Names That Mean North

Attractive, simple Japanese choice that, while not strictly unisex, could work even better for a girl, especially now that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West use it as the nickname for their daughter North. Nori is also the name of an edible seaweed used in wrapping sushi.

A lot of attention was drawn to this name when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West announced it as the name of their baby daughter, making it instantly unisex.

A medieval German saint's name which remained popular in Germany until the middle of the 20th century. It is still in relatively wide use in other European countries, including Poland and Hungary. With other Bert names – like Robert and Albert and even Gilbert – appealing to lovers of strong, traditional boy names with a slightly clunky charm, Norbert could be one of those so-out-it's-in choices that everyone knows, but almost no one is using.

Form of Sufyan mainly found in North Africa

The astronomical Polaris is better known as the North Star, the brightest star in the Ursa Minor constellation. It's also the name of a character in the Marvel Universe, the daughter of Magneto.

Ed Sheeran put this continental place name on the map when he used it as the middle name for his daughter Lyra, born in 2020.

For those who can't bear to use a Kardashian name, perhaps the translation Nohr might be an option. Nohr is currently in Denmark's Top 50 and so is one of those Danish names prime to travel to the wider world.

Boreas was the Greek god of the north wind, deriving from the same root as the Latin name of the Northern Lights, aurora borealis.

Evocative nature name popular for boys in Turkey. It derives from the Greek Boreas, as in the aurora borealis.

Popular boy name in Turkey.

Pronounced to rhyme with fjord, the Norse god of the sea's name, this would make an unorthodox choice for sea-lovers and fishermen.

A lovely option to get to cool nickname Kit, Kitara is a Japanese girl name and also the name of an ancient East African empire.

An icy name with an operatic namesake in late 19th - early 20th century singer Lillian Allen Norton, better known by her stage name Nordica.

Another stiff northerly choice.