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Abarrane (fem. Abraham) Basque. from Heb. "Father of many."
Abame
Abebi Nig. "She came after asking."
Abelia (fem. Abel) Fr. from Heb. "Sigh." Abella, Abelle
Abellona (fem. Apollo) Dan. In Greek myth, Apollo is the sun god. See Apollonia.
Abia Arab. "Great."
Abida Arab. "She who worships"; Heb. "My father knows. "
Abigail Heb. "My father is joyful." Biblical name adopted by the Puritans and popular through the 18th century. After a hundred years of obscurity, it was revived with the trend toward old-fashioned names beginning in the 1970s. Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams, advice columnist Abigail Van Buren. Abagael, Abagail, Abagale, Abagil, Abalgeal, Abbe, Abbey, Abbi, Abbie, Abbigael, Abbigail, Abbigale, Abby, Abbye, Abbygael, Abbygall, Abbygale, Abigael, Abigall, Abigale, Abigail, Abigil, Abigayle, Gael, Gail, Galls, Gayel, Gayle
Abijah Heb. "God is my father." Abisha, Abishah
Abir Arab. "Scent."
Abital Heb. "My father is dew." Currently popular in Israel. Avital
Abra (fem. Abraham) Heb. "Father of many"; Arab. "example, lesson." King Solomon's favorite concubine was named Abra.
Abame, Abarrane, Abrahana
Acacia Gr. Name of a blossoming tree that symbolized resurrection. Uncommon even in Greece, though the derivatives like Casey occur often in the U.S.
Cacia, Cacie, Casey, Casla, Cassie, Cassy, Kacey, Kacle. Kasey, Kasi, Kassja, Kassy
Acadia Place-name: The French settlers of NovaScotia called it Acadia after the name of a river there. When the French settlers were driven out by the English in the 18th century, many of them settled in Louisiana and became known as "Cajuns."
Accalia Lat. In myth, the name of the human foster mother of Romulus and Remus, the twins who founded Rome. Legend has it that after their abandonment as infants, they were initially suckled by a she-wolf, whose name is not known. Accalia was her replacement.
Aceline (fem. Acelin) Fr. "Highborn." Asceline
Acima (fem. Acim) Heb. "The Lord will judge." Acimah, Achima, Achimah
Ada Ger. "Noble, nobility." Originated as a short form of names like Adelaide, and popular in the last quarter of the 19th century, though infrequently used now.
Adan, Adda, Addi, Addie, Addiah, Addy, Adey, Adi, Adia, Adiah, Adle, Aida, Aidah
Adah Heb. "Ornament, adomment." Biblical name. Unusual, but brought to prominence in the 19th century by American actress Adah Isaacs Mencken.
Adalia Heb. "God is my refuge"; ;0G. "Noble one. " See also Adelaide.
Adal, Adala, Adalee, Adall, Adalie, Adalley, Addal, Addala
Adamina (fem. Adam) Heb. "Child of the red earth.In the Bible God created Adam out of the "red earth" and breathed life into him. This unusual feminine version of the name is Scottish in origin.
Ada, Adamine, Adaminna, Addie, Mina, Minna
Adara Gk. "beauty"; Arab. "virgin." Adra
Addula Teut. "Noble cheer."
Adelaide OG. "Noble, nobility." First popular in England after the reign of William IV and Queen Adelaide. The city of Adelaide, Australia, was named for her.
Addala, Addalla, Addey, Addi, Addie, Addy Adel, Adela, Adelaida, Adelais, Adele, Adelheid, Adelina, Adellne, Adelice, Adelicia, Adells, Adelle, Adey, Adi, Ado, Ady, Aline, Aliosha, Alline, Alyosha, Del, Delia, Delle, Delli, Deily, Edeline, Eline, Heidi, Lady, Laidey
Adele OG. "Noble, nobility." see Adelaide. Nutritionist Adelle Davis; writer Adela Rogers St. John.
Adelia, Adell, Adella, Adellah, Adelle
Adelinda Tent. "Noble, sweet." Com. form Adele and Linda.
Adele, Adeline, Adelinde, Linda
Adeline OG. "Noble, nobility." See Adelaide. Adelina enjoyed a burst of popularity during the career of operatic soprano Adelina Patti, in the late 19th century. Adalina, Adaline, Adallina, Adelina, Adelind, Adella, Adellah, Ahdella, Aline, Dahlina, Dalina, Daline, Dallina, Delina, Deline, Dellina, Deily, Delyne, Edelie, Lina
Adena Heb. "Decoration." Adene, Adina, Adinah, Denah, Dina, Dinah
Adelpha Gr. "Beloved sister."
Adeola Nig. "Crown." Adola, Dola
Adiba Arab. "Cultured, refined." Adibah
Adiella Heb. "The Lord's adomment."
Adima Teut. "Noble, renowned."
Adin Heb. Meaning unclear: possibly "delicate and slender." Appears in the Old Testament as a male name. Adina, Adeana
Adira Heb. "Noble, powerful."
Adiva Arab. "Agreeable, gentle."
Adlai Arab. Heb. "Just." More familiar to us as a man's name made famous by U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson.
Adolpha (fem. Adolph) Ger. "Noble wolf."
Adoncia Sp. "Sweet." Doncia
Adonia (fem. Adonis) Gr. In Greek myth Adonis was a young man so beautiful that Aphrodite, goddess of love, became enamored of him. The name Adonis has come to epitomize male beauty.
Adora Lat. "Adored."
Adorabelle, Adoray, Adorée, Adoré, Adoria, Adorlee, Dora, Dori, Dorie, Dorri, Dorrie, Dorry, Dory
Adra Arab. "Virgin." Adara
Adrian Lat. Place name: Adria was a North Italian city. First popular in the 1950s in Britain, and more common as a man's name. Hollywood costume designer Adrian (Queen Christina, The Philadelphia Story) and 12th century Pope Adrian IV (the only English pope) both predate its use as a girl's name. Fashion designer Adrienne Vittadini.
Adrea, Adreea. Adria, Adriah, Adriana, Adrianah, Adriane, Adrianna, Adriannah, Adrianne, Adrie, Adrien, Adriena, Adrienah, Adrienne, Hadria,Hadrienne
Afra Arab. "color of earth"; Heb. "young deer." Affera, Affery, Affra, Aphra
Afraima Arab. Heb. "Fertile."
Africa Gael. "Pleasant." Also, of course, a place name, and readily associated with the continent.
Affrica, Affricah, Affrika, Affrikah, Africah, Afrika, Afrikah, Alfric, Apirka, Apirkah
Afton OE. Place name: There is a town called Afton in southern Scotland. Like so many place names that have become first names, this one was first a name for boys. Affton
Agapi Gk. "Love, affection." Agape, Agappe
Agate OF. A semiprecious stone. Can be considered either one of the jewel names so popular in the 19th century, or a variant of Agatha. The agate, though not a particularly beautiful stone, was once believed to have numerous magical and curative powers.
Agatha Gk. "Good." Saint Agatha was a 3rd-century virgin martyr, and her name was popular in the early years of the Christian Church, but not again until the late 19th century. It now has an unfashionable ring, but some of the international variants are pretty. Writer Agatha Christie.
20,001 Names For Baby. Copyright © by Carol Wallace. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.
