Monthly Archives: October 2025

Accalia

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  • Gender: Female
  • First Est. 1980s
  • (ah-KAY-lee-ah)

A mistranslated, Latin-inspired invention, Accalia first appeared in late-20th-century baby-name books and websites, where it is often cited as the name of the foster-mother of Romulus and Remus in Roman mythology and claimed to mean “she-wolf.”

In fact, the mythological figure in question is Acca Larentia (also called Acca Larentina). She was not a wolf but a woman—by most accounts a prostitute, or lupa in Latin. Because lupa literally means “she-wolf,” later retellings conflated her with the animal said to have suckled the twins, creating the romanticized misunderstanding behind the name Accalia.

Acca Larentia is indeed associated with Romulus and Remus in one tradition, and a festival in her honour, the Larentalia, was celebrated in ancient Rome around December 23 – 24. Some 19th-century Latin dictionaries and encyclopedias (notably Lewis & Short, A Latin Dictionary, 1879) record the variant Accalia as another name for this festival, but no ancient source—literary or epigraphic—confirms that the Romans themselves ever used this form.

The elements of her name are of uncertain origin. Acca is generally regarded as Etruscan, while Larentia may relate to the Lares, the household guardian spirits of Roman religion.

Therefore, while Accalia may appeal as a myth-inspired choice with a mysterious, wolfish allure, its classical pedigree is indirect: the form is modern, and the meaning “she-wolf” is a misinterpretation rather than a historical fact.

Sister Names: Aspasia, Bellatrix, Caledonia, Damiet, Evanthia, Fauna, Gloriana, Honorata, Ismene, Julivia, Kismet, Lorelei, Melora, Nerissa, Oriana, Pamela, Rhiannon, Sabrina, Talitha, Umbria, Vanora

Brother Names: Alaric, Ajax, Atticus, Atlas, Azrael, Caspian, Castiel, Cedric, Dorian, Dismas, Draven, Expeditus, Hadrian, Jasper, Malachi, Oberon, Orion, Remiel, Percival, Phanuel, Tristan

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Boux

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  • Origin: English French-inspired name
  • Meaning: unknown
  • Gender: Female
  • Pron: BOO

It has a unisex feel but has thus far been only used on females; of unknown meaning, the name became familiar in the United Kingdom after the launch of the lingerie brand Boux Avenue in 2011, founded by British entrepreneur Theo Paphitis. According to Paphitis, he was inspired by the name of a French waitress who served him while he was on holiday in France. The brand name has since taken on a fashionable, feminine association, and a handful of girls in the U.K. have been given the name since 2012.

Although sometimes claimed to derive from the French surnames Leboux (unverified meaning “the ox pasture”) or Lebeau (“the handsome”), there is no linguistic evidence connecting Boux to either. French dictionaries and surname registers list Leboux as an existing family name but do not support these specific etymologies, and the form Boux itself does not appear in older French usage as a given name.

In all likelihood, Boux is a modern invented name inspired by French phonetics—short, chic, and evocative of elegance—rather than a historically attested French word or surname.

Recommended sibling names (unisex): Adair, Bellamy, Cove, Dallas, Ever, Gray/Grey, Harvest, Indigo, Jae, Lake, Navy, Phoenix, Quinn, Raven, Salem, Temple, Waverly.

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Lyric

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  • Origin: English
  • Gender: Unisex
  • First Est. 1860s

From the transferred use of the English word, it ultimately derives from the Greek lλυρικός (lurikós) “pertaining to a lyre.”

As a given name, Lyric appears sporadically from the mid-19th century onward in both England and North America, used for both boys and girls. One of the earliest records of a female Lyric dates to 1866 in London, while an early male instance appears in 1885 in Cornwall.

Although rare for more than a century, Lyric began to rise in popularity during the 1990s, gradually becoming established as a contemporary feminine choice—though it remains a unisex name.

It first entered the U.S. top 1000 girls names in 1995, peaked at #271 in 2014. In 2024, it ranked in at #594. Whilst for boys, it first appeared in the U.S. Top 1000 in 2007, peaked at #799 in 2013 and was last seen in 2020.

A more elaborate feminine form is Lyrica.

Recommended sister names: Amberly, Brandy, Cheyenne, Destiny, Ember, Genesis, Heaven, Indy, Jazz, Kismet, Lawn, Meadow, Nevaeh, Psalm, Reverie, Star, True, Umber, Velvet

Recommended brother names: Ace, Bowie, Chaz, Dice, Ever, Gage, Harlow, Indigo, Jagger, Kai, Ledger, Marlow, Neo, Piker, Quinn, Rex, Saber.

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Jackson

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  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: “son of Jack.”
  • Usage: English, Dutch (modern use), Brazilian-Portuguese
  • Gender: Male
  • First Est: 18th-century

From the transferred use of the English patronymic surname, it means “son of Jack.” Its use as a given name began in 18th-century England and North America, originally used as an honorific of a family surname. In early 19th-century America, its usage may have accelerated even further due to President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845).

Jackson has been in the U.S. top 1000 boys names since 1880, but did not enter the top 100 until 1998. It peaked at #14 in 2021 and currently ranks in at #35 (2024). Its rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • #23 (Canada, 2023)
  • #62 (New Zealand, 2024)
  • #73 (Australia, 2024)
  • #131 (England & Wales, 2024)
  • #364 (the Netherlands, 2024)

Jackson feels confident, friendly, and American-modern — a name that reads equally well on a child, artist, or CEO. It carries no stuffy baggage and fits neatly with contemporary tastes for short, crisp, strong names ending in -son (Hudson, Grayson, Mason).

Variant spellings include: Jaxen, Jaxon and Jaxxen. Short forms include: Jack and Jax.

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Morley

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  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: “marsh meadow.”
  • Gender: Unisex

From the transferred use of the English surname and place name, it is the name of several villages in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Norfolk. It also appears as the name of several places across the English-speaking world, including Australia and the United States. It comes from the Anglo-Saxon elements mōr (“moor, marshland, heath”) and lēah = “clearing, meadow, wood glade.”

As a masculine given-name, usage began sporadically in 18th-century England and North America. As a female given-name, usage started to occur very rarely in the third of the 20th-century. By the 1900s, in was very rarely taken up by Jewish families in Anglo countries as a translation of Mordecai.

Notable male bearers include, American photographer, Morley Baer (1916-1995); American politician, Morley Griswold (1890-1951); and Canadian news reporters, Morley Safer (1931-2016).

Notable female bearers include American American editor Morley Cowles Ballantine (nee Elizabeth Morley Cowles Gale Ballantine) (1925-2009) and American singer, Morley Kamen.

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Lenar, Lenara

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  • Origin: Russian Ленар, Ленара
  • Meaning: “Lenin’s army.”
  • Gender: Lenar (m); Lenara (female)
  • Variants: Linar Линар (m); Lenur Ленур (m); Linara Линара (f); Lenura Ленура (f).
  • Usage: Tatar, Central Asia, Pakistan
  • First Est. 1930s

Lenar and Lenara originated as 20th-century Soviet neologisms, coined from the phrase Ленинская армия (Leninskaya armya), meaning “Lenin’s army.” Such ideological names were created to reflect Soviet ideals and to replace traditional religious names across the USSR.

Unlike many other revolutionary inventions that faded after the fall of the Soviet Union, Lenar, Lenara and its offshoots of Linar/Linara endured among Tatars and other Central Asian peoples. Their survival is often attributed to their smooth, cross-cultural sound and to later folk etymologies that link them with the Arabic root nūr (“light”) or the Persian nār (“fire”). Some modern South Asian baby name sites have also applied the meaning “born of beauty,” from Arabic but this is not accurate.

In recent years, these names have also spread to South Asian Muslim communities, largely due to the mistaken belief that they stem from Arabic or Persian origins rather than from Soviet linguistic invention.

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Mostyn

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  • Origin: Welsh
  • Gender: Anglo-Welsh
  • Meaning: “bog town.”
  • First Est. 18th-century

From the transferred use of the Welsh place and surname, despite it being a Welsh locative name, it is likely Anglo-Saxon in origin meaning, “bog town.” It is composed of the elements mos (bog) and -tun (settlement; town). The first element of mos later evolved into moss in modern English, changing its meaning.

The Mostyn family were an old landed lineage in North Wales, prominent since the 13th century and known for their estates near the Dee Estuary. It is the name of two Welsh baronetcies created at the end of the 17th-century. The name later transferred into given-name use, first appearing in England and Wales during the 18th century. An early notable bearer was Mostyn Armstrong (b. 1791), an English creator of maps.

It is a rare but steadily used name in England and Wales, being given to at least 5 males per year as of 2024. It is often shortened to Moss.

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Riley

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  • Origin: English
  • Gender: Unisex
  • Usage: English, Dutch
  • Meaning: rye meadow.
  • First Est. 1600s (males); 1800s (females)

From the transferred use of the English surname composed of the Anglo-Saxon elements, ryge (rye) and lēah (meadow).

It shares phonetic similarity with the Irish surname Reilly, though the two are etymologically unrelated. Reilly derives from the Gaelic male name Raghailleach, an ancient Irish personal name of uncertain meaning. However, the Riley spelling has long been more common as a given name.

As a male given name, Riley appears sporadically in England as early as the 16th century, likely used in reference to a mother’s maiden surname—a customary naming practice of the period. A few records of female bearers named Riley appear in England beginning in the mid-19th century, though such instances were rare until modern times.

Riley as a male given name became more widespread by the late 1800s. It first entered the U.S. Top 1000 in 1880 and has remained there continuously ever since. The name reached its highest rank in 2002 at #99 for boys, and as of 2024, it stood at #229. His rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • #47 (New Zealand, 2024)
  • #65 (Canada, 2023)
  • #74 (Australia, 2024)
  • #80 (England & Wales, 2024)
  • #85 (Scotland, 2024)
  • #92 (Northern Ireland, 2023)
  • #248 (Netherlands, 2024)

As a female given name, Riley first entered the U.S. Top 1000 in 1990, debuting modestly at #822. It rose steadily throughout the 1990s, entering the Top 100 by 2002 at #72. The name reached its highest point to date in 2017, peaking at #25, and as of 2024, it ranked at #42. Its ranking as a female given-name in other countries are as follows:

  • #50 (New Zealand, 2024)
  • #82 (Australia, 2024)
  • #170 (Netherlands, 2024)
  • #175 (England & Wales, 2024)

The factors driving its sudden popularity are somewhat uncertain. Riley may have appealed to parents as a fresher, lighter alternative to earlier -ley names that had dominated the previous decades, such as Shirley (1920-30s), Beverly (1940s-50s), Kimberly (1960s-70s) and Ashley (1980s-90s). Its crisp, upbeat rhythm and modern unisex sound also contributed to its rise.

Its female version has spun off variant spellings, which may make it even more popular than it seems, such as Reiley, Reilly, Reily, Rhilee, Rhiley, Rhylee, Rhylei, Rhyleigh, Rhyley, Rhyli, Rhylie, Rielee, Rilee, Rileigh, Rilie, Ryelee, Rylea, Rylee, Rylei, Ryleigh, Ryley, Ryli, Rylie, Ryliee, and Ryliegh.

Its usage as a unisex same has spread recently to the Netherlands, where it ranks in the charts, though not as high as in the anglosphere.

Reilly will have its own entry. Look for further posts in the future.

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Hudson

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  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: “son of Hudde.”
  • Gender: Male
  • HUD-zen; HUD-sen
  • First Est. 1697

From the transferred use of the English surname, meaning “son of Hudde.” The element Hudde is an early Middle English diminutive of Hugh. In some medieval contexts, Hudde was also used as a diminutive of Richard, likely through phonetic blending and nickname overlap (compare “Hodge” and “Hob” from Richard/Robert).

As a given name, Hudson first appears as early as 1697, in the record of Hudson Spencer, baptized in Canterbury, Kent, England.

As a surname, it was well established by the 14th century, appearing in English tax rolls and parish records. It was most famously borne by Henry Hudson (c.1565–1611), the English explorer and navigator for whom the Hudson River and Hudson Bay are named.

An early notable bearer of the given name was Hudson Lowe (1769–1844), a British Army general who served as governor of St. Helena during Napoleon’s exile.

Hudson first appeared in the U.S. Top 1000 male names in 1880, debuting at #909.
It remained within the lower ranks of the Top 500 from 1881–1919, peaking at #538 in 1893, before fading from use through most of the 20th century. The name re-entered the Top 1000 in 1995 and climbed rapidly in popularity, reaching the Top 100 in 2012. As of 2024, Hudson ranks #22 in the United States. His rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • #7 (Australia)
  • #15 (New Zealand)
  • #22 (Canada, 2023)
  • #42 (England and Wales)
  • #54 (Scotland)
  • #76 (Northern Ireland)

The name is also used in Brazil.

A crisp, modern classic with roots in medieval England, Hudson combines rugged charm with upper-crust polish. Its surge in the 2000s was helped by the surname-as-first-name trend that swept English-speaking countries.

Today, Hudson evokes strength, exploration, and refinement — a name that bridges heritage and modern appeal.

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Nubia, Núbia

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  • Origin: Ancient Egyptian
  • Usage: English, Latin-American Spanish, Brazilian – Portuguese
  • Gender: Female
  • First Est. 1820s

It comes directly from the Latin and English geographical term Nubia, referring to the ancient region along the Nile south of Egypt — roughly modern northern Sudan and southern Egypt.

The etymology of the place name itself is is from the Ancient Egyptian word, nwb or nub (gold).

The use of Nubia as a personal name arose much later, during the Romantic and colonial periods of the 18th–19th centuries in England, when exotic place-names like Asia, India, Arabia, and Persia began to be used for girls.

In the 20th century, the name gained renewed use in Latin America, particularly in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico, where Núbia or Nubia became moderately common among women born in the 1940s–1970s. It was further popularized in the 1950s by Brazilian singer Núbia Lafayete (1937-2007), whose birth name was Idenilde Araújo Alves da Costa.

In the United States, Nubia experienced a revival among African Americans during the late 1960s, part of a broader cultural movement that embraced African place-names and heritage-inspired names.

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