By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
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Spelling variation of Esme
Esme and by extension Esmee have gotten more popular in the US in recent years, but that extra e can confuse an already-confusing pronunciation, especially if you start adding accents.
Loïs is a feminine name with multiple origins and meanings. In its French form with the dieresis (the two dots over the 'i'), it distinguishes the pronunciation as 'lo-ees' rather than a single…
Dutch
"travel to battle"
This Dutch name derives from the old Germanic name, Farahild. It is quite common in the Netherlands.
Dutch variation of Cheyenne or Vivian
"people of a different language; life"
A modern Dutch name that features in the Top 500 in the Netherlands, Vajèn is a spin on either Cheyenne or Vivian. First appearing in the Dutch charts in 2012, it shot into the Top 100, peaking at…
Irish
"light"
Pronounced lee-sha, Laoise is the feminine form of the Irish mythological names Lugh and Lugus, which means light. Lugus was the Celtic god of commerce and craftsmanship, the equivalent of the Roman…
Finnja is a feminine name with Nordic and Germanic origins, representing a feminine form of Finn. The name combines the Old Norse elements meaning 'wanderer' or 'person from Finland' with the…
Mayla is a modern feminine name with several possible origins. It may be a variation of Maila, which has Finnish roots, or it could be related to Maela, a Breton name. Some consider it a blend of the…
Sinah is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Hebrew tradition, it's related to the name Sinai, referencing the biblical Mount Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments. In…
Scandinavian and Finnish variation of Aino, Catalan variation of Anna, Japanese, Latvian, Kazakh, Yoruba
"always; grace; lover of green; sight; mirror; delivery had complications [umbilical cord twisted around neck]"
A bright-sounding name with multicultural appeal, used regularly as a first name in Japan, Scandinavia, Latvia, and Spain. The Yoruba name Aina, pronounced ah-ee-NAH, is traditionally used for baby…
Portuguese variation of Eirene
"peace"
Iria is a diminutive version of Eirene / Irene and is therefore associated with the Greek goddess of peace.
Basque
"wish"
A very popular girls' name in the Basque country and Puerto Rico. It is among the Top 100 Spanish baby names , so it's a girls' name that's widely used in Spain.
Arabic
"angel"
Although Malak can be used for both sexes, it's much more widely-used for girls in the US and throughout Europe, where it ranks on several popularity lists. More than 100 baby girls were named Malak…
German, Swedish diminutive of names beginning with Mein- or Magn-
"strong"
The names from which Meja derived, including Meinhild and Magnhild, are long gone, but a Swedish singer called Meja (born Anna Pernilla Torndahl) has piqued interest in this modern derivative. Meja…
Ajwa is a feminine name with Arabic origins, derived from a type of date fruit grown in Medina, Saudi Arabia. These dates hold special significance in Islamic tradition, as they were reportedly…
Arabic, alternative transcription of Asiya
"pensive, wistful, melancholic"
In Islamic tradition, Asiya was the wife of Pharaoh and the adoptive mother of Moses. She is celebrated as an exemplar woman for accepting monotheism and going against her husband's beliefs in order…
Arabic, Hebrew, and Swahili variation of Eve, Hebrew
"life"
Also spelled Hawa, Hawwa is a form of Eve used in Arabic, Swahili, and in Old Hebrew.
Leja is a feminine name with Slavic origins, particularly common in Slovenia and other Eastern European countries. The name may be derived from the Slavic word 'leja' meaning 'woodland' or 'forest…
Lily Ann combines the popular floral name Lily with the classic grace of Ann, creating a sweet double name that balances nature-inspired charm with traditional elegance. Lily, derived from the Latin…
Sanskrit; Hawaiian; French
"earth goddess; strong; bitter"
Mahi is another name for the Hindu earth goddess Bhumi. It also means strong in Hawaiian and might be a medieval French variation of Mary. But most modern Americans would hear it as the name of the…
"white stone"
Also spelled as Marwa, this strong and beautiful Arabic name is also the name of a mountain in Mecca, significant in Islamic tradition, as it forms part of pilgrimages of Ḥajj and Umrah. It means…
