Jewel and Gemstone Baby Names

Baojin, sometime hyphenated to Bao-Jin, has a luxurious meaning making it a relatively common choice for Mandarin-speaking parents. Baojin can be used for girls and boys. But this meaning also means that baby Baojin will also share his/her name with a mining company, an expressway and a housing policy.

Common name in Japan, would have alcoholic allusions here.

Turquoise is similar in hue to Aqua, which is one of the cool new color names on the palette. Other blue-hued options: Cerulean, Cyan, Indigo, or Blue itself.

A name with the kind of pan-cultural feel that's in vogue now... and forever. A French variant, Marjane, belongs to the author of the iconic graphic memoir Persepolis.

So named because it emits sparks when struck with a stone.

Diamond sparkled all through the nineties--reaching as high as Number 150 in 1999. Although its shine has diminished quite a bit, it remains in use.

There's a whole quarry of rocky names parents are now considering: Slate, Flint, etc. , but this one is particularly hard-edged and problematic.

Two similarly delicate names, Tamako and Tamaki, can be found in the Japanese community.

An Early American name undoubtedly related to the Greek mythological name Electra, the version we prefer.

Associated with a vivid red-orange-colored lacquer, would make a more than distinctive color-related choice.

Rare and rhythmic.

As a Japanese name, Umina derives from umi, meaning "sea", combined with a range of other kanji characters.

An elaborate and shiny choice.

Fashionable choice in modern Israel, also a place-name there, not likely to succeed here.

The discoverer of this lovely bright blue gemstone named it after his daughter Larissa and the sea (mar), hence Larimar. A lovely name which could be a great alternative to Larissa, Lara and other more commonly used Lar- names.

Related to the Indian word and currency "rupee', Rupa derives its meaning from the ancient Sanskrit language, and can mean both silver and beautiful. Rupa also has strong historical and literary associations (as Rupa Bhawani was a noted 16th Century poetess and mystic) from Kashmir.

A jewel-encrusted choice, far more unusual than Pearl.

Old-fashioned enough to the American ear that literally no baby girls received the name in the US in the most recent year counted. Though might Pessa provide a more unique spin on Tessa? It certainly has a lovely meaning, one shared with Margaret.

Popular unisex choice in Vietnam.