Action sports names
Skate, snow, surf, dirt, and rock. These are the names of the people who go first: the ones who drop into the line nobody has ridden, land the trick nobody has landed, and climb the wall everyone said would not go. Deep on mountain biking, because that is where our family lives.
Rachel Hebrew for ewe, a matriarch in Genesis; famously borne by Rachel Atherton, the five-time downhill mountain bike world champion.
Kate A short form of Katherine, of debated origin, later linked to Greek katharos, pure; famously borne by Kate Courtney, the cross-country world champion.
Vali A German pet form of Valentina, from Latin valens, strong; famously borne by Vali Holl, the Austrian downhill mountain bike racer.
Tahnée A modern name with no settled etymology; famously borne by Tahnee Seagrave, the British downhill mountain bike racer.
Jolanda A variant of Yolanda, traditionally linked to the violet flower; famously borne by Jolanda Neff, the Swiss Olympic cross-country mountain bike champion.
Missy A nickname-style name, often a pet form of Melissa; famously borne by Missy Giove, the fearless 1994 downhill mountain bike world champion.
Danny A nickname form of Daniel, Hebrew for God is my judge; famously borne by Danny MacAskill, the Scottish trials and street mountain bike rider.
Brandon An English surname-style name meaning gorse-covered hill; famously borne by Brandon Semenuk, winner of a record five Red Bull Rampage titles.
Aaron Hebrew name of uncertain meaning, borne by Moses's brother; famously borne by Aaron Gwin, the American downhill mountain bike World Cup champion.
Nino An Italian pet form used as a name in its own right; famously borne by Nino Schurter, the most world-titled cross-country mountain biker ever.
Tom A short form of Thomas, Aramaic for twin; famously borne by Tom Pidcock, the British Olympic mountain bike champion.
Richie A nickname form of Richard, Germanic for powerful ruler; famously borne by Richie Rude, the American enduro mountain bike champion.
Rayssa A Brazilian modern coinage, likely a respelling of Raissa; famously borne by Rayssa Leal, the Brazilian street skateboarder and Olympic medalist.
Leticia From Latin laetitia, joy; famously borne by Leticia Bufoni, the most decorated woman in Summer X Games history.
Sky A modern English name taken straight from the word for the sky; famously borne by Sky Brown, Britain's youngest ever Olympic medalist.
Sakura Japanese for cherry blossom; famously borne by Sakura Yosozumi, the Japanese park skateboarder and Olympic gold medalist.
Arisa A modern name popular in Japan whose meaning shifts with its kanji; famously borne by Arisa Trew, the Australian Olympic park skateboarding champion.
Nyjah A modern American coinage with no traditional etymology; famously borne by Nyjah Huston, the most-titled street skateboarder in Street League history.
Yuto A Japanese name whose meaning shifts with its kanji; famously borne by Yuto Horigome, the first Olympic champion in men's street skateboarding.
Gui A Portuguese short form of Guilherme, the equivalent of William; famously borne by Gui Khury, the Brazilian skater who landed the first 1080 on a vert ramp.
Jagger An English surname-style name, an old word for a peddler; famously borne by Jagger Eaton, the American Olympic medalist skateboarder.
Jamie A Scottish pet form of James; famously borne by Jamie Anderson, the two-time Olympic slopestyle snowboarding champion.
Anna A form of Hannah, Hebrew for grace; famously borne by Anna Gasser, the Austrian Olympic big air snowboarding champion.
Zoi Greek for life, a variant spelling of Zoe; famously borne by Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, New Zealand's Olympic slopestyle snowboarding champion.
Ester A Czech form of Esther, the biblical queen of Persia; famously borne by Ester Ledecka, who won Olympic gold in snowboarding and skiing at the same Games.
Mark From Latin Marcus, linked to Mars; famously borne by Mark McMorris, the most decorated athlete in Winter X Games history.
Ayumu A Japanese name built on the character for walk, its meaning shifting with the kanji; famously borne by Ayumu Hirano, the Olympic halfpipe snowboarding champion.
Jeremy The English form of Jeremiah, Hebrew for God will exalt; famously borne by Jeremy Jones, the big mountain snowboarder who founded Protect Our Winters.
Travis A surname-style name from an old word for a crossing or toll; famously borne by Travis Rice, the big mountain snowboarder behind The Fourth Phase.
Carissa From Greek charis, grace; famously borne by Carissa Moore, five-time world champion and the first Olympic champion in women's surfing.
Stephanie The feminine form of Stephen, Greek for crown; famously borne by Stephanie Gilmore, winner of a record eight world titles in women's surfing.
Moana Hawaiian and Polynesian for ocean; famously borne by Moana Jones Wong, the Hawaiian surfer known for her riding at the Banzai Pipeline.
Bethany A biblical place name near Jerusalem; famously borne by Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who returned to competition after losing an arm to a shark.
Maya A name with several roots, including a Sanskrit word for illusion; famously borne by Maya Gabeira, who holds the record for the largest wave ever surfed by a woman.
Kai Hawaiian for sea; famously borne by Kai Lenny, the Hawaiian waterman who competes across nearly every ocean discipline.
Italo Italian for of Italy; famously borne by Italo Ferreira, the Brazilian surfer and Olympic gold medalist.
Gabriel Hebrew for God is my strength, the name of an archangel; famously borne by Gabriel Medina, the three-time surfing world champion.
Kelly An Irish surname turned unisex given name; famously borne by Kelly Sildaru, who won X Games gold at thirteen.
Tess A short form of Theresa, of disputed Greek origin; famously borne by Tess Ledeux, the French Olympic freeskiing medalist.
Sarah Hebrew for princess; famously borne by Sarah Hoefflin, the Swiss Olympic slopestyle freeskiing champion.
Mathilde Germanic for mighty in battle; famously borne by Mathilde Gremaud, the Swiss Olympic freeskiing champion.
Cassie A short form of Cassandra, the prophetess of Greek myth; famously borne by Cassie Sharpe, the Canadian Olympic halfpipe freeskiing champion.
Birk A Scandinavian nature name meaning birch tree; famously borne by Birk Ruud, the Norwegian Olympic big air freeskiing champion.
Henrik A Scandinavian form of Henry, Germanic for home ruler; famously borne by Henrik Harlaut, the Swedish freeskier known for his loose, unmistakable style.
Janja A Slovenian form related to Jana, from the Hebrew for God is gracious; famously borne by Janja Garnbret, the two-time Olympic sport climbing champion.
Ashima Sanskrit for limitless or boundless; famously borne by Ashima Shiraishi, one of the youngest climbers ever to send elite-grade boulders.
Lynn A Welsh nature word for a lake or waterfall, also used as a short form of Linda; famously borne by Lynn Hill, the first person to free-climb The Nose on El Capitan.
Alex A short form of Alexander, Greek for defender of the people; famously borne by Alex Honnold, who climbed El Capitan alone and without ropes.
Adam Hebrew for man or earth, the biblical first man; famously borne by Adam Ondra, who established Silence, the world's first 9c climbing route.
Brooke An English nature name for a small stream; famously borne by Brooke Raboutou, the American Olympic competition climber.
Tommy A nickname form of Thomas, Aramaic for twin; famously borne by Tommy Caldwell, who made the first free ascent of El Capitan's Dawn Wall with Kevin Jorgeson.
Margo A short form of Margaret, Greek for pearl; famously borne by Margo Hayes, the first woman to climb the 5.15a grade.
Hannah Hebrew for grace or favor; famously borne by Hannah Roberts, the American BMX freestyle world champion.
Alise A modern variant of Alice, from Germanic roots for noble and kind; famously borne by Alise Willoughby, the American BMX racing world champion.
Mariana A Spanish form of the Roman name Mariana; famously borne by Mariana Pajon, Colombia's two-time Olympic BMX champion and national hero.
Charlotte The French feminine form of Charles, free man; famously borne by Charlotte Worthington, the first woman to land a 360 backflip in BMX competition.
Niek A Dutch short form of Nicholas, Greek for victory of the people; famously borne by Niek Kimmann, the Dutch Olympic BMX racing champion.
Logan A Scottish surname-style name meaning little hollow; famously borne by Logan Martin, the Australian Olympic BMX freestyle champion.
Ashley An English place name meaning ash tree meadow; famously borne by Ashley Fiolek, the American motocross champion who raced deaf.
Vicki A short form of Victoria, Latin for victory; famously borne by Vicki Golden, the first woman to win an X Games Moto X medal against the men.
Eli Hebrew, a biblical priest's name also used as a short form of Elijah; famously borne by Eli Tomac, the American supercross and motocross champion.
Felix Latin for lucky or fortunate; famously borne by Felix Baumgartner, who broke the sound barrier falling from the stratosphere.
Dane An English name meaning from Denmark; famously borne by Dane Jackson, the American whitewater kayaking world champion.
Saya A Japanese name whose meaning shifts with its kanji; famously borne by Saya Sakakibara, the first Australian to win Olympic gold in BMX racing.
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