Names That Mean Victory

Variously spelled Covy and Covey, this is a surname derived from the first name Cobthach. Like cousins Coby and Cody, it has an energetic nickname feel.

Romuald is an obscure medieval Italian saint’s name which had a surprising run of popularity in France in the 1970s, featuring in the top 100 from 1972-79. It only fell out of the French top 500 in 2005, but is little-known in anglophone countries.

This once vivacious midcentury nickname is rarely used for modern babies.

Veronica seems poised to rise again, along with many other V names, and with it may follow this more romantic French version.

The surname of influential French fashion designer Marc Bohan could make a modern-sounding two-syllable boy's name, though it might be confused with Bowen.

Also spelled Sigfrid, this hefty German name has an appropriately majestic meaning: "victorious peace". Fittingly, a famous bearer was the English World War I poet and pacifist Siegfried Sassoon. Sassoon was named after the hero of a Wagner opera, which in turn was based on a tragic hero from German legend.

The raven was a holy bird in Norse mythology, giving this choice some resonance beyond other Bart variations.

As well as meaning victory, the name Katsu is strongly associated with heroism and masculinity.

An interesting and unusual member of the "Nic" family--far more distinctive than NICOLE or NICOLA.

Signy — also spelled Signe — would make another distinctively offbeat alternative to Sydney. Signy appears in Norse mythology as the twin sister of Sigmund.

Cleora is a now-extinct name (there were no babies named Cleora recorded in the U.S. in 2012) that achieved some standing in the early 20th century thanks to the craze for all things Egypt-related. A range of Cleopatra diminutives, including Cleo, Cleora, Cleona, and Cleola, made the Top 1000 then as the ancient tombs were opened in Egypt.

Something slightly negative about that Nil beginning; more positive similar names would be Lilla or Willa, Lucilla or Priscilla. Nilla may also be a short form of the Scandinavian Gunilla.

Originally the name of the titular faerie queene of Spenser's epic poem "The Faerie Queene," published in 1590. Gloriana was, along with Belphoebe, an allegory for Queen Elizabeth.

Sharing an etymology with Cleopatra, this masculine form of the name also has biblical ties. Cleopas was one of the men who encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus following his resurrection. As a child's name, it has been a rare sight. While it does have an interesting history, it's connection to Cleopatra and obvious nickname Cleo could make it seem too feminine for some.

If you loved Nicole growing up but now are looking for a new spin, Nicoletta may interest you. The slightly sleeker French version is Nicolette. A shorter form is Coletta, or you could shorten it even further to Nico or Etta.

The feminine form of Yaroslav, a name which belonged to several Grand Princes of Kyiv and Novgorod, including Yaroslav I "the Wise". A city and region called Yaroslavl in Western Russia are named in his honor.

A highly unusual flower name that could give you Clio for short.

Popular in Sweden — Ziggy would be English cognate.