Names That Mean Fair

  1. Tegan
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "fair"
    • Description:

      Tailored Tegan comes from a Welsh saint's name. Teagan is just a little bit different, from an Irish surname. The ea spelling is much more popular.
  2. Rhonwen
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "slender, fair"
    • Description:

      The delicate and haunting Welsh Rhonwen is still a rarity in the U.S., where her English version Rowena is better known, but would be a lovely choice for any parent in search of a name that was both unusual and traditional, classically feminine yet strong.
  3. Finian
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "fair"
    • Description:

      This lilting Irish saint's name shone in neon lights on Broadway for the classical 1947 musical "Finian's Rainbow," later made into a film starring Fred Astaire as Finian McLonergan, and there was also a character on "General Hospital" named Finian O'Toole. With the growing popularity of Finn and Finlay/Finley--and boys' names ending in 'an'--Finian, which can also be spelled Finnian, seems like a sure-fire winner.
  4. Christabel
    • Origin:

      Latin and French
    • Meaning:

      "fair Christian"
    • Description:

      Though Isabel is a smash hit, Christabel still hasn't been fully embraced. It was originally popularized in England via the Coleridge poem Christabel ("whom her father loves so well") and was given to the poet's granddaughter. Christabel Pankhurst was a famous U.K. suffragist.
  5. Bevin
    • Origin:

      Irish Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "fair lady, white lady"
    • Description:

      The traditional Irish girl's name Bevin – an Anglicization of Bébhinn – is rarely heard outside the Emerald Isle, but could make an fresh and fashionable namesake for an Aunt Beverly.
  6. Keelan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "slender and fair"
    • Description:

      Keelan is the Anglicized, phonetic form of the more traditionally-spelled Caelan, also in use. While this name is said by many sources to be unisex, in practice in modern Ireland it is only given to boys. An interesting, accessible choice largely unknown in the US.
  7. Mckinley
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of the fair hero"
    • Description:

      Presidential name that makes a fresh substitute for MacKenzie or McKenna. Possible spelling variations include MacKinley, MacKinlee, Makinleigh ad almost infinitum. McKinley is one of the Scottish names for girls that can work equally well for boys.
  8. Effy
    • Origin:

      Greek, diminutive of Euphemia
    • Meaning:

      "fair speech"
    • Description:

      This can be a short form of any Greek girls' name starting with 'Ef', such as Efstraria or Efrosini. It has also been suggested as a possible nickname for Elizabeth.
  9. Venn
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "fair"
    • Description:

      No, not Ben (you'll say a million times), not Van -- Venn. John Venn was a British logician and philosopher famous for introducing the Venn diagram, which is used in several fields, including logic, statistics, and computer science.
  10. Finnegan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "fair"
    • Description:

      Finnegan has been growing in popularity for boys, thanks to the love for all things Finn-related. It's started to be used occasionally for girls, too.
  11. Tegan
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "fair"
    • Description:

      Tegan is a Welsh saint's name. While some may conflate it with the Irish Teagan, they have different roots and meanings though both are used for girls as well as boys. Teagan is the more usual spelling and tips more heavily girlward, though Tegan runs about four to one girls versus boys. Tegan is pronounced with a long e sound in the first syllable, while Teagan can be pronounced either tee-gan or tay-gun.
  12. Siri
    • Origin:

      Norse, diminutive of Sigrid
    • Meaning:

      "fair victory"
    • Description:

      Siri is a charming and lively Scandinavian name that is no longer on the table given the ubiquity of Apple's digital Siri. Too bad, because Siri -- along with variations Syrie and Cyrie -- is unique, enchanting, and adorable. But now taken.
  13. Elvi
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Elviira, Finnish from Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "white; fair"
    • Description:

      Elvi is one of those elusive names that fit in yet stand out. It's similar to currently trendy girl names such as Ellie and Evie but maintains distinction.
  14. Zuleika
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "fair, brilliant beauty"
    • Description:

      Zuleika is a high-wire act of a name that might appeal to the intrepid baby namer, Like most 'Z'-starting girls' names, it projects a cool, strong aura, as exemplified by the character in Max Beerbohm's satirical 1910 novel, Zuleika Dobson, a heroine so gorgeous that the entire student body of Oxford University committed collective suicide at the sight of her.
  15. Mckinley
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of the fair hero"
    • Description:

      New Presidential name, if you're ready to move beyond Lincoln and Jefferson. At the turn of the last century, during the original McKinley's heyday, as a first name it almost reached the Top 100.
  16. Wenna
    • Origin:

      Cornish
    • Meaning:

      "white / fair"
    • Description:

      Wenna is an early Cornish forms of Gwen, belonging to two 5th-century Cornish saints. Wenna could also be a shortened form of Conwenna, another beautiful Cornish name.
  17. Justice
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "the quality of being just, impartial, or fair"
    • Description:

      Justice is a fashionable word name, used for both girls and boys. Justice has the distinction of being a virtue name without the religious implications of Faith or Grace. It still feels more male than female, perhaps partly due to the classic Roman name Justus, but Justice has become a more common pick for girls in recent years.
  18. Arwyn
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "very fair"
    • Description:

      Derived from Welsh gwyn "white, fair" plus an intensifying prefix, Arwyn is a warm and unusual option.
  19. Talwyn
    • Origin:

      Cornish
    • Meaning:

      "fair brow"
    • Description:

      Talwyn is a contemporary Cornish word name that can be pronounced with the emphasis on either syllable. With its fashionable -wyn ending, Talwyn could easily be used on an American-born baby.
  20. Lilwen
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "white lily"
    • Description:

      An unusual member of the "Lily" family of names, this one gives you the option for sweet vintage nickname Winnie, too. It's very unusual even in its native country, never given to more than 3 babies per year since naming records began in 1996.