Names That Mean Dry

Truett is one of the trendier names in the Tru- family (True, Truman etc), which was used for 92 boys in the US last year. Truett is deeply associated with the Baptist church in the Southern USA due to former leader George Truett. Truitt is another spelling, less commonly used. Some sources say that Truett, as a surname or a first name, is a habitational name -- a name given to people who lived in a certain place -- in this case, Trewhitt in England's Northumbria. The place name is drawn from the Old Norse tyri meaning "dry resinous wood" and the Old English whit, which means river bend. It's an appealing name, though say it too quickly and it can sound disturbingly like truant.

We've adopted Plum, Cherry, and even Apple as baby names, so why not Persimmon? It lends itself to the charming nicknames Percy or Persy.

A poetic choice.

Underused literary name (as in the poet John) with a -den ending that's very much in style.

If you're actually considering this as a name for your child, you must have had a glass too many. But it's an awesome name for a white cat.

Variation of Aridius.

A name you would probably want to use only if it's in your family history. The first syllable moves it miles away from the softer Whitney.