Names  - Origins 

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NADINE: Slavic for "hope." Although the Slavic interpretaion works, "nada" in Spanish means "nothing." Relatives: Nada, Nadina, Nadeen, Nadia, Nata, Nadya, Nadie, Nadezhda. Namesakes: Nadine Gordimer, Nadia Comaneci.

NAIDA: Greek for "water nymph." Perfect for the baby who loves bath time. Relatives: Naiad, Naia, Naiia, Nayad, Nyad. Namesake: Diana Nyad.

NAIRNE: Scottish for "from the narrow river glade." May be used interchangeably for boys and girls. Namesake: Nairn County (Scotland).

NANCY: A variation of Ann. Although some might say "no no" to Nanette, we fancy Nancy. It was on the top-twenty lists during the first half of the twentieth century but has inexplicably fallen out of favor. Relatives: Nancy, Nancee, Nansey, Nansee, Nana, Nanny, Nan, Nannette, Nanine, Nanice, Nance. Namesakes: Nancy Kissinger, Nanette Fabray, Nancy Lopez, "Nancy Drew."

NAOMI: Hebrew for "pleasant one." A charming name with a strong biblical link. Relatives: Naoma, Noami, Mimi, Mimsy, Mims. Namesake: the biblical mother-in-law of Ruth.

NAPOLEON: Greek for "lion of the woods" and Italian for "from the city of Naples." Relatives: Nappie, Nappy, Nap, Leon, Leo.

NARA: Old English for "near one" or Gaelic for "joyous." If Lara, Mara, Sara, or Tara leave you flat...

NARCISSUS: From the Greek for "self-love." The Greek myth of the beautiful Narcissus tells the story of the young man falling in love with his own reflection. He is turned into a narcissus plant for his vanity. Relatives: Narcisus, Narcissa, Narcisse.

NASH: Old English for "cliff." This nifty choice sounds "preppily" short for something much longer. Relative: Nashe. Namesakes: Ogden Nash, Graham Nash, Thomas Nash, Nash Rambler automobiles.

NATALIE: Latin for "birthday" or "child born at Christmas." The international collection of variations make this a rich choice. Relatives: Nataly, Natalee, Nataleigh, Natalia, Natalya, Natala, Nataline, Nathalia, Nathalie, Noel, Noelle, Novella, Natasha, Natasa, Natalja, Natassia, Nastassia, Natividad, Netty, Nettie, Tally, Tallie, Tasha, Talia. Namesakes: Natalie Wood, Natalia Makarova, Nastassia Kinski, Talia Shire.

NATHANIEL: From the Hebrew for "gift of God." This super name could become the Matthew of the next decade. Relatives: Nathanielle, Nathanael, Nathan, Nathania, Nataniel, Natanielle, Nataniella, Natan, Natania, Nate, Nat, Natty. Namesakes: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Nathan Hale, Nathanael West, Nat King Cole, "Natty Bumppo."

NEAL: Irish Gaelic for "champion." Neal (or Neil) is much more commmon in the United Kingdom but has always been a solid choice in the United States. Relatives: Neil, Neill, Nial, Niall, Neale, Neel, Niels, Niel, Niles, Nels, Nils, O'Neill. Namesakes: Neil Armstrong, Neil Diamond, Neal Kinnock, Nils Lundgren, Nels Van Patten.

NEALA: Irish Gaelic for "champion" and the feminine version of Neal. Relatives: Niela, Nela, Neela, Neila, Nealah, Neilla, Nila.

NEDA: Slavic for "born on Sunday" and English for "sanctuary." Relatives: Nedda, Neddy, Ned, Nerida. Namesake: heroine in Pagliacci.

NEHEMIAH: From the Hebrew for "God's compassion." Relative: Nemiah. Namesake: Nehemiah Wilson.

NELLIE: An abbreviated form of Eleanor, Helen, or Cornelia. Relatives: Nelly, Nellis, Nelle, Nell, Nela, Nelda, Nelia, Nella, Nelita, Nelina, Nellwyn. Namesakes: Nelly Bly, Nell Gwyn, "Nervous Nelly."

NELSON: Old English for "son of a champion." Relatives: Nealson, Neilson, Nilson, Nelly, Nellie. Namesakes: Nelson Rockefeller, Nelson Eddy, Nelson Mandela, Lord Nelson, Nellie Fox.

NEROLI: Italian for "orange blossom" Since the time of the Crusades when soldiers brought them back from the Middle East, orange blossoms have represented enduring love. Relatives: Nerolia, Nerolie, Neroly, Nerole.

NESSA: Old Norse for "headland." Relatives: Nesa, Nissa, Nessie. Namesake: Nessie, the Loch Ness monster.

NESTOR: From the Greek for "traveler" or "wisdom." Relatives: Nesta, Nest. Namesakes: King Nestor, Nestor Chylak.

NEVA: Spanish for "covered in snow." The state of Nevada is so named for its snow-capped Sierra peaks. Relatives: Nevia, Nevea, Nevita, Nevada. Namesake: Nevada Smith.

NEVILLE: Old French for "from the new farmland." Like Nigel, Neville is more popular in the British Commonwealth. Relatives: Nevil, Nevile, Newland, Nev, Nevelson. Namesakes: Neville Chamberlain, Neville Brand, Nevil Shute.

NEVIN: Irish Gaelic for "worshiper," Old English for "middle," and German for "nephew." Considering Kevin and Devin have such a following, it's surpising Nevin hasn't fared better. Relatives: Nevins, Neven. Namesake: Allan Nevins.

NEWELL: Old English for "from the manor" and Old French for "kernel." Relatives: Newall, Newlin, Newlyn (Old Welsh for "pool"), Newland, Newbold, Newgate, Newton. Namesakes: Andrew Newell Wyeth, Isaac Newton.

NEWMAN: Old English for "newcomer." What is a baby boy if not a new man? Relatives: Neuman, Neumann, Numen, Newmie. Namesakes: Cardinal Newman, Paul Newman, "Alfred E. Neuman."

NICHOLAS: Greek for "victorious people" and Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Long a favorite in Greece and Russia, Nicholas has soared up the popularity charts in the 1970s and 1980s. It's one of those names that sounds good in any language. Relatives: Nicolas, Nikolaus, Nicklaus, Nicola, Nick, Nicky, Nikki, Nikita, Nikos, Nike, Nikolai, Nikola, Nicholai, Nicanor, Nikos, Nicos, Nichol, Nichols, Nicolson, Nicol, Nicolo, Nicko, Nicodemus, Nils, Niles, Nixon, Cole, Colin, Colet, Claus. Namesakes: Nick Carter, Nick Danger, Mike Nichols, Jack Nicholson, Jack Nicklaus, Nikos Kazantazkis, Cole Porter, "Nick Adams," Nicholas Nickleby.

NICOLE: A variation of Nicholas. Like the Gaelic cousins Danielle and Michelle, Nicole has maintained a steady position in the top-ten lists for the past two decades. Relatives: Nichole, Nicola, Nikki, Nika, Nickie, Nicky, Nichola, Nicci, Nichelle, Nikolia, Nicoline, Nicolette, Nike (Greek for "victory"), Colette, Collette, Cosette. Namesakes: Nicole Gregory, Nikki Giovanni, Nicolette Larsen, "Colette."

NIGEL: From the Latin for "dark one." This is pronounced "Nie-jil" -- not "Knee-gul." Ask any Englishman. Namesakes: Nigel Bruce, Nigel Dempster.

NINA: Spanish for "girl" and a Russian form of Anne. In spike of its charming brevity, Nina has an exotic cadence to it. And remember, history buffs, it served Columbus's ship well. Relatives: Ninya, Ninette, Ninon. Namesakes: Nina Simone, Nina Ricci.

NIREL: From the Hebrew for "God's field." Nirel is well off the beaten path and has a delightful sound. Relatives: Niriel, Niria, Nira, Nir, Nyree.

NISSA: Scandinavian for "elf" or "fairy." For the child who believes in the fantastic. Relatives: Nisse, Nissi, Nisi (Hebrew for "emblem"), Nissan, Nissim.

NOAH: Hebrew for "comfort" or "wanderer." Like many of the Old Testament names, Noah, the original zookeeper, is making a comeback. Relatives: Noa, Noe, Noach, Noel, Noadiah (Hebrew for "God assembles"), Noam. Namesakes: Noah Webster, Noah Berry, Noam Chomsky.

NOBLE: From the Latin for "honorable one" or"well born." Relatives: Nobel, Nobile. Namesakes: Nobel Peace Prize, Barnes and Noble bookstores.

NOEL: French for "Christmas." This name and the variations work for either a girl or a boy. It may be pronounced "Know-el" or "No-well" and is often seen with an umlaut, Noël. Relatives: Noelle, Nowell, Natale, Natal. Namesakes: Noel Coward, Noel Harrison.

NOLAN: Irsih Gaelic for "noble." Relatives: Nolen, Nolin, Nolyn, Nowlan. Namesakes: Nolan Miller, Nolan Ryan, Lloyd Nolan.

NONA: Latin for "nine." This would work well for a girl born in September.

NORA: Abbreviated form of Eleanora, Lenore, or Honora. An elegant, simple name. Relatifes: Norah, Norine, Noreen, Norina. Namesakes: Norah Lofts, "Nick and Nora Charles."

NORBERT: From the Old German for "blond hero." Relative: Norberta. Namesakes: Saint Norbert, Norbert Wiener.

NORDICA: German for "from the north." This is the name of a company that manufactures ski equipment, making Nordica an ideal choice for future schussboomers. Realtives: Norna, Norberta.

NORMA: Latin for "model" and a feminine version of Norman. A favorite in the 1920s, this has yet to find a following in later generations. Namesakes: Norma Shearer, Norma (opera by Bellini), Norma Rae.

NORMAN: From the Old French or English for "man from the North" (especially Norsemen) as well as the people known as Normans. This name is guaranteed to give your son a sense of direction. Relatives: Normie, Normal, Norm, Norris, Norville, Normand. Namesakes: Norman Mailer, Norman Rockwell, Norman Lear, Norris Church, Frank Norris, "Norman Bates."

NORTH: From the Old English. If Norman doesn't thrill you, consider North and its square-jawed inference. Relatives: Northcliff, Northrup, Norton, Norvin, Norwin, Norwyn, Norward, Norwell, Norwood, Nowles. Namesakes: Northrop Frye, Norton Simon, Henry Norwell, North by Northwest.

NYE: Middle English for "island dweller." Namesakes: Louis Nye, Gerald Prentice Nye, Carrie Nye.

~ THE BEST NAME FOR YOUR BABY: A CREATIVE GUIDE TO PROPER NAMES, by Barbara Binswanger and Lisbeth Mark. Henry Holt and Co., New York, 1990.