British Baby Names

Name Help: Bohemian-Artsy Girl Name

 

Terri is expecting her first girl imminently and searching for the perfect name.

Terri writes: "I’ve noticed I like names that end in vowels but it’s not a main stipulation.  I do love names with bohemian/artsy flair. My husband would love a stronger sounding or a name with a strong meaning (you can see we're probably different in names we like).  If it’s a long name, I would want a nickname.

Names we like:
Sage (one-syllable first names ok with one-syllable last names?)
Margot
Emerald or Emerie (husbands first name is similar sounding)
Roma (potential negative reaction due to gypsy people?)
Marina (is it too Spanish with last name? Though my daughter will be half Spanish)
Adelaide (I like, husband is skeptical. I love a name we can nickname “Della” or “Ada”)
Lana (love but friends daughters name can’t use)

Trendy names we like but the fact it’s super popular makes me concerned:
Eva, Elena (cousins name can’t use ), Zoe, Emilia

Names we don’t like:

Super popular (top 50 US)
Ariella and Arianna sounding  (a lot of names the end in -Anna or -Ella are a no go for me- it feels too girly)
Brooklyn, Harper, Piper
Consonant heavy names
Juniper
Indigo"

 

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I think you have a fantastic list to go on -- so many great choices. In answer to your questions, I think a one-syllable first is just fine with a one-syllable last name. It totally works for Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks. Marina is beautiful -- I don't see it as too Spanish, in fact, I mostly think of Princess Marina of Greece. It's sweetly pan-European. Roma is a great name and I don't think of Romany when I hear it -- not that that is a slur anyhow -- but of Rome. 

 

Aderyn – With the potential nickname of Ada, Aderyn is a sweet Welsh name meaning "bird". 

Alma – With several meanings in different languages, Alma means "nourishing" in Latin, "young woman" in Hebrew and "soul" in Spanish. It ranks in the top 20 across Europe including Spain, Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

April – With a great Bohemian feel, April is the month of new life and regeneration. 

Briar – A nature-inspired, strong but feminine name used to refer to wild rose bushes. 

Cleo – Striking but familiar, Cleo is a daring darling with a 1920s vibe and is a great alternative to Zoe.

Delta / Delphi – As Della was a potential nickname you like, nature-inspired Delta was originally the fourth letter in the Greek alphabet (appropriate for a baby born in the fourth month of the year!) but is also associated with rivers. Delphi, alternatively, meaning "dolphin" is taken from the mystical Ancient Greek site which was considered by the ancient to be the centre of the world.

Eden – Eden, meaning "paradise" in Hebrew, is feminine but not frilly, familiar but not too popular.

Ember – A fiery name which is similar to Emerald and Emerie on your list, yet retains a Boho style.

Esme – Meaning essentially "beloved", Esme is a sweet gem with plenty of sass. 

Fia – An alternative to trendy Mia, Fia is an Irish gem meaning both "deer" and "wild" -- gentle and bold in one. 

Freya – The Norse goddess of love is super popular over here but ranks at #200 in the US. It's profile is rising, however, making it a perfect "fashionable but not too common" choice.

Gemma – An Italian name meaning "gem stone" (a great alternative to Emerald) and linked to James. Like Freya its a familiar staple over here but is starting to rise in America and is currently #198.

Haven – A bohemianesque name with a pleasing modern sound. 

Maeva – A great alternative to Irish Maeve, Maeva means "welcome" in Tahitian and is currently popular in France.

Olive – A great nature name very much like Sage on your list. 

Romilly / Romola – If Roma doesn't sit right, how about the longer forms Romilly or Romola? 

Selah – A Hebrew musical term giving this sleek name an ethereal vibe. 

Willa – A chic little name with plenty of punch. It only ranks at #354 in the US but is super stylish.

Zara -  An ancient Persian name meaning "bright, shining," which is royal and classy. 

 

Good luck with settling on the perfect name for your new family addition. 

 

Name Help: A Brother for Bertram

 

Elizabeth is expecting her second baby -- a brother for son Bertram "Bertie". 

Elizabeth writes: "I was utterly convinced that this time we were having a girl, to the point where I have only made a list of girls names and since having a scan and finding out we're expecting another little boy my husband and I have been in complete disagreement with each other's suggestions.

The criteria I have come up with is rather specific, I would prefer that the name not be in the top 500 names (at least). That it be what I call a 'full Sunday name' with us then using the diminutive name, and that diminutive not end in 'ie'. 

 

Names, that we have so far disagreed on are Gabriel (Gabe), Eugene (Gene), Cosmo, Augustus (Gus).  

 

We both enjoy the arts, Bertie's middle name Paisley was given as I am a huge Prince fan. I also enjoy dressmaking and my favourite fabric coming from Liberty are Paisley prints and with Paisley Park being where Prince recorded it just seemed right.  Girls name which were on our list were Ianthe, Cleo, Clara, Olwen and Winnifred."

 

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I absolutely love "Sunday Best" names with quirky nicknames! It was a top criteria for my partner when naming our son, so I can relate to your criteria. The hardest part when compiling this list  was the no diminutive ending in -i.e. criteria. It's just such a prevalent hypochoristic ending!

Alistair - This distinguished Scottish form of regal Alexander has plenty of dashing charm with the breezy nickname Alick. It ranks at #459 in England and Wales (E&W) but is currently on a plateau, meaning it unlikely to rise any time soon.

Barnabas – The Greek form of the Aramaic name meaning "son of encouragement" or "son of prophecy" The Anglicised form Barnaby ranks at #259 but Barnabas is #1001 in E&W. Baz could be used as a nickname.

Caspian / Cassian –  Cassian is a stately Roman name, while Caspian is a literary choice. The former ranks at #731 and the latter at #768 in E&W. Potential nicknames include Cass, Caz and Cap.

Constantine – Meaning "constant, steadfast", this royal name has a fits between Cosmo and Augustus on your list. Stan could be used as a short form.

Edmund / Edwin – Ranking at #622 and #493 respectively, these two charming Anglo-Saxon royal names share Bertram's Germanic dithematic ancient heritage. Ed, Ned or Ted lend themselves well as diminutives. 

Everett / Everard – Everett is the later (and surname form) of Everard, descended from the Old Germanic name Eburhard "brave as a boar" which matches Bertram's Germanic "bright raven" perfectly. Everett currently ranks at #1369 in E&W; Everard is unranked. Vere or Rhett (for Everett) could be used as nicknames.

Fintan / Finnegan – Lending themselves to the friendly Finn as a nickname, Fintan (meaning "white, blessed fire") and Finnegan ("little blessed, fair one") are both options.

Gus – Starting backwards from the diminutive, I noticed Gus made your list. If Augustus is off the table how about Angus, August, Augustine, Fergus or Magnus as a way to get to Gus

Ignatius – Stately Roman Ignatius is another option for Gus, or even Nash or Nate. It currently ranks at #2728.

Kester – A Tudor vernacular form of Christopher with a literary heritage. It ranks at #2728 and can be shortened to Kit or Kes.

Leander / Lysander – Two strong, heroic Greek names meaning "lion of men" and "freer of men" respectively which can be shortened to Leo, Lander, Anders etc. Leander ranks at #1745 and Lysander at #2266 in E&W.

Leopold – A princely name which is also a Germanic dithematic name (like Bertram) meaning "bold (man of) the people". It ranks at #974 in E&W.

Llewelyn – A handsome Welsh name, borne by royalty, which means either "lion likeness" or "leader likeness" that can be shortened to Lew. It ranks at #1316 in E&W. The medieval Anglicised form is Leolin / Leoline which is currently unranked.

Malachy – An Anglicised form of either Máel Sechnaill -- "disciple of St Sechnall" (ultimately derived from Latin Secundus "second") -- or Máel Máedóc -- "disciple of St Madoc" ((ultimately derived from Aed "fire") which ranks at #1113 and can be shortened to Mal or Mac.

Peregrine – Unranked in 2019, though ranking at #3412 in the previous year, Peregrine is a Latin name meaning "traveller". It is also the name of of a falcon -- matching the avian meaning of Bertram. Pip could be used as a diminutive.

Quentin / Quinton – Both deriving from the Roman name Quintus, Quentin ranks at #952 and Quinton is at #1113. 

Ranulph – Ultimately derived from the dithematic Germanic name Randulf ("shield rim" + "wolf"), Ranulph ranks at #2728. Ralph or Rafe could be used as short forms. 

Raymond – A Germanic name, established by the Normans which can be shortened to sparky Ray. It ranks at #597 in E&W. 

Roscoe – A breezy Viking-heritage name which has had popularity in America but is underused over here at #798. Ross, Roe and Rocco could be used as nicknames. 

Sylvester – From the Roman name Silvester meaning "forest" and ranking at #1869 in E&W. Sly or Sev are nickname options.

Thaddeus – Often shortened to Tad (though you could also use Ted), Thaddeus is an Biblical name with various meanings.It ranks at #2266 in E&W.

Zebedee – A sweet and breezy Biblical name -- not unlike popular Zachary -- which means "gift of God". It ranks at #2266 in E&W and can be shortened to Zeb.

 

UPDATE: Welcome, Barnabas Nathaniel!

 

 

Name Help: A Sister for Mila

 

Shelley is expecting her second daughter imminently—a little sister for Mila Rose. 

Shelley writes: "We struggle with names as we are both teachers so most names remind us of certain children! We chose Mila for our first as neither of us had ever taught a Mila but we didn't think it was too unusual either.

This time the only name we have is Avie. We thought a shorter name might go better with Mila's name, we liked the Ava, Eva, Isla type names but they're too common. The other name we had on Mila's list was Aoife as partner's grandad was Irish but decided it would give her problems throughout life as most people would mispronounce it.

Apart from that we really don't have any type of preferences, I'd mainly say different but not odd if that makes sense!"

 

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Different but not odd is so a common request for a name, you'd think I would have a pre-populated list. However, that can apply to so many names -- from just fallen out of fashion names like Caitlin to "sounds similar" names like Arla. For you, I've opted mostly for sound based on your current list that are all around Mila's popularity point or lower.

 

Alba – The word in many Romance languages meaning "dawn" which is both an ancient and modern choice.

Amaya – Both a Basque name meaning "the end, final" and a Sanskrit word meaning “free from deceit”.

Aria – Sweet Aria is both a musical term from the Italian for "melody" and a Sanskrit name meaning "honourable, noble".

Aubrey – A medieval unisex name, the feminine original form of which was Alberada (alb "elf" and radi" counsel, advice") the same meaning as Alfred. Aubrey is rising for girls in the UK (now #223) thanks to influence from America – where it has been in the top 50 for girls since 2008.

Avery – A longer alternative for Avie, Avery is another highly popular American favourite which is beginning to turn heads over here as well. Avery is descended from Alfred, sharing the same meaning as Aubrey.

Cleo – Striking but familiar, Cleo has an early 20th-century vintage jazz-era vibe.

Eden / Edie – Eden, meaning "paradise" in Hebrew, and Edie, a diminutive of Edith, are both sleek and slimline choices just under the top 100.

Esme – Meaning essentially "beloved", Esme is a sweet gem which compliments Mila beautifully.

Everly – Another Eva/Avie alternative to consider is rising Everly (currently #238), also spelt Everleigh and Everley.

Keeva – The Anglicised spelling of Irish name Caoimhe meaning "gentle, kind". While some might prefer to retain the indigenous spelling, the likes of Bridget, Aidan, Connor, Erin, Finley etc (all Anglicised forms) show that they still retain their Irish charm.

Luna – The Roman personification and goddess of the moon makes Luna an ancient gem with modern appeal.

Lyra – Both an astronomical and musical name which is gaining a rising profile in Britain but still below the top 100.

Maeve – Sweet Irish Maeve has a bold and beautiful namesake in mythology and is a familiar modern choice. A less common alternative is Maeva which means "welcome" in Tahitian and is currently popular in France.

Nova – Vintage Nova is hitting all the right notes currently having risen from obscurity to now just within the top 200 and rising.

Orla – An Irish gem meaning "golden ruler" which has none of the usual pronunciation issues.

Piper – Made famous from the series Charmed, Piper is in a similar style to popular Harper but ranks just within the top 200.

Pippa – Bouncy Pippa is familiar and has longevity, yet ranks just below the top 100.

Reeva – An alternate spelling of Riva, itself a diminutive of the Rivka, the Modern Hebrew form of Rebecca. It ranks at #334 and is on the rise.

Sadie – A bubbly vintage short form of princessly Sarah , ranking at #142.

Thea – Sleek and chic and a great compliment to Mila, Thea is striking and familiar at the same time.

Zara -  Royal Zara is streamlined and classy with plenty of sass. Ranking at #66 and having sat in the bottom half of the top 100 for nearly two decades, it really is a familiar but not too common choice.

 

I hope this will help spark renewed inspiration for girls' names. Good luck with settling on the perfect name for your new family addition. 

 

Name Help: Baby Boy Name Needed

 

Emma is expecting a little boy and is struggling to find a name both her and her partner can compromise on.

Emma writes: "We are struggling to find a name that we both love. Babies surname [sounds like a body part] - this in itself presents a problem as some names actually sound like diseases. 

So far, my partner is pretty set on Tommy or Jack. I don't mind either but my reservations are that Jack is a little boring and being a teacher, Tommy T. sounds like he is trouble with a capital T. 

 

I love the name Sonny but my partner dismissed it straight away. He won't go for anything even slightly quirky. 

 

Other names we have thrown around and both quite liked include Billy, Leo and Archie. 

 

Names that we can't really include (due to friends etc) include Albie (which I love), Reuben, Oscar and Alfie. 

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As a teacher myself who named her son with a partner who had a differing taste in names, I can completely relate to your dilemma -- I've been exactly there myself! I think people assume that teachers will go for unusual names to avoid using names of pupils, and yet most of my colleagues actually went with top 50 names. I think the key is our perception of the name (which often is influenced by the children we have taught) rather than the popularity of the name. 

As your partner has quite conservative/popular tastes, I've opted for names that hopefully strike an easy balance and won't be instantly dismissed. 

 

Arlo – Part Leo with a dash of Sonny's style. Arlo is a trendy name which is starting to turn heads.

Austin – A name that sounds modern but has a long history of use since the Middle Ages. 

Brody – Brody (or Brodie) is a breezy Scottish name which matches up the sounds of Billy-Archie-Sonny on your list.

Charlie – Classic and down to earth like Jack with a timeless and friendly quality.

Dylan – Dylan can be considered a 'modern classic' as it still feels fresh even after decades of use.

Evan – Sleek and grounded, Evan is a familiar name that still retains its intrigue. 

Harvey –  A half-way house between cheeky Tommy and cheery Sonny with the same vintage charm.

Jackson – If Jack cannot be shaken from your partner's mind, you could spice it up a little by opting for Jackson (or Jaxon). Even better, either Jack or Sonny (or both!) can be used as nicknames!

Jake – Close to Jack but much less common is breezy Jake currently ranking at #80.

Jamie – A Jack-Archie-Tommy hybrid is charming Jamie. It is familiar but now feels a little bit different when you encounter one.

Jude – Another Jack alternative to consider is sleek Biblical Jude.

Lewis – A classic name, used by royalty, since the Middle Ages that still feels fresh and modern.

Luke – This is another name that I would call a 'modern classic'. It's sweet and friendly but, as it now ranks at #100, it isn't too common.

Owen – A perennial name which has been in use for centuries but still feels fresh for a modern baby.

Rory – Sharing Tommy's cheeky chappy vibe, Rory makes a great 'somewhat common' name choice.

Stanley – With its vintage vibe, Stanley feels right at home alongside Peaky Blinder inspired Tommy. 

Teddy – A great Tommy alternative with the same fun, vintage feel.  

Theo – As you like Leo, Theo is an obvious alternative with plenty of style.

Toby – Another Tommy-Sonny blend in terms of style. Toby is fun and friendly and down to earth.

 

 

Name Help: A Brother for Rosa

 

Martha is expecting her second baby -- a brother for her daughter Rosa. 

Martha writes: "I think because we assumed our next baby would also be a girl - and had a name picked out (Pearl Ava Adelaide) - but, as it’s actually a boy, we are now on the back foot! We are a British and Chinese / Scottish couple living in London.

We have some names we like but aren’t 100% certain or agreed on: Levi, Sterling (these two are my favourites), Vincent (my husband’s favourite), Sid and Fyfe so would be very grateful for any inspiration!

We also quite like Ray, Rudy and Spike - though we’re keen to avoid two names beginning with R so these will probably feature in the middle.

Names we like but can’t go for: Ezra, Leo, Patrick, Miller.

Names people have already suggested and we’re not that keen on: Finn, Flynn, Otto, Fox, Rory, James, Arthur, Archie, Max, Milo, Oscar.

We also want to avoid anything super classic like Henry, William or Edward."

 

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I love your quirky vintage style! I have to say, not repeating an R initial was so hard because there just seem to be so many R names that fit your style, but I do understand not wanting to repeat an initial. I like the Scottish vibe running through your picks, so for reference, I have listed the Scottish popularity as well as England and Wales (E&W). 

Asa - As you have mentioned Levi and Ezra, perhaps you would like sleek Biblical Asa. It ranks at #663 in England and Wales (E&W).

Bruno – Quirky Bruno has been rising across Britain in the last few years. It now ranks at #384 in E&W and #296 in Scotland.

Calvin –  This friendly retro surname-first name ranked in the Scottish top 100 from 2009 to 2017 and was #116 in 2019. In E&W it ranks at #575.

Clyde – Taken from the River Clyde in Scotland, Clyde has a great vintage vibe thanks to its use in the 19th century. 

Cyrus – A kingly name which ranks at #707 in E&W.

Digby –  A preppy peerage surname which has seen plenty of use as a given name. It currently ranks at #1030 in E&W.

Douglas – A Scottish place name-turned-surname-turned-first name. Douglas has a solidly vintage Scottish vibe with easy nicknames Doug and Dougie.

Eric – Popular in Scotland from the 17th century, and a popular flapper name, Eric ranked at #126 in E&W and #278 in Scotland.

Fergus – This affable Gaelic name meaning "man of vigour" has been in the top 200 of Scotland since 1974. In 2019, it ranked #136 in Scotland and #541 in E&W.

Fletcher – A preppy-cool surname which brings to mind medieval archers. It ranks at #293 in E&W and #355 in Scotland.

Fraser – A Scottish clan name which has ranked in the Scottish top 100 since at least 1950. In 2019, it ranked #79 in Scotland and #240 in E&W.

Harris – Harris is an English surname derived from Harry, but it is also the name of the largest island in the Outer Hebrides. As such, it has been in the Scottish top 100 since 2004 and currently ranks popularly at #5. It is #290 in E&W.

Keir / Kerr – Both Keir and Kerr are Scottish surname-first names derived from a Scottish place name. Kerr ranks at #204 and Keir at #216 in Scotland. Keir ranks at #1518 in E&W and Kerr is unranked. 

Kenneth – Scottish Kenneth is a medieval kingly name, revived by Sir Walter Scott. Ken is found as the Chinese 肯 (ken). 

Lennox – A Scottish placename which is now a stylish first name, ranking #388 in England and Wales. 

Mac / Mack – Sid, Ray, Spike and Fyfe on your list reminds me of streamlined Mac(k). Mac and Mack rank at #1506 and #1587 respectively in E&W, though they rank at #233 and #355 in Scotland. Mac(k) can be used alone of as a nickname for Cormac, Magnus, Macauley or any Mac- surname.

Murray – A surname derived from Moray in Scotland. It has ranked in the Scottish top 100 since 1994 and ranks at #1316 in E&W. 

Sol – Sometimes short for Solomon, Sol is also a name in its own right, as the Latin word for "sun" and the name of the Roman sun god. It ranks at #952 in E&W. In  a similar style is Biblical Saul at #1001.

Sonny – A retro diminutive with a sweet boyish charm. It ranks at #103 in E&W. 

Winston – An English surname-first name with plenty of vintage charm. It ranks at #616 in E&W. 

Woody – A short form of Woodrow or simply a nickname taken from wood. Harrelson and Toy Story have made it accessible and it currently ranks at #362.

 

Name Help: Twin Siblings for Emily and William

 

Melissa and Ari are awaiting the arrival of boy and girl twins, siblings for their elder children Emily and William. 

Melissa writes: "We are Catholic/Jewish, myself being Catholic and my husband Jewish (although we are not that observant to be honest but more culturally/secular) and would like something connected to either faith or both, but something we quite like are nature names this time around or animal names but cannot find two we like. We also like astronomy, mythology and astrology, literature and science. Emily and William are named after our grandparents. 

We like the name Leo for our male twin son but aren’t completely sold on it. We don’t like Wolf or Phoenix. However we are struggling for a girl name that is somewhat religious but also natural-mythological-space themed. We do like the name Fox, but are afraid of the X-Files assumption. We do want our twin daughter’s middle name to be Margaret after my mother and grandmother. We do like Kitty but not itself and aren’t keen on Catherine or Kathleen. We don’t want anything too outlandish or celebrity style. We like Aurora but not keen on the Disney connection, and also want names that aren’t the type to be given to a pet too. Names such as Zeus, Pandora, Draco etc are no-no."

 

 

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Firstly, I'd like to say that I think Leo would work really well within your parameters. Not only is it a constellation, but it is also the Latin for 'lion' -- reflecting the same meaning as Ari. Furthermore, both Emily and William are names of highly prominent authors (Dickenson, Bronte / Shakespeare, Blake etc) and Leo brings to mind Leo Tolstoy. 

 

Alfred – Borne by the famous poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, this is Anglo-Saxon name has plenty of royal and literary clout. 

Arthur – A kingly name straight from mythology which (very likely) means "bear". Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gives it an author namesake and the constellation Lyra (see below) is known as Talyn Arthur "Arthur's Harp" in Wales. 

Asher – A Hebrew name from the Old Testament meaning "happy" which has been used as both a Christian and Jewish given name for centuries and also a Jewish surname. 

Ernest – Hemingway gives this sweet Victorian name a literary vibe, but it also boasts royal and saintly namesakes. 

Hugo – Victor Hugo is the author link here, but medieval Hugo has ancient royal and religious ties and is also the name of both an asteroid and a crater on the planet Mercury.

Isaac – This Old Testament staple has been borne by both Jews and Christians since the early Middle Ages and its list of scientific, literary and theological namesakes is numerous. 

Jonah – A Hebrew name meaning "dove", borne by an eminent Jewish Prophet in the Old Testament who was also important in Early Christianity as an allegory for Christ's resurrection.

Judah – According to the Old Testament, when Jacob blessed his sons, he likened several of them to animals. Judah is compared to a lion. For this reason, amongst Jewish families, Judah is often paired with Ari/Aryeh "lion". Jude is the Anglicised form of the name. 

Leon – If you aren't sold on Leo, perhaps its Greek cognate Leon will tip the scales. 

Oscar – Wilde makes this a strong literary choice which can be found in old Irish mythology. 

Rex – A Latin name meaning "king" borne by writers, artists and an aircraft designer who was responsible for the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic non-stop. 

Zev – A Hebrew name meaning "wolf" that works well in English. 

 

Adara – This Hebrew name meaning "noble" also has an astronomical theme thanks to the spelling Adhara: the second brightest star in the constellation Canis Major.

Aurelia – If you like Aurora, perhaps Latin Aurelia will appeal. Meaning "golden", it was borne by a 10th-century saint. An asteroid and type of butterfly also answer to the name. 

Beatrix – For the famous Miss Potter, Beatrix not only belongs to several saints and blesseds, it also serves as a feistier form of Beatrice. 

Eden – The Garden of Eden is a key feature of the first book of both the Jewish and Christian Bible. There is also Eden Phillpotts (1862–1960), British novelist, poet and dramatist, who, although male, gives the name an author namesake also. 

Felicity – Borne by two early martyrs, this lovely Latin name meaning "happiness" could also boast the nickname Citty if you were feeling bold.

Jemima – A Biblical name which, like Jonah (above) means "dove". 

Keturah / Calista – Kitty is adorable and, if you are willing to be creative, there are ways to get to it as a nickname beyond Katherine and Kathleen. Keturah is a Biblical name meaning "perfume, incense" and Calista derives from the Ancient Greek name Kallisto meaning "most beautiful". Kallisto appears in Greek mythology as a nymph who was persued by Zeus and turned into a bear by Hera and eventually set amongst the stars by Zeus, becoming the constellation Ursa Major. 

Lyra – The name of a constellation shaped like a lyre which has been brought to life thanks to Philip Pullman's literary heroine in the His Dark Materials series. 

Maya – Maya is a name with several different origins. One of them is a Hebrew name meaning "water". It can also be used as an alternate spelling for Maia, who, in Greek and Roman mythology, was the eldest of the Pleiades ("the Seven Sisters"), the group of seven stars in the constellation Taurus. Maia is also a Basque spelling of Maria, making it a Marian name, also. It is famously born by author Maya Angelou. So it's a Hebrew name, Marian name, mythological, literary and astronomical all in one! 

Phoebe – A Titan goddess in Greek mythology, a character in the New Testament, the name of one of Saturn's moons, a Shakespearean character and borne by a whole host of worthy women in history. 

Susanna – A Biblical name which appears in both the Old and New Testament. In ancient Hebrew, the name meant "lily" but in Modern Hebrew (where it is well used by Jewish parents) it now means "rose". Both the lily and the rose are also Marian flowers. 

Tabitha – A figure in the New Testament whose name means "gazelle". 

 

Coincidentally, there are quite a few pairings here that subtly match if that was something you were looking into: Arthur & Lyra (after the constellation), Asher & Felicity (happy/happiness), Jonah & Jemima (dove) and Oscar & Tabitha (deer/gazelle) 

I hope this has been of use. Best wishes for finding the perfect name.

 

Name Help: A Brother for Persephone

 

Amy is expecting her second baby -- a brother for her daughter Persephone. 

Amy writes: "We have a daughter named Persephone and we are expecting a boy and struggling with names. We tend to call our daughter Persy most of the time. I like the classical reference but the male greek mythology names seem too foreign and tricky to spell. Having already suffered many spelling/pronunciation issues with Persephone we want to steer away from complicated spellings for our second!

I like names outside the top 100, uncommon and unusual but not wacky or made up sounding. I seem to be leaning towards shorter names or at least shorter nicknames/less syllables as Persephone is quite a mouthful. It would need to match the elegance of our daughter's name, a Greek name would be lovely but we are fairly open re:origin. 

 

We have considered and like but cannot agree on: Cosmo, Rollo, Rafferty, Ludo, Atlas, Dionysus (Dion), Tobias

 

Cannot use as friends/family or pets have already taken: Monty, Felix, Casper, Rufus, Jago, Arlo, Tarquin, Rupert

 

Finding a bit too popular but like: Theodore, Jasper, Nathaniel, Rafe, Atticus

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A classical name that is easy to spell and pronounce; uncommon but not wacky. Let's see...

Alban – The first British saint answered to Alban. It may be from the Roman cognomen Albanus "from Alba Longa" but quite likely, it actually represents an ancient Celtic name. It is fashionable in France currently, but only #974 here currently. 

-ander – Some of the most accessible and stylish Ancient Greek names end in -ander, from the root aner meaning "man". There's Evander -- a character in the Trojan War --  which means "good man"; Leander "lion of a man", the tragic mythical hero, and Lysander "liberated man/liberator of men", a famous 5th-century BC Spartan general and naval commander.

Blaise – Both a Roman and Old English name, famously borne by the 4th-century healer who was later canonised. The name also appears in Arthurian legend. It ranks at #1506. 

Cassian – A stately Roman name which was borne by a renowned scholar and no fewer than six early saints. It is uncommon in use (at #731) but perfectly accessible. Cassius (#293) is a more common variation made famous thanks to Muhammad Ali. 

Cyrus – The likes of Cosmo, Atlas and Atticus on your list, leads me to kingly Cyrus (ranking at #707). The name is the Greek form of an Ancient Persian name, borne by emperors such as Cyrus the Great, and used in Classical Greece and Rome. 

Finnian – A distinguished Irish name borne by several early saints that sports a dapper vibe. It ranks at #1083.

Hector  – Heroic Hector is a staple of Greek mythology and yet there is nothing wacky about it. In fact, it's pretty darn cute and comfy despite its upright exterior. It currently ranks at #264.

Inigo – With so many stylish -o ending names on your list, Inigo I feel deserves a mention. It is the English form of the Spanish Íñigo, which was the birth name of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, for whom the famous architect Inigo Jones was named for. It ranks at #1369.

Ivo – For the same reasons, Ivo (at #974) is on this list also. Not uncommon among Norman knights in the Middle Ages and borne by the patron saint of Brittany who was known as "Advocate of the Poor." 

Leonidas – Strong, powerful and unforgettable. Leonidas was once borne by the famous Spartan general and now, thanks to 300, it is a widely recognised name. This can be seen in its rise from 12 births in 2006 to 75 in 2019 (ranking #518). Leon or Leo can be used as nicknames. 

Linus – A Greek mythology name, borne by a son of Apollo and later came to be used in Antiquity. This was the name of the second pope after Saint Peter. It is rare at #2488 but familiar thanks to the Peanuts comic strip. 

Magnus – An epic Roman name borne by kings which ranks at #403. 

Orlando – This familiar  Italian form of Roland has plenty of Shakespearean style and could also boast Rollo as a nickname. It ranks at #678. 

Quentin – An early medieval French form of the Latin Quintanus which was brought to Britain by the Normans. It ranks at #592. 

Sander – Alexander is a quintessential Ancient Greek name, but, at #21, far too common for your criteria. Sander, a Dutch, Danish and Norwegian short form, has all of Alexander's style but without the popularity. 

Silas –  A companion of Saint Paul whose name was possibly short for the Latin Silvanus "of the forest" or else the Hebrew Saul "asked for". It ranks at #642. 

Soren – The Scandinavian form of the Latin Severinus which ranks at #952. 

Theron – Meaning "hunter" in Greek, Theron was borne by a 5th-century BC Greek city-state leader Theron of Acragas, whose Olympic feats in the chariot race were celebrated by Pindar, and also by a character mentioned in Virgil's Aeneid. 

Tristan – An ancient Celtic name famously borne by the great Arthurian hero. It ranks at #213. 

Xavier – A stylish name, used thanks to Spanish missionary Francis Xavier and has since been borne by poets, explorers and philosophers. It ranks at #223.

 

Name Help: A Brother-Name for Noah

 

Monica is expecting her second baby -- a brother or sister for Noah. If a girl, they are spoiled for choice, but boys' names are proving tricky to settle on. 

Monica writes: "We're looking for a solid name, possibly traditional, historical or biblical. We both appreciate classic, sweet and elegant as attributes. 

My husband defines his name style as 'classic, short but not nicknamey, with a historical or biblical oomph'. He has a clear preference for two-syllable names (he's Finnish, and most Finnish names are bisyllabic) and names that have some sort of connection to history, literature, science or the Bible. 

 

My taste is similar except I don't really mind about the length of the name. I tend not to like nicknamey names either (I do like Archie though, I feel it's a name on its own, not just a short version of Archibald. My husband disagrees!). I love how a name sounds, so to me the sound is very important. I don't particularly like names starting with an H. My husband suggested Henry and Hugo, and although they're classic and elegant names, two attributes I like - I struggle with the initial sound. 

 

My husband doesn't particularly like names beginning with a J (for differences related to the Finnish pronunciation). This is terrible for me because I love names like Julian, Jeremy, James and Joseph. 

 

Popularity has absolutely no importance to us. As long as we both like the name, it doesn't matter to us if it's ranked 1 or 1000 in the name statistics. 

 

I like names like Julian, Jeremy, Joseph but also Archie. My husband doesn't. 

 

He likes names like Luca, Dario, Onni, Nico. I don't. 

 

Names that we can't use: Daniel, Samuel, Adam and Alex.

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The great news, Monica, is that there are plenty of great classic/traditional or Biblical names that are short in length but strong in impact. In compiling this list, I've tried to keep as Scandi-friendly or pan-European as possible to help bridge the language tastes. 

Amos – A sweet but uncommon Biblical name possibly meaning "strong" or "courageous" which is also used currently in Finland. 

Arthur – When it comes to history, you can't get more legendary than princely Arthur which also doubles as a contemporary favourite. 

Axel – This is the Scandinavian form of the Biblical name Absalom with a cool, modern vibe. 

Casper – The traditional name given to one of the three wise men of the Nativity with a cool Continental style. The spelling Kasper is more common in Finland. 

Elijah – A popular Biblical choice which has been winning hearts in Britain since it joined the top 100 in 2011. 

Elias – The Greek variation of Elijah which is currently very fashionable in Finland and stylish in the UK. 

Ellis / Elliot – Both Ellis and Elliot are English forms of Elias/Elijah. In Scandinavia, the spelling Elis is popular. 

Ezra – Short, stylish and with a Biblical punch. It has been in the top 100 since 2016 after a meteoric rise in fashion. 

Felix – Happy by name, happy by nature, Latin Felix is found in the New Testament and has ranked in the top 100 since 2013. 

Gabriel – Elegant and debonnaire, Gabriel is a gentlemanly Biblical choice with a classic style. 

Isaac – A true Old Testament favourite with several scientists, mathematicians and other famous intellectuals to its name. 

Leo / Leon– A little name with lots of style and history. Leo is currently #1 in Finland and #6 in Britain so is very on-trend. His brother Leon (at #97) is just as stylish but a little less expected. 

Levi – An up-an-coming Biblical choice which ranks at #154 currently in England and Wales. The Finnish cognate, Leevi, is #7 in Finland. 

Louie – As grand as Julian and as sprightly as Onni, Louie / Louis is a name of emperors, inventors and artists. 

Max – A pan-European favourite with a bold meaning and style. 

Oscar – A Gaelic favourite which has been a royal Scandinavian staple for centuries. 

Reuben – Another modern Biblical revival. Reuben gave his name to one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel and so its roots go deep. 

Robin – Sprightly Robin is the medieval form of classic Robert as well as being borne by a sweet British bird. It ranked at #27 in 2019 for Finlandswedish parents. 

Roman – A stately Latin name borne by emperors and philosophers which has plenty of modern appeal. 

Theo(dore) – A classical Greek name which spans centuries and continents. The pared-down Theo has equal appeal and makes a great brother-name for Noah. 

Zachary – The same rhythm as Jeremy with the punch sounds of Luca and Nico, Biblical Zachary is a happy and modern choice to match Noah. 

 

I hope this has been of use. Best wishes for finding the perfect name.

 

Name Help: A Brother for Laurie

 

Phoebe and Ken are expecting Baby Number Two and are on the hunt for the perfect name for him.

Phoebe writes: "We are expecting our second child, who will be a little brother to our son Laurie. We love Laurie's name because it's quite uncommon; we've never met another, yet it's recognisable and easy to pronounce. We're struggling to find another boys' name we love as much and would really appreciate some suggestions! We love Gabriel, but can't use it because Gabe really doesn't go with our surname, unfortunately (and we can't think of a realistic alternative nickname). 

 

We're ideally looking for a name that's fairly uncommon or unusual. We seem to like a lot of biblical and Scandinavian sounding names. We also like a lot of Scottish and Irish names; we like Hamish and Seamus) but as we have no Scottish or Irish ancestry, we're not sure we can use them. Our surname is a common name beginning with a B so we'd like to avoid any 'B' names.

 

Names we like: 

 

Joah (but worried that, as it's rare, it will be a lifetime of having to say 'Noah with a J' or people thinking it's a misspelling of Jonah) 

Seth

Sacha 

Jonah

Arlo

 

Names we like but have discounted due to popularity: 

 

Leo 

Noah 

Alfie 

Oscar 

 

Names one of us likes but the other isn't sold on: 

 

Sully (I love it, but my husband can't get past the big blue monster in Monsters Inc) 

Rafferty, nn Rafe or Raffy 

Asher 

Ethan 

Ludo 

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I can totally see why you are drawn to Biblical names: there are so many familiar yet uncommon choices for boys which make a great compliment to Laurie. For that matter, I can say the same for a lot of Celtic or Scandinavian names. The great news is that there are plenty of choices which fit the criteria of "familiar but not common". 

Amos – A sweet but uncommon Biblical name possibly meaning "strong" or "courageous". Though like Laurie, it sits not far below the top 500, it is familiar thanks to its also being a variant of the surname Amis/Ames which derives from the Latin amicus "friend." 

Emmett – A medieval name turned surname which has a buttoned-up yet amiable style. It ranks at #572, making it uncommon but easily accessible. 

Gideon – Another Biblical alternative to Gabriel. It has plenty of character, is familiar, and ranks at #777 -- a few steps behind Laurie (#749)

Joel – Joah, Jonah, Arlo, Leo and Noah are all echoed in laid-back and sleek Joel: a friendly Biblical staple that ranks below the top 100. 

Josiah – If you want a safer form of Joah (which you could even use Joah as a nickname for) then perhaps Josiah, with its sprightly Georgian style and rank of #219, will appeal. Jonas (#422) is another variation on a theme which is easily accessible but not too popular. 

Jowan – A Cornish, and once Welsh, form of John which has a modern appeal. With Owen as a staple, and Rowan as a top 100 favourite (as well as Logan and Roman), Jowan doesn't feel too 'out-there' in the least with current trends. 

Judah – Anglicised Jude is #56 while the Hebrew form of Judah sits in the sweet-spot of #610. It has all the elements for a trendy name (Jude meets Noah) but is still underused. 

Matthias – The Biblical Greek form of classic Matthew which has an international flair and suave appeal. Like Tobias (#98) and Elias (#123) it has sophisticated Biblical style, but at #544, it is still an uncommon gem.

Micah – Though both are equally pedigreed, Micah feels like a hip and updated form of classical Michael. At #262, it is also familiar without being too popular. 

Nathaniel – In terms of a name that evokes a similar style to Gabriel, Nathaniel is one of the closest. Not too overused at #131, it also comes with the laid back nickname Nate. 

Oran – Both a Hebrew name meaning "light" and an anglicised form of the Gaelic name Odhran meaning "pale green". 

Otis – A cool retro choice with a laid back style to compliment Laurie. 

Rufus – Quirky and gentlemanly, Rufus is a kingly name which is easy to spell and for both sound and style sits between Ludo and Rafferty. 

Saul – With both Seth and Sully on your list, it feels natural to suggest Biblical Saul as an option. Sully could even be used as a nickname. 

Sawyer – As a pedigreed surname, Sawyer is widely familiar, yet is different enough to stand out amongst the likes of Arthur, Oscar, Hunter, Carter, Jasper and Dexter which all sit in the top 100. 

Silas – Lucas, Tobias and Elias... Silas fits perfectly with these other stylish up-and-coming choices, but at #810 it is an underused gem. 

Solomon – An upbeat Biblical name borne by the famously wise king. Sol or Solly make for sweet nicknames. 

Soren – A sleek Scandinavian form of the stately Roman Severinus.

Wesley – A laid-back and affable name with a breezy appeal. It is widely known but only ranks at #786. 

Wyatt – Sharing Laurie's cheery style, Wyatt is an old medieval name, turned surname, turned given name again which descended from the Anglo-Saxon Wigheard "battle-brave". 

 

I hope this has been of use. Best wishes for finding the perfect name.

 

Name Help: A Sibling for Magnus

 

Gemma is expecting her second child -- gender unknown -- who will be a sibling for Magnus. 

Gemma writes: "Our surname is Scottish so we liked that Magnus has a semi-Scottish connection to match but we are not wedded to that as a concept for #2. I’m not sure I’m ready for hardcore Scottish names though! We would like another name which is well established but not too common. We tend to like strong-sounding names which can be shortened to something more playful. There are quite a few boys’ names which we are considering but are struggling with girls names. I don’t like anything too flowery (with the exception of Poppy) or girly. I tend to gravitate towards girls names with the -die / -ie / -y endings, or at least names whose nicknames have that ending. 

 

Boys names we have considered:

Otto - grandparents vehemently opposed to this due to historic connotations! But we still love it.

Frederick (Freddie/Fred) 

Rudi (but we have a Ru (Ruben)) in the family

Milo (? too soft) 

Ted (but not keen on Edward) 

Caspar 

 

Names we like but can’t use due to friends’/family’s kids:

Felix 

Barney 

Ruben 

Leo 

Hector 

Kit 

 

Girls names we have considered:

Margot (but diminutive too similar to that of Magnus)

Poppy - always loved this but v popular 

Heidi 

Ottilie - but we have an Eti in the family which could get confusing with Otti. 

Joni - but they may end up just being Jo which I’m less keen on

Edie (but not keen on Edith)

Madeleine (Maddy)

Audrey 

 

Names we like but can’t use due to family/friends’ kids:

Zadie / Sadie 

Ruby"

 

 

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It seems like you have a strong sense of style and a really good idea of which direction you want to go. My suggestions here are simply moulded in the same vein as your options. 

 

Otis – If you love Otto but are facing too much opposition, how about Otto's medieval English brother Otis? It has much the same charm with a dapper style.

Remy – An alternative to Rudi without being too similar to Ru. It ranks in the top 250 in the South of England and has a rising profile. 

Jago – Emulating the stylish -o ending of Otto and Milo, Jago is a cool Celtic form of James. 

Rex – A great compliment to Magnus is both style -- dapper and svelte -- and in meaning -- Magnus means "great, important"; Rex means "king".

Guy – An alternative to Ted which easily stands alone. Guy is an ancient name with medieval and aristocratic heritage, much like Magnus. 

Ralph – Sophisticated yet playful, Ralph has a strong style with oodles of history.

Fraser – A cool clan name which has a Scottish-vibe without being too obvious next to Magnus. 

Rafferty – An Irish surname which has the same bounce and refinement as Frederick. Rafe or Raffy can be used as short forms. 

Lennox – Another stylish Scottish clan name which isn't too "tartan-clad". Lenny or Lex could be used as nicknames. 

Xavier – An erudite name which exudes intelligence but with a quirky charm. 

 

Cora – Feminine but not overly girly, Cora is a name fit for a goddess in a compact package. 

Penelope  – If Poppy feels too popular, how about using Poppy as a nickname for Penelope? Or, of course, there is perky Penny, or even Polly or Nell to choose from. 

Elodie – If Edith isn't your thing, Edie could also be used as a short form for melodic Elodie. 

Eden – Another way to get to Edie is the heavenly Eden which feels sweet without being too girly. 

India – Retaining the same "die" sound you like in Heidi and Edie, India, meaning "river, sea" is an ancient name, which became used as a given name in the 19^th century and used for the character India Wilkes in Gone with the Wind.

Dolcie / Dulcie – Meaning "sweet", Dulcie and Dolcie are names which date back to the Middle Ages and has the 'd-ie' sound you like. 

Daphne – Also sporting the same striking D sound with a light '-ie' ending, Daphne is a sweet but sturdy name with a rising following. 

Adeline – A less-common alternative to Adeline with all the same elegance. 

Marnie – Part Margot, part Maddy, Marnie is a playful flapper-style name which is thought to have begun as a nickname for Marina. 

Pippa – Bouncy Pippa is a perfect alternative to popular Poppy. 

 

I hope this has been of use. Best wishes for finding the perfect name.