Turtle Names

Velma likely originated as a phonetic spelling of the German name Wilma, itself derived from Wilhelmina. Velma Dinkley is a smart, if nerdy, character in Scooby Doo.

The name of the great Italian Renaissance sculptor known as Donatello (but born DONATO), is one that could easily emigrate to modern America, just like sister DONATELLA.

Rarely used on its own and irrevocably tied to former House Speaker Gingrich -- who was christened Newton.

Gidget was the surfer girl who started it all. She was the subject of six novels by Frederick Kohner, and the 1959 film in which she made her theatrical debut, starring Sandra Dee, helped make surfing a popular sport.

Ancient saint's name used for cowardly cartoon lion.

The Greek god Triton was the messenger of the sea and the son of sea god Neptune. He is usually represented as a merman, the the head and upper body of a human and the lower body of a sea creature. In The Little Mermaid he is the father of Ariel.

Tora is the female version of Tor or Thor, the name of the Norse god of thunder. Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn chose it for her daughter.

Patience is a passive virtue turned engaging name, fresher than Hope, Faith, or even Charity. Its resemblance to the trendy Payton may be one reason for its recent spike in popularity.

This Roman mythology (and planet) name would be very hard to handle. It derives from a root meaning cloud.

Military word names, from Cannon to Major, are in, but Tank might push things a bit too far.

Like Cerulean, one of the new and unusual color names -- it's a soft grayish green -- suitable for a boy.

The Shirley of the 1950s. Shelley Winters was born a Shirley.

Its jaunty o-ending makes this name more appealing than most of its Germanic brothers, and we hope we're beyond the constant response to his name being "Where's Waldo?" The weighty reputation of writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson adds a measure of backbone to the name.

This version of the sea god's name may be more ready for prime time than the Roman version, Neptune -- slightly.

Italian heritage name. It's sweet and simple, but has fallen almost out of use since its heyday in the 1960s.

Like Norbert and Hubert, feels terminally dated -- in addition to which it's a nut.

Similar to the floral name Aster, this spelling derives separately from Old Provençal astur "hawk") and from the Icelandic name elements as ("god") and þor ("thunder").

An interesting and attractive bicultural choice--the Hebrew version is used for babies born in spring, when turtledoves arrive--especially as a middle.

Bartleby (that's his last name) the Scrivener is a famous Herman Melville character whose surprisingly powerful refrain was, "I would prefer not to." Or, in the immortal words of any two-year-old: No.