Names That Mean Beautiful

All names bella have been popular in recent years, and though Clarabella suffers from its association with Clarabelle clown and cow, it may rise as those negative images fade.

Argider is a somewhat used boys' name in Basque-speaking parts of Spain.

Common name in Japan primarily associated with Hitomi (Furuya), a mononymous Japanese singer.

Zerlina is a variation of Zerlin, meaning "beautiful dawn". Zerlina is most famous as the wily, clever servant girl in Mozart's opera Don Giovanni, where she is the only character to seemingly get her way.

Bello is as handsome as Bella is beautiful, but rarely heard outside the Italian community. With its energetic 'o' ending, it could be ripe for export.

Lovely Japanese choice that would translate well cross-culturally.

Anglicized form of the Irish name Aoibheann, which is also in use in Ireland itself. Eavie/Evie would make an adorable short form.

Although a variant of the operatic Zerlina, Zerline has her own theatrical tale. She is the star character of the opera Fra Diavolo by Daniel Auber. Zerline, daughter of the innkeeper of Terracina, is in love with an impoverished soldier, Lorenzo, but her father wants her to marry the rich old Francesco. Various tragedies and events occur. In the end, Zerline is free to marry her beloved Lorenzo.

Marabel was a form sometimes seen in the seventeenth century, and might appeal to someone looking for an uncommon 'bel' name.

Variant of Maribel

Kazumi can be used both as a masculine and feminine name. It is related to names like Kazuko, Kazuo and Kazuki.

There will probably be lots of little namesakes after the fastest man in the world, Jamaican Olympic runner Usain Bolt--middle name St. Leo.

A little-known Callie name, belonging to a naiad in Greek mythology – a daughter of the god of the Nile. She was one of the wives of Aegyptus.

A slimmed down spelling of the more traditional Aiobheann. It's a beautiful name, but the spelling might throw some non-Irish natives off.

Hip-swayingly evocative.

Kalliroi is a modern Greek form of the Classical name Callirrhoe, who in mythology was an ocean nymph who accompanied Persephone to the underworld. If you're looking for unusual names with ocean meanings, this should be on your list.

Frilly but undeniably beautiful. The meaning of Mary is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Claribel improves on its mother name Clarabelle by distancing itself from the clown and the cow.

Most common in Japan in the mid-20th century, but to Western ears it doesn't sound dated.

You can just hear some sassy dame in a 1930s movie using this name. We prefer the original -- or even its original, Amabel.