Dog Names That Start With N

Alvin, Melvin, Norvin -- most vin names, except maybe Kevin and Gavin -- are not vinners.

Dashing surname for the Basque kingdom.

See NECHAMA.

An obscure possibility...for a girl.

A summertime baby name in Japan.

Georgian feminine form of Ninos, which may come from the name of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh. Saint Nino introduced Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century.

Why would parents use such a negative word as a baby name? With Nemesis, it seems to be all about style. Nemesis repeats the fashionable -is ending found in girl names such as Genesis, Amaris, and Odalys. And we have to admit, Nemy makes a pretty cute nickname.

Spelled Najee, this was chosen by rapper LL Cool J for his son several years ago.

Nenna is the name of the heroine of Penelope Fitzgerald's novel Offshore, but it's also sparingly used in Scandinavia as a variant of the name Nanna. Nanna is a diminutive of various names, including Anna, Johanna and Marianne, but it's also a name in its own right, possibly meaning "daring".

O-ending short forms are almost invariably appealing, though this might seem slight as the child grows up.

Lots of parents choose nature names, but only a few choose Nature as a name each year. It is equally used for boys and girls in the USA.

Friendly option: has also been defined as "drinking companion".

Just the kind of old-fashioned nickname coming back into style.

This name, used in both India and Nepal, is one of those lovely boys names that opts for quiet strength over hypermasculine energy. Bollywood cinematographer Nirav Shah is a notable bearer of this name.

Nanny, like Fanny, is an old-fashioned nickname not due for a comeback any time soon.

Following a custom among scholars in Renaissance Germany, Neander is the classical form of the surname Newman. But the bullies at school are sure to call him Neanderthal.

Might be carrying things too far -- little little girl? -- though could freshen up this favorite.

A very accessible Japanese choice, with an evocative meaning.