Names Deemed "nerdy"

This is a list of names in which the community's impression is nerdy.
gender
usage
impression
Isidora f Spanish, Serbian, Portuguese (Rare), Italian (Rare), English (Rare), Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Isidore. This was the name of a 4th-century Egyptian saint and hermitess.
Isidore m English, French, Georgian (Rare), Jewish
From the Greek name Ἰσίδωρος (Isidoros) meaning "gift of Isis", derived from the name of the Egyptian goddess Isis combined with Greek δῶρον (doron) meaning "gift". Saint Isidore of Seville was a 6th-century archbishop, historian and theologian.... [more]
Isidro m Spanish
Spanish variant of Isidore.
Iskandar m Arabic, Indonesian, Malay
Arabic, Indonesian and Malay form of Alexander.
İskender m Turkish
Turkish form of Alexander.
Iskra f Bulgarian, Macedonian, Croatian
Means "spark" in South Slavic.
Islwyn m Welsh
From the name of a mountain in Wales that means "below the forest" from Welsh is "below" and llwyn "forest, grove".
Ismail m Arabic, Malay, Indonesian, Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Chechen, Avar, Albanian
Form of Ishmael in several languages. It is also an alternate transcription of Arabic إسماعيل (see Isma'il).
Ismene f Greek Mythology
Possibly from Greek ἰσμή (isme) meaning "knowledge". This was the name of the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta in Greek legend.
Isocrates m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἰσοκράτης (Isokrates) meaning "equal power", derived from ἴσος (isos) meaning "equal" and κράτος (kratos) meaning "power". This was the name of a 4th-century BC Athenian orator.
Isolde f German, Arthurian Cycle
German form of Iseult, appearing in the 13th-century German poem Tristan by Gottfried von Strassburg. In 1865 the German composer Richard Wagner debuted his popular opera Tristan und Isolde and also used the name for his first daughter.
Isra f Arabic
Means "nocturnal journey", derived from Arabic سرى (sara) meaning "to travel at night".
István m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Stephen. This was the name of the first king of Hungary. Ruling in the 11th century, he encouraged the spread of Christianity among his subjects and is considered the patron saint of Hungary.
Ithiel m Biblical
Possibly means "God is with me" in Hebrew. This is the name of a minor character in the Old Testament.
Iðunn f Norse Mythology, Old Norse, Icelandic
Probably derived from the Old Norse prefix ið- "again, repeated" and unna "to love". In Norse mythology Iðunn was the goddess of spring and immortality whose responsibility it was to guard the gods' apples of youth.
Itumeleng m & f Tswana
Means "be happy" in Tswana, from itumela meaning "to be happy".
Iúile f Irish (Rare)
Irish form of Julia.
Iulian m Romanian
Romanian form of Iulianus (see Julian).
Iuno f Roman Mythology
Latin form of Juno.
Iustinus m Late Roman
Latin form of Justin.
Ivailo m Bulgarian
Alternate transcription of Bulgarian Ивайло (see Ivaylo).
Ivan m Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Serbian, Macedonian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, English, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Estonian
Newer form of the Old Church Slavic name Іѡаннъ (Ioannŭ), which was derived from Greek Ioannes (see John). This was the name of six Russian rulers, including the 15th-century Ivan III the Great and 16th-century Ivan IV the Terrible, the first tsar of Russia. It was also borne by nine emperors of Bulgaria. Other notable bearers include the Russian author Ivan Turgenev (1818-1883), who wrote Fathers and Sons, and the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936), who is best known for his discovery of the conditioned reflex.
Ivar m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian
Scandinavian form of Ivor.
Ives m History (Ecclesiastical)
English form of Yves, used to refer to Saint Ives (also called Ivo) of Huntingdonshire, a semi-legendary English bishop.
Ivor m Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English (British)
From the Old Norse name Ívarr, which was probably derived from the elements ýr "yew tree, bow" and herr "army, warrior". During the Middle Ages it was brought to Britain by Scandinavian settlers and invaders, and it was adopted in Ireland (Irish Íomhar), Scotland (Scottish Gaelic Iomhar) and Wales (Welsh Ifor).
Iya f Russian
Meaning unknown. This name was borne by Saint Ia of Persia, a 4th-century martyr who is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Izabella f Hungarian, Polish
Hungarian and Polish form of Isabella.
Izanagi m Japanese Mythology
Probably means "male who invites" in Japanese, from (izana) meaning "invite, lure, attract". In Japanese mythology the god Izanagi was the husband of Izanami. When she died he unsuccessfully journeyed to the underworld to retrieve her. In the purifying rites that followed his return, the gods of the sun, moon and wind were created.
Izanami f Japanese Mythology
Probably means "female who invites" in Japanese, from (izana) meaning "invite, lure, attract". In Japanese mythology she was a creator goddess, the wife of Izanagi. She died giving birth to Kagutsuchi, the god of fire.
Izidor m Slovene
Slovene form of Isidore.
Izolda f Georgian, Russian, Hungarian, Polish (Rare)
Georgian, Russian, Hungarian and Polish form of Iseult.
Izumi f Japanese
From Japanese (izumi) meaning "fountain, spring". This name can also be constructed from other combinations of kanji.
Izz al-Din m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic عزّ الدين (see Izz ad-Din).
Jabir m Arabic
Means "comforter" in Arabic.
Jacenty m Polish (Rare)
Polish form of Hyacinthus. Saint Jacenty was a 13th-century Dominican monk from Krakow who was said to have taken missionary journeys throughout Northern Europe and Asia.
Jacoba f Dutch
Feminine form of Jacob.
Jacobine f Norwegian (Archaic), Dutch (Rare)
Norwegian and Dutch feminine form of Jacob.
Jacobus m Dutch, Late Roman
Latin form of Jacob, also used in Dutch.
Jacques m French
French form of Iacobus, the New Testament Latin form of James.
Jae-Seong m Korean
From Sino-Korean (jae) meaning "located at, exist" or (jae) meaning "kill, rule" combined with (seong) meaning "completed, finished, succeeded" or (seong) meaning "sincere, honest, true". Other hanja combinations are possible.
Jagadisha m Hinduism
Means "ruler of the world" from Sanskrit जगत् (jagat) meaning "world" and ईश (isha) meaning "ruler". This is another name of the Hindu god Vishnu.
Jahleel m Biblical
Means "God waits" in Hebrew. This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
Jaidev m Hindi
Modern form of Jayadeva.
Jamshed m Persian, Tajik, Persian Mythology
Alternate transcription of Persian جمشید (see Jamshid), as well as the regular Tajik form.
Janan f Arabic
Means "heart" or "soul" in Arabic.
Janette f English
Variant of Janet.
Janja f Croatian, Serbian, Slovene
Croatian, Serbian and Slovene form of Agnes. It also may be inspired by Serbo-Croatian janje meaning "lamb".
Jannat f Bengali, Urdu
Means "paradise, garden" in Bengali and Urdu, derived from Arabic جنّة (jannah).
Jannike f Norwegian, Swedish
Scandinavian feminine diminutive of Jan 1, from Low German.
Janus m Roman Mythology
Means "archway" in Latin. Janus was the Roman god of gateways and beginnings, often depicted as having two faces looking in opposite directions. The month of January is named for him.
Japheth m Biblical
From the Hebrew name יֶפֶת (Yefet) meaning "enlarged". In the Old Testament he is one of the three sons of Noah, along with Shem and Ham. He was the ancestor of the peoples of Europe and northern Asia.
Jasminka f Croatian
Croatian diminutive of Jasmina.
Jasna f Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian
Derived from South Slavic jasno meaning "clearly, obviously".
Jaswinder m & f Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit यशस् (yashas) meaning "fame, praise, glory" combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra.
Javaid m Urdu
Alternate transcription of Urdu جاوید (see Javed).
Jaycee f & m English (Modern)
Variant of Jacey.
Jayesh m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati
Means "lord of victory" from Sanskrit जय (jaya) meaning "victory, conquest" and ईश (isha) meaning "lord, ruler".
Jean-Baptiste m French
Combination of Jean 1 and Baptiste, referring to Saint John the Baptist.
Jean-François m French
Combination of Jean 1 and François.
Jean-Luc m French
Combination of Jean 1 and Luc. A famous bearer is the French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard (1930-2022).
Jean-Marie m French
Combination of Jean 1 and Marie.
Jean-Paul m French
Combination of Jean 1 and Paul. A famous bearer was the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980).
Jeconiah m Biblical
Means "Yahweh will establish" in Hebrew. This is another name (with the same meaning) of the Judean king Jehoiachin.
Jedidah f Biblical
From Hebrew יָדִיד (yadid) meaning "beloved, friend". In the Old Testament this is the name of the wife of King Amon of Judah and the mother of Josiah.
Jędrzej m Polish
Old Polish form of Andrew.
Jefferson m English
From an English surname meaning "son of Jeffrey". It is usually given in honour of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the third president of the United States and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.
Jehoram m Biblical
From the Hebrew name יְהוֹרָם (Yehoram) meaning "exalted by Yahweh". In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Judah and a king of Israel, both of whom ruled at about the same time in the 9th century BC.
Jehu m Biblical
Means "Yahweh is he" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Israel. He ruled in the 9th century BC, coming to power by overthrowing Jehoram. This was also the name of a prophet during the reign of the king Baasha.
Jeong f & m Korean
From Sino-Korean (jeong) meaning "quiet, still, gentle" or (jeong) meaning "virtuous, chaste, loyal", as well as other characters that are pronounced similarly. It usually occurs in combination with another character, though it is sometimes used as a stand-alone name.
Jeong-Ho m Korean
From Sino-Korean (jeong) meaning "right, proper, correct" combined with (ho) meaning "good, excellent" or (ho) meaning "great, numerous, vast". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.
Jephthah m Biblical
Means "he opens" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this name belongs to a ruling judge. He successfully defended Israel from the Ammonites, but was then obliged to sacrifice his daughter because of a vow he had made.
Jerald m English
Variant of Gerald.
Jeremi m Polish
Polish form of Jeremiah.
Jeremias m German (Rare), Portuguese, Finnish
German, Portuguese and Finnish form of Jeremiah.
Jette f Danish
Danish short form of Henriette.
Jian m & f Chinese
From Chinese (jiàn) meaning "build, establish", (jiàn) meaning "strong, healthy", or other characters that are pronounced in a similar fashion.
Ji-Eun f Korean
From Sino-Korean (ji) meaning "branch, limb", (ji) meaning "know, perceive, comprehend" or (ji) meaning "will, purpose, ambition" combined with (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.
Ji-Hu m & f Korean
From Sino-Korean (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" combined with (hu) meaning "thick". Other combinations of hanja characters can form this name as well.
Ji-Hye f Korean
From a Sino-Korean compound meaning "wisdom", formed of the hanja characters (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" and (hye) meaning "bright, intelligent". This name can also be formed from other character combinations.
Jiřina f Czech
Feminine form of Jiří.
Jirō m Japanese
From Japanese (ji) meaning "two" and () meaning "son". This was traditionally a name given to the second son. Other combinations of kanji characters can also be possible.
Ji-Soo f & m Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 지수 (see Ji-Su).
Ji-Su f & m Korean
From Sino-Korean (ji) meaning "will, purpose, ambition" or (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" combined with (su) meaning "luxuriant, beautiful". Other hanja character combinations are possible.
Ji-Won f & m Korean
From Sino-Korean (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or (ji) meaning "will, purpose, ambition" combined with (won) meaning "beautiful woman" or (won) meaning "first, origin". This name can also be formed from many other hanja combinations.
Ji-Yeong f & m Korean
From Sino-Korean (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or (ji) meaning "know, perceive, comprehend" combined with (yeong) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero" or (yeong) meaning "glory, honour, flourish, prosper". Many other hanja character combinations are possible.
Joanna f English, Polish, Biblical
English and Polish form of Latin Iohanna, which was derived from Greek Ἰωάννα (Ioanna), the feminine form of Ioannes (see John). This is the spelling used in the English New Testament, where it belongs to a follower of Jesus who is regarded as a saint. In the Middle Ages in England it was used as a Latinized form of Joan (the usual feminine form of John) and it became common as a given name in the 19th century.
Joannes m Late Roman
Latin variant of Johannes.
Job m Biblical, Biblical French, Dutch
From the Hebrew name אִיּוֹב ('Iyyov), which means "persecuted, hated". In the Book of Job in the Old Testament he is a righteous man who is tested by God, enduring many tragedies and hardships while struggling to remain faithful.
Jocasta f Greek Mythology (Anglicized)
From the Greek name Ἰοκάστη (Iokaste), which is of unknown meaning. In Greek mythology she was the mother Oedipus by the Theban king Laius. In a case of tragic mistaken identity, she married her own son.
Joceline f French
French feminine form of Joscelin (see Jocelyn).
Jochem m Dutch
Dutch form of Joachim.
Johanan m Biblical
Form of Yochanan (see John) used in the English Old Testament, where is borne by several people including a military leader in the time of the prophet Jeremiah.
Johann m German
German form of Iohannes (see John). Famous bearers include German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), German novelist and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), and Austrian composers Johann Strauss the Elder (1804-1849) and his son Johann Strauss the Younger (1825-1899).
Jóhannes m Icelandic, Faroese
Icelandic and Faroese form of Iohannes (see John).
Johannes m German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian, Late Roman
Latin form of Greek Ioannes (see John). Notable bearers include the inventor of the printing press Johannes Gutenberg (1398-1468), astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), painter Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), and composer Johannes Brahms (1833-1897).
Jóna f Icelandic, Faroese
Icelandic and Faroese feminine form of John.
Jonie f English
Diminutive of Joan 1.
Joonas m Finnish, Estonian
Finnish and Estonian form of Jonas 2.
Joo-Won m & f Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 주원 (see Ju-Won).
Jorah m Biblical, Literature
From the Hebrew name יוֹרָה (Yorah) meaning either "he teaches" or "rain". This name is mentioned briefly in the Book of Ezra in the Old Testament. It was used by George R. R. Martin for a character in his fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire (first published 1996) and the television adaptation Game of Thrones (2011-2019). It is not known if Martin took the name from the Bible.
Jördis f German (Rare)
German form of Hjördis.
Jörg m German
German short form of Georg.
Joscelin m Old Norman
Norman form of Jocelyn.
Joseba m Basque
Basque form of Joseph.
Josefina f Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish
Spanish, Portuguese and Swedish feminine form of Joseph.
Josep m Catalan
Catalan form of Joseph.
Josey m & f English
Diminutive of Joseph or Josephine.
Josu m Basque
Basque form of Jesus.
Jovana f Serbian, Macedonian
Serbian and Macedonian feminine form of John.
Jovian m Ancient Roman (Anglicized)
From Latin Iovianus, a Roman cognomen that was a derivative of Iovis (see Jove). This was the name of a 4th-century Roman emperor.
Jozef m Slovak, Dutch, Albanian
Slovak, Dutch and Albanian form of Joseph.
József m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Joseph.
Juan Carlos m Spanish
Combination of Juan 1 and Carlos.
Juan Pablo m Spanish
Combination of Juan 1 and Pablo.
Jude 2 f English
Short form of Judith.
Judicaël m French, Breton
French form of the Old Breton name Iudicael, derived from the elements iudd "lord" and hael "generous". This was the name of a 7th-century Breton king, also regarded as a saint.
Judit f Hungarian, Spanish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German (Rare)
Form of Judith used in several languages.
Judita f Lithuanian, Czech, Slovak
Lithuanian, Czech and Slovak form of Judith.
Judite f Portuguese
Portuguese form of Judith.
Jules 1 m French
French form of Julius. A notable bearer of this name was the French novelist Jules Verne (1828-1905), author of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and other works of science fiction.
Julieta f Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Juliet.
Julius m Ancient Roman, English, German, Finnish, Lithuanian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Czech
From a Roman family name that was possibly derived from Greek ἴουλος (ioulos) meaning "downy-bearded". Alternatively, it could be related to the name of the Roman god Jupiter. This was a prominent patrician family of Rome, who claimed descent from the mythological Julus, son of Aeneas. Its most notable member was Gaius Julius Caesar, who gained renown as a military leader for his clever conquest of Gaul. After a civil war he became the dictator of the Roman Republic, but was eventually stabbed to death in the senate.... [more]
Julyan m English (Rare)
Medieval variant of Julian.
Junius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was possibly derived from the name of the Roman goddess Juno. It was borne by Lucius Junius Brutus, the founder of the Roman Republic in the 6th century BC. It was also borne by the 1st-century BC Roman politician Marcus Junius Brutus, commonly known as Brutus, who was one of the assassins of Julius Caesar.
Junpei m Japanese
From Japanese (jun) or (jun) both meaning "pure" combined with (pei) meaning "level, even, peaceful". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Juris m Latvian
Latvian form of George.
Juste m French
French form of Justus.
Justinian m History
From the Latin name Iustinianus, which was derived from Iustinus (see Justin). This was the name of a 6th-century Byzantine emperor who attempted to restore the borders of the Roman Empire.
Jyotsana f Hindi
Variant of Jyotsna.
Kaan m Turkish
Variant of Kağan.
Kağan m Turkish
From a Turkish title meaning "king, ruler", ultimately of Mongolian origin. The title is usually translated into English as Khan.
Kai 4 m Chinese
From Chinese (kǎi) meaning "triumph, victory, music of triumph", as well as other characters pronounced in a similar way.
Kaipo m & f Hawaiian
Means "the sweetheart" from Hawaiian ka, a definite article, and ipo "sweetheart".
Kaja 2 f Polish, Slovene
Variant of Gaja 1.
Kalei m & f Hawaiian
Means "the flowers" or "the child" from Hawaiian ka "the" and lei "flowers, lei, child".
Kalev 1 m Estonian
Estonian form of Kaleva. This is the name of a character (the father of Kalevipoeg) in the Estonian epic poem Kalevipoeg.
Kaleva m Finnish, Finnish Mythology
From the name of the mythological ancestor of the Finns, which is of unknown meaning. The name of the Finnish epic the Kalevala means "the land of Kaleva".
Kalin m Bulgarian
Masculine form of Kalina.
Kallias m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek κάλλος (kallos) meaning "beauty". This was the name of an Athenian who fought at Marathon who later became an ambassador to the Persians.
Kalliope f Greek Mythology
Means "beautiful voice" from Greek κάλλος (kallos) meaning "beauty" and ὄψ (ops) meaning "voice". In Greek mythology she was a goddess of epic poetry and eloquence, one of the nine Muses.
Kallistrate f Ancient Greek
Means "beautiful army" from the Greek elements κάλλος (kallos) meaning "beauty" and στρατός (stratos) meaning "army".
Kaloyan m Bulgarian
From Greek καλός Ἰωάννης (kalos Ioannes) meaning "handsome John", the nickname of a 13th-century emperor of Bulgaria. He successfully defended the empire from the Fourth Crusade.
Kalpana f Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Nepali
Means "imagining, fantasy" in Sanskrit.
Kamaria f Comorian
From Arabic qamar meaning "moon", also the root of the name of the island country of the Comoros.
Kaolin m English (Rare)
Anglicized form of Caolán. This is also the name of a type of clay.
Kapil m Hindi, Marathi
Modern form of Kapila.
Kapono m Hawaiian
Means "the good one" from Hawaiian ka, a definite article, and pono "good, moral".
Karna m Hinduism
Derived from Sanskrit कर्ण (karna) meaning "ear". This is the name of the son of the Hindu sun god Surya and the goddess Kunti, who gave birth to him through her ear. He was a great warrior who joined the Kauravas to fight against his half-brothers the Pandavas, eventually becoming the king of Anga.
Karolína f Czech, Slovak
Czech and Slovak feminine form of Carolus.
Kasimir m German (Rare)
German form of Casimir.
Kaspar m German, Estonian
German and Estonian form of Jasper.
Katar f Armenian
Means "summit, crest" in Armenian.
Katayoun f Persian, Persian Mythology
Meaning unknown. This is the name of the wife of King Goshtasb in the 10th-century Persian epic the Shahnameh.
Kateri f History
From the Mohawk pronunciation of Katherine. This was the name adopted by the 17th-century Mohawk saint Tekakwitha upon her baptism.
Katharine f English, German
English variant of Katherine and German variant of Katharina. A famous bearer was American actress Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003).
Katherine f English
From the Greek name Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterine). The etymology is debated: it could derive from an earlier Greek name Ἑκατερινη (Hekaterine), itself from ἑκάτερος (hekateros) meaning "each of the two"; it could derive from the name of the goddess Hecate; it could be related to Greek αἰκία (aikia) meaning "torture"; or it could be from a Coptic name meaning "my consecration of your name". In the early Christian era it became associated with Greek καθαρός (katharos) meaning "pure", and the Latin spelling was changed from Katerina to Katharina to reflect this.... [more]
Katniss f Literature
From the English word katniss, the name of a variety of edible aquatic flowering plants (genus Sagittaria). Katniss Everdeen is the protagonist of The Hunger Games series of novels by Suzanne Collins, released 2008 to 2010, about a young woman forced to participate in a violent televised battle.
Katrien f Dutch
Dutch (especially Flemish) form of Katherine.
Katrīna f Latvian
Latvian form of Katherine.
Katrine f Danish, Norwegian
Danish and Norwegian contracted form of Katherine.
Katsiaryna f Belarusian
Belarusian form of Katherine.
Katsuhito m Japanese
From Japanese (katsu) meaning "victory" or (katsu) meaning "overcome" combined with (hito) meaning "person" or (hito) meaning "compassionate". Other kanji characters can combine to form this name as well.
Katsuo m Japanese
From Japanese (katsu) meaning "victory" and (o) meaning "hero, manly". Other combinations of kanji are also possible.
Katsurō m Japanese
From Japanese (katsu) meaning "victory" and () meaning "son". Different kanji characters can combine to form this name as well.
Kattalin f Basque
Basque form of Katherine.
Kauko m Finnish
Means "far away" in Finnish.
Kavi m Hindi
From a title for a poet, meaning "wise man, sage, poet" in Sanskrit.
Kazik m Polish
Diminutive of Kazimierz.
Kazimiera f Polish, Lithuanian
Feminine form of Kazimierz (Polish) or Kazimieras (Lithuanian).
Kazimierz m Polish
Polish form of Casimir.
Kazimír m Czech (Rare), Slovak (Rare)
Czech and Slovak form of Casimir.
Kazimir m Croatian, Slovene, Russian
Croatian, Slovene and Russian form of Casimir.
Kázmér m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Casimir.
Kazuko f Japanese
From Japanese (kazu) meaning "one" or (kazu) meaning "harmony, peace" combined with (ko) meaning "child". This name can also be formed from other kanji combinations.
Kazuya m Japanese
From Japanese (kazu) meaning "one" or (kazu) meaning "harmony, peace" combined with (ya) meaning "to be, also". Other combinations of kanji can form this name as well.
Keahi f & m Hawaiian
Means "the fire" from Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and ahi "fire".
Kei m & f Japanese
From Japanese (kei) meaning "intelligent", (kei) meaning "gemstone" or (kei) meaning "celebration". This name can also be formed from other kanji or kanji combinations.
Kelemen m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Clement.
Kelila f Hebrew
From Hebrew כְּלִיל (kelil) meaning "crown, wreath".
Kellan m English (Modern)
Variant of Kellen. This particular spelling jumped in popularity after actor Kellan Lutz (1985-) appeared in the Twilight series of movies beginning 2008.
Kelvin m English
From the name of a Scottish river, perhaps meaning "narrow water". As a title it was borne by the Irish-Scottish physicist William Thomson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907), who acquired his title from the river.
Kenelm m English (Rare)
From the Old English name Cenhelm, which was composed of the elements cene "bold, keen" and helm "helmet". Saint Kenelm was a 9th-century martyr from Mercia, where he was a member of the royal family. The name was occasionally used during the Middle Ages, but has since become rare.
Ken'ichi m Japanese
From Japanese (ken) meaning "healthy, strong" or (ken) meaning "study, sharpen" combined with (ichi) meaning "one". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Kennard m English (Rare)
From a surname that was derived from the Old English given names Cyneweard or Cyneheard.
Kenshin m Japanese
From Japanese (ken) meaning "humble, modest" and (shin) meaning "trust, believe". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Kentigern m History (Ecclesiastical)
From a Brythonic name in which the second element is Celtic *tigernos "lord, ruler". The first element may be *kentus "first" or * "dog, hound" (genitive *kunos). This was the name of a 6th-century saint from the Kingdom of Strathclyde. He is the patron saint of Glasgow.
Kenzo m Japanese, French (Modern)
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 謙三 or 健三 or 賢三 (see Kenzō). Use of the name in France can probably be attributed to the fashion brand Kenzo, founded in 1970 by the Japanese-French designer Kenzō Takada (1939-2020).
Khachatur m Armenian
Means "given by the cross" in Armenian.
Khadijah f Arabic, Malay
Alternate transcription of Arabic خديجة (see Khadija), as well as the usual Malay form.
Khaleel m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic خليل (see Khalil).
Khaliq m Arabic
Means "creator" in Arabic. In Islamic tradition الخليق (al-Khaliq) is one of the 99 names of Allah.
Khánh m & f Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese (khánh) meaning "congratulate, celebrate".
Khayri m Arabic
Means "charitable" in Arabic.
Khushi f Hindi
Means "happiness" in Hindi, ultimately from Persian خوشی (khushi).
Kimimela f Sioux
From Lakota kimímela meaning "butterfly".
Kimo m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of James.
Kinborough f Medieval English
Middle English form of Cyneburg.
Kíra f Hungarian
Hungarian feminine form of Cyrus.
Kirstine f Danish
Danish form of Christina.
Kistiñe f Basque
Basque form of Christina.
Kjellfrid f Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Ketilríðr, derived from the elements ketill meaning "kettle" and fríðr meaning "beautiful, beloved".
Klaus m German, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish
German short form of Nicholas, now used independently.
Klemens m German, Polish
German and Polish form of Clemens (see Clement). Prince Klemens Metternich (1773-1859) was an Austrian chancellor who guided the Austrian Empire to victory in the Napoleonic Wars.
Klementyna f Polish
Polish form of Clementina.
Kliment m Russian, Bulgarian, Macedonian
Russian, Bulgarian and Macedonian form of Clemens (see Clement).
Koharu f Japanese
From Japanese (ko) meaning "small" or (ko) meaning "heart" combined with (haru) meaning "spring". The compound word 小春 means "late summer". Other combinations of kanji characters can form this name as well.
Koios m Greek Mythology
Possibly derived from Greek κοῖος (koios), also spelled ποῖος (poios), a questioning word meaning approximately "of what kind?". This was the name of a Titan god of intelligence in Greek mythology.
Konrád m Hungarian, Czech, Slovak
Hungarian, Czech and Slovak form of Conrad.
Konrad m German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Slovene
German, Scandinavian, Polish and Slovene form of Conrad.
Konstantina f Greek
Greek feminine form of Constantinus (see Constantine).
Konstantinos m Greek
Greek form of Constantinus (see Constantine).
Koppel m Yiddish
Yiddish diminutive of Jacob.
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.
Korbinian m German
Derived from Latin corvus meaning "raven". This was the name of an 8th-century Frankish saint who was sent by Pope Gregory II to evangelize in Bavaria. His real name may have been Hraban.
Korë f Greek Mythology
Alternate transcription of Ancient Greek Κόρη (see Kore).
Korinna f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Corinna.
Kornélia f Hungarian, Slovak
Hungarian and Slovak form of Cornelia.
Kornelia f German, Polish
German and Polish form of Cornelia.
Kostadin m Bulgarian, Macedonian
Bulgarian and Macedonian variant of Konstantin.
Kostas m Greek, Lithuanian
Greek short form of Konstantinos and Lithuanian short form of Konstantinas.
Kostyantyn m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Constantine.
Kotone f Japanese
From Japanese (koto), which refers to a type of musical instrument similar to a harp, combined with (ne) meaning "sound". Other kanji combinations are also possible.
Kourosh m Persian
Modern Persian form of Cyrus.
Kouta m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 康太 (see Kōta).
Krešimir m Croatian
From the Slavic elements krěsiti "to spark, to flare up, to bring to life, to resurrect" and mirŭ "peace, world". This was the name of four kings of Croatia in the 10th and 11th centuries. Their names were recorded in Latin as Cresimirus.
Kriemhild f German (Rare), Germanic Mythology
Derived from the Old German elements grimo "mask" and hilt "battle". Kriemhild was a beautiful heroine in the medieval German saga the Nibelungenlied, where she is the sister of Gunther and the wife of Siegfried. After her husband is killed by Hagen with the consent of Gunther, Kriemhild tragically exacts her revenge. She is called Gudrun in Norse versions of the tale.
Kristiāna f Latvian
Latvian form of Christina.
Kristóf m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Christopher.
Kristofer m Swedish
Swedish variant form of Christopher.
Kristupas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Christopher.
Kryštof m Czech
Czech form of Christopher.
Krzysztof m Polish
Polish form of Christopher.
Ksenija f Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Slovene, Latvian
Form of Xenia in several languages.
Kseniya f Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian
Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian form of Xenia.
Ksyusha f Russian
Diminutive of Kseniya.
Kuro m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 九郎 (see Kurō).
Kynaston m English (Rare)
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "Cynefrið's town" in Old English.
Kyōko f Japanese
From Japanese (kyō) meaning "capital city" or (kyō) meaning "respectful, polite" combined with (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.
Kyoko f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 京子 or 恭子 (see Kyōko).
Kyung m & f Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul (see Gyeong).
Lachesis f Greek Mythology
Means "apportioner" in Greek. She was one of the three Fates or Μοῖραι (Moirai) in Greek mythology. She was responsible for deciding how long each person had to live.
Laelius m Ancient Roman
Masculine form of Laelia.
Laëtitia f French
French form of Laetitia.
Lajos m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Louis. It was borne by two Hungarian kings, starting with the 14th-century Lajos I the Great, who was named after his French uncle.
Lakshmi f & m Hinduism, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Hindi, Odia
Means "sign, mark" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Hindu goddess of prosperity, good luck, and beauty. She is the wife of Vishnu and her symbol is the lotus flower, with which she is often depicted.
Lale f Turkish
Means "tulip" in Turkish, of Persian origin.
Lamia 1 f Arabic
Means "shining, radiant" in Arabic.
Lamia 2 f Greek Mythology
Possibly from Greek λαιμός (laimos) meaning "throat". In Greek mythology this is the name of a queen of Libya who was a mistress of Zeus. Hera, being jealous, kills Lamia's children, causing her to go mad and transform into a monster that hunts the children of others.
Larkin m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Laurence 1.
Larrie m English
Diminutive of Laurence 1.
Larry m English
Diminutive of Laurence 1. A notable bearer is former basketball player Larry Bird (1956-).
Lasha m Georgian
Possibly from a Northwest Caucasian word meaning "light". This was a name of Giorgi IV, a 13th-century king of Georgia.
László m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Vladislav. Saint László was an 11th-century king of Hungary, looked upon as the embodiment of Christian virtue and bravery.
Laurence 1 m English
From the Roman cognomen Laurentius, which meant "from Laurentum". Laurentum was a city in ancient Italy, its name probably deriving from Latin laurus "laurel". Saint Laurence was a 3rd-century deacon and martyr from Rome. According to tradition he was roasted alive on a gridiron because, when ordered to hand over the church's treasures, he presented the sick and poor. Due to the saint's popularity, the name came into general use in the Christian world (in various spellings).... [more]
Laurence 2 f French
French feminine form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Laurentia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Laurits m Danish, Norwegian
Danish and Norwegian form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Laurus m Late Roman
Original masculine form of Laura.
Lavinia f Roman Mythology, Romanian, Italian
Meaning unknown, probably of Etruscan origin. In Roman legend Lavinia was the daughter of King Latinus, the wife of Aeneas, and the ancestor of the Roman people. According to the legend Aeneas named the town of Lavinium in honour of his wife.
Lavrentiy m Russian
Russian form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lavrenty m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Лаврентий (see Lavrentiy).
Lawrence m English
Variant of Laurence 1. This spelling of the name is now more common than Laurence in the English-speaking world, probably because Lawrence is the usual spelling of the surname. The surname was borne by the author and poet D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930), as well as the revolutionary T. E. Lawrence (1888-1935), who was known as Lawrence of Arabia.
Lazarus m Biblical, Biblical Latin, English (African)
Latinized form of Λάζαρος (Lazaros), a Greek form of Eleazar used in the New Testament. Lazarus was a man from Bethany, the brother of Mary and Martha, who was restored to life by Jesus.... [more]
Leander m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Λέανδρος (Leandros), derived from λέων (leon) meaning "lion" and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός). In Greek legend Leander was the lover of Hero. Every night he swam across the Hellespont to meet her, but on one occasion he was drowned when a storm arose. When Hero saw his dead body she threw herself into the waters and perished.
Leia f Biblical Greek, Portuguese, Popular Culture
Form of Leah used in the Greek Old Testament, as well as a Portuguese form. This is the name of a princess in the Star Wars movies by George Lucas, who probably based it on Leah.
Lejla f Bosnian
Bosnian form of Layla.
Lemminkäinen m Finnish Mythology
Meaning unknown, possibly related to Finnish lempi "love". In the Finnish epic the Kalevala this is the name of an arrogant hero. After he was killed his mother fetched his body from the River of Death and restored him to life. He is sometimes identified with the god Ahti.
Lenart m Slovene
Slovene form of Leonard.
Lennox m & f English (Modern)
From a Scottish surname that was derived from the name of a district in Scotland. The district, called Leamhnachd in Gaelic, possibly means "place of elms". This name steadily rose in popularity in the 2000s, at the same time as the similar-sounding (but unrelated) names Lennon and Knox.
Lenore f English
Short form of Eleanor. This is the name of the departed love of the narrator in Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven (1845).
Lenuța f Romanian
Romanian diminutive of Elena.
Leocadia f Spanish, Late Roman
Late Latin name that might be derived from the name of the Greek island of Leucadia or from Greek λευκός (leukos) meaning "bright, clear, white" (which is also the root of the island's name). Saint Leocadia was a 3rd-century martyr from Spain.
Leocadio m Spanish
Masculine form of Leocadia.
Leofric m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English element leof "dear, beloved" combined with ric "ruler, king".
Leofstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English element leof "dear, beloved" combined with stan "stone".
Leolin m Welsh
Anglicized form of Llywelyn influenced by Latin leo "lion".
Léon m French
French form of Leon (used to refer to the popes named Leo).
Léonard m French
French form of Leonard.
Leonard m English, Dutch, German, Polish, Romanian, Germanic
Means "brave lion", derived from the Old German elements lewo "lion" (of Latin origin) and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy". This was the name of a 6th-century Frankish saint from Noblac who is the patron of prisoners and horses. The Normans brought this name to England, where it was used steadily through the Middle Ages, becoming even more common in the 20th century.
Leonardo m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
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 known as the inventor of several contraptions, including flying machines, as well as the painter of the Mona Lisa. Another famous bearer was Leonardo Fibonacci, a 13th-century Italian mathematician. A more recent bearer is American actor Leonardo DiCaprio (1974-).