Names That Mean Small

The feminine version of the common Welsh name Glyn became somewhat known in this country via the charming Welsh actress Glynis Johns. Variations include Glenys and Glynys. With other Welsh names--Gwyneth, Bronwyn, Bryn, Griffith--now on the American table, Glynis could make a distinctive tribute to an Uncle Glenn.

This Irish saint's name makes an attractive alternative for Dylan or Donald.

Tyra would be a more modern pick.

Could work for a blended Japanese-Irish family.

Pavlin ups Pavel's style quotient by giving it a surname feel.

This two-syllable Irish surname is as appealing as Nolan, Keegan et al, but much less common.

A possible addition to the Ava / Ada / Adah collection, with a Jewish twist.

Asella is ultimately derived from the Latin word asinus, meaning "donkey." As a word, asella would have been used to refer to a small female donkey.

Charming Gallic name uncommon in France, and unknown in this country, with literary credibility as the title of a Charlotte Brontë novel.

What it really means: you're a "Casablanca" fan.

Sounds a bit like an Australian airline.

Perfect for a child of Japanese Irish heritage.

A nature name used in Catalonia, derived from the word for a vine or vineyard. It sounds like (and has the same origin as) Vignette, which has several English meanings in art, literature, and tax.

A variant of Madden or Madigan, cool surnames which ultimately derive from the Irish Gaelic word for "dog".

An unusual and appealing Scottish family name that would work as well for a girl as a boy.

A Catalan surname connected to Albert Pujols, the Dominican-American baseball player most notably of the Los Angeles Angels. It might not make a great first name, but Pujols could make a meaningful middle for the child of a baseball fan.