Sunday, July 17, 2011

Mini Names

The average American name (based on 2010's top 1000) is 6 letters long. Boys' names are slightly more likely to be shorter (5.8 ± 1.3 characters); girls are slightly more likely to be longer (6.0 ± 1.3 characters). So, if you want a name that stands out, or you want to balance a long or complex last name, a short name is the way to go.

Boys:
  • Áed (AID, Irish)--"fire", precursor to Aidan
  • Alv (AHLV, Norwegian)--"elf"
  • Anu (ah-nu, Sumerian)--Sumerian god of the heavens
  • Ari (AH-ree, Hebrew, Scandinavian, Armenian)
  • Asa (AY-sa, Hebrew)
  • Avi (AH-vee, Hebrew)
  • Cai/Kai (KYE, Welsh, Scandinavian, Hawaiian)
  • Dai (DYE, Welsh)--"shine"
  • Dax (DAKS, English)
  • Dov (DOHV, Hebrew)--"bear"
  • Ean (EE-an, Manx)--form of John
  • Eli (EE-lye, Hebrew)
  • Gil (GEEL, Hebrew)--"happiness"
  • Ira (EYE-ra, Hebrew)
  • Ivo (EE-voh, Germanic)
  • Jay (JAY, Indian [Hindi])--"victory"
  • Kir (KEER, Russian)--form of Cyrus
  • Lir (LEER, Irish)--Irish god of the sea
  • Paz (PAHZ, Hebrew)
  • Sem (SEM, Dutch)
  • Tyr (TIHR, Norse)--Norse god of justice & war
  • Udo (OO-do, German)--form of Otto
  • Uri (OO-ree, Hebrew)--"my light"
  • Wyn (WIN, Welsh)--"blessed"

Girls:
  • Adi (ah-DEE, Hebrew)--"jewel"
  • Aki (ah-kee, Japanese)--"bright", "sparkle", or "autumn"
  • Anu (AH-noo, Finnish)--form of Anna
  • Aya (ah-ya, Japanese)--"design" or "color"
  • Dua (doo-ah, Arabic)--"prayer"
  • Eda (eyd-ah, Turkish)
  • Eha (ay-ha, Estonian)--"dusk"
  • Emi (em-ee, Japanese)--"blessing"
  • Ena (EE-na, Irish)--traditionally spelled Eithne
  • Eos (AY-ohs, Greek)--Greek goddess of the dawn
  • Fay/Faye (FAY, English)--"fairy"
  • Ida (EYE-da or EE-da, Germanic)
  • Ila (ee-la, Indian [Hindi])
  • Io (EYE-oh or EE-oh, Greek)
  • Ivy (EYE-vee, English)
  • Jaya (jah-yah, Indian [Hindi])--"victory"
  • Liv (LEEV, Scandinavian)
  • Mae/May (MAY, English)
  • Mei (MAY, Chinese & Japanese)
  • Mio (mee-oh, Japanese)
  • Nia (NEE-ah, Welsh)--form of Niamh
  • Noa (noh-ah, Biblical Hebrew, Japanese)
  • Oda (OH-da, German)--feminine of Otto
  • Rei (RAY, Japanese)--"bell" or "lovely"
  • Rue (ROO, English)
  • Una (OO-na, Irish & Scottish)
  • Wynne (WIN, Welsh)--"blessed"

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