By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 17 pages
of 17
Arabic
"resolute"
A Saudi Arabian royal name that has remained within its own culture.
"friendly"
A pretty and delicate cousin of Anna is often heard in Scotland and is also currently popular in France. In the US it was brought to public attention by child actress Anissa Jones, who played Buffy…
"the winner"
Commonly used Muslim name, also sometimes chosen to honor Egyptian president Gamal Abdel-Nasser.
Arabic and Turkish form of Noah
"rest"
A variant of the highly popular Noah, Nuh has featured in the UK Top 1000 on and off since the 2010s.
"beloved"
The lilting name of a range of mythical mountains, with an extensive menu of spellings, and a more unusual way of fitting in with current favorites Lila and Lola.
"brighter, clearer"
Strongly identified with peace-accord-seeking Egyptian president Anwar el-Sadat.
Korean; Hindi; Turkish; Arabic; Ewe
"this world's beauty or grace; army; to praise; bringing heaven to earth"
Sena is one of those names that is as obscure in the Western World as it is simple and straightforward. Sena exists as a name in a range of languages and cultures and may be pronounced like Senna…
Diminutive of Louise or Lucy, or Arabic
"pearl"
Lula has a firecracker personality, a singing and dancing extrovert. Interesting that Lulu was a Top 100 name when the Social Security list was born in 1880, but it's been sliding ever since and has…
"queenly"
A favorite in Near Eastern cultures, with a charming meaning.
Armenian
"king"
Simple and yet distinctive, Ara is a mythological name of a famously handsome king. Although it originated as a boys' name, in the contemporary US, it's now much more commonly used for girls. Ara was…
"illustrious"
This evocative Arabic name is often heard in India.
"peace through faith"
Short form of the name Anglicized as Saladin, very popular throughout the Arab world.
Arabic; Polish, Czech, Slovak
"perfect; young ceremonial attendant"
Although popular in the Muslim community as representing one of the 99 qualities of God listed in the Quran, this could be confused with the female Camille. It's also common in the West Slavic…
Arabic, Persian, Hebrew
"dawn, morning, awakening; crescent"
A soft, strong name, commonly heard in the Middle East, Sahar is an Arabic and Persian name, associated with dawn and beginnings, and a Hebrew name, meaning "crescent", in turn linking it to the…
Aramaic
"little girl"
Talitha appears in the Bible as words Jesus says to awaken a young girl whose parents feared she was dead. It has been used in the US since colonial times. Talitha is also the name of two stars in…
"righteous, rightly advised"
This is a widely used Arabic choice — but Rashad is more popular here. Actress Rashida Jones represents the feminine version.
"helper, supporter"
Zahira is the feminine form of Zahir. Some may relate it to the more familiar Zahara.
Mousa is an Arabic masculine name that serves as a variant of Moses (Musa in Arabic). The name carries deep historical and religious significance, as Moses is an important prophet in Islam,…
German, Slovene, and Scandinavian form of Maya; also, Arabic
"splendid"
Whether you pronounce it my-a, ma-zha or ma-ha, Maja is an intriguing choice. Sometimes associated with Goya's famous painting "The Naked Maja." As a cognate of Maya, it's a Top 10 name in Slovenia…
"loved one"
A North African choice, particularly popular in Tunisia and Syria.
