Disputed Names

Names where the reference sources genuinely disagree, and where picking a winner would misrepresent the state of knowledge. Each page sets out the competing accounts and says which is better supported, rather than choosing one and stating it as fact. Most name sites have no such category, which is a decision rather than an absence.

Languages behind these names Modern origin unknown Nyungar or Scottish Gaelic Unrecorded Germanic

Rankings for

19 names, most popular first in United States

Very Rare Rare Uncommon

Girls Boys Unisex

Alana Alana is a girl's name whose origin is disputed.
Girl Disputed #140 in US
Arlo Arlo is a name whose origin is genuinely unsettled.
Boy Disputed #148 in US
Samantha Samantha is a girl's name of uncertain origin, first recorded in America in the eighteenth century.
Girl Disputed #151 in US
Barrett Barrett is a boy's name of disputed origin.
Boy Disputed #171 in US
Amari Amari is a name with several competing origins: the Yoruba for "strength," the Arabic ʿāmir meaning "prosperous," and the Hebrew amar, "to say" — and reference works disagree because all three are genuine.
Unisex Disputed #185 in US
Kaia Kaia is a girl's name with several origins: a Scandinavian pet form of Katarina, the Hawaiian for "the sea," and the Greek Gaia, meaning "earth" — so it can mean sea or land depending on the family.
Girl Disputed #193 in US
Alora Alora is a girl's name of modern coinage with no settled origin.
Girl Disputed #195 in US
Kylie Kylie is a girl's name usually said to mean "boomerang" in an Australian Aboriginal language.
Girl Disputed #204 in US
Myla Myla is a girl's name whose origin is unsettled.
Girl Disputed #210 in US
Bodie Bodie is a boy's name with no single agreed origin.
Boy Disputed #275 in US
Nina Nina is a girl's name with several unrelated origins.
Girl Disputed #324 in US
Dariel Dariel is a boy's name with no settled origin.
Boy Disputed #327 in US
Alayna Alayna is a girl's name, a modern respelling that sits between several older names.
Girl Disputed #332 in US
Ariyah Ariyah is a girl's name whose spelling is modern American but whose roots run in several directions.
Girl Disputed #367 in US
Malani Malani is a girl's name of uncertain origin.
Girl Disputed #374 in US
Koda Koda is a boy's name with more than one claimed source.
Boy Disputed #412 in US
Indie Indie is a girl's name with no single origin.
Girl Disputed #632 in US
Hana Hana is a girl's name with three unrelated origins: the Japanese for "flower," the Arabic for "happiness," and a Slavic and Czech form of Hannah, meaning "grace."
Girl Disputed #657 in US
Ayzal Ayzal is a girl's name so new that no origin has been established.
Girl Disputed #1,506 in US

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