Discover Versatile Names That Work Beautifully for Any Baby
Choosing a unisex name for your baby offers beautiful versatility and timeless appeal. At Name Doctor, we've compiled the most popular unisex names of 2025 using official U.S. Social Security data combined with our expert etymology research.
Unisex names have been used across cultures for centuries, offering parents flexibility and meaningful options that work beautifully for any child. These names are:
Our popular unisex names list features names that have been successfully used for both boys and girls, backed by historical data and cultural usage. Every name at Name Doctor includes:
Expert etymology from ancient languages
Documentation of cross-gender usage over time
Understanding of how names are used globally
Current usage statistics from official records
The top unisex names fall into several classic categories:
💡 Naming Tip from Name Doctor:
When choosing a unisex name, consider your family's cultural background and how the name sounds with your last name. Research the name's etymology to ensure its meaning aligns with your values. Our name variations guide shows common nicknames and forms used across different cultures.
While our popular unisex names list below features trending favorites, Name Doctor's database includes 1,850 expertly researched unisex names. You can also explore:
Every name below has been verified by our expert linguists with detailed meanings, etymological origins, and historical context to help you choose the perfect versatile name for your baby.
From a surname which was itself derived from the Norman French form of the given names “Alberich or Alfred.” In turn, the name is of Germanic and Old English (Anglo-Saxon) origin and comes from the roots: (ALBERICH) and (ALFRED). Avery was the 13th most common name for girls born in the United States in 2012.
This name represents the anglicized form of the Old Irish surname and byname “Ó Cuidighthigh > Cuidightheach,” meaning “descendant of Cuidightheach, helpful, helper.” Though apparently distinct, the name may be influenced by Mac Óda from the Germanic “Odo and Otho” introduced by the Normans to Ireland.
This name derives from the Old French, based on past participle form of the verb “esmer,” meaning “esteemed, loved, beloved,” which in turn derives from the Latin “æstĭmāre > æstĭmo,” meaning “estimate, evaluate, appreciate.” First recorded as a male given name in Scotland in the sixteenth century. 1) Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox (1542–1583), was the son of John Stewart, 5th Lord of Aubigny, who was the younger brother of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox. 1) Esmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of Lennox (1579–1624), was the son of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox. He was a patron of the playwright Ben Jonson, who lived in his household for five years.
Jade is an ornamental stone, a precious green stone. The English word jade (alternative spelling “jaid”) is derived from the Spanish “piedra de la [h]ijada,” which means “stone of the colic,” first recorded in 1565.” There was a belief that when jade was placed on the stomach, it could cure colic in babies. Nephrite is derived from lapis nephriticus, the Latin version of the Spanish “piedra de la [h]ijada.” The English form jade began to be used around the year 1970 (according to other sources, since the late 19th-century). The Spanish word “[h]ijada” could have a connection to the Latin “īle” and the Ancient Greek “eileós (εἰλεός),” meaning “colic.”
Joey is a diminutive of Joseph, occasionally used as a feminine diminutive of Josephine or Johanna. It is of Hebrew origin and comes from the following roots: (YEHÔSÊPH) and (IŌÁNNĒS).
This name derives from the Middle English “lake,” meaning “lake, watercourse, the body of water,” from the Old English “lacu,” meaning “lake, pond, pool, stream, watercourse.” Despite their similarity in form and meaning, the English lake is not related to Latin “lacus” (hollow, lake, pond). Lake is also a reasonably common surname recorded in England before the 13th-century.
This name is of Old English origin, composed of two Old English elements: “hǣþ” (heath, untilled land, heather) plus “lēah” (meadow, woodland, a clearing ‘especially one used for farming’). In turn, the name means “heather field.” It is an English locational surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from one of the places called Hadley in Hertfordshire, Shropshire, and Worcestershire and any of the places called Hadleigh in Suffolk, Essex and elsewhere. Hadley Richardson (1891–1979) was the first wife of American author Ernest Hemingway.
This name is a short form of Albert, Alba, Albina, and Alban. The name is of Germanic and Latin origin and comes from the following roots: (ADELBERT) (ALBINUS) and (ALBA).
This name derives from the English “Easton,” composed of two Old English elements: “ēast” (east) plus “tūn” (town, settlement, residential district). In turn, the name means “east town.”
This name is linked to three different roots: 1) From the Ancient Germanic “*ermunaz,” meaning “strong, whole, tall, exalted, whole, great, powerful” (making it a relative of Ermenrich). 2) From the Gothic “*amal / ama-l,” meaning “work, brave, diligent, the Amali” (making it a relative of Amalric). 3) From the Old High German “*haimaz,” meaning “home, house” (making it a relative of Henry). The second element is “-ric,” from the Ancient Germanic “*rīkijaz,” meaning “kingly, royal, noble, mighty, distinguished, powerful, rich.” It is probable that one Germanic form was merged into a single name and later generated its variants.
This name derives from the Late Latin “Iacobus,” from the Ancient Greek “Iákōbos (Ἰάκωβος),” meaning “supplanter, held by the heel, heel-grabber, leg-puller.” In turn, the name derives from the Hebrew root “ʿqb > Yaʿakov,” meaning “to follow, to be behind,” and it referred to the circumstances of Jacob’s birth when he held on to the heel (Hebrew: ʿaqeb) of his older twin brother Esau. As described in the Hebrew Bible, Jacob, the Talmud, the New Testament, the Koran, and the scriptures of Baha’i as the third patriarch of the Jewish people with whom God made a covenant and ancestor of the tribes of Israel, who took their names from his descendants. In the Hebrew Bible, Jacob is Isaac and Rebecca’s son, and grandson of Abraham, Sarah, and Bethuel. Jacob is honored as a prophet of Islam; in fact, the name is commonly used as a baptismal name in Arabic and Muslim societies.
This name derives from the Latin “lyricus,” meaning “of, or relating to a type of poetry, lyrical, of or relating to musical drama and opera” which in turn derives from the Ancient Greek “lurikós (λῠρῐκός)” meaning “of or about the lyre.”
It is a name of medieval origin from the Latin “perla,” meaning “pearl.” This name came into widespread use along with other gemstone names during the late Victorian Era. The name Margaret may have also inspired it and Gyöngyi, which means “pearl,” in fact, the Greek “Margaritēs (μαργαρίτης)” means “pearl.” The word is related to “Marg” from “Marq” or “Marka,” meaning “chicken,” probably because pearls looked like small bird eggs. It is an auspicious name imposed on young girls who wished to be beautiful and precious as pearls.
This name derives from the Old High German “raban,” from the Proto-Germanic “*hrabnaz” (Old Norse: hrafn; Old Saxon: hravan; Old English: hræfn), meaning “raven.” In turn, the name means “a thieving person or a dark-haired person.” Raven, by the way, is a unisex given name in the English language. In the United States of America, the name is more commonly used as a feminine name and has ranked amongst the top 1,000 female names given to baby girls since 1977.
This name derives from the Irish surname “Ó Ruadháin,” from “ruadh,” From the Old Irish “rúad,” which in turn derives from Proto-Celtic “*roudos,” meaning “red.” It is a Gaelic epithet or byname, meaning “red,” often used as a nickname for people with red hair. It was the nickname of the Scottish outlaw Raibeart Ruadh MacGregor (1671–1734), known as Rob Roy in English. Saint Ruadhán (Rowan, Rodan), was an Irish Christian abbot who founded the monastery of Lorrha (Lothra, County Tipperary, Ireland), near Terryglass.
This name derives from the Anglicized form of Old Gaelic surname “Ó Sluaghadháin,” meaning “descendant of Sluaghadhán, little raider, from “sluaghadh,” meaning “leader of a military expedition, a man of arms, warrior.” Sloane’s term refers to a stereotype in the UK of the young, upper class or upper-middle-class women or men who share distinctive and common lifestyle traits.
This name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a locational surname deriving from the place called “Tatham” in Lancashire near Lancaster. The placename is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as “Tathaim”, and in the Fines Court Rolls of Lancashire for 1202 as “Tateham”, meaning “Tata’s homestead.” The name derives from the Old English personal name “Tata” plus “Ham,” a settlement, farm, or homestead.
This name derives from the Middle Irish “albbu,” which in turn derives from the Proto-Celtic “Alb-i̯en,” shared with the Latin root “albus > albinus,” which means “white, bright.” Saint Ailbe was a sixth-century Irish bishop. The vita, or “life,” of Ailbe is included in the “Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae (VSH),” a collection of medieval Irish saints’ lives in Latin compiled in the fourteenth century.
This name derives from the Middle English “baili,” meaning “bailiff, to deliver.” Firstly it can be an occupational name for a steward or official from the Old French “baillis” or “bailif,” and middle English “bail(l).” The word survives in Scotland as “bailie,” the title of a municipal magistrate, but in England has developed into “bailiff,” an officer of the court. Bailey is the 65th-most common surname in the United Kingdom.
Carson is a unisex given name. It comes from an Irish and Scottish surname, which is of unknown meaning. The development seems to be from Maurice Acarson, bailiff of the isle of Man, but this is uncertain. What is certain is that 'the Corsans or Carsans were an ancient Galloway family whose lineage ended in the direct line of James IV in the late 15th-Century. According to the United States Social Security card applications in 2010, the name Carson ranked 80th of the top 100 names chosen by parents for their baby boys.
This name derives from the Irish Gaelic “Conchúr,” which in turn derives from the Old Irish name “Conchobhar,” meaning “wolfkin, lover of wolves, lover of hounds.” 1) Conchobar mac Nessa (son of Ness) was the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. 2) Conchobar mac Donnchada was High-King of Ireland with the opposition (rí Érenn co fressabra) between 819 and 833. Conchobar was the son of Donnchad Midi, high-king of Ireland (733–797); his mother was Fuirseach, a noblewoman of the Dál nAraidi.
This name is composed of two elements: “hēr” (here) or “hær” (hair) plus “hlǣw” (mountain, mound, hill, barrow, cairn). In turn, the ordinary meaning is “a mountain or hill full of trees.” Harlow is a town and local government district in the west of Essex, England. A new town, situated on the border with Hertfordshire and London, Harlow occupies a large land area on the south bank of the upper Stort Valley, which has been made navigable through other towns and features a canal section near its watermill.
Karson is a unisex given name. It comes from an Irish and Scottish surname, which is of unknown meaning. The development seems to be from Maurice Acarson, bailiff of the isle of Man, but this is uncertain. What is certain is that 'the Corsans or Carsans were an ancient Galloway family whose lineage ended in the direct line of James IV in the late 15th-Century. According to the United States Social Security card applications in 2010, the name Carson ranked 80th of the top 100 names chosen by parents for their baby boys.
This given name means “from the ship’s island.” The name could be derived from an English given name “Ceolsige,” meaning “ship’s victory,” which could be an Old English (Anglo-Saxon) place name meaning “Cenel’s island.” Cenel’s Island is a combination of the Old English (Anglo-Saxon) word “cenel,” meaning “fierce” plus “eg”, meaning “island.” The name Kelsey could have Scandinavian origins. The meaning seems to be “Isle of the ships.” But, this name’s origin is still quite uncertain today.
London is the capital city of the United Kingdom. The etymology of the name is uncertain. There is a long history of mythicizing etymologies, such as the 12-century Historia Regum Britanniae asserting that the city’s name is derived from King Lud’s name, who once controlled the city. However, in recent times a variety of scientific theories have also been proposed. There is no evidence such a figure ever existed. Instead, the Latin name “Londinium” was probably based on a native Brittonic placename reconstructed as “*Londonjon,” which would itself have been of Celtic origin.
This name is composed of two elements: from the Anglo-Saxon “pæga” (pay) plus “tūn” (an enclosed piece of ground, settlement, a large inhabited place, a town). In turn, the name means “Pæga’s settlement.” Paignton is mentioned in the Domesday Book of AD 1086. Formerly written Peynton and Paington, the name is derived from Paega’s town, the original Anglo-Saxon settlement. Peyton Randolph (1721–1775) was the first president to serve under the Continental Congress. The name is popular for both boys and girls in the United States. It was the 278th most popular name for American boys born there in 2007 and the 152nd most popular name for a girl. It was the 85th most popular name for girls born in British Columbia, Canada, in 2006. Peyton, a spelling variant, was the 125th most popular name for boys born in 2007 in the United States and the 121st most popular name for girls.
This name is composed of two elements: from the Anglo-Saxon “pæga” (pay) plus “tūn” (an enclosed piece of ground, settlement, a large inhabited place, a town). In turn, the name means “Pæga’s settlement.” Paignton is mentioned in the Domesday Book of AD 1086. Formerly written Peynton and Paington, the name is derived from Paega’s town, the original Anglo-Saxon settlement. Peyton Randolph (1721–1775) was the first president to serve under the Continental Congress. The name is popular for both boys and girls in the United States. It was the 278th most popular name for American boys born there in 2007 and the 152nd most popular name for a girl. It was the 85th most popular name for girls born in British Columbia, Canada, in 2006. Peyton, a spelling variant, was the 125th most popular name for boys born in 2007 in the United States and the 121st most popular name for girls.
The name and surname derived from “Selby,” a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The town’s origins date from establishing a Viking settlement on the banks of the River Ouse. The place is a native of a Viking colony; therefore, it seems to be of Norse origin. The name was popularized as a feminine name by the main character in the movie “The Woman in Red” (1935). It was later reinforced by the movie “Steel Magnolias” (1989), in which Julia Roberts played a character by this name. In Great Britain, 1.640 people share the surname Shelby according to our estimation. Surname Shelby is the 5.112nd most common in Great Britain. More than 5% of people whose name is Shelby live in Angus county. Shelby, in this case, is the 66th surname.
This name derives from the Hebrew “adamah > ‘âdâm > Adam,” meaning: (Literally: the ground, the earth), (Figurative: man, being human), (Arabic: made from the earth, made from the mud). Adam is a figure in the Book of Genesis, the Quran, and the Kitáb-i-Íqán. In the Genesis creation narratives, he was created by Yahweh-Elohim (Yahweh-God, the god of Israel), though the term “Adam” can refer to both the first person as well as to the general creation of humankind. Christian churches differ on how they view Adam’s subsequent behavior, often called “the fall of man.” Linked to this root, the name “Addison” (son of Adam) was the 14th most common name for girls born in the United States in 2012. Adam is also a surname in many countries, although it is not as common in English as its derivative Adams (sometimes spelled Addams). In other languages, there are similar surnames derived from Adam, such as Adamo, Adamov, Adamowicz, Adamski, etc. According to the United States Social Security card applications in 1984, the name Adam ranked 18th out of the top 100 names chosen by parents for their baby boys.
This name derives from the Locational surname “Ainsley,” the place name in Scotland, composed of two elements: “ānsetl” (hermitage) plus “lēah” (woodland, a clearing, a meadow). Ansley in Warwickshire is recorded as “Hanslei” in the Domesday Book of 1086.
This name comes from the Latin word “cælum > cælestis,” meaning “heavenly, coming from the sky, the blue color of the sky.” The name spread in a Christian context, used concerning the Virgin Mary “Queen Mother in Heaven.” Queen of Heaven (Latin: Regina Caeli) is one of many Queen titles used by the Virgin Mary. The title derived in part from the ancient Catholic teaching that Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was bodily and spiritually assumed into heaven, and that she is there honored as Queen. Saint Celeste Metz was the 2nd Bishop of Metz and is revered as a saint by the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Churches, and the Anglican Communion. Pope Celestine V was the head of the Catholic Church for a few months from 5 July to 13 December 1294 when resigned.
The etymology of the name comes from the common Germanic noun “*karlaz” meaning “free man,” which survives in English as “churl,” Old English (Anglo-Saxon) “ċeorl,” which developed its deprecating sense in the Middle English period. In turn, this name derives from the West Frankish name “Háriolus,” a pet form of Germanic names beginning with “*harjaz / *charja-,” meaning “army, army leader, commander, warrior.” The name took a Romanic influence. The Germanic “H” would be represented by a “C” in Romanic spelling; this is where the “C” or “K” came in. The feminine form Caroline and Carolina derive from “Carolus” which is Latin for Charles (English), from which it also derives Charlotte and its derivates. The name was brought in particular by Charlemagne “Charles the Great” and was at the time Latinized as Karolus as “in Vita Karoli Magni,” later also as Carolus. Charles the Great (German: Karl der Große; Latin: Carolus or Karolus Magnus) or Charles I, was the King of the Franks from 768, the King of Italy from 774, the first Holy Roman Emperor, and the first emperor in western Europe since the collapse of the Western Roman Empire three centuries earlier.
This name is composed of two elements: “hēr” (here) or “hær” (hair) plus “hlǣw” (mountain, mound, hill, barrow, cairn). In turn, the ordinary meaning is “a mountain or hill full of trees.” Harlow is a town and local government district in the west of Essex, England. A new town, situated on the border with Hertfordshire and London, Harlow occupies a large land area on the south bank of the upper Stort Valley, which has been made navigable through other towns and features a canal section near its watermill.
Kennedy is a unisex given name in the English language. The name is an Anglicized form of a masculine given name in the Irish language. This name derives from the Irish name “Cinnéidigh”, composed of two elements: “ceann” (head) plus “éidigh / éide” (ugly / armor; hence the name can be thought to mean “helmet-headed”). Throughout the English-speaking world, the given name Kennedy has sometimes been used in honor of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, who was assassinated in 1963. His brother, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1968.
Kennedy is a unisex given name in the English language. The name is an Anglicized form of a masculine given name in the Irish language. This name derives from the Irish name “Cinnéidigh”, composed of two elements: “ceann” (head) plus “éidigh / éide” (ugly / armor; hence the name can be thought to mean “helmet-headed”). Throughout the English-speaking world, the given name Kennedy has sometimes been used in honor of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, who was assassinated in 1963. His brother, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1968.
This name derives from the habitational surname of English origin. It is composed of two elements: from the Old English “longe, long, lang” (long, tall, lasting), from the Proto-Germanic “*langaz” (long) plus “lēah” (woodland, a clearing, a meadow). In turn, the name means “one who lives in a large forest.” Langley is an unincorporated community in the census-designated place of McLean in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Langley is often used as a metonym for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), as it is home to its headquarters, the George Bush Center for Intelligence.
This name derives from an English surname of Old English origin. The name is composed of two elements: “ra” (small deer) plus “lēah” (woodland, a clearing). In turn, the name means “roe deer clearing.” 1) Raleigh is the capital of the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. 2) Raleigh is a town in and the county seat of Smith County, Mississippi, United States.
This name means “from the meadow on the ledge, clearing on a bank.” Shelley is today a name given almost exclusively to girls after historically being male. Shelley and Shelly are also a transferred surname used by Essex, Suffolk, and Yorkshire, particularly in settlements where a wood/clearing was beside a ledge or hillside. Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets and is critically regarded as among the finest lyric poets in the English language.
This name means “white water, by the white island.” Whitney is an Old English surname derived from the location of “Whitney” in Herefordshire, England. It was first mentioned in the Domesday Book with the spelling “Witenie.” The name was based on the expression “atten whiten ey,” which means “at the white island.” The name “Whitney” has gained popularity by 1) Whitney Blake (1926–2002), an American film and television actress. 2) Whitney Houston (1963–2012), an American singer, actress, producer, and model. According to the United States Social Security card applications in 1986, the name Whitney ranked 32th out of the top 100 names chosen by parents for their baby girls.
Harper is a 12th-century Scottish family name that has also seen popularity as a given name, and means “player on the harp.” The name is believed to have originated in the Dalriadan region of Scotland, especially in the Lennox district, associated with Clan Buchanan. Harper is the Anglicization of the German family name “Härpfer,” from Old English “hearpe” with the addition of the agent suffix “-er,” from Proto-Germanic “*harpǭ.” The name Harper is now one of the thirty most popular names in the United States.
Kennedy is a unisex given name in the English language. The name is an Anglicized form of a masculine given name in the Irish language. This name derives from the Irish name “Cinnéidigh”, composed of two elements: “ceann” (head) plus “éidigh / éide” (ugly / armor; hence the name can be thought to mean “helmet-headed”). Throughout the English-speaking world, the given name Kennedy has sometimes been used in honor of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, who was assassinated in 1963. His brother, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1968.
It is locational from either “Leaton,” a village near Shrewsbury in Shropshire, or one of the various villages called “Leighton” in the counties of Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Huntingdon, Shropshire, or Laytoun in Scotland. This name is composed of two Old English (Anglo-Saxon) elements: “leac,” meaning “leek” plus “tūn,” meaning “settlement, also in the sense of a herb garden.”
Mckinley derives from a surname, the Gaelic form of which is “Mac Fhionnlaigh” meaning "son of Fionnlagh". A famous bearer was the assassinated American president William McKinley (1843–1901).
This name means raven city. It derives from the Anglo-Saxon surname “Rimington,” a place near Gisburn in west Yorkshire. The name is composed of two Old English (Anglo-Saxon) elements: “hræfn,” which in turn derives from the Ancient Germanic “*hrabnaz > raban,” meaning “raven” plus “tūn,” meaning “town, settlement, homestead.” The raven peeps forth from the mists of time and the thickets of mythology, like a bird of slaughter, a storm bird, a sun and firebird, a messenger, an oracular figure, and a craftsman or culture hero.
This name derives from the West Gothic “Fridunand,” composed of two elements: “*friþuz” (peace, tranquility, friendship) plus “*nanþi-” (bold, to be bold, daring, to dare). The name means “bold protector, brave in peace.” Romance languages adopted the name from its use in the Visigothic Kingdom. It is reconstructed as either Gothic Ferdinanths or Frithunanths. It became popular in German-speaking Europe only from the 16th century, with Habsburg rule over Spain. 1) Ferdinand I, called “the Great” (El Magno), was the Count of Castile from his uncle’s death in 1029 and the King of León after defeating his brother-in-law in 1037. According to tradition, he was the first to have himself crowned Emperor of Spain (1056), and his heirs carried on the tradition. 2) Ferdinand I, called “of Antequera” and also” the Just or the Honest,” was King of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Sardinia and (nominal) Corsica and king of Sicily, duke (nominal) of Athens and Neopatria, and count of Barcelona, Roussillon, and Cerdanya (1412–1416). He was also regent of Castile (1406–1416).
Mo is a short form of Maureen, Maurice, Morris, Monica, and Mónica. It is of Greek, Hebrew and African origin and comes from the following roots: (MAURUS) (MIRIAM) (MON) (MONEŌ) and (MÓNOS).
Vi is a short form of Violet and Vivian. It is Greek and Latin origin and comes from the following roots: (VIOLA) and (VIVIANUS).
This name represents the short form of names beginning with the element “Ás-.” In turn, the name is a contraction from the Ancient Germanic “*ansuz” (heathen god, áss, god). Ansuz is the common name given to the a-rune of the Elder Futhark, one of the principal deities in Germanic paganism. In the Norwegian rune poem, Óss is given a meaning “of the estuary,” while in the Anglo-Saxon one, “ōs” takes the Latin meaning of “mouth.”
Esme is a variant of Esmé and Esmée and is a rare short form of Esmeralda. It is of Greek, Latin and Old French origin and comes from the following roots: (SMÁRAGDOS) and (ESMER).
(a) sparkle, bright, autumn - (ki) hope
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Aléxandros (Ᾰ̓λέξᾰνδρος),” composed of two elements: “aléxō (ἀλέξω)” (keep off, turn aside, guard, protect, defend, help) plus “anḗr (ἀνήρ) andrós (ἀνδρός)” (man “adult male,” husband). In turn, the name means “defender of men, protector of men.” This definition is an example of the widespread reason of Greek (or Indo-European more generally) names expressing “battle-prowess,” in this case, the ability to resist or push back an enemy battle line. The earliest attested form of the name is the Mycenaean Greek feminine anthroponym (the name of a person) “arekasadara” transcribed as “Alexandra,” written in the Linear B syllabic script. The name was one of the titles or epithets given to the Greek goddess Hera and, as such, usually understood as “one who comes to save warriors.” The most famous connection to this root is Alexander the Great, who created one of the greatest empires in ancient history.
hollyhock, althea, blue
This name comes from the Latin root “Hadria > Hădrĭānus,” meaning “from the city Hadria,” concerning the modern and ancient city of Atri (province of Teramo) or Etruscan Adria (province of Rovigo), both of which claim the honor of having given its name to the Adriatic Sea. Several saints and six popes have borne this name, including the only English pope, Adrian IV, and the only Dutch pope, Adrian VI. Hadrian (Latin: Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus Augustus 76–138), was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian’s Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain.
This name derives from the Hebrew “bar,” meaning “pure, clear, sincere, purely, open fields, wild, grain.” The word is often used in the Old Testament.
This name derives from the Old English “blāw”, which in turn derives from the Proto-Germanic “*blēwaz” meaning “blue, blue-coloured, yellowish-gray, to shine, flash, light-colored”. The name comes from the color blue, but it is often referred to births of children who have blue eyes.
This name means “crooked nose.” The name derives from the Scottish surname “Cameron,” from a Scottish Clan “Clan Cameron.” In the Scottish Highlands, the surname is thought to be derived from the Gaelic “cam sròn,” meaning “crooked nose”; in the Scottish Lowlands, the name is believed to be derived from a form of Norman baronial name from Cambernon, in Normandy. Cambernon is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. The English-language surname can be rendered into Scottish Gaelic as Camarran (masculine), Chamarran (feminine), or as Camshron (masculine) and Chamshron (feminine).
This name means “fifth born child” in African (Akan) language.
This name derives from the Hebrew name “Mattithyâh / Mattithyâhû,” transliterated into Greek as “Mattathías (Ματταθίας),” which was shortened to “Matthaîos (Ματθαῖος),” meaning “gift of the lord, gift of Yahweh.” 1) It was first named to Saint Matthew, who was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus in Christian theology and is the author of the Gospel of Matthew. The name Matthew became popular during the Middle Ages in North-West Europe and appeared in many European languages. The name has been very common throughout the English-speaking world since the 1970s. The feast day is traditionally celebrated on September 21 (Catholic Church) or November 16 (Orthodox Church) in memory of Saint Matthew, Apostle, and Evangelist. 2) Matthew of Albano († 1134) was a French Benedictine monk and Cardinal and papal legate. He is a Catholic saint. 3) Matteo Maria Boiardo (1434–1494) was an Italian Renaissance poet. According to the United States Social Security card applications in 2016, the name Matthew ranked 15th out of the top 100 names chosen by parents for their baby boys.
This name derives from the Hebrew Masculine noun “gal,” meaning “God shall redeem, God has redeemed, the wave of God, heap, spring, wave, billow (as rolled together, rolling, rolling up).” The name is linked to the verb “galal,” meaning “to roll, roll away.”
This name derives from the Hebrew “Gavrie’l,” composed of two elements: “gəḇar / gaḇrā” (man, strong man, hero) plus “ʾēl” (God, the God of Israel). In turn, the name means “man of God, a strong man of God, the power of God, God has been strong.” In Islam, he is an archangel associated with the revelation of the Qur’an. Gabriel is mentioned in the Bible once in the Old Testament and once in the New. In the Old Testament, he appears to the prophet Daniel, delivering explanations of Daniel’s visions (Daniel 8:15–26, 9:21–27). In Luke’s Gospel, Gabriel appears to the Virgin Mary and Zechariah, foretelling the births of Jesus and John the Baptist, respectively (Luke 1:11–38). The Archangel Gabriel’s feast day is traditionally celebrated by the Catholic Church on September 29 and by the Orthodox Church on November 8.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Geṓrgios (Γεώργῐος),” from the element: “geōrgós (γεωργός)” (tilling the ground, fertilizing), which in turn derives from “gê (γῆ)” (land, earth, country, soil) plus “érgon (ἔργον)” (deed, doing, action, labor, work, task). In turn, the name means “land-worker, farmer.” In the West, the name is known from the 11th-century as a result of the Crusades. The name’s use was extended due to the popularity of St. George and the Golden Legend, widespread in the European courts of the thirteenth century. In Germany, the name has been popular since the Middle Ages, declining in later use. In Britain, despite there being St. George, the patron of England since the fourteenth century, the name did not become popular until the eighteenth century following George I of England’s accession. In the United States, statistics from the mid-19th-century placed him among the five most popular baby names.
Jes is a short form of Jessica and Jessika. It is of Hebrew origin and comes from the following roots: (IŌÁNNĒS) and (YISKĀH > ISKAH)�.
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The name Kim is a short form of Kimberly and Kimball. It is of Old English (Anglo-Saxon) origin and comes from the following roots: (KIMBERLEY) (CYNBEL) and (CYNEBAL).
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cooperation, capital, village, apricot
Lee is both a surname and a given name. The name comes from the Old English (Anglo-Saxon) “lēah,” meaning “woodland, a clearing ‘especially one used for farming,’ a meadow.” In turn, it derives from the Proto-Germanic “*lauhaz,” meaning “meadow.” The name Lee as well being used as a surname, is often used to form compound names. The name is also used commonly as a middle name.
This name derives from the Old High German name “Chlodowich and Chlodovech,” composed of two elements: “*hlūdaz,” meaning (to hear, loud, sound, noise / famous) and “wīg,” meaning (fight, battle, fighter, able to fight). The name means “glorious in the battle, famous warrior.” Directly from the root of the name derives, for example, “Ludwig” and from “Chlodovech,” for example, derive the masculine form “Clovis and Clodoveo.” Clovis I, “Latinized form Chlodovech,” king of the Franks and ruler of much of Gaul from 481 to 511, a crucial period during the transformation of the Roman Empire into Europe. His dynasty, the Merovingians, survived more than 200 years, until the rise of the Carolingians in the 8th century. While he was not the first Frankish king, he was the kingdom’s political and religious founder.
Mal is a short form of Malcolm and Mallory and is derived from a frenetic list of sources: Breton, Welsh, Latin, Gaelic, PIE (Proto Indo-European) and Old French. This name is linked to the following roots: (MÁEL) (CŎLUMBA) COLUIM/CUILÉN and (*MEL- / MĂLUS AUGŬRĬUM > MAL HEUR > MALHEUR).
Mel is a short form of Melvyn, Melvin, Melanie, Melina, Melinda, Melissa, Melody, Melitta, and Melville. It is of Latin, Old French, and Greek origin and comes from the roots: (MALLEVILLE) (MELANÍA) (MÈLISSA) and (MĔLŌDĬA). Melissa is Bee-nymph in Greek mythology.
Moe is a short form of Maurice, Morris, and Monica. It is of Greek, Latin, and African origin and comes from the following roots: (MAURUS) (MON) (MONEŌ) and (MÓNOS).
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Nat is a short form of Nathan, Nathaniel, and Natalie. It is of Hebrew and Latin origin and comes from the roots: (NÂTHÂN) (NETAN'EL) and (NATALIUS).
This name derives from the Arabic root “N-W-R > Nūr,” meaning “my fire, light, luminous, radiant, brilliant.” An-Nur, meaning “the light” in Arabic, is the 24th Sura of the Qur’an. Nuriyah and its variants is an indirect Quranic feminine name.
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This name derives from the Hebrew “‘ôrâh,” meaning “fiery, ardent, my fire, my light.” There are several characters in the bible: 1) A prince of Judah, a son of Hur, who was used by God to prepare the tabernacle. 2) An officer (or the father of an officer) of Solomon in Gilead. 3) A porter or gatekeeper in time of Ezra who took a foreign woman as a wife.
This name derives from the Hebrew “‘ôrâh > ‘ûrı̂y,” meaning “fiery, ardent, my fire, my light.” There are several characters in the Bible: 1) A prince of Judah, a son of Hur, who was used by God to prepare the tabernacle. 2) An officer (or the father of an officer) of Solomon in Gilead. 3) A porter or gatekeeper in time of Ezra who took a foreign woman as a wife.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “país (παῖς) paidíon (παιδίον),” meaning “son, youthful, child.” The name page or Paget, in its original translation, derives from the Latin “pāgĭna,” meaning “page, a sheet of papyrus.” In modern times Paige has become a given name, generally given to girls living in North America since the middle of the 20th-century and occasionally to boys. A medieval household page was usually a young boy whose service was the first step in his training as a knight.
This name derives from the Latin “Pătrĭcĭus,” meaning “nobleman, patrician, of noble lineage, ancestry,” from “patres” nominative plural of “Pătĕr,” which in turn derives from the Proto-Italic “*patēr,” meaning “father, head of household.” The term “Patrician” originally referred to a group of elite families in Ancient Rome, including both their natural and adopted members. In the late Roman Empire, the class was broadened to include high council officials. After the fall of the Western Empire, it remained a senior honorary title in the Byzantine Empire. 1) Saint Patrick (Pádraig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the “Apostle of Ireland,” he is the primary patron saint of Ireland and saints Brigit of Kildare and Columba. He is also venerated in the Anglican Communion, the Old Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church as equal-to-apostles and Ireland’s Enlightener. 2) Saint Patricia of Naples (Patricia of Constantinople) is an Italian virgin martyr and saint. Tradition states that she was noble and may have been related to the Roman Emperor. Some sources say that she was a descendant of Constantine the Great. Wishing to escape a marriage arranged by Constans II, she became a nun, and she went to Rome.
This name derives from the Latin “Paulus,” which in turn derives from the Latin “parvus > parvulus,” meaning “tiny, small, humble, modest.” It is a common name in countries and ethnicities with a Christian heritage (Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Protestantism) and, beyond Europe, in Christian religious communities throughout the world. The name exists since Roman times. It derives from the Roman family name Paulus or Paullus - in particular in the Roman patrician family of the Gens “group of people, clan” Aemilia. Paul the Apostle, original name Saul of Tarsus, was a Christian missionary who took the gospel of Christ to the first-century world. He is generally considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age.
This name derives from the Latin “pāx,” meaning “peace, calm, tranquility.” It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Paz, meaning “Our Lady of Peace.” Our Lady of Peace, Mother of Peace, Queen of Peace, or Our Lady Queen of Peace is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Roman Catholic Church. She is represented in art, holding a dove and an olive branch, symbols of peace. Her official memorial feast is celebrated on January 24 each year in Hawaii and some churches in the United States. Elsewhere, the memorial feast is celebrated on July 9.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek name “Phílippos (Φῐ́λῐππος),” composed of two elements: “philéō (φιλέω)” (love, like, kindly, welcome) plus “híppos (ῐ̔́ππος)” (horse, cavalry, horseman). In turn, the name means “horse-loving, fond of horses.” In Ancient Greece, the ownership of horses was available only to those rich enough to afford them. Thus, “lover of horses” can also be considered as “noble.” Prominent Philips, who popularized the name includes Kings of Macedon “Philippos” and one of the apostles of early Christianity. The name was also an epithet of Alexander the Great. It should be noted for clarity; the word “horse” is frequently found in ancient Greek names (for example, Hipparchus, Hippocrates, Hippolytus, and Xanthippe).
This name derives from the Old French and Norman nickname “paon,” from the Old English “pēa,” a by-form of Old English “pāwa,” Middle English “po,” from the Latin “pāvō > pāvōnis,” which in turn derives from the Ancient Greek “taṓs (ταώς),” meaning “plumage, peacock,” a bird associated with Argus and sacred to Hera; eaten as a delicacy. The name is also used for a vainglorious person. The name might be connected to Tamil “tōkai,” with the same meaning.
this name derives from the aramaic word “râz” and means "hide, a mystery, secret". Raziah instead means "the Lord's secret".
This name spread among Christians since the beginning, reflecting the cult of “Mary Queen,” one of the names of the Vergin Mary. For the same reason became common in England in the Middle Ages, only to be revived in the nineteenth century. The male form was coined in the nineteenth century from the Latin “rex,” meaning “king, regent.” In turn, this name derives From the Proto-Indo-European “*herḗǵs” (ruler, king). Cognates include Sanskrit “rājan” (king) and Old Irish “rí” (king). The name rarely bestowed on children today. The King of Rome (Rex Romae), was the chief magistrate of the Roman Kingdom. Early Rome was not self-governing and was ruled by the king (Rex), sometimes from a nearby Etruscan city-state.
This name derives from the Old Norse “Rúni,” a short form of names containing the name element “rún,” which in turn derives from the Ancient Germanic “*rūnō,” meaning “secret, secret lore, secret knowledge, magic.”
Sam is a short form of Samuel, Samson, and Samantha. It is of Hebrew and Greek origin and comes from the following roots: (SHEMU'EL) (ÁNTHOS) and (SHIMSHÔN).
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Sid is a short form of the masculine name Sidney and the short form of the feminine name Sidony. The name is of Old English (Anglo-Saxon) and Phoenician origin and comes from the following roots: (SIDNEY) and (SĪDŌNĬUS).
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Stéfanos / Stéphanos (Στέφανος),” meaning “crown, garland, wreath, honor, reward, any prize or honor,” which in turn derives from “stéphō (στέφω),” meaning “to put round, to surround.” In ancient Greece, a crown was given to a contest winner (hence the crown, the symbol of rulers). The use of the noun was first recorded in Homer’s Iliad. The use of the noun was first recorded in Homer’s Iliad. The name is significant to Christians: according to the Book of Acts in the New Testament, Saint Stephen was a deacon who was stoned to death and is regarded as the first Christian martyr. In the United Kingdom, the name Stephen peaked in the 1950s and 1960s as one of the top ten male names (third in 1954), but dropped to 20th in 1984 and dropped out of the top 100 in 2002.
This name comes from an English surname. It is probably derived from an Anglo-Saxon place name (æt þǣre) “sīdan īege,” meaning “wide island.” Sidney became widely used as a given name in English speaking countries during the 19th-century, with much of its use in the United States, after the American Revolution, being due to admiration for Algernon Sidney as a martyr to royal tyranny. People with this given name born in the United States during the 19th century include Sidney Lanier, American musician, and poet (1842–1881) and Sidney Homer, classical composer (1864–1953).
This name means “to cut, clipper, the cutter.” It derives from the surname Taylor, which is a variant of the English word “tailor,” meaning “tailor.” Tailor originally meant one who held that profession, and the word itself comes from the Norman-French “taillur,” which in turn derives from the Latin “taliāre,” meaning “to cut.”
Ted is a diminutive of Edward, Edwina, Edwin, Edmund and a short form of Theodore, Theodora, and Thaddeus. It is of Old English (Anglo-Saxon), Greek and Syriac-Aramaic origin and comes from the following roots: (ĒADWEARD) (THEODŌROS) (EADMUND) and (THADDAÎOS).
Teo is mainly a short form of Teodoro, Theodore, Theofilus, Theobald, Teodora, Teodosia, Teoline and other names beginning with (theo-, teo-). It is mostly of Greek and Germanic origin and comes from these main roots: (THEÓDŌROS) (THEÓPHILOS) and (DIETBALD).
This name derives from the Old High German “Uodalrich,” composed of two elements: “*ōþ- / *audaz” (One’s ancestral land, homeland, home, territory/prosperity, fortune, riches, wealth) plus “*rīkijaz” (kingly, royal, noble, mighty, distinguished, powerful, rich). In turn, the name means “the power of richness, the distinction for its own property, prosperity, and power, mighty to riches. Saint Ulrich of Augsburg (~890–973) was the Bishop of Augsburg and a Roman Catholic Church leader in Germany. He was the first saint to be canonized. Ulrika Nish was a nun of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross (Ingenbohl sisters). In the Roman Catholic Church, she is venerated as Blessed.
Uzo is a short form of Uzoma, Uzoamaka, and Uzochi, based on the prefix “ụzọ” (road, way, path, pathway). The name is of African (Igbo) origin and comes from the following roots: (ỤZỌ CHI) (ỤZỌ ỌMA) and (ỤZỌ ỌMAKA).
This name derives from the Latin root “vincēre > victōria > victŏr,” meaning “conqueror, victory, (one who) conquers.” Victor is a masculine given name that has been used for centuries in numerous cultures and parts of the world. Victoria is a feminine first name. It is also used as a family name and is used as the female form corresponding to Victor. In Ancient Roman Religion, Victoria was the personified goddess of victory. She is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Goddess “Nike,” associated with “Bellona.” She was adapted from the Sabine agricultural Goddess Vacuna and had a temple on the Palatine hill. The Goddess “Vica Pota” was also sometimes identified with Victoria. In Ancient Roman religion, Vica Pota (Vincendi) was a Goddess whose shrine (Aedes) was located at the foot of the Velian Hill, on the site of the Domus of Publius Valerius Publicola. Pope Victor I (died 199) was a bishop of Rome, and hence a pope, in the late 2nd-century.
Wil is a Dutch and German short form of Wilbert, Wilhelmus and Willeke. The name is of Germanic origin and comes from the following roots: (*WILJÔ *BERHTAZ) and (WILLIHELM).
gentleness, superiority / distant, leisurely
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