By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 776 pages
of 776
Japanese
"coral"
As a feminine name, best known as that of a demon-slayer in the anime and manga series InuYasha .
Swedish and Norwegian
"careful island; island defender; good luck"
An old-lady name in Scandinavia today, but Eivor may get a fresh start in the US, where it is associated with Assassain's Creed character Eivor Varinsdottir. Interestingly, the video game inspired…
Korean
"wisdom + beautiful"
The mononymous KPOP singer and actor Jisoo — born Kim Ji-Soo — inspired several sets of parents to recently use her name for their daughters. She is a member of the girl band Blackpink and one of the…
Tahitian
"flower crown"
Heitiare is a classic Tahitian name that's virtually unknown in the US.
"night cough"
This gender-neutral royal name of Tahiti was inspired by the death of a child from a night cough, not the most positive reference especially in the age of Covid.
"beloved water"
Tahitian names are not well-known beyond the South Sea islands, but with their nature meanings and the new popularity of Hawaiian names, they may travel far in the future.
"salt water"
This ocean-oriented name is one of the Tahitian names unknown in the wider world.
"water flower"
Tiare, which means flower, is also a name and would make a simpler South Sea Islander choice. Vaitiare adds a water element.
Maori
"earth"
A baby girl named Papa might cause some confusion, but the Papa (or Papatuanuku) of Polynesian mythology is the mother or earth goddess.
Hawaiian place name and Polynesian mythology name
While Maui was a male trickster god in Polynesian mythology, the well-known Hawaiian place name Maui can work for either gender.
English from French
"short and evocative description; little vine"
The french word vignette literally means "little vine," but in English it is a literary and art term. In literature, a vignette refers to a brief but vivid description, and in art, an illustration or…
Mochi is an adorable feminine name with Japanese origins, derived from the sweet rice cake dessert popular in Japanese cuisine. As a given name, Mochi evokes qualities of sweetness, softness, and…
Kiwi is an uncommon feminine name derived from the flightless bird native to New Zealand, which also lends its name to the kiwifruit. The term comes from the Māori language, where it is an…
Sushi is a playful and unconventional female name derived from the popular Japanese dish consisting of vinegared rice combined with various ingredients. As a personal name, Sushi represents a modern…
Snickers is a playful and whimsical female name derived from the popular chocolate candy bar introduced in the 1930s. While unconventional as a human name, it has gained some popularity as a pet…
Muffin originated as an English word for a small, dome-shaped baked good before transitioning into use as a pet name or term of endearment, particularly in British and American culture. As a female…
Kersti is a feminine name with Scandinavian origins, particularly associated with Estonian and Swedish naming traditions. It developed as a Nordic variation of Christina, meaning 'follower of…
Ljubov is a feminine name of Slavic origin, particularly common in Russian, Bulgarian, and other Eastern European cultures. It literally means "love" (from the Slavic root "ljub"), making it one of…
Liina is a feminine name with Finnish and Estonian origins. In these Baltic-Finnic cultures, it is typically a shortened form of names containing the element "lina," such as Karolina, Adelina, or…
Pille is a feminine name with Scandinavian and Estonian roots. In Estonian culture, it often serves as a diminutive for Pilvi, meaning "cloud," while in Scandinavian contexts, it may be a variant of…
