Thanksgiving Names

The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this system (think Kofi Annan, whose name means born on a Friday).

This is an English surname dating back to 1086, but we don't see it having much of a first name future in the twenty-first century.

Also spelt Sebele, this soft-sounding name means "harvest" in the Amharic language of Ethiopia.

Depending on its origin, this cool single-syllable name has either a wonderful meaning ("give thanks" in Igede) or a terrible one ("persecuted", as a variant of the Hebrew name Job).

This Beatrix alternate could make a good choice for globetrotting parents.

A late Roman saint's name that feels perfect for a Thanksgiving baby.

Helier is the patron saint of the Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, and it is for him that St. Helier, Jersey's capital, is named. The name is related to Hilary, Ilario etc, and therefor shares their wonderful meanings.

Believe it or not, this was a fairly common appellation in early New England, interpreted not in the sexual sense, but more in terms of desiring salvation. In modern times, the French name Desiree, pronounced dehz-ih-ray, would be more acceptable.

Among the Ewe people of Ghana and Togo, Yao is the name for babies born on Thursday.

A covert fruit name for non-Finnish speakers.

A unisex Igbo name with a glorious meaning, perfect for a long-awaited baby.

With its slightly cocky feel, this well-used surname is not often heard as a first.

Derived from a Hebrew phrase: ode "I will thank, praise" combined with yah "Yahweh". A famous bearer is Israeli-American actress Odeya Rush.

Une amie for Gwyneth's little girl.

Eaton's similarity to Eton gives it an upscale Old School feel, though in the U.S. a name that sound like eatin' could have teasin' potential. Eaton could also sound like the much-more-familiar Ethan with a tough-guy accent.

Variant of Seble

With Grace getting so popular, you may want to explore its international variations such as Grazia, or go all the way to Graziana or Graziella.

Aki is a simple international name from two wildly divergent cultures.

This Puritan virtue name may be unstylish, but it is also sympathetic and appealing in these largely uncomfortable times.