By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 776 pages
of 776
Neya is a compact, feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from the Native American Keresan language, meaning 'guardian' or 'protector,' though it's also found in Russian as a…
Turkish and Azerbaijani
"moon over the River Nile"
Nilay is a celestial feeling name that paints a picture in the mind. Connected to the moon, water, and a place, it combines the Turkish and Azerbaijani name from the River Nile, Nil , with the…
Swedish, Danish, Nordic
"victor"
Feminine form of Nils
French diminutive of Ann
"grace"
Not quite Nanette and not quite Ninon, this is one of the more unusual 'ette' options. There was an eponymous Spanish film, starring Elsa Pataky, based on a novel.
Nirel is a feminine name with Hebrew origins that carries a beautiful meaning: 'God's light' or 'light of God.' It combines the Hebrew elements 'nir' (light) and 'el' (God). This spiritual connection…
Hebrew
"to test"
Feels truncated, as though a first syllable was snapped off.
Igbo
"father's mother"
Traditionally given to girls who were thought to be reincarnations of their paternal grandmother.
Latin
"aristocratic"
Modern parents tend to reject Puritan names, but Noble was a Puritan favorite worth revival. Integrity and generosity are attractive qualities in anyone, so it's apparent why parents are starting to…
Hebrew, Italian variation of Aurea, Latin
"my God is light; golden"
From Hebrew, Oria is a variation of Oriya, created by combining Ori meaning "light" with yah indicating God. From Italian, it is a variation of the Latin Aurea, a golden Saint name, once popular in…
Orian is a distinctive name that can be used for either gender but is listed here as feminine. It may be derived from several sources: a variation of Orion, the hunter constellation from Greek…
Latin place-name, Spanish, Italian, Croatian
"palm"
Palma is an appealing Latin name that's both geographical and botanical, referring to the sunny and culturally rich capital of Majorca and to the foliage of a palm tree. As the word for "palm" in…
French variation of PATRICIA
"noble"
Patrice is a more modern-sounding and polished unisex alternative to Patricia.
Diminutive of Patricia
"patrician"
Replaced Patsy as the midcentury's popular, peppy babysitter.
English word name
"without fault"
A surefire way to give your child a perfectionism complex.
Variation of Perry or Peter, English or Greek
"dweller near the pear tree or rock, stone"
Perrin has been in long use as a surname, derived from Peter, and is now used quietly as a first name. It was given to 26 boys and six girls in the US in 2023, a decrease over the year before. It has…
Greek
"Persian woman"
Parents seeking a distinctive New Testament name might consider this one. Adopted by some Puritans in the seventeenth century, Persis was used in the William Dean Howells novel The Rise of Silas…
German occupational name
"pipe player"
Potential alternative to Piper. Streamlined Fifer would probably be the preferred spelling if it wasn't for high-profile actress Michelle Pfeiffer.
Phonetic variation of Portia or Porsche
Chosen primarily by coveters of the sleek and spiffy German sports car, which is actually spelled Porsche. The Shakespearean version of the name is Portia. The one advantage of the Porsha spelling,…
Sanskrit
Lovely Sanskrit name that likely means "cherished." Prisma bears resemblance to the word "prism," giving it a light, bright, and colorful aura.
Hindi from Sanskrit "palm of the hand"
"palm of the hand"
