ADAGender: Feminine
Usage: English, German, Polish, Hungarian, Italian
Pronounced: AY-də (English), AH-dah (Polish)
Rating: 58% based on 20 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.ADELAISShortened form of ADALHEIDISADERYNMeans "bird" in Welsh. This is a modern Welsh name.ADRIANGender: Masculine
Usage: English, Romanian, Polish, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Russian
Other Scripts: Адриан (Russian)
Pronounced: AY-dree-ən (English), AHD-ryahn (Polish), AH-dree-ahn (German), ah-dree-AHN (Russian)
Rating: 57% based on 19 votes
Form of Hadrianus (see HADRIAN). Several saints and six popes have borne this name, including the only English pope, Adrian IV, and the only Dutch pope, Adrian VI. As an English name, it has been in use since the Middle Ages, though it was not popular until modern times.ADRIENNEFrench feminine form of ADRIANAGNESGender: Feminine
Usage: English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Slovene, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Other Scripts: ‘Αγνη (Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: AG-nəs (English), AHK-nes (German), AHKH-nəs (Dutch)
Rating: 55% based on 20 votes
Latinized form of the Greek name ‘Αγνη (Hagne), derived from Greek ‘αγνος (hagnos) meaning "chaste". Saint Agnes was a virgin martyred during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian. The name became associated with Latin agnus "lamb", resulting in the saint's frequent depiction with a lamb by her side. Due to her renown, the name became common in Christian Europe, being especially popular in England in the Middle Ages.ALAINAALBA (1)This name is derived from two distinct names, ALBA (2) and ALBA (3), with distinct origins, Latin and Germanic. Over time these names have become confused with one another. To further complicate the matter, alba means "dawn" in Italian and Spanish. This may be the main inspiration behind its use in Italy and Spain.ALECShort form of ALEXANDERALEXANDRAGender: Feminine
Usage: German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, French, English, Greek, Portuguese, Romanian, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Spanish, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Other Scripts: Αλεξανδρα (Greek)
Pronounced: ah-lek-SAHN-drah (German), ah-lək-SAHN-drah (Dutch), al-əg-ZAN-drə (English)
Rating: 57% based on 23 votes
Feminine form of ALEXANDER. In Greek mythology this was a Mycenaean epithet of the goddess Hera, and an alternate name of Cassandra. It was borne by several early Christian saints, and also by the wife of Nicholas II, the last czar of Russia. She was from Germany and had the birth name Alix, but was renamed Alexandra upon joining the Russian Church.ALVINAFeminine form of ALVINAMADEUSGender: Masculine
Usage: Late Roman
Pronounced: ahm-ə-DAY-əs (English), ahm-ə-DEE-əs (English)
Rating: 52% based on 17 votes
Means "love of God", derived from Latin amare "to love" and Deus "God". A famous bearer was the Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), who was actually born Wolfgang Theophilus Mozart but preferred the Latin translation of his Greek middle name. This name was also assumed as a middle name by the German novelist E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776-1822), who took it in honour of Mozart.AMBROSEFrom the Late Latin name Ambrosius, which was derived from the Greek name Αμβροσιος (Ambrosios) meaning "immortal". Saint Ambrose was a 4th-century theologian and bishop of Milan, who is considered a Doctor of the Church. Due to the saint, the name came into general use in Christian Europe, though it was never particularly common in England.ANTHONYEnglish form of the Roman family name Antonius, which is of unknown Etruscan origin. The most notable member of the Roman family was the general Marcus Antonius (called Mark Antony in English), who for a period in the 1st century BC ruled the Roman Empire jointly with Augustus. When their relationship turned sour, he and his mistress Cleopatra were attacked and forced to commit suicide, as related in Shakespeare's tragedy 'Antony and Cleopatra' (1606).The name became regularly used in the Christian world due to the fame of Saint Anthony the Great, a 3rd-century Egyptian hermit who founded Christian monasticism. Its popularity was reinforced in the Middle Ages by the 13th-century Saint Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of Portugal. In English it has been commonly (but incorrectly) associated with Greek ανθος (anthos) "flower", which resulted in the addition of the h in the 17th century.
ARDENFrom an English surname, originally taken from various place names, which were derived from a Celtic word meaning "high".ARWENMeans "noble maiden" in Sindarin. In 'The Lord of the Rings' (1954) by J. R. R. Tolkien, Arwen was the daughter of Elrond and the lover of Aragorn.ASHERGender: Masculine
Usage: Hebrew, English, Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Other Scripts: אָשֵׁר (Hebrew)
Pronounced: A-shər (English)
Rating: 50% based on 19 votes
Means "happy" or "blessed" in Hebrew. Asher in the Old Testament is a son of Jacob and Leah's handmaid Zilpah, and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.AVELINEFrom the Norman French form of the Germanic name Avelina, a diminutive of AVILA. The Normans introduced this name to Britain. After the Middle Ages it became rare as an English name, though it persisted in America until the 19th century.BEATRICEGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, English, Swedish
Pronounced: be-ah-TREE-che (Italian), BEE-ə-tris (English), BEE-tris (English)
Rating: 55% based on 19 votes
Italian form of BEATRIX. Beatrice Portinari was the woman who was loved by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri. She served as Dante's guide through paradise in his epic poem 'The Divine Comedy' (1321). This was also the name of a character in Shakespeare's play 'Much Ado About Nothing' (1599).BELLAShort form of ISABELLA and other names ending in bella. It is also associated with the Italian word meaning "beautiful".BENTLEYFrom a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "clearing covered with bent grass" in Old English. Various places in England bear this name.BERLINFrom the name of the city in Germany, which is of uncertain meaning.BEVINAnglicized form of BÉBINNBRONWYNVariant of BRONWENBROOKLYNFrom the name of the borough of New York City, originally derived from Dutch Breukelen meaning "broken land". It can also be viewed as a combination of BROOK and the popular name suffix lyn.BRYNNFeminine variant of BRYNCADEFrom a surname which was originally derived from a nickname meaning "round" in Old English.CALLIEDiminutive of CAROLINE, or sometimes of names beginning with Cal.CALLUMVariant of CALUMCAMDENGender: Masculine & Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: KAM-dən
Rating: 35% based on 15 votes
From a surname which was from a place name perhaps meaning "enclosed valley" in Old English. A famous bearer of the surname was the English historian William Camden (1551-1623).CAMILAGender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish, Portuguese
Pronounced: kah-MEE-lah (Spanish)
Rating: 47% based on 19 votes
Spanish and Portuguese form of CAMILLACASHFrom an English occupational surname for a box maker, derived from Norman French casse meaning "case". A famous bearer of the surname was American musician Johnny Cash (1932-2003).CERRIDWENVariant of CERIDWENCERYSVariant of CARYSCHANNINGFrom an English surname of uncertain origin.CHARLOTTASwedish variant of CHARLOTTECLAIREFrench form of CLARACOLIN (2)Medieval diminutive of Col, a short form of NICHOLAS.CONRÍMeans "wolf king" in Irish Gaelic.CONSTANTINEFrom the Latin name Constantinus, a derivative of CONSTANS. Constantine the Great (272-337) was the first Roman emperor to adopt Christianity. He moved the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople (modern Istanbul).DEANNAEither a variant of DIANA or a feminine form of DEAN. This name was popularized by the Canadian actress and singer Deanna Durbin (1921-), whose birth name was Edna. Her stage name was a rearrangement of the letters of her real name.DELANEYFrom a surname: either the English surname DELANEY (1) or the Irish surname DELANEY (2).DELILAHGender: Feminine
Usage: Biblical, Biblical Hebrew, English
Other Scripts: דְּלִילָה (Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: di-LIE-lə (English)
Rating: 59% based on 17 votes
Means "delicate, weak, languishing" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament she is the lover of Samson, whom she betrays to the Philistines by cutting his hair, which is the source of his power. Despite her character flaws, the name began to be used by the Puritans in the 17th century. It has been used occasionally in the English-speaking world since that time.DEVINDIMITRIGender: Masculine
Other Scripts: Димитрий (Russian)
Pronounced: dee-MEE-tree (Russian)
Rating: 71% based on 19 votes
DREWShort form of ANDREWEAVANAnglicized form of AOIBHEANNEBBA (2)From the Old English name Æbbe, meaning unknown, perhaps a contracted form of a longer name. Saint Ebba was a 7th-century daughter of king Æthelfrith of Bernicia and the founder of monasteries in Scotland. Another saint Ebba was a 9th-century abbess and martyr who mutilated her own face so that she would not be raped by the invading Danes.EDENMeans "place of pleasure" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament the Garden of Eden is the place where the first people, Adam and Eve, live before they are expelled.EIRA (1)Means "snow" in Welsh.ELI (1)Gender: Masculine
Usage: English, Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew
Other Scripts: עֵלִי (Hebrew), Ηλι (Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: EE-lie (English)
Rating: 59% based on 7 votes
Means "ascension" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he is the high priest of Israel and the teacher of Samuel. In England, Eli has been used as a Christian given name since the Protestant Reformation.ELINScandinavian and Welsh form of HELENELINORVariant of ELEANORELLIOTFrom a surname which was a variant of ELLIOTT.EMMAGender: Feminine
Usage: English, French, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Dutch, German, Ancient Germanic
Pronounced: EM-ə (English), E-mah (German)
Rating: 62% based on 19 votes
Originally a short form of Germanic names that began with the element ermen meaning "whole" or "universal". It was introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, who was the wife both of king Ethelred II (and by him the mother of Edward the Confessor) and later of king Canute. It was also borne by an 11th-century Austrian saint, who is sometimes called Hemma.After the Norman conquest this name became common in England. It was revived in the 18th century, perhaps in part due to Matthew Prior's poem 'Henry and Emma' (1709). It was also used by Jane Austen for the central character, the matchmaker Emma Woodhouse, in her novel 'Emma' (1816).
ENYAAnglicized form of EITHNEESMERALDAGender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish, Portuguese, English
Pronounced: es-me-RAHL-dah (Spanish), ez-mə-RAHL-də (English)
Rating: 49% based on 17 votes
Means "emerald" in Spanish. Victor Hugo used this name in his novel 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' (1831), in which Esmeralda is the Gypsy girl who is loved by Quasimodo. It has occasionally been used in the English-speaking world since that time.ESPERANZAGender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
Pronounced: es-pe-RAHN-thah (Spanish), es-pe-RAHN-sah (Latin American Spanish)
Rating: 38% based on 15 votes
Spanish form of the Late Latin name Sperantia which was derived from sperare "to hope".ESTELAPortuguese and Spanish form of ESTELLEEVAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Slovene, Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian, Russian, Old Church Slavic, Biblical Latin
Other Scripts: Ева (Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, Church Slavic)
Pronounced: E-vah (Italian, Spanish), EE-və (English), E-fah (German), AY-vah (Dutch)
Rating: 54% based on 20 votes
Latinate form of EVE. This form is used in the Latin translation of the New Testament, while Hava is used in the Latin Old Testament. It is also a variant Russian transcription of YEVA. This name appears in Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' (1852) belonging to the character Little Eva, whose real name is in fact Evangeline.EVANAnglicized form of Iefan, a Welsh form of JOHN.EVANGELINEMeans "good news" from Greek ευ "good" and αγγελμα (angelma) "news, message". It was (first?) used by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his epic poem 'Evangeline' (1847).EVIEEVRENMeans "cosmos, the universe" in Turkish.GEORGIAGender: Feminine
Other Scripts: Γεωργια (Greek)
Pronounced: JAWR-jə (English)
Rating: 58% based on 17 votes
Latinate feminine form of GEORGE. This is the name of an American state, which was named after the British king George II. A famous bearer was the American painter Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986).GRACEFrom the English word grace, which ultimately derives from Latin gratia. This was one of the virtue names created in the 17th century by the Puritans. The actress Grace Kelly (1929-1982) was a famous bearer.GUINEVEREGender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh Mythology
Pronounced: GWIN-ə-vir (English)
Rating: 59% based on 17 votes
From the Norman French form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar, composed of the elements gwen meaning "fair, white" and hwyfar meaning "smooth". In Arthurian legend she was the beautiful wife of King Arthur who engaged in an adulterous affair with Sir Lancelot. According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, she was seduced by Mordred before the battle of Camlann, which led to the deaths of both Mordred and Arthur.The Cornish form of this name, Jennifer, has become popular in the English-speaking world.
GWENDOLENMeans "white ring", derived from the Welsh elements gwen "white, fair, blessed" and dolen "ring". This was the name of a mythical queen of the Britons who defeated her husband in battle, as told by Geoffrey of Monmouth.GWENYTHVariant of GWYNETHHADRIANFrom the Roman cognomen Hadrianus, which meant "from Hadria" in Latin. Hadria was a town in northern Italy (it gave its name to the Adriatic Sea). A famous bearer of the name was Publius Aelius Hadrianus, better known as Hadrian, a 2nd-century Roman emperor who built a wall across northern Britain.HALLE (2)In the case of American actress Halle Berry (1966-), it is from the name of a department store in Cleveland where she was born (the store was founded by brothers bearing the German surname Halle, a cognate of HALL).HANNAHGender: Feminine
Usage: English, Hebrew, French, German, Dutch, Biblical
Other Scripts: חַנָּה (Hebrew)
Pronounced: HAN-ə (English), HAH-nah (German)
Rating: 48% based on 18 votes
From the Hebrew name חַנָּה (Channah) meaning "favour" or "grace". Hannah is the mother of the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament. As an English name, Hannah was not regularly used until after the Protestant Reformation. The Greek and Latin version Anna is used in the New Testament and was traditionally more widely used as a Christian name.HARPERFrom an Old English surname which originally belonged to a person who played the harp or who made harps. A notable bearer was the American author Harper Lee (1926-), who wrote 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.HAYDENFrom an English surname which was derived from place names meaning either "hay valley" or "hay hill", derived from Old English heg "hay" and denu "valley" or dun "hill".HOLDENFrom a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "deep valley" in Old English. This is the name of the main character in J. D. Salinger's novel 'The Catcher in the Rye' (1951), Holden Caufield.HOLLYFrom the English word for the holly tree, ultimately derived from Old English holen.HUDSONFrom an English surname which meant "son of HUDDE". A famous bearer of the surname was the English explorer Henry Hudson (1570-1611).HUGOGender: Masculine
Usage: Spanish, Portuguese, English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Ancient Germanic (Latinized)
Pronounced: OO-go (Spanish), HYOO-go (English), HUY-kho (Dutch), HOO-go (German)
Rating: 56% based on 14 votes
Latinized form of HUGH. As a surname it has belonged to the French author Victor Hugo (1802-1885), the writer of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and 'Les Misérables'.INDIANAFrom the name of the American state, which means "land of the Indians". This is the name of the hero in the 'Indiana Jones' series of movies, starring Harrison Ford.INÉSSpanish form of AGNESIRISGender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology, English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, French, Spanish
Other Scripts: Ιρις (Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: IE-ris (English), EE-ris (German, Dutch)
Rating: 67% based on 18 votes
Means "rainbow" in Greek. Iris was the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow. This name can also be given in reference to the English word (which derives from the same Greek source) for the name of the iris flower or the coloured part of the eye.JACKSONFrom an English surname meaning "son of JACK". A famous bearer of the surname was American president Andrew Jackson (1767-1845).JAMESGender: Masculine
Pronounced: JAYMZ (English)
Rating: 70% based on 19 votes
English form of the Late Latin name Iacomus which was derived from Ιακωβος (Iakobos), the New Testament Greek form of the Hebrew name Ya'aqov (see JACOB). This was the name of two apostles in the New Testament. The first was Saint James the Greater, the apostle John's brother, who was beheaded under Herod Agrippa in the Book of Acts. The second was James the Lesser, son of Alphaeus. Another James (known as James the Just) is also mentioned in the Bible as being the brother of Jesus.Since the 13th century this form of the name has been used in England, though it became more common in Scotland, where it was borne by several kings. In the 17th century the Scottish king James VI inherited the English throne, becoming the first ruler of all Britain, and the name grew much more popular. Famous bearers include the explorer Captain James Cook (1728-1779), the inventor James Watt (1736-1819), and the novelist and poet James Joyce (1882-1941). This name has also been borne by six American presidents. A notable fictional bearer is the British spy James Bond, created by author Ian Fleming.
JASONGender: Masculine
Usage: English, French, Greek Mythology (Anglicized), Biblical
Other Scripts: Ιασων (Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: JAY-sən (English)
Rating: 55% based on 16 votes
From the Greek name Ιασων (Iason), which was derived from Greek ιασθαι (iasthai) "to heal". In Greek mythology Jason was the leader of the Argonauts. After his uncle Pelias overthrew his father as king of Iolcos, Jason went in search of the Golden Fleece in order to win back the throne. During his journeys he married the sorceress Medea, who helped him gain the fleece and kill his uncle, but who later turned against him when he fell in love with another woman.This name also appears in the New Testament, belonging to man who sheltered Paul and Silas. In his case, it may represent a Hellenized form of a Hebrew name. It was not used in England until after the Protestant Reformation.
JAYNEVariant of JANEJEREMYGender: Masculine
Pronounced: JER-ə-mee (English), JER-mee (English)
Rating: 58% based on 16 votes
Medieval English form of JEREMIAH, and the form used in some versions of the New Testament.JOAQUÍNSpanish form of JOACHIMJOLENEFormed from JO and the popular name suffix lene. This name was created in the 20th century.JUDASFrom Ιουδας (Ioudas), the Greek form of JUDAH. Judas Iscariot is the apostle who betrays Jesus in the New Testament.JULIAGender: Feminine
Usage: English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Spanish, Polish, Finnish, Ancient Roman, Biblical
Pronounced: JOO-lee-ə (English), YOO-lee-ah (German), HOO-lyah (Spanish), YUWL-yah (Polish), YOO:-lee-ah (Ancient Roman)
Rating: 51% based on 17 votes
Feminine form of JULIUS. A person by this name has a brief mention in the New Testament. It was borne by a few early saints and martyrs, including the patron saint of Corsica. Shakespeare used the name in his comedy 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' (1594). It has been common as a given name in the English-speaking world only since the 18th century.JUNOMeaning unknown, possibly related to an Indo-European root meaning "youth", or possibly of Etruscan origin. In Roman mythology Juno was the wife of Jupiter and the queen of the heavens. She was the protectress of marriage and women, and was also the goddess of finance.KATIAGender: Feminine
Usage: Russian
Other Scripts: Катя (Russian)
Pronounced: KAH-tyah
Rating: 58% based on 16 votes
Variant transcription of KATYAKATYAGender: Feminine
Usage: Russian
Other Scripts: Катя (Russian)
Pronounced: KAH-tyah
Rating: 63% based on 18 votes
KEANUPossibly means "cool breeze" in Hawaiian.KIANVariant of CIANKONSTANTINGender: Masculine
Usage: German, Hungarian, Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Macedonian
Other Scripts: Константин (Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Macedonian)
Pronounced: KAWN-stahn-teen (German), kahn-stahn-TEEN (Russian)
Rating: 45% based on 15 votes
KURTGerman contracted form of CONRADKURTISVariant of CURTISLAYLAGender: Feminine
Other Scripts: ليلى (Arabic)
Pronounced: LAY-lə (English)
Rating: 53% based on 17 votes
Means "night" in Arabic. This was the name of the object of romantic poems written by the 7th-century poet known as Qays. The story of Qays and Layla became a popular romance in medieval Arabia and Persia. The name became used in the English-speaking world after the 1970 release of the song 'Layla' by Derek and the Dominos, the title of which was inspired by the medieval story.LENNONAnglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Leannáin, which means "descendent of Leannán". The name Leannán means "lover" in Gaelic. This surname was borne by musician John Lennon (1940-1980), a member of the Beatles.LEONARDOGender: Masculine
Usage: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, History
Pronounced: le-o-NAHR-do (Italian, Spanish), lee-ə-NAHR-do (English)
Rating: 66% based on 17 votes
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of LEONARD. A notable bearer was Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), an Italian artist and scientist of the Renaissance. He is also known as the inventor of several contraptions, including flying machines. Another famous bearer was Leonardo Fibonacci, a 13th-century Italian mathematician.LIBBYOriginally a medieval diminutive of Ibb, itself a diminutive of ISABEL. It is also used as a diminutive of ELIZABETH.LINDENFrom a German surname which was derived from linde meaning "lime tree".LOURDESGender: Feminine
Pronounced: LOOR-des (Spanish), LUWRD (French), LAWRDZ (English)
Rating: 39% based on 18 votes
From the name of a French town. It became a popular center of pilgrimage after a young girl from the town had visions of the Virgin Mary in a nearby grotto.LUCIAGender: Feminine
Usage: Italian, German, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Romanian, Slovak, Ancient Roman
Pronounced: loo-CHEE-ah (Italian), LOO-tsee-ah (German), LOO-shə (English), loo-SEE-ə (English)
Rating: 71% based on 16 votes
Feminine form of LUCIUS. Saint Lucia was a 4th-century martyr from Syracuse. She was said to have had her eyes gouged out, and thus is the patron saint of the blind. She was widely revered in the Middle Ages, and her name has been used throughout Christian Europe (in various spellings). It has been used in the England since the 12th-century, usually in the spellings Lucy or Luce.LYRICMeans simply "lyric, songlike" from the English word, ultimately derived from Greek λυρικος (lyrikos).MADDISONVariant of MADISONMADDOXFrom a Welsh surname meaning "son of MADOC". It was brought to public attention when the actress Angelina Jolie gave this name to her adopted son in 2002.MADOCPossibly derived from Welsh mad "fortunate" combined with a diminutive suffix.MANDYDiminutive of AMANDAMATEOGender: Masculine
Pronounced: mah-TE-o (Spanish)
Rating: 46% based on 16 votes
Spanish form of MATTHEW. This form is also sometimes used in Croatian, from the Italian form MATTEO.MICHAELGender: Masculine
Usage: English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Czech, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Other Scripts: מִיכָאֵל (Ancient Hebrew), Μιχαηλ (Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: MIE-kəl (English), MI-khah-el (German)
Rating: 51% based on 15 votes
From the Hebrew name מִיכָאֵל (Mikha'el) meaning "who is like God?". This is a rhetorical question, implying no person is like God. Michael is one of the seven archangels in Hebrew tradition and the only one identified as an archangel in the Bible. In the Book of Revelation in the New Testament he is portrayed as the leader of heaven's armies, and thus is considered the patron saint of soldiers.The popularity of the saint led to the name being used by nine Byzantine emperors, including Michael VIII Palaeologus who restored the empire in the 13th century. It has been common in Western Europe since the Middle Ages, and in England since the 12th century. It has been borne (in various spellings) by rulers of Russia (spelled Михаил), Romania (Mihai), Poland (Michał), and Portugal (Miguel). Other more modern bearers of this name include the British chemist/physicist Michael Faraday (1791-1867) and basketball player Michael Jordan (1963-).
MILOGender: Masculine
Usage: English, Ancient Germanic
Pronounced: MIE-lo (English)
Rating: 60% based on 7 votes
Old Germanic form of MILES, as well as the Latinized form. This form of the name was used in official documents during the Middle Ages, and it has been used independently since the 19th century.MOSESGender: Masculine
Usage: English, Biblical, Biblical Latin
Other Scripts: מֹשֶׁה (Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: MOZ-əs (English)
Rating: 27% based on 15 votes
From the Hebrew name מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh) which is most likely derived from Egyptian mes meaning "son", but could also possibly mean "deliver" in Hebrew. The meaning suggested in the Old Testament of "drew out" from Hebrew משה (mashah) is probably an invented etymology. The biblical Moses was drawn out of the Nile by the pharaoh's daughter. He led the Jews out of captivity in Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.In England, this name has been commonly used by Christians since the Protestant Reformation, though it had long been popular among Jews.
NATALIEGender: Feminine
Usage: French, English, German
Pronounced: nat-a-LEE (French), NAD-ə-lee (English), NAH-tah-lee (German)
Rating: 53% based on 15 votes
From the Late Latin name Natalia, which meant "Christmas Day" from Latin natale domini. This was the name of the wife of the 4th-century martyr Saint Adrian of Nicomedia. She is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church, and the name has traditionally been more common among Eastern Christians than those in the West. It was popularized in America by actress Natalie Wood (1938-1981), who was born to Russian immigrants.NOLANOLANFrom an Irish surname which was derived from Ó Nualláin meaning "descendent of NUALLÁN". The baseball player Nolan Ryan (1947-) is a famous bearer of this name.NOVADerived from Latin novus meaning "new". It was first used as a name in the 19th century.OMRIGender: Masculine
Usage: Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Other Scripts: עָמְרִי (Hebrew)
Rating: 34% based on 15 votes
Means "my sheaf" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Israel.OZZYVariant of OZZIERAINEPossibly based on the French word reine meaning "queen". A famous bearer is the British socialite Raine Spencer (1929-), the stepmother of Princess Diana. In modern times it can also be used as a variant of RAIN or a short form of LORRAINE.RHYSGender: Masculine
Usage: Welsh
Pronounced: HREES (Welsh), REES (English)
Rating: 68% based on 19 votes
Means "enthusiasm" in Welsh. Several Welsh rulers have borne this name.RIVERFrom the English word that denotes a flowing body of water. The word is ultimately derived (via Old French) from Latin ripa "riverbank".RÓNÁNMeans "little seal", derived from Irish rón "seal" combined with a diminutive suffix.ROSA (1)Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, German, English
Pronounced: RO-sah (Spanish, Dutch), RAW-zah (Italian), RO-zə (English)
Rating: 43% based on 16 votes
Generally this can be considered a Latin form of ROSE, though originally it may have come from the Germanic name ROZA (2). This was the name of a 13th-century saint from Viterbo in Italy. In the English-speaking world it was first used in the 19th century. A famous bearer was civil rights activist Rosa Parks (1913-2005).ROWANGender: Masculine & Feminine
Usage: Irish, English (Modern)
Pronounced: RO-ən (English)
Rating: 57% based on 17 votes
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Ruadháin meaning "descendent of RUADHÁN". This name can also be given in reference to the rowan tree.ROXANNEGender: Feminine
Pronounced: rahk-SAN (English), rok-SAHN (French)
Rating: 53% based on 16 votes
Variant of ROXANESAMSONGender: Masculine
Usage: Biblical, English, Biblical Latin
Other Scripts: שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: SAM-sən (English)
Rating: 31% based on 16 votes
From the Hebrew name שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshon) which probably meant "sun". Samson was an Old Testament hero granted exceptional strength by God. His mistress Delilah betrayed him and cut his hair, stripping him of his power. Thus he was captured by the Philistines, blinded, and brought to their temple. However, in a final act of strength, he pulled down the pillars of the temple upon himself and his captors.This name was known among the Normans due to the Welsh bishop Saint Samson, who founded monasteries in Brittany and Normandy in the 6th century. In his case, the name may have been a translation of his true Celtic name. As an English name, Samson was common during the Middle Ages, having been introduced by the Normans.
SANTIAGOGender: Masculine
Usage: Spanish, Portuguese
Pronounced: sahn-TYAH-go (Spanish)
Rating: 46% based on 16 votes
Means "Saint James", derived from Spanish santo "saint" combined with Yago, an old Spanish form of JAMES, the patron saint of Spain. Cities in Chile and Spain bear this name.SAWYERGender: Masculine & Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: SOI-ər, SAW-yər
Rating: 51% based on 19 votes
From a surname meaning "sawer of wood" in Middle English. Mark Twain used it for the hero in his novel 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' (1876).SHAELYNSHAY (1)Anglicized form of SÉAGHDHASHEAAnglicized form of SÉAGHDHA, sometimes used as a feminine name.SHILOHGender: Feminine
Usage: Biblical
Other Scripts: שִׁלוֹ, שִׁילֹה (Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: SHIE-lo (English)
Rating: 24% based on 18 votes
From an Old Testament place name meaning "tranquil" in Hebrew. It is also used prophetically in the Old Testament to refer to a person, often understood to be the Messiah (see Genesis 49:10). This may in fact be a mistranslation.SOL (1)Means "the sun" in Spanish or Portuguese.STELLAMeans "star" in Latin. This name was created by the 16th-century poet Sir Philip Sidney for the subject of his collection of sonnets 'Astrophel and Stella'. It was not commonly used as a given name until the 19th century. It appears in Tennessee Williams' play 'A Streetcar Named Desire' (1947), belonging to the sister of Blanche DuBois and the wife of Stanley Kowalski.SUMMERFrom the name of the season, ultimately from Old English sumor. It has been in use as a given name since the 1970s.SYDNEYFrom a surname which was a variant of the surname SIDNEY. This is the name of the largest city in Australia, which was named for Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney in 1788. Since the 1990s this name has been mainly feminine.TALLULAHPopularly claimed to mean "leaping waters" in the Choctaw language, it may actually mean "town" in the Creek language. This is the name of waterfalls in Georgia. It was borne by American actress Tallulah Bankhead (1902-1968), who was named after her grandmother, who may have been named after the waterfalls.TATUMFrom a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "Tata's homestead" in Old English.TAYLORFrom an English surname which originally denoted someone who was a tailor, from Norman French tailleur, ultimately from Latin taliare "to cut". British author Taylor Caldwell (1900-1985) may have been an influence on its modern use as a feminine name.TIAGOULYSSAFeminine form of ULYSSESWESLEYFrom a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "west meadow" in Old English. It has been sometimes given in honour of John Wesley (1703-1791), the founder of Methodism.WESTONFrom a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "west town" in Old English.WILLIAMFrom the Germanic name Willahelm, which was composed of the elements wil "will, desire" and helm "helmet, protection". Saint William of Gellone was an 8th-century cousin of Charlemagne who became a monk. The name was common among the Normans, and it became extremely popular in England after William the Conqueror was recognized as the first Norman king of England. It was later borne by three other English kings, as well as rulers of Scotland, Sicily (of Norman origin), the Netherlands and Prussia.Other famous bearers include William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish hero, and William Tell, a legendary 14th-century Swiss hero. In the literary world it was borne by dramatist William Shakespeare (1564-1616), poet William Blake (1757-1827), poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850), dramatist William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), author William Faulkner (1897-1962), and author William S. Burroughs (1914-1997).
WILLOWFrom the name of the tree, which is ultimately derived from Old English welig.YOLANDAGender: Feminine
Pronounced: yo-LAHN-də (English)
Rating: 29% based on 17 votes
From the medieval French name Yolande, which was possibly a form of the name Violante, which was itself a derivative of Latin viola "violet". Alternatively it could be of Germanic origin.This name was borne by a 12th-century empress of the Latin Empire in Constantinople, who was originally from Flanders. It was also used by her descendents in the royal families of Hungary (spelled Jolánta) and Spain (sometimes spelled Violante). Another famous bearer was a 13th-century countess of Vianden in Luxembourg who joined a convent against her parents' wishes, later becoming the subject of medieval legend.