Читать книгу The Brilliant Book of Baby Names: What’s best, what’s hot and what’s not - Linda Rosenkrantz - Страница 35

Dajuana

Dameesha

Danacia

Da’nell

Darenda

D’arline

Dashawn

Dashay

Dejana

Deleanna

Delinda

Delisa

Delondra

Demika

Denisha

Denita

Deondray

Deshandra

Dewanda

D’shay

DEMETRIA. Greek, goddess of fertility. Dramatic earth goddess possibility with film-star nickname. Demeta, Demeter, Demeteria, Demetra, Demetras, Demetris, Demi, Demita, Demitra, Detria, Dimetra, Dimitra.

DEMI. (de-MEE) Greek, ’half’; diminutive of DEMETRIA. Tied to a single celeb in Hollywood, megapopular in Holland and just appearing in the Top 100 here. Deme, Demee, Demeter, Demetra, Demetria, Demia, Demie, Demitra, Demmi, Demy, Dimitira, Dimitra.

DENA. English, ’valley’. Dated namesake of dated Dean. Deana, Deanna, Deena, Dina.

DENI. English, diminutive of DENISE. Cute nickname name used by Woody Harrelson for his daughter. Denee, Deney, Denie, Denni, Dennie, Denny, Deny.

DENISE. French, feminine variation of DENIS. A French favourite of the 1950s and 1960s, not exactly chic now. Danica, Danice, Daniece, Danise, Denese, Deni, Denice, Deniece, Deniese, Denisse, Denni, Dennise, Denny, Denyce, Denyse. International: Dinisia (Portuguese), Deniska (Russian).

DENISHA. American variation of DENISE. Typical of formula that takes a traditional name syllable and adds -isha ending. Daneesha, Danisha, Danysha, Deneesha, Denishe, Denita, Denysha.

DERVLA. Anglicised form of Irish DEARBHÁIL, ’daughter of Fál’. Tongue twister of a name common in Ireland in both its Gaelic and its Anglicised forms. Deirbhile, Derbáil, Derval, Dervila, Dervilia.

DERYN. Welsh, ’bird’. This 1950s Welsh bird name sounds less dated than Robin, popular at the same time. Deron, Derren, Derrin, Derrine, Derron.

DESDEMONA. Greek, ’ill-starred’. Shakespearean as a name can be, but because the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello came to such a tragic end, her name’s been avoided for centuries.

DESIRÉE. French, ’desired’. Desired and chosen by many, despite (or because of) its blatantly sensual image. Desairee, Desarae, Desaray, Desaraye, Desaree, Desarhea, Desary, Deseri, Desi, Desirae, Desirai, Desiray, Desree, Des’ree, Des-ree, Desyrae, Desyray, Desyree, Dezarae, Dezaray, Dezeret, Dezirae, Deziree, Dezray, Dez’ree.

DESTINY. Word name. This is a popular girl’s name in the US, and there are three alternate spellings in hot pursuit. Destanee, Destanie, Destany, Destenee, Desteney Desteny, Destinay, Destinee, Destinei, Destiney Destini, Destinie, Destinni, Destinny, Destinyi, Destnay, Destney, Destonie, Destony, Destunee, Destynee, Destyni.

DESTRY. English variation of French, ’warhorse’. It was the hero’s last name in the classic film Destry Rides Again, but in today’s anything-goes naming climate, nobody blinked when the Steven Spielbergs picked it for their daughter. A real winner. Destrey, Destri, Destrie.

DEVA. Hindi, ’divine, shining one’. If you don’t want your daughter to be a Diva, try this Hindu moon goddess name instead. Deeva, Devi.

DEVI. Sanskrit, ’divine’. This Hindu goddess name has a powerful heritage plus lively sound with a devilish edge. Devaki, Devee.

DEVIN. Irish, ’poet’. Used far more for boys with this spelling, but still has a nice impish Irish feel for a girl. Davin, Devan, Deven, Devena, Devini, Devinn, Devinne, Devyn, Devynne.

DEVON. English place name. This spelling makes it a pretty and popular British place name, evoking dramatic seascapes and moors. Davon, Deaven, Devan, Devann, Devaughn, Deven, Devin, Devinne, Devona, Devonne, Devvon, Devyn.

DEVORA, DEVORAH. Variation of DEBORAH. Both a biblical and an Israeli place name, this can be used as an offbeat substitute for Deborah. Deva, Devra, Devrah, Devoria, Dvora, Dvorit.

DEVYN. Spelling variation of DEVIN. A more feminine version of Devin.

DEXTER. Latin, ’right- handed, skillful’. Perfect example of a name that’s nerdy for a boy, but turns ultracool for a girl; Diane Keaton named her daughter Dexter Dean. Dex, Dexee, Dexey, Dexie, Dextra, Dexy.

DHARA. Hindi, ’the earth’. An exotic take on Dara.

DHARMA. Buddhist and Hindu basic principle of cosmic existence. Rarely used in real life; the name of the hippyish character on the sitcom Dharma & Greg and part of the title of a Kerouac novel. Dharana.

DIA. Spanish, ’day’. One fine day.

DIAHANN. Alternate spelling of DIANE. See DIANE.

DIAMANTA. Greek, ’unconquerable’. Softens the