Names That Mean Freedom

Carleton has a great meaning behind it, and should really have more popularity than it has found to date. You can shorten it to Carl or keep it upscale and formal in the longer form. Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk lends the name some sporty credentials, while American artist Carleton Wiggins confirms this name's Victorian earnestness.

The name of an important figure in the Book of Judges, a judge from Gilead who helped the Israelites defeat the hated Ammonites. Jephthah and its various derivative spellings have seldom been used as first names since Biblical times, but that may change going forward, thanks to Duck Dynasty castmember Jules Jeptha "Jep" Robertson.

Erkin is an Uzbek vocabulary word from Old Turkic, and is widely used as a unisex name in Turkey. In English-speaking countries, it is unknown but straightforward and with a great meaning.

Old fashioned nickname that some girls just might be able to pull off. You'd just have to be sure your little Fancy was one of them.

Frost is a name parents are beginning to warm to, appreciating its icy simplicity and connection with the venerable poet Robert. Frost, along with Winter, Snow, and January, are also perfect names for winter babies.

Liber was the name of the Roman god of wine, freedom, and male fertility. It is etymologically linked to the word "libation," referring to the ritual practice of sharing drinks.

In Roman mythology, Libera was the female equivalent of the god Liber. She would eventually become assimilated into the goddess Prosperina.

A nickname for Eleftherios, sometimes bestowed in its own right. Notable bearers include Greek singer Lefteris Pantazis and writer Lefteris Papadopoulos.

Fanchon is a sweet and affectionate Gallic choice.

Outlook in this country: paltry.

A worldly and attractive choice for a child of any background. Two early New World explorers were Hernandos — de Soto and Cortés.

Friendly Slavic rarity.

French variation of Lysander.

An uncommon Hebrew name that can still sometimes be heard in Jewish communities.

The story behind this name is positive: it was first used as a virtue name by the 19th-century liberal thinker Vladimir Jovanović (who also named his daughter Pravda, "justice"). However, it is now tainted by the former Yugoslavian president Slobodan Milošević ⁠— the only wearer most English speakers know. Some may also find the first syllable off-putting.

Libertad is the forceful name recently given to his daughter by Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal. English equivalent Liberty has been in use for girls for some time. Libertad might be considered a Spanish virtue name or word name. See our list of other Spanish word names.

An offbeat way to celebrate this virtue.

A sixties-style name that might work best as a middle.

Frank is cool again. Frankie is cute. But frankly, Frankito is a couple of diminutives too many.

Properly spelled Özgür, this is a familiar unisex name and surname in Turkey, though little-known in the rest of the world. The pronunciation is not far removed from Oscar, which could be a helpful reference point or cause confusion.