Names That Mean Meaning

The Maricopa people are a Native American tribe who have lived on the banks of the Gila River for centuries. The tribe calls themselves Piipaash or Piipaa (meaning "people") — the term Maricopa is borrowed from Spanish.

A name from medieval romance. Amlyn ac Amig is the Welsh version of Amis et Amiles, a French moral tale of friends in Charlemagne's court. The name itself is gentle and straightforward, although the "lyn" ending may feel more feminine to current tastes.

This Old Russian name is mentioned in several genealogical sources, but few modern name books. Pronounced either to rhyme with David, or as zah-VEED, it can be a highly unusual alternative.

Atia Balba Caesonia was a Roman noblewoman who was the mother of Emperor Augustus. As was the practice at the time, she had two sisters also named Atia, Atia Prima and Atia Tertia. The real-life Atia was reportedly a more worthy personage than the scheming Atia on HBO's "Rome."

Associated with a villainous character in the Naruto franchise.

Modwenna is the name of a medieval Irish saint who, according to legend, founded Burton Abbey on the River Trent, site of many miracles. Saint Modwenna, also called Modwen, made a pilgrimage to Rome with fellow well-named nuns Lazar and Althea, and died in Scotland at the reported age of 130. As if that wasn't enough, Modwenna raised another saint with another interesting name, Osyth

A rarer spelling of Dashiell, a handsome route to the nickname Dash. Neither variation is common for girls — Dashiell, at its peak, was given to six baby girls in a single year — but actress Milla Jovovich chose this spelling for her daughter, born in 2015.

Bearded, fusty name of great old Roman lyric poet; just what the bold vanguard baby namer might be looking for.

Isala has a mellifluous sound, and ties in nicely with more familiar names like Isolde and Isla.

Both Tullio and Tulio are modern forms of the ancient Roman family name Tullius. Though its meaning is unknown, Tullius has an illustrious history with many noble bearers, including a sixth century king and the philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero. Tullio can be shortened to Tully, more properly an Irish surname with a tangled history of its own, while Tulio can be a substitute for Julio.

Though its meaning has been lost to time, Nazshoni is a beautiful Cherokee option for a daughter.

An attractive, preppy English surname, the exact meaning of which is unknown. The ford component refers to a shallow part of a stream. Sed may be connected to the Middle English word sēd, relating to seeds, or perhaps the Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to sit."

Name used for girls in the Choctaw tribe of Mississippi and Oklahoma.

This attracitve Sioux name belonged to one of Sitting Bull's many wives.

This name of an old Armenian monastery would blend well into American culture.

One supermodel name--that of the Lithuanian Egle Tvirbutaite--which is far from as beautiful to American ears as she is.

A name from ancient Roman, now rare.

An upbeat English word name with a Puritanical feel, famously borne by Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, who reigned for over 50 years until his death in 2021.

A rare, but certainly usable, Japanese name from the manga series Vampire Knight.