Names that end in y

Many African tribes have a tradition of naming children for the day or time they were born -- Friday, Afternoon -- a practice finding new life in the Western world as word names become more popular.

This familiar Irish surname, best known as the name of the mononamed Welsh female singer, is extremely rare as a first name in the US but could make an original Irish choice.

Used primarily for girls in Ireland, but sounds unisex to us.

While not generally thought of as unisex, this is a male name that, like Perry and Barry, has occasionally been used for girls over the years.

Readers who remember J. D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey have probably forgotten that the character was male (nee Zachary). Nowadays the somewhat loopy spin on Zoe is associated with actress Zooey Deschanel.

A short form of the modern coinage Icelyn that feels cool as a short form, but too frosty for a full name.

Dapper-sounding choice with old American roots (Dabney Cosby was a 19th century Virginian architect who worked with Thomas Jefferson on some of that state's most iconic buildings). Dabney Montgomery was Martin Luther King Jr's bodyguard, giving this name yet more American history depth. Dab is a sweet nickname option for this name.

One of the cool new surname-names for girls, likely influenced by the stardom of Patrick Dempsey (aka McDreamy).

Heavenly, the word that's become a name, has been flirting with the bottom of the Top 1000 for a handful of years now. Heaven and cousins like Nevaeh have been well-used so adding the popular -ly suffix, ala Everly, seems like a natural progression.

Literally, the Odyssey is Homer's epic tale of Odysseus's voyage home from the Trojan wars, and it is also used figuratively for any long, challenging journey. It is used rarely but steadily for girls, and makes a recognizable and meaningful, yet uncommon, word name.

A busby is the English name for the fur military headdress originally worn by the Hungarian hussars. As a first name, Busby is also the unique name of iconic movie choreographer Busby Berkeley.

A patriotic spin on Armie, with roughly the same meaning whether you consider it a variation or a totally separate word name.

Offbeat Anglicized form of the intractable Gaelic Rathnait.

Gentry is a word name that's gaining ground for girls as a kind of updated Jennifer, especially in the Jentry (or Jentri or Jentree) spelling.

Zuly is the spunky short form of Zulma, and is commonly used on its own, often in the Latino community.

Rough-and-tumble surname with some degree of charm.

A modern coinage from the initials JC, or from a combination of Jay plus the popular -acey/-asey ending sound.

Most things Jul-related – from the month of July to popular modern names Julia and Julian – originate with Roman emperor Julius Caesar, and the month name July is no exception. Fifteen girls and seven boys were named July in 2013, putting this month name into the class of gender neutral names.

Surname name with an uplifting meaning. Just beware that this is a well-known mattress brand.

A trimmer version of Riley, Miley, Kylie, et al., used by model Coco Rocha for her daughter in 2020.