Names That Mean Name

  1. Helisent
    • Origin:

      English, Germanic
    • Meaning:

      "temple path"
    • Description:

      Helisent was used in the medieval days and has royal antecedents found in both France and Germany. Information on its origins is sketchy, but some say it's related to Elise or Helen or Heloise, or that it derives from a Visigothic name meaning "temple path". Variants include Elisende, Elisenda, Elysant, Elysande, Elissent and Elisent.
  2. Scilla
    • Origin:

      Botanical name and short form of Priscilla
    • Meaning:

      "ancient"
    • Description:

      Scilla are little woodland flowers in a beautiful bright blue color. Scilla can also be a short form of Priscilla, from Prisca "ancient".
  3. Nineveh
    • Origin:

      Biblical place name from Akkadian or Babylonian
    • Meaning:

      "house of fish"
    • Description:

      An ancient city in Assyria, where Jonah was sent to spread the word of God.
  4. Nigella
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Nigel; botanical name from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "black"
    • Description:

      A name that sounded unthinkably priggish until it became attached to Domestic Goddess British TV chef Nigella Lawson (named for her father), who gave it a big dollop of glamour.
  5. Swan
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "bird name"
    • Description:

      Obsolete Swanhild gives way to oh-so-modern Swan, joining the flock of newly fashionable bird names such as Wren and Lark. In France, the Swann spelling is fashionable for both sexes. But Swan carries an image of grace, though perhaps also a bit of languor. It's a lovely and original name, right for our times.
  6. Sarika
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit and Hindi bird name or Hungarian variation of Sarah, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "princess"
    • Description:

      Sarika is a pretty Sanskrit nature name, referring to a type of myna bird. Spelled Sárika, it's the Hungarian version of Sarah.
  7. Elphaba
    • Origin:

      Literary invented name
    • Description:

      Elphaba was invented by Gregory Maguire for the protagonist of his novel Wicked, which became the long-running Broadway play and then a movie. Elphaba is the name of the Wicked Witch of the West, unnamed in the Oz books, and is drawn from the initials of Oz creator L. Frank Baum.
  8. December
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "tenth month"
    • Description:

      Although this month name was used only for girls in a recent year, there's no reason it can't work for both genders. For a holiday baby, more original than Noel and more universal than Christmas.
  9. Shilpa
    • Origin:

      Hindi name with Sanskrit roots meaning "ornament, work of art"
    • Meaning:

      "ornament, work of art"
    • Description:

      A popular name in India, several famous Indian women carry this sweet sounding name.
  10. Araz
    • Origin:

      Kurdish
    • Meaning:

      "river and mountain name"
    • Description:

      A sharp and interesting Kurdish name derived from the name of a river and mountain in the region.
  11. Ode
    • Origin:

      Word name or medieval English form of Otto
    • Description:

      Ode could be part of the extended Otto/Otis family, or it might be a literary term, referring to an elaborate lyric poem.
  12. Heron
    • Origin:

      Nature name or Greek
    • Meaning:

      "hero"
    • Description:

      Heron fits in with the modern nature names that are so stylish at the moment, but it also has history as the name of a Greek inventor and Egyptian saint. Both were male, but Heron's image as a word name makes it accessible for girls as well.
  13. Easter
    • Origin:

      English, from German
    • Description:

      Easter has been used as a name for several hundred years, as part of the day-naming tradition; now, this rarely heard holiday celebration name would make a novel choice for a springtime baby. Background:The early Anglo-Saxon monk and scholar Bede took the name of a goddess--Eostre-- whose feast was celebrated at the vernal equinox and gave it to the Christian festival of the resurrection of Christ.
  14. Fife
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "place name"
    • Description:

      Musical choice that might work great in the middle. Alternative in all its forms, Fife and sister name Fifer are Scottish names for girls that can make a new twist on Piper.
  15. Channel
    • Origin:

      Word name or variation of Chanel
    • Description:

      Did you really mean to name your child Channel, as in the body of water? Like, you know, the English Channel? Or were you going for the last name of the French designer Chanel, with a soft "sh" sound at the beginning and the emphasis on the last syllable? If so, we recommend sticking with the Chanel spelling.
  16. Conifer
    • Origin:

      Tree name from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "cone-bearing"
  17. Theory
    • Origin:

      English word name from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "idea, speculation"
    • Description:

      Could be an unconventional route to Theo.
  18. Safari
    • Origin:

      African word name from Swahili
    • Meaning:

      "journey"
    • Description:

      In the US this is likely to conjure zebras, lions and elephants on the Serengeti, but its original meaning "journey" broadens its wearability. Safari is a name common in Africa for babies born while their parents were on a journey.
  19. Euphony
    • Origin:

      English word name from the Greek Euphonia
    • Meaning:

      "well sounding"
    • Description:

      With the rising use of Eugenie and Eulalia, could literary Euphony make a debut? It certainly has a pleasant meaning and is euphonic itself.
  20. Jolly
    • Origin:

      English word name and surname
    • Meaning:

      "joyful"
    • Description:

      This cheerful name would be a fun seasonal choice of middle name for a child born around the holidays — or as a pet name for a dog or cat adopted during the Christmas season.