Medieval Names

The name Lórien appears several times in Tolkien’s novels. It’s both a place name and a character name, and although the name may sound feminine due to the similarity with Lauren and Marien, Tolkein's character Lórien (Master of Visions and Dreams, also called Irmo) is male and the softness of the name will appeal to parents weary of macho names.

This Olde World name with a large measure of European style makes an offbeat possibility for the bold baby namer in search of interesting Italian names for girls. Currently very popular in its native Italy, Ludovica is an unusual path to all the great Lu nicknames, like Lulu and Lula.

Magdalena is a pretty name forever associated with the fallen-yet-redeemed Mary Magdalen; often heard in the Hispanic community. But forward thinking parents are reviving Magdalena along with Magdalene and the unrelated but similar-sounding Marguerite.

Based on the ancient name Marcellus, drawn from Mars the god of war, Marcello -- it's pronounced mar-chell-o -- is one of the most lush and attractive Latin names.

When scientists do research on the effects of an unpopular name, we're afraid that Mildred is one of the examples they cite, often in tandem with Bertha and Gertrude. But with cute nickname Millie on the rise, anything's possible.

A variation of the name Nere, both choices are distinctive and accessible. In the Top 20 in Spain.

As sturdy as Oak, but with stronger roots as a first name, Oakley ticks lots of boxes for modern trends. With its unisex vibe, it's nature-based meaning, it's surname-y feel, and it's popular -lee ending, it's not wonder Oakley is on the rise.

Oakley, with its nature name roots and its Annie Oakley charm, is a hot name for both genders but more than twice as popular for girls. This name made it into the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013, one of only four girl names starting with O to rank that high. A decade letter, it's aiming for the Top 100.

The Shakespearean character Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream is King of the Fairies, but the name, with its strong 'O' beginning, projects a far more virile image than that.

Ode could be part of the extended Otto/Otis family, or it might be a literary term, referring to an elaborate lyric poem.

Odhran, Anglicized as Oran, was the name of an ancient saint. Today, Odhran is among the Top 100 Irish names for boys in Ireland.

German name with a Latin rhythm.

Used in a medieval Spanish tale as the name of a Norwegian princess, Olinda is also a place in both Brazil and Australia and the name of a species of moth. Olinda could be related to the Greek word Olynthos meaning "wild fig tree", however, it could also be related to the Norwegian Ole or Oline meaning "ancestor's descendant" or to the element lind meaning "soft, tender, flexible" and "beautiful". Occasionally, it has also been used as a variant of Yolanda, meaning "violet flower".

Oliver is an international star, ranking near the top of the charts in the US and throughout the English-speaking world, along with a host of European and Latin American countries, from Norway to Chile, Slovenia to Switzerland.