Names Sounding like *s

This is a list of names in which the sound is *s.
gender
usage
sound
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.
Kayce m & f English (Modern)
Variant of Casey or Case (depending on the pronunciation). It was popularized by the character Kayce Dutton (pronounced like Casey) from the television series Yellowstone (2018-2024).
Kazimieras m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Casimir.
Kazys m Lithuanian
Short form of Kazimieras.
Kees m Dutch
Dutch diminutive of Cornelis. A notable bearer was the Dutch painter Kees van Dongen (1877-1968).
Kęstutis m Lithuanian
From Lithuanian kęsti meaning "to cope, to endure" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of a 14th-century ruler of Lithuania.
Khamis m Arabic
Means "Thursday" in Arabic.
Klaas m Dutch, Low German
Dutch and Low German short form of Nicholas.
Klaos m Limburgish
Limburgish short form of Nicholas.
Klas m Swedish
Swedish short form of Nicholas.
Klaus m German, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish
German short form of Nicholas, now used independently.
Kleisthenes m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Cleisthenes.
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.
Knox m English
From a Scots surname that was derived from various places named Knock, from Gaelic cnoc "round hill". It jumped in popularity after the actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt had a baby by this name in 2008.
Kobus m Dutch
Short form of Jacobus.
Konstantinas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Constantinus (see Constantine 1).
Konstantinos m Greek
Greek form of Constantinus (see Constantine 1).
Koos m Dutch
Diminutive of Jacob.
Koronis f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek κορώνη (korone) meaning "crow". This was the name of several figures from Greek mythology, including the mother of the god Asklepios.
Kostakis m Greek
Diminutive of Konstantinos.
Kostas m Greek, Lithuanian
Greek short form of Konstantinos and Lithuanian short form of Konstantinas.
Kostis m Greek
Short form of Konstantinos.
Kris m & f English, Flemish, Danish
Short form of Kristian, Kristoffer and other names beginning with Kris.
Kronos m Greek Mythology
Greek form of Cronus.
Kurtis m English
Variant of Curtis.
Labhrás m Irish
Irish form of Laurence 1.
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.
Ladislas m French
French form of Vladislav.
Ladislaus m Medieval Slavic (Latinized)
Medieval Latinized form of Vladislav.
Laelius m Ancient Roman
Masculine form of Laelia.
Laertes m Greek Mythology
Means "gatherer of the people" in Greek. This is the name of the father of Odysseus in Greek mythology. It was later utilized by Shakespeare for a character in his tragedy Hamlet (1600), in which he is the son of Polonius. His ultimate duel with Hamlet leads to both of their deaths.
Lamis f Arabic
Means "soft" in Arabic.
Lance m English
From the Germanic name Lanzo, originally a short form of names that began with the Old Frankish or Old Saxon element land, Old High German lant meaning "land" (Proto-Germanic *landą). During the Middle Ages it became associated with Old French lance meaning "spear, lance". A famous bearer is American cyclist Lance Armstrong (1971-).
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).
Laurens m Dutch
Dutch form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Laurentius m Ancient Roman, Dutch
Latin form of Laurence 1. As a Dutch name, it is used on birth certificates though a vernacular form such as Laurens is typically used in daily life.
Laurenz m German
German form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lavrentios m Greek
Greek form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
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]
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.
Lenox m English (Rare)
From a surname that was a variant of Lennox.
Lenz m German
Short form of Lorenz. This is also a German poetic word referring to the springtime.
Leonardas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Leonard.
Leonas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Leon.
Léonce m & f French
French form of Leontios, also used as a feminine name.
Les m English
Short form of Leslie or Lester.
Lewis m English
Medieval English form of Louis. A famous bearer was Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This was also the surname of C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), the author of the Chronicles of Narnia series.
Lex m English, Dutch
Short form of Alexander.
Lexus f English
Short form of Alexus. Its use has been influenced by the Lexus brand name (a line of luxury automobiles made by Toyota).
Lies f German, Dutch
German and Dutch diminutive of Elisabeth.
Liis f Estonian
Estonian short form of Eliisabet.
Linus m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized), Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German
From the Greek name Λίνος (Linos) meaning "flax". In Greek legend he was the son of the god Apollo, who accidentally killed him in a contest. Another son of Apollo by this name was the music teacher of Herakles. The name was also borne by the second pope, serving after Saint Peter in the 1st century. In modern times this was the name of a character in Charles Schulz's comic strip Peanuts.
Llinos f Welsh
Means "linnet, finch" in Welsh. The linnet (species Linaria cannabina) is a small European bird in the finch family.
Llorenç m Catalan
Catalan form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lluís m Catalan
Catalan form of Louis.
Loes f Dutch
Feminine diminutive of Lodewijk.
Lois 1 f English, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Possibly derived from Greek λωίων (loion) meaning "more desirable" or "better". Lois is mentioned in the New Testament as the mother of Eunice and the grandmother of Timothy. As an English name, it came into use after the Protestant Reformation. In fiction, this is the name of the girlfriend of the comic book hero Superman.
Lois 2 m Galician
Galician form of Louis.
Lorenz m German
German form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lőrinc m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lotus f English (Rare)
From the name of the lotus flower (species Nelumbo nucifera) or the mythological lotus tree. They are ultimately derived from Greek λωτός (lotos). In Greek and Roman mythology the lotus tree was said to produce a fruit causing sleepiness and forgetfulness.
Louis m French, English, Dutch
French form of Ludovicus, the Latinized form of Ludwig. This was the name of 18 kings of France, starting with Louis I the son of Charlemagne. Others include Louis IX (Saint Louis) who led two crusades and Louis XIV (called the Sun King) who was the ruler of France during the height of its power, the builder of the Palace of Versailles, and the longest reigning monarch in the history of Europe. It was also borne by kings of Germany (as Ludwig), Hungary (as Lajos), and other places.... [more]
Loukas m Biblical Greek, Greek
Original Greek form of Luke.
Lourdes f Spanish, Portuguese
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.
Lourens m Frisian, Dutch
Frisian form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lovis f Swedish
Variant of Lovisa.
Lucas m English, Dutch, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Biblical Latin
Latin form of Greek Λουκᾶς (see Luke), as well as the form used in several other languages.... [more]
Luce f Italian, French
Italian and French variant of Lucia. This also means "light" in Italian.
Lucius m Ancient Roman, Biblical, English
Roman praenomen, or given name, which was derived from Latin lux "light". This was the most popular of the praenomina. Two Etruscan kings of early Rome had this name as well as several prominent later Romans, including Lucius Annaeus Seneca (known simply as Seneca), a statesman, philosopher, orator and tragedian. The name is mentioned briefly in the New Testament belonging to a Christian in Antioch. It was also borne by three popes, including the 3rd-century Saint Lucius. Despite this, the name was not regularly used in the Christian world until after the Renaissance.
Lucrèce f & m French
French form of both Lucretia and its masculine form Lucretius.
Lucretius m Ancient Roman
Masculine form of Lucretia. This name was borne by 1st-century BC Roman poet Titus Lucretius Carus.
Ludovicus m Germanic (Latinized), Dutch
Latinized form of Hludwig (see Ludwig). This form is also used as a baptismal name by Dutch and Flemish speakers, though it is commonly rendered Lodewijk in daily life.
Luís m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Louis.
Luis m Spanish
Spanish form of Louis.
Lukas m German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Lithuanian
German, Scandinavian, Dutch and Lithuanian form of Lucas (see Luke). This was the most popular name for boys in Germany, Austria and Lithuania in some years of the 1990s and 2000s.
Lutz m German
German diminutive of Ludwig.
Luukas m Finnish
Finnish form of Lucas (see Luke).
Luus f Dutch (Rare)
Dutch variant of Lucia.
Lux f & m Various
Derived from Latin lux meaning "light".
Luz f Spanish
Means "light" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Luz, meaning "Our Lady of Light".
Lys f French (Rare)
Diminutive of Élisabeth. It is also the French word for "lily".
Maas m Dutch
Dutch short form of Thomas.
Maddox m English (Modern)
From 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.
Mads m Danish
Danish short form of Mathias.
Maëlys f French
Feminine form of Maël, possibly influenced by the spelling of Mailys.
Magnus m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "great". It was borne by a 7th-century saint who was a missionary in Germany. It became popular in Scandinavia after the time of the 11th-century Norwegian king Magnus I, who was said to have been named after Charlemagne, or Carolus Magnus in Latin (however there was also a Norse name Magni). The name was borne by six subsequent kings of Norway as well as three kings of Sweden. It was imported to Scotland and Ireland during the Middle Ages.
Mailys f French
Variant of Maylis.
Mannes m Dutch
Dutch short form of Hermannus.
Måns m Swedish
Swedish variant of Magnus.
Marcellus m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was originally a diminutive of Marcus. This was the name of two popes.
Marcos m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Marcus (see Mark).
Marcus m Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Roman praenomen, or given name, that 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.
Margus m Estonian
Estonian form of Marcus (see Mark).
María Ángeles f Spanish
Combination of María and Ángeles.
María Cruz f Spanish
Combination of María and Cruz.
María de Jesús f Spanish
Means "Mary (the mother) of Jesus" in Spanish, a compound of María and Jesús.
María de la Cruz f Spanish
Means "Mary of the cross" in Spanish, a devotional title of the Virgin Mary.
María de la Luz f Spanish
Means "Mary of the light" in Spanish, a devotional title of the Virgin Mary.
María de las Mercedes f Spanish
Means "Mary of mercies" in Spanish, a devotional title of the Virgin Mary.
María de los Ángeles f Spanish
Means "Mary of the angels" in Spanish, a devotional title of the Virgin Mary.
María de los Dolores f Spanish
Means "Mary of sorrows" in Spanish, a devotional title of the Virgin Mary.
María Dolores f Spanish
Combination of María and Dolores.
María Jesús f Spanish
Combination of María and Jesús.
María Lourdes f Spanish
Combination of María and Lourdes.
María Mercedes f Spanish
Combination of María and Mercedes.
María Nieves f Spanish
Combination of María and Nieves.
Marie-France f French
Combination of Marie and France 1.
Marinos m Greek
Greek form of Marinus.
Marinus m Ancient Roman, Dutch
From the Roman family name Marinus, which derives either from the name Marius or from the Latin word marinus "of the sea". Saint Marinus was a 4th-century stonemason who built a chapel on Monte Titano, in the country that is today known as San Marino.
Maris 2 f English (Rare)
Means "of the sea", taken from the Latin title of the Virgin Mary, Stella Maris, meaning "star of the sea".
Marius m Ancient Roman, Romanian, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, French, Lithuanian
Roman family name that was derived either from Mars, the name of the Roman god of War, or else from the Latin root mas, maris meaning "male". Gaius Marius was a famous Roman consul of the 2nd century BC. Since the start of the Christian era, it has occasionally been used as a masculine form of Maria.
Markus m German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian
German, Scandinavian, Finnish and Estonian form of Marcus (see Mark).
Marlies f German, Dutch
Combination of Maria and Lies.
Marloes f Dutch
Combination of Maria and Loes.
Marnix m Dutch
From a Dutch surname, derived from the name of a village in Savoy, France. It is given in honour of the Flemish and Dutch statesman Philips of Marnix (1540-1598), also a notable writer.
Marquis m African American
From a noble title that derives from the Old French word marche meaning "march, borderland". The title originally referred to someone who ruled on the borderlands of a realm.
Mars m Roman Mythology
Possibly related to Latin mas meaning "male" (genitive maris). In Roman mythology Mars was the god of war, often equated with the Greek god Ares. This is also the name of the fourth planet in the solar system.
Martinus m Ancient Roman, Dutch
Original Latin form of Martin. This is also the official Dutch form of the name, used on birth certificates but commonly rendered Maarten or Marten in daily life.
Mateus m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Matthew.
Matevos m Armenian (Rare)
Armenian form of Matthew.
Mathijs m Dutch
Dutch form of Matthias.
Mathis m German, French
German and French variant of Matthias.
Mathys m French (Modern)
French variant of Matthias.
Matías m Spanish
Spanish form of Matthias.
Matias m Finnish, Portuguese
Finnish and Portuguese form of Matthias.
Matis m French (Modern)
French variant of Matthias.
Mats m Swedish, Norwegian
Swedish and Norwegian short form of Matthias.
Matteus m Swedish, Norwegian
Swedish and Norwegian form of Matthew, used to refer to the evangelist and apostle also known as Levi.
Matthäus m German (Rare)
German form of Matthew, used to refer to the evangelist and apostle also known as Levi.
Mattheos m Greek
Modern Greek form of Matthaios.
Matthias m German, French, Dutch, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
From Greek Ματθίας (Matthias), a variant of Ματθαῖος (see Matthew). This form appears in the New Testament as the name of the apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot. This was also the name of kings of Hungary (spelled Mátyás in Hungarian), including Matthias I who made important reforms to the kingdom in the 15th century.
Matthijs m Dutch
Dutch form of Matthias.
Mattias m Swedish, Estonian
Swedish and Estonian form of Matthias.
Mattis m Norwegian, Swedish, German
Norwegian, Swedish and German variant of Matthias.
Matts m Swedish
Variant of Mats.
Maurice m French, English
From the Roman name Mauritius, a derivative of Maurus. Saint Maurice was a 3rd-century Roman soldier from Egypt. He and the other Christians in his legion were supposedly massacred on the orders of Emperor Maximian for refusing to worship Roman gods. Thus, he is the patron saint of infantry soldiers.... [more]
Maurits m Dutch
Dutch form of Maurice.
Mavis f English
From the name of the type of bird, also called the song thrush, derived from Old French mauvis, of uncertain origin. It was first used as a given name by the British author Marie Corelli, who used it for a character in her novel The Sorrows of Satan (1895).
Max m German, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Dutch, Czech, Russian, French, Catalan
Short form of Maximilian or Maxim. In English it can also be short for Maxwell, and it coincides with the informal word max, short for maximum.... [more]
Maxence m French
French form of the Roman name Maxentius, a derivative of Latin maximus "greatest". This was the agnomen of an early 4th-century Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius, a rival of Constantine. It was also borne by a 6th-century saint from Agde in France.
Maximus m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from Latin maximus "greatest". Saint Maximus was a monk and theologian from Constantinople in the 7th century.
Maylis f French
From the name of a town in southern France, said to derive from Occitan mair "mother" and French lys "lily". It is also sometimes considered a combination of Marie and lys.
Mečislovas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Mieczysław.
Mees m Dutch
Short form of Bartholomeus.
Melis f Turkish
Turkish form of Melissa.
Memphis m & f English (Modern)
From the name of an important city of ancient Egypt, or the city in Tennessee that was named after it. It is derived from a Greek form of Egyptian mn-nfr meaning "enduring beauty".
Menelaus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Μενέλαος (Menelaos), derived either from μένω (meno) meaning "to stay, to last" or μένος (menos) meaning "mind, strength, force" combined with λαός (laos) meaning "people". In Greek legend he was a king of Sparta and the husband of Helen. When his wife was taken by Paris, the Greeks led by his brother Agamemnon besieged the city of Troy in an effort to get her back. After the war Menelaus and Helen settled down to a happy life.
Mercedes f Spanish
Means "mercies" (that is, the plural of mercy), from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, meaning "Our Lady of Mercies". It is ultimately from the Latin word merces meaning "wages, reward", which in Vulgar Latin acquired the meaning "favour, pity".
Mercédesz f Hungarian
Hungarian form of Mercedes.
Methodius m Late Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Μεθόδιος (Methodios), derived from Greek μέθοδος (methodos) meaning "pursuit" or "method", ultimately from μετά (meta) meaning "with" and ὁδός (hodos) meaning "road, way, journey". Saint Methodius was a Greek missionary to the Slavs who developed the Cyrillic alphabet (with his brother Cyril) in order to translate the Bible into Slavic.
Michalis m Greek
Modern Greek variant of Michael.
Midas m Greek Mythology
Meaning unknown. In Greek myth Midas was a king of Phrygia in Asia Minor. He was granted a wish by the god Dionysos — that everything he touch be turned to gold.
Mies f & m Dutch
Dutch diminutive of Maria or Bartholomeus.
Milagros f Spanish
Means "miracles" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de los Milagros, which means "Our Lady of Miracles".
Minos m Greek Mythology
Possibly from a Cretan word or title meaning "king". This was the name of a king of Crete in Greek mythology. He was the son of Zeus and Europa. Because Minos had refused to sacrifice a certain bull to Poseidon, the god had caused his wife Pasiphaë to mate with the bull, which produced the half-bull creature called the Minotaur. Minos had Daedalus construct the Labyrinth to house the beast, but it was eventually slain by Theseus.
Miras m Kazakh
Means "legacy, inheritance" in Kazakh, from Arabic ميراث (mīrāth) via Turkish.
Moos m Dutch
Dutch short form of Mozes.
Móric m Hungarian (Archaic)
Hungarian form of Maurice.
Moritz m German
German form of Maurice.
Morpheus m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek μορφή (morphe) meaning "shape", referring to the shapes seen in dreams. In Greek mythology Morpheus was the god of dreams.
Morris m English, Medieval English
Usual medieval form of Maurice.
Moses m English, Jewish, Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name מֹשֶׁה (Moshe), which is most likely derived from Egyptian mes meaning "son". The meaning suggested in the Old Testament of "drew out" from Hebrew מָשָׁה (masha) is probably an invented etymology (see Exodus 2:10).... [more]
Moss m English (Archaic), Jewish
Medieval form of Moses.
Mouses m Biblical Greek
Greek form of Moses.
Mozes m Dutch
Dutch form of Moses.
Mykolas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Michael.
Nəfəs f Azerbaijani
Means "breath" in Azerbaijani, derived from Arabic نفس (nafas), ultimately related to the root نفس (nafusa) meaning "to be precious".
Nance f English
Short form of Nancy.
Narcís m Catalan
Catalan form of Narcissus. This is also the Catalan word for the narcissus flower.
Narcisse m & f French
French masculine and feminine form of Narcissus. This is also the French word for the narcissus flower.
Narcissus m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Late Roman, Biblical
Latinized form of Greek Νάρκισσος (Narkissos), possibly derived from νάρκη (narke) meaning "sleep, numbness". Narkissos was a beautiful youth in Greek mythology who stared at his own reflection for so long that he eventually died and was turned into the narcissus flower.... [more]
Narcyz m Polish
Polish form of Narcissus. This is also the Polish word for the narcissus flower.
Narges f Persian
Means "daffodil, narcissus" in Persian, ultimately derived from Greek (see Narcissus).
Nargis f Bengali, Urdu, Tajik
Bengali, Urdu and Tajik form of Narges.
Narkas f Bashkir
Bashkir form of Narges.
Nemesis f Greek Mythology
Means "distribution of what is due, righteous anger" in Greek. In Greek mythology Nemesis was the personification of vengeance and justice.
Nereus m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Derived from Greek νηρός (neros) meaning "water". In Greek myth this was the name of a god of the sea, the father of the Nereids. It is mentioned briefly in the New Testament, belonging to a Christian in Rome. This was also the name of a Roman saint of the 1st century, a member of the army, who was martyred with his companion Achilleus because they refused to execute Christians.
Nes f Dutch (Rare)
Dutch short form of Agnes.
Ness 2 f English
Short form of Vanessa.
Neus f Catalan
Catalan cognate of Nieves.
Nicholas m English
From the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos) meaning "victory of the people", derived from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and λαός (laos) meaning "people". Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop from Anatolia who, according to legend, saved the daughters of a poor man from lives of prostitution. He is the patron saint of children, sailors and merchants, as well as Greece and Russia. He formed the basis for the figure known as Santa Claus (created in the 19th century from Dutch Sinterklaas), the bringer of Christmas presents.... [more]
Nicodemus m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Νικόδημος (Nikodemos) meaning "victory of the people", derived from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and δῆμος (demos) meaning "the people". This is the name of a character in the New Testament who helps Joseph of Arimathea entomb Jesus.
Nicolaas m Dutch
Dutch form of Nicholas.
Nicolás m Spanish
Spanish form of Nicholas.
Nicolaus m German, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Nikolaos (see Nicholas). This form is also used in Germany as a variant of Nikolaus. A notable bearer was the German-speaking Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543). This was his Latin name; his German name was recorded in various spellings such as Niklas Koppernigk.
Niels 1 m Danish
Danish form of Nicholas. A famous bearer was Niels Bohr (1885-1962), a Danish physicist who investigated the structure of atoms.
Niels 2 m Dutch
Dutch short form of Cornelius.
Nieves f Spanish
Means "snows" in Spanish, derived from the title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora de las Nieves meaning "Our Lady of the Snows".
Nikolaas m Dutch (Rare)
Dutch variant of Nicolaas.
Nikolas m Greek, English
Variant of Nikolaos (Greek) or Nicholas (English).
Nikolasz m Hungarian (Modern)
Hungarian form of Nicholas. This form is a modern adaptation (based on the spelling in English or another foreign language), as opposed to the traditional form Miklós.
Nikolaus m German
German form of Nicholas.
Nikostratos m Ancient Greek
Means "army of victory" from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and στρατός (stratos) meaning "army". This was the name of a Roman saint martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian at the end of the 3rd century.
Nils m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Scandinavian form of Nicholas.
Nioclás m Irish
Irish form of Nicholas.
Norris m English
From an English surname, either Norris 1 or Norris 2.
Nostradamus m History
Latinized form of the surname of Michel de Nostredame (1503-1566), a French astrologer famous for his book of prophecies. The surname, meaning "our lady" in Old French, was acquired by his father upon his conversion from Judaism to Christianity.
Notos m Greek Mythology
Greek form of Notus.
Nox f Roman Mythology
Means "night" in Latin. Nox is the Roman goddess of the night, the equivalent of the Greek goddess Nyx.
Nyx f Greek Mythology
Means "night" in Greek. This was the name of the Greek goddess of the night, the daughter of Khaos and the wife of Erebos.
Oanez f Breton
Derived from Breton oan "lamb" (ultimately from Latin agnus) and used as a Breton form of Agnes.
Octavius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name derived from Latin octavus meaning "eighth". This was the original family name of the emperor Augustus (born Gaius Octavius). It was also rarely used as a Roman praenomen, or given name.
Odalis f & m Spanish (Latin American)
Possibly an elaboration of Odilia used in Latin America. In most countries it is a feminine name, but in the Dominican Republic it is commonly masculine.
Odysseus m Greek Mythology
Perhaps derived from Greek ὀδύσσομαι (odyssomai) meaning "to hate". In Greek legend Odysseus was one of the Greek heroes who fought in the Trojan War. In the Odyssey Homer relates Odysseus's misadventures on his way back to his kingdom and his wife Penelope.
Oedipus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Οἰδίπους (Oidipous), meaning "swollen foot" from οἰδέω (oideo) meaning "to swell" and πούς (pous) meaning "foot". In Greek mythology Oedipus was the son of the Theban king Laius and his wife Jocasta. Laius received a prophesy that he would be killed by his son, so he left the newborn to die of exposure. Oedipus was however rescued and raised in the home of the Corinthian king Polybus. After he had grown and learned of the same prophesy, Oedipus left Corinth so that he would not be a danger to Polybus, whom he assumed was his father. On the road to Delphi he chanced upon his real father Laius and slew him in a petty disagreement, thus fulfilling the prophecy. He then correctly answered the Sphinx's riddle, winning the now vacant throne of Thebes and marrying the widowed Queen Jocasta, his own mother. Years later they learned the truth of their relationship, prompting Jocasta to commit suicide and Oedipus to blind himself.
Onesimus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latinized form of the Greek name Ὀνήσιμος (Onesimos), which meant "beneficial, profitable". Saint Onesimus was an escaped slave of Philemon who met Saint Paul while in prison and was converted by him. Paul sent him back to Philemon carrying the epistle that appears in the New Testament.
Onyx m & f English
From the English word for the gemstone (a variety of chalcedony), which can be black, red or other colours. It is derived from Greek ὄνυξ (onyx) meaning "claw, nail".
Ophiuchus m Astronomy
Latinized form of Greek Ὀφιοῦχος (Ophiouchos) meaning "serpent bearer". This is the name of an equatorial constellation that depicts the god Asklepios holding a snake.
Orestes m Greek Mythology
Means "of the mountains", derived from Greek ὄρος (oros) meaning "mountain" and ἵστημι (histemi) meaning "to stand". In Greek myth he was the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. He killed his mother and her lover Aegisthus after they killed his father.
Orestis m Greek
Modern Greek form of Orestes.
Orpheus m Greek Mythology
Perhaps related to Greek ὄρφνη (orphne) meaning "the darkness of night". In Greek mythology Orpheus was a poet and musician who went to the underworld to retrieve his dead wife Eurydice. He succeeded in charming Hades with his lyre, and he was allowed to lead his wife out of the underworld on the condition that he not look back at her until they reached the surface. Unfortunately, just before they arrived his love for her overcame his will and he glanced back at her, causing her to be drawn back to Hades.
Oseas m Biblical Latin, Biblical Spanish
Form of Hoshea used in some versions of the Latin Bible.
Osiris m Egyptian Mythology (Hellenized)
Greek form of the Egyptian wsjr (reconstructed as Asar, Usir and other forms), which is of unknown meaning, possibly related to wsr "mighty" or jrt "eye". In Egyptian mythology Osiris was the god of fertility, agriculture, and the dead and served as the judge of the underworld. In one tale he was slain by his brother Seth, but restored to life by his wife Isis in order to conceive their son Horus, who would go on to avenge his father.
Otis m English
From an English surname that was derived from the medieval given name Ode, a cognate of Otto. In America it has been used in honour of the revolutionary James Otis (1725-1783).
Pace m English (Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from the Middle English word pace meaning "peace".
Pallas 1 f Greek Mythology
Probably derived from a Greek word meaning "maiden, young woman". This was an epithet of the Greek goddess Athena. According to some legends it was originally the name of a friend of the goddess. Athena accidentally killed her while sparring, so she took the name in honour of her friend.
Pallas 2 m Greek Mythology
Possibly derived from Greek πάλλω (pallo) meaning "to brandish". In Greek mythology this was the name of a Titan and several other characters. It was also the name of a female character, though her name is probably from a different source (see Pallas 1).
Panagiotakis m Greek
Diminutive of Panagiotis.
Panagiotis m Greek
From the Greek title of the Virgin Mary Παναγία (Panagia) meaning "all holy", derived from πᾶν (pan) meaning "all" combined with ἅγιος (hagios) meaning "devoted to the gods, sacred".
Pancras m English (Archaic)
Medieval English form of Pancratius. The relics of the 4th-century saint Pancratius were sent to England by Pope Gregory the Great, leading to the saint's veneration there.
Pantelis m Greek
Short form of Panteleimon.
Paris 1 m Greek Mythology
Meaning unknown, possibly of Luwian or Hittite origin. In Greek mythology he was the Trojan prince who kidnapped Helen and began the Trojan War. Though presented as a somewhat of a coward in the Iliad, he did manage to slay the great hero Achilles. He was himself eventually slain in battle by Philoctetes.
Paris 2 f Various
From the name of Paris, the capital city of France, which got its name from the Gaulish tribe known as the Parisii. In America the popularity of this name spiked up and then down between 2003 and 2006, around the time that the television personality and socialite Paris Hilton (1981-) was at the height of her fame.
Parris m & f English (Rare)
From an English surname that originally denoted a person who came from the French city of Paris (see Paris 2).
Paschalis m Late Roman, Greek
Latin and Greek form of Pascal.
Patience f English
From the English word patience, ultimately from Latin patientia, a derivative of pati "to suffer". This was one of the virtue names coined by the Puritans in the 17th century. It is now most commonly used in African countries where English is widely understood, such as Nigeria and Ghana.
Patrice 1 m French
French form of Patricius (see Patrick).
Patroclus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek Πάτροκλος (Patroklos) meaning "glory of the father", derived from πατήρ (pater) meaning "father" (genitive πατρός) and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". In Greek legend he was one of the heroes who fought against the Trojans. His death at the hands of Hector drew his friend Achilles back into the war.
Pavlos m Greek
Modern Greek form of Paul.
Pax f Roman Mythology
Means "peace" in Latin. In Roman mythology this was the name of the goddess of peace.
Paz 1 f Spanish
Means "peace" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Paz, meaning "Our Lady of Peace".
Peace f English (African)
From the English word peace, ultimately derived from Latin pax. This name is most common in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
Pegasus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Πήγασος (Pegasos), possibly either from πηγός (pegos) meaning "strong" or πηγαῖος (pegaios) meaning "from a water spring". In Greek mythology Pegasus was the winged horse that sprang from the blood of Medusa after she was killed by Perseus. There is a constellation in the northern sky named after the horse.
Perce m English
Short form of Percy.
Perseus m Greek Mythology
Possibly derived from Greek πέρθω (pertho) meaning "to destroy". In Greek mythology Perseus was a hero who was said to have founded the ancient city of Mycenae. He was the son of Zeus and Danaë. Mother and child were exiled by Danaë's father Acrisius, and Perseus was raised on the island of Seriphos. The king of the island compelled Perseus to kill the Gorgon Medusa, who was so ugly that anyone who gazed upon her was turned to stone. After obtaining winged sandals and other tools from the gods, he succeeded in his task by looking at Medusa in the reflection of his shield and slaying her in her sleep. On his return he defeated a sea monster in order to save Andromeda, who became his wife.
Petras m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Peter.
Petros m Greek, Armenian, Biblical Greek
Greek and Armenian form of Peter.
Petrus m Biblical Latin, Dutch
Latin form of Peter. As a Dutch name, it is used on birth certificates though a vernacular form such as Pieter is typically used in daily life.
Philetus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Greek name Φίλητος (Philetos) meaning "beloved". In the New Testament, Philetus is a heretic in the church at Ephesus denounced by Paul.
Phillis f English
Variant of Phyllis.
Phineas m Biblical
Variant of Phinehas used in some English versions of the Old Testament.
Phinehas m Biblical
Probably means "Nubian" from the Egyptian name Panhsj, though some believe it means "serpent's mouth" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament Phinehas is a grandson of Aaron who kills an Israelite because he is intimate with a Midianite woman, thus stopping a plague sent by God. Also in the Bible this is the son of Eli, killed in battle with the Philistines.
Phineus m Greek Mythology
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Greek φίνις (phinis), a variant of φήνη (phene) meaning "vulture". According to Greek mythology this was the name of a king of Thrace visited by Jason and the Argonauts.
Phobos m Greek Mythology
Means "fear, panic" in Greek. This was one of the sons of Ares in Greek mythology. Also, one of the moons of Mars bears this name.
Phoebus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Φοῖβος (Phoibos), which meant "bright, pure". This was an epithet of the Greek god Apollo.
Phoenix m & f English (Modern)
From the name of a beautiful immortal bird that appears in Egyptian and Greek mythology. After living for several centuries in the Arabian Desert, it would be consumed by fire and rise from its own ashes, with this cycle repeating every 500 years. The name of the bird was derived from Greek φοῖνιξ (phoinix) meaning "dark red".
Phrixus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Φρίξος (Phrixos) meaning "thrilling, causing shivers", derived from φρίξ (phrix) meaning "ripple, shiver". In Greek myth Phrixus was the son of Athamus and Nephele. He was to be sacrificed to Zeus, but he escaped with his sister Helle on the back of the ram with the Golden Fleece.
Phyliss f English
Variant of Phyllis.
Phyllis f Greek Mythology, English
Means "foliage" in Greek. In Greek mythology this was the name of a woman who killed herself out of love for Demophon and was subsequently transformed into an almond tree. It began to be used as a given name in England in the 16th century, though it was often confused with Felicia.
Piaras m Irish
Irish form of Piers.
Pierce m English
From an English surname that was derived from the given name Piers. In America this name slowly started to grow in popularity in 1982 when actor Pierce Brosnan (1953-) began starring on the television series Remington Steele.
Pijus m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Pius.
Pius m Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "pious, dutiful". This was the name of twelve popes.
Pleasance f English (Archaic)
From the medieval name Plaisance, which meant "pleasant" in Old French.
Poghos m Armenian
Armenian form of Paul.
Pollux m Roman Mythology
Roman form of Greek Πολυδεύκης (Polydeukes) meaning "very sweet", from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning "much" and δευκής (deukes) meaning "sweet". In mythology he was the twin brother of Castor and a son of Zeus. The constellation Gemini, which represents the two brothers, contains a star by this name.
Pompeius m Ancient Roman
Latin form of Pompey.