Amelina, originally a
diminutive of Germanic names beginning with the
element amal meaning "work". The
Normans introduced this name to England.
EVIE
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: EE-vee, EV-ee
Rating: 67% based on 13 votes
FAITH
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: FAYTH
Rating: 63% based on 14 votes
Simply from the English word
faith, ultimately from Latin
fidere "to trust". This was one of the virtue names adopted by the
Puritans in the 17th century.
FIONA
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: fee-O-nə
Rating: 65% based on 14 votes
Feminine form of
FIONN. This name was (first?) used by Scottish poet James Macpherson in his poem 'Fingal' (1762).
GENEVIÈVE
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: ZHU-NU-VYEV, ZHUN-VYEV
Personal note: nickname: Evie
Rating: 73% based on 13 votes
From the medieval name
Genovefa, which is of uncertain origin. It could be derived from the
Germanic elements kuni "kin, family" and
wefa "wife, woman". Alternatively it could be of Gaulish origin, from the related Celtic element
genos "kin, family" combined with a second element of unknown meaning. This name was borne by
Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, who inspired the city to resist the Huns in the 5th century.
HARRY
Gender: Masculine
Pronounced: HER-ee, HAR-ee
Rating: 42% based on 12 votes
Medieval English form of
HENRY. In modern times it is used as a
diminutive of both
Henry and
HAROLD. A famous bearer was American president Harry S. Truman (1884-1972). It is also the name of the boy wizard in J. K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' series of books, first released in 1997.
HENRY
Gender: Masculine
Pronounced: HEN-ree
Rating: 82% based on 12 votes
From the
Germanic name
Heimirich which meant "home ruler", composed of the
elements heim "home" and
ric "power, ruler". It was later commonly spelled
Heinrich, with the spelling altered due to the influence of other Germanic names like
Haganrich, in which the first element is
hagan "enclosure".
Heinrich was popular among continental royalty, being the name of seven German kings, starting with the 10th-century Henry I the Fowler, and four French kings. In France it was rendered Henri from the Latin form Henricus.
The Normans introduced the French form to England, and it was subsequently used by eight kings, ending with the infamous Henry VIII in the 16th century. During the Middle Ages it was generally rendered as Harry or Herry in English pronunciation. Notable bearers include arctic naval explorer Henry Hudson (1570-1611), British novelist Henry James (1843-1916), and American automobile manufacturer Henry Ford (1863-1947).
JACK
Gender: Masculine
Pronounced: JAK
Rating: 73% based on 13 votes
Derived from
Jackin (earlier
Jankin), a medieval
diminutive of
JOHN. It is often regarded as an independent name. During the Middle Ages it was very common, and it became a slang word meaning "man". It was frequently used in fairy tales and nursery rhymes, such as 'Jack and the Beanstalk', 'Little Jack Horner', and 'Jack Sprat'. American writers Jack London (1876-1916) and Jack Kerouac (1922-1969) were two famous bearers of this name. It is also borne by American actor Jack Nicholson (1937-).
JAKE
Gender: Masculine
Pronounced: JAYK
Rating: 52% based on 13 votes
Medieval variant of
JACK. It is also sometimes used as a short form of
JACOB.
LEO
Gender: Masculine
Pronounced: LE-o (German, Danish, Finnish), LAY-o (Dutch), LEE-o (English)
Rating: 78% based on 11 votes
Derived from Latin
leo meaning "lion", a
cognate of
LEON. It was popular among early Christians and was the name of 13 popes, including
Saint Leo the Great who asserted the dominance of the Roman bishops (the popes) over all others in the 5th century. It was also borne by six Byzantine emperors and five Armenian kings. Another famous bearer was Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), a Russian novelist whose works include 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina'. Leo is also the name of a constellation and the fifth sign of the zodiac.
LOUISE
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: LWEEZ (French), loo-EEZ (English), loo-EE-se (Danish), loo-EE-zə (German)
Rating: 59% based on 11 votes
French feminine form of
LOUIS.
MARCUS
Gender: Masculine
Pronounced: MAR-koos (Classical Latin), MAHR-kəs (English)
Rating: 50% based on 12 votes
Roman
praenomen, or given name, which was probably derived from the name of the Roman god
MARS. This was among the most popular of the Roman praenomina. Famous bearers include Marcus Tullius Cicero (known simply as Cicero), a 1st-century BC statesman and orator, Marcus Antonius (known as Mark Antony), a 1st-century BC politician, and Marcus Aurelius, a notable 2nd-century emperor. This was also the name of a pope of the 4th century. This spelling has occasionally been used in the English-speaking world, though the traditional English form
Mark has been more common.
NOAH (1)
Gender: Masculine
Pronounced: NO-ə (English)
Rating: 73% based on 12 votes
Derived from the Hebrew name
נֹחַ (Noach) meaning "rest, comfort". According to the
Old Testament, Noah was the builder of the Ark that allowed him, his family, and animals of each species to survive the great Flood. After the Flood he received the sign of the rainbow as a covenant from God. He was the father of
Shem,
Ham and
Japheth.
As an English Christian name, Noah has been used since the Protestant Reformation, being common among the Puritans. A famous bearer was the American lexicographer Noah Webster (1758-1843).
ROSE
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: ROZ
Rating: 72% based on 12 votes
Originally a Norman form of a
Germanic name, which was composed of the
elements hrod "fame" and
heid "kind, sort, type". The
Normans introduced it to England in the forms
Roese and
Rohese. From an early date it was associated with the word for the fragrant flower
rose (derived from Latin
rosa). When the name was revived in the 19th century, it was probably with the flower in mind.
RUBY
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: ROO-bee
Rating: 67% based on 11 votes
Simply from the name of the precious stone (which ultimately derives from Latin ruber "red"), which is the birthstone of July. It came into use as a given name in the 19th century.
SCARLETT
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: SKAHR-lit
Rating: 68% based on 13 votes
From a surname which denoted a person who sold or made clothes made of scarlet (a kind of cloth, ultimately derived from Persian
سقرلاط (saghrilat)). Margaret Mitchell used this name for Scarlett O'Hara, the main character in her novel 'Gone with the Wind' (1936). Scarlett's name came from her grandmother's maiden name.
SOPHIE
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: SAW-FEE (French), SO-fee (English), zo-FEE (German)
Rating: 59% based on 12 votes
STEPHEN
Gender: Masculine
Pronounced: STEEV-ən (English), STEF-ən (English)
Rating: 55% based on 10 votes
From the Greek name
Στεφανος (Stephanos) meaning "crown", more precisely "that which surrounds".
Saint Stephen was a deacon who was stoned to death, as told in Acts in the
New Testament. He is regarded as the first Christian martyr. Due to him, the name became common in the Christian world. It was popularized in England by the
Normans.
This was the name of kings of England, Serbia, and Poland, as well as ten popes. It was also borne by the first Christian king of Hungary (11th century), who is regarded as the patron saint of that country. More recent bearers include British physicist Stephen Hawking (1942-) and the American author Stephen King (1947-).
THOMAS
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Greek, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Other Scripts: Θωμας (Greek)
Pronounced: TAHM-əs (American English), TAWM-əs (British English), TAW-MA (French), TO-mas (German), TO-mahs (Dutch), tho-MAHS (Greek)
Rating: 63% based on 12 votes
Greek form of the Aramaic name
תָּאוֹמָא (Ta'oma') which meant "twin". In the
New Testament this is the name of an apostle. When he heard that
Jesus had risen from the dead he initially doubted the story, until Jesus appeared before him and he examined his wounds himself. According to tradition he was martyred in India. Due to his renown, the name came into general use in the Christian world.
In England the name was introduced by the Normans and became very popular due to Saint Thomas Becket, a 12th-century archbishop of Canterbury and martyr. Another notable saint by this name was the 13th-century Italian philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas, who is regarded as a Doctor of the Church. Other famous bearers include philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), American president Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), novelist Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), and inventor Thomas Edison (1847-1931).
VERONICA
Gender: Feminine
Pronounced: və-RAHN-i-kə (American English), və-RAWN-i-kə (British English)
Personal note: nickname: Ronnie
Rating: 48% based on 13 votes
Latin alteration of
BERENICE, the spelling influenced by the ecclesiastical Latin phrase
vera icon meaning "true image". This was the name of a legendary
saint who wiped
Jesus' face with a towel and then found his image imprinted upon it. Due to popular stories about her, the name was occasionally used in the Christian world in the Middle Ages. It was borne by the 17th-century Italian saint and mystic Veronica Giuliani. As an English name, it was not common until the 19th century, when it was imported from France and Scotland.
Copyright © Mike Campbell 1996-2017.