We are expecting another girl- due in four weeks and have NO LIST of names. YIKES. Our first daughter Xola’s name comes from Nelson Mandela’s first language meaning Bringer of peace and Marie is her middle name. The M comes from all of our grandmas with M names. My husband would like a meaningful and unique name for number #2, but we haven’t gotten very far. If you have any suggestions please send them our way.
Have you considered “Swistle”? Unusual, meaningful (“bringer of baby names”). Not entirely unique since she would share it with me, but two in 7.4 billion isn’t too bad, and I will try not to show up at the same parties.
This is a good question to give to a big group like this. Even if the specific people/things other people find meaningful are not the same things you find meaningful, there are bound to be some ideas that lead you to think of other ideas.
I think if I were you I would start by making a brainstorming list. Well, first make a list of words to put you in the right mindset, words such as:
meaningful
important
inspiring
important
admirable
anything other word that makes your heart rise up with “YES, that is the kind of thing we want!”
And then, with that list of words visible to both of you, say “1, 2, 3, GO!” and write down everything that you think of when you think of those words. Or leave a pad of paper out, where you can jot down things as you think of them over several days. Maybe you’d write down people such as Malala Yousafzai and Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama, or words such as peace and philanthropy and international and love, or organizations such as Doctors without Borders. Historical figures, scientists, Nobel Peace Prize winners, authors, poets, flowers, words from other languages. Go to your bookshelf and see whose books you have. Look at your charitable giving. Any of these things can lead you to something or someone you would like to honor with your child’s name.
Well, or for some people this method is going to take what was only a slightly difficult problem and turn it into a giant overwhelming mess. If you’re reading through that paragraph above and your heart is starting to pound with anxiety instead of with happy industriousness, then let’s try something else.
I have a book called Baby Names Made Easy: The Complete Reverse Dictionary of Baby Names. Names are sorted into categories such as “Peace & Freedom,” “Happiness & Joy,” “Kindness & Goodness.” If you wanted to stick with the theme of peace, here are a few ideas from that section:
Amina – peaceful, trustworthy, truthful
Reena – peaceful
Selima – peace; healthy
Tula – tranquil
Or here are a couple from the Kindness & Goodness section:
Alma – nourishing, kind
Charis – graceful, kind
Or from the Intelligence & Wisdom section:
Meira – enlightener
Minda – knowledge
Or from the Dreams & Hopes section:
Asha – hope
Nadia – hope
A few more, from riffling through the book at random:
Adelpha – beloved sister
Brisa – beloved
Carita – charity, kindness
Caro – dear, beloved
Jaia – victory
Liora – light
Nira/Nera – light
Rona – strength
Vela – guardian
Yori – trustworthy
And so on. There is a good assortment of names from many countries. I would, however, double-check the meanings in another book to be sure.
For the middle name, my own preference would be to find another name that honors family. Or the middle name would be a good place for a name that hit all the markers of what you wanted in a meaningful name, but wasn’t something you wanted to use as a first name.
Selah–to praise
Noor–light
I suggest Naia. It has so many possible meanings and origins! “Flow” in Hawaiian, “sea nymph” from greek, or “hope” from Russian/Slavic origins. It can also mean “little sister” in Greenlandic. Xola and Naia! I w
Sorry about those extra letters on the end-I’m done :)
A few that popped into my mind as good matches to Xola sound-wise:
Vesper (evening prayers)
Zora (dawn)
Xiomara (allegedly “ready for battle”)
I love Swistle’s suggestion of Liora. Personally, I’m drawn to names with significance to my immediate family members/heritage, and that can vary wildly from person to person. Going off Swistle’s list idea, maybe a parent’s favorite flower, a name or word with significance in your family’s culture of origin (which may well be how you came upon Xola). Sometimes, I’ll google the names of flowers or colors in other languages just to see what pops up.
Lux (light)
Shalom (peace)
Kai (different meanings in several languages)
Harmony
Neve (bright)
Perhaps you’d like one of these Slovenian names?
Zarja (Zaria): dawn
Živa (Zhiva): lively
Tisa (Teesa): yew tree
and some not in use nowadays…
Jasna (Yasna): clear
Roža (Rozha): flower
Sveta (Sveta): holy
Tiha (Teeha): quiet
These come to mind that I did not see on the list;
Selah (pause and reflect, musical interlude). I have heard it pronounced ‘say-la’ or ‘saah-la’
Karis (graceful)
Lumen (light)
Ember
Cosima (order, beauty)
Indigo
Anouk (grace)
Zadie
Xanthe (golden)
Cerys (love)
Lux was the first name that came to mind and then I saw that someone else suggested it too, so hopefully that’s a good sign. :) I think “light” is just as meaningful as “bringer of peace.” Light and peace, two things the world could always use. Xola and Lux sound GREAT together in my mind. I also love that they both have the letter x but that they have different sounds.
If they want to continue the M theme for the middle name to honor all of the grandmas (which I think is so sweet!) I like Miriam and Minerva. According to Nameberry Miriam means “wished-for child,” which is a beautiful meaning. And with Minerva being associated with wisdom and intellect, I think it’s really awesome paired with Lux. Xola Marie and Lux Miriam. Xola Marie and Lux Minerva.
Lots of great suggestions! Amina, Rona, and Neve sound particularly nice with Xola. I also like the suggestion of Miriam for a middle name.
SALEM came to my mind which means peace! Wouldn’t it be so wonderful if the girls could both have names relating to peace?!? Xola and Salem!
So- I’m coming to offer more suggestions and I’ll tell you where I got these from! My younger sister just got married and I remember when helping her search online for a wedding dress- I came across a designer who had some of the most unique names for their dresses. I just went back to that website and started searching the meanings of the names of the wedding dresses so here are a few!! There are so many options so I’m going to tell you how to get to the website that way you can search the many unique names! (not sure if the link would post if I post it)
Search: Watters, Wtoo, Willowby and Seahorse wedding dresses!
Sagan/Seagan= Wise one
Emsley= Gift from God
Calanthe= Beautiful flower
Seaton= From the farm by the sea
Sanibel= don’t know the meaning but it sounds cool!
Zarrin= Golden
Thandie= Loving one
I just looked up Xhosa girl names (Xhosa is the 1st language of Mandela), and Thandie originated from that language! The sisters names would be “bringer of peace” and “loving one”, so I second your dress inspired suggestion.
There are sites listing other Xhosa names…I wonder if letter writer would be interested in staying with that theme? Anele stood out to me.
Shanti means “peace” in Sanskrit and seems like a sister name to Xola.
I also thought of Imani or Iman.
Your mention of Nelson Mandela made me think of Desmond Tutu. Both men lived on Vilakazi Street and is the only street that can lay claim to having, at one time, 2 Nobel Peace Prize winners living on it. I think Vilakazi has some name potential especially given a few possible nicknames: Vila (my favorite) or Kazi. I would suggest another honor middle name. Maybe even something that repeats the “M” like Vilakazi May/Mae.
That being said, the first name that jumped into my head after reading your letter was Xanthe (golden).
Winnie
Vivi
Saffi
Yasmine
Omani
Questa
Someone mentioned earlier Zadie. That was my first thought. It means prosperous, fortunate.
Xola and Zadie – perfect match.
Another version of the name is Zada. Or Zaida.
Hi,
I suggest Nandi – a Zulu name meaning “sweet one.”
The comment from Ash listed “Zarrin”. That is my daughter’s name. We spell it “Zareen” (pronounced “zar” as in “jar” and “reen” as in “keen.” It’s the Persian word for golden.
I like Amani and Paloma which also a mean peace. thandy is wonderful
I particularly like Amina.
There is a book/memoir called “A House in the Sky” about a young freelance photographer who was kidnapped in along Somalia with one of her friends. The book is written by her and describes everything she endured during the 15 months in captive. In captivity, she changed her name to an Arabic name, Amina, in hopes that her captors would feel kinship with her and that they would release her/stop the abuse. I know it sounds rather depressing… but to read the book, to read the strength and courage and determination that she had… it is really amazing. When I read the suggestion Amina, that was the feeling that came to me. Plus, it is a beautiful name. I love it. Good luck!
I love Zora and Lux, as suggested previously, for both meanings and the X/X/Z connection. Alma has also always been one of my favorites. In addition to its Latin-derived meanings, it means “soul” in Spanish. I also offer up my middle name, Malaika, which means angel in Swahili and is derived from Arabic.
Would you consider English “virtue names”?–I love these, and have daughters Bliss and Grace. For example (off the top of my head, some common and others less so): Honor, Peace, Solace, Mercy, Constance, Charity, Hope, Justice, Joy, Patience, Serenity, Faith, Welcome, Verity, Amity, Calm, Clarity, Unity, Courage, Love, Liberty. Some others are nearly virtue names with what feel to me like closely associated meanings: Honora, Vera, Serena, Minerva, Sophia, Justine, Caritas, Concordia, Pacifica, Valerie, Cora/Corazon.
Tova (meaning good) has not been mentioned yet. Not sure if it is too rhyme-y with your daughter’s name, but i thought i would throw it out there.
One more: Shulamith, the female form of Solomon and derived from Shalom, meaning peace.