Marian Names (Redux)

Waaaaaay back in 2012 I did a post on Marian names, and have since been adding to it one at a time as I came across others. Recently, though, I found even more, which made me wonder just how many I managed to miss the first time. 😅

(I found a lot. In my defense, many are localized and/or rare)

So, instead of updating that older list, I've decided just to publish a new expanded and more detailed version. Enjoy!

If you're unfamiliar with the concept, Marian names are simply names given in honor of the Virgin Mary. As such, they're most common in Catholicism, but are occasionally used in other branches of Christianity as well.

[all are feminine unless otherwise stated]

• Abene (ah-beh-neh, Basque)--"pillar". Basque translation of Pilar. 
• Achiropita (ah-kee-ROH-pee-tah, Italian)--from Greek, "not created by human hands".
     Refers to the Madonna Santissima Achiropita in the Rossano Cathedral, Italy. 
• África (AH-free-kah, Spanish)--"Africa"
     Refers to shrine Our Lady of Africa of Ceuta, Spain.
• Ainhoa (eye-noh-ah, Basque, Spanish)--poss. from Basque, "little place". Spanish variant is Ainoa.
     Refers to town of Ainhoa, France, along the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James). 
• Aintzane (ine-tsah-neh, Basque)--"glory". Another form is Aintza (ine-tsah). Basque translation of Gloria. 
• Aitziber (eye-tsee-behr, Basque, Spanish)--from Basque, meaning unknown
     Refers to the Hermitage of Aitziber, Navarra, Spain.
• Aizpea (eye-speh-ah, Basque, Spanish)--from Basque, "under the rock"
     Refers to the Hermitage of Our Lady of Aizpea, Euskadi, Spain.
• Alazne (ah-lahs-neh, Basque)--"miracle". Basque translation of Milagros. 
• Alegría (ah-leh-GREE-ah, Spanish)--"joy" [much more common as a surname]
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Joy. 
• Almudena (ahl-moo-DEH-nah, Spanish)--from Arabic, "citadel"
     Refers to the Virgen de la Almudena in the Almudena Cathedral, Spain.
• Altagracia (ahl-tah-GRAH-see-ah, Spanish; ahl-tah-grah-SEE-ah, Portuguese)--"high grace"
     Refers to Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, patroness of the Dominican Republic. 
• Amatza (ah-maht-sah, Basque, Spanish)--poss. from Basque ama, "mother".
     Refers to the Hermitage of San Martín de Amatza, Euskadi, Spain.
• Ametza (ah-met-sah, Basque, Spanish)--from Basque, origin unknown [also a type of oak]
     Refers to the dedication Nuestra Señora de Ametza in Euskari, Spain. 
• Amparo (ahm-PAH-roh, Spanish, Portuguese)--"refuge"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Refuge. 
• Ángeles (AHN-jel-es, Spanish)--"angels"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Angels. 
• Angustias (ahn-GOOST-ee-ahs, Spanish)--"anguish"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Anguish. 
• Annunziata (ahn-noon-TSYAH-tah, Italian)--"announced". Masculine form is Annunziato. Respective diminutives, Nunzia (NOON-tsee-ah) and Nunzio (NOON-tsee-oh), are often used independently as well. Spanish form is Anunciación (ah-noon-see-ah-see-OHN).
     Refers to the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 
• Aparecida (ah-pah-reh-SEE-dah, Portuguese)--"appeared"
     Refers to Nossa Senhora da Conceição Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil. 
• Araceli (ah-rah-SEH-lee, Spanish)--from Latin, "altar of the sky"
     Refers to the Nuestra Señora de Araceli in Andalusia, Spain. 
• Arantzazu (ah-rahnt-sah-soo, Basque, Spanish)--from Basque, "thornbush". Variants are Arantxa (ah-rahn-chah, Basque), Arantza (ah-rahnt-sah, Basque, Spanish), and Arancha (ah-RAHN-chah, Spanish).
     Refers to the apparition Virgen de Arantzazu. 
• Asunción (ah-soon-see-OHN, Spanish)--"assumption". Other forms are Assunta (ah-SOON-tah, Italian), Assumpció (ah-soomp-see-OH, Catalan), and Asun (ah-SOON, Spanish).
     Refer to the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. 
• Auxiliadora (owk-seel-ee-ah-DOR-ah, Spanish)--from Latin, "gift of assistance"
     Refers to the title Mary, Help of Christians.
• Azahar (ah-sah-AR, Spanish)--"orange blossom", from Arabic zahrah, "blossom". Another form is Azahara (ah-sah-AR-ah).
     Refers to the dedication Virgen del Azahar in Región de Murcia, Spain. 
• Begoña (beh-GOHN-yah, Spanish)--from Basque, poss. "at the foot [of a mountain]".
     Refers to apparition Nuestra Señora de Begoña. 
• Bonaria (boh-NAH-ree-ah, Sardinian, Italian)--"good-natured" or "fair winds"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Fair Winds. 
• Callyvorry (kah-luh-vorr [rolled 'rr']-uh, [medieval, Anglicized] Manx)--"servant of Mary". Also appears in records as Calyvorra and Calyvorr.
• Candelaria (kan-deh-LAH-ree-ah, Spanish)--"Candlemas". Variants include Cande (KAHN-deh), Candelas (kahn-DEH-las), & Candela (kahn-DEH-lah). Masculine is Candelario.
     Refers to the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Candlemas. 
• Canòlic (cah-NAH-leek, Catalan)--origin unknown
     Refers to the Mare de Déu de Canòlic in Canòlic, Andorra. 
• Caridad (kah-ree-DAHD, Spanish)--"charity"
     Refers to Nuestra Señora de Caridad del Cobre, patroness of Cuba.
• Carmel (KAHR-mel, English; kahr-MEHL, Spanish)--from Hebrew, "garden". Other forms include Carmela (kar-MEH-lah, Spanish, Italian), Carme (KAHR-meh, Catalan, Galician), and Carmella (kar-MEL-lah, English). Masculine is Carmelo (kar-MEH-loh, Spanish, Italian).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Carmel.
• Catena (kah-TEH-nah, Sicilian, Italian)--"chain"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of the Chain.
• Civita (CHEE-vee-tah, Italian)--"city"
     Refers to the Madonna della Civita, in the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Civita, Italy. 
• Concepción (kon-sep-see-OHN, Spanish)--"conception". Other forms include Conchita (cohn-CHEE-tah, Spanish), Concepta (con-SEP-tah, English, Irish), Concetta (cohn-CHET-tah, Italian), and Conceição (cohn-say-SOW, Portuguese).
     Refers to the Immaculate Conception. 
• Consuelo (kohn-SWEH-loh, Spanish)--"consolation". Variants include Consuela (kohn-SWEH-lah), Consolación (kohn-soh-lah-see-OHN), and Chelo (CHE-loh). Italian form is Consolata (con-soh-LAH-tah).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Consolation. 
• Corazón (koh-rah-SOHN, Spanish)--"heart"
     Refers to the title Immaculate Heart of Mary. 
• Coromoto (koh-roh-MOH-toh, Spanish)--prob. of Native American origin, meaning unknown
     Refers to the apparition Nuestra Señora de Coromoto. 
• Covadonga (koh-vah-DOHN-gah, Spanish)--from Latin, "cave of the lady"
     Refers to the shrine Virgen de Covadonga of Asturias, Spain. 
• Deñe (den-yeh, Basque)--"annunciation". Basque translation of Annunciación. 
• Desanges (dez-AWNZH, French)--"of angels". Also spelled Desange. [more common as a surname]
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Angels. 
• Desneiges (deh-NEZH, French)--"of the snows"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of the Snows. 
• Dolores (doh-LOH-rehs, English, Spanish)--from Spanish, "sorrows". Other forms include Lola (LOH-lah, English, Spanish), Dolors (doh-LORZ, Catalan), Dores (DOR-ez, Portuguese), and Addolorata (ah-doh-loh-RAH-tah, Italian).
     Refers to the title Mary of Sorrows. 
• Edurne (eh-door-neh, Basque)--"snow". Masculine is Edur. Basque translation of Nieves. 
• Encarnación (en-kahr-nah-see-OHN, Spanish)--"incarnation"
     Refers to the incarnation of Jesus in Mary's womb.
• Esperanza (es-peh-RAHN-sah, Spanish)--"hope". Frence form is Espérance (es-pay-RAWNs).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Hope. 
• Eunate (eh-oo-nah-teh, Basque, Spanish)--poss. from Basque, "good door".
     Refers to the Church of Saint Mary of Eunate in Navarra, Spain; along the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James). 
• Farners (far-NEHS, Catalan)--prob. from Latin "flour"
     Refers to the Church of Our Lady of Farners, Catalonia, Spain.
• Fátima (FAH-tee-mah, Portuguese, Spanish)--from Arabic, "abstaining"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Fátima and the apparitions at Fátima, Portugal. [the town name itself comes from the Arabic name Fatimah]
• Fuencisla (fwen-SEES-lah, Spanish)--prob. "flowing spring"
     Refers to the Virgen de la Fuencisla in Castilla y León, Spain
• Fuensanta (fwen-SAHN-tah, Spanish)--"blessed spring"
     Refers to the Virgen de la Fuensanta, patroness of Murcia, Spain.
• Gloria (GLOH-ree-ah, Spanish)--"glory". Portuguese spelling is Glória. [obvs. used in many different languages, but not necessarily considered a Marian name]
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Glory. 
• Guadalupe (gwah-dah-LOO-peh, Spanish)--prob. from Latin "wolf" + Arabic "river, valley", or Arabic "hidden river" [unisex]. Variants (originally diminutives) are Lupe (LOO-peh) and Lupita (loo-PEE-tah).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Guadalupe and the apparitions at Guadalupe [now part of Mexico City], Mexico; or
     to the shrine Virgen de Guadalupe of Extremadura, Spain. 
• Henar (eh-NAHR, Spanish)--"hayfield"
     Refers to the Virgen del Henar in Castilla y León, Spain.
• Idoia (ee-doy-ah, Basque, Spanish)--poss. from Basque, "pond, swamp". Spanish variant is Idoya (ee-DOY-ah).
     Refers to the shrine Virgen de Idoya of Navarra, Spain.
• Ihintza (ee-heen-tsah, Basque)--"dew". Basque translation of Rocío. 
• Iker (ee-kehr, Basque)--"visitation" [masculine]. Basque translation of Visitación.
• Incoronata (een-koh-roh-NAH-tah, Italian)--"crowned"
     Refers to the title Holy Mary Crowned.
• Inmaculada (een-mah-koo-LAH-dah, Spanish)--"immaculate". Other forms include Immaculada (ee-mah-koo-LAH-dah, Catalan), Immacolata (ee-mah-koh-LAH-tah, Italian), and Imaculada (ee-mah-koo-LAH-dah, Portuguese).
     Refers to the Immaculate Conception. 
• Itatí (ee-tah-TEE, Spanish)--poss. from Guarani, "white stone"
     Refers to the title / shrine Our Lady of Itatí of Itatí, Argentina. 
• Itziar (eet-see-ahr, Basque, Spanish)--poss. "old stone" or "sea". Spanish variant is Icíar (ee-SEE-ahr).
     Refers to the Nuestra Señora de Itziar in Euskari, Spain. 
• Izarbe (ee-sahr-beh, Basque, Aragonese, Spanish)--prob. from Basque, "under stars"
    Refers to the Hermitage of the Virgin of Izarbe, Aragon, Spain.
• Letteria (let-TEHR-ee-ah, Italian)--"letter"
     Refers to Madonna della Lettera, patroness of Messina
• Liernia (lee-ehr-nee-ah, Basque, Spanish)--origin unknown. Another form is Lierni (lee-ehr-nee).
     Refers to the Hermitage of Our Lady of Liernia, Euskadi, Spain. 
• Lledó (yeh-DOH, Valencian, Catalan)--"hackberry"
     Refers to the Mare de Déu del Lledó in Comunitat Valenciana, Spain
• Loreto (loh-REH-toh, Italian, Spanish)--from Latin, "laurel" [unisex]. Variant is Loreta (loh-REH-tah).
     Refers to Loreto, Italy, home of the shrine and pilgrimage site Basilica della Santa Casa.  
• Lourdes (LOOR-dehs, Spanish; LORDZ, LUR-des, English; LORD, French)--origin unknown, poss. from Arabic, "the rose", or Latin, "sallow"
     Refers to the title and apparition Our Lady of Lourdes, Lourdes, France.
• Lujan (loo-HAHN, Spanish)--origin unknown, poss. from Latin lux, "light"
     Refers to Nuestra Señora de Luján, patroness of Argentina, Paraguay, & Uruguay.
• Luz (LOOS, Spanish)--"light"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Light. 
• Macarena (mah-kah-REH-nah, Spanish)--poss. from Latin, "blessed"
     Refers to the title Virgin of Hope of Macarena. 
• Madonna (mah-DON-nah, English)--from Italian, "my lady"
• Maolmoire (mool-MOY-reh, [archaic] Scottish)--"servant of Mary" [masculine]. Medieval Irish form was Maol Mhuire (mwel WID-eh) [unisex].
• Mar (MAHR, Spanish, Catalan)--"sea"
     Refers to the title Saint Mary of the Sea. 
• Maravillas (mah-rah-VEE-yahs, Spanish)--"wonders"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Wonders.
• Maris (MEHR-is, MAH-ris, English)--from Latin, "of the sea"
     Refers to the title Our Lady, Star of the Sea.
• Maristela (mah-ree-STEH-lah, Spanish, Portuguese)--from Latin Stella Maris "star of the sea".
     Refers to the title Our Lady, Star of the Sea.
• Mercedes (mehr-SEH-dehs, Spanish)--"mercies". Catalan form is Mercè (mur-SAY).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Mercy.
• Meritxell (mur-eet-CHEL, Catalan)--from Latin, "midday"
     Refers to Mare de Déu de Meritxell, patroness of Andorra.
• Milagros (mee-LAH-grohs, Spanish)--"miracles"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Miracles.
• Montserrat (mohn-seh-RAHT, Catalan, Spanish)--from Catalan "saw-mountain". Spanish variant is Monserrate (mohn-seh-RAH-teh).
     Refers to Mare de Déu de Montserrat, patroness of Catalonia. 
• Nagore (nah-goh-reh, Basque)--prob. Basque, meaning unknown
     Refers to the Hermitage of Nagore, Navarra, Spain
• Naiara (nah-yah-rah, Basque, Spanish)--from Arabic, "between rocks". Spanish variant is Nayara.
     Refers to Santa María la Real de Nájera monastery in La Rioja, Spain. 
• Nekane (neh-kah-neh, Basque)--"sorrows". Basque translation of Dolores. 
• Nieves (nee-EHV-ehs, Spanish)--"snows". Other forms include Neus (NEH-oos, Catalan), Neves (NEH-ves, Portuguese) and Nives (NEE-ves, Italian).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of the Snows.
• Núria (NOOR-ee-ah, Catalan)--poss. from Arabic, "light". Spanish form is Nuria (NOOR-ee-ah).
     Refers to the shrine Mare de Déu de Núria of Catalonia, Spain.
• Olatz (oh-lahts, Basque, Spanish)--prob. from Basque "cabin" or "forge"
     Refers to the Hermitage of Our Lady of Olatz in Euskadi, Spain. 
• Olvido (ohl-VEE-doh, Spanish)--"forgetfulness, oblivion"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Forgetfulness, Triumph, and Mercies.
• Osane (oh-sah-neh, Basque)--"remedy". Basque translation of Remedios. 
• Panagiota (pah-nah-YOT-ah, Greek)--"all holy". Masculine is Panagiotis.
     Refers to the epithet Mary, All-Holy. 
• Paz (PAHS, Spanish)--"peace"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Peace. 
• Pigi (pee-yee, Greek)--"spring, fountain". Also transliterated as Piyi.
    Refers to the title Life-Giving Spring. 
• Pilar (pee-LAHR, Spanish)--"pillar".
     Refers to title / apparition Our Lady of the Pillar. 
• Purificación (poor-ee-fee-cah-see-OHN, Spanish)--"purification" [unisex, but usually feminine].  Variants (originally diminutives) include Purita (poo-REE-tah) and Pura (POOR-ah).
     Refers to the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Candlemas. 
• Queralt (keh-RAHL, Catalan)--poss. "high rock"
     Refers to the Virgen de Queralt in the Sanctuary of Queralt, Spain. 
• Regina (reh-JEEN-ah, English, Italian, Spanish; reh-HEE-nah, Spanish; reh-ZHEE-nah, Portuguese)--from Latin, "queen". [again, used in many different languages, but not necessarily considered a Marian name]
     Refers to the title Mary, Queen of Heaven and All the Earth. 
• Regla (REG-lah, Spanish)--"rule"
     Refers to the dedication Virgen de Regla in several places, including Spain, Cuba, and the Phillipines. 
• Remedios (reh-MEH-dee-ohs, Spanish)--"remedies". Catalan form is Remei (reh-MAY).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Remedies. 
• Reyes (REH-yes, Spanish)--"kings" [unisex]
     Refers to the title Our Lady of the Kings. 
• Rocío (roh-SEE-oh, Spanish)--"dew"
     Refers to the Virgen del Rocío in the Hermitage of El Rocío, Spain. 
• Rosario (roh-ZAHR-yoh, Italian; roh-SAH-ree-oh, Spanish)--"rosary" [masculine in Italian].  Variants include Charo (CHAH-roh, Spanish), Rosaria (roh-ZAHR-yah, Italian) and Roser (roh-ZAY, Catalan).
     Refers to the title Our Lady of the Rosary. 
• Saleta (sah-LEH-tah, Galician, Spanish)--poss. from Germanic "room, house"
     Refers to the apparition Notre-Dame de La Salette.
• Socorro (soh-KOH-roh, Spanish)--"help"
     Refers to the title Our Lady of Perpetual Help. 
• Soledad (soh-leh-DAHD, Spanish)--"solitude"
     Refers to the title Mary of Solitude. 
• Sonsoles (sohn-SOH-les, Spanish)--"Saint Zoilo"
     Refers to the dedication Nuestra Señora de Sonsoles in Castilla y León, Spain. 
• Sorne (sohr-neh, Basque)--"conception". Basque translation of Concepción. 
• Sterpeta (stehr-PEH-tah, Italian)--"brushland"
     Refers to the Madonna dello Sterpeto in Barletta, Italy. 
• Tindara (TEEN-dah-rah, Italian)--from ancient Greek Tyndareos. Masculine form is Tindaro (TEEN-dah-roh).
     Refers to the Madonna di Tindari in Messina, Italy. 
• Txori (choh-ree, Basque, Spanish)--from Basque, "bird"
     Refers to the Leyenda del Txori in Navarra, Spain. 
• Uxue (oo-shoo-eh, Basque, Spanish)--from Basque, "dove"
     Refers to the Virgen de Ujué in the Church of Santa María de Ujué, Spain.
• Visitación (vee-see-tah-see-OHN, Spanish)--"visitation"
     Refers to Mary's visit to Elizabeth.

Un Otro Reto Alfabético

Names ending in "oh" are trending pretty nicely right now, mostly for boys, but definitely a bit for girls as well. The boys' names mostly tend to actually end with -o, but for girls they're more mixed--some -o, some -ot, some -ow/owe.
For some crazy reason, I felt like setting myself another alphabet challenge--for both genders.
The rules are simple: one name for each letter, and it can't be a name I've mentioned before on this blog.

Boys:

• Aro (AH-roh, Swedish, Finnish [trilled R in Finnish])--form of Aaron
• Breno (BREH-noo [short 'oo', like "foot"], Portuguese)--from Latinized Gaelic, prob. "prince" or "raven" [making it a form of either Brendan or Bran]
• Cisco (SIS-koh, Spanish)--short form of Francisco
• Darrow (DEHR-oh, DA-row, Scottish [surname])--prob. from darach "oak"
• Ensio (EN-see-oh, Finnish)--"first"
• Franco (FRAHN-koh, Italian)--form of Frank or short form of Francesco, both from the Germanic tribe name 'Franks'. 
• Gaio (GYE-oh, Italian)--from Latin Gaius/Caius, origin uncertain
• Hanno (HAHN-no, German)--short form of Johannes
• Ícaro (EE-kah-roo [short 'oo', like "foot"], Portuguese; EE-kah-oh, Spanish)--form of Icarus
• Jesco / Jesko (YES-koh, German; JES-koh, English)--nickname for Slavic jar/yar- names, "spring [the season]" or "power"
• Kenno (KEN-noh, Danish, Finnish)--nickname for Germanic kun/cun-names, "kin"
• Laszlo (LAZ-loh, English)--from Hungarian László, itself from Slavic Vladislav, "rule-glory"
• Miro (MEE-roh, Croatian, Italian, Finnish, Slovene, Swedish)--short form of Slavic mir- names, "peace"
• Nilo (NEE-loh, Italian, Spanish; NEE-loo [short 'oo', like "foot"], Portuguese)--form of 'Nile' [the river], or short form of Danilo
• Odino (oh-DEE-noh, Italian)--form of Odin
• Pelayo (pel-EYE-oh, Spanish)--from Ancient Greek Pelagius, "sea"
• Quincio (KEEN-see-oh, Spanish) / Quíncio (KEEN-see-oo [short 'oo', like "foot"], Portuguese)--form of Quintius/Quincy
• Renzo (REN-tsoh, Italian; REN-soh, Spanish; REN-zoo [short 'oo', like "foot"], Portuguese)--short form of Lorenzo
• Sidlow (SID-loh, English [surname])--origin uncertain, poss. "south hill" or "wide hill"
• Távio (TAHV-yoo [short 'oo', like "foot"], Portuguese)--short form of Otávio/Octávio
• Usebio (oo-SEH-bee-oh, Aragonese, Spanish)--from Ancient Greek, "good worship" or "well-respected"
• Vico (VEE-koh, Italian)--nickname for Ludovico/Louis
• Wilko / Wilco (VIL-koh, Dutch, German)--diminutive of William and other Wil-names.
• Xanto (KSAHN-toh, Italian)--from Ancient Greek, "yellow" [a masculine form of name-nerd favorite Xanthe]
• Y--gah, I've got nothing I haven't mentioned before (although I really thought it'd be Q or X that got me, so yay!)
• Zaccheo (zak-KEH-oh, Italian)--from Biblical Hebrew Zacchaeus, "pure"

Girls:

• Argyro (ahr-gee-ROH, Greek)--"silver"
• Bio (bee-OH, [ancient] Greek; BEE-oh, Anglicized)--prob. "life" or "force"
• Caro (KEHR-oh, KA-roh, KAH-roh, English; KAH-roh, Dutch, German, Spanish)--nickname for Caroline/Carolina and other Car-names
• Damaro (dah-mah-ROH, [ancient] Greek; dah-MAH-roh, Anglicized)--prob. "taming" or "wife"
• Emmelot (em-meh-LOH, [medieval] French)--diminutive of Emma-names
• Fairlow / Fairlowe (FEHR-loh, FAYR-loh, English [surname])--poss. "pleasant hill" or "fern hill". 
• Gwenno (GWEN-noh, Welsh)--diminutive of Gwen-names
• Haido (HYE-doh, Greek)--prob. "caress" [likely source of the literary name Haidee/Haydée]
• Ivalo (EE-vah-loh, Danish, Greenlandic)--from Greenlandic, "sinew, thread"
• Jurietto (joo-ree-et-toh, Japanese [pop culture])--gairaigo ["Japanization"] of Juliet
• Kallo (kah-LOH, [ancient] Greek; KAL-loh, Anglicized)--prob. "beautiful"
• Laino (lahn-yoh, Basque)--"cloud, mist"
• Margalo (MAR-gah-loh, English)--contraction of Margaret Lorraine
• Nikeso (nik-ay-SOH, [ancient] Greek; nik-EE-soh, Anglicized)--prob. "victory" or "victor"
• Orvo (OR-voh, Finnish)--short form of Orvokki "violet flower" [unisex]
• Phaio (fye-OH, Greek [mythology]) / Phaeo (FEE-oh, Anglicized)--"shining"
• Q--nada. Lost twice over. :/
• Runo (ROO-noh, Finnish)--"poem" [unisex]
• Siro (SEE-roh, Finnish)--"graceful"
• Tayloe / Taylo (TAY-loh, English [surname])--poss. form of Taylor, or from 'teal' [a type of duck]
• Ushio (oo-shee-oh, Japanese)--"tide" [unisex]
• Vireo (VEER-ee-oh, English [word, quite rare as a name])--a type of bird, from Latin "green"
• Wealthow / Wealtheow (WEL-thoh / WEL-theh-oh, [literary] English)--origin uncertain, poss. "foreign servant"
• Xenno (ksen-NOH, [ancient] Greek; ZEN-noh, Anglicized)--prob. "guest, hospitality"
• Ysabeau (ee-zah-BOH, [medieval] French)--form of Isabel/Elizabeth
• Zafiro (sah-FEE-roh, Spanish)--"sapphire"

F-abulous Names

Considering how many F-names seem to be trending (Finn and variants, Flynn, Ford, Fisher, Fletcher, Felicity, Fiona, Freya), I'm surprised there aren't any except Faith in the SSA Top 100--and it's down at #91! After that, it's Finn for boys at #204 and Finley for girls at #209.
F-names were all the rage at the turn of the century (Frank, Florence, Frances/Francis, Fred, Ferdinand, Floyd, Faye, etc), and I think it's time for a comeback. ;)

(this turned into a much longer list than I had expected. How is it that there are so many F-names world-wide, but so few in use in the US?)

Boys:

• Faolán (FWEE-lawn, FWAY-lawn, Irish)--prob. "little wolf"
• Faiz (FAH-eez, Arabic)--"victorious"
• Fanuel (FAHN-oo-el, Scandinavian)--from Hebrew, "face of God"
• Faramund (FAHR-ah-mund, Germanic)--"journey protection". Old Swedish form is Farmund.
• Faris (FEHR-is, Arabic; FAH-rees, Bosnian)--from Arabic, "knight"
• Farman (FAHR-man, Scandinavian)--"traveller". Also spelled Farmann. 
• Faustin (foh-STAHN, French; FOW ['ow' like "now"] -steen, Russian)--from Latin, "lucky". Other forms include Faustyn (FOW-stin, Polish) and Faustino (fow-STEEN-oh, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish). 
• Fen (FEN, Frisian)--nickname for Germanic frid names, "peace" [coincides with an English word for a type of wetland]
• Ferapont (fyehr-ah-PAHNT, Russian)--from ancient Greek, "servant, caregiver"
• Ferris (FEHR-ris, English [surname], Irish [surname])--from French, "ironworker", or a form of Fergus
• Fife (FIFE, Scottish)--from the Scottish region, origin unknown. Also spelled Fyfe.
• Finlo (FIN-loh, Manx)--"fair Lugh" [Irish god]
• Finnegas (FIN-eh-gas, Irish [mythology])--poss. "Finn the Seer". Also written as Finegas or Finneces.
• Finnvid (FIN-vid, [somewhat archaic] Swedish)--"Finn-tree" or "magician-tree"). Other forms include Finnevid (also somewhat archaic Swedish), Finnved (archaic Norwegian), and Finwith (old Danish, old Swedish)
• Fishel (FISH-el, Yiddish)--"little fish" [also sometimes used as a nickname for Ephraim]
• Fivos (FEE-vos, Greek)--modern masculine form of Phoebe, "light"
• Flemming (FLEM-ming, Scandinavian [esp. Danish!])--"from Flanders" [probably ultimately from Old Frisian "of the flowing water"]. Also spelled Fleming. 
• Flint (FLINT, English [surname])
• Fordel (FOR-del, Norwegian)--from Germanic, "advantage"
• Fosco (FOHS-koh, Italian)--prob. from Latin, "dark"
• Fraser (FRAY-zher, FRAY-zer, Scottish, English)--also spelled Frazier
• Fredmund (FRED-moond, Norwegian)--"peace protection"
• Frey (FRAY, Danish, Swedish)--masculine of Freya "lord". Also spelled Frej.
• Fulton (FUL-ton, English [surname])

Girls:

• Fabia (FAH-bee-ah, Latin, Italian)--other forms include Fabiana (fah-bee-AH-nah, Latin, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish), Fabienne (fah-bee-EN, French), and Fabiola (fah-bee-OH-lah, Spanish, Italian).
• Fadime (fah-dee-MAY, Turkish)--form of Fatima
• Faina (fah-EE-nah, Russian)--poss. from ancient Greek Phaenna, "shining"
• Faiza (FYE-zah, Arabic)--"victorious"
• Fanchon (FAN-shawn, French)--nickname for Françoise/Frances
• Fanélie (fah-nay-LEE, French)--form of Françoise/Frances or Stéphanie
• Fara (FAH-rah, Italian, Scandinavian)--nickname for Germanic fara names, "journey"
• Fausta (FOW ['ow' like "now"] -stah, Latin, Italian)--from Latin, "lucky". Other forms include Faustine (foh-STEEN, French), Faustina (fow-STEEN-ah, Latin, Italian), and Faustyna (fow-STIN-ah, Polish). 
• Favonia (fah-VOH-nee-ah, Latin)--"favored"
• Fedea (fed-eh-ah, Basque)--"faith"
• Femke (FEM-keh, Dutch, Frisian)--nickname for Germanic frid names, "peace". [coincides with the Frisian word for "girl"]
• Fenareti (fen-ah-REH-tee, Greek)--"shining virtue". Also transliterated as Fainareti. 
• Fenna (FEN-nah, Dutch, Frisian)--another nickname for Germanic frid names, "peace". Also spelled Fenne. 
• Feray (feh-RYE, Turkish)--poss, "radiance of the moon"
• Ffion (FEE-on, Welsh)--"foxglove"
• Fia (FEE-ah, Scandinavian)--short form of Sofia
• Fiadh (FEE-ah, Irish)--"wild" or "deer"
• Fiadhnait (FYAH-nat, Irish)--"fawn"
• Fiamma (fee-AHM-mah, Italian)--"flame"
• Fiammetta (fee-ahm-MET-tah, Italian)--"little flame"
• Fiorenza (fee-oh-REN-tsah, Italian)--form of Florence. Other forms include Florentia (floh-REN-tee-ah, Latin; floh-REN-shah, English) and Florencia (floh-REN-see-ah, Spanish). 
• Fira (feer-AH, Russian)--nickname for Esfir/Esther
• Flavia (FLAH-vee-ah, Latin, Spanish, Italian)--from Latin, "golden, yellow". Other forms include Flavie (flah-VEE, French), Flavienne (flah-vee-EN, French), and Flaviana (flah-vee-AH-nah, Latin, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese).
• Freydis (FRAY-dis, Norwegian)--"lady goddess". Another form is Frøydis (FROOY [somewhere between English "ay" and "oy"] -dis). 

Unisex:

• Farah (FAH-rah, Arabic)--"joy". Also spelled Farrah. 
• Firdaus (FEER-dohs, Arabic; fur-DOHS, Persian)--"paradise". Also transliterated as Firdos. [definitely unisex, although more common for boys, in Arabic; might be exclusively masculine in Persian]

Same Name?!--Raymond

If you're anything like me, you consider Raymond a "grandpa name" (and I'm not trying to be mean; it is literally my grandpa's name). But, like many Germanic names, it has spread far and wide across Europe, helped by several saints.

Original Germanic form: Raginmund ("RAH-gin-moont")
English form: Raymond (RAY-mund)

Other forms:

• Erramun (ehr-rah-moon)--Basque
• Ramón (rah-MOHN)--Spanish
• Raimo (RYE-moh)--Finnish
• Raimondas (rye-MAWN-das)--Lithuanian
• Raimondo (rye-MOHN-doh)--Italian
• Raimund (RYE-moont)--German. Also spelled Reimund.
• Raimundo (rye-MOON-doh)--Spanish, Portuguese. Also spelled Raymundo.
• Raymond (ray-MAWN)--French
• Raymond (RYE-mond)--Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish
• Réamann (RAY-man)--Irish
• Redmond (RED-mund)--[Anglicized] Irish
• Reima (RAY-mah)--Finnish

Feminine forms:

• Erramona (ehr-rah-moh-nah)--Basque
• Raimonda (rye-MOHN-dah)--Italian
• Raimunde (rye-MOON-deh)--German
• Ramona (rah-MOHN-ah)--English, Italian, Romanian, Spanish)
• Ramóna (raw-MOHN-ah)--Hungarian
• Raymonde (ray-MAWND)--French

X-cellent.

(I know, my puns are getting worse. Sorry.)

Continuing my posts of rare-letter names, it is now time for X. X is the third-least-common starting letter in American names for both boys and girls, after U and Q. Chances are you can name Xavier and Xander for boys, but girls are more difficult--perhaps rare name-nerd favorite Xanthe springs to mind, or Spanish imports Xiomara and Ximena.
X-names may be hard to come by in English, but I bet we can find plenty abroad....
(if you're feeling a bit of deja vu, I did indeed do an X-themed post a few years ago, but this time I'm focusing solely on names starting with X ;) )

Boys:

• Xabier (shah-bee-ehr, Basque, Galician)--form of Xavier. Other forms include Xaver (KSAH-vehr, German).
• Xacobe (shah-KAW-bay, Galician)--form of Jacob
• Xanthus (KSAHN-toos, ZAN-thus, [ancient] Greek)--"yellow, blond". Other forms include Xanthias (ksahn-TEE-ahs, ZAN-thee-as).
• Xanti (shahn-tee, Basque)--form of Santiago
• Xenios (KSEN-ee-os, ZEN-ee-os, [ancient] Greek)--"hospitality".
• Xenophon (ZEN-ah-fon, ksen-ah-FOHN, [ancient] Greek)--"foreign voice"
• Xesús (shay-SOOS, Galician)--form of Jesus/Joshua. Other forms include Xosué (shaw-soo-AY).
• Xherdan (JEHR-dahn, Albanian)--poss. "necklace"
• Xhevahir (jev-ah-HEER, Albanian)--from Turkish, "jewel"
• Xhevdet (JEV-det, Albanian)--poss. from Arabic [via Turkish], "excellence"
• Xian (SHEE-ahn, Galician)--form of Julian
• Xicu (SHEE-koo, Asturian)--poss. a form of Francis/Francisco
• Ximeno (hee-MAY-noh, Spanish)--poss. a form of Simon
• Ximo (SHEE-moh, Catalan)--short form of Joaquín/Joaquim
• Ximun (shee-moon, Basque)--form of Simon
• Xoán (shoh-AHN, Galician)--form of John. Other forms include Xuan (SHOO-ahn, Asturian).
• Xulio (SHOO-lee-oh, Galician)--form of Julio/Julius
• Xunio (SHOO-nee-oh, Galician)--form of Junius
• Xurxo (SHOOR-shoh, Galician)--form of George
• Xustino (shoos-TEE-noh, Galician)--form of Justin

Girls:

• Xabierra (shah-bee-ehr-rah, Basque)--feminine of Xabier/Xavier. Other forms include Xaveria (ksah-VEHR-ee-ah, German), Xaverine (ksah-ver-REE-neh, German; zah-veh-REEN, French), Xaviera (zay-vee-EHR-ah, English; ksah-vee-EHR-ah, Dutch), and Xavière (zahv-YEHR, French), 
• Xana (SHAH-nah, Portuguese)--short form of Alexandra
• Xandra (KSAHN-drah, Dutch; SHAHN-drah, Galician; ZAN-drah, English)--short form of Alexandra
• Xanthe (KSAHN-tay, ZAN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"yellow, blond". Other forms include Xanthis (KSAHN-tis, ZAN-this) and Xantho (KSAHN-toh, ZAN-thoh).
• Xanthippe (ksahn-TEE-pay, zan-THIP-ee, [ancient] Greek)--"yellow horse". Other forms include Xanthippi (ksahn-TIP-pee, Greek), and Xantippa (zan-TIP-pah, Latin).
• Xelha (SHEL-hah, Mayan)--"spring of water". Also spelled Xel-Ha.
• Xenia (ksen-EE-ah, Greek)--"hospitality". Other forms include Xene (KSEN-ee, Greek) and Xenie (ksen-EE-eh, Czech). 
• Xènia (SHEN-yah, Catalan)--short form of Eugenia. Portuguese form is Xenia (shen-EE-ah).
• Xenoveva (shen-aw-VEH-vah, Asturian, Galician)--form of Genevieve
• Xesca (SHES-kah, Catalan)--form of Francesca
• Xheneta (jen-EH-tah, Albanian)--poss. "paradise"
• Xhevahire (jev-ah-HEER-eh, Albanian)--from Turkish, "jewel"
• Xia (shee-AH, Mandarin)--"daybreak" or "summer" [also a surname]
• Xiana (shee-AH-nah, Galician)--feminine of Xian/Julian
• Ximena (hee-MAY-nah, Spanish)--feminine of Ximeno
• Xiomara (see-oh-MAHR-ah, Spanish)--poss. from Germanic, "famous battle"
• Xoana (shoh-AH-nah, Galician)--form of Joan/Jane
• Xochitl (SHOH-chee-tl, Nahuatl)--"flower"
• Xulia (SHOO-lee-ah, Asturian, Galician)--form of Julia
• Xunia (SHOO-nee-ah, Galician)--form of Junia

Unisex:

• Xiu (shee-oo, Mandarin)--"beautiful" [usually fem.], or "rest" or "build" [both masc.]
• Xuan (soo-un, Vietnamese)--"spring"
• Xue (shoo-eh, Mandarin)--"snow" or "learning"
• Xun (shoon, Mandarin)--"fast, sudden"

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Ben

Ben! How have I forgotten good, dependable Ben for so long? Benjamin is the usual choice, of course, and just as in style as ever. Bentley & Bennett are modern up-and-comers, and while I wouldn't be surprised to see Benedict get a bit more usage, it's still likely to be a bit too Arnold, Cumberbatch, and/or breakfast-y for many.
So what else.....?

• Balendin (bah-len-deen, Basque)--form of Valentine
• Bastian (BAST-yen, English)
• Benaiah (ben-EYE-ah, ben-AY-ah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"God has built"
• Benedetto (beh-neh-DET-toh, Italian)--form of Benedict. Other forms include Benas (Lithuanian), Benedek (Hungarian), Benedito (Portuguese), Benito (Spanish, Italian), & Benoit (French)
• Bengeir (BEN-gire, Old Norse)
• Benhail (ben-HAY-il, ben-HYE-il, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"son of might"
• Benigno (beh-NEEG-no, Spanish, Portuguese; beh-NEEN-yoh, Italian)--from Latin, "kind"
• Beñat (ben-yaht, Basque)--form of Bernard
• Benno (BEN-noh, German)--from Germanic, "bear"
• Bentein (BEN-tine, Norwegian)
• Ebenezer (eh-ben-EE-zer, [Biblical] Hebrew)
• Esben (ES-ben, Danish, Norwegian)--from Old Norse, "god-bear"
• Iben (EE-ben, Norwegian)--short form of Ibenhard/Ebenhard
• Kolben (KOL-ben, [archaic] Swedish)--another form is Kulben (archaic Danish) [coincides with the German word for 'piston']
• Preben (PRAY-ben, Danish)--from Slavic, "first battle"
• Reuben (ROO-ben, [Biblical] Hebrew)
• Torben (TOR-ben, Danish)

Vowel-Names for Boys

It occurred to me the other day that I do a lot of 'names by construction' posts for girls, but not really many for boys. So then I had to think of what I could do--besides the overplayed -aidens, and surname-y -sons & -tons, boys' names don't really have a lot of distinct patterns.
However, while vowel-y names for girls are in abundance, there aren't a lot for boys....

• Abijah (ah-BYE-jah, [Biblical] Hebrew)
• Adamo (ah-DAH-moh, Italian)--form of Adam. Other forms include Adão (ah-DOW, Portuguese) and Akamu (ah-kah-moo, Hawaiian)
• Adino (ah-dee-noh, [Biblical] Hebrew)
• Adlai (AD-lay, AD-lye, [Biblical] Hebrew)
• Aimo (EYE-moh, Finnish)--"good, real"
• Aldo (AHL-doh, English, Italian, Swedish)
• Alejo (ah-LEH-hoh, Spanish)--form of Alexis. Other forms include Aleksey (Russian), Aleksi (Finnish), & Alessio (Italian)
• Arlo (AR-loh, English)
• Asa (AY-sah, [Biblical] Hebrew)
• Elio (EL-yoh, Italian)--from Greek, "sun"
• Eliseo (eh-lee-ZEH-oh, Italian; eh-lee-SEH-oh, Spanish)
• Eloy (eh-LOY, Spanish)--from Latin, "chosen". French form is Éloi (AYL-wah). 
• Ezio (ETS-yoh, Italian)--from Latin, "eagle"
• Iago (ee-AH-goh, English, Portuguese; YAH-goh, Welsh)--form of Jacob. Spanish form is Yago. 
• Ibai (ee-bye, Basque)--"river"
• Ingo (EEN-goh, German)
• Ithai (ith-EYE, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"with me". Also transliterated as Ittai or Itai.
• Ivailo (ee-VYE-loh, Bulgarian)--prob. "wolf". Also transliterated as Ivaylo.
• Obadiah (oh-bah-DYE-ah, [Biblical] Hebrew)
• Obi (OH-bee, Igbo)--"heart"
• Omri (AHM-ree, [Biblical] Hebrew)
• Orsino (or-SEE-noh, Italian)--from Latin "bear". Another form is Orso.  
• Otto (AH-toh, English, Danish, German, OH-toh, Swedish)--from Germanic, "wealth". Other forms include Ottone (Italian) & Udo (German). 
• Yermolai (YEHR-moh-lye, Russian)--also transliterated as Ermolai.

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Sunny

Okay, yet again, not really a usual nickname, but a nickname-y full name. Happy and off-beat, it's not surprising that Sunny (as well as Sunshine) has been used as a girls' name occasionally, especially during the 70s. As cheery as it is, though, it suffers from two major problems--it's a nature-name, which tend to be love-or-hate; and it sounds like a diminutive.

• Allison (AL-ih-son, English)
• Aysun (eye-SOON, Turkish)--"beautiful as the moon"
• Josune (yoh-soo-neh, Basque)--feminine of Josu/Jesus
• Sidony (sih-DOH-nee, English)--French form is Sidonie (see-doh-NEE).
• Sonali (son-AH-lee, Hindi)--"golden"
• Sonata (soh-NAH-tah, English)
• Sonia (SOHN-yah, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish)--form of Sophia. Also spelled Sonja or Sonya.
• Sonnet (SAHN-net, English)--from Italian, "little poem"
• Sonora (soh-NOHR-ah, English)
• Sophronia (soh-FROHN-yah, [Ancient] Greek)--"sensible"
• Sunaya (soon-AH-yah, Hindi)--"just"
• Sunčana (SOON-chah-nah, Croatian)--"sunny". Another form is Sunčica (SOON-cheets-ah)
• Sunilda (soon-EEL-dah, Swedish)--form of Swanhilda.
• Sunita (soon-EE-tah, Hindi)--"polite"
• Sunitha (soon-EET-hah, Hindi)--"righteous"
• Sunniva (SOON-ee-vah, Scandinavian)
• Susanna (soo-ZAN-nah, English; soo-SAH-nah, Scandinavian, Italian)--from Hebrew, "lily, rose". Variants include Susan & Shoshana.

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Ari

A Top 500 boy name on the rise, Ari has begun to gain momentum as a girls' nickname--nothing new in the naming world, of course--thanks to the doubly-Top 100 Ariana/Arianna, and wow-it's-rising-fast!-Aria. Ari on its own also had a respectable rise on the girls' charts, now sitting a bit below the Top 1000 at 1326. Although it is a full name in its own right, wanting a full name for Ari is understandable: while it's masculine in most cultures, it's easily mistaken for a girl's name in English.

Boys:

• Aram (AH-rahm, Armenian)--"excellence"
• Aravind (AHR-ah-vind, Hindi)--"lotus"
• Archibald (AHR-chih-bahld, English, Scottish)
• Ardal (AHR-dahl, Irish)--"high valor". Anglicized from Ardghal. 
• Arduino (ahrd-WEE-noh, Italian)
• Argus (AHR-goos, [ancient] Greek)--"shining"
• Arkadiy (ahr-KAH-dee, Russian)--Also spelled Arkady or Arkadi. 
• Arnor (AHR-nohr, Scandinavian)
• Arrigo (ahr-REE-goh, Italiah)--from of Harry
• Arthur (AHR-thur, English)--other forms include Artair (Scottish), Arturo (Spanish, Portuguese), Artturi (Finnish), & Artūrus (Lithuanian)

Girls:

• Araceli (ah-rah-SEH-lee, Spanish)
• Araminta (ah-rah-MIN-tah, English)
• Aranka (AW-rahn-kah, Hungarian)--"gold"
• Arantxa (ah-rahnt-shah, Basque)
• Arendse (ah-REND-seh, Danish)--feminine of Arendt/Arnold
• Arezoo (ah-reh-ZOO, Persian)--also spelled Arezu or Arezou.
• Argiñe (ahr-gee-nyeh, Basque)--"light"
• Ariadne (ah-ree-AHD-nee, [ancient] Greek)--"most holy". Other forms include Ariadna (Spanish), Ariane (French), & Arianna (Italian)
• Arilda (ah-RIL-dah, Scandinavian)--feminine of Arild/Harold. 
• Arlette (ahr-LET, French)
• Armida (ahr-MEE-dah, Italian, Spanish)
• Arneke (AHR-neh-keh, Dutch, German)--from Germanic, "eagle". Also spelled Arnika or Arnike. 
• Arundhati (ah-ROOND-hah-tee, Hindi)
• Aruzhan (ah-roo-ZHAHN, Kazakh)--"beautiful soul"

Elementary

I've done quite a few nature-name posts, but I realized I'd left out a lot of names! Captain Planet would be ashamed.

Earth:

• Avani (ah-vah-NEE)--Hindi, feminine
• Bhumi (bhoo-mee)--Hindi, feminine
• Daichi (dah-ee-chee)--Japanese, masculine; "great earth/land" [other meanings possible dep. on characters]
• Demeter (deh-MEE-ter, deh-MEH-tehr)--Ancient Greek, feminine; "earth mother" 
• Gaia (GAH-yah)--Greek, feminine
• Ila (EE-lah)--Hindi, feminine
• Kun (KOON)--Chinese, usually masculine
• Terra (TEHR-rah)--English [from Latin], feminine

Wind:

• Anemone (ah-NEM-ah-nee)--English [from Greek], feminine
• Anil (an-NEEL), masculine; Anila (ah-NEE-lah), feminine--Hindi
• Era (EH-rah)--Albanian, feminine
• Ghobad (ghoh-BAHD)--Persian, masculine
• Haizea (eye-seh-ah)--Basque, feminine
• Ilma (EEL-mah)--Finnish, feminine; "air"
• Meltem (mel-TEM)--Turkish, feminine; "breeze"
• Nasim (nah-SEEM)--Arabic, feminine; "breeze"
• Tuula (TOO-lah)--Finnish, feminine. Other forms include Tuuli, Tuulia, & Tuulikki (TOO-lik-kee).
• Vayu (VAH-yoo)--Hindi, masculine
• Zephyr (ZEF-er)--Greek, masculine; "west wind". French feminine form is Zéphyrine.

Fire:

• Agni (AHG-nee)--Hindi, masculine
• Aodhán (AY-ahn, AY-dahn), masculine; Aodnait (AY-nat), feminine--Irish, "little fire". Anglicized as Aidan & Enat, respectively.
• Azar (ah-ZAR)--Persian, feminine
• Cináed (KIN-ee, KIN-ay, KIN-ahd)--Scottish, masculine; "born of fire". Anglicized as Kenneth.
• Fiammetta (fee-ah-MEH-tah)--Italian, feminine; "little fire"
• Jehoash (jeh-HOH-ash)--English [from Hebrew], masculine; "fire of God". Another form is Joash (JOH-ash).
• Nina (NEE-nah)--Quechua, feminine
• Plamen (PLAH-men)--Slavic, masculine
• Shula (SHOO-lah)--Arabic, feminine
• Şule (shoo-LEH)--Turkish, feminine
• Ugnė (OOG-nee)--Lithuanian, feminine

Water:

• Aysu (eye-SOO)--Turkish, feminine; "moon & water"
• Damla (dahm-LAH)--Turkish, feminine; "water droplet"
• Douglas (DUG-las)--Scottish, masculine; "dark water"
• Kelda (KEL-dah)--English [from Old Norse], feminine, "spring, fountain"
• Maayan (mah-ah-yahn)--Hebrew, feminine; "spring, fountain"
• Mayim (mah-yeem)--Hebrew, feminine. Another form is Maya.
• Mortimer (MOR-tim-er)--English [from Old French], masculine; "still water"
• Neith (NEETH, NAYTH)--English [from ancient Egyptian], feminine
• Nerio (NEHR-yoh)--Italian [from Greek], masculine
• Shui (shoo-ee)--Chinese, usually masculine
• Su (SOO)--Turkish, feminine
• Tirto (TEER-toh)--Javanese, masculine; "holy water"

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"

Modern but Not (girls)

Girls' name-trends are more nickname-driven apparently, and shorten to Addy, Maddy, Emma, Bella, Ella, or Lily (mostly skipping these, as they're covered in other posts). Girls' names are also more likely to start with A, K, Z; contain H, K, X, Y, Z, ; and end in 'lee' [and to a lesser extent, 'ee' in general], 'aya', or 'ia'.

• Abigaia (ah-bee-GYE-ah, Greek [Biblical])--form of Abigail
• Acacia (ah-KAY-shah, English)
• Adannaya (ah-dah-NAH-yah, Igbo)--"her father's daughter"
• Alaia (ah-lah-yah, Basque)--"happy"
• Antheia (an-THAY-ah, Greek)--original form of Anthea
• Araceli (ah-rah-SEH-lee, Spanish)
• Arlie (AR-lee, English)
• Atalia (ah-TAHL-yah, Hebrew)
• Aviya (ah-vee-YAH, Hebrew)
• Aya (ah-yah, Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic)
• Caelia (SAY-lee-ah, English; CHAY-lee-ah or KYE-lee-ah, Latin)--"heaven"
• Clelia (CLEHL-yah, Italian)
• Deòiridh (JOR-ee, Scottish)
• Eilidh (AY-lee, Scottish)--form of Helen or Eleanor
• Evelia (eh-VEH-lee-ah, Spanish)
• Freya (FRAY-ah, English)--from Norse, "lady"
• Gioia (JOY-ah, Italian)
• Idriya (ee-dree-ah, Hebrew)
• Iole (ee-OH-lee, EYE-ah-lee, Greek)--"violet"
• Junia (JOO-nee-ah, Latin)
• Kamaria (kah-mah-REE-ah, Swahili)--from Arabic, "moon"
• Keziah (keh-ZYE-ah, English)--from Hebrew "cassia spice"
• Kyveli (kih-VEL-ee, Greek)
• Laelia (LAY-lee-ah, English; LYE-lee-ah, Latin)
• Lígia (LEE-zhee-ah, Portuguese)
• Magali (mah-gah-LEE, French)--form of Magdalene/Madeline. Also spelled Magalie.
• Mahalia (mah-HAY-lee-ah, English)--from Hebrew, "lyre"
• Marsaili (MAR-sah-lee, Scottish)
• Melia (MEL-ee-ah, Greek)--"honey"
• Micaiah (mee-kah-yah, Hebrew)
• Minali (MEE-nah-lee, Hindi)
• Mireia (mee-RAY-ah, Spanish)--also spelled Mireya.
• Nephele (NEF-el-ee, Greek)
• Noya (noh-yah, Hebrew)--"beauty"
• Priya (PREE-ah, Hindi)--"beloved"
• Rheia (RAY-ah, Greek)--original form of Rhea.
• Riya (REE-ah, Hindi)--"singer"
• Suraya (soo-RAH-yah, Arabic)
• Tacey (TAY-see, English)--from Latin, "quiet"
• Taisiya (tah-EE-see-ah, Russian)
• Thulile (too-lee-leh, Zulu)--"quiet"
• Velia (VEHL-yah, Italian)

Modern But Not (boys)

I've dedicated quite a few posts to names that stand out. But what if you want a name that's modern, but not too weird or derivative--that is, blends in?
Modern American names tend to follow certain phonetic trends--the biggest trend for boys is the Aidens (I'll be bypassing this one; pretty much any iteration is probably already in use!). In general, modern boys' names tend to start with 'Br', J, K, T, Z; contain A, J, K, Q, X, Z; and end in 'en', 'on', or 'er'.

• Aeson (EE-son, Greek)
• Ariston (AH-ris-ton, Greek)--"the best"
• Andon (AHN-don, Bulgarian)--form of Anthony
• Anson (AN-son, English)
• Azhar (AZ-har, Arabic)--"shining"
• Berker (BEHR-kehr, Turkish)
• Bhaskar (BHAS-kahr, Hindi)--"shining"
• Brynjar (BRIN-yar, Scandinavian)--"armoured warrior"
• Brynmor (BRIN-mohr, Welsh)
• Cebrian (seb-ree-AHN, Spanish)
• Dathan (DAY-tahn, DAH-than, English)--from Hebrew, "fountain"
• Davorin (DAH-vor-in, Croatian)
• Dražen (DRAH-zen, Croatian)--"precious"
• Demir (deh-MEER, Turkish)--"iron"
• Eifion (AYV-yon, EYE-vyon, Welsh)
• Elystan (eh-LIS-tan, Welsh)
• Evren (ev-REHN, Turkish)--"the universe"
• Fintan (FIN-tan, Irish)--"white fire"
• Imran (im-RAHN, Arabic)
• Karsten (KAR-sten, German)--form of Christian
• Kayetan (KYE-eh-tahn, German)
• Kenyon (KEN-yon, English)
• Kynaston (KIN-ah-ston, English)
• Macsen (MAK-sen, Welsh)--form of Maximus
• Nayden (NYE-den, Bulgarian)
• Nevan (NEV-an, Irish)--anglicized from Naomhán, "little saint"
• Rayner (RAY-ner, English)
• Saxon ( SAKS-on, English)
• Torsten (TOR-sten, German, Scandinavian)
• Tychon (TYE-kon, Greek)
• Zaman (zah-MAN, Arabic)--"time, era"
• Zorion (soh-ree-ohn, Basque)--"happiness"

U-La-La!

Well, I've done I-names and O-names, so now it time for me to continue the trend of underused letters, this time with U.
Only 4 names starting with U appear in the US top 1000--Urijah, Uriel, Uriah, & Ulises.
Ursula charted in the past, and Unique more recently, but currently there are zero U-names in the girls' Top 1000!


Boys:

• Ualan (ooAH-lan, WAH-lan, Scottish)--form of Valentine
• Uberto (oo-BEHR-toh, Italian)--form of Hubert
• Ùisdean (OOSH-jun, Scottish)
• Ulderico (ool-deh-REE-koh, Italian)
• Ulfilas (ool-FEE-las, Gothic/Germanic)--"little wolf"
• Uljas (OOL-yahs, Finnish)--"noble, valiant"
• Ulric (OOL-rik, English)--from Germanic, "rich heritage"
• Ultan (UL-tan, Irish)
• Ulvi (ool-VEE, Turkish)--"exalted"
• Umar (OO-mar, Arabic)
• Ümit (EU-meet, Turkish)--"hope"
• Unathi (oo-NAH-tee, Xhosa)--"God is with us"
• Untamo (oon-TAH-moh, Finnish)
• Uolevi (OO-oh-leh-vee, Finnish)--form of Olaf/Oliver
• Urard (UR-ard, Irish)--"tall"
• Urban (OOR-bahn, German, Scandinavian, Slovene)--from Latin, "city dweller"
• Usko (OOS-koh, Finnish)--"faith"
• Usman (OOS-mahn, Arabic)
• Uspaig (OOS-pek, Scottish)--from Old Norse, "wild"
• Uxío (oo-SHEE-ah, Galician)--form of Eugene
• Uzziel (oo-zee-EL, UZ-ee-el, English)--from Hebrew, "God is my power"

Girls:

• Uaine (oo-AHN-yeh, WAHN-yeh, Irish)--"greenish"
• Udane (oo-dah-neh, Basque)--"summer"
• Uliana (ool-YAH-nah, Russian)--form of Juliana
• Ülkü (eul-KEU, Turkish)--"ideal"
• Ulrika (ool-REE-kah, Scandinavian, German)--feminine of Ulric
• Ulviye (ool-VEE-yeh, Turkish)--feminine of Ulvi
• Umeko (oo-meh-koh, Japanese)
• Una (OON-ah, Irish)
• Undine (oon-DEE-neh, UN-deen, English & German)--from Latin, "wave"
• Unelma (OON-el-mah, Finnish)--"dream"
• Ursa (UR-sah, OOR-sah, Latin)--"bear"
• Usha (OO-shah, Hindi)--"dawn"
• Usoa (oo-soh-ah, Basque)--"dove". Another form is Uxue (oo-shoo-eh). 
• Ustinya (oos-TEEN-yah, Russian)--form of Justine
• Uxía (oo-SHEE-ah, Galician)--form of Eugenia

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

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Ed/Eddie

I admit, I love most of the Ed-names. There's just something about them. Edward is easily the most common,  but there are lots of ways to get to Eddie and the more archaic nicknames of Ned & Ted.

• Edelmiro (eh-del-MEER-oh, Spanish)--from Germanic, "noble and famous"
• Eder (eh-dehr, Basque)--"handsome"
• Edgar (ED-gar, English)--from Germanic, "blessed spear". Other forms include Edgard (French) and Edgardo (Spanish)
• Edis (EH-dees, Norwegian)--form of Giles/Aegidius. Older form is Edias. 
• Edison (ED-ih-son, English)
• Ediz (eh-DEEZ, Turkish)--"high"
• Edlef (ED-lef, Germanic)--"blessed wolf"
• Edmar (ED-mar, Scandinavian)--from Germanic, "wealthy and famous"
• Edmund (ED-mund, English)--from Germanic, "blessed protector". Other forms include Edmond (French), Edmao (Limburgish), Edmondo (Italian), & Edmundo (Portuguese & Spanish)
• Ednar (ED-nar, Norwegian)--masculine of Edna
• Edric (ED-rik, English)--from Germanic, "blessed ruler"
• Edsart (ED-sart, Frisian)--from Germanic, "brave sword"
• Edur (eh-door, Basque)--"snow"
• Edwin (ED-win, English)--from Germanic, "blessed friend"

Same Name?!--Henry

Oh, Henry; handsome Henry. His usage may have waned for a few decades, but he's never fallen out of the top 150. With dozens of namesakes, including several royals from a few different nations, it's no surprise that he's spread throughout the Western world, and is always in style.

Original Germanic form: Heimirich (HYE-mih-rikh)
Latinized form: Henricus (HEN-rih-kus)
English form: Henry (HEN-ree)

Other forms:

• Anraí (AHN-ree)--Irish
• Arrigo (ahr-REE-goh)--Italian
• Eanrig (EN-rik)--Scottish
• Endika (en-dee-kah)--Basque
• Enric (en-REEK)--Catalan
• Enrico (en-REE-koh)--Italian
• Enrique (en-REE-kay)--Spanish
• Harris (HEHR-ris)--English (via Harry)
• Harry (HEHR-ree)--Medieval English
• Heikki (HAYK-kee)--Finnish
• Heinrich (HINE-rikh)--German
• Hendrik (HEN-drik)--Dutch
• Henri (awn-REE)--French

Now to make things a bit tricker, there's the Germanic name Emmerich. It could be derived from Heimirich/Henry, but it could also come from Ermenrich or Amalrich. Most likely, the three similar names all got muddled into one, much like Guy/Vitus in ancient times, or Amelia/Emilia in modern English.

So, because the derivation is less clear, I've listed Emmerich's variants separately. Some linguists hold them equivalent to Henry; some don't.  

• Amaury (ah-moh-REE)--French
• Américo (ah-MEH-ree-koh)--Spanish, Portuguese
• Amerigo (ah-MEHR-ih-goh)--Italian
• Émeric (aym-REEK)--French
• Emery (EM-er-ee)--English
• Imre (EEM-reh)--Hungarian
• Imrich (IM-rikh)--Slovak

Marian Names

A new, expanded version of this post can now be found here!
Thanks for visiting my blog! :D





I did a quick Google search, and was surprised to not find much by the way of Marian name lists. Marian names are used to honor the Virgin Mary, in cultures where actual saint names are too holy to use. They are thus most common in Roman Catholic areas, particularly Spanish, but exist in other regions, too. Some are concepts; many are place-names; others are seemingly random nouns; but all have some connection to the Virgin Mary.
And, like many lists, they're nearly all feminine.

• Abene (ah-beh-neh, Basque)--"pillar"
• África (AH-free-kah, Spanish)--"Africa"
• Ainhoa (eye-noh-ah, Basque)--poss. "little place"
• Alazne (ah-lahs-neh, Basque)--"miracle"
• Almudena (ahl-moo-DEH-nah, Spanish)--from Arabic, "citadel"
• Angustias (ahn-GOOST-ee-ahs, Spanish)--"anguish"
• Annunziata (ahn-noon-TSYAH-tah, Italian)--"annunciation"
• Araceli (ah-rah-SEH-lee, Spanish)--from Latin, "altar of the sky"
• Arantzazu (ah-rahnt-sah-soo, Basque)--"thornbush". Variant is Arantxa (ah-rahnt-shah).
• Asunción (ah-soon-see-OHN, Spanish)--"assumption". Other forms are Assunta (ah-SOON-tah, Italian), Assumpció (ah-soomp-see-OH, Catalan), Assumpta (ah-SUMP-tah, Latin), and Asun (ah-SOON, Spanish).
• Candelaria (kan-deh-LAH-ree-ah, Spanish)--"Candlemas". Variants include Cande (KAHN-deh), Candelas (kahn-DEH-las), & Candela (kahn-DEH-lah). Masculine is Candelario. 
• Carmel (KAHR-mel, English; kahr-MEHL, Spanish)--from Hebrew, "garden". Catalan form is Carme (KAHR-meh). 
• Conceptión (kon-sep-see-OHN, Spanish)--"conception"
• Consolata (kohn-soh-LAH-tah, Italian)--"consolation"
• Consuelo (kohn-SWEH-loh, Spanish)--"consolation". Variants are Consuela and Chelo (CHE-loh). 
• Dolores (doh-LOH-rehs, English, Spanish)--"sorrows". Variants include Lola (LOH-lah, English, Spanish), Dolors (doh-LORZ, Catalan), and Dores (DOR-ez, Portuguese). 
• Edurne (eh-door-neh, Basque)--"snow". Masculine is Edur.
• Encarnación (en-kahr-nah-see-OHN, Spanish)--"incarnation"
• Fátima (FAH-tee-mah, Portuguese, Spanish)--from Arabic, "abstaining"
• Guadalupe (gwah-dah-LOO-peh, Spanish)--from Arabic, "wolf river" [unisex]. Variants are Lupe and Lupita. 
• Idoya (ee-DOY-ah, Spanish)--from Basque, "pond"
• Ihinzta (ee-heen-sah, Basque)--"dew"
• Iker (ee-kehr, Basque)--"visitation" [masculine]
• Inmaculada (een-mah-koo-LAH-dah, Spanish)--"immaculate"
• Itziar (eet-see-ahr, Basque, Spanish)--poss. "old stone". Variant is Icíar (ee-SEE-ahr).
• Loreto (loh-REH-toh, Italian)--from Latin, "laurel" [unisex]. Variant is Loreta (loh-REH-tah). 
• Lourdes (LOOR-dehs, Spanish)--Town in France, origin unknown.
• Luz (LOOS, Spanish)--"light"
• Macarena (mah-kah-REH-nah, Spanish)--poss. from Latin, "blessed"
• Madonna (mah-DON-nah, English)--from Italian, "my lady"
• Maolmoire (mool-MOY-reh, Scottish)--"servant of Mary" [masculine]
• Maris (MEHR-is, MAH-ris, English)--from Latin, "of the sea"
• Maristela (mah-ree-STEH-lah, Spanish, Portuguese)--from Latin Stella Maris "star of the sea".
• Mercedes (mehr-SEH-dehs, Spanish)--"mercies". Catalan form is Mercè (mehr-SAY). 
• Meritxell (mur-eet-CHEL, Catalan)--from Latin, "midday"
• Milagros (mee-LAH-grohs, Spanish)--"miracles"
• Nagore (nah-goh-reh, Basque)--Town in Spain, origin unknown.
• Naiara (nah-yah-rah, Basque)--from Arabic, "between rocks". Also spelled Nayara.
• Nekane (neh-kah-neh, Basque)--"sorrows"
• Nieves (nee-EHV-ehs, Spanish)--"snows". Other forms include Neus (NEH-oos, Catalan), Neves (NEH-ves, Portuguese) and Nives (NEE-ves, Italian)
• Núria (NOOR-ee-ah, Catalan)--poss. from Arabic, "light"
• Osane (oh-sah-neh, Basque)--"remedy"
• Panagiota (pah-nah-YOT-ah, Greek)--"all holy". Masculine is Panagiotis.
• Paz (PAHS, Spanish)--"peace"
• Pilar (pee-LAHR, Spanish)--"pillar"
• Queralt (keh-RAHL, Catalan)--poss. "high rock"
• Remedios (reh-MEH-dee-ohs, Spanish)--"remedies"
• Remei (reh-MAY, Catalan)--"remedy"
• Reyes (REH-yes, Spanish)--"kings" [unisex]
• Rocío (roh-SEE-oh, Spanish)--"dew"
• Rosaria (roh-ZAHR-yah, Italian)
• Rosario (roh-ZAHR-yoh, Italian; roh-SAH-ree-oh, Spanish)--"rosary" [masculine in Italian]. Variants include Charo (CHAH-roh, Spanish), Rosaria (roh-ZAHR-yah, Italian) and Roser (roh-ZAY, Catalan). 
• Socorro (soh-KOH-roh, Spanish)--"help"
• Soledad (soh-leh-DAHD, Spanish)--"solitude"
• Sorne (sohr-neh, Basque)--"conception"
• Uxue (oo-shoo-eh, Basque)--"dove"
• Visitación (vee-see-tah-see-OHN, Spanish)--"visitation"

O My...

(bonus points if you read the title in George Takei's voice)

Like I, O is a relatively rare first letter in American names. Olivia may the the #3 girls name in the U.S., but you have to go down the list quite a ways to find the next O-name--Olive, at #423! The boys have a few more options, with Owen and Oliver in the top 100, and Oscar and Omar in the top 200, but still, that's not much.
So if you want a name that stands out, forget J, K, & Z! Use an O name. :)

Boys:

• Obadiah (oh-bah-DYE-ah, Hebrew)--"servant of God"
• Oberon (OH-ber-on, English)--form of Aubrey
• Obrad (OH-brahd, Serbian)--"brings joy"
• Octavio (ohk-TAHV-yoh, Spanish; ahk-TAY-vee-oh, English)
• Omri (OHM-ree, Hebrew)
• Onisim (AHN-ee-seem, Russian)
• Oran (OH-ran, Irish)--Also spelled Orrin.
• Orbán (OHR-bahn, Hungarian)--form of Urban.
• Oren (oh-REN, Hebrew)
• Oroitz (oh-royts, Basque)--"memory"
• Orson (OHR-son, English--from French, "little bear"
• Orvar (OHR-vahr, Swedish)--from Norse, "arrow"
• Oswin (OZ-win, English)
• Otis (OH-tis, English)--from of Otto.
• Otto (AHT-toh, English; AW-toh, German)--"wealth"
• Ozan (oh-ZAHN, Turkish)--"bard"

Girls:

• Octavia (ohk-TAHV-yah, Spanish; ahk-TAY-vee-ah, English)--Italian form is Ottavia.
• Odilia (oh-DEE-lee-ah, Germanic)--feminine of Otto. Other forms include Ottilie (aw-TEE-lee-eh, German; or oh-tee-lee, French), Odalys (oh-DAH-leez, Spanish), Odelia (oh-DEH-lee-ah, English), and Odette (oh-DET, French, English).
• Ofelia (oh-FEH-lyah, Spanish, Italian)--form of Ophelia. French form is Ophélie (oh-fay-LEE).
• Oihana (oy-ah-nah, Basque)--"forest"
• Olalla (oh-LAH-yah, Spanish)--form of Eulalia
• Olwen (OHL-wen, Welsh)
• Onóra (on-OH-rah, Irish)--form of Honora
• Oona (OO-nah, Irish, Finnish)
• Opal (OH-pal, English)
• Orinthia (oh-RIN-thee-ah, English)
• Orla (OHR-lah, Irish)--"golden princess"
• Orsolya (OHR-shoh-yah, Hungarian)--form of Ursula
• Osanna (oh-ZAHN-nah, Italian)--from Biblical term hosanna. French form is Osanne.

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)