Names That Mean Gift

Whether you think of the chocolates or the naked long-haired lady on the horse, Godiva is a name with baggage no child should have to carry.

Jenica might work if you can't decide between Jennifer and Jessica. It's certainly a more distinctive option.

Feodora is an interesting choice for the intrepid name giver, especially with its dynamic nickname, Feo (pronounced FAY-oh).

Cadeau puts a decidedly French-ified twist on the word name trend, but don't be surprised if you encounter ponies and poodles with the same moniker.

Melat is a lovely girl name that is frequently used in Ethiopia. Several meanings of Melat are possible, including "gift of God", and "sweet". Melat also refers to the fine linen or silk woven in the Virgin Mary's dress.

An extremely rare name of Ancient Greek origin which could be a novel way to Callie. There is a minor Harry Potter character by the name: Callidora Black (later Longbottom).

Some people may prefer this spelling to clarify the name's connection to John, but it could be one h too many, exemplified by its steady decline over the past two decades.

Neo, indeed--though it was a male character in "The Matrix."

Addai is derived from Thaddai, the original Aramaic form of Thaddeus. We prefer this derivative to Thad, which is twice as common.

One of the most unusual of the "iah" names, it comes with the appealing and usable nickname Zev.

We like Matti in theory, but in practice it’s likely to get confused for the girlish Maddie.

An appealing Hindi name borne by Mindy Kahling's architect father Avu Chokalingam. She bestowed it on her son Spencer as a middle name in 2020.

A gallicized spelling of Mazhe, itself a Breton version of Matthew, which is currently popular for baby boys in France.

If you're looking for a Euro-chic alternative to Max, Mats is a strong possibility. It's a fading classic in Norway, but is popular in the Netherlands and Belgium, where short names are the height of style.

Central European form of Matthew.

Friendly and charming international variation of Matthew, common in Estonia.

Rare Russian name borne by an enemy of Rasputin.

Portuguese variation of Matthew.

Diminutive of Matthijs, the Dutch form of Matthew.

Isidore and variants are remarkably underused and ripe for revival, a la Theodore and company.