New Surname Names :: H

Inspiration :: Hollis (art by James Hollis)

Halsey

Origin: English

Meaning: Habitation Name

Similar Names: Elsie, Ashley, Hallie.

Hann

Origin: English

Meaning: Variation of a Medieval name

Features: 

Similar Names: Anne, Hannah, Hans.

Harran

Origin: English

Meaning: Nickname for a tall, thin person

Similar Names: Aaron, Hayden, Holden.

Harriot

Origin: French

Meaning: Variation of the name Henri.

Features: A alternative formal version of Harry.

Similar Names: Harriet, Harry, Hetty.

Hart

Origin: English

Meaning: Stag

Features:

Similar Names: 

Hasel

Origin: English

Meaning: Hazel tree

Features: Hazel is seen as such a girl name that Hasel could be a compromise for boys.

Similar Names: Hazel, Rowan, Hayes.

Heikkilä

Origin: Finnish

Meaning: Nickname for Henry

Features: Exotic and pretty.

Helyn

Origin: English

Meaning: Person from Hayling

Features: Familiar sounds. It modernises Helen.

Similar Names: Helen, Ellen, Celyn.

Hendra

Origin: Cornish

Meaning: Habitation name

Features: Sounds heathery and wild.

Similar Names: Alexandra, Henry.

Henley

Origin: English

Meaning: Habitation name

Features: Similar to Henry but with but of expensive flair. Also a place name.

Similar Names: Henderson, Henry.

Hermida

Origin: Spanish

Meaning: Hermit

Features: A Hermione alternative for those who are not a fan of the Harry Potter links.

Similar Names: Hermione.

Herriot

Origin: English and French

Meaning: Variation of Henry

Features: It links to the famous vet James Herriot and could be a good choice for those in the veterinary profession.

Similar Names: Harry, Harriet.

Hilse

Origin: German

Meaning: Lives near a holly tree

Features:

Similar Names: Elise, Elsa.

Halliday

Origin:

Meaning:

Features:

Similar Names:

Hollis

Origin: English

Meaning: Lives near holly trees.

Features: A cool-person name with lots of energy. 

Similar Names: Holly, Holiday, 

Houston

Origin: Scottish

Meaning: Habitation name

Features: Place name, word name and surname name - a hat trick of features.

Similar Names: Camden, Austin.

New Surname Names :: G

Inspiration :: Gardiner (art by Jeremy Gardiner)

Gable

Origin: French

Meaning: Feature of architecture.

Features: A word name that doesn't sound too wordy. Also contains 'able' which is a positive sound to most ears. 

Galera

Origin: Spanish and Catalan

Meaning: Sailor/Shipbuilder

Features: Pretty name with a meaning that could be used for honouring a friend or family member.

Galiana

Origin: Spanish and Catalan

Meaning: Rooster

Similar Names: Julianna, Eliana.

Garcia

Origin: Spanish

Meaning: Bear

Similar Names: Darcy, Cynthia, Grace.

Gardiner

Origin: English

Meaning: Occupational name

Features: Occupational name with a nature twist.

Garland

Origin: English

Meaning: Maker of Garlands

Features: Beautiful, occupational meaning with a gender-neutral air.

Gildea

Origin: Irish

Meaning: Servant of God

Features: Exotic sounding with

Gioiella

Origin: Italian

Meaning: Joy

Features: Frilly with a lovely meaning and the option of the nickname Ella.

Similar Names: Ella, Joelle, Joy, Giulia

Gren

Origin: Swedish

Meaning: Branch

Features: Good meaning, simple name. Unfussy but not too light.

New Surname Names :: F

Inspiration :: Farren (painting by David Farren)

Farren

Origin: English

Meaning: Occupational name for an oxherd

Features: Neutral sounds and fits in the popular two-syllable, -n ending surnames.

Similar Names: Darren, Aaron, Mason, Soren.

Feehally

Origin: Liverpudlian

Meaning: Variation of Fitzhenry

Features: Sounds Irish, energetic and friendly.

Similar Names: Rafferty, Flannery.

Fennell

Origin: English

Meaning: Grower or seller of fennell

Features: Nature name, occupational name with the option of the nickname Nell.

Similar Names: Merrill, Fern, Nell.

Fiala

Origin: Czech

Meaning: Violet

Features: Beautiful meaning, unusual with familar sounds.

Similar Names: Viola, Fenella, Nuala.

Fiorelle

Origin: French

Meaning: Little flower

Features: Pretty with lots of French flair.

Similar Names: Elle, Flora, Isabelle.

Flinn

Origin: Irish

Meaning: Reddish

Features: Has similarities to Finn but looks less flimsy than Flynn. It would make a really cool girls' name.

Similar Names: Finn, Flynn, Sloan. 

Foy

Origin: French

Meaning: Faith

Features: Simplicity in one syllable.

Similar Names: Faith, Roy, Fay.

Freidis

Origin: Jewish

Meaning: Joy

Features: Lovely meaning, unusual ending.

Similar Names: Freya, Frida, Phyllis.

New Surname Names :: E

Inspiration :: Emlyn (Painting of Newcastle Emlyn)

I seem to gravitate towards E- names when choosing names to put on my personal lists but sometimes I cannot find less popular choices. I love the likes of Emily and Emmeline although sometimes I just want something new and exciting. My favourite on this list has to be Elizalde for her spunky z and elegant, sophisticated style. I added a new category of 'similar names' so you can see how these more unusual names can be used as alternatives to chart toppers.

Eade

Origin: English

Meaning: Nickname for Edith

Features: Short, sweet with a neutral sound.

Similar Names: Eve, Eden

Ealey

Origin: English/Irish

Meaning: Habitation name

Features: Nicknamey sound but a ‘proper’ name.

Similar Names: Ellie, Eli

Eame

Origin: English

Meaning: Uncle

Features: Simple with a pleasing sound.

Similar Names: Emmy, Emme, Emma.

Ebi

Origin: English

Meaning: Wild + Boar

Features: Cool –i ending and the simplicity of three letters.

Similar Names: Eli

Echelle

Origin: French

Meaning: Ladder

Features: Has the supermodel style –elle ending but without the popularity of Estelle or the dated feel of Michelle.

Similar Names: Estelle, Michelle, Elle.

Edzard

Origin: German/Frisian

Meaning: Edge, brave, strong.

Features: The z updates Edward but keeps a familiar feel.

Similar Names: Edward, Ezra.

Elcy

Origin: English

Meaning: Elf victory

Features: The c spelling seems to make it more of an androgynous name and adds a bit of a sensible touch to the nicknamey Elsie.

Similar Names: Elsie, Eli, Lucy.

Elizalde

Origin: Basque

Meaning: Topographic name

Features: A rarer, fresher version of Elizabeth with one fewer syllable to worry about.

Similar Names: Elizabeth, Mathilde, Isolde.

Elphey

Origin: English

Meaning: Elf battle

Features: Not the most substantial of names but longer than Alf or Fay/Fey.

Similar Names: Alfie, Fey.

Elzas

Origin: German/Jewish

Meaning:

Features: Sounds unusual but strong and easy to pronounce.

Similar Names: Ezra, Eleazer, Eliaz.

Emary

Origin: English

Meaning: Bravery and power

Features: The fashionable Em- beginning and classic Mary ending make this much more than a creative spelling of Emory.

Similar Names: Emory, Mary, Emily,

Emberry

Origin: English

Meaning: Bravery and power

Features: A daring choice with a subtle naturey twist.

Similar Names: Ember, Huckleberry.

Emmel

Origin: English

Meaning: Bravery and power

Features: A tailored version of many popular girls’ names. It has a soft but not airy sound.

Similar Names: Emmy, Emmeline, Amael.

Emslie

Origin: Scottish

Meaning: Habitation name

Features: Another variation on popular girls’ names and a useful way to link a name to Scotland.

Similar Names: Lindsey, Leslie, Emily.

Emson

Origin: English

Meaning: Variant of Emma

Features: Different to the rising Emerson and more sleek as it only has two syllables.

Similar Names: Emerson, Emma, Anderson.

Esslin

Origin: English

Meaning: God + protector/helmet

Features: Easy to pronounce, strong meaning and a pretty surfer style sound.

Similar Names: Agnes, Evelyn.

Around the World :: Iceland

I was watching the credits for the film 'Noah' the other day. Only a name nerd would skip the actual film and go straight to pages and pages of lovely names! About halfway through, there was a set of names titled 'Icelandic Crew' that contained so many new names to me. Thoranna and Finnur are my favourites.

Male 'Icelandic Crew' Names

                                              Female 'Icelandic Crew' Names

Top Baby Names in Iceland 2015

Girls

1. Guðrún

2. Anna

3. Kristín

4. Sigdríður

5. Margrét/Margrjet/Margret

6. Helga

7. Sigrún

8. Ingibjörg

9. María

10. Jóhanna

11. Elín

12. Katrín

13. Hildur

14. Ragnheiður

15. Lilja

Boys

1. Jón

2. Sigurður

3. Guðmundur

4. Gunnar

5. Ólafur/Olav

6. Einar

7. Kristján/Kristian/Christian

8. Magnús

9. Stefán/Stefan

10. Jóhann

11. Björn

12. Arnar

13. Árni

14. Bjarni

15. Helgi

Baby Naming Rules in Iceland

Forenames

A forename must follow the linguistic structure and orthography of the Icelandic language. It must also be obviously male or female. There is a list of approved names and any others must be approved by the court.

Family Names

You are allowed one family name and this also has to be established in the Icelandic language.

Surnames

Surnames are either patronymic or metronymic. You can use the name of your father or mother with the suffix –son (for a boy) or –dóttir (for a girl). People in Iceland do not take their spouse’s name when they get married.

My favourite bit of the Icelandic rules says ‘A name may not be such as to cause its bearer embarrassment.’ Good advice indeed.

New Surname Names :: D

Inspiration :: Dorsey (painting by Jed Dorsey)

Below are some surname names beginning with D that are either in usage but unusual or very rare.

 

Dalby

Origin: English

Meaning: Habitation name

Has the same feel as popular surname names Avery and Hudson but slightly less bold sounding.
 

Dauphin

Origin: French

Meaning: Dolphin

Dauphin fits all the name trends – it is an international name, a word name and has a nature meaning. Quite a daring choice.
 

Deegan

Origin: Irish

Meaning: Descendent of Dubhceann

Sounds like popular Tegan but with the energetic double e to perk it up a bit.

Delius

Origin: Greek

Meaning: From Delos

Historical, musical and grand. Del would be such a cute nickname.
 

Devaney

Origin: Irish

Meaning: Dark-haired

Delaney is rising but Devaney is unheard of. Another sing-song Celtic surname to add to the list.
 

Doherty

Origin: Gaelic

Meaning: Descendant of Dochartach

Yet another sing-song Celtic surname to add to the list.
 

Dolcetta

Origin: Italian

Meaning: Sweet

Fits in with all the multi-syllabic –a ending girls names like Amelia and Arabella. Etta would probably be a better nickname than Dolly at this period of time unless your daughter is a so-uncool-she-is-cool kind of daughter.
 

Dorsey

Origin: English

Meaning: Dark

It doesn’t have the literary connections of Darcy but all the same benefits of being a nickname-sounding surname name.
 

Dove

Origin: Gaelic

Meaning: Black, bird name.

Dove hasn’t worked its way into many of the bird-name lists I have seen, probably because of its odd phonology but the beautiful imagery and symbolism make this name a winner.



From Surname to First Name :: B

You may want to read the first post in this series which looks at some undiscovered A surnames. Here it is.

Below are some surnames beginning with A that are already in usage as first names but are still quite unusual:

Below are some surname beginning with B that are very rare for first names:

Bade     

Origin: English

Meaning: Battle

Short and Strong but slightly reminiscent of a monk (probably because of the likeness to Bede)

Baena    

Origin: Spanish

Meaning: Habitation name

Sounds like a modern invention but with some strength behind it. Think Bernadette but without the negative connatations.

Baeza    

Origin: Spanish

Meaning: Habitation name

Fiery and daring but with the familiar two syllable, -a ending pattern.

Barrio    

Origin: Spanish

Meaning: Man who lives on the outskirts of town

A dated name (Barry) + a trendy O name = a new and improved surname name. Also the name of a font (which might be a nice occupational nod to a typographer or other designer)

Beatty   

Origin: Scottish and Northern Irish

Meaning: Short form of Bartholemew and an anglicised form of Biadhtach.

It might get confused with Betty or ‘beat’ but pronounced correctly (bee-ah-tee) it sounds pretty sweet.

Behenna  

Origin: Cornish

Meaning: Unknown

You’ve heard of Morwenna and Rowenna but Behenna will be new to many people. You could use the nickname Bea.

Bertolf    

Origin: German

Meaning: Famous wolf

What a name and what a meaning! An extremely brave choice but there is probably someone somewhere who is brave enough to use it.

Bracken   

Origin: Irish

Meaning: Speckled. Spotted.

Full of nature and adventure. Bracken might be a bit too ‘real’ for some people but with names like Fox, Wolf and Cedar coming into use, Bracken could become popular too.