Though the name is more common in French-speaking cultures, Francois is an unusual choice in the United States. Francoisįrancois is the French version of the English name Francis, and means 'free.' Notable people include two French presidents: Francois Mitterrand and Francois Hollande, who's known for legalizing same-sex marriage. You're unlikely to meet anyone named Dex, though you may come across a Dax or a Knox. Dexĭex is a simple yet strong name reminiscent of Dexter, a Latin name meaning 'of the right hand.' As an English name, however, Dexter is an occupational surname for a person who dyed clothes for a living. If you like the sound of Darwin but want something less scientific, Edwin, Erwin, and Darin all have a similar vibe. Darwinĭarwin is of Old English origin and means 'dear friend.' Most famously, it's the last name of Charles Darwin, who contributed the theory of natural selection to evolutionary sciences. Cornelius 'Neeley' Nolan is the protagonist's younger brother in the novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Cornelius Agrippa is a celebrated German wizard in the Harry Potter series and Shakespeare used the name for characters in his plays Hamlet and Cymbeline. Adachi: This name is variously written, but the kanji characters used mean ‘foot’ or ‘stand’. Abhuraya: Abhura means ‘made with Abura (oil)’, and Ya means ‘valley’. This rare girls’ name combines Christina with the suffix bel. Mitsuhiro Abiko (Japanese sprinter) and Tomomi Abiko (pole vaulter) are its famous bearers. The Irish and Scottish form of Katherine is a unique choice and has a very pretty ring to it. In the 19th century, Cornelius Vanderbilt was an American business magnate who expanded and improved upon the country's transportation infrastructure. This pretty name means cheerful or lively in Italian and makes a beautiful option for a little girl. In the Bible, Cornelius is said to be a Roman centurion who was the first non-Jewish person to convert to Christianity.

Cornelius is thought to derive from the Latin word for horn, but this name has a far broader meaning in history.

Unique girl last names