起英文名参考:英文名的含义
t h e e t y m o l o g y a n d h i s t o r y o f f i r s t n a m e s
English Names
The names listed here are used in English-speaking countries.
AALIYAH-AUSTYN AUTUMN-CAREY CARIN-CROFTON
CRYSTAL-ED EDDIE-GAE GAENOR-HUMBERT
HUMPHREY-JOCELIN JOCELYN-KODEY KODY-LORENA
LORENE-MEDIA MEG-OSBORNE OSBOURNE-RICA
RICH-SHELL SHELLEY-TORI TORIA-ZULA AALIYAH f English (Modern)
Pronounced: a-LEE-a
Variant of ALIYAH or ALYA
AAREN m,f English
Pronounced: ER-en
Variant or feminine form of AARON
AARON m English, Biblical
Pronounced: ER-awn
From the Hebrew name Aharon which is most likely of unknown Egyptian origin. Other theories claim a
Hebrew derivation, and suggest meanings such as "high mountain" or "exalted". In the Old Testament Aaron
was the older brother of Moses and the first high priest of the Israelites.
ABBEY f English
Pronounced: AB-ee
Short form of ABIGAIL
ABBIE f English
Pronounced: AB-ee
Short form of ABIGAIL
ABBY f English
Pronounced: AB-ee
Short form of ABIGAIL
ABE m English, Jewish
Pronounced: AYB
Short form of ABRAHAM
ABEL m English, French, Spanish, Biblical
Pronounced: AY-bul
From the Hebrew name Hebel which meant "breath". In the Old Testament he was the second son of Adam and Eve, murdered out of envy by his brother Cain.
ABIGAIL f English, German, Biblical
Pronounced: AB-i-gayl
From the Hebrew name Abigayil meaning "my father is joy". This was the name of a wife of king David in the Old Testament.
ABIGAYLE f English (Modern)
Pronounced: AB-i-gayl
Variant of ABIGAIL
ABILENE f English, Biblical
Pronounced: a-bi-LEE-ne
From a biblical place name which possibly meant "grass" in Hebrew.
ABNER m English, Biblical
Pronounced: AB-nur
Means "my father is a light" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament Abner was a cousin of Saul and the commander of his army.
ABRAHAM m English, Jewish, Biblical
Pronounced: AY-bra-ham
This name may be viewed either as meaning "father of many" in Hebrew or else as a contraction of ABRAM
and Hebrew hamon "many". The biblical Abraham was originally named Abram but God changed his name (see Genesis 17:5). He led the Hebrews into Canaan, and is regarded by the Jews as being the founder of the Hebrews through his son Isaac and by the Muslims as being the founder of the Arabs through his son Ishmael. A famous bearer of this name was Abraham Lincoln, the American president during the American Civil War. ABSALOM m English, Biblical
Pronounced: AB-sa-lawm
From the Hebrew name Abshalom (contracted from Abishalom) which meant "my father is peace". In the Old Testament he was a son of King David who led a revolt against his father. While fleeing he got his hair caught
in a tree and was killed by Joab.
ACACIA f English
Pronounced: a-KAY-sha
From the name of a type of tree, ultimately deriving from Greek ake "thorn".
ACE m English
Pronounced: AYS
From the vocabulary word meaning "highest rank". Originally a nickname. ADA f English
Pronounced: AY-da
Short form of ADELAIDE. This name was borne by Ada Lovelace, a daughter of Lord Byron and an assistant
to Charles Babbage, the inventor of the analytical engine, an early mechanical computer.
ADAM m English, French, German, Polish, Russian, Romanian, Biblical
Pronounced: A-dam
This is the Hebrew word for "man". It could be ultimately derived from Hebrew adam meaning "to be red", referring to the ruddy colour of human skin, or from Assyrian adamu meaning "to make". According to Genesis in the Old Testament Adam was created from the earth by God (there is a word play on Hebrew adamah
"earth"). He and Eve were supposedly the first humans, living happily in the Garden of Eden until Adam ate a
forbidden fruit given to him by Eve.
ADAMINA f English
Pronounced: a-da-MEE-na
Feminine form of ADAM
ADDIE f English
Pronounced: AD-ee
Pet form of ADELAIDE
ADDISON m,f English
Pronounced: AD-i-sun
From a surname which meant "son of ADAM".
ADDY f English
Pronounced: AD-ee
Pet form of ADELAIDE
ADELA f English
Pronounced: a-DEL-a
Originally a short form of names beginning with the Germanic element adal meaning "noble". Saint Adela was a 7th-century Frankish princess who founded a monastery at Pfazel in France. This name was also borne by
a daughter of William the Conqueror.
ADELAIDE f English
Pronounced: AD-el-ayd
From the Germanic name Adalheidis which was composed of the elements adal "noble" and heid "kind, sort, type". This was the name of the wife of Otto the Great, and also the wife of King William IV of England. A city
in Australia bears this name.
ADELINE f French, English
Pronounced: a-du-LEEN (French), AD-e-lien (English)
Pet form of ADÈLE
ADELLE f English
Pronounced: a-DEL
Variant of ADÈLE
ADOLPH m English
Pronounced: A-dawlf
Variant of ADOLF
ADRIA f English
Pronounced: AYD-ree-a
Feminine form of ADRIAN
ADRIAN m English, Romanian, Russian
Pronounced: AYD-ree-an
English, Romanian and Russian form of Hadrianus (see HADRIAN). Six popes have borne this name.
ADRIANA f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, English Pronounced: awd-ree-AWN-aw (Italian, Spanish), ayd-ree-AN-a (English)
ADRIAN Feminine form of
ADRIANNA f English
Pronounced: ayd-ree-AN-a
Feminine form of ADRIAN
ADRIANNE f English
Pronounced: AYD-ree-an
Feminine form of ADRIAN
AFRICA f English
Pronounced: AF-ri-ka
Simply means "Africa" from the name of the continent. This name is most often used by African-American
parents.
AGATHA f English
Pronounced: AG-a-tha
Derived from the Greek adjective agathos meaning "good". Saint Agatha was a 3rd-century martyr from Sicily.
After spurning the advances of a Roman official she was tortured and had her breasts cut off before being
killed. The mystery writer Agatha Christie is a famous modern bearer of this name.
AGGIE f English
Pronounced: AG-ee
Pet form of AGNES and AGATHA
AGNES f English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian
Pronounced: AG-nes
Derived from the Greek adjective hagnos meaning "chaste". Saint Agnes was a virgin martyred under Roman emperor Diocletian. The name became associated with Latin agnus "lamb", resulting in the saint's frequent depiction with a lamb by her side.
AIDA f English
Pronounced: aw-EE-da
Meaning unknown. This name was first used in Verdi's opera 'Aida', where it belongs to an Ethiopian princess
held captive in Egypt.
AILEEN f Scottish, English
Pronounced: ay-LEEN
Variant of EILEEN
AINSLEY m,f English, Scottish
Pronounced: AYNZ-lee
Variant of AINSLIE
AINSLIE m,f English, Scottish
Pronounced: AYNZ-lee
From a surname which was from a place name: either Annesley in Nottinghamshire or Ansley in Warwickshire.
The place names themselves mean either "Anne's field" or "hermitage field" from Old English ansetl
"hermitage" and leah "field".
AISLIN f Irish, English
Pronounced: ASH-ling, ASH-lin
Variant of AISLING
AL m English
Pronounced: AL
Short form of ALBERT and other names beginning with al.
ALAINA f English
Pronounced: a-LAYN-a
Feminine form of ALAIN
ALAN m English, Scottish
Pronounced: AL-an
The meaning of this name is not known for certain, though it possibly means either "little rock" or "handsome"
in Breton. It was introduced to England by Bretons after the Norman invasion. Famous modern bearers
include Alan Shepard, the first American in space and the fifth man to walk on the moon, and Alan Turing, a
British mathematician and computer scientist.
ALANA f English
Pronounced: a-LAN-a
Feminine form of ALAN
ALANIS f English
Pronounced: a-LAN-is
Form of ALANA
ALANNA f English
Pronounced: a-LAN-a
Variant of ALANA
ALANNAH f English
Pronounced: a-LAN-a
Variant of ALANA. Another theory states that it is related to the Irish term of endearment a leanbh meaning "O
child".
ALANNIS f English
Pronounced: a-LAN-is
Form of ALANA
ALAYNA f English
Pronounced: a-LAYN-a
Variant of ALAINA
ALBAN m English, German
Pronounced: AL-ban
From the Roman family name Albanius which meant "from Alba" in Latin. Alba was the name of various places within the Roman Empire. Saint Alban was the first British martyr (4th century). According to tradition,
he sheltered a fugitive priest in his house. When his house was searched, he disguised himself as the priest,
was arrested in his stead, and was beheaded.
ALBERIC m English
Original form of AUBREY
ALBERT m English, French
Pronounced: AL-burt (English), al-BER (French)
From the Germanic name Adalbrecht which meant "bright nobility", composed of the elements adal "noble"
and beraht "bright". It was introduced to England by the Normans. This name, in its various forms, has belonged to kings of Belgium and Germany, as well as others among European royalty. Other famous bearers
include the physicist Albert Einstein, creator of the theory of relativity, and Albert Camus, a French-Algerian
writer and philosopher.
ALBERTA f English, Italian
Pronounced: al-BUR-ta (English), al-BER-ta (Italian)
Feminine form of ALBERT. This is the name of a Canadian province, which was named in honour of a daughter of Queen Victoria.
ALBERTINA f Italian, German, Portuguese, English
Pronounced: al-bur-TEE-na (English)
Feminine pet form of ALBERT
ALDEN m English
Pronounced: AWL-den
From a surname which was derived from the Old English first name Aldwyn meaning "old friend".
ALDOUS m English
Pronounced: AWL-dus
Possibly a short form of names beginning with the Germanic element ald "old". The author Aldous Huxley was
a famous bearer of this name. ALEA f English (Modern)
Pronounced: a-LEE-a
Variant of ALIYAH
ALEASE f English
Possibly a variant spelling of ELOISE or ALICIA ALEC m English
Pronounced: AL-ek
Pet form of ALEXANDER
ALEESHA f English (Modern)
Variant of ALICIA
ALENE f English
Variant of EILEEN
ALESHA f English (Modern)
Variant of ALICIA
ALETA f English
Form of ALETHEA
ALETHA f English
Variant of ALETHEA
ALETHEA f English
Pronounced: al-e-THEE-a
Derived from Greek aletheia meaning "truth". ALEX m,f English
Pronounced: AL-eks
Short form of ALEXANDER, ALEXANDRA and other names beginning with alex.
ALEXA f English
Pronounced: a-LEK-sa
Feminine form of ALEXIUS or a short form of ALEXANDRA
ALEXANDER m English, German, Dutch
Pronounced: al-eg-ZAN-dur
From the Greek name Alexandros, which meant "defending men" from Greek alexein "to defend, help" and
aner "man" (genitive andros). Alexander the Great, King of Macedon, is the most famous bearer of this name. In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. This was also
the name of emperors of Russia, kings of Scotland and Yugoslavia, and eight popes. Also, Sir Alexander
MacKenzie was an explorer of the north and west of Canada in the 18th century. ALEXANDRA f German, Scandinavian, Dutch, English, Greek, Portuguese, Romanian, Czech, Hungarian, Ancient Greek
Pronounced: al-eg-ZAN-dra
Feminine form of ALEXANDER. This was the name of the domineering wife of Nicholas II, the last czar of Russia.
ALEXANDREA f English
Pronounced: al-eg-ZAN-dree-a
Feminine form of ALEXANDER
ALEXANDRIA f English
Pronounced: al-eg-ZAN-dree-a
Feminine form of ALEXANDER. This is the name of a city in Egypt which was founded by Alexander the Great.
ALEXIA f English, German
Feminine form of ALEXIUS
ALEXINA f English
Pronounced: a-leg-ZEE-na
Feminine pet form of ALEXIUS
ALEXIS (1) m German, French, English, Ancient Greek
Pronounced: al-ek-SEES (French), a-LEK-sis (English)
Variant of ALEXIUS
ALEXIS (2) f English
Pronounced: a-LEK-sis
Feminine form of ALEXIUS
ALEXUS f English
Pronounced: a-LEK-sis
Variant of ALEXIS (2)
ALF m English
Pronounced: ALF
Short form of ALFRED
ALFRED m English, French
Pronounced: AL-fred (English), al-FRED (French)
Derived from the Old English element ælf "elf" combined with ræd "counsel". Alfred the Great was a 9th-century king of Wessex who fought unceasingly against the Danes who lived in the northeast of England.
He was also a scholar, and he translated many Latin books into Old English. His popularity helped to ensure
the usage of this name even after the Norman conquest (when most Old English names were replaced by
Norman ones).
ALFREDA f English, Polish, German, Italian
Pronounced: awl-FRAY-daw
Feminine form of ALFRED
ALGAR m English
Pronounced: AL-gar
Means "elf spear" from Old English ælf "elf" and gar "spear". This Old English name was rarely used after the
Norman conquest but was revived in the 19th century. ALGER m English
Pronounced: AL-gur
Variant of ALGAR
ALGERNON m English
Pronounced: AL-jur-nawn
Originally a Norman French nickname derived from aux gernons "having a moustache". ALICE f English, French
Pronounced: AL-is (English), a-LEES (French)
Short form of the Old French Adelais, itself a short form of Adalheidis (see ADELAIDE). This is the name of the heroine of Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking Glass'.
ALICIA f Spanish, English
Pronounced: a-LEE-see-a, a-LISH-a, a-LISH-ya, a-LEE-sha, a-LEE-shya
Latinized form of ALICE
ALINE f French, English
Pet form of ADELINE or a variant of EILEEN
ALISA f English
Variant of ALICIA
ALISHA f English
Pronounced: a-LISH-a
Variant of ALICIA
ALISIA f English
Variant of ALICIA
ALISON f,m English, French
Pronounced: AL-i-sun (English), a-lee-SAWN (French) Medieval Norman form of ALICE. It is occasionally used as a masculine name.
ALISSA f English
Pronounced: a-LIS-a
Variant of ALYSSA
ALISYA f English (Modern)
Variant of ALICIA
ALIX m,f English
Pronounced: AL-iks
Variant of ALEX
ALLAN m English, Scottish
Pronounced: AL-an
Variant of ALAN. The American author Edgar Allan Poe got his middle name from the surname of the parents
who adopted him.
ALLANNAH f English
Pronounced: a-LAN-a
Variant of ALANNAH
ALLEGRA f English, Italian
Pronounced: a-LEG-ra (English), awl-LAY-graw (Italian) Means "cheerful, lively" in Italian.
ALLEGRIA f English
Elaborated form of ALLEGRA
ALLEN m English, Scottish
Pronounced: AL-en
Variant of ALAN. A famous bearer of this name was Allen Ginsberg, an American beat poet. Another is the
American film director and actor Woody Allen, who took the stage name Allen from his real first name.
ALLIE f English
Pronounced: AL-ee
Pet form of ALISON
ALLISON f English
Pronounced: AL-i-sun
Variant of ALISON
ALLY f English
Pronounced: AL-ee
Pet form of ALISON
ALLYCIA f English (Modern)
Variant of ALICIA
ALLYN m English
Pronounced: AL-in
Variant of ALAN
ALLYSON f English
Pronounced: AL-i-sun
Variant of ALISON
ALMA f English
Pronounced: AL-ma
Modern name meaning either "nourishing" from Latin or "the soul" from Spanish.
ALMIRA f English
Probably derived from Arabic amiri meaning "princess".
ALOYSIUS m English, German, Dutch
Pronounced: al-o-WISH-us
Latinized form of a Provençal form of LOUIS. This was the name of a 16th-century Italian saint, Aloysius
Gonzaga.
ALPHA m,f English
Pronounced: AL-fa
From the name of the first letter in the Greek alphabet. ALPHONZO m English
Pronounced: al-FAWN-zo
Variant of ALFONSO
ALTON m English
Pronounced: AWL-tun
From an Old English surname that meant "river-source town".
ALVAR m English
From the Old English name Æhere meaning "elf army", formed of the elements ælf "elf" and here "army". ALVENA f English
Feminine form of ALVIN
ALVIN m English
Pronounced: AL-vin
Means "elf friend" from the Old English name Ælfwine, which was formed of the elements ælf "elf" and wine "friend".
ALVINA f English
Pronounced: al-VEEN-a
Feminine form of ALVIN ALWILDA f English
Anglicized form of ALFHILD ALWYN m English
Form of ALVIN
ALYCE f English (Modern) Pronounced: AL-is
Variant of ALICE
ALYS f English (Modern) Pronounced: AL-is
Variant of ALICE
ALYSHA f English (Modern) Pronounced: a-LEE-sha
Variant of ALICIA
ALYSON f English
Pronounced: AL-i-sun
Variant of ALISON
ALYSSA f English
Pronounced: a-LIS-a
Either a variant of ALICIA, or else derived from the name of the alyssum flower.
ALYSSIA f English
Variant of ALICIA
ALYX f English
Pronounced: AL-iks
Strictly feminine form of ALEX AMABEL f English
From an Old French name which was derived from Latin amabilis "lovable".
AMALIA f German, English Derived from Germanic amal meaning "work".
AMANDA f English
Pronounced: a-MAN-da
This name was created in the 17th century by the playwright Colley Cibber. He based it on Latin amanda
meaning "lovable".
AMANDINE f English
Pronounced: a-MAN-deen
Elaborated form of AMANDA
AMARANTA f English
Anglicized form of AMARANTE
AMARYLLIS f English
Pronounced: am-a-RIL-is
Derived from Greek amaryssein "to sparkle". This was the name of a heroine in Virgil's poem 'Eclogues'. The
amaryllis flower is named for her.
AMBER f English
Pronounced: AM-bur
Simply means "amber", from the English word that denotes either the fossilized tree resin or the
orange-yellow colour. The word ultimately derives from Arabic 'anbar.
AMBROSE m English
Pronounced: AM-broz
From the Late Latin name Ambrosius, which was derived from Greek ambrosios meaning "immortal". Saint Ambrose was a 4th-century theologian and bishop of Milan. AMBROSINE f English
Pronounced: am-BRO-zeen
Feminine form of AMBROSE
AMEDEUS m English
Pronounced: am-e-DEE-us
Variant of AMADEUS
AMELIA f English
Pronounced: a-MEE-lee-a, a-MEEL-ya
Variant of either AMALIA or EMILIA. A famous bearer was Amelia Earhart, the first woman to make a solo
flight over the Atlantic Ocean.
AMERICA f English
Pronounced: a-MER-i-ka
This name is usually given in reference to the United States of America (see AMERIGO).
AMETHYST f English
Pronounced: A-me-thist
Means simply "amethyst" from the name of the precious stone. The name of the stone is Greek in origin and
means "not drunk", as it was believed to be a remedy against drunkenness.
AMI f English (Modern)
Pronounced: AY-mee
Variant of AMY
AMIAS m English
Perhaps from a French surname which originally denoted a person who came from the city of Amiens.
AMICE f English
Derived from Latin amicitia meaning "friendship".
AMIE f English
Pronounced: AY-mee
Variant of AMY
AMILIA f English
Variant of either AMALIA or EMILIA
AMITY f English
Pronounced: AM-i-tee
From the English word meaning "friendship", ultimately deriving from Latin amicitia.
AMOS m Biblical, English, Jewish
Pronounced: AY-mos
Means "to carry" in Hebrew. Amos was one of the minor prophets in the Old Testament, the author of the
Book of Amos, the oldest of the prophetic books. AMY f English
Pronounced: AY-mee
Derived from Old French aimée meaning "beloved".
AMYAS m English
Possibly a variant of AMIAS. The name first appeared in Edmund Spenser's 'The Faerie Queene' (1590).
ANDERSON m English
Pronounced: AN-dur-sun
From a surname meaning "son of ANDREW".
ANDRA f English
Pronounced: AN-dra
Feminine form of ANDREW
ANDREA (2) f English, German, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Scandinavian
Pronounced: AN-dree-a
Feminine form of ANDREW
ANDREW m English, Biblical
Pronounced: AN-droo
From the Greek name Andreas, which derives from aner "man" (genitive andros "of a man"). In the New Testament the apostle Andrew was the brother of the apostle Simon Peter. According to legend he was
crucified on an X-shaped cross, and he is the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, and Greece. This was also the
name of kings of Hungary.
ANDRIANA f English
Pronounced: an-dree-AN-a
Elaborated form of ANDREA (2)
ANDRINA f English
Pronounced: an-DREEN-a
Elaborated form of ANDREA (2)
ANDY m English
Pronounced: AN-dee
Pet form of ANDREW. American pop artist and filmmaker Andy Warhol was a famous bearer of this name.
ANEMONE f English
Pronounced: a-NEM-u-nee
From the name of the anemone flower, which derives from Greek anemos "wind". ANGEL m,f English
Pronounced: AYN-jel
From the medieval Latin masculine name Angelus which was derived from the name of the heavenly creature
(itself derived from the Greek word angelos meaning "messenger"). ANGELA f English, Italian, German, Romanian
Pronounced: AN-jel-a (English), awn-JEL-aw (Italian)
Feminine form of Angelus (see ANGEL).
ANGELIA f English
Pronounced: an-JEL-ee-a
Elaborated form of ANGELA
ANGELICA f English, Italian, Romanian
Pronounced: an-JEL-i-ka (English), awn-je-LEE-ka (Italian)
Derived from Latin angelicus meaning "angelic", ultimately related to Greek angelos "messenger". This is the
name of Juliet's nurse in Shakespeare's play 'Romeo and Juliet', though she is only briefly mentioned.
ANGELINA f English, Italian
Pet form of ANGELA
ANGIE f English
Pronounced: AN-jee
Pet form of ANGELA
ANGUS m Scottish, Irish, English
Pronounced: ANG-gus
Anglicized form of AONGHUS
ANIMA (2) f English
Pronounced: AN-i-ma
Means "soul, spirit" in Latin. In psychology the anima is an individual's true inner self, or soul.
ANISE f English
Pronounced: AN-is
From the name of the herb.
ANJELICA f English (Modern)
Pronounced: an-JEL-i-ka (English), awn-je-LEE-ka (Italian)
Variant of ANGELICA
ANN f English
Pronounced: AN
English form of ANNE
ANNA f English, Italian, German, Dutch, Scandinavian, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Czech, Bulgarian, Icelandic
Pronounced: AN-a
Latinate form of HANNAH. It was borne by an 18th-century empress of Russia. This is also the name of the main character in Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina', a woman forced to chose between her son and her lover. ANNABEL f English
Pronounced: AN-a-bel
Variant of AMABEL influenced by the name ANNA
ANNABELLA f English, Italian
Latinate form of ANNABEL. It can also be taken as a combination of ANNA and BELLA.
ANNABELLE f English
Pronounced: AN-a-bel
Variant of ANNABEL. It can also be taken as a combination of ANNA and BELLE.
ANNALISA f English
Combination of ANNA and LISA
ANNE f French, English, German
Pronounced: AN
French, English and German form of HANNAH. This is the name traditionally assigned to the mother of the Virgin Mary, though she is not mentioned in the Bible. The name was borne by a 17th-century English queen and also by the second wife of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn (the mother of the future queen Elizabeth I), who was
eventually beheaded in the Tower of London. This is also the name of the heroine in 'Anne of Green Gables'
by Canadian author L. M. Montgomery.
ANNEKA f English
Variant of ANNIKA
ANNETTA f English, Italian
Latinate pet form of ANNE
ANNICE f English
Pronounced: AN-is
Variant of ANNIS
ANNIE f English
Pronounced: AN-ee
Pet form of ANNE
ANNIS f English
Pronounced: AN-is
Medieval form of AGNES
ANNMARIE f English
Pronounced: AN-ma-ree
Combination of ANN and MARIE
ANONA f English
Possibly an elaborated form of ANNA
ANSELM m English
Pronounced: AN-selm
Derived from the Germanic elements ans "god" and helm "helmet, protection". Saint Anselm was a 12th-century archbishop of Canterbury and a Doctor of the Church. ANSON m English
Pronounced: AN-sun
From a surname which meant "son of AGNES".
ANTHONY m English
Pronounced: AN-tho-nee
From the Roman family name Antonius, which is of unknown Etruscan origin. It is sometimes claimed to mean "flower" from Greek anthos. Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius) was the Roman general who ruled the Roman empire jointly with Augustus for a short time. Their relationship turned sour however, and he and his mistress
Cleopatra were attacked and forced to commit suicide. Shakespeare's tragedy 'Antony and Cleopatra' is
based on them. Other famous bearers include the 3rd-century Saint Anthony the Abbot, a hermit from Egypt
who founded monasticism, and the 13th-century Saint Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of Portugal.
ANTONETTE f English
Pronounced: an-to-NET
Pet form of ANTONIA
ANTONIA f English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Scandinavian, Dutch, Ancient Roman
Pronounced: awn-TON-ee-a, awn-TON-ya
Feminine form of Antonius (see ANTHONY).
ANTONY m English
Pronounced: AN-ton-ee
Variant of ANTHONY
ANTWAN m English (Modern)
Variant of ANTOINE
APRIL f English
Pronounced: AY-pril
Means simply "April" from the name of the month. It originally derives from Latin aperire "to open", referring to
the opening of flowers in that month.
ARABELLA f English, Italian
Perhaps derived from Latin orabilis meaning "yielding to pray". ARCHIBALD m Scottish, English
Pronounced: AR-chi-bawld
Derived from the Germanic elements ercan "genuine" and bald "bold".
ARCHIE m Scottish, English
Pronounced: AR-chee
Pet form of ARCHIBALD
ARDEN m English
Pronounced: AR-den
From a surname which was originally taken from a place name meaning "eagle valley" in Old English.
ARETHA f English
Pronounced: a-REETH-a
Derived from Greek arete meaning "virtue".
ARIA f English
Pronounced: AWR-ee-a, ER-ee-a
Means "song" or "melody" in Italian. An aria is an elaborate vocal solo, the type usually performed in operas.
ARIADNE f Greek Mythology, English
Pronounced: aw-ree-AWD-nee (Ancient Greek), ar-ee-AD-nee (English)
Means "most holy", composed of the Cretan Greek elements ari "most" and adnos "holy". In Greek mythology,
Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos. She fell in love with Theseus and helped him to escape the Labyrinth
and the Minotaur, but was later abandoned by him. ARIANA f English
Pronounced: er-ee-AN-a
Variant of ARIANE
ARIANE f English, French
Pronounced: er-ee-AN (English), a-ree-AN (French)
Variant of ARIANNE. It has possibly been influenced by the Welsh word arian "silver".
ARIC m English
Variant of ERIC
ARIELLA f English
Pronounced: er-ee-EL-a, ar-ee-EL-a
Feminine form of ARIEL
ARIELLE f English
Pronounced: er-ee-EL, ar-ee-EL
Feminine form of ARIEL
ARKELL m English
Pronounced: AR-kul
From a surname which was derived from the Old Norse personal name Arnkell which meant "eagle helmet".
ARLEEN f English
Pronounced: ar-LEEN
Variant of ARLENE
ARLENE f English
Pronounced: ar-LEEN
Pet form of names ending in arlene, such as CHARLENE.
ARLETTE f French, English
Pronounced: ar-LET
Norman pet form of names beginning with the Germanic element arn "eagle". This was the name of the
mother of William the Conqueror.
ARLIE f,m English
Pronounced: AR-lee
From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "eagle wood" in Old English. This name can
also be a pet form of ARLENE.
ARLINE f English
Pronounced: ar-LEEN
Variant of ARLENE
ARN m English
Pronounced: ARN
Short form of ARNOLD
ARNOLD m English, German
Pronounced: AR-nold
From a Germanic name meaning "eagle power", derived from arn "eagle" combined with wald "power". Saint
Arnold was a musician in the court of Charlemagne. Another notable bearing this name was Arnold of Brescia,
an Augustinian monk who rebelled against the church and was eventually hanged.
ARRON m English
Pronounced: ER-en
Variant of AARON
ART m English
Pronounced: ART
Short form of ARTHUR
ARTHUR m English, Welsh Mythology
Pronounced: AR-thur
The meaning of this name is unknown. It could be derived from Celtic art "bear" combined with viros "man", or
it could be related to Irish art "stone". Alternatively it could be related to an obscure Roman family name
Artorius. Arthur is the name of the central character in Arthurian legend, a 6th-century king of the Britons who
presided over the knights of the Round Table. He may or may not have been an actual person.
ASH m,f English
Pronounced: ASH
Either a short form of ASHLEY or else from the English word denoting either the tree or the residue of fire.
ASHLEE f English (Modern)
Pronounced: ASH-lee
Strictly feminine variant of ASHLEY
ASHLEIGH f English (Modern)
Pronounced: ASH-lee
Strictly feminine variant of ASHLEY
ASHLEY m,f English
Pronounced: ASH-lee
From a surname which was originally derived from a place name which meant "ash tree clearing" in Old
English.
ASHLIE f English (Modern)
Pronounced: ASH-lee
Strictly feminine variant of ASHLEY
ASHLYN f English
Pronounced: ASH-lin
Combination of ASHLEY and the popular name suffix lyn.
ASHLYNN f English (Modern)
Pronounced: ASH-lin
Variant of ASHLYN
ASHTON m,f English
Pronounced: ASH-tun
From a surname which was originally derived from a place name which meant "ash tree town" in Old English.
ASIA f,m English
Pronounced: AY-zha
From the name of the continent, which is perhaps derived from Assyrian asu, meaning "east".
ASPEN f English
Pronounced: AS-pen
Simply means "aspen tree" from the English word, ultimately derived from Old English æspe. ASTOR m English
Pronounced: AS-tor
From a surname derived from Provençal astur meaning "hawk". ASTRA f English
Pronounced: AS-tra
Means "star", ultimately from Greek aster.
AUBERON m English
Pronounced: O-bur-awn
Possibly means either "noble bear" or "elf bear" from the Germanic element adal "noble" or alb "elf" combined
with bern "bear".
AUBREE f English
Pronounced: AWB-ree
Strictly feminine variant of AUBREY
AUBREY m,f English
Pronounced: AWB-ree
From the Germanic name Alberic which meant "elf power", composed of the elements alb "elf" and ric "power".
This was the name of the king of the elves in Germanic mythology.
AUDIE f English
Pronounced: AWD-ee
Pet form of AUDREY
AUDLEY m English
Pronounced: AWD-lee
From a surname which was taken from a place name meaning "EALDGYÐ's clearing" in Old English.
AUDRA (2) f English
Pronounced: AWD-ra
Variant of AUDREY
AUDREA f English
Pronounced: AWD-ree-a
Variant of AUDREY
AUDREY f English
Pronounced: AWD-ree
Modern form of ÆÐELÞRYÐ. This was the name of a 6th-century saint who was killed by a tumour on her neck. It is also the name of a character in Shakespeare's comedy 'As You Like It'. AUGUST (2) m English
Pronounced: AW-gust
Means simply "August" from the name of the month, which was originally named for the Roman emperor
Augustus.
AUGUSTA f English, Italian, Polish
Pronounced: aw-GUS-ta (English), ow-GOOS-taw (Italian)
Feminine form of AUGUSTUS
AUGUSTINE m English
Pronounced: AW-gus-teen, aw-GUS-tin
From the Roman name Augustinus, itself derived from the Roman name AUGUSTUS. Saint Augustine was a Christian theologian and an early church father from North Africa. He was the author of 'The City of God'.
Another Saint Augustine was the Italian missionary sent to England to convert the Anglo-Saxons in the 6th
century.
AURA f English
Pronounced: AWR-a
Means simply "aura" from the English word for a distinctive atmosphere or illumination. AUREOLE f English
Pronounced: AWR-ee-ol
From the English word meaning "radiant halo", ultimately derived from Latin aureolus "golden".
AUSTEN m English
Pronounced: AWS-ten
Variant of AUSTIN
AUSTIN m English
Pronounced: AWS-tin
From a surname which was derived from a contracted form of AUGUSTINE. A city in Texas bears this name. AUSTYN m,f English (Modern)
Masculine variant or feminine form of AUSTIN
AUTUMN m,f English
Pronounced: AW-tum
Means simply "autumn" from the name of the season, ultimately from Latin autumnus.
AVA (1) f English
Pronounced: AY-va
Variant of EVE. A famous bearer was the American actress Ava Gardner. AVALON f English
Pronounced: AV-a-lawn
From the name of the island paradise to which King Arthur was brought after his death. The name of this
island is perhaps related to Welsh afal meaning "apple", a fruit which was often linked with paradise.
AVELINA f English
Pronounced: av-e-LEE-na
Latinate form of AVELINE
AVELINE f English
Pronounced: av-e-LEEN
Old French pet form of AVILA
AVERILL m,f English
From a surname which was originally derived from the feminine name EOFORHILD. AVERY m,f English
Pronounced: AY-vur-ee
From a surname which was itself derived from a Norman French form of the given name ALFRED. AVICE f English
Pronounced: AY-vis
Variant of AVIS
AVILA f English
Medieval Latinized form of AVIS
AVIS f English
Pronounced: AY-vis
Originally derived from the Germanic element av which is of unknown meaning. However during medieval
times the name became associated with Latin avis "bird". AVRIL f French, English
Pronounced: av-REEL, AV-ril
Either a French form of APRIL or a form of EOFORHILD.
AZALEA f English
Pronounced: a-ZAY-lee-a
From the name of the flower, ultimately derived from Greek azaleos "dry". AZURA f English
Pronounced: a-ZHUR-a, AZH-ra
Elaboration of AZURE
AZURE f English
Pronounced: A-zhur
From the English word that means "sky blue".
BABETTE f English
Pronounced: ba-BET
Pet form of BARBARA
BABS f English
Pronounced: BABS
Pet form of BARBARA
BAILEE f English (Modern)
Pronounced: BAY-lee
Variant of BAILEY
BAILEY m,f English
Pronounced: BAY-lee
From a surname derived from Middle English baili meaning "bailiff", originally denoting one who was a bailiff. BALDRIC m English
Pronounced: BAWLD-rik
Derived from the Germanic elements bald "bold, brave" and ric "power, rule". The Normans introduced this name to Britain.
BALDWIN m English
Pronounced: BAWLD-win
Derived from the Germanic elements bald "bold, brave" and wine "friend". This was the name of one of the leaders of the First Crusade, a nobleman from Flanders. After the crusaders conquered Jerusalem, he was
crowned as the king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
BAMBI f English
Pronounced: BAM-bee
Derived from Italian bambina meaning "young girl". This was the name of a deer in a cartoon by Walt Disney.
BAPTIST m German, English
Pronounced: BAP-tist
German and English form of BAPTISTE
BARBARA f English, Italian, French, German, Polish, Hungarian
Pronounced: BAR-bar-a (English), BAR-bra (English)
Derived from Greek barbaros meaning "foreign". According to legend Saint Barbara was a young woman killed by her father Dioscorus, who was then killed by a bolt of lightning. She is the patron of architects,
geologists, stonemasons and artillerymen.
BARBRA f English (Modern)
Variant of BARBARA
BARCLAY m Scottish, English, Irish
From a Scottish surname which was likely derived from the English place name Berkeley, meaning "birch
wood" in Old English.
BARNABAS m English, German, Biblical
Pronounced: BAR-na-bus
Greek form of an Aramaic name which probably meant "son of the prophet" (though it is claimed in Acts 4:36
to mean "son of encouragement"). In Acts in the New Testament the surname Barnabas was given to a man
named Joseph, a companion of Paul on his missionary journeys. BARNABY m English
Pronounced: BAR-na-bee
Medieval English form of BARNABAS
BARNEY m English
Pronounced: BAR-nee
Short form of BARNABAS, BERNARD or BARNABY
BARRET m English
Pronounced: BER-et
From a surname meaning "dispute" in Middle English, originally given to a quarrelsome person.
BARRETT m English
Pronounced: BER-et
Variant of BARRET
BARRIE m Irish, English
Pronounced: BER-ee
Variant of BARRY
BARRY m Irish, English
Pronounced: BER-ee
Anglicized form of the Irish name Bairre, which is a pet form of FIONNBHARR.
BART m English, Dutch
Pronounced: BART
Short form of BARTHOLOMEW
BARTHOLOMEW m English, Biblical
Pronounced: bar-THAWL-o-myoo
From Bartholomaios, which was the Greek form of an Aramaic name meaning "son of Talmai". Talmai is a
Hebrew name meaning "furrowed". In the New Testament Bartholomew was an apostle also known as
Nathaniel.
BASIL m English
Pronounced: BAZ-ul
Derived from Greek basileus meaning "king". Saint Basil the Great was a 4th-century bishop who was one of the fathers of the early Christian church. This was also the name of two Byzantine emperors.
BASTIAN m German, English
Short form of SEBASTIAN
BAYLEE f English (Modern)
Variant of BAILEY
BEA f English
Pronounced: BEE
Short form of BEATRIX
BEATRICE f Italian, English
Pronounced: BEE-a-tris (English), BEE-tris (English), bay-aw-TREE-chay
Italian form of BEATRIX. Beatrice is Dante's guide through paradise in his poem 'The Divine Comedy'. This is
also the name of a character in Shakespeare's play 'Much Ado About Nothing'.
BEATRIX f English, German
Pronounced: BEE-a-triks
From Viatrix, a feminine form of the Late Latin name Viator which meant "voyager, traveller". The spelling of
the name was altered by association with Latin beatus "blessed". This was the name of a 4th-century saint
who was strangled to death after her brothers were beheaded. BEAU m English
Pronounced: BO
Means "beautiful" in French.
BEAUMONT m English
Pronounced: BO-mawnt
From a French surname that meant "beautiful mountain". BEAUREGARD m English
Pronounced: BO-re-gard
From a French surname that meant "beautiful outlook". BECCA f English
Pronounced: BEK-a
Short form of REBECCA
BECKA f English
Pronounced: BEK-a
Short form of REBECCA
BECKAH f English
Pronounced: BEK-a
Short form of REBECCA
BECKY f English
Pronounced: BEK-ee
Pet form of REBECCA
BEE f English
Pronounced: BEE
Short form of BEATRIX
BEKKI f English (Modern)
Pet form of REBECCA
BELINDA f English
Pronounced: be-LIN-da
The meaning of this name is not known for certain. The first element could be related Italian bella "beautiful".
The second element could be related to Germanic lind "serpent, dragon" or linde "soft, tender". This name first arose in the 17th century, and was subsequently used by Alexander Pope in his poem 'The Rape of the Lock'.
BELLE f English
Pronounced: BEL
Means "beautiful" in French. A famous bearer was Belle Starr, an outlaw of the American west in the 19th
century.
BEN m English
Pronounced: BEN
This name can either be a short form of BENJAMIN or BENEDICT or else it can mean "son" in Hebrew. A notable bearer was Ben Jonson, a 17th-century English poet and playwright. BENEDICT m English
Pronounced: BEN-e-dikt
From the Late Latin name Benedictus which meant "blessed". Saint Benedict was an Italian monk who founded the Benedictines in the 6th century. This was also the name of 15 popes. BENEDICTA f English, Late Roman
Feminine form of Benedictus (see BENEDICT).
BENITA f Spanish, English
Feminine form of BENITO
BENJAMIN m English, French, German, Hungarian, Biblical
Pronounced: BEN-ja-min (English), ben-zha-MEN (French)
From the Hebrew name Binyamin which means "son of the south" or "son of the right hand". Benjamin in the Old Testament was the twelfth and youngest son of Jacob and the founder of one of the southern tribes of the
Hebrews. This name was also borne by Benjamin Franklin, an American statesman, inventor, scientist and
philosopher.
BENJY m English
Pronounced: BEN-jee
Pet form of BENJAMIN
BENNETT m English
Pronounced: BEN-et
Medieval form of BENEDICT
BENNIE m English
Pronounced: BEN-ee
Pet form of BENJAMIN or BENEDICT
BENNY m English
Pronounced: BEN-ee
Pet form of BENJAMIN or BENEDICT
BENSON m English
Pronounced: BEN-sun
From a surname which originally meant "son of BENEDICT".
BENTLEY m English
Pronounced: BENT-lee
From 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.
BENTON m English
Pronounced: BEN-tun
From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "town near bent grass" in Old English.
BERENICE f English, Italian
Pronounced: ber-e-NIE-see (English), bay-ray-NEE-chay (Italian)
Macedonian form of the Greek name Pherenike, which meant "bringing victory" from pherein "to bring" and nike "victory". This name was common among the Ptolemy ruling family of Egypt. BERNADINE f English
Pronounced: BUR-na-deen
Feminine form of BERNARD
BERNARD m English, French
Pronounced: bur-NARD (English), ber-NAR (French)
Derived from the Germanic element bern "bear" combined with hard "brave, hardy". This was the name of several saints, including Saint Bernard of Menthon who built hospices in the Swiss Alps in the 10th century,
and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th-century theologian and Doctor of the Church. Another famous bearer
was George Bernard Shaw, a playwright and essayist from Ireland. BERNARDINE f English, French
Pronounced: BUR-na-deen (English), ber-nar-DEEN (French)
Feminine form of BERNARD
BERNETTA f English
Pet form of BERENICE
BERNICE f English, Biblical
Pronounced: bur-NEES
Contracted form of BERENICE
BERNIECE f English
Pronounced: bur-NEES
Contracted form of BERENICE
BERRY (1) m English
Pronounced: BER-ee
Variant of BARRY
BERRY (2) f English
Pronounced: BER-ee
Simply means "berry" from the English word referring to the small fruit.
BERT m English, Dutch
Short form of names containing the element bert, often derived from the Germanic element beraht meaning
"bright".
BERTHA f German, English
Pronounced: BUR-tha
Derived from the Germanic element beraht meaning "bright, famous". This is the name of a character in
German legends who sneaks into nurseries and rocks children to sleep.
BERTIE m,f English
Pronounced: BUR-tee
Pet form of names ending in bert.
BERTINA f English
Pronounced: bur-TEEN-a
Feminine form of BERT
BERTRAM m English
Pronounced: BUR-tram
Means "bright raven", derived from the Germanic element beraht "bright" combined with hramn "raven".
BERTRAND m French, English
Pronounced: ber-TRAWN (French), BUR-trand (English)
Medieval form of BERTRAM
BERYL f English
Pronounced: BER-il
From the English word for the pale green precious stone, ultimately deriving from Sanskrit.
BESS f English
Pronounced: BES
Short form of ELIZABETH
BESSIE f English
Pronounced: BES-ee
Pet form of ELIZABETH BETH f English
Pronounced: BETH
Short form of ELIZABETH or BETHANY
BETHANY f English, Biblical Pronounced: BETH-a-nee
Means "house of figs" in Hebrew, from a biblical place name. In the New Testament Bethany was the town
where Lazarus lived.
BETHNEY f English (Modern) Variant of BETHANY
BETSY f English
Pronounced: BET-see
Pet form of ELIZABETH BETTE f English
Pronounced: BET
ELIZABETH Pet form of
BETTIE f English
Pronounced: BET-ee
Pet form of ELIZABETH BETTINA (1) f English Pronounced: be-TEEN-a
Latinate form of BETTY BETTY f English
Pronounced: BET-ee
Pet form of ELIZABETH BETTYE f English (Modern) Pronounced: BET-ee
Variant of BETTY
BEULAH f Biblical, English Pronounced: BYOO-la
Means "married" in Hebrew. The name is used in the Old Testament to refer to the land of Israel (Isaiah 62:4).
BEVERLEY f English
Pronounced: BEV-ur-lee
Variant of BEVERLY
BEVERLY f English
Pronounced: BEV-ur-lee
From a surname which originally came from a place name meaning "beaver stream" in Old English.
BEVIS m English
Pronounced: BEE-vis
From an English surname which is possibly derived from the name of the French town Beauvais.
BIDDY f Irish, English
Pronounced: BID-ee
Pet form of BRIDGET
BIDELIA f Irish, English
Pet form of BRIDGET
BILL m English
Pronounced: BIL
Short form of WILLIAM. The change in the initial consonant may have been influenced by an earlier Irish
pronunciation of the name. BILLIE m,f English
Pronounced: BIL-ee
Masculine or feminine pet form of WILLIAM
BILLY m English
Pronounced: BIL-ee
Pet form of WILLIAM. A notable bearer was the American outlaw Billy the Kid, whose real name was William
H. Bonney.
BINDY f English
Pronounced: BIN-dee
Pet form of BELINDA
BLAKE m English
Pronounced: BLAYK
From a surname which meant either "black" or "pale" in Old English. A famous bearer of the surname was the
poet and artist William Blake. BLANCH f English
Pronounced: BLANCH
Variant of BLANCHE
BLANCHE f French, English
Pronounced: BLAWNSH (French), BLANCH (English)
Means "white, fair" in French.
BLAZE m English
Pronounced: BLAYZ
Variant of BLAISE influenced by the English word blaze.
BLONDIE f English
Pronounced: BLAWN-dee
From a nickname for a person with blonde hair. This is the name of the title character in a comic strip by Chic
Young.
BLOSSOM f English
Pronounced: BLAW-sum
Simply means "blossom, flower" from the English word. BLYTHE m English
Pronounced: BLIEDH
From a surname which meant "cheerful" in Old English. BOB m English
Pronounced: BAWB
Medieval short form of ROBERT. Other rhyming nicknames of Robert used in the Middle Ages were Dob, Hob and Nob.
BOBBI f,m English
Pronounced: BAW-bee
Variant of BOBBY
BOBBIE f,m English
Pronounced: BAW-bee
Variant of BOBBY
BOBBY m,f English
Pronounced: BAW-bee
Pet form of ROBERTA, ROBERT or BARBARA. Hockey greats Bobby Orr and Bobby Hull have borne this
name.
BONIFACE m English, French
From the Late Latin name Bonifatius, which meant "good fate" from bonum "good" and fatum "fate". This was the name of nine popes and also several saints, including an 8th-century missionary to Germany (originally
named Winfrith).
BONITA f English
Pronounced: baw-NEE-ta
Means "pretty" in Spanish.
BONNIE f English
Pronounced: BAW-nee
Means "pretty" from the Scottish word bonnie, which was itself derived from Middle French bon "good".
BOOKER m English
Pronounced: BUWK-ur
From an occupational surname meaning "maker of books" in Old English.
BOYCE m English
Pronounced: BOIS
From a surname which was derived from Old French bois "wood".
BRACK m English
Pronounced: BRAK
Short form of BRAXTON
BRAD m English
Pronounced: BRAD
Short form of BRADLEY, BRADFORD and other names beginning with brad.
BRADEN m English, Irish
Pronounced: BRAY-den
From the Irish surname Ó Bradáin, which means "descendent of Bradan". The name Bradan derives from a Gaelic word meaning "salmon".
BRADFORD m English
Pronounced: BRAD-furd
From a surname which originally came from a place name that meant "broad ford" in Old English.
BRADLEY m English
Pronounced: BRAD-lee
From a surname which originally came from a place name that meant "broad clearing" in Old English. A
famous bearer of the surname was the World War II American general Omar Bradley.
BRADY m,f English, Irish
Pronounced: BRAY-dee
From the Irish surname Ó Brádaigh, which means "descendent of Brádach". The personal name Brádach probably derives from a Gaelic word meaning "large-chested". BRAEDEN m English, Irish
Variant of BRADEN
BRAELYN f English (Modern)
A recently created name, formed using the popular name suffix lyn.
BRAIDEN m English, Irish
Pronounced: BRAY-den
Variant of BRADEN
BRAIDY m,f English, Irish
Variant of BRADY
BRAM m English, Dutch
Short form of ABRAHAM. This name was borne by Bram Stoker, the author who wrote 'Dracula'.
BRAND m English
Pronounced: BRAND
Derived from Old Norse brandr meaning "sword".
BRANDA f English
Pronounced: BRAN-da
Feminine form of BRAND
BRANDE f English
Variant of BRANDY
BRANDEN m English
Pronounced: BRAN-den
Variant of BRANDON
BRANDI f English
Pronounced: BRAN-dee
Variant of BRANDY
BRANDIE f English
Pronounced: BRAN-dee
Variant of BRANDY
BRANDON m English
Pronounced: BRAN-dun
From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "hill covered with broom" in Old English. It is
sometimes also used as a variant of BRENDAN. BRANDT m English
Variant of BRAND
BRANDY f English
Pronounced: BRAN-dee
Simply means "brandy" from the English word for the alcoholic drink.
BRANT m English
Pronounced: BRANT
Variant of BRAND
BRAXTON m English
Pronounced: BRAKS-tun
From a surname which was originally derived from an Old English place name meaning "Bracca's town".
BRAYDEN m English
Pronounced: BRAY-den
Variant of BRADEN
BREANA f English
Pronounced: bree-AN-a
Feminine form of BRIAN
BREANN f English
Pronounced: bree-AN
Feminine form of BRIAN
BREANNA f English
Pronounced: bree-AN-a
Feminine form of BRIAN
BREANNE f English
Pronounced: bree-AN
Feminine form of BRIAN
BRENDA f English
Pronounced: BREN-da
Derived from Old Norse brandr meaning "sword". This name is sometimes used as a feminine form of
BRENDAN.
BRENDAN m Irish, English
Pronounced: BREN-dan
From Brendanus, the Latinized form of the Irish name Breanainn which meant "prince". Saint Brendan was a
6th-century Irish abbot. According to legend he and 17 other monks crossed the Atlantic and reached North
America.
BRENDEN m English
Pronounced: BREN-den
Variant of BRENDAN
BRENDON m English
Pronounced: BREN-dun
Variant of BRENDAN
BRENNAN m Irish, English
Pronounced: BREN-an
Either a form of BRENDAN, or else from the Irish surname Ó Braonáin which means "descendent of Braonán".
Braonán is a first name meaning "sorrow" (Irish braon "tear drop" and a diminutive suffix).
BRENT m English
Pronounced: BRENT
From a surname which was originally derived from an English place name which meant "hill" in Celtic.
BRET m English
Pronounced: BRET
Variant of BRETT
BRETT m English
Pronounced: BRET
From a Middle English surname meaning "a Breton", referring to an inhabitant of Brittany. BRIAN m Irish, English
Pronounced: BRIE-an
The meaning of this name is not known for certain but there are several theories including: "hill" from Celtic
bruaich; "high" or "noble" from Celtic brigh; or "strong" from Celtic bri. Brian Boru was an Irish king who thwarted Viking attempts to conquer Ireland in the 11th century. He was victorious in the Battle of Clontarf, but
he himself was slain.
BRIANA f English
Pronounced: bree-AN-a
Feminine form of BRIAN
BRIANNA f English, Irish
Pronounced: bree-AN-a
Feminine form of BRIAN
BRIANNE f English
Pronounced: bree-AN
Feminine form of BRIAN
BRIAR m,f English
Pronounced: BRIE-ar
From the English word for the thorny plant.
BRIDGER m English
Pronounced: BRIJ-ur
From a surname which meant "one who builds bridges" in Old English. BRIDGET f Irish, Scottish, English, Irish Mythology
Pronounced: BRIJ-it
From the Irish name Brighid which means "high goddess". In Irish mythology she was the goddess of poetry and wisdom, the daughter of the god Dagda. This name was also borne by a patron saint of Ireland (also
called Brigid) who established a convent at Kildare in the 5th century, and by the patron saint of Sweden (also
called Birgitta).
BRIDGETTE f English
Pronounced: BRIJ-et
Variant of BRIDGET
BRIDIE f English
Anglicized pet form of BRÍD
BRIGHAM m English
Pronounced: BRIG-am
From a surname which was originally derived from place names meaning "bridge settlement" in Old English.
BRIGIT f Irish, Scottish, English
Pronounced: BRIJ-it
Variant of BRIDGET
BRIONY f English
Pronounced: BRIE-awn-ee
Variant of BRYONY
BRISCOE m English
Pronounced: BRIS-ko
From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "birch wood" in Old Norse.
BRISTOL m English
Pronounced: BRIS-tul
From the name of the city in southwest England which means "the site of the bridge".
BRITNEY f English
Pronounced: BRIT-nee
Variant of BRITTANY
BRITTANI f English (Modern)
Pronounced: BRIT-nee
Variant of BRITTANY
BRITTANY f English
Pronounced: BRIT-nee
From the name of the region in the northwest of France, called in French Bretagne. It was named for the Briton settlers who fled to France after the Anglo-Saxon invasion of England.
BRITTNEY f English
Pronounced: BRIT-nee
Variant of BRITTANY
BRITTON m English
Pronounced: BRIT-un
Derived from a Middle English surname meaning "a Breton". BROCK m English
Pronounced: BRAWK
Derived from Old English brocc meaning "badger". This was originally a surname.
BRODIE m Irish, English
Pronounced: BRO-dee
Variant of BRODY
BRODY m Irish, English
Pronounced: BRO-dee
From a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "ditch" in Gaelic.
BRONTE m English
Pronounced: BRAWN-tee
Means either "thunder" in Greek or "bestower" in Gaelic. The Bronte sisters - Charlotte, Emily, and Anne -
were novelists from England.
BROOK m,f English
Pronounced: BRUWK
From an English surname which denoted one who lived near a brook.
BROOKE f,m English
Pronounced: BRUWK
Variant of BROOK
BROOKLYN f English
Pronounced: BRUWK-lin
Combination of BROOK and the popular name suffix lyn.
BROOKS m English
Pronounced: BRUWKS
From a surname which meant "dweller near the brook" in Old English.
BRUCE m Scottish, English
Pronounced: BROOS
From a Norman surname meaning "of Brieuse" in French. Brieuse was a place in France. The name was
borne by Robert the Bruce, a Scottish hero of the 14th century who achieved independence from England and
became the king of Scotland.
BRYAN m English
Pronounced: BRIE-an
Variant of BRIAN
BRYANA f English
Feminine form of BRIAN
BRYANNA f English
Feminine form of BRIAN
BRYANT m English
Pronounced: BRIE-ant
From a surname which was derived from the first name BRIAN.
BRYCE m English
Pronounced: BRIES
Variant of BRICE
BRYONY f English
Pronounced: BRIE-awn-ee
From the name of a type of vine. BUCK m English
Pronounced: BUK
Originally a nickname meaning "male deer" from Old English bucc.
BUD m English
Pronounced: BUD
From the English nickname that means "friend". BUDDY m English
Pronounced: BUD-ee
Pet form of BUD
BUFFY f English
Pronounced: BUF-ee
ELIZABETH Pet form of
BURGUNDY f English
Pronounced: BUR-gun-dee
This name can refer either to the region in France, the wine (which derives from the name of the region), or
the colour (which derives from the name of the wine).
BURT m English
Pronounced: BURT
Short form of BURTON
BURTON m English
Pronounced: BURT-un
From a surname which was originally taken from an Old English place name meaning "fortified town". A
famous bearer of the surname was Sir Richard Burton, a 19th-century explorer of Africa.
BUSTER m English
Pronounced: BUS-tur
Originally a nickname denoting a person who broke things. A famous bearer was the silent movie star Buster
Keaton.
BYRNE m English
Pronounced: BURN
From the Irish surname Ó Broin which means "descendent of BRAN (1)".
BYRON m English
Pronounced: BIE-rawn
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "place of the cow sheds" in Old English.
This was the surname of the romantic poet Lord Byron, the writer of 'Don Juan' and many other works.
BYSSHE m English
Pronounced: BISH
From an English surname, a variant of the surname Bush, which originally indicated a person who lived near a bush. This was the middle name of the romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. CADE m English
Pronounced: KAYD
From a surname which was originally derived from a nickname meaning "round" in Old English.
CADEN m English
Pronounced: KAY-den
Possibly from the Gaelic surname Mac Cadáin, which means "son of Cadán". The name Cadán may be
related to CATHÁN.
CADENCE f,m English
Pronounced: KAY-dents
From an English word meaning "rhythm, flow".
CAEDMON m English
Pronounced: KAD-mun
Meaning unknown, though the first element is likely connected to British caed meaning "battle". Saint Caedmon was a 7th-century poet who supposedly received his poetic inspiration from a dream. Our only
knowledge of him is through the historian Bede.
CAELIE f English
Pronounced: KAY-lee
Variant of KAYLEY
CAESAR m Ancient Roman, English
Pronounced: SEE-zar
From a Roman cognomen which possibly meant "hairy" from Latin caesaries. Julius Caesar and his adopted son Julius Caesar Octavianus (commonly known as Augustus) were both rulers of the Roman empire. Caesar
was used as a title by the emperors that came after them.
CAILEIGH f English
Pronounced: KAY-lee
Variant of KAYLEY
CAIRO m English
Pronounced: KIE-ro
From the name of the city in Egypt, called Al Qahirah in Arabic, which was derived from al Qahir, the Arabic
name of the planet Mars.
CAITLIN f Irish, English
Pronounced: KAYT-lin
Irish form of Cateline, the Old French form of KATHERINE. CAITLYN f English
Pronounced: KAYT-lin
Variant of CAITLIN
CAL m English
Pronounced: KAL
Short form of CALVIN
CALANTHE f English
Pronounced: ka-LAN-thee
Means "beautiful flower", derived from Greek kalos "beautiful" and anthos "flower". This is the name of a type
of orchid.
CALANTHIA f English
Pronounced: ka-LAN-thee-a
Elaborated form of CALANTHE
CALEB m English, Biblical
Pronounced: KAY-leb
Means "dog" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this was the name of one of the twelve spies sent by Moses
into Israel. Of the Israelites who left Egypt with Moses, Caleb and Joshua were the only ones who lived to see
the promised land.
CALEIGH f English
Variant of KAYLEY
CALISTA f English
Pronounced: ka-LIS-ta
Variant of CALLISTA
CALLA m English
From the name of a type of lily. The name can also be derived from Greek kalos "beautiful".
CALLAHAN m English
From a surname, the Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Ceallachain, which means "descendent of Ceallachan".
The name Ceallachan is a pet form of CEALLACH. CALLIE f English
Pronounced: KAL-ee
Short form of CALLISTA
CALLISTA f English
Pronounced: ka-LIS-ta
Feminine form of CALLISTUS or a form of KALLISTO
CALVIN m English
Pronounced: KAL-vin
Derived from Norman French calve meaning "bald". Originally a surname, it belonged to Jean Calvin, a theologian from France who was one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation. CAMBRIA f English
Pronounced: KAM-bree-a
Latin form of the Welsh Cymru, the Welsh name for the country of Wales, derived from cymry meaning "the
people". It is occasionally used as a given name in modern times. CAMDEN m English
Pronounced: KAM-den
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. CAMELLIA f English
Pronounced: ka-MEL-ee-a
From the name of the flowering shrub, which was named for the botanist and missionary Georg Josef Kamel.
CAMERON m,f Scottish, English
Pronounced: KAM-u-run, KAM-run
From a Scottish surname meaning "crooked nose" from Gaelic cam "crooked" and sròn "nose". The
Camerons were one of the great Highland clans.
CAMILLA f English, Italian, Ancient Roman, Roman Mythology
Pronounced: ka-MIL-a (English), kaw-MEEL-a (Italian)
Feminine form of CAMILLUS. This was the name of a legendary warrior maiden of the Volscians, as told by Virgil in the 'Aeneid'.
CAMMIE f English
Pronounced: KAM-ee
Pet form of CAMILLA
CAMRON m English
Pronounced: KAM-run
Variant of CAMERON
CAMRYN f English
Pronounced: KAM-rin
Strictly feminine form of CAMERON
CANDACE f English, Biblical
Pronounced: KAN-das, kan-DAY-see
Sometimes said to mean "incandescent" or "white" from Latin canditia, but it is more likely from an unknown Ethiopic source. In the New Testament this is given as the title of the queens of Ethiopia.
CANDI f English (Modern)
Pronounced: KAN-dee
Variant of CANDY
CANDICE f English
Pronounced: KAN-dis
Variant of CANDACE
CANDIDA f English
Pronounced: KAN-di-da
Derived from Latin canditia meaning "white". This was the name of an early saint who was supposedly healed
by Saint Peter.
CANDIS f English
Pronounced: KAN-dis
Variant of CANDACE
CANDY f English
Pronounced: KAN-dee
Either a short form of CANDACE or else from the English word candy.
CANUTE m English
Pronounced: ka-NOOT, ka-NYOOT
Anglicized form of KNUT
CARA f English
Pronounced: KAR-a
This name can mean either "beloved" in Italian or "friend" in Gaelic.
CAREEN f English
Pronounced: ke-REEN
Combination of CAROLINE and IRENE. This name was perhaps first used by Margaret Mitchell in her novel
'Gone with the Wind'. CAREN f English
Pronounced: KER-en
Variant of KAREN
CAREY m,f Irish, English
Pronounced: KER-ee
From the Irish surname Ó Ciardha, which means "descendent of Ciardha". The name Ciardha means "dark"
in Gaelic.
CARIN f English
Pronounced: KER-in
Variant of KAREN
CARINA f Scandinavian, German, English Pet form of CARA. This name is also borne by a constellation in the southern sky, in which case the name
means "keel" in Latin, referring to a part of Jason's ship the Argo.
CARINE f French, English
Variant of CARINA
CARIS f English
Variant of CHARIS
CARISSA f English
Pronounced: ke-RIS-a
Variant of CHARISSA
CARITA f English
Pronounced: ka-REE-ta
Pet form of CARA
CARL m German, English
Pronounced: KAR-ul
German form of CHARLES. Two noteworthy bearers of the name were the German mathematician Carl
Gauss, who made contributions to number theory and algebra as well as physics and astronomy, and the
Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, who founded analytical psychology.
CARLA f Italian, Portuguese, English, German Pronounced: KAWR-la
Feminine form of CARLO, CARLOS or CARL CARLENE f English
Pronounced: KAR-leen
Feminine pet form of CARL
CARLEY f English
Pronounced: KAR-lee
Feminine form of CARL
CARLIE f English
Pronounced: KAR-lee
Feminine form of CARL
CARLISA f English (Modern)
Pronounced: kar-LEE-sa
Combination of CARLA and LISA
CARLISLE m English
Pronounced: KAR-lie-ul
From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "city belonging to Lugovalos" in Welsh.
Lugovalos was a Celtic personal name meaning "strong as LUGUS".
CARLTON m English
Pronounced: KARL-tun
Variant of CHARLTON
CARLY f English
Pronounced: KAR-lee
Feminine form of CARL
CARLYLE m English
Pronounced: KAR-lie-ul
Variant of CARLISLE
CARLYN f English
Contracted variant of CAROLINE
CARMEL f English, Biblical
Pronounced: KAR-mel
From the title of Mary 'Our Lady of Carmel'. Carmel (meaning "garden" in Hebrew) is a mountain in Israel
mentioned in the Old Testament. It was the site of several Christian monasteries. CARMELLA f English
Pronounced: kar-MEL-a
Latinized form of CARMEL
CARMEN f Spanish, English
Pronounced: KAR-men
Spanish form of CARMEL influenced by the Latin word carmen "song". This was the name of the main character in George Bizet's opera 'Carmen'.
CAROL f,m English
Pronounced: KER-ul
English feminine form of CAROLUS. It was formerly a masculine name. The name can also be given in reference to the English vocabulary word which means "song" or "hymn". CAROLA f English
Feminine form of CAROLUS
CAROLINA f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English
Pronounced: kar-o-LEE-na, KER-o-lien-a (English)
Latinate feminine form of CAROLUS. This is the name of two American states: North and South Carolina.
They were named for Charles I, king of England.
CAROLINE f French, English
Pronounced: ka-ro-LEEN (French), KER-o-lien (English)
French feminine form of CAROLUS
CAROLYN f English
Pronounced: KER-o-lin
Variant of CAROLINE
CARRIE f English
Pronounced: KER-ee
Pet form of CAROLINE
CARRY f English
Pronounced: KER-ee
Short form of CAROLINE
CARSON m,f Scottish, Irish, English
Pronounced: KAR-sun
From a Gaelic surname of unknown meaning. A famous bearer of the surname was the American scout Kit
Carson.
CARTER m English
Pronounced: KAR-tur
From a surname which meant "one who uses a cart" in Middle English.
CARY m,f English
Pronounced: KER-ee
Variant of CAREY
CARYL f English
Pronounced: KER-ul
Variant of CAROL
CARYN f English
Pronounced: KER-in
Variant of KAREN
CASEY m,f English
Pronounced: KAY-see
From the Irish surname Ó Cathasaigh, which means "descendent of Cathasaigh". The name Cathasaigh
means "vigilant" in Gaelic. Casey also serves as a form of CASS (feminine).
CASIMIR m English
Pronounced: KAZ-i-meer
Means "to destroy peace", derived from the Slavic element kazic "to destroy" combined with mir "peace" (or
possibly the older element mer "great"). Four kings of Poland have borne this name, including Casimir III the
Great, who greatly strengthened the Polish state in the 14th century. The name also belonged to Saint
Casimir, a 15th-century Polish prince and a patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.
CASS f English
Pronounced: KAS
Short form of CASSANDRA
CASSANDRA f English, Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Pronounced: ka-SAN-dra
Possibly means "shining upon man", derived from Greek kekasmai "to shine" and aner "man" (genitive andros). In Greek myth Cassandra was a Trojan princess, the daughter of Priam and Hecuba. She was given
the gift of prophecy by Apollo, but when she spurned his advances he cursed her so nobody would believe
her prophecies.
CASSARAH f English
Pronounced: ka-SER-a
Recently created name intended to mean "what will be, will be" from the Latin phrase que sera, sera.
CASSIA f English, Ancient Roman
Pronounced: KA-sha
Either means "cassia" from the name of the spice tree (see KEZIA), or else is a feminine form of CASSIUS.
CASSIAN m English
Pronounced: KASH-un
From the Roman family name Cassianus, which was derived from CASSIUS. This was the name of several saints, including a 3rd-century martyr from Tangier who is the patron saint of stenographers.
CASSIDY f,m English
Pronounced: KAS-i-dee
From the Irish surname Ó Caiside meaning "descendent of Caiside". Caiside is a first name meaning "curly haired" from Gaelic cas.
CASSIE f English
Pronounced: KAS-ee
Pet form of CASSIA and other names beginning with cass.
CATE f English
Pronounced: KAYT
Variant of KATE
CATHARINE f English
Pronounced: KATH-u-rin, KATH-rin
Variant of CATHERINE
CATHERINE f English, French
Pronounced: KATH-u-rin (English), KATH-rin (English), ka-TREEN (French)
English variant and French form of KATHERINE
CATHLEEN f Irish, English
Pronounced: kath-LEEN
Variant of KATHLEEN
CATHRYN f English
Pronounced: KATH-rin
Variant of KATHERINE
CATHY f English
Pronounced: KATH-ee
Short form of CATHERINE
CAYLEY f English (Modern)
Pronounced: KAY-lee
Variant of KAYLEY
CEARA f English
Variant of CIARA
CEARRA f English
Variant of CIARA
CECELIA f English
Pronounced: se-SEE-lee-a, se-SEEL-ya
Variant of CECILIA
CECIL m English
Pronounced: SEE-sil
From the Welsh name Seissylt, which was from the Roman name SEXTUS. It can also derive from the
Roman name Caecilius (see CECILIA), which was the name of a 3rd-century saint, a companion of Saint
Cyprian.
CECILIA f English, Italian, Spanish, Scandinavian
Pronounced: se-SEE-lee-a, se-SEEL-ya
Latinate feminine form of the Roman family name Caecilius, which was derived from Latin caecus "blind".
According to legend, Saint Cecilia was a 3rd-century martyr who was sentenced to die because she refused
to worship the Roman gods. After attempts to suffocate her failed, she had her head chopped off. She is the
patron saint of music and musicians. CECILY f English
Pronounced: SES-i-lee
English feminine form of Caecilius (see CECILIA).
CEDAR f English
Pronounced: SEE-dur
Means simply "cedar" from the English word for the coniferous tree, ultimately derived from Greek kedros.
CEDRIC m English
Pronounced: SED-rik
Invented by Sir Walter Scott for a character in his novel 'Ivanhoe'. Apparently he based it on the actual name
Cerdic, of unknown meaning, the name of the legendary founder of the kingdom of Wessex. Cedric is also
sometimes said to mean "bounty spectacle" from the Welsh name Cedrych, or "lord of wars" in Old English, but these theories are not likely true.
CELANDINE f English
Pronounced: SEL-an-deen
From the name of the flower, which derives from Greek chelidon "a swallow".
CELESTE f English
Pronounced: sel-EST
English form of CÉLESTE
CELESTINE m English
Pronounced: SEL-es-teen
From the Late Latin name Caelestinus, an elaborated form of CAELESTIS. This was the name of five popes. CELIA f English, Italian
Feminine form of the Roman family name Caelius (see CELIO).
CHAD m English
Pronounced: CHAD
From the Old English name Ceadda which is of unknown meaning, possibly based on Welsh cad "battle". This was the name of a 7th-century English saint. Also, a country in Africa bears this name, though it originates
from a different source.
CHADWICK m English
Pronounced: CHAD-wik
From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "dairy farm belonging to CHAD" in Old English.
CHALICE f English
Pronounced: CHAL-is
Means simply "chalice, goblet" from the English word. CHANCE f,m English
Pronounced: CHANTS
Means simply "chance" from the English word.
CHANDLER m English
Pronounced: CHAND-lur
From an occupational surname which meant "candle seller" in Middle English, ultimately from Old French.
CHANEL f English
From a French surname which meant "pipe".
CHANNING m English
Pronounced: CHAN-ing
From a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "a canal" in French.
CHANTAL f French, English
Pronounced: shawn-TAL (French), shan-TAL (English), shawn-TAL (English)
From a French surname which was derived from a place name meaning "stony place". It has become
associated with French chant "song".
CHANTEL f English
Pronounced: shan-TEL, shawn-TEL
Variant of CHANTAL
CHANTELLE f English
Pronounced: shan-TEL, shawn-TEL
Variant of CHANTAL
CHARIS f English
Pronounced: sha-REES, ka-REES, KAY-ris
Derived from Greek charis meaning "grace" or "kindness".
CHARISSA f English
Pronounced: ka-RIS-a
Elaborated form of CHARIS
CHARITA f English
Pronounced: cha-REE-ta
Latinate form of CHARITY
CHARITY f English
Pronounced: CHER-i-tee
In part this name means "charity" from the English word. It is also derived in part from the Late Latin name
Caritas which meant "generous love", ultimately from Latin carus "dear, beloved".
CHARLA f English
Pronounced: SHAR-la
Feminine form of CHARLES
CHARLENE f English
Pronounced: SHAR-leen
Feminine pet form of CHARLES
CHARLES m English, French
Pronounced: CHAR-ulz (English), SHARL (French)
From the Germanic name Karl, which was derived from a Germanic word which meant "man". The most
noteworthy bearer of this name was Charles the Great, commonly known as Charlemagne, a king of the
Franks who came to rule over most of Europe. Several Holy Roman Emperors bore this name, as well as
kings of England, France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Hungary. Other famous bearers include naturalist Charles Darwin who revolutionized biology with his theory of evolution, and novelist Charles Dickens who
wrote such works as 'Great Expectations' and 'A Tale of Two Cities'. CHARLEY f,m English
Pronounced: CHAR-lee
Pet form or feminine form of CHARLES
CHARLIE m,f English
Pronounced: CHAR-lee
Pet form or feminine form of CHARLES. This is the name of a character in the comic strip 'Peanuts' by Charles Schulz.
CHARLOTTE f French, English
Pronounced: SHAR-lawt (English), shar-LOT (French)
French feminine pet form of CHARLES. A notable bearer was Charlotte Bronte, the eldest of the three Bronte sisters and the author of 'Jane Eyre' and 'Villette'.
CHARLTON m English
Pronounced: KARL-tun
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "settlement of free men" in Old English. CHARMAINE f English
Pronounced: shar-MAYN
Meaning unknown. Perhaps from the Roman family name Carmineus, perhaps an elaborate feminine form of CHARLES.
CHARMIAN f English
Pronounced: CHAR-mee-an, SHAR-mee-an
Derived from Greek charma meaning "delight". This name was used by Shakespeare in his play 'Antony and Cleopatra'.
CHARNETTE f English (Modern)
Possibly a pet form of CHARNA
CHAS m English
Pronounced: CHAZ
Pet form of CHARLES
CHASE m English
Pronounced: CHAYS
From a surname meaning "chase, hunt" in Old French, originally a nickname for a huntsman. CHASITY f English
Pronounced: CHAS-i-tee
Variant of CHASTITY
CHASTITY f English Pronounced: CHAS-ti-tee
Means simply "chastity" from the English word, which is ultimately from Latin castus "pure".
CHAUNCEY m English Pronounced: CHAWN-see
From a Norman surname of unknown meaning.
CHAZ m English
Pronounced: CHAZ
Pet form of CHARLES CHELLE f English
Pronounced: SHEL
Pet form of MICHELLE CHELSEA f English
Pronounced: CHEL-see
From the name of a district in London meaning "landing place for chalk or limestone" in Old English.
CHELSEY f English
Pronounced: CHEL-see
Variant of CHELSEA
CHELSIE f English
Pronounced: CHEL-see
Variant of CHELSEA
CHER f English
Pronounced: SHER
Short form of CHERIE or CHERILYN
CHERETTE f English Pronounced: she-RET
Pet form of CHERIE
CHERI f English
Pronounced: SHER-ee, she-REE Variant of CHERIE
CHERICE f English (Modern) Pronounced: she-REES
Variant of CERISE
CHERIE f English
Pronounced: SHER-ee, she-REE Derived from French chérie meaning "darling".
CHERILYN f English
Pronounced: SHER-i-lin
Perhaps a combination of CHERIE and the popular name suffix lyn.
CHERISE f English
Pronounced: she-REES
Variant of CERISE
CHERISH f English
Pronounced: CHER-ish
From the English word meaning "to treasure". CHEROKEE f,m English
Pronounced: CHER-o-kee
Probably derived from the Creek word tciloki meaning "people of a different speech". This is the name of a
Native American people who live in the east of North America. CHERRY f English
Pronounced: CHER-ee
Either a variant of CHERIE or a pet form of CHARITY. It can also be intended to simply mean "cherry" from
the name of the fruit.
CHERYL f English
Pronounced: SHER-il
Meaning unknown, perhaps a blend of CHERIE and BERYL
CHESLEY m English
Pronounced: CHES-lee
From a surname that was originally from a place name meaning "camp meadow" in Old English.
CHESTER m English
Pronounced: CHES-tur
From a surname that originally belonged to a person who came from Chester, an old Roman settlement in
Britain. The name of the settlement came from Latin castrum "fortified place". CHET m English
Pronounced: CHET
Short form of CHESTER
CHEYANNE f English (Modern)
Variant of CHEYENNE
CHEYENNE f,m English
Pronounced: shie-AN
Derived from the Dakota word shahiyena meaning "unintelligible speakers". This is the name of a Native
American people who lived on the Great Plains.
CHILE m English
Pronounced: KIE-ul
Variant of KYLE
CHINA f English
Pronounced: CHIE-na
From the name of the Asian country, ultimately from Chinese Zhong guo meaning "middle country".
CHIP m English
Pronounced: CHIP
Pet form of CHARLES or CHRISTOPHER. It can also be given in reference to the phrase a chip off the old
block, used of a son who is similar to his father.
CHLOE f English, Biblical, Greek Mythology
Pronounced: KLO-ee
Means "green shoot" in Greek. This was an epithet of the Greek goddess Demeter. The name is also
mentioned by Paul in one of his epistles in the New Testament.
CHONSIE f English
Pronounced: CHAWN-see
Feminine form of CHAUNCEY
CHRIS m,f English
Pronounced: KRIS
Short form of CHRISTOPHER, CHRISTIAN, CHRISTINE or other names that begin with Chris.
CHRISSIE f English
Pronounced: KRIS-ee
Pet form of CHRISTINE
CHRISSY f English
Pronounced: KRIS-ee
Pet form of CHRISTINE
CHRISTA f German, Scandinavian, English
Pronounced: KRIS-ta
Short form of CHRISTINA
CHRISTABEL f English (Modern)
Combination of CHRISTA and the popular name suffix bel.
CHRISTAL f English (Modern)
Pronounced: KRIS-tal
Variant of CRYSTAL
CHRISTI f English
Pronounced: KRIS-tee
Pet form of CHRISTINE
CHRISTIAN m English, French, German
Pronounced: KRIS-chen (English), KRISH-chen (English), krees-TYAWN (French)
From a medieval Latin name that meant "Christian". This was the name of ten kings of Denmark. Another
famous bearer of the name was Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish author of such fairy tales as 'The Ugly
Duckling' and 'The Emperor's New Clothes'.
CHRISTIANA f English
Pronounced: kris-tee-AN-a
Feminine form of CHRISTIAN
CHRISTIANNE f English, French
Feminine form of CHRISTIAN
CHRISTIE f English
Pronounced: KRIS-tee
Pet form of CHRISTINE
CHRISTINA f English
Pronounced: kris-TEEN-a
Feminine form of CHRISTIAN. This was the name of a Swedish queen of the 17th century who was interested
in the arts and philosophy. She gave up her crown to become a Roman Catholic. CHRISTINE f French, English
Pronounced: krees-TEEN (French), kris-TEEN (English)
French and English form of CHRISTINA
CHRISTMAS m English
Pronounced: KRIS-mas
From the name of the holiday, which means "Christ festival". CHRISTOBEL f English (Modern)
Variant of CHRISTABEL
CHRISTOPHER m English
Pronounced: KRIS-to-fur
Means "bearing Christ", derived from Late Greek Christos combined with pherein "to bear, to carry". Christopher was the legendary saint who carried the young Jesus across a river. He is the patron saint of
travellers. Another famous bearer was Christopher Columbus, the explorer who reached the West Indies in
the 15th century.
CHRISTY f English
Pronounced: KRIS-tee
Pet form of CHRISTINE
CHRYSANTA f English
Pronounced: kri-SAN-ta
Shortened form of the word chrysanthemum, the name of a flowering plant, which means "golden flower" in Greek.
CHRYSSA f English
Pronounced: KRIS-a
Short form of CHRYSANTA
CHRYSTAL f English (Modern)
Pronounced: KRIS-tal
Variant of CRYSTAL
CHUCK m English
Pronounced: CHUK
Pet form of CHARLES. Two famous bearers of this name were jet pilot Chuck Yeager, the first man to travel faster than the speed of sound, and the musician Chuck Berry, one of the pioneers of rock music. CHYNA f English (Modern)
Variant of CHINA
CICELY f English
Pronounced: SIS-e-lee
Variant of CECILY, or perhaps from the name of the herb.
CIEL f English
Means "sky" in French.
CINDRA f English (Modern)
Combination of CINDY and SANDRA
CINDY f English
Pronounced: SIN-dee
Pet form of CYNTHIA
CLANCY m Irish, English
Pronounced: KLAN-see
From the Irish surname Mac Fhlannchaidh which means "son of Flannchadh". The Gaelic name Flannchadh means "red warrior".
CLARA f English, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian
Pronounced: KLER-a
Latinate form of CLARE
CLARE f English
Pronounced: KLER
Medieval name derived from Latin clarus "clear, bright, famous". Saint Clare, a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi, left her wealthy family to found the order of nuns known as the Poor Clares. This is also the name of an
Irish county which was named for the Norman invader Richard de Clare (known as Strongbow), whose surname is derived from an English river.
CLARENCE m English
Pronounced: KLER-ents
From the Latin title Clarensis which belonged to members of the British royal family. The title ultimately
derives from the name of the Clare river in Ireland.
CLARIBEL f English
Pronounced: KLER-i-bel
Combination of CLARA and the popular name suffix bel. This name was used by Edmund Spenser in his poem 'The Faerie Queene' (in the form Claribell) and by Shakespeare in his play 'The Tempest'. Alfred Lord Tennyson also wrote a poem entitled 'Claribel'.
CLARICE f English, French
Pronounced: kla-REES, KLER-is (English)
From the Late Latin name Claritia, which was derived from Latin clarus "clear, bright, famous". CLARINDA f English
Combination of CLARA and the popular name suffix inda. This name was used by Edmund Spenser in his poem 'The Faerie Queene'.
CLARISSA f English, Italian
Latinate form of CLARICE
CLARITY f English
Pronounced: KLER-i-tee
Simply means "clarity, lucidity" from the English word.
CLARK m English
Pronounced: KLARK
From a surname meaning "cleric" or "scholar" in Old English. William Clark was an explorer of the west of
North America. Another famous bearer was the American actor Clark Gable. CLAUD m English
Pronounced: KLAWD
Variant of CLAUDE
CLAUDE m,f French, English
Pronounced: KLOD (French), KLAWD (English)
French masculine and feminine form of CLAUDIUS. A famous bearer of this name was Claude Monet, the French impressionist painter.
CLAUDIA f English, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Ancient Roman
Pronounced: KLAW-dee-a, KLOW-dee-a
Feminine form of CLAUDIUS
CLAUDIUS m Ancient Roman, English
Pronounced: KLAW-dee-us
From a Roman family name which was derived from Latin claudus meaning "lame, crippled". Claudius was a
Roman emperor of the 1st century. He was poisoned by his wife Agrippina in order to bring her son Nero (Claudius's stepson) to power.
CLAY m English
Pronounced: KLAY
Either from a surname meaning "clay" in Old English or a short form of CLAYTON.
CLAYTON m English
Pronounced: KLAY-tun
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "clay settlement" in Old English. CLEM m English
Pronounced: KLEM
Short form of CLEMENT
CLEMATIS f English
Pronounced: kle-MAT-is
From the English word for a type of flowering vine, ultimately derived from Greek klema "twig, branch".
CLEMENCY f English
Pronounced: KLEM-ent-see
Means simply "clemency, mercy" from the English word.
CLEMENT m English
Pronounced: KLE-ment
From the Late Latin name Clemens which meant "merciful, gentle". This was the name of 14 popes, including Saint Clement I, the third pope, one of the Apostolic Fathers. Another saint named Clement was Saint Clement of Alexandria, a theologian and church father who attempted to reconcile Christian and Platonic philosophies.
CLEO f English
Pronounced: KLEE-o
Short form of CLEOPATRA
CLEOPATRA f Ancient Greek (Latinized), English
Pronounced: klee-o-PAT-ra
Means "glory of the father" from Greek kleos "glory" combined with patros "of the father". This was the name
of queens of Egypt from the Ptolemaic royal family, including Cleopatra VII, the mistress of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. After being defeated by Augustus she committed suicide by allowing herself to be bitten by an asp. Shakespeare's tragedy 'Antony and Cleopatra' is based on her.
CLEVELAND m English
Pronounced: KLEEV-land
From a surname which was derived from an Old English place name meaning "hilly land". This is also the name of an American city.
CLIFF m English
Pronounced: KLIF
Short form of CLIFFORD or CLIFTON
CLIFFORD m English
Pronounced: KLIF-furd
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "ford by a cliff" in Old English.
CLIFTON m English
Pronounced: KLIF-tun
From a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "settlement by a cliff" in Old
English.
CLINT m English
Pronounced: KLINT
Short form of CLINTON. A notable bearer is American actor Clint Eastwood, who is famous for his western
movies.
CLINTON m English
Pronounced: KLIN-tun
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "settlement on the summit" in Old English.
CLITUS m Ancient Greek (Latinized), English
Latinized form of KLEITOS
CLIVE m English
Pronounced: KLIEV
From a surname meaning "cliff" in Old English, originally belonging to a person who lived near a cliff.
CLOTILDA f English
Pronounced: klo-TIL-da
English form of CLOTHILDE
CLOVER f English
Pronounced: KLO-vur
Simply means "clover" from the English word for the wild flower, ultimately deriving from Old English clafre. CLYDE m,f English
Pronounced: KLIED
From the name of the River Clyde in Scotland, which is of unknown origin. CODIE m,f English
Pronounced: KO-dee
Variant and feminine form of CODY
CODY m English, Irish
Pronounced: KO-dee
From the Gaelic surname Mac Óda, which means "son of OTTO".
COLBERT m English Pronounced: KOL-burt
Germanic name composed of the elements col, possibly meaning "cool", and beraht, meaning "bright".
COLBY m English
Pronounced: KOL-bee
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "coal town" in Old English.
COLE m English
Pronounced: KOL
From a surname meaning "black" in Old English.
COLEEN f English
Pronounced: KAWL-een
Variant of COLLEEN
COLEMAN m English, Irish Variant of COLMÁN
COLENE f English
Pronounced: KAWL-een
Variant of COLLEEN
COLIN m Scottish, English Pronounced: KAWL-in
Either an Anglicized form of CAILEAN or a medieval pet form of NICHOLAS.
COLINE f English
Pronounced: KAWL-een
Variant of COLLEEN
COLLEEN f English Pronounced: KAWL-een
Anglicized form of CAILIN COLLIN m English
Pronounced: KAWL-in
Variant of COLIN
COLLYN f English
Pronounced: KAWL-een
Variant of COLLEEN
COLTEN m English Pronounced: KOL-ten
Variant of COLTON
COLTON m English
Pronounced: KOL-tun
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "coal town" in Old English.
COLUMBAN m English
Pronounced: ko-LUM-ban
English form of Columbanus (see COLUMBANO).
COLUMBINE f English
Pronounced: KAWL-um-bien
Feminine pet form of COLUMBA. This is the name of Harlequin's lover in traditional pantomimes. The name
can also be given in reference to the flower.
COMFORT f English
Pronounced: KUM-furt
Simply means "comfort" from the English word.
CONCORDIA f English
Pronounced: kawn-KOR-dee-a
Recently created name meaning "harmony" in Latin.
CONNELL m English
English form of CONALL
CONNIE f English
Pronounced: KAW-nee
Pet form of CONSTANCE
CONNOR m Irish, English
Pronounced: KAW-nur
From the Gaelic name Conchobhar which means "dog lover" or "wolf lover". This was the name of an early
king of Ulster. Irish legends tell of his tragic desire for Deirdre. CONOR m Irish, English
Pronounced: KAW-nur
Variant of CONNOR
CONRAD m English, German
Pronounced: KAWN-rad
Derived from the Germanic elements kuon "bold" and rad "counsel". This was the name of a famous 10th-century bishop from Switzerland. It was also borne by several kings of Germany. In the English-speaking
world it has been common only since the 19th century.
CONSTANCE f English, French
Pronounced: KAWN-stants (English), kawn-STAWNS (French)
Medieval form of CONSTANTIA. This was the name of a daughter of William the Conqueror.
CONSTANT m English, French
Pronounced: KAWN-stant
From the Late Latin name Constans, which meant "constant, steadfast". COOPER m English
Pronounced: KOO-pur
From a surname meaning "barrel maker" in Middle English. CORA f English
Pronounced: KOR-a
Latinate form of KORË. This name also serves as a feminine form of COREY or short form of CORINNA. CORAL f English
Pronounced: KOR-ul
Simply means "coral" from the English word for the underwater skeletal deposits which can form reefs.
CORALIE f English
Pet form of CORAL
CORBIN m English
Pronounced: KOR-bin
Possibly from the Roman cognomen Corvinus, which was derived from Latin corvus "raven". CORDELIA f English
Pronounced: kor-DEL-ee-a, kor-DEL-ya
Meaning unknown, perhaps from a Celtic name meaning "daughter of the sea". This name was first used in
this form by Shakespeare, who used it for one of the daughters of King Lear.
CORDELL m English
Pronounced: kor-DEL
From a surname meaning "maker of cord" or "seller of cord" in Middle English.
CORDULA f English, German
Late Latin name meaning "heart" from Latin cor, cordis. Saint Cordula was one of the companions of Saint
Ursula.
COREEN f English
Variant of CORINNE
CORETTA f English
Pronounced: ko-RET-a
Pet form of CORA
COREY m English
Pronounced: KOR-ee
From a surname which was possibly either derived from the Old Norse given name Kori (of unknown meaning), or else meant "ravine" in Gaelic.
CORIANDER f English
Pronounced: KOR-ee-an-dur
From the name of the spice, also called cilantro, which may ultimately be of Phoenician origin.
CORIE m English
Pronounced: KOR-ee
Variant of COREY
CORINA f English, German, Romanian
Variant of CORINNA
CORINE f English
Variant of CORINNE
CORINNA f English, German
Pronounced: ko-REEN-a
From the ancient Greek name Korinna, which was derived from kore "maiden". This was the name of a Greek
lyric poet of the 5th century BC. Also, the Roman poet Ovid wrote love poems about a woman named
Corinna.
CORNELIA f English, Italian, German, Dutch, Romanian, Ancient Roman Pronounced: kor-NEE-lee-a, kor-NEEL-ya
Feminine form of CORNELIUS
CORNELIUS m Ancient Roman, English, German, Biblical Pronounced: kor-NEE-lee-us
Roman family name which possibly derives from the Latin element cornu "horn". In Acts in the New
Testament Cornelius was a centurion who was directed by an angel to seek Peter. After speaking with Peter
he became a Christian convert. CORNELL m English
Pronounced: kor-NEL
Medieval form of CORNELIUS
CORRIE f English
Pronounced: KOR-ee
Pet form of CORINNA or CORA
CORRINE f English
Variant of CORINNE
CORTNEY f,m English
Pronounced: KORT-nee
Variant of COURTNEY
CORY m English
Pronounced: KOR-ee
Variant of COREY
CORYNN f English (Modern)
Variant of CORINNE
COSMO m Italian, English, German
Italian form of the Greek name Kosmos, which was derived from kosmos meaning "order, decency". Saint Cosmo was martyred with his twin brother Damian in the 4th century. They are the patron saints of
physicians.
COTY m English
From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "river bank" in Old French.
COURTNEY f,m English
Pronounced: KORT-nee
From a surname which was derived either from a French place name meaning "domain of CURTIS" or else
from a French nickname meaning "short nose".
CRAIG m Scottish, English
Pronounced: KRAYG
From a Scottish surname which was derived from Gaelic creag meaning "crag" or "rocks". The surname originally belonged to a person who lived near a crag.
CRAWFORD m English
Pronounced: KRAW-furd
From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "crow ford" in Old English.
CREE m English
Pronounced: KREE
From the name of the Native American tribe of central Canada. The name derives via French from the Cree
word kiristino.
CREIGHTON m English
Pronounced: KRIE-tun
From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "rock town" from Welsh craig "rock" and Old English tun "town".
CRESSIDA f English
Pronounced: KRES-i-da
Derived from Greek khrysos meaning "gold". Medieval legends describe her as a woman of Troy, daughter of
Calchus, who leaves her Trojan lover Troilus for the Greek hero Diomedes. CRISPIAN m English
Medieval form of CRISPIN
CRISPIN m English
Pronounced: KRIS-pin
From a Roman cognomen which was derived from the Roman family name Crispus, which meant
"curly-headed" in Latin.
CRISTAL f English (Modern)
Pronounced: KRIS-tal
Variant of CRYSTAL
CROFTON m English
Pronounced: KRAWF-tun
From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "town with a small enclosed field" in Old
English.
CRYSTAL f English
Pronounced: KRIS-tal
Means simply "crystal" from the English word for the clear, colourless glass, sometimes cut into the shape of
a gemstone. The English word derives ultimately from Greek krystallos meaning "ice". CULLEN m English
Pronounced: KUL-en
From a surname which was derived from an Old French form of Cologne, the name of a city in Germany. CURT m German, English
Pronounced: KURT
Either a variant of KURT or short form of CURTIS
CURTIS m English
Pronounced: KUR-tis
From a surname which originally meant "courteous" in French. CUTHBERT m English
Pronounced: KUTH-burt
Derived from the Old English elements cuæ "famous" and beorht "bright". Saint Cuthbert was a hermit who
became the bishop of Lindisfarne, an island off the coast of England. He was known as performer of healing
miracles.
CY m English
Pronounced: SIE
Short form of CYRUS
CYAN f English
Pronounced: SIE-an
From the English word meaning "greenish blue", ultimately derived from Greek kyanos.
CYBILL f English
Pronounced: SIB-ul
Variant of SIBYL
CYMBELINE m English
Pronounced: SIM-bel-een
Form of CUNOBELINUS used by Shakespeare in his play 'Cymbeline'.
CYMONE f English
Pronounced: see-MON
Feminine form of SIMON
CYNDI f English
Pronounced: SIN-dee
Short form of CYNTHIA
CYNTHIA f English
Pronounced: SIN-thee-a
Means "woman of Kynthos" in Greek. Cynthia was an epithet of the Greek moon goddess Artemis, given because Kynthos was the mountain on Delos on which she and her twin brother Apollo were born. CYRIL m English
Pronounced: SEER-il
From the Greek name Kyrillos which was derived from Greek kyrios "lord". Saint Cyril of Jerusalem was a
4th-century bishop and a Doctor of the Church. Saint Cyril of Alexandria was a 5th-century theologian. Another Saint Cyril was a 9th-century linguist and a Greek missionary to the Slavs. The Cyrillic alphabet, which is still used today, was created by him and his brother Methodius in order to translate the Bible into Slavic.
CYRILLA f English
Feminine form of CYRIL
CYRUS m English, Biblical
Pronounced: SIE-rus
From Kyros, the Greek form of the Persian name Kûrush, which may mean "far sighted" or may be related to the Persian word khur "sun". The name is sometimes associated with Greek kyrios "lord". This was the name
of several kings of Persia, including Cyrus the Great, who conquered Babylon. He is famous in the Old Testament for freeing the captive Jews and allowing them to return to Israel. DACRE m English
From a surname which was originally derived from a place name in Cumbria meaning "trickling stream" in old Celtic.
DAFFODIL f English
Pronounced: DAF-o-dil
Means simply "daffodil" from the name of the flower, ultimately derived from Dutch de affodil meaning "the
asphodel".
DAHLIA f English
Pronounced: DAL-ya
From the name of the flower, which was named for the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. DAISY f English
Pronounced: DAY-zee
Simply means "daisy" from the English word for the white flower, ultimately derived from Old English dægeseage meaning "day eye".
DAKOTA m,f English
Pronounced: da-KO-ta
Means "friend" in the Dakota language. This is the name of a Native American people of the northern Mississippi valley.
DALE m,f English
Pronounced: DAY-ul
From an English surname that originally belonged to a person who lived near a dale. DALEY m Irish, English
Pronounced: DAY-lee
From the Irish surname Ó Dálaigh, which means "descendent of Dálach". The name Dálach means
"assembly" in Gaelic.
DALIA f English
Pronounced: DAL-ya
Variant of DAHLIA
DALLAS m English
Pronounced: DAL-as
From a surname which was originally taken from a Scottish place name meaning "resting place". A city in Texas also bears this name.
DALTON m English
Pronounced: DAWL-tun
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "valley town" in Old English. A notable bearer of the surname was John Dalton, the English chemist and physicist who theorized about the existence of atoms.
DALY m Irish, English
Variant of DALEY
DALYA f English
Pronounced: DAL-ya
Variant of DAHLIA
DAMIAN m English
Pronounced: DAY-mee-an
From the Greek name Damianos which was derived from Greek daman "to tame". Saint Damian was
martyred with his twin brother Cosmo early in the 4th century. They are the patron saints of physicians. Another saint by this name was Saint Peter Damian, an 11th-century cardinal and theologian from Italy.
DAMION m English
Pronounced: DAY-mee-awn
Variant of DAMIAN
DAMON m Greek Mythology, English
Pronounced: DAY-mawn
Derived from Greek daman meaning "to tame". According to Greek legend, Damon and Pythias were friends who lived on Syracuse in the 4th century BC. When Pythias was sentenced to death, Damon took his friend's place in prison while he went to put his affairs in order. Pythias returned just before Damon was to be executed, and the king was so impressed with their loyalty to one another that he pardoned Pythias. DAN (2) m English, Romanian
Pronounced: DAN
Short form of DANIEL
DANA (2) m,f English
Pronounced: DAY-na
From a surname which originally belonged to a person who was Danish.
DANE m English
Pronounced: DAYN
From a surname which originally belonged to a person who was Danish.
DANETTE f English
Pronounced: da-NET
Feminine pet form of DANIEL
DANIEL m English, Jewish, French, German, Scandinavian, Polish, Czech, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Biblical
Pronounced: DAN-yul (English), dan-YEL (French)
From the Hebrew name Daniyel meaning "God is my judge". Daniel was a Hebrew prophet whose story is told in the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. He lived during the Jewish captivity in Babylon, where he served
in the court of the king, rising to prominence by interpreting the king's dreams. The book also presents Daniel's four visions of the end of the world. Famous bearers of this name include English author Daniel Defoe, Swiss mathematician Daniel Bernoulli, and American frontiersman Daniel Boone. DANIELLA f English
Pronounced: dan-YEL-a
Feminine form of DANIEL
DANIELLE f French, English
Pronounced: dan-YEL
French feminine form of DANIEL
DANNIE m English
Pronounced: DAN-ee
Pet form of DANIEL
DANNY m English
Pronounced: DAN-ee
Pet form of DANIEL
DAPHNE f Greek Mythology, English
Pronounced: DAF-nee
Means "laurel" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was a nymph turned into a laurel tree by her father in order
that she might escape the pursuit of Apollo.
DARBY m,f English
Pronounced: DAR-bee
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "deer town" in Old Norse.
DARCEY f English
Pronounced: DAR-see
Feminine form of DARCY
DARCY m,f English
Pronounced: DAR-see
From a Norman surname meaning "from Arcy" from French D'Arcy, originally denoting one who came from Arcy in France. This is the surname of a character in Jane Austen's novel 'Pride and Prejudice'.
DARDEN m English
Pronounced: DAR-den
From a surname meaning "from Ardennes" in French. Ardennes is a forest in France.
DARELL m English
Pronounced: DER-el
Variant of DARRYL
DAREN m English
Pronounced: DER-en
Variant of DARREN
DARIA f Italian, English, Polish
Pronounced: DAR-ee-a, DER-ee-a
Feminine form of DARIUS. Saint Daria was a 3rd-century Greek woman who was martyred with her husband
Chrysanthus under the Roman emperor Numerian.
DARIAN m,f English
Pronounced: DER-ee-an
Perhaps an elaboration of DARIUS or DARIA
DARIEN m,f English
Pronounced: DER-ee-en
Possibly a variant of DARREN or DARIAN, or maybe a combination of the two.
DARIN m English
Pronounced: DER-in
Variant of DARREN
DARIUS m English
Pronounced: DER-ee-us, de-RIE-us
Roman form of Dareios, which was the Greek form of the Persian name Dârayavahush, which was composed
of the elements dâraya "to possess" and vahu "good". Several ancient kings of Persia bore this name,
including Darius the Great who invaded Greece but was defeated in the Battle of Marathon.
DARLA f English
Pronounced: DAR-la
Short form of DARLENE
DARLEEN f English
Pronounced: dar-LEEN
Variant of DARLENE
DARLENE f English
Pronounced: dar-LEEN
From a combination of the English word darling and the popular name suffix lene. DARNELL m English (Modern)
Pronounced: dar-NEL
Meaning unknown, possibly an elaboration of DARELL.
DARREL m English
Pronounced: DER-el
Variant of DARRYL
DARRELL m English
Pronounced: DER-el
Variant of DARRYL
DARREN m English
Pronounced: DER-en
The meaning of this name is not known for certain. It could be from an Irish surname (which possibly means
"great") or it could be a variation of DARRYL.
DARRIN m English
Pronounced: DER-in
Variant of DARREN
DARRYL m English
Pronounced: DER-el
Derived from French D'Airelle meaning "of Airelle". This was originally a Norman surname denoting one who
came from Airelle in France.
DARWIN m English
Pronounced: DAR-win
From a surname which was derived from the Old English given name Deorwine which meant "dear friend".
The surname was borne by the English naturalist Charles Darwin, the man who first proposed the theory of natural selection which subsequently revolutionized biology. A city in Australia bears this name in his honour. DARYL m English
Pronounced: DER-el
Variant of DARRYL
DAVE m English
Pronounced: DAYV
Short form of DAVID
DAVEY m English
Pronounced: DAY-vee
Pet form of DAVID
DAVID m English, Jewish, French, Russian, Czech, Biblical
Pronounced: DAY-vid (English), da-VEED (French)
Possibly derived from Hebrew dod meaning "beloved". David was the second and greatest of the kings of Israel, ruling in the 10th century BC. Several stories about him are told in the Old Testament, including his defeat of Goliath, a giant Philistine. Jesus was supposedly descended from him. Other famous bearers of this name include the 5th-century patron saint of Wales, two kings of Scotland, empiricist philosopher David Hume, and explorer David Livingstone. This is also the name of the hero of Charles Dickens' semiautobiographical novel 'David Copperfield'.
DAVIDA f English
Feminine form of DAVID
DAVIE m English
Pronounced: DAY-vee
Pet form of DAVID
DAVIN m English
Pronounced: DAV-in
Variant of DEVIN
DAVINA f English
Pronounced: da-VEEN-a
Feminine form of DAVID
DAVIS m English
Pronounced: DAY-vis
From a surname based on the name DAVID. A famous bearer of the surname was Jefferson Davis, the only president of the Confederate States of America.
DAVY m English
Pronounced: DAY-vee
Pet form of DAVID
DAWN f English
Pronounced: DAWN
Means simply "dawn" from the English word.
DAWSON m English
Pronounced: DAW-sun
From a surname meaning "son of DAVID".
DAX m English
Pronounced: DAKS
From a surname which was derived either from the town of Dax in France or else from the Old English given
name Dæcca (of unknown meaning). DAYNA f English
Pronounced: DAY-na
Strictly feminine variant of DANA (2)
DAYTON m English
Pronounced: DAY-tun
From a surname which was derived from a place name which possibly meant either "dairy town" or "ditch
town" in Old English.
DEAN m English
Pronounced: DEEN
From a surname which means either "valley" from Old English denu or else "dean" from Middle English deen
(ultimately from Latin decanus meaning "chief of ten"). The actor James Dean was a famous bearer of the
surname.
DEANA f English
Pronounced: dee-AN-a, DEEN-a
Variant of DIANA or a feminine form of DEAN
DEANDRE m English
Combination of the popular name prefix De and ANDRÉ DEANGELO m English
Combination of the popular name prefix De and ANGELO DEANNA f English
Pronounced: dee-AN-a, DEEN-a
Variant of DIANA or a feminine form of DEAN
DEANNE f English
Pronounced: dee-AN
Variant of DIANE or a feminine form of DEAN DEB f English
Pronounced: DEB
Short form of DEBORAH
DEBBI f English
Pronounced: DE-bee
Pet form of DEBORAH
DEBBIE f English
Pronounced: DE-bee
Pet form of DEBORAH
DEBBY f English
Pronounced: DE-bee
Pet form of DEBORAH
DEBORA f English
Pronounced: DEB-or-a, DEB-ra
DEBORAH Variant of
DEBORAH f English, Jewish, Biblical Pronounced: DEB-or-a, DEB-ra
Means "bee" in Hebrew. Deborah was the nurse of Rebecca in the Old Testament. Also in the Old Testament,
this was the name of a heroine and prophetess who led the Israelites in defeating the Canaanites.
DEBRA f English
Pronounced: DEB-ra
Short form of DEBORAH
DEE f,m English
Pronounced: DEE
Short form of names beginning with D, or else taken from the name of the Dee River in Scotland.
DEEANN f English (Modern)
Combination of DEE and ANN
DEEMER m English
Pronounced: DEE-mur
From a surname which means "judge" in Old English.
DEENA f English
Pronounced: DEEN-a
Variant of DIANA or DINAH or a feminine form of DEAN
DEFOREST m English
Pronounced: de-FOR-est
From a Norman French surname meaning "from the forest". DEFORREST m English
Pronounced: de-FOR-est
Variant of DEFOREST
DEIDRA f English
Form of DEIRDRE
DEIDRE f English
Form of DEIRDRE
DEIRDRE f English, Irish
Pronounced: DER-dra, DEER-dra, DEER-dree
Meaning unknown, possibly derived from a Celtic word meaning "woman". She was a tragic character in
Celtic legend who died of a broken heart after Conchobhar, the king of Ulster, killed her lover Naoise and
forced her to be his bride.
DEITRA f English
Form of DEIRDRE
DELANEY m,f English
Pronounced: de-LAYN-ee
From the Norman surname De l'aunaie meaning "from the alder grove" in French. DELBERT m English
Pronounced: DEL-burt
Meaning unknown. The second element is from Germanic beraht "bright".
DELIA f English
Means "of Delos" in Greek. This was an epithet of the Greek goddess Artemis, given because she and her
twin brother Apollo were born on the island of Delos. DELICE f English
Variant of DELICIA
DELICIA f English
Pronounced: de-LISH-a
Feminine form of the Late Latin name Delicius, which was derived from Latin deliciae "delight, pleasure". DELILAH f Biblical, English
Pronounced: di-LIE-la
Means "delicate" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament she was the lover of Samson. She betrayed him to the
Philistines by cutting his hair, which was the source of his power.
DELL m English
Pronounced: DEL
From a surname which originally denoted a person who lived in a dell or valley.
DELLA f English
Pronounced: DEL-a
Short form of ADELA or a variant of DELIA DELMA f Irish, English
Pronounced: DEL-ma
Short form of FIDELMA
DELMAR m English
Pronounced: DEL-mar
Derived from Spanish del mar meaning "of the sea".
DELORES f English
Pronounced: de-LOR-is
Variant of DOLORES
DELORIS f English
Pronounced: de-LOR-is
DOLORES Variant of
DELROY m English
Pronounced: DEL-roi
Perhaps an alteration of LEROY DEMELZA f English
From a Cornish place name meaning "fort of Maeldaf".
DEN m English
Pronounced: DEN
Short form of DENIS
DENA f English
Possibly means "dale" or "valley" in a Native American language.
DENE m English
Pronounced: DEEN
Variant of DEAN
DENHOLM m English
From a surname which was originally taken from a place name meaning "valley island" in Old English.
DENICE f English
Pronounced: de-NEES
Variant of DENISE
DENIECE f English (Modern)
Pronounced: de-NEES
Variant of DENISE
DENIS m French, Russian, English
Pronounced: de-NEE (French), DEN-is (English)
Medieval form of DIONYSIUS. Saint Denis was a 3rd-century missionary to Gaul who was beheaded in Paris.
He is the patron saint of France. Another notable bearer was the French philosopher Denis Diderot.
DENISE f French, English
Pronounced: de-NEEZ (French), de-NEES (English)
Feminine form of DENIS
DENNIS m English, French
Pronounced: de-NEE (French), DEN-is (English)
Variant of DENIS
DENNY m English
Pronounced: DEN-ee
Pet form of DENIS
DENTON m English
Pronounced: DEN-tun
From a surname which was originally taken from a place name meaning "valley town" in Old English.
DENVER m English
Pronounced: DEN-vur
From a surname meaning "valley ferry" in Old English. This is the name of a city in Colorado.
DENYS m English
Pronounced: DEN-is
Variant of DENIS
DENZEL m English
Pronounced: den-ZEL
From a surname which originally belonged to a person from Denzell in Cornwall. The name of the town
possibly means either "fort" or "fertile upland" in Cornish.
DENZIL m English
Pronounced: den-ZIL
Variant of DENZEL
DEON m English
Variant of DION
DEONNE m English
Variant of DION
DERBY m English
Pronounced: DUR-bee
Variant of DARBY
DEREK m English
Pronounced: DER-ek
From a Low German form of THEODORIC
DERICK m English
Pronounced: DER-ek
Variant of DEREK
DERREN m English
Pronounced: DER-en
Variant of DARREN
DERRICK m English
Pronounced: DER-ek
Variant of DEREK
DERYCK m English (Modern)
Variant of DEREK
DESDEMONA f English
Pronounced: dez-de-MON-a
Derived from Greek dysdaimon meaning "ill-fated". This is the name of the murdered wife of Othello in
Shakespeare's play 'Othello'. DESHAUN m English (Modern)
Combination of the popular name prefix De and SHAUN. DESHAWN m English (Modern)
Combination of the popular name prefix De and SHAWN. DESMOND m English, Irish
Pronounced: DEZ-mund
From a surname which was derived from Gaelic Deas-Mhumhan meaning "from south Munster". Munster is a
province in Ireland which was once an ancient Irish kingdom.
DESTINEE f English (Modern)
Pronounced: DES-ti-nee
Variant of DESTINY
DESTINY f English
Pronounced: DES-ti-nee
Means simply "destiny, fate" from the English word.
DETTA m English
Pronounced: DET-a
Short form of names that end in detta.
DEVEN m English
Pronounced: DEV-en
Variant of DEVIN
DEVEREUX m English
Pronounced: DEV-u-ruu
From a Norman French surname meaning "from Evreux". Evreux is a town in France.
DEVIN m English, Irish
Pronounced: DE-vin
From an Anglicized Irish surname derived from either of the Irish surnames Ó Damháin (which means
"descendent of Damhán") or Ó Dubháin (which means "descendent of Dubhán"). The given name Damhán
means "fawn"; the given name Dubhán means "little black one".
DEVON m,f English
Pronounced: DEV-awn
From the name of the county in England, which got its name from the Dumnonii, a Celtic tribe. This name can
also serve as a variant of DEVIN.
DEWAYNE m English (Modern)
Variant of DWAYNE
DEXTER m English
Pronounced: DEKS-tur
Means either "one who dyes" from an Old English surname, or else "right-handed, skilled" in Latin.
DIAMOND f English
Pronounced: DIE-mawnd
Simply means "diamond" from the English word for the clear colourless precious stone, the birthstone of April.
DIANA f English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Roman Mythology
Pronounced: die-AN-a
Probably derived from an old Indo-European root meaning "heavenly, divine", related to dyeus (see ZEUS).
Diana was a Roman goddess of the moon, hunting, forests, and childbirth, often identified with the Greek
goddess Artemis. Diana Spencer, the Princess of Wales, was a famous bearer of this name.
DIANE f French, English
Pronounced: dee-AN (French), die-AN (English)
French form of DIANA
DIANN f English (Modern)
Variant of DIANE
DIANNA f English
Pronounced: die-AN-a
Variant of DIANA
DIANNE f French, English
Pronounced: dee-AN (French), die-AN (English)
Variant of DIANE
DICK m English
Pronounced: DIK
Medieval short form of RICHARD. The change in the initial consonant is said to have been caused by the way
the trilled Norman R was pronounced by the English. DIGBY m English
Pronounced: DIG-bee
From a surname which was derived from the name of an English town, itself derived from a combination of
Old English dic "dyke, ditch" and Old Norse byr "farm, town". DIGGORY m English
Pronounced: DIG-u-ree
Possibly an Anglicized form of Degaré which may mean "lost one" from French égaré. 'Sir Degaré' was a
medieval romance which told the story of the knight Degaré.
DILLON m English
Pronounced: DIL-un
Variant of DYLAN
DINA f English
Pronounced: DIE-na
Variant of DINAH
DINAH f Biblical, English
Pronounced: DIE-na
Means "judged" in Hebrew. She was the daughter of Jacob and Leah in the Old Testament.
DION m French, English
Pronounced: dee-AWN (French), DEE-awn (English)
Short form of DIONYSIUS
DIONE f English
Pronounced: dee-AWN
Feminine form of DION
DIONNE f English
Pronounced: dee-AWN
Feminine form of DION
DIRK m Dutch, English
Pronounced: DURK
Short form of DIEDERIK. This is also the word for a type of dagger. DIVINA f English
Means "divine" from an elaboration of the English word. DIXIE f English
Pronounced: DIK-see
From the term that refers to the southern United States, used by Daniel D. Emmett in his song Dixie in 1859. The term may be derived from French dix "ten", which was printed on ten-dollar bills issued from a New
Orleans bank.
DODIE f English
Pronounced: DO-dee
Pet form of DOROTHY
DOLLIE f English
Pronounced: DAWL-ee
Pet form of DOROTHY or DOLORES
DOLLY f English
Pronounced: DAWL-ee
Pet form of DOROTHY or DOLORES
DOLORES f Spanish, English
Pronounced: do-LOR-es
Means "sorrows", taken from the Spanish title of Mary Maria de los Dolores, meaning "Mary of Sorrows". DOLPH m English
Pronounced: DAWLF
Short form of ADOLPH
DOM m English
Pronounced: DAWM
Short form of DOMINIC
DOMINIC m English
Pronounced: DAWM-in-ik
From the Late Latin name Dominicus meaning "of the Lord". This name was traditionally given to a child born
on Sunday. Several saints have borne this name, including the 13th-century founder of the Dominican order
of friars.
DOMINICK m English
Pronounced: DAWM-in-ik
Variant of DOMINIC
DON m English
Pronounced: DAWN
Short form of DONALD
DONA f English
Pronounced: DAWN-a
Variant of DONNA
DONALD m Scottish, English
Pronounced: DAWN-awld
From the Gaelic name Domhnall which means "ruler of the world", composed of the Old Celtic elements
dubno "world" and val "rule". Two kings of Scotland have borne this name.
DONALDA f Scottish, English
Pronounced: daw-NAWL-da
Feminine form of DONALD
DONELLA f Scottish, English
Feminine form of DONALD
DONNA f English
Pronounced: DAWN-a
DONALD. Means "lady" in Italian. It is also used as a feminine form of
DONNIE m English
Pronounced: DAWN-ee
Pet form of DONALD
DONNY m English
Pronounced: DAWN-ee
Pet form of DONALD
DORA f English
Pronounced: DOR-a
Short form of DOROTHEA, ISIDORA or THEODORA
DORAN m Irish, English
From the Irish surname Ó Deoradháin, which means "descendent of Deoradhán". The name Deoradhán
means "exile" or "wanderer" in Gaelic.
DORCAS f Biblical, English
Pronounced: DOR-kas
Derived from Greek dorkas meaning "gazelle". In the New Testament this is the Greek translation of the name
Tabitha (see Acts 9:36).
DOREEN f English
Pronounced: DOR-een
Combination of DORA and the name suffix een. The name was (first?) used by novelist Edna Lyall in her novel 'Doreen'.
DORIAN m English
Pronounced: DOR-ee-an
The name was first used by Oscar Wilde in his novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'. He may have intended for it
to derive from the name of the ancient Greek tribe the Dorians. DORINDA f English
Pronounced: do-RIN-da
Combination of DORA and the name suffix inda.
DORIS f English, German
Pronounced: DOR-is
Ancient Greek name which meant "Dorian woman". The Dorians were a Greek tribe who occupied the
Peloponnese starting in the 12th century BC. Doris was also the name of a Greek sea goddess.
DORON m Jewish, English
Means "gift" in Greek.
DOROTHEA f English, German, Dutch
Pronounced: dor-o-THEE-a
Feminine form of the Late Latin name Dorotheus, from the Greek Dorotheos, which meant "gift of God" from Greek doron "gift" and theos "god". Dorothea was the name of two saints, including the patron saint of Prussia.
DOROTHY f English
Pronounced: DOR-o-thee, DOR-thee
English form of DOROTHEA. This name was used by Lyman Frank Baum for the central character in his fantasy novel 'The Wizard of Oz'.
DORRIS f English
Pronounced: DOR-is
Variant of DORIS
DORTHA f English
Pronounced: DOR-tha
Variant of DOROTHY
DORTHY f English
Pronounced: DOR-thee
Variant of DOROTHY
DOT f English
Pronounced: DAWT
Pet form of DOROTHY
DOTTIE f English
Pronounced: DAWT-ee
Pet form of DOROTHY
DOTTY f English
Pronounced: DAWT-ee
Pet form of DOROTHY
DOUG m English
Pronounced: DUG
Short form of DOUGLAS
DOUGLAS m Scottish, English
Pronounced: DUG-lus
Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Dubhghlas, which meant "dark river" or "blood river" from Gaelic dubh "dark" and glais "water, river". Douglas was originally a river name, the site of a particularly bloody battle,
which then became a Scottish surname. The surname belonged to a powerful line of Scottish earls.
DRAKE m English
Pronounced: DRAYK
From a surname derived from either Middle English drake "male duck" or else from the Old Norse personal
name Draki or the Old English personal name Draca both meaning "dragon". DRAVEN m English
Pronounced: DRAY-ven
From a surname which is of unknown meaning. DREDA f English
Short form of ETHELDREDA or ELDREDA
DREW m English
Pronounced: DROO
Short form of ANDREW
DRISCOLL m English, Irish
Pronounced: DRIS-kul
From the Irish surname Ó Eidirsceoil, which means "descendent of Eirdirsceol". The personal name
Eirdirsceol may mean "messenger" in Gaelic.
DRISKOLL m English, Irish
Pronounced: DRIS-kul
Variant of DRISCOLL
DROGO m English
Possibly either from Slavic dorogo "dear" or from Germanic drog "ghost". This name was introduced to
England by the Normans.
DUANA f English
Pronounced: DWAYN-a, du-WAYN-a
Feminine form of DWAYNE
DUANE m English, Irish
Pronounced: DWAYN, du-WAYN
Variant of DWAYNE
DUDLEY m English
Pronounced: DUD-lee
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "Dudda's clearing" in Old English.
DUKE m English
Pronounced: DOOK
Means simply "duke" from the noble title, which was originally derived from Latin dux "leader". DULCIBELLA f English
Elaborated form of DULCIE
DULCIE f English
Pronounced: DUL-see
From the Late Latin name Dulcia which means "sweet". DUNCAN m Scottish, English
Pronounced: DUN-kan
Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Donnchadh which means "brown warrior", derived from Gaelic donn "brown" and chadh "warrior". This was the name of two kings of Scotland, including the one who was featured
in Shakespeare's play 'Macbeth'.
DUNSTAN m English
Pronounced: DUN-stan
Means "dark stone" from Old English dun "dark" and stan "stone". This name was borne by a 10th-century
saint, the archbishop of Canterbury. DURWARD m English
Pronounced: DUR-ward
From a surname which originally meant "door guard" in Old English.
DUSTIN m English
Pronounced: DUS-tin
From a surname which was derived from the Old Norse given name Þórstein (see TORSTEN). DUSTY m,f English
Pronounced: DUS-tee
Either a pet form or a feminine form of DUSTIN
DWAYNE m English, Irish
Pronounced: DWAYN, du-WAYN
Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Dubhan which means "little and dark", derived from dubh "dark, black"
combined with a diminutive suffix. DWIGHT m English
Pronounced: DWIET
From a surname which was originally derived from DENIS or DION. DYAN f English (Modern)
Variant of DIANE
DYLAN m Welsh, English, Welsh Mythology
Pronounced: DUL-un (Welsh), DIL-un (English)
Means "sea" in Welsh. In Welsh mythology he was a god of the sea, the son Aranrhod. He was accidentally
slain by his uncle Govannon. The Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and the musician Bob Dylan are famous bearers
of this name.
EARL m English
Pronounced: URL
From the aristocratic title, which derives from Old English eorl "nobleman, warrior".
EARLE m English
Pronounced: URL
Variant of EARL
EARLEEN f English
Pronounced: ur-LEEN
Feminine form of EARL
EARLENE f English
Pronounced: ur-LEEN
Feminine form of EARL
EARLINE f English
Pronounced: ur-LEEN
Feminine form of EARL
EARNEST m English
Pronounced: UR-nest
Variant of ERNEST influenced by the spelling of the English word.
EARNESTINE f English
Pronounced: UR-nes-teen
Variant of ERNESTINE
EARTHA f English
Pronounced: UR-tha
Combination of the English word earth with the feminine name suffix a.
EASTER m,f English
Pronounced: EES-tur
From the name of the Christian festival which ultimately got its name from the Germanic spring goddess Eostre. It was formerly given to children born on Easter.
EBBA f English, German
Contracted form of EADBURGA. 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.
EBENEZER m Biblical, English
Pronounced: e-be-NEE-zur
Means "stone of help" in Hebrew. This was the name of a monument erected by Samuel in the Old Testament. Ebenezer Scrooge was a miserly character in Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'. EBONY f English
Pronounced: EB-u-nee
Means simply "ebony" from the English word for the black wood which comes from the ebony tree. This name is often used by black parents.
ED m English
Pronounced: ED
Short form of EDWARD, EDMUND and other names beginning with ed.
EDDIE m,f English
Pronounced: ED-ee
Pet form of EDWARD, EDMUND and other names beginning with ed.
EDDY m English
Pronounced: ED-ee
Pet form of EDWARD, EDMUND and other names beginning with ed.
EDEN f Biblical, English
Pronounced: EE-den
Means "place of pleasure" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament the Garden of Eden was the place where the first people, Adam and Eve, lived before they were expelled.
EDGAR m English, French
Pronounced: ED-gar (English), ed-GAR (French)
Derived from the Old English element ead "rich, blessed" combined with gar "spear". This was the name of a
Saxon king of Wessex who was also a saint. The name was rarely used after the Norman conquest. Famous bearers include author and poet Edgar Allan Poe and the French impressionist painter Edgar Degas. EDIE f English
Pronounced: ED-ee
Pet form of EDITH
EDISON m English
Pronounced: ED-i-sun
From a surname which meant "son of EDWARD". A famous bearer of the surname was the inventor Thomas Edison.
EDITH f English
Pronounced: EE-dith
Derived from the Old English element ead "rich, blessed" combined with gyæ "war". This Old English name
remained popular after the Norman conquest.
EDMUND m English, German
Pronounced: ED-mund
Means "rich protector" from Old English ead "rich, blessed" and mund "protector". Saint Edmund was a
9th-century king of East Anglia who, according to tradition, was shot to death with arrows after refusing to divide his Christian kingdom with an invading pagan Danish leader. This Old English name remained in use after the Norman conquest.
EDRIC m English
Pronounced: ED-rik
Means "rich ruler" from Old English ead "rich, blessed" and ric "ruler". After the Norman conquest this Old
English name was not commonly used.
EDWARD m English, Polish
Pronounced: ED-wurd
Means "rich guard", derived from the Old English elements ead "rich, blessed" and weard "guard". Saint
Edward the Confessor was the king of England shortly before the Norman Conquest. Because of his popularity this name remained in use after the conquest (most other Old English names were replaced by Norman ones), and was even the name of eight subsequent kings of England. Edward is also one of the few Old English names to be used throughout Europe.
EDWEENA f English
Pronounced: ed-WEEN-a
Variant of EDWINA
EDWENA f English
Variant of EDWINA
EDWIN m English
Pronounced: ED-win
Means "rich friend" from Old English ead "rich, blessed" combined with wine "friend". This was the name of a
7th-century king of Northumbria. After the Norman conquest the name was not popular but was eventually revived in the 19th century. A notable modern bearer was the astronaut Edwin Aldrin, also known as Buzz, the second man to walk on the moon.
EDWINA f English
Pronounced: ed-WEEN-a, ed-WIN-a
Feminine form of EDWIN
EDWYN m English
Pronounced: ED-win
Variant of EDWIN
EDWYNA f English
Variant of EDWINA
EDYTHA f English
Elaborated form of EDITH
EDYTHE f English
Variant of EDITH
EFFIE f Scottish, English
Pronounced: EF-ee
Either an Anglicized form of OIGHRIG or a pet form of EUPHEMIA
EGBERT m English
Pronounced: EG-burt
Means "bright edge" from the Old English elements ecg "edge of a sword" and beorht "bright". This was the
name of kings of Kent and Wessex as well as two English saints. The name was rarely used after the Norman
conquest but was revived in the 19th century. EGLANTINE f English
Pronounced: EG-lan-teen
From the English word for the flower which is also known as sweetbrier. It was first used as a given name by
Chaucer in 'The Prioress's Tale'.
EILEEN f Irish, English
Pronounced: ie-LEEN, ay-LEEN
Anglicized form of EIBHLÍN
EIREANN f English, Irish
From Eirinn, the dative case of Gaelic Eire, meaning "Ireland". EIREEN f English, Irish
Pronounced: ie-REEN
Irish form of IRENE
ELAINE f English
Pronounced: ee-LAYN, i-LAYN
Old French form of HELEN. In Arthurian legend Elaine was the daughter of Pelleas, the lover of Lancelot, and
the mother of Galahad.
ELDON m English
Pronounced: EL-dun
From a surname which was from a place name meaning "Ella's hill" in Old English.
ELDRED m English
Pronounced: EL-dred
Means "old counsel" from Old English eald "old" and ræd "counsel". This name was rarely used after the Norman conquest.
ELDREDA f English
Feminine form of ELDRED
ELEA f English
Short form of ELEANOR. This was a town in ancient Italy, though the name derived from a different source. It
was the home of the philosopher Parmenides, as well as his student Zeno of Elea, who was famous for his
paradoxes.
ELEANOR f English
Pronounced: EL-en-or
French form of the Provençal name Alienor, which is most likely a Germanic name of unknown meaning, though it is possibly a form of HELEN. This name was borne by Eleanor of Aquitaine (12th century), the wife
of both Louis VII, the king of France, and Henry II, the king of England. More recently it was borne by the wife
of American president Franklin Roosevelt.
ELEANORA f English
Pronounced: EL-en-or-a
Latinate form of ELEANOR
ELEANORE f English
Pronounced: EL-en-or
Variant of ELEANOR
ELENORA f English
Pronounced: EL-en-or-a
Form of ELEANOR
ELEONOR f English
Pronounced: EL-en-or
Variant of ELEANOR
ELFLEDA f English
From the Old English name Æðelflæd which means "noble beauty" from æðel "noble" combined with flæd
"beauty".
ELFREDA f English
Means "elf strength" from the Old English element ælf combined with þryð "strength". The use of this name was revived in the 19th century.
ELFRIDA f English
Variant of ELFREDA
ELI m Jewish, English, Biblical
Pronounced: EE-lie
Means "height" or "ascension" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he was the high priest of Israel and the
teacher of Samuel.
ELICIA f English
Pronounced: e-LISH-a
Variant of ALICIA
ELIJAH m English, Jewish, Biblical
Pronounced: ee-LIE-zha
From the Hebrew name Eliyahu meaning "my God is YAHWEH". Elijah was a Hebrew prophet of the 9th century BC, during the reign of King Ahab and his queen, Jezebel. The two Books of Kings in the Old
Testament tell of his exploits, which culminate with him being carried to heaven in a chariot of fire.
ELINOR f English
Pronounced: EL-in-or
Variant of ELEANOR
ELIOT m English
Pronounced: EL-ee-ut
Variant of ELLIOT. A famous bearer of the surname was T. S. Eliot, an Anglo-American poet and dramatist,
the writer of 'The Waste Land'.
ELIOTT m English
Pronounced: EL-ee-ut
Variant of ELLIOT
ELISA f English, German, Italian
Short form of ELISABETH
ELISABETH f English, German, French, Biblical (Variant)
Pronounced: ee-LIZ-a-beth (English), e-lee-za-BET (French)
Variant English form of ELIZABETH, as well as the German and French normal form, reflecting the spelling
used in the Authorized Version of the New Testament. ELISE f English
Pronounced: e-LEES, e-LEEZ
Short form of ELIZABETH
ELISSA (2) f English
Short form of ELIZABETH
ELIZA f English
Pronounced: ee-LIE-za
Short form of ELIZABETH
ELIZABETH f English, Biblical
Pronounced: ee-LIZ-a-beth
From Elisabet, the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elisheba meaning "God is my oath". In the New Testament this is the name of the mother of John the Baptist. It was also borne by the 12th-century Saint
Elizabeth, a daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary who became a Franciscan nun and lived in poverty. It was
also the name of a ruling queen of England and an empress of Russia. Famous modern bearers include the
British queen Elizabeth II and actress Elizabeth Taylor. ELLA f English
Pronounced: EL-a
Short form of Germanic names containing the element ali meaning "other". This name is also used as a short
form of ELLEN.
ELLE f English
Pronounced: EL
Short form of ELLEN. This name can also be given in reference to the French pronoun elle meaning "she". ELLEN f English
Pronounced: EL-en
Medieval English form of HELEN
ELLERY m,f English
Pronounced: EL-ur-ee
From a surname which was originally derived from the first name HILARY.
ELLIE f English
Pronounced: EL-ee
Short form of ELEANOR and other names beginning with el.
ELLIOT m English
Pronounced: EL-ee-ut
From a medieval Norman surname that derived from the first name ELIAS.
ELLIOTT m English
Pronounced: EL-ee-ut
Variant of ELLIOT
ELLIS (1) m English
Pronounced: EL-is
From a surname which was derived from the first name ELIJAH.
ELLY f English
Pronounced: EL-ee
Variant of ELLIE
ELMER m English
Pronounced: EL-mur
From the Old English name Æðelmær meaning "noble and famous", composed of the elements æðel "noble" and mær "famous". The name was rarely used after the Norman conquest, but it was revived in the 19th
century.
ELNORA f English
Contracted form of ELEONORA
ELOISE f English
Pronounced: EL-o-eez
From the Old French Héloïse, which is of unknown meaning. It is possibly related to Greek helios "sun". Saint Eloise was the wife of the French theologian Peter Abelard. She became a nun after her husband was
castrated by her uncle.
ELOUISE f English
Pronounced: EL-o-eez
Variant of ELOISE
ELRIC m English
Pronounced: EL-rik
From either the Old English name Ælfric meaning "elf ruler" or the Old English name Æðelric meaning "noble ruler". Both of these names were rarely used after the Norman conquest.
ELROY m English
Pronounced: EL-roi
Altered form of LEROY
ELSA f English, German, Swedish
Pronounced: EL-sa
Short form of ELISABETH
ELSDON m English
Pronounced: ELS-dun
From a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "Elli's valley" in Old English.
ELSIE f English
Pronounced: EL-see
Pet form of ELIZABETH
ELSPET f English, Scottish
Short form of ELIZABETH
ELSPETH f English, Scottish
Pronounced: EL-speth
Short form of ELIZABETH
ELTON m English
Pronounced: EL-tun
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "Ella's town" in Old English. A famous
bearer of this name is musician Elton John.
ELVIN m English
Pronounced: EL-vin
Variant of ALVIN
ELVIS m English
Pronounced: EL-vis
Meaning unknown. Possibly a form of ALVIS or ELWIN or it might be derived from the surname Elwes. This name was made popular by the singer Elvis Presley. ELWIN m English
Pronounced: EL-win
From the Old English name Ælfwine (see ALVIN).
ELWOOD m English
Pronounced: EL-wuwd
From a surname which perhaps means "elf wood" in Old English. ELWYN m English
Pronounced: EL-win
Variant of ELWIN
EM f English
Pronounced: EM
Short form of EMILY
EMELINA f English, Spanish
Feminine form of EMIL
EMELY f English
Pronounced: EM-e-lee
Variant of EMILY
EMERALD f English
Pronounced: EM-ur-awld
From the name of the green precious stone, which is the birthstone of May. The emerald supposedly imparts
love to the bearer.
EMERSON m English
Pronounced: EM-ur-sun
From a surname meaning "son of EMERY". The surname has been borne by Ralph Waldo Emerson, a
19th-century American poet and author who wrote about transcendentalism.
EMERY m English
Pronounced: EM-ur-ee
Either a pet form of EMERIC, or else "emery" from the English word for the hard black substance.
EMILEE f English (Modern)
Variant of EMILY
EMILY f English
Pronounced: EM-i-lee
Medieval feminine form of Aemilius (see EMIL). The British writer Emily Bronte, author of 'Wuthering Heights',
and the American poet Emily Dickinson are two famous bearers of this name.
EMMA f English, French, Italian
Pronounced: EM-a
Means "whole" or "universal" from Germanic ermen. This was the name of the mother of Edward the
Confessor. This is also the name of the central character in Jane Austen's novel 'Emma'.
EMMALINE f English
Pronounced: EM-a-leen
Variant of EMMELINE
EMMANUEL m Biblical, French, English
Pronounced: e-man-WEL (French), e-MAN-yoo-el (English) Means "God is with us" in Hebrew. This was the foretold name of the Messiah in the Old Testament.
EMMELINE f English
Pronounced: EM-e-leen
Medieval pet form of EMMA
EMMERSON m English
Pronounced: EM-ur-sun
Variant of EMERSON
EMMET m English
Pronounced: EM-et
From a surname that was derived from the feminine first name EMMA EMMETT m English
Pronounced: EM-et
Variant of EMMET
EMMIE f English
Pronounced: EM-ee
Pet form of EMMA or EMILY
EMMY f English
Pronounced: EM-ee
Pet form of EMMA or EMILY
EMORY m English
Pronounced: EM-ur-ee
Variant of EMERY
ENOLA f English
Pronounced: e-NO-la
Meaning unknown. This name first appeared in the 20th century.
EPPIE f English
Pronounced: EP-ee
Pet form of EUPHEMIA
ERIC m English, French
Pronounced: ER-ik (English), er-EEK (French)
Derived from the Old Norse elements ei "ever" and rikr "ruler". A famous bearer was Eric the Red, a
10th-century navigator and explorer who discovered Greenland. This was also the name of kings of Denmark,
Sweden and Norway.
ERICA f English
Pronounced: ER-i-ka
Feminine form of ERIC. It also means "heather" in Latin. ERICK m English
Pronounced: ER-ik
Variant of ERIC
ERICKA f English
Pronounced: ER-i-ka
Variant of ERICA
ERIN f English, Irish
Pronounced: ER-in
Anglicized form of EIREANN
ERLE m English
Pronounced: URL
Variant of EARL
ERMINTRUDE f English
Derived from the Germanic elements ermen "whole, universal" and þruþ "strength". ERN m English
Pronounced: URN
Short form of ERNEST
ERNEST m English
Pronounced: UR-nest
Derived from Germanic eornost meaning "seriousness". The American author and adventurer Ernest
Hemingway was a famous bearer of this name. Also, this name was used by Oscar Wilde in his comedy 'The
Importance of Being Earnest'.
ERNESTA f Italian, Spanish, English
Feminine form of ERNEST or ERNESTO
ERNESTINE f English
Pronounced: UR-nus-teen
Feminine form of ERNEST
ERNIE m English
Pronounced: UR-nee
Pet form of ERNEST
ERROL m English
Pronounced: ER-ul
From a surname which was originally derived from a Scottish place name.
ERSKINE m Scottish, Irish, English
Pronounced: UR-skin
From a surname which was originally derived from a Scottish place name meaning "projecting height" in
Gaelic. A famous bearer of the name was the Irish novelist Erskine Childers.
ERYKAH f English (Modern)
Pronounced: ER-i-ka
Variant of ERICA
ERYN f English
Pronounced: ER-in
Variant of ERIN
ESMARALDA f English
Pronounced: ez-mu-RAWL-da
Variant of ESMERALDA
ESMERALDA f Spanish, English
Pronounced: es-me-RAWL-daw (Spanish), ez-mu-RAWL-da (English)
Means "emerald" in Spanish. In Victor Hugo's novel 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' Esmeralda is the Gypsy
girl who is loved by Quasimodo.
ESMOND m English
Pronounced: EZ-mund
Derived from the Old English elements east "grace" and mund "protection". This Old English name was rarely
used after the Norman conquest but was revived in the 19th century.
ESMUND m English
Pronounced: EZ-mund
Variant of ESMOND
ESSENCE f English
Pronounced: ES-ents
From an English word meaning either "odour, scent" or else "fundamental quality". Ultimately it derives from
Latin esse "to be".
ESSIE f English
Pronounced: ES-ee
Pet form of ESTELLE or ESTHER
ESTA f English
Pronounced: ES-ta
Pet form of ESTHER
ESTELLA f English
Pronounced: es-TEL-a
Latinate form of ESTELLE
ESTELLE f English
Pronounced: es-TEL
From an Old French name which was derived from Latin stella, meaning "star". ESTHER f English, Jewish, French, Biblical
Pronounced: ES-tur (English), es-TER (French)
Possibly means "star" in Persian. Alternatively it could be a Hebrew form of ISHTAR, the name of a Persian
goddess. The Book of Esther in the Old Testament tells of Queen Esther, the Jewish wife of the king of Persia,
who saves many Jews from persecution.
ETHALYN f English
Pronounced: ETH-a-lin
Pet form of ETHEL
ETHAN m Jewish, English, Biblical
Pronounced: EE-than
Means "solid, enduring" in Hebrew. This is the name of a wise man in the Old Testament.
ETHEL f English
Pronounced: ETH-ul
Old short form of names beginning with the Old English element æðel meaning "noble". ETTA f English
Pronounced: ET-a
Short form of names that end with etta.
ETTIE f English
Pronounced: ET-ee
Pet form of names ending with etta or ette.
EUDORA f English
Pronounced: yoo-DOR-a
Modern name meaning "good gift", constructed using the ancient Greek elements eu "good" and doron "gift".
EUGENE m English
Pronounced: YOO-jeen
From the Greek name Eugenios which was derived from the Greek word eugenes meaning "well born",
composed of the elements eu "good, well" and genes "born". This was the name of several saints and four popes. Other famous bearers include Eugene of Savoy, an 18th-century general who served the Austrian
Empire, and the American playwright Eugene O'Neill.
EUGENIA f Italian, Spanish, Romanian, English
Pronounced: yoo-JEE-nee-a (English), yoo-JEEN-ya (English)
Feminine form of EUGENE
EULA f English
Pronounced: YOO-la
Short form of EULALIA
EULALIA f English, Italian, Spanish
Pronounced: yoo-LAY-lee-a
From a Greek name meaning "to talk well" from eu "good" and lalein "to talk". This was the name of an early 4th-century saint and martyr from Merida in Spain.
EUNICE f Biblical, English, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Pronounced: YOO-nees
Latin form of the Greek name Eunike which meant "good victory". The New Testament mentions her as the mother of Timothy.
EUPHEMIA f Ancient Greek, English
Pronounced: yoo-FEM-ee-a (English)
Means "to speak well", derived from Greek eu "good" and phenai "to speak". Saint Euphemia was an early martyr who was burnt at the stake.
EUSTACE m English
Pronounced: YOO-stas
Derived from Greek eustachus meaning "fruitful". Saint Eustace was a 2nd-century martyr, a Roman general
who became a Christian after seeing a vision of a cross between the antlers of a stag he was hunting. He was
burned to death for refusing to worship the Roman gods. He is the patron saint of hunters.
EVA f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian, Russian, Czech
Pronounced: EE-va
Latinate form of EVE
EVALINE f English
Variant of EVELYN
EVALYN f English
Variant of EVELYN
EVAN m Welsh, English
Pronounced: EV-an
Anglicized form of Iefan, a Welsh form of JOHN. It can also be used as a short form of EVANGELOS.
EVANDER (2) m Scottish, English
Pronounced: e-VAN-dur
Anglicized form of IOMHAR
EVANGELINA f English, Bulgarian
Pronounced: e-VAN-je-lee-na
Latinate form of EVANGELINE
EVANGELINE f English
Pronounced: e-VAN-je-leen
Means "good news" from Greek eu "good" and angelma "news, message". EVE f English, French, Biblical
Pronounced: EEV
From the Hebrew name Chavvah, which was derived from the Hebrew word chavah "to breathe" or the
related word chayah "to live". According to the Old Testament Book of Genesis Eve and Adam were the first
humans. She gave the forbidden fruit to Adam, causing their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
EVELEEN f English
Pronounced: EV-e-leen
Variant of EVELYN
EVELINA f English, Italian
Latinate form of EVELYN
EVELINE f English
Variant of EVELYN
EVELYN f,m English
Pronounced: EV-e-lin, EV-lin
From a surname which was originally derived from the name AVILA. EVERARD m English
Means "brave boar", derived from the Germanic elements eber "wild boar" and hard "brave, hardy".
EVERETT m English
Pronounced: EV-ur-et
From a surname which was derived from the first name EVERARD. EVERETTE m,f English
Pronounced: EV-ur-et, ev-u-RET
Variant and feminine form of EVERETT
EVERITT m English
Pronounced: EV-ur-it
Variant of EVERETT
EVETTE f French, English
Variant of YVETTE
EVIE f English
Pronounced: EE-vee
Pet form of EVE
EWART m English
Pronounced: YOO-art
From a surname which was either based on a Norman French form of EDWARD, or else derived from a place name of unknown meaning.
EZEKIEL m Biblical, English
Pronounced: e-ZEE-kee-ul, e-ZEE-kyul
From the Hebrew name Yechezqel meaning "God strengthens". Ezekiel was a major prophet of the Old
Testament, the author of the Book of Ezekiel. He lived in Jerusalem until the Babylonian conquest and
captivity of Israel, at which time he was taken to Babylon. The Book of Ezekiel describes his vivid symbolic
visions which predict the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. EZRA m Biblical, English, Jewish
Pronounced: EZ-ra
Means "help" in Hebrew. Ezra was a prophet of the Old Testament and the author of the Book of Ezra. The
American poet Ezra Pound was a famous bearer of this name. FABIAN m English, German, Dutch, Polish
Pronounced: FAY-bee-an
From the Roman family name Fabianus, which was derived from FABIUS.
FAE f English
Pronounced: FAY
Variant of FAY
FAITH f English
Pronounced: FAYTH
Simply means "faith" from the English word. This was one of the virtue names favoured by the Puritans.
FAITHE f English (Modern)
Variant of FAITH
FANCY f English
Pronounced: FANT-see
Perhaps a form of FANNY influenced by the English word fancy.
FANNIE f English
Pronounced: FAN-ee
Pet form of FRANCES
FANNY f English
Pronounced: FAN-ee
Pet form of FRANCES
FARLEY m English
Pronounced: FAR-lee
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "fern clearing" in Old English. A notable
bearer of this name is Canadian author Farley Mowat. FARON m English
Variant of FARRAN
FARRAN m English
From a surname that was derived from the first name FERDINAND.
FARRELL m English
Pronounced: FAR-ul
From the Irish surname Ó Fearghail, which means "descendent of FEARGHAL".
FAWN f English
Pronounced: FAWN
Means simply "fawn" from the English word for a young deer. FAY f English
Pronounced: FAY
Derived from Middle English faie meaning "fairy". This name appears in Arthurian legend in the name of
Morgan le Fay, a treacherous sorceress.
FAYE f English
Pronounced: FAY
Variant of FAY
FELICIA f Ancient Roman, English, Italian, Hungarian
Pronounced: fe-LEE-sha, fay-LEE-see-a
Feminine form of FELIX
FELICITY f English
Pronounced: fe-LIS-i-tee
From the English word that means "happiness", which ultimately derives from Latin felicitas "good luck". FELIX m English, German, Romanian, Ancient Roman, Biblical
Pronounced: FEE-liks
From a Roman cognomen meaning "lucky, successful" in Latin. This was the name of many early saints and
four popes. Another notable bearer was the 19th-century German composer Felix Mendelsohnn.
FEMIE f English
Pronounced: FEM-ee
Pet form of EUPHEMIA
FENTON m English
Pronounced: FEN-tun
From a surname which was originally taken from a place name meaning "marsh town" in Old English.
FERDIE m English
Pronounced: FUR-dee
Pet form of FERDINAND
FERDINAND m English, German, French, Czech
Pronounced: FUR-di-nand (English), FER-di-nawnt (German)
Possibly means "ready to journey" from Gothic fardi "journey" and nand "ready". This was the name of several
rulers of Spain, Portugal and the Holy Roman Empire. Also, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was
the leader of the first expedition to sail around the earth. FERDINANDA f Italian, German, Czech, English
Feminine form of FERDINAND
FERDY m English
Pronounced: FUR-dee
Pet form of FERDINAND
FERN f English
Pronounced: FURN
Short form of FERNANDA. This name can also simply be derived from the English word for the plant.
FERNE f English (Modern)
Pronounced: FURN
Variant of FERN
FIDO m English
Pronounced: FIE-do
Means "I am faithful" in Latin. This name is commonly given to dogs.
FINA f English
Pronounced: FEE-na
Short form of SERAPHINA
FINNEGAN m English
Pronounced: FIN-e-gan
From the Irish surname Ó Fionnagáin, which means "descendent of Fionnagán". The name Fionnagán is a pet form of FIONN.
FITZ m English
Pronounced: FITS
Short form of FITZROY
FITZROY m English
Pronounced: FITS-roi
From a surname meaning "son of the king" in Old French, originally given to illegitimate sons of monarchs.
FLETCHER m English
Pronounced: FLECH-ur
From a surname meaning "maker of arrows" in Middle English, ultimately from Old French. FLEUR f English
Pronounced: FLUR
Means "flower" in French. This was the name of a character in John Galsworthy's novel 'The Forsythe Saga'.
FLEURETTA f English
Pronounced: flu-RET-a
Pet form of FLEUR
FLICK f English
Pronounced: FLIK
FELICITY Pet form of
FLIP m English
Pronounced: FLIP
Pet form of PHILIP
FLO f English
Pronounced: FLO
Short form of FLORENCE and FLORA
FLOELLA f English (Modern)
Pronounced: flo-EL-a
Elaborated form of FLO
FLORA f English, German, Italian, Roman Mythology
Pronounced: FLOR-a
Derived from Latin flos meaning "flower". Flora was the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, the wife of Zephyr the west wind.
FLORENCE f,m English, French
Pronounced: FLOR-ents (English), flo-RAWNS (French)
From the masculine Roman name Florentius which was derived from Latin florens "prosperous, flourishing". The name can also be given in reference to the city in Italy, as in the case of Florence Nightingale. She was a
nurse in British hospitals during the Crimean War and is usually considered the founder of modern nursing.
FLORENTINA f Italian, English, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of the Roman family name Florentinus, itself derived from the Roman name Florentius (see FLORENCE).
FLORINDA f English
Pronounced: FLOR-in-da, flo-RIN-da
Combination of FLORA and the popular name suffix inda.
FLORRIE f English
Pronounced: FLOR-ee
Pet form of FLORENCE or FLORA
FLOSSIE f English
Pronounced: FLAWS-ee
Pet form of FLORENCE
FLOWER f English
Pronounced: FLOW-ur
Means simply "flower" from the English word for the blossoming plant.
FLOYD m English
Pronounced: FLOID
Variant of LLOYD
FORD m English
Pronounced: FORD
From a surname meaning "ford" in Old English. FOREST m English
Pronounced: FOR-est
Variant of FORREST
FORREST m English
Pronounced: FOR-est
From a surname meaning "forest" in Old French, originally belonging to a person who lived near a forest.
FORTUNE f English
Pronounced: FOR-chun
Simply means "fortune" from the English word. FOSTER m English
Pronounced: FAWS-tur
From a surname which has several different origins: "foster-child" or "foster-parent" (Old English); "shearer"
(Old French); "forester" (Old French); "saddle-tree maker" (Old French).
FOX m English
Pronounced: FAWKS
Simply means "fox" from the English word. This was originally a surname, which was borne for example by George Fox, the founder of the Quakers in the 17th century.
FRAN f English
Pronounced: FRAN
Short form of FRANCES
FRANCE m English
Pronounced: FRANTS
This name is either a short form of FRANCIS or else means "France" from the name of the country.
FRANCENE f English
Pronounced: fran-SEEN
English variant of FRANCINE
FRANCES f English
Pronounced: FRAN-ses
Feminine form of FRANCIS. Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was an American social worker, the first American to be canonized.
FRANCINE f French, English
Pronounced: fran-SEEN
Feminine pet form of FRANÇOIS
FRANCIS m,f English
Pronounced: FRAN-sis
From the Late Latin name Franciscus which meant "Frenchman". Saint Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order of friars, was the son of a wealthy merchant who renounced his father's wealth and devoted his life to the poor. Later in his life Francis apparently received the stigmata. Another saint of this name was Saint Francis Xavier, a missionary to eastern Asia. Two other famous bearers were philosopher and scientist Francis Bacon, and explorer and admiral Sir Francis Drake. This name is occasionally used for girls. FRANK m English
Pronounced: FRANGK
Refers to a member of the Germanic tribe, the Franks. The Franks settled in the regions now called France and the Netherlands in the 3rd and 4th century. They derived their tribal name from the name of a type of spear that they used.
FRANKIE m,f English
Pronounced: FRANGK-ee
Pet form of FRANK or FRANCES
FRANKLIN m English
Pronounced: FRANGK-lin
From a surname which was derived from Middle English frankeleyn "freeman". A famous bearer of the
surname was Benjamin Franklin, an American statesman, inventor, scientist and philosopher.
FRANKLYN m English
Pronounced: FRANGK-lin
Variant of FRANKLIN
FRANNIE f English
Pronounced: FRAN-ee
Pet form of FRANCES
FRASER m Scottish, English
Pronounced: FRAY-zur
From a Scottish surname which possibly means either "a Frisian" or else "strawberry" in Norman French. A
famous bearer of the surname was Simon Fraser, a Canadian explorer. FRAZIER m Scottish, English
Pronounced: FRAY-zhur
Variant of FRASER
FRED m English
Pronounced: FRED
Short form of FREDERICK. A famous bearer of this name was Fred Astaire, the American actor and dancer.
FREDA f Jewish, English
Pronounced: FREE-da
Either a variant FREYDE or else a short form of names ending in freda.
FREDDIE m,f English
Pronounced: FRED-ee
Pet form of FREDERICK or FREDERICA
FREDDY m English
Pronounced: FRED-ee
Pet form of FREDERICK
FREDERICA f English, Portuguese
Pronounced: fred-u-REE-ka (English), fred-REE-ka (English)
Feminine form of FREDERICK
FREDERICK m English
Pronounced: FRED-ur-ik, FRED-rik
From a Germanic name meaning "peaceful ruler", derived from frid "peace" and ric "ruler, power". Several rulers of Prussia, Germany and the Holy Roman Empire have borne this name, including the 13th-century
patron of the arts Frederick II of Germany, and the 18th-century Frederick II of Prussia, known as Frederick
the Great. Another famous bearer was Frederick Douglass, an American ex-slave who became a leading
advocate of abolition.
FREDRICK m English
Pronounced: FRED-rik
Variant of FREDERICK
FREEMAN m English
Pronounced: FREE-man
From a surname meaning "free man" in Old English. FRIEDA f English
Pronounced: FREE-da
Variant of FRIEDE or FREDA
FULK m English
Pronounced: FULK
English form of FOLKE
FULKE m English
Pronounced: FULK
English form of FOLKE
FULTON m English
Pronounced: FUL-tun
From a surname which was derived from a place name meaning "filthy place" in Old English.
GABBY m,f English
Pronounced: GAB-ee
Pet form of GABRIEL or GABRIELLE
GABE m English
Pronounced: GAYB
Short form of GABRIEL
GABRIEL m English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Biblical Pronounced: GAY-bree-el (English), ga-bree-EL (French)
From the Hebrew name Gabriyel which meant "strong man of God". Gabriel is one of the seven archangels in
Hebrew tradition. He appears in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, where he serves as the
announcer of the births of John to Zechariah and Jesus to Mary. According to Islamic tradition he was the
angel who dictated the Koran to Muhammad. GABRIELLE f French, English
Pronounced: ga-bree-EL
French feminine form of GABRIEL, commonly used in the English-speaking world.
GAE f English
Pronounced: GAY
Variant of GAY