Читать книгу The Brilliant Book of Baby Names: What’s best, what’s hot and what’s not - Linda Rosenkrantz - Страница 8

Adelaide

Ava

Bella

Charlotte

Ella

Esmé

Georgia

Grace

Isabella

Lola

Matilda

Olivia

Piper

Romy

Sofia/Sophia

Stella

ADINA. Hebrew, ‘slender, delicate’. Name of an Old Testament soldier that can theoretically be used for either sex – but sounds overwhelmingly feminine. Adena, Adinah, Adine, Aideen, Aidena, Aidina, Aidine, Aydeen, Aydeena, Aydina.

ADOLPHA. German, ‘noble wolf’. Nein. Adolfa, Adollfa.

ADORA. Latin, ‘adored’. Better to lavish your child with adoration than give her this spoiled-girl name. Adorabelle, Adorae, Adoray, Adore, Adoree, Adoria, Adorlee, Dora, Dorae, Dori, Dorie, Dorri, Dome, Dorry, Dory.

ADRIANA. Latin, feminine variation of ADRIAN. This a-ending feminine form of Adrian, from the northern Italian city of Adria, is a soft and lovely Italian choice. Addie, Adrea, Adreana, Adreanna, Adreea, Adria, Adriah, Adrian, Adrianah, Adriane, Adrianna, Adriannah, Adrianne, Adrie, Adrieanne, Adrien, Adriena, Adrienah, Adriene, Adrienna, Adrina, Adriyanna, Aydrian, Aydrienne, Hadria, Hadrienne.

ADRIENNE. Latin, feminine variation of ADRIAN. Earlier feminine form of Adrian, now knocked aside by the versions ending in a.

AERIN. Tolkien Middle Earth invention, or variation of ERIN. In Tolkien’s world, the derivation of this airy name is Elvish. Regular folks might consider it an artsier form of Erin, borne by cosmetics heiress and socialite Aerin Lauder.

AERON. Welsh mythology name. Tolkien may have been inspired by this name of a Celtic goddess of war. Aeronwen, Aeronwy.

AFFINITY. Word name. Sympathetic new twist on a Puritan virtue name.

AFRA. Arabic, ‘colour of earth’; Hebrew, ‘dust’. Earthier version of the name of England’s first female professional writer, Aphra Behn. Affera, Affery, Affra, Affrey, Affrie, Afraa, Aphra.

AFRICA. Place name. Most Africas today would be named for the continent, but the name actually existed in Scotland in medieval times, where there was a Celtic queen named Affrica. Affrica, Affricah, Affrika, Affrikah, Afric, Africah, African, Africaya, Africia, Africiana, Afrika, Afrikah, Aifric, Aifrica, Aphria, Aphfrica, Apirka, Apirkah. International: Aifric (Scottish).

AFTERNOON. Word name. An early day name, found on slave rolls, and worthy of consideration today for someone seeking a truly unusual name.

AFTON. Place name. Name of a town in Scotland that has a feminine strength. Affton, Aftan, Aften, Aftin, Aftine, Aftinn, Aftonn, Aftonne, Aftyn, Aftynn.

AGAPI. Greek, ‘love, affection’. Sweet meaning, but clunky name.

AGATE. French, a semiprecious stone, or variation of AGATHA. The Ag- sound grates on the modern ear. Aggie.

AGATHA. Greek, ‘good’. Agatha still summons up visions of martyred saints, mauve silk dresses and high lace collars, but some dauntless excavators have begun to resurrect it. Ag, Agace, Agacia, Agata, Agatah, Agathe, Agathi, Agatta, Agetha, Aggi, Aggie, Aggy, Aggye, Agi, Agie, Agueda, Agy, Agye, Atka. International: Agathe (French, German), Agueda (Portuguese), Agata (Scandinavian), Agatá (Slavic), Atka (Polish), Agi, Agota, Agotha (Hungarian), Agafia, Agasha, Ganya, Gasha, Gashka (Russian) Agathe (Greek).

AGNES. Greek, ‘pure, virginal’. Though it was the third most common English girls’ name for four hundred years, Agnes has long been stuck in the attic. But maybe it’s so far out it’s almost ready to come back in. French pronounciation – ahn-YEZ – helps, and Thom Yorke of Radiohead chose it for his daughter. Ag, Aggi, Aggie, Aggye, Agi, Agie, Agna, Agnesse, Agnessina, Agnis, Agnus, Agy, Agye, Anais, Anees, Aneesha, Aneska, Anessa, Anesse, Anice, Anissa, Anisha, Annais, Anneyce, Annice, Annis, Annisah, Annise, Annisha, Anson, Ina, Inah, Nevsa, Nevesah, Nesa, Nesi, Nessa, Nessi, Nessie, Nessy, Nesta, Neysa, Oona, Oonagh, Oonah, Senga. International: Aignéis (Irish Gaelic), Nesta (Welsh), Ynes, Ynez (French, Spanish), Oanez (Breton), Agne, Agnella, Agnesca, Agnese, Agnesina, Agnola, Anete, Hagne (Italian), Agnese, Inesa (Spanish), Ines, Inez (Spanish, Portuguese), Anneke (Dutch), Agna, Agnethe, Anke, Antje (German), Agnethe, Agne, Agnek, Agneta (Scandinavian), Agnesa, Agneska, Anezka, Anka (Czech), Agnessa, Agnia, Inessa, Nessa (Russian) Neza (Slavic).

AGRIPPINA. Latin, ‘born feetfirst’. Sister of Caligula and mother of Nero, who had her murdered. The original male version, Agrippa, can also used for girls – but who would want to? Agrafina, Agrippa, Agrippine.

AIBHILIN. (ev-lin) Irish variation of EVELYN. Makes Evelyn more exotic, but ultimately too difficult.

AIDA. (eye-EE-da) Arabic, ‘reward, present’. Operatic. Aeeda, Aidah, Aidan, Aide, Aidee, Aiden, Ayeeda, Ieeda, Iyeeda.

AIDAN. Irish, ‘little and fiery’. Ancient Irish saint’s name that’s popular for boys and is taking off with girls as well. Adan, Adann, Adanne, Aden, Adin, Adon, Adyn, Adynn, Adynne, Aidana, Aidann, Aidanna, Aidanne, Aiden, Aidin, Aidon, Aidyn, Aidynn, Aidynne, Aydan, Ayden, Aydenn, Aydin, Aydon, Aydyn, Aydynn, Aydynne, Edan.

AIKO. (ah-ee-ko) Japanese, ‘love child’. Very common Japanese name that is rarely heard outside the Asian community.

AILANI. Hawaiian, ‘chief’. Lilting and lovely. Aelani, Ailana.

AILBHE. (al-va) Irish, ‘noble, bright’. While Irish Gaelic spellings add intrigue to a name, they’ll prove endlessly confusing. Alva, Alvy, Elvy.

AILEEN. Irish variation of HELEN. Never as popular as Eileen, and now both are out. Aila, Ailean, Ailec, Aileena, Ailen, Ailene, Alley, Ailli, Aili, Ailie, Ailina, Ailine, Ailinn, Aillen, Aleen, Alene, Aline, Alline, Eileen, Eleen, Ellene, Ileana, Ileane, Ileanna, Ileen, Ilene, Iliana, Iliane, Ilianna, Illeanne, Illene, Leana, Leanah, Leanna, Leannah, Lena, Lenah, Liana, Lianna, Liannah, Lina, Linah. International: Ailinn (Portuguese), Aili (Finnish).

AILSA. (AYL-suh) Scottish place name. Traditionally Scottish name – after the island called Ailsa Craig – that might make a good alternative to the overused Ashley or Ella. Ailis, Ailse, Ailsha, Allasa Elsa, Elsha, Elshe.