Names That Mean Meaning

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.

Traditional Choctaw male name.

Hatchell is an attractive English surname that feels ripe for discovery — assuming you're looking for a rare and preppy surname. There are many theories on the origins of Hatchell. It may derive from a given name such as Hacche, Haeccel, or Hake, or be a habitational surname related to a number of "lost" English places. Another theory suggests that Hatchell is derived from the Old English word haecel, meaning "hooded cloak" as well as "flax comb." This theory connects Hatchell to the West Germanic word for "hook."

Sanel is a short and sweet name commonly used in South Slavic countries.

Actor Henry Golding and his wife Liv Lo named their second daughter Florence Likan. She's named after Henry's mother, Margaret Likan Golding, who is of Iban ancestry. Likan likely has roots in Iban or Malay, although this is unconfirmed. Many sources also attribute Nepali origins to Likan.

Morena Baccarin and Ben McKenzie used Laiz as the middle name for their daughter Frances in 2016.

Sip was recorded on the US Top 1000 a single year, 1885, when it was given to five baby boys. This may have been a clerical error from its use as a Chinese surname, which is traditionally written before given names.

An obscure Welsh saint for whom the village of Llanegryn, in north-west Wales, is named. His name is occasionally given to Welsh children.

A recently-created Slovene name with no etymological roots. Naj debuted in the Slovenian Top 100 in 2019, when it was given to 23 baby boys. However, based on the use of Naja in Slovenia as a diminutive of Anastazija or Natalija as well as a stand alone name, Naj (and similar Nai) might have come about in a similar way, from Nikolaj or Nikolai, for example.

Possibly a variation of Raffaelle — one that is very fun to say.

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.

Jadson is a name with uniquely Brazilian origins. It is linked to soccer star Jádson Rodrigues da Silva as well as profession surfer Jadson Andre.

An ancient Roman forename, particularly associated with the Claudian dynasty, whose origins are lost in the mists of time. Some Roman names have become newly popular recently, but this one has not made it to the modern baby name charts.

Rainara — and variations such as Raynara — is a uniquely Brazilian name with mysterious origins. It may derive from the Germanic name Reynard, meaning "powerful advice".

This name was brought to the fore by acclaimed Chinese-American novelist and short story writer Gish Jen, whose birth name was Lillian.

An Ancient Greek name now common in Brazil in the Laís form. Two notable Ancient Greek courtesans were named Laïs, along with a first-century midwife.

Sadio Mané is a Senegalese footballer who plays for the Bayern Munich football club as well as Senegal's national team. He was injured and unable to play in the 2022 World Cup, but increased soccer coverage leading up to the tournament boosted his name on the charts — Sadio made its debut for baby boys that year.

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."

Though it might be acceptable in its native land, the fact of Azni being an anagram of a word with unpleasant World War II associations would limit its usage here.