Names That Mean Earth

Place-name waiting to be discovered.

Clarimond is related to the Occitan name Esclarmonde, and is probably the more wearable of the two variations.

Creative variation on Peter.

Evocative of the sand dunes at the beach, Doone is a relatively rare surname found in Scotland, Ireland and England. It was recently used with this spelling by Olympic medalist Amanda Beard; photographer Diane Arbus named her daughter Doon, inspired, yes, by walks along the sand dunes during her pregnancy.

Androgeus was a Cretan prince—the son of King Minos. He is known for being murdered in Athens, although the way in which he died is contested.

An international take on Dara.

Gardener is surely one of the most pleasant and evocative of the occupational options, calling up images of green grass and budding blooms. The name can also be spelled without the first 'e', as in Gardner (born George Cadogan Gardner) McCay, a hunky TV heartthrob of the 1950s and 60s. Gardner is a much more common surname spelling, associated with screen legend Ava, mystery writer Erle Stanley and art collector and patron Isabella Stewart, founder of Boston's Gardner Museum.

Monserrat is a variant spelling of the Catalan name Montserrat. It is likely the better spelling in English-speaking countries given the correct pronunciation of the name.

A cross-cultural possibility, but a bit heavy and somber.

A two-syllable surname feel puts this name of an important English saint in the running -- though it could sound like a confused cross between Duncan and Dustin.

Earthy but ethereal Spanish word name that sounds a lot fresher than its sister Sierra.

An intriguing but challenging choice, because of possible confusion with all the Terry-type names.

A Persian name with an evocative meaning, Jahan was notably borne by the 17th century Indian emperor, Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal for his wife Mumtaz. Associated with one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Jahan is predominantly used as a masculine name, though is sometimes given to girls too. The popular Turkish and Azerbaijani form is Ci̇han.

Turquoise is similar in hue to Aqua, which is one of the cool new color names on the palette. Other blue-hued options: Cerulean, Cyan, Indigo, or Blue itself.

Sensuous and rhythmic.

Rochester was Jack Benny's famous valet and sidekick, played by early African-American comic Eddie Anderson.

Once a short form of names containing this syllable, it is now used on its own, though we'd prefer Sven.

The discoverer of this lovely bright blue gemstone named it after his daughter Larissa and the sea (mar), hence Larimar. Despite the feminine origins, the harder -mar ending makes this work for boys too, similar to Delmar and Elmer.

Has an evocative feel, unusual to the Western ear without being identified with any particular culture.