20 Popular Baby Names With Super-Weird Meanings

The name Cecilia is so pretty and has a vintage feel that we absolutely love, but its meaning is pretty strange. It’s derived from the Latin word “Caecilius,” which means “blind” or “dim-sighted.” How did it even end up being a name?

Emily has been such a popular name for so many years that most of us probably haven’t ever really thought about what it means. Surprisingly — and a bit strangely — it has old Roman roots and means “rival.”

The name Giselle is so beautiful, you would never think that it’s one of many weird names that means “mutual obligation,” but it indeed does. It’s evidently derived from the German gisil. We definitely wouldn’t want to think of our baby that way.

The name Olivia is beautiful and quite popular. Most people think of it in terms of olive trees or olive branches, but it actually means “strong army.” However, some translations say that it means “elf army,” which is pretty hilarious.

The name Caesar isn’t all that popular anymore, but it definitely was at one time. Strangely, it means “hairy,” which you would think isn’t something someone would want to name their child. Maybe being hairy was one of those things that was revered back in the day.

The name Kennedy holds special significance in the U.S. thanks to President John F. Kennedy, but unfortunately, it has a really awful meaning. Shockingly, it means “ugly head” or “helmet head” in Irish.

The name Portia is pretty and has long been a name that people have chosen for its unique sound and the fact that it’s not all that common. We were surprised to find out that it is likely derived from the old Roman word porcius, which means “pig.”

Mallory is a cute, classic name, and we really never thought about its meaning. It’s so sad, but it actually means “the unlucky one.” So, if it’s on your short list, you might want to think twice, because that is definitely not good. May we suggest you check out this list of names that mean “lucky” instead.

Thanks to the TV show Euphoria, the name Rue is probably headed for a surge in popularity. It’s definitely a cute name for a little girl, but it means “regret,” which maybe isn’t the best name for a new little one.

The name Campbell is typically thought of as a surname, but it’s not entirely uncommon for it to be used as a first name. We’re guessing that happens a lot when it’s a family name, and people won’t give much thought to it in those cases. It actually means “crooked mouth,” which is pretty weird.

If you like the name Aaron, but you’ve been toying with the idea of using a different spelling, you might not want to spell it “Aeron.” Evidently that means “slaughter” in the Welsh language.

Between the questionable actions of NBA star Tristan Thompson and the meaning of the name Tristan, we’re not sure this one’s a good choice regardless of how beautiful it sounds. It means “tumult” or “outcry” in the Celtic language and is associated with the French word triste, which means “sad.”

We seriously love the name Amos. It’s adorable and simple, but still sounds a bit sophisticated. It comes from the Hebrew language and evidently means “burden,” but also “carried by God,” so perhaps it’s still a great choice.

The name Mara is really sweet. We love the way it sounds, and the simple spelling is perfect, but it has quite an unsavory meaning. It has Hebrew origins as well, and means “bitterness.” However, in Latvian mythology, Mara was considered the highest goddess.

The name Cameron has been incredibly popular for years. It sits squarely in the Top 100 boy names in the U.S., and people don’t seem to care that its meaning is pretty silly. It has Gaelic origins and means “crooked nose.” It was actually used as a nickname for people who had that trait.

The name Leah is a classic Biblical girl name that has been popular in the U.S. for decades. Many people choose it because of its Jewish and Christian roots, but quite surprisingly, it means “weary” or even “grieved.”

Well, this one really threw us for a loop. We’ve all heard the name Rebecca a million times. We all know a Rebecca. The name has strong Biblical roots, but quite disturbingly, it means “noose” or “to bind.”

This one is actually kind of funny. Bailey is a cute name. It’s not too common but also not terribly unusual. Its meaning, however, is quite literal. It’s derived from the old French word baili, which refers to a “manager,” and comes from the word “bailiff,” which is exactly that, a bailiff or warrant officer.

This one is so obvious we never would have guessed it. Carter was a surname during the Middle Ages, when people’s last names often referenced their jobs. Thus, Carter means “cart maker” or “one who transports goods.”

We always connected the name Louis with French royalty, but never really thought about what it means or if it was part of a collection of weird names. We were surprised to discover that it means “famous in war,” but some actually interpret it to mean “famous war.” Not sure how we feel about that.