January Baby Names

Elif is the Turkish form of Alif, the name of the first letter of the Arabic alphabet. Actor Natalie Portman gave another spelling to her son, Aleph.

Primo is number one among the Latin birth-order names--Octavius et al--and the one most likely to be used in these days of smaller families. It has that jaunty 'o' ending and Italian flavor that many modern parents like so much. And what little boy wouldn't appreciate being prime?

Cait, pronounced like more popular sister Kate, is the form used when shortening Caitlin or any of the other Irish and Gaelic Cait-starting variations of Catherine.

Thanks to two cultural influences, January has joined March, April, June and August as a plausible month name.

More than zero, but perhaps too close to Vera.

Though it's close to the German and French form of Matthew, Mathis, this name of the great artist can work as well for girls.

Kazuo is a boys' name well-used in Japan though not well-known in the U.S. Kazuo Ishiguro is the author of Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go. The emphasis is on the first syllable.

Authentically spelled İlkin, this would be an unusual (to English speakers) pick for a firstborn boy.

Ensio derives from the Finnish word ensimmäinen, meaning "first one."

Traditional Swahili choice for the eldest child.

This Cornish word name would make an excellent choice for a first-born daughter.

Japanese-born fashion designer Issey Miyake, known for his techno-clothes, could provide baby naming inspiration.

This name of the patron saint of Naples would make an apt choice for a New Year's baby, or one with Neapolitan roots.

A Czech surname derived from the word for "green", which has a certain spark.

The sources that do list this name give it as a boys' name, but Woody Harrelson chose it for his daughter, and it does have a feminine lilt.

Signy — also spelled Signe — would make another distinctively offbeat alternative to Sydney. Signy appears in Norse mythology as the twin sister of Sigmund.

Sounds like and is often confused with Asia, though it has an air of retro cool via the seminal Steely Dan album. Or, pronounced eye-ah, it can be an alternate spelling of the international favorite Aya.

A forward-looking word name.

Sabik, a star in Ophiuchus, makes for a rather harsh-sounding name. If you're looking skyward for a baby name, you'd do better with Orion or Jupiter. But if you are searching for names that mean new beginnings, this is one unusual choice.