Iris
From Ancient Greek Ἶρις (Îris, “rainbow”). Borrowed from Latin Iris or Ancient Greek Ἶρις (Îris).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
popular names
Names ranked in the US top 100 for at least one sex in the 2025 Social Security Administration records. These rankings describe US registrations, not worldwide popularity.
Explore names by language and tradition146 names · Page 2 of 3. Origin labels follow the cited name sense; earlier roots and uncertain meanings are explained on each name page.
Isaac
From Middle English Ysaac, from Latin Isaac, from Ancient Greek Ἰσαάκ (Isaák), from Hebrew יצחק (Yiṣḥāq, literally “he laughs, he will laugh”). Explained in Genesis as…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends C
Isabella
Latinate and Italian form of Isabel. The grape cultivar is popularly thought to have been discovered by a Mrs Isabella Gibbs of South Carolina in 1816. Borrowed from Spanish…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Isaiah
From Ancient Greek Ἠσαΐας (Ēsaḯas) from Hebrew יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (yəšaʿyā́hū).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
Ivy
From ivy, the name of a plant. An ivy branch used to be hung outside an establishment to advertise that it sold alcohol, so it may originally been an occupationational surname…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
Jack
From Middle English Jackin, Jankyn, a popular pet form of John; rarely also an anglicized form of French Jacques (equivalent of Jacob and James). It can be also used as…
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends K
Jacob
From Middle English Iacob, from Late Latin Iācōbus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), from Biblical Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (yaʿăqōḇ, literally “May He Heel”), from the third-person…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends B
Jade
From the precious stone jade; taken into general use in the 1970s.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
James
The English New Testament form of Jacob, from Middle English James, from Old French James, from Vulgar Latin Iācōmus, spoken and altered pronunciation of Latin Iācōbus, from…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
Jeremiah
Learned borrowing from Latin Jeremias, from Ancient Greek Ἰερεμίας (Ieremías), from Hebrew יִרְמְיָה (yirm'yá, “Jeremiah”, literally “Yahweh exalt”). Doublet of Jeremias.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
John
From Middle English John, Johan, Johannes, from Anglo-Norman Jehan, Johan, and also Old English Iohannes, both from Late Latin Iōhannēs, variant of Latin Iōannēs, from Koine…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
Jonathan
Borrowed from Hebrew יְהוֹנָתָן (yəhōnāṯān), יוֹנָתָן (yōnāṯān, literally “God has given”), apparently with influence from Aramaic [Term?]. Unadapted borrowing from English…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Jose
From Spanish/Portuguese José, from Hebrew. Doublet of Joseph. Borrowed from Spanish José, from Old Spanish Josep, from Latin Iōsēphus, borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἰωσήφ…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
Joseph
From Middle English Ioseph, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yoséf, literally “(God) shall add”); a son of Jacob. Doublet of Yusuf. Noun sense 1 (“one whose chastity is…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
Josephine
From French Joséphine, diminutive of Josèphe, feminine form of Joseph. By surface analysis, Joseph + -ine. Popularized in English by Josephine Bonaparte, the empress of…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
Joshua
From Biblical Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshúa'), perhaps from הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hoshéa') with addition of יהוה (YHWH, “Yahweh”), thus meaning "Yahweh is salvation". See הוֹשִׁיעַ (hoshía',…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Josiah
From Biblical Hebrew יֹאשִׁיָּה (yōšiyyā), יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ (yōšiyyā́hū).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
Julian
A female given name from Latin, of medieval English usage, variant of Gillian. Borrowed from German Julian. Learned borrowing from Latin Jūliānus. Borrowed from Spanish Julián.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Juniper
A topographic surname from juniper. In some cases matronymic from an equivalent of Jennifer influenced by folk etymology.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
Kai
Taken into regular use in the 1990s, with earlier popularity peaks in Scandinavia and Germany. The medieval Danish Kaj is possibly of Roman origin, Latinized as Caius, like the…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends I
Kinsley
From Old English Cyne (“Royal (a man's name)”) + -s (“'s”) + lēah (“woodland clearing”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
Layla
One of many alternative spellings of a name transliterated from Arabic; see Leila for more information. Since the late 20th century, in English, this given name in this…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Leah
From Hebrew לֵאָה (Le'a).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
Leilani
Borrowed from Hawaiian Leilani.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
Leo
From Latin leō (“lion”), calque of Ancient Greek λέων (léōn), calque of Akkadian 𒉈𒍑 (nēšu)/Akkadian 𒌨𒄞𒆷 (urgulû), from Sumerian 𒌨𒄞𒆷 (UR.GU.LA, “lion; name of…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
Leonardo
Borrowed from Italian Leonardo.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
Levi
Ultimately from Biblical Hebrew לֵוִי (lēwî), of uncertain origin. Doublet of Lewi. From Hebrew לֵוִי. From Biblical Hebrew לֵוִי (Lēwī)
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
Liam
From Irish Liam, a clipping of Uilliam, itself from English William. Clipping of Uilliam, from English William.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
Lillian
Used since the sixteenth century, possibly originally a pet form of Elizabeth, but generally accepted as a variant of Late Latin lilium (“lily”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Lily
A 19th-century flower name, from lily. Also a diminutive of Lilian and sometimes Elizabeth. Borrowed from English Lily, from lily.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
Logan
From Scottish Gaelic lag (“little hollow”).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Luca
Borrowed from Italian Luca, from Latin Lūcās, from Ancient Greek Λουκᾶς (Loukâs), hypocoristic of Λούκιος (Loúkios) (from Latin Lūcius m) or Λουκανός (Loukanós) or both with…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Lucas
From Latin Lucas, from Ancient Greek Λουκᾶς (Loukâs). See the Greek entry for more. Ultimately from Ancient Greek Λουκᾶς (Loukâs), perchance via Latin Lucas. From Old…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
Lucia
Latinate variant of Lucy, or today borrowed from modern Italian. Name of a Sicilian martyr, Latin Lūcia, feminine form of the Roman praenomen Lūcius.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Lucy
From Middle English Lucy, from Old French Lucie (notably after the Christian martyr Lucia of Syracuse), from Latin Lucia (feminine of Lucius, a Roman praenomen), from lux…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
Luka
From the common Slavic (Macedonian, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, and Ukrainian, etc) male given name Luka and from Macedonian, Russian, and Ukrainian Лука́ (Luká), all cognates of…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Luke
From Latin Lūcās, from Koine Greek Λουκᾶς (Loukâs). See the Greek entry for more.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
Luna
From Middle English lune, luna (“the moon”), from Latin lūna/Lūna, from Proto-Indo-European *lówksneh₂. Doublet of Lua and Roxane. From Latin Luna. Learned borrowing from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Lydia
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Λυδία (Ludía, “the region of Lydia”), from λυδία (ludía, “beautiful one, noble one”), a feminine form of Λυδός (Ludós) (Lydus, from λυδός (ludós)…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Lyla
A spelling variant of Leila.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Madeline
Anglicized from French Madeleine, from Ancient Greek Μαγδαληνή (Magdalēnḗ). Doublet of Madeleine and Magdalene.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
Madelyn
An alteration of Madeline with -lyn.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Maeve
Anglicized from Irish Méabh, from Middle Irish Medb (literally “intoxicating”), name of a legendary queen of Connacht.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
Maria
Borrowed from Latin Maria, borrowed from Ancient Greek Μᾰρῐ́ᾱ (Mărĭ́ā), borrowed from Aramaic מרים (maryam), borrowed from Biblical Hebrew מִרְיָם (miryɔm). Doublet of Mary,…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Mateo
From Spanish Mateo, from Latin Matthaeus, from Ancient Greek Ματθαῖος (Matthaîos), from Hebrew מַתִּתְיָהוּ (mattiṯyāhū). Doublet of Matthew. Borrowed from Latin Matthaeus,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
Matthew
From earlier Matheu, from Old French Mathieu, from Latin Matthaeus, from Ancient Greek Ματθαῖος (Matthaîos), from Aramaic מַתַּי (mattay). Compare Hebrew מַתִּתְיָהוּ…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends W
Maya
* From Maria, ultimately from Hebrew, * From Maia, from Latin, from Ancient Greek Μαῖα (Maîa) Transliteration of Sanskrit माया (māyā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Melody
From the noun melody; in regular use since the 20th century.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
Mia
A German, Dutch and North Germanic diminutive of Maria.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Micah
From Hebrew מִיכָה (mīḵāh), shortened form of מִיכַיְהוּ (mīḵāyᵊhū, “who is like Yahweh”).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
Michael
English Michael From Middle English Michael, from Old French Michel, Old English Michahel, from their source Latin Michaēl, Michāhēl, from Ancient Greek Μῐχᾱήλ (Mĭkhāḗl), from…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
Mila
From a diminutive in many Slavic languages Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, and Serbo-Croatian, etc.) of female given names containing the element Mil-, -mila ("grace,…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Myles
A male given name from the Germanic languages. Alternative spelling of Miles, a less common one.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
Naomi
From Hebrew נָעֳמִי (no'omí, literally “my pleasantness”), from נועם / נֹעַם (nó'am, “pleasantness”) + ־ִי (-í, “my, of me”). Borrowed from Japanese なおみ (Naomi). Borrowed…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
Natalie
From the French form of the Late Latin saint's name Natalia, from nātālis (diēs) (“birthday [of Christ], Christmas”). Doublet of Natalya.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
Nathan
From Hebrew נָתָן (natán, “gave”). Also short for Jonathan.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Noah
From Biblical Hebrew נֹחַ (Nōaḥ). From Biblical Hebrew נֹעָה (Nōʿâ).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
Nova
From Latin nova (“new”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Oliver
Inherited from Middle English Oliver, from Old French Olivier, by folk etymology derived from the Latin name Olīvārius, but probably representing an Old High German form of Old…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
Olivia
From Latin Olīva, an early saints’ name from olīva (“olive; olive branch”). First popularized by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. From English Olivia. Can be considered a feminine…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A