Joyous Names
- Kailea
Origin:
English, HawaiianMeaning:
"pure; sea of joy"Description:
In English, Kailea is an unusual variant spelling of Kayley or Kaylee. In Hawaiian, Kaileʻa means "sea of joy".
Kailea is one of
- Kalayah
Origin:
Variation of Kalea or Alayah, Hawaiian, EnglishMeaning:
"joy, happiness; sublime"Description:
The -ayah suffix is ultra hot at the moment, with names like Alayah and Avayah attracting hundreds of parents each year. Kalayah may be building off of those, but it could also be used as a variation of the classic Hawaiian name Kalea.
- Kalea
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"joy, happiness"Description:
Kalea is a Top 100 name for girls in Hawaii. Sources differ on the meaning of the name, but the most authoritative land on joy or happiness...though kalea is also the Hawaiian word for orgasm.
- Keiko
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"happy child"Description:
Japanese classic with optimistic meaning.
- Lainie
Origin:
Diminutive of ElaineMeaning:
"bright shining one"Description:
Lainie is a nickname for Elaine that has been in the public eye via Lainie Kazan (that was her full given name), who was a popular singer in the 1960s and 1970s (she was Barbra Streisand's understudy in "Funny Girl"), and then became a motherly character actress. We still find Lainie a bit flimsy for a full first name.
- Lajoie
Origin:
French surnameMeaning:
"joy"Description:
Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie may inspire some baseball history fans to adopt his surname as a first or middle name for their child. He was a second baseman for Philadelphia and Cleveland's teams in the early 19th century and is one of the only MLB players to have over 3000 career hits.
- Leta
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"glad, joyful"Description:
Leta has hipster cred as the daughter of cool mommy blogger Dooce. Related to the Greek mythological Leda, a great beauty who mothered another great beauty, Helen of Troy, Leta is a name that's as unique as it is historic: Only 14 baby girls were named Leta in the US last year, and 18 were named Leda. Pronunciation is lee-tah.
- Lovejoy
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"love joy"Description:
Lovejoy's use as a surname follows that as a nickname. In Medieval times, when many people shared names, nicknames were relied upon to distinguish individuals. Many of these nicknames later became surnames. Lovejoy, from the Middle English love(n) and joie, referred to someone who was affectionate and joyful — although the Oxford Dictionary of American Family Names notes that Lovejoy may have been bestowed ironically, at times.
- Lowen
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"joy"Description:
Could Lowen be the next Owen? This Cornish name certainly has the right sounds to be an American hit, and is rising dramatically for both boys and girls.
- Lowen
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"joy"Description:
Though it still swims out of sight below the Top 1000, Lowen jumped more than a thousand places in rank for girls between 2022 and 2023, a mark of a name destined for far greater popularity. Nearly a hundred baby girls were named Lowen in the US last year.
- Lowenna
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"joy"Description:
Lowena is the Cornish word for "joy". As a given name, it is most commonly spelt as in this entry - Lowenna. Lowen is a lovely unisex option which is closely related: it means "joyful" or "glad".
- Luminance
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"light, brightness"
- Meriweather
Description:
Variant of Meriwether
- Merry
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"lighthearted, happy"Description:
She'd better be. Merry is one of the classic names for Christmas babies.
- Moonglade
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"the bright reflection of moonlight on water"
- Meriweather
- Naim
Origin:
Scottish; ArabicMeaning:
"river with alder trees; happy"Description:
Naim, also sometimes spelled Naime, is a pleasant choice that may have some confusing pronunciation issues in English-speaking countries (where may will say this name as "name"). But don't let that deter you if you're in love with this moniker.
- Neave
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"bright"Description:
Anglicized variant of Niamh.
- Nell
Origin:
English, diminutive of Helen, Eleanor, et alMeaning:
"bright, shining one"Description:
Nell, once a nickname for Helen, Ellen, or Eleanor, is a sweet old-fashioned charmer that is fashionably used today in its own right. While Nell is perfectly in tune with contemporary vintage name style, it hasn't taken off the way some of its sisters have and so maintains an air of distinction. Use Nell or Nellie as a short for any name from Eleanor to Penelope or just name her Nell.
- Nuray
Origin:
TurkishMeaning:
"bright moon"Description:
Nuray is one of the most popular girls' names in the Middle East though it's largely unknown and unused in the Western World. The meaning, related to the more familiar Noor, adds appeal.