The Rise of -Lani

I previously joked about "-lani" being the new "-lee", but they really do seem to be taking off.

(image using the Expert NameVoyager, because I do not have that much computing power)

Difference is, -lani names stick somewhat close to their (mostly) Hawaiian roots, while -lee names are all over the place, both in origin and novelty.

To start with, here are all the -lani names used in the US last year, from most --> least common (alternate spellings were combined, but only the most common spelling is listed):

• Leilani (≈3200 babies)
• Kehlani
• Alani
• Kailani (≈1000 babies)
• Kalani
• Milani
• Meilani (≈500 babies)
• Nalani
• Malani
• Ailani
• Jaylani
• Kelani
• Elani
• Lailani
• Jalani
• Noelani
• Aylani
• Naylani
• Lani (≈100 babies)
• Mylani
• Daylani
• Aulani
• Keylani
• Lelani
• Nylani
• Jelani
• Nilani
• Xolani
• Dalani
• Ulani (≈25 babies)
• Dailany
• Mahealani
• Kaiulani
• Aolani
• Kahealani
• Mulani
• Zaylani
• Dylani
• Leelani
• Nolani
• Healani
• Mialani
• Raelani
• Taylani
• Mililani
• Talani
• Yulani
• Yeilani
• Jolani
• Nialani
• Nohealani
• Kealani
• Kealohilani
• Lulani
• Yalani
• Olani
• Zalani
• Halani
• Kamalani
• Kehaulani
• Lealani
• Lokelani
• Solani
• Yolani
• Julani (5 babies)
• Lolani

In all, approximately 66 different names, comprising about 0.7% of girls.
Obviously most are spinoffs of recognizable Hawaiian names [where lani means "sky, heavens"], but others are completely new to me! So, naturally, I had to go looking things up.
It is, of course, entirely possible that many parents did not have these names in mind, but simply "made up" names they didn't know already existed :p

• Ailani--baby-name sites are pretty certain this is Hawaiian meaning "high chief", but I can't find a reliable primary source. It does seem to be an Indian (Singhi?) surname, though.
• Alani (ah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--any tree from the Melicope genus, or the related orange tree/fruit
• Aolani (ah-oh-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly cloud", "heavenly dawn", "heavenly realm"
• Aulani (ah-oo-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly traveller"
• Halani (hah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly breath"
• Healani (heh-ah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly mist"
• Jelani (jel-AH-nee, English)--poss. from Arabic, "of Gilan"
• Kahealani (kah-heh-ah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"the heavenly mist", "the heavenly name"
• Kailani (kah-ee-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly sea", "sky and sea"
• Kaiulani (kye-oo-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"the heavenly sacred one"
• Kalani (kah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"the heavens"
• Kamalani (kah-mah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly child"
• Kealani (keh-ah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly white", "clear sky"
• Kealohilani (keh-ah-lo-hee-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"the heavenly splendor"
• Kehaulani (keh-hah-oo-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly dew"
• Keilani (keh-ee-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly glory"
• Leilani (leh-ee-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly lei", [figuratively] "heavenly child"
• Lokelani (loh-keh-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly rose"
• Mahealani (mah-heh-ah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly haze, heavenly moonlight"
• Milani (mee-lah-nee, Italian [surname])--"from Milan"
• Mililani (mee-lee-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly caress"
• Nalani (nah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"the heavens"
• Noelani (noh-eh-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly mist"
• Nohealani (noh-heh-ah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly beauty"
• Xolani (Zulu)--prob. "peace". Soooo.....in Zulu, X represents the lateral click [you can listen to it here], and I assume it's being Anglicized or Hispanicized (or just flat-out mispronounced) in the US, but have no idea how!  I was previously imagining it as "shoh-lah-nee" (prob. because of names like Xochitl and Xulia), but if anyone has any insight, I'd love to hear it.
  [also, while Xolani appears to be only masculine in Zulu, in the US it was more popular for girls last year]

Obviously, this is nowhere near a complete list of -lani names, both Hawaiian and otherwise, merely the ones that showed up on the SSA lists last year. :)
Interestingly, although in Hawaiian most names are unisex, the only -lani names that showed up for boys were Alani, Xolani, and the various spellings of Jelani and Kalani. 

Flowers, Please

The holidays are over; winter can be over now too, thanks. ;)
I was thinking the other day about names with "flower" meanings, specifically Greek -antha/anthe names, but I wonder if other languages have a fun selection as well....
(unless otherwise noted, all names are feminine)
[Anglicized spellings/pronunciations given for the ancient Greek names]

• Acalanthis (ak-ah-LAN-this, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "thorn-flower"
• Aika (ah-ee-kah, Japanese)--"indigo flower" or "love flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Amaranthis (am-ah-RAN-this, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "ditch flower" [specifically, usually catchfly or basil]. Masculine form was Amaranthus. 
• Anthemion (an-THEM-ee-on, [ancient] Greek)--"little flower" [unisex; spelled/pronounced the same for both genders in English, but not in Greek]
• Arianthes (ar-ee-AN-theez, ehr-ee-AN-theez, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "best flower" [masculine]. Another form was Arianthus [also masculine]. 
• Ayaka (ah-yah-kah, Japanese)--"color flower"
• Bellaflor (BEL-lah-flohr, [medieval] Italian)--from Latin, "beautiful flower". Other forms included Fiorabella and Belleflos. 
• Blanchefleur (blawn-sheh-fleur, [medieval] French)--"white flower"
• Bláthnat (BLAH-nat, Irish)--"little flower". Variants include Bláithín (BLAH-een) and Bláithnaid (BLAH-nad). 
• Blodwen (BLAHD-wen, Welsh)--"white flower"
• Bryanthis (brye-AN-this, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "full flower". Masculine form was Bryanthus. 
• Calanthe (kah-LAN-thee, English)--from Greek, "beautiful flower" [an orchid genus]
• Calfuray (kal-foo-RYE, Spanish, Mapuche)--from Mapudungan, "violet flower"
• Callistanthe (kal-lis-TAN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"most beautiful flower"
• Charianthe (kar-ee-AN-thee, kehr-ee-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "graceful flower". Masculine form was Charianthus. 
• Chrysanthe (kris-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"golden flower". Other forms included Chrysanthis and Chrysanthus [masculine]. 
• Cleanthes (klee-AN-theez, [ancient] Greek)--"glory flower" [masculine]. Other forms include Cleanthus [ancient, masculine], Cleanthis [klee-AN-this, ancient, feminine], Kleanthis [kleh-AHN-theez, modern, masculine], and Kleanthi [kleh-AHN-thee, modern, unisex]
• Cyminanthe (kim-in-AN-thee, sim-in-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "cumin flower"
• Diantha (dee-AHN-thah, Dutch; dee-AN-thah, dye-AN-thah, English)--from Greek "divine flower" [from another flower genus, Dianthus]
• Edanthe (eh-DAN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "delightful flower"
• Evanthe (ev-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"good flower". Other forms include Evantha [ancient], Evanthus [ancient, masculine], Evanthis [ev-AN-this, ancient, feminine], and Evanthis [ev-AHN-theez, modern, masculine]. 
• Finscoth (FEEN-skuh, Irish [mythology])--prob. "vine flower" or "white flower"
• Fioralba (fee-or-AHL-bah, Italian, Albanian)--"dawn flower"
• Fiorella (fee-oh-REL-lah, Italian)--"little flower". Another form is Fioretta. 
• Florimel (FLOH-rim-el, [literary] English)--from Latin "honey flower"
• Fumika (foo-mee-kah, Japanese)--"history flower" or "wealth flower"
• Fuyuka (foo-yoo-kah, Japanese)--"winter flower"
• Golnar (gohl-NAHR, Persian)--"pomegranate flower"
• Golnaz (gohl-NAHZ, Persian)--"pride flower"
• Glycanthis (glye-KAN-this, [ancient] Greek)--"sweet flower"
• Haruka (hah-roo-kah, Japanese)--"spring flower" [other translations possible, some unisex/masculine, depending on characters]
• Helianthe (hee-lee-AN-thee, English; heh-lee-AHN-theh, Dutch)--"sun flower" [from another flower genus, Helianthus]
• Hiroka (hee-roh-kah, Japanese)--"wise flower" or "wealth flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Honoka (hoh-noh-kah, Japanese)--"harmony flower"
• Ianthe (eye-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"violet flower"
• Iolanthe (eye-oh-LAN-thee, [literary] English)--prob. from Greek "violet flower"
• Melantho (mel-AN-thoh, [ancient] Greek)--"dark flower". Other forms include Melanthe [ancient], Melanthus [ancient, masculine], Melanthis [mel-AN-this, ancient, feminine], and Melanthis [mel-AHN-theez, modern, masculine]
• Melianthus (mel-ee-AN-thus, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "honey flower" [masculine]
• Mika (mee-kah, Japanese)--"beautiful flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Millaray (mee-yah-RYE, Spanish; meel-lah-RYE, Mapuche)--from Mapudungan, "golden flower"
• Neantho (nee-AN-thoh, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "new flower". Other forms included Neanthis and Neanthes [masculine]. 
• Nicanthe (nik-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"victory flower"
• Nonoka (noh-noh-kah, Japanese)--"field flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Oenanthe (ee-NAN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"vine-flower" or "wine flower" [specifically usually grape, sometimes dropwort]. Other forms included Oenanthis and Oenanthes [masculine].
• Philantho (fil-AN-thoh, [ancient] Greek)--"beloved flower". Masculine form was Philanthus. 
• Polyanthis (pahl-ee-AN-this, [ancient] Greek)--"many flowers". Masculine form was Polyanthus. 
• Prianthe (pree-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "oak flower" or "ridge flower". Another form was Prianthis.
• Pualani (poo-ah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly flower"
• Puanani (poo-ah-nah-nee, Hawaiian)--"beautiful flower"
• Reika (ray-kah, Japanese)--"beautiful flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Rika (ree-kah, Japanese)--"pear flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Rodanthi (roh-DAHN-thee, Greek)--"rose flower". Another [ancient] form was Rhodanthis. 
• Ruka (roo-kah, Japanese)--"lapis flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Setsuka (set-soo-kah, Japanese)--"snow flower"
• Sonoka (soh-noh-kah, Japanese)--"garden flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Timantha (tim-AN-thah, [ancient] Greek)--"prized flower". Other forms included Timanthis and Timanthes [masculine]. 
• Tomoka (toh-moh-kah, Japanese)--"wise flower" or "companion flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Yuka (yoo-kah, Japanese)--"fond flower" or "reason flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Molly

Poor Molly. Is she a nickname, or a full given name? I guess the answer is 'both': Molly was originally a regional pronunciation of Mary (that pesky R-to-L shift), but became widespread as a nickname during medieval times.
So, nowadays, she's rather in limbo--too "nickname-y" for a full name, but Mary to Molly isn't really intuitive in Modern English.

• Amalia (ah-MAH-lee-ah, Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish)--form of Amelia
• Amalthea (ah-mahl-THEE-ah, ah-mahl-THEH-ah, [ancient] Greek)--"soothing"
• Magali (mah-gah-LEE, Provençal)--form of Magdalene. Also spelled Magalie. 
• Mahalah (mah-hah-lah, mah-khah-lah [Biblical] Hebrew)--also written as Mahlah (mah-lah, mah-khlah) or Maala (mah-ah-lah).
• Mahalath (mah-hah-lahth, mah-khah-laht, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"lyre"
• Mahalia (mah-HAY-lee-ah, English)--form of Mahalah or Mahalath. 
• Mahulena (mah-hoo-LEH-nah, Czech). Slovak form is Mahuliena (mah-hoo-LYEH-nah).
• Malaika (mah-LYE-kah, Arabic, Swahili)--from Arabic "angels"
• Malati (MAHL-uh-tee, Hindi)--"jasmine"
• Malena (mah-LEH-nah, Czech, Scandinavian, Spanish)--form of Magdalena or Mahulena.
• Malie (mah-lee-eh, Hawaiian)--"calm"
• Malika (mah-LEE-kah, Arabic)--"queen"
• Malina (MAH-lin-ah, mah-LEE-nah, Bulgarian, Czech, Croatian, Polish, Serbian, Slovak)--"raspberry"
• Malini (MAH-lin-ee, Hindi)--"sweet-smelling"
• Marilena (mah-ree-LEH-nah, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian)--contraction of Maria Elena
• Marsaili (MAR-sah-lee, Scottish)--also spelled Marsali
• Maryla (mah-RIL-ah, Polish)--form of Maria

Ideals & Imagery

While doing my virtue-names post a while back, I came across many names with meanings that weren't quite virtues. While naming your daughter Beauty would probably be seen as presumptuous (not to mention a bit too Disney), there are plenty of names that mean 'beauty', as well as many other poetic inspirations.

Boys:

• Argi (ahr-gee, Basque)--"light"
• Argider (ahr-gee-dehr, Basque)--"beautiful light"
• Arman (ahr-MAHN, Kazakh)--"dream"
• Asher (ASH-er, English)--from Hebrew, "blessed"
• Ayman (AY-man, Arabic)--"blessed, lucky"
• Barak (bah-RAHK, Arabic)--"blessing"
• Benedict (BEN-eh-dikt, English)--from Latin, "blessed"
• Bhaskar (BHAHS-kar, Hindi)--"shining"
• Cemal (jem-AHL, Turkish)--"beauty"
• Daiki (dah-ee-kee, Japanese)--"great radiance" or "great & noble"
• Enver (en-VEHR, Turkish, Albanian)--"radiance"
• Eyal (eh-YAHL, Hebrew)--"strength"
• Jamal (jah-MAHL, Arabic)--"beauty"
• Kallias (KAHL-lee-as, Greek)--"beauty"
• Kibwe (KEE-bweh, Swahili)--"blessed"
• Krešimir (KRESH-ih-meer, Croatian)--"bringer of peace"
• Macario (mah-KAHR-yoh, Spanish)--from Greek, "blessed"
• Prakash (prah-KAHSH, Hindi)--"light"
• Roshan (roh-SHAN, Persian)--"light"
• Sisu (SEE-soo, Finnish)--"strength, willpower"
• Taiki (tah-ee-kee, Japanese)--"great radiance"

Girls:

• Abha (ahb-hah, Hindi)--"splendor"
• Aditi (ah-DEE-tee, Hindi)--"freedom"
• Aiman (eye-MAHN, Kazakh)--"beauty of the moon"
• Áine (AW-nyeh, Irish)--"radiance"
• Aisling (AHSH-leeng, Irish)--"dream"
• Aoibhe (EE-vah, Irish)--"beauty"
• Argiñe (ahr-gee-nyeh, Basque)--"light"
• Audrey (AW-dree, English)--"noble strength"
• Beata (beh-AH-tah, Latin)--"blessed"
• Bracha (BRAH-khah, Hebrew)--"blessing"
• Caoimhe (KWEE-vah, Irish)--"beauty". Anglicized to Keeva.
• Carwen (KAHR-wen, Welsh)--"pure love"
• Daina (DAY-nah, Lithuanian; DYE-nah, Latvian)--"song"
• Dipika (dee-PEE-kah, Hindi)--"light"
• Duana (DOO-an-ah, Irish)--"poem, song"
• Feray (feh-RYE, Turkish)--"radiance of the moon"
• Fotini (foh-tee-NEE, Greek)--"light"
• Gita (GEE-tah, Hindi)--"song"
• Hikari (hee-kah-ree, Japanese)--"light"
• Indira (IN-dih-rah, Hindi)--"beauty"
• Jyoti (jyot-EE, Hindi)--"light"
• Kanti (KAHN-tee, Hindi)--"beauty"
• Kavita (KAH-vee-tah, Hindi)--"poem, poetry"
• Keren (keh-rehn, Hebrew)--"ray of light"
• Lesedi (leh-seh-DEE, Tswana)--"light"
• Lucy (LOO-see, English)--from Latin, "light". Other forms include Lucia, Luce, Lucille, Lucette, Lux, Luz, and Luzia.
• Luule (LOO-leh, Estonian)--"poetry"
• Masego (mah-seh-hoh, Tswana)--"blessing"
• Megumi (meh-goo-mee, Japanese)--"blessing"
• Mele (meh-leh, Hawaiian)--"song"
• Nadra (NAH-drah, Arabic)--"radiance"
• Nima (NEE-mah, Arabic)--"blessing"
• Noya (no-yah, Hebrew)--"beauty"
• Nur (NOOR, Arabic)--"light". Other forms include Nuru (NOO-roo, Swahili).
• Säde (SAD-eh, Finnish)--"ray of light"
• Sana (SAH-nah, Arabic)--"brilliance"
• Saoirse (SEER-shah, Irish)--"freedom"
• Sanja (SAHN-yah, Croatian, Serbian)--"dream"
• Shira (shee-rah, Hebrew)--"poetry"
• Solveig (SOHL-vay, Scandinavian)--from Old Norse, "strength of the sun"
• Svajonė (svah-YOH-nyeh, Lithuanian)--"dream"
• Svatava (svah-tah-VAH, Czech)--"light" or "world". Another form is Svetlana (Russian, Slavic)
• Thi (TEE, Vietnamese)--"poem"
• Treasa (TRAH-sah, Irish)--"strength"

Unisex:

• Amets (ah-mehts, Basque)--"dream"
• Li (LEE, Chinese)--"reason" or "strength" [several other meanings possible depending on the characters]
• Liron (lee-rohn, Hebrew)--"my song"
• Noa (noh-ah, Hawaiian)--"freedom"
• Ori (oh-ree, Hebrew)--"my light"
• Shir (SHEER, Hebrew)--"song"

Same Name?!?--Sarah

Sweet, classical Sarah. Thanks to the Biblical matriarch (and probably her meaning as well--"princess"), she's been common for generations. Her spike in the 80s means she's usually stereotyped as an "our generation" name, like Jessica or Heather, but surprisingly, she's still in the top 50.
Fairly simple in sound, Sarah/Sara is used throughout the world with very little alteration. Her diversity lies mainly in diminutives, many of which are now in use as given names.

Original Hebrew form: Sarah [שָׂרָה] (sah-RAH)

Other forms:

• Kala (KAH-lah, Hawaiian)
• Sadie (SAY-dee, English)
• Saija (SYE-ah, Finnish)
• Sally (SAL-lee, English)
• Sari (SAH-ree, Finnish, Hungarian)
• Sarit (sah-REET, Hebrew)
• Sassa (SAHS-sah, Scandinavian) [also a form of Alexandra or Astrid]
• Suri (SOO-ree, Yiddish)
• Tzeitel (tZYE-tel, Yiddish)

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Kai

Okay, technically, Kai is quite an established name in many parts of the world (with several different origins).
But, in the U.S., where nicknames like Ty for Tyler & Sy for Silas/Simon are fairly expected, I can see how Kai can feel incomplete, especially since Kyle is still quite a common name.

And yes, Kai is unisex, but it's overwhelmingly more common for boys in the U.S., and besides, boy-only posts are in the minority on this blog. :)

• Arkaitz (ahr-kites, Basque)--"rock"
• Caetano (kye-eh-TAH-noh, Portuguese)
• Caius (KYE-us, Latin)--prob. the original form of Kai (in Europe)
• Chaim (KHIME, Hebrew)--"life"
• Ekain (eh-kine, Basque)
• Ekaitz (eh-kites, Basque)--"storm"
• Hezekiah (hez-eh-KYE-ah, Hebrew)--"God strengthens"
• Ikaia (ee-kye-ah, Hawaiian)--form of Isaiah
• Ikaika (ee-kye-kah, Hawaiian)--"strong"
• Kaino (KYE-noh, Finnish)
• Kaito (kah-ee-toh, Japanese)
• Makaio (mah-kye-oh, Hawaiian)--form of Matthew
• Malachi (MAL-ah-kye, Hebrew)--"my angel"
• Micaiah (mih-KYE-ah, Hebrew)--original [unisex] form of Micah
• Mordecai (MOHR-deh-kye, Hebrew)
• Nikolai (NIK-oh-lye, Russian)--form of Nicholas

Same Name?!?--Charles/Charlotte

It's funny how feminine forms come about. Different languages of course have different masculine & feminine indicators, but quite often a masculine name gets new feminine forms in a different languages despite having an established feminine form in its language of origin. This is one reason the feminine forms of classic names can look quite dissimilar, even though the masculine forms are quite similar, or even the same (the other reason is that, historically, daughters were named after fathers fairly often, but boys almost never after their mothers).
Joseph has Josepha, Josefina, Jozika, Josée, Josephine, Giuseppa; Henry has Henrietta, Heinrike, Hendrika, Henna, Enrica. Charles is no exception.

In this case, however, the translation gets rather interesting. Charles is the French form of the Germanic Karl which means "free man" (that is, neither a noble or a serf), so the technical translation of Charlotte and other feminine forms is the same. The more placating baby-name books & websites often change it to "womanly", but that simply isn't accurate. There was no Germanic feminine equivalent of Karl. "Free" was a purely masculine quality at that point--women were either wives or daughters, not independent individuals.
A more faithful modern translation, therefore, isn't "womanly", it's "free person" or "citizen".

Original Germanic form: Karl (KAHRL)
Latinized form: Carolus (kah-ROH-lus)
French form: Charles (SHAHRL)

Other forms:

• Carles (KAHR-les)--Catalan
• Carlo (KAHR-loh)--Italian
• Kaarlo (KAAHR-loh)--Finnish
• Kale (KAH-leh)--Hawaiian
• Karel (KAH-rel)--Czech, Dutch
• Károly (KAH-roy)--Hungarian
• Séarlas (SHAHR-las)--Irish
• Siarl (SHAHRL)--Welsh

• Carla (KAHR-lah)--Dutch, English, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish...
• Carlota (kahr-LOH-tah)--Spanish, Portuguese
• Carlotta (kahr-LOHT-tah)--Italian
• Carol (KEHR-ol)--English [formerly masculine]
• Carola (kah-ROH-lah)--Dutch, German, Italian
• Carole (kahr-OHL)--French
• Carolien (kah-roh-LEEN)--Dutch
• Carolina (kehr-oh-LYE-nah)--English
• Carolina (kah-roh-LEE-nah)--Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
• Caroline (KEHR-oh-line)--English
• Caroline (kah-loh-LEEN)--French
• Carolyn (KEHR-oh-lin)--English
• Charline (shahr-LEEN)--English, French
• Charlotte (SHAHR-lot)--English
• Charlotte (shahr-LOHT)--French
• Charlotte (shahr-LAW-teh)--Dutch, German
• Séarlait (SHAHR-lat)--Irish

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Len/Leni/Lena

Poor Lenny. The go-to nickname for old-man Leonard, he's probably out of general favor for another generation or so, since boys' name trends cycle more slowly than girls. Short and simple Len, however, fits in nicely with other succinct names in style right now, and it, along with Leni (LEH-nee), are also quite chic for girls abroad.

Boys:

• Balendin (bah-len-deen, Basque)--form of Valentine
• Cillian (KIL-ee-an, Irish)--Anglicized as Killian
• Emilian (em-EE-lee-an, Romanian)--masculine of Emilia
• Erlend (EHR-lend, Scandinavian)
• Laurence (LAW-rens, English)
• Lewin (LOO-en, English)--"dear friend"
• Stelian (stel-ee-AN, Romanian)
• Waylon (WAY-lon, English)

Girls: 

• Apolena (ah-paw-LEH-nah, Czech)
• Belén (beh-LEHN, Spanish)
• Eleni (el-EH-nee, Greek)--form of Helen [actually, pretty much any variant of Helen would work nicely]
• Ghislain (zhees-LEHN, French)--form of Giselle
• Kalena (kah-LEH-nah, Hawaiian)--form of Karen
• Leandra (leh-AHN-drah, Spanish, Portuguese)
• Lenora (len-OR-ah, English)--form of Eleanor [pretty much any variant of Eleanor would work nicely, too]
• Lenuţa (len-OOTZ-ah, Romanian)--form of Helen
• Lorena (loh-REH-nah, Italian, Spanish)--form of Lorraine
• Magdalena (mahg-dah-LEH-nah, Latin)--form of Magdalene
• Marilena (mah-ree-LEH-nah, Italian, Romanian)
• Ségolène (say-goh-LEN, French)

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Mac/Max

Max is definitely a rising star. Max itself sits just outside the top 100, with Maxwell, Maximus, Maximilian,  Maximiliano, & Maxim all in the top 500. Its appeal is multifaceted--it's short, obviously masculine, has that ever-cool X, and is familiar but not overused. The often-interchangeable Mac has that same sort of vibe. It, however, is not on the rise; I can only assume because of the lack of X, and because Mac-names are just so trendy for girls right now.

• Cormac (KOR-mak, Irish)
• Macario (mah-KAR-yoh, Spanish)--from Greek, "blessed, happy"
• Macsen (MAK-sen, Welsh)--form of Maximus
• Madoc (MAH-dok, Welsh)--"generous". Usually Anglicized as Maddox.
• Magnus (MAG-nus, Latin)--"great" [really, I'm not pulling this out of ...um, somewhere--Mac historically was a nickname for Magnus!]
• Makaio (mah-kye-oh, Hawaiian)--form of Matthew
• Makoto (mah-koh-toh, Japanese)--"sincerity"
• Makram (mak-ram, Arabic)--"generous"
• Malachi (MAL-ah-kye, Hebrew)--"my angel"
• Malachy (MAL-ah-kee, Irish)--Anglicized from Maeleachlainn
• Malcolm (MAL-com, Scottish)
• Maleko (mah-leh-koh, Hawaiian)--from of Mark
• Mannix (MAN-niks, Irish)--Anglicized from Mainchin or Mac Aonghuis
• Maxence (maks-AWNS, French)--form of Maximus

Same Name?!--Christian

Christian is an interesting case. Originally used for both males and females, in the last 100 years or so, it's become almost completely masculine--probably due in part to several Danish King Christians. Consequently, there are several more female variants than male.

Original Latin form: Christianus (kris-tee-ahn-oos)
English form: Christian (KRIST-yen, KRIS-chen)

Modern masculine forms:

• Carsten (KAHR-sten)--German. Also spelled Karsten. 
• Christer (KRIS-tehr)--Danish, Swedish. Also spelled Krister.
• Cristian (kris-TYAHN)--Romanian, Spanish
• Kristen (KRIS-ten)--Danish, Norwegian. Also spelled Christen.

Modern feminine forms:

• Cairistìona (kah-ris-TEEN-ah)--Scottish
• Christiane (kris-tee-AHN)--French
• Christine (kris-TEEN)--French
• Cristiana (krees-TYAHN-ah)--Italian, Portuguese
• Kerstin (KER-sten)--German
• Kilikina (kee-lee-kee-nah)--Hawaiian
• Kirsten (KEER-sten)--Scandinavian
• Kistiñe (kees-tee-nyeh)--Basque
• Kristin (KRIS-ten)--German, Scandinavian
• Krysia (KRISH-yah)--Polish

Tough Girls' Names

Boys' names with stalwart, warrior-type names are pretty darned common--Ethan ("enduring"), Alexander ("defender of men"), William ("willful protector"), Nicholas ("people's victory")--the list goes on and on. For girls' names, though, most cultures historically have tended towards pretty, poetic, or virtuous names--Sophia ("wisdom"), Elizabeth/Isabella ("God's promise"), Chloe ("green shoot"), Sarah ("princess"), etc.
Trying to find a fighting name for a girl can be tough, unless you want to use a feminization of a boys' name, like Nicole, Alexandria, and Louise ("famous warrior"), or an originally male name, like Riley ("valiant"), Alexis ("defender"), and Aubrey ("elven power").
And before you even look, yes, this is a very Germanic-heavy list.

• Audrey (AW-dree, English)--"noble strength"
• Bellatrix (BEL-lah-triks, Latin)--"warrior"
• Bellona (bel-LOH-nah, Latin)--"fight"
• Berenice (behr-en-EYE-see, English, or behr-en-EE-cheh, Italian)--from Greek, "bringing victory". Variants include Veronica and Bernice.
• Boudica (BOH-dih-kah, Celtic)--"victorious"
• Brava (BRAH-vah, Esperanto)--"valiant"
• Brenda (BREN-dah, English)--from Old Norse, "sword"
• Edith (EE-dith, English)--"blessed war"
• Efigénia (ef-ih-ZHEN-yah, Portuguese)--from Greek, "born strong"
• Eunice (YOO-nis, English)--from Greek, "good victory"
• Gertrude (GER-trood, English, or gehr-TROO-deh, German)--"spear of strength"
• Hilda (HIL-dah, Germanic)--"battle"
• Hillevi (HIL-eh-vee, Finnish)--from Germanic, "healthy in battle"
• Jaya (jah-yah, Indian [Hindi])--"victory"
• Jördis (YOR-dis, German)--from Old Norse, "sword goddess"
• Katsumi (kaht-soo-mee, Japanese)--"victorious beauty"
• Koa (koh-ah, Hawaiian)--"brave, bold"
• Lalama (lah-lah-mah, Hawaiian)--"daring, clever"
• Lanakila (lah-nah-kee-lah, Hawaiian)--"victorious"
• Liv (LEEV, Scandinavian)--"protection" [also means "life" in modern Swedish & Danish]
• Makana (mah-kah-nah, Hawaiian)--"fierce"
• Matilda (mah-TIL-dah, English, Swedish)--from Germanic, "strength in battle"
• Móirne (MORN-yeh, Irish)--"great"
• Nanna (NAHN-nah, Scandinavian)--"daring"
• Nahoa (nah-hoh-ah, Hawaiian)--"bold, defiant"
• Nessa (NES-sa, Irish)--"not gentle". Anglicized from Neasa (NYAS-ah).
• Rhonwen (RHON-wen, Welsh)--"blessed spear"
• Romilda (roh-MIL-dah, Italian)--from Germanic, "famous battle"
• Rosamund (ROZ-ah-mund or ROHZ-ah-mund, English)--from Germanic, "horse protection"
• Roswitha (roz-VEE-thah, German)--"famous strength"
• Saskia (SAS-kee-ah or ZAHS-kee-ah, German & Dutch)--from Germanic, "knife"
• Shamira (shah-meer-ah, Hebrew)--"guardian"
• Shinobu (shin-oh-boo, Japanese)--"endurance"
• Shun (shoon, Japanese)--"speed"
• Signy (SIG-nee, Scandinavian)--"new victory"
• Sigrid (SIG-rid, Scandinavian)--"beautiful victory"
• Solveig (SOL-vay, Scandinavian)--"strength of the sun"
• Tisiphone (tih-SIH-foh-nee, Greek"--"avenging murder"
• Toril (TOR-il, Scandinavian)--"Thor's battle"
• Tressa (TRES-sah, Irish)--"strength". Anglicized from Treasa/Trása (TRAH-sah).
• Valda (VAHL-da, Germanic)--"power" 
• Valencia (vah-LEN-see-ah, Spanish)--from Latin, "power"
• Venka (VEN-kah, Esperanto)--"victorious"
• Victoria (vik-TOR-ee-ah, Latin)--"victory"
• Ylva (EEL-vah, Scandinavian)--from Old Norse, "she-wolf"
• Yumi (yoo-mee, Japanese)--"[archery] bow"

Weathering the Weather

I admit, sometimes I come across fun new names, and have to come up with a way to work them into a post (without being ridiculously obvious, of course). So, we'll say these names are in honor of this unusual winter.
I covered rain & other bad-weather names pretty well in the Hurricane Names post, so here're (mostly) happy meteorological names.


Boys:

• Edur (ED-oor, Basque)--"snow"
• Elio (EL-yoh, Italian)--from Latin Aelius, "sun"
• Frediano (fred-YAH-noh, Italian)--"cold"
• Pyry (PÜ-rü, Finnish [ü is roughly between the English 'ih' & 'uh'] )--"snowstorm"
• Ravi (rah-VEE, Indian [Hindi])--"sun"
• Ryo (ryoh, Japanese)--"cool, refreshing" [can also mean "reality"]
• Sorin (soh-REEN, Romanian)--"sun"

Girls:

• Bora (BOH-rah, Albanian)--"snow"
• Edurne (eh-DOOR-nay, Basque)--"snow"
• Eira (AY-rah or EYE-rah, Welsh)--"snow"
• Fanna (FAHN-nah, Swedish)--from Old Norse, "snowdrift"
• Haizea (eye-ZAY-ah, Basque)--"wind"
• Heulwen (HAYL-wen, Welsh)--"sunshine"
• Kasumi (kah-soo-mee, Japanese)--"misty"
• Lumi (LOO-mee, Finnish)--"snow"
• Nasim (nah-seem, Arabic)--"breeze"
• Soleil (soh-LAY, French)--"sun"
• Sorina (soh-REEN-nah, Romanian)--"sun"
• Sunčana (SOON-chah-nah, Croatian)--"sunny"
• Terhi (TEHR-hee, Finnish)--"mist"
• Tesni (TES-nee, Welsh)--"warming sunshine"
• Yuki (yoo-kee, Japanese)--"snow" [can also mean "happiness"]

Unisex:

• Haru (hah-roo, Japanese)--"sunlight" [can also mean "spring"]
• Makani (mah-kah-nee, Hawaiian)--"wind"
• Noe (noh-ay, Hawaiian)--"mist"
• Xue (shooeh, Chinese)--"snow" [can also mean "learning"]

You're a God, part the final.

Grab-bag time!

Boys:

• Amon (AH-mon, Egyptian)--god of creation. Later merged with the sun-god, Ra. Also transliterated as Ammon, Amun, or Yamanu.
• Jarilo (yah-REE-loh, Slavic)--god of spring and fertility. Also spelled Yarilo.
• Perun (PEHR-un, Slavic)--god of thunder
• Tane (TAH-neh, Maori)--god of forests and animals
• Tapio (TAH-pee-oh, Finnish)--god of forests and hunting

Girls:

• Aušrinė (ow-SHREE-neh, Lithuanian)--goddess of the morning star [the planet Venus] and dawn. 
• Bastet (bahs-TET, Egyptian)--lioness/cat-goddess of the sun and fertility. Also transliterated to Bast or Baset.
• Dalia (DAHL-yah, Lithuanian)--goddess of fate and property
• Gabija (gah-bee-YAH, Lithuanian)--goddess of hearth and home.
• Isis (EYE-sis, Egyptian)--goddess of motherhood & magic. Also transliterated as Iset.
• Kolyada (kohl-YAH-dah, Slavic)--goddess of sun, particularly the winter solstice.
• Marama (MAH-rah-mah, Maori)--goddess of the moon
• Mielikki (mee-eh-lik-KEE, Finnish)--goddess of forests and hunting
• Morana (MOR-an-ah, Slavic)--goddess of winter
• Neith (NEETH or NAYTH, Egyptian)--goddess of war and hunting. Also transliterated as Neit.
• Pele (PAY-leh, Hawaiian)--goddess of volcanoes, fire, and lightning.
• Saule (SOW-lay, Lithuanian)--goddess of the sun, mother to the planets.
• Tanith (TAN-ith, Phoenician)--goddess of the moon, fertility, and war. Other forms are Tanis and Tanit.
• Vellamo (VEL-lah-moh, Finnish)--goddess of the sea
• Zaria (ZAHR-yah, Slavic)--goddess of beauty
• Živa (ZHEE-vah, Slavic)--goddess of love, fertility, and spring

Part 1 (Roman)--Part Deux (Greek)--Part III (Celtic)--Part D (Germanic)

The 'I's Have It.

It occurred to me the other day that I is a most underused vowel. If you're watching the final round of Wheel of Fortune, no one ever picks I as their vowel. If you ask someone to start listing names that start with I, they'll probably go though Isaac, Ian, Isaiah, Isabel/Isabella, Irene, Iris, maybe even Imogen, Ivan, Ivy, or Isla. The popular list pretty much stops there, though. Admittedly, O & U are even rarer as name-starters, but from some reason, I feel I-names should be more common.

Boys:

• Iago (ee-AH-goh, Galician & Welsh)--from Hebrew James/Jacob
• Idan (ee-dahn, Hebrew)--"era"
• Idris (ID-ris, Welsh)
• Ignatius (ig-NAY-shus, English)--from Latin/Etruscan. Other forms include Ignacio (ig-NAH-cee-oh, Spanish), Iñaki (een-YAH-kee, Basque), and Ignace (IN-yahs, French)
• Iker (EE-ker, Basque)
• Ikram (ik-rahm, Arabic)--"honor"
• Imre (EEM-reh, Hungarian)--form of Emmerich
• Ingo (ING-oh, German)
• Ingram (ING-ram, English)
• Iokua (ee-oh-KOO-ah, Hawaiian)--form of Joshua
• Isamu (ih-sah-moo, Japanese)--"courage"
• Ishmael (ISH-may-el, English)--from Hebrew, "God will hear".
• Isidore (IZ-ih-dor or ees-ih-DOR, English & French)--from Greek. Also spelled Isadore, Isador, Isidor, or Izidor.
• Iskandar (is-KAN-dar, Arabic & Indonesian)--from Greek Alexander.
• Ivailo (ee-VYE-loh, Bulgarian)--"wolf". Also spelled Ivaylo.
• Ivor (EE-vor or EYE-vor, English)--from Norse, "bow warrior"

Girls:

• Ianthe (ee-AN-thee or eye-AN-thee, Greek)
• Idonea (id-OH-nee-ah, English)--from Norse Iðunn. Other versions include Idony (ID-oh-nee) and Idun (ee-DUN).
• Idoya (ee-DOY-ah, Spanish)--Also spelled Idoia.
• Idriya (ee-dree-ah, Hebrew)
• Ilana (ee-lah-nah, Hebrew)
• Ilaria (ee-LAR-ee-ah, Italian)--form of Hilary.
• Ilkay (il-KYE, Turkish)--"new moon"
• Ilona (EE-lon-ah or ee-LOH-nah, Hungarian)--from of Helen.
• Imelda (ee-MEL-dah, Spanish)--from German Irmhild.
• Indira (in-THEER-ah, Indian [Hindi])--"beauty"
• Iolana (ee-oh-LAH-nah, Hawaiian)--"to soar"
• Iro (EER-oh, Greek)--modern form of Hero.
• Ismene (IS-men or ees-MAY-nay)--Greek, "knowledge"
• Isolde (ee-ZOL-deh, German & English)--poss. from Celtic "fair to behold". Variants include Eseld, Esyllt, Iseult, Isotta, and Yseult.
• Izumi (iz-oo-mee, Japanese)--"fountain"

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Callie

Callie is another example of a nickname that's become reasonably popular on its own. Originally a nickname for Caroline, I suspect it's another example of the R to L shift. This also helped distance it from Caroline, as it's not the most intuitive nickname in modern American English.

• Apikalia (ah-pih-KAL-ee-ah, Hawaiian)--form of Abigail
• Calanthia (kal-AN-thee-ah, English)--from Greek, "beautiful flower"
• Calista (kal-IS-tah, English)--from Greek, "most beautiful"
• Calliope (kal-EYE-oh-pee or kal-ee-OH-pay, Greek)--"beautiful voice"
• Calogera (kah-loh-JEHR-ah, Italian)
• Calypso (kal-IP-soh, Greek)
• Catalina (cat-ah-LEE-nah, Spanish)--form of Katherine
• Kalani (kal-AHN-ee, Hawaiian)
• Kalina (kal-EEN-ah, Bulgarian)
• Kalyani (kal-YAH-nee, Indian [Hindi])
• Michalina (mee-kal-EE-nah, Polish)--feminine form of Michael

Same Name?!--John

What can you say about John? Thanks to a pair of admirable Bible characters, it's one of the most popular boys' names of all time, extremely common in all three major branches of Christianity (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, & Protestant). It didn't lose its hold in America until the 80s, and even then, it's still in the top 25. It's also one of the few traditional names with a comparable range of both male and female versions.
For some, John is a solid classic, for others, it's bland and tired.
And despite the similarity in English, it's actually unrelated to Jonathan.

Original Hebrew form: Yochanan [יוֹחָנָן] (yoh-kha-nahn)
Greek transliteration: Yoannes (yoh-AHN-nehs)
Latin form: Iohannes (yoh-AN-nes)

Modern versions:

• Evan (EV-an)--Welsh. Anglicized from Iefan. Other forms include Ifan (EE-van), Ieuan (YAY-an), Ioan (YOH-an), Iwan (EE-wan), and Sion (SHON [via Jehan]).
• Ganix (JAHN-eesh)--Basque
• Giovanni (joh-VAHN-nee)--Italian
• Hank (HANK)--Medieval English (via Hann)
• Hann (HAHN)--Medieval English (via Johannes). Diminutive is Hankin.
• Hans (HAHNS)--Dutch, German, Scandinavian (via Johannes)
• Honza (HON-zah)--Czech (via Hans)
• Ian (EE-an)--Scottish. Older form is Iain.
• Ion (YON)--Romanian
• Ivan (ee-VAHN or EYE-van)--Slavic
• Jack (JAK)--English (via Jankin) 
• Jan (YAHN, JAN)--Czech, Dutch, German, Medieval English. English diminutive is Jankin.
• Janez (YAHN-ez)--Slovene
• Jehan (zheh-han)--Medieval French
• Jens (YENS)--Dutch
• João (ZHOO-ow)--Portuguese
• Johan (YOH-han)--German, Scandinavian
• Johannes (yo-HAN-nes)--Late Latin
• Jovan (YOH-van)--Macedonian, Serbian
• Juan (HWAHN)--Spanish
• Keoni (keh-oh-nee)--Hawaiian
• Sean (SHAHN)--Irish. Sometimes anglicized to Shane.
• Xoan (SHOH-awn)--Galician
• Yann (YAHN)--Breton. Diminutive is Yannick.

Feminine forms:

• Gianna (JAHN-nah)--Italian
• Ioanna (yoh-AHN-nah)--Greek
• Ionela (yoh-NEL-lah)--Romanian
• Ivana (ee-VAH-nah)--Slavic
• Jana (YAH-nah)--Dutch, German
• Jane (JAYN)--English (via Jehanne). Diminutives are Janet, Janice, and Jenny.
• Janneke (YAH-neh-keh)--Dutch
• Jean (JEEN)--English, Scottish (via Jehanne). Scottish diminutive is Jessie.
• Jeanne (ZHAHN)--French (via Jehanne). Diminutives are Jeannine and Jeannette.
• Jehanne (zheh-hahn)--Medieval French
• Joan (JONE)--English (via Johanne)
• Joana (zhoo-AH-nah)--Portuguese
• Joanna (joh-AN-nah)--English
• Johanne (zhoh-ahn)--Medieval French
• Jovana (yoh-VAH-nah)--Macedonion, Serbian
• Seona (SHOH-nah)--Scottish (via Joan)
• Sheena (SHEE-nah)--Scottish (via Jeanne)
• Sian (SHAHN)--Welsh
• Siobhan (shi-VAWN)--Irish (via Jehanne). Anglicized to Shevon or Chevonne.
• Zana (ZHAH-nah)--Slovene

Same Name?!--Jacob

Jacob--a seeming contradiction; both traditional and trendy. It was a top name back when the SSA started keeping track over 120 years ago, but was steadily on the decline. For some reason, it shot back to the top in the 1970s, and has been there ever since. Jacob wasn't exactly the most honorable of Biblical characters to be sure, but he has that eye-catching J up front, that fun-to-say 'ay', that crisp 'c', and that rare 'ob' ending. The mixture of familiar and unusual is probably what's kept him so appealing for so long. Jacob is also the original form of another perennial boys' name--James.

Original Hebrew form: Ya'aqov [יַעֲקֹב] (ya-ah-kov)
Greek form: Iacobus [ Ιακωβος] (ya-COH-boos)
Later Latin form: Iacomus (YA-coh-moos)

Modern versions:

• Cobus (KOH-bus)--Dutch
• Diego (dee-AY-go)--Spanish (via Santiago, an elision of Santo [Saint] Yago)
• Giacomo (JAH-koh-moh)--Italian
• Hamish (HAY-mish)--Scottish (from James)
• Iago (ee-AH-goh)--Galician & Welsh
• Jacques (ZHAHK)--French
• Jago (JAY-goh)--Cornish
• Jaime (HYE-may)--Spanish (from James)
• Jaime (ZHIME)--Portuguese (from James)
• James (JAYMZ)--English (via the late Latin Iacomus)
• Japik (YAH-pik)--Frisian
  
• Jaume (ZHOW-meh)--Catalan (from James)
• Jem (JEM)--medieval English (from James)
• Kimo (kee-moh)--Hawaiian (from James)
• Seamus (SHAY-mus)--Irish (from James)
• Tiago (tee-AH-go)--Portuguese (via Santiago)
• Xanti (SHAHN-tee)--Basque (via Santiago)
• Yago (YAH-goh)--Spanish
• Yacov (YAH-kof)--Bulgarian & Russian
  

Feminine forms:

• Giachetta (jah-KET-tah)--Italian
• Jacomina (ZHAK-oh-mee-nah)--Dutch
• Jacqueline (zhak-a-LEEN)--French
• Jamesina (JAY-meh-SEE-nah)--Scottish (from James)
• Jayma (JAY-mah)--English (from James)
• Zaklina (zhak-LEE-nah)--Croatian & Polish

Same Name?!--Katherine

Ah, Katherine. Literally one of the oldest names on earth. It's so old that it's original meaning has been lost to time. Many baby books & websites will tell you it means "pure", but that's only partially true. The original recorded form was Aikaterine, which has several possible origins. But when Christianity became really big in ancient times, it was altered because of its "heathen" roots, and thus became Katharina--closely resembling the Greek word for "pure".

Oldest known form (Greek): Aikaterine [Αικατερινη] (eye-kat-ehr-EEN-ee)
Original Latin form: Katerina (kaht-er-EEN-ah)

Modern versions:

• Cadi (KAH-dee)--Welsh
  
• Caitlin (KAHT-leen)--Irish
• Catalina (kah-tah-LEE-nah)--Romanian & Spanish
• Cateline (kah-tel-een)--medieval French
• Cato (ka-TOH)--Dutch
• Catrin (KAHT-reen)--German
• Catrin (KAT-rin)--Welsh
• Catriona (kah-TREE-uh-nah)--Irish & Scottish
• Kadri (KAH-dree)--Estonian
• Kaia/Kaja (KAH-ya)--Scandinavian
• Kaisa (KYE-sah)--Estonian & Finnish
• Kalena (kah-leh-nah)--Hawaiian
• Karen (KEHR-en or KAHR-en)--Danish
• Katell (KAH-tel)--Breton
• Katina (kah-TEE-nah)--Greek & Macedonian
• Katrina (kah-TREEN-ah)--Dutch, German, & Swedish
• Katya (KAHT-ya)--Russian
• Kotryna (koh-TRIN-ah)--Lithuanian
• Nienke (NEEN-keh)--Frisian

More Subtle than Blaze, Jagger, or Hawke

The girls sure do have the advantage when it come to word-names, don't they? Name your little girl 'Rose' or 'Honor' and it's "Awww!", but name your son 'Briar' or 'Valor' and it's "Are you a hippy?" Here're some more 'covert' ideas for giving your son a well-meaning moniker.

• Adalwin (ad-AHL-win, Germanic)--"noble friend"
• Alaric (AL-ah-rik, Germanic)--"ruler of all"
• Alvar (al-VAHR, Swedish & Finnish)--"elf warrior"
• Ansel (AN-sel, English)--"helmet of God"
• Andor (AHN-dor, Norwegian)--"Thor's eagle"
• Aurelio (aur-EY-lee-o, Italian & Spanish)--"golden"
• Basil (BAH-sil, Arabic)--"brave"
• Basil (BAZ-il, English)--"king"
• Brennus (BREN-nus, Celtic)--"prince"
• Cato (CAY-to, Latin)--"wise"
• Conall (CON-all, Irish)--"strong wolf"
• Conrí (CON-ree, Irish)--"wolf king"
• Duncan (DUN-kan, Scottish)--"brown warrior"
• Edric (ED-rik, English)--"blessed ruler"
• Egon (EY-gon, German)--"edge of a sword"
• Eilert (EYE-lert, Frisian)--"brave sword"
• Elric (EL-rik, English)--"noble rule" 
• Evander (ev-AN-der, Latin)--"good man"
• Ezio (ETS-ee-o, Italian)--"eagle"
• Frey (FRAY, Norse)--"lord"
• Gerard (jer-AHRD, English)--"brave spear"
• Haytham (HYE-tham, Arabic)--"young eagle"
• Ivar (EYE-var or EE-var, Irish & Scottish)--"bow warrior"
• Kavi (kah-vee, Indian [Hindi])--"wise man"
• Kekoa (keh-koh-ah, Hawaiian)--"the brave one"
• Leander (lee-AN-der, English)--"lion man"
• Levent (lev-ent, Turkish)--"handsome"
• Lyall (lye-ALL, English)--"wolf"
• Perun (PERH-uhn, Slavic)--"thunder"
• Roald (ROO-al, Norwegian; ROE-ald, English)--"famous ruler"
• Savio (SAH-vee-o, Italian)--"clever"
• Shea/Shay (SHAY, Irish)--"admirable"
• Yorath (YOR-ath, Welsh)--"handsome lord"

Actually, It's Traditionally Spelled with a K.

K is a fairly uncommon letter in the English language. Because it's uncommon, it draws the eye and is becoming more and more popular in names. So, if you like the letter 'K', but cringe at the thought of trend-ifying a traditional 'C' name, here's some names that are "supposed to be" spelled with a 'K'.

Boys:

• Kai (KYE, Scandinavian, German, Hawaiian, English) --short for a few longer names in several European languages; a full name in Hawaiian: "sea"
• Kaito (kah-ee-to, Japanese)
• Kaleo (kah-lay-oh, Hawaiian)
• Kallias (kah-LEE-ahs, [ancient] Greek)--"beauty"
• Kalyan (KAL-yan, Hindi)
• Karsten (KAHR-sten, German)--Low German form of Christian
• Kaspar (KAHS-par, German)--form of Jasper
• Kavi (kah-vee, Hindi)--"wise man"
• Kayin (kah-yin, [Biblical] Hebrew)--usually transliterated as Cain in English
• Kekoa (keh-KOH-ah, Hawaiian)--"brave one"
• Kerman (kehr-man, Basque)--form of Germaine: "friend"
• Kleon (KLEH-on, Greek)--"glory"
• Arkady (ahr-KAH-dee, Russian)
• Elek (EL-ek, Hungarian)
• Mirek (MEE-rek, Polish)
• Noak (NOH-ahk, Swedish)
• Reko (REH-koh, Finnish)--form of Gregory
• Rurik (RUR-ick, Russian)

Girls:

• Kadri (KAD-ree, Estonian)--form of Katherine
• Kahina (KAH-hee-nah, Berber)--from Arabic, "diviner"
• Kaja (KYE-ah, Scandinavia, Polish)--feminine of Kai. Also spelled Kaia or Kaija.
• Kaisa (KYE-sah, Finnish)--another form of Katherine
• Kala (KAH-lah, Hindi)--"art form"
• Kalea (kah-LEY-ah, Hawaiian)--"happiness"
• Kalina (kah-LEE-nah, Bulgarian)
• Kalliope (kal-ee-OH-pey OR kah-LYE-oh-pee, Greek)--"beautiful voice"
• Kallisto (kal-LIS-toh, Greek)--"most beautiful"
• Kalyani (kahl-YAH-nee, Hindi)--feminine of Kalyan
• Kamaria (kah-mah-REE-ah, Swahili)--from Arabic, "moonlight"
• Karola (kah-ROH-lah, German)
• Kasia (KAH-shah, Polish)--yet another form of Katherine
• Katida (kah-TEE-dah, Esperanto)--"kittenish"
• Kavita (kah-veet-ah, Hindi)--"poem"
• Kelda (KEL-dah, English)--"spring" (of water)
• Kerensa (kehr-EN-sah, Cornish)--"love"
• Kleio (KLEY-oh, Greek)--the Muse of historical poetry
• Keturah (ket-OO-rah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"incense"
• Ksenia (KSEN-yah, Polish)
• Akemi (ah-kem-ee, Japanese)--"bright and beautiful"
• Anouk (ah-NOOK, Dutch, French)--form of Anna/Hannah
• Mika (mee-kah, Japanese)

Unisex:

• Kamalani (kah-mah-LAH-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly child"
• Kiran (KEER-an, Hindi)--"ray of light"