Cat Names That Mean Lucky

Chance has risen far on the baby-naming charts, but Hazard has a considerably more dangerous edge. It was the middle name of famed US naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry.

The most modern choice in this group, and the most distinctive; the Gwyn form is a common male name in Wales.

In fashion limbo with Anita and Juanita.

An attractive name that's uncommon even in its native Finland. Onneli ja Anneli is a Finnish children's movie translated to English as Jill and Joy, although the names are unrelated.

Has a positive meaning and a nickname feel. Sealey was a feminine name in medieval times but would be equally stylish (and rare) for both sexes now.

The name of the Hindu elephant-headed god of success and wisdom, son of Shiva and Parvati.

Brimming over with a sense of good fortune. Could make a little girl feel very lucky.

Yet another member of the Gwyn/Gwen/Finn family of names ultimately deriving from a Celtic element meaning "white", Guin gets rare use in England and Wales; a notable bearer is Olympic- medal winning (female) rower Guin Batten.

An obscure Cornish saint's name that can also be considered a place name — Madron is a Cornish village named for the saint.

There are several fine Ben-beginning boy's names, such as BENJAMIN and BENEDICT, but girls names like this and BENJAMINA don't fare as well.

A unique New Age possibility with a pleasing sound.

While Kamran is a common boys' name in Iran and Turkey, among other countries, if used in the US it will more likely be a respelling of Cameron, a unisex name which sounds exactly the same as Kamran. Due to cultural misunderstandings, we'd advise using the Kamran spelling only if you mean to select the Persian boys' name, not as a "creative" form of Cameron for either gender.

Nitasha sounds exactly like Natasha but has a different origin and meaning. This makes it a good choice for parents looking to bridge Christian and Muslim or European and Arabic or Indian cultures. Down side: Endless and inevitable spelling confusion, but this is far outweighed by the name's cross-cultural grace.

Upbeat name with an auspicious meaning.

Attractive Japanese name that may garner more attention due to the character Tadashi Hamada from Big Hero 6.

Fashion designer Liz Claiborne (born Anne Elizabeth Jane Claiborne) make this name a feminist option for girls. She was a pioneer in her field — Liz Claiborne was the first woman-owned company to make the Fortune 500 list. However, the company that shares her name no longer has the same panache it once did, which may deter some parents from using this otherwise inspiring name.

Kouki is an uncommon choice in Japan today, but it's been used for several anime characters.

Ventura started life as a shortening of Bonaventura, Spanish for good luck or good fortune, but now stands on its own. It has a pleasant sound and the stylish 'V' ending, but Angelenos would associate it with the Valley's main stem--Ventura Boulevard, and others might think of Ace or Jesse Ventura.