Names with funny meanings

UNISEX:

CAM: Short form of Scottish unisex Cameron ("crooked nose"), and other names beginning with Cam-. Compare with another form of Cam.

CAMERON: Scottish surname transferred to unisex forename use, from the name of the great Highland clans whose ancestor had an ungraceful proboscis, composed of the Gaelic elements cam "bent, crooked" and sròn "nose," hence "crooked nose."

CORTNEY: Variant spelling of English unisex Courtney, meaning "short nose."

COURTNEY: English surname transferred to unisex forename use, derived from the French baronial name Courtenay, from the byname court nez, meaning "short nose."

KENNEDY: Irish surname transferred to unisex forename use in honor of the assassinated American president John F. Kennedy, derived from an Anglicized form of Gaelic Cinnéidigh, meaning "ugly head."

KORTNEY: Variant spelling of English unisex Courtney, meaning "short nose."

KOURTNEY: Variant spelling of English unisex Courtney, meaning "short nose."

MALE:

AMLODI: Anglicized form of Icelandic Amloði, possibly meaning "heavy" or "the dullard."

AMLÓÐI: Icelandic saga name from Snori Sturlasson's Skaldskaparmal, possibly a translation of the Latin name Brutus, meaning "heavy" or "the dullard."

AMLUÞ: Anglo-Saxon form of Icelandic Amlóði, possibly meaning "heavy" or "the dullard." This name appears on an eight-century runic inscription on the Westeremden yew-wand.

AMLUTH: Variant spelling of Anglo-Saxon Amluþ, possibly meaning "heavy" or "the dullard."

AMMADON: English surname derived from Gaelic amadan, meaning "numskull, simpleton."

BABIECA: Spanish name meaning "a simpleton; stupid." This was the name of the white Andalusian steed belonging to El Cid. According to legend, Babieca was frail and wild and when El Cid chose her, his godfather exclaimed "Babieca!" and so this became his name. But Babieca was not stupid; he became a great and famous warhorse and El Cid loved him so much he requested that he be buried with him in the monastery of San Pedro de Cardena. Unfortunately, his wish was not granted; instead Babieca was buried before the gate of the monastery and two elms were planted to mark the site.

BALLARD: From an Old English derogatory name for a bald-headed person; it became a surname, then transferred to forename; derived from Middle English balled, meaning "rounded like a ball," hence "bald-headed."

BAMBER: German byname meaning "short and fat."

BASSETT: English name derived from the Old French word basset, a byname for a short person, derived from a diminutive form of the word basse ("low, short"), hence, "shorty."

BRIAN: Old French derogatory byname derived from the Old Occitan word brian, meaning "maggot." Compare with another form of Brian.

BRICKEL: South German byname related to the word bröckel, a diminutive of brocken "chunk," hence "little chunk," denoting a short stocky person.

BRODIE: Modern English variant spelling of Irish Brody, meaning "ditch."

BRODY: Irish surname transferred to forename use, meaning "ditch."

BRÓGÁN: Old Gaelic name composed of the word bróg "shoe," and a diminutive suffix, hence "little shoe."

BROGAN: Irish surname transferred to unisex forename use, from Gaelic Ó Brógáin, meaning "descendant of Brógán," hence "little shoe."

BRÖKK: Old Norse myth name of a dwarf who, along with his brother Eitri, made magical objects for the gods, including the hammer of Thor, probably derived from the Nordic element bróka, meaning "breeches."

BRUTUS: Roman Latin name meaning "heavy" or "the dullard."

CADE: English surname transferred to forename use, originally a byname for someone or something "round and lumpy."

CALBHACH: Irish Gaelic name meaning "bald."

CALVAGH: Variant spelling of Irish Gaelic Calbhach, meaning "bald."

CALVIN: English name derived from Latin Calvinus, meaning "little bald one."

CALVINO: Italian form of Latin Calvinus, meaning "little bald one."

CALVINUS: Latin form of the French surname Chauvin, from a diminutive of Norman calve ("bald"), hence "little bald one."

CAMP: English short form of Scottish Campbell, meaning "crooked mouth."

CAMPBELL: Scottish surname transferred to forename use, composed of the Gaelic elements cam "bent, crooked" and beul "mouth," hence "crooked mouth."

CAMRON: English masculine variant spelling of Scottish Cameron, meaning "crooked nose."

CANUTUS: Latin form of Old Norse Knútr, meaning "knot." In use by the Norwegians and Swedish.

CINNÉIDIGH: Irish Gaelic name composed of the elements ceann "head" and éidigh "ugly," hence "ugly head." Kennedy is an Anglicized form.

CNUT: Variant spelling of Scandinavian Knut, meaning "knot."

CRAWFORD: English byname for someone with splayed feet, transferred to surname then to forename, composed of the Old English elements crawe "crow" and fot "foot," hence "crow-foot."

CULHWCH: Welsh Arthurian legend name of a cousin of King Arthur and hero of the story Culhwch and Olwen, composed of the elements cul "something narrow and straight" and hwch "pig, sow," hence "pig's run." While still pregnant with Culhwch, Goleuddydd went mad after being frightened by a herd of swine. Culhwch was found in the pigs' run by the swineherd and taken to his father. Years later, his stepmother wanted him to marry her daughter; angered by his refusal, she cursed him so that he could never marry anyone but the beautiful Olwen, daughter of Ysbaddaden, a fierce giant who was cursed to die if his daughter ever married.

GWEMBESHE: African Zulu name meaning "bow-legged."

HEPHAESTUS: Latin form of Greek Hephaistos, possibly meaning "seven." In mythology, this is the name of the lame god of artisans, craftsmen, metallurgy and fire. His Roman name is Vulcan. It was from the forge of this god that Prometheus stole fire to give to man. He is also known by the epithet "both feet crooked."

HEPHAISTOS (Ήφαιστος): Greek name said to be pre-Hellenic and of unknown origin, but possibly from the word hepta, meaning "seven." In mythology, this is the name of the lame god of artisans, craftsmen, metallurgy and fire. His Roman name is Vulcan. It was from the forge of this god that Prometheus stole fire to give to man. He is also known by the epithet "both feet crooked."

HOYT: English byname for a tall, skinny person, turned surname turned forename, from Middle English hoit, meaning "long stick."

KADE: Variant spelling of English Cade, "round and lumpy."

KAM: Short form of English Kameron, meaning "crooked nose."

KAMERON: English masculine form of Scottish unisex Cameron, meaning "crooked nose."

KANUT: Short form of Latin Kanutus, meaning "knot."

KANUTUS: Variant spelling of Latin Canutus, meaning "knot."

KNUD: Danish variant form of Scandinavian Knut, meaning "knot."

KNUT: Scandinavian form of Old Norse Knútr, meaning "knot."

KNUTE: Norwegian variant form of Scandinavian Knut, meaning "knot."

KNÚTR: Old Norse byname for a short, squat man, meaning "knot."

KORACH (קׄרַח): Variant spelling of Hebrew Qorach, meaning "bald" or "ice." In the bible, this is the name of a Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron.

KORAH: Anglicized form of Hebrew Qorach, meaning "bald" or "ice." In the bible, this is the name of a Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron.

MEALLÁN: Irish Gaelic name which was probably originally a byname for a short stocky person, composed of the elements meall "knot, lump" and a diminutive suffix, hence "little lump."

MELLAN: Variant spelling of Irish Meallán, meaning "little lump."

MIKIO (美樹夫): Japanese name meaning "tree trunk man."

PORCIUS: Roman family name, meaning "pig."

QORACH (קׄרַח): Hebrew name meaning "bald" or "ice." In the bible, this is the name of a Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron.

RACA (ריקה): Variant spelling of the Aramaic byname Raka, meaning "fool; empty head."

RAKA (ריקה): Aramaic byname meaning "fool; empty head."

SCANLAN: Irish name meaning "scandal."

SCANLON: Variant spelling of Irish Scanlan, meaning "scandal."

WAQUINI: Native American Cheyenne name meaning "hook nose."

FEMALE:

CALVINA: Feminine form of of Italian Calvino, meaning "little bald one."

CAMRYN: English feminine variant spelling of Scottish unisex Cameron, meaning "crooked nose."

CANUTE: Variant spelling of Latin Canutte, meaning "knot."

CANUTTE: Feminine form of Latin Canutus, meaning "knot." In use by the Norwegians.

CORIANDER: English name derived from the spice name coriander (also commonly called Cilantro), from Latin coriandrum, from Greek corys ("bedbug") with the added element -ander "resembling" (referring to the smell of the spice which is similar to the odor of bedbugs), hence "smells like a bedbug."

KAMRYN: English feminine form of Scottish unisex Cameron, meaning "crooked nose."

KANUTTE: Variant spelling of Latin Canutte, meaning "knot." In use by the Norwegians.

PORSCHE: German form of Roman Latin Porcius, meaning "pig." A moon of Uranus was given this name.

PORTIA: English Shakespeare character name derived from Roman Latin Porcius, meaning "pig." A moon of Uranus was given this name.

SEQUOIA: From the Native American Cherokee name of the giant redwood trees that grow in California. The tree was named after the half-blooded scholar George Gist, inventor of the Cherokee alphabet. The name Sequoia ("pig's foot"), was given to him after a hunting accident disfigured his foot.