By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 607 pages
of 607
English, combination of Mary and Anna
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + grace"
Variant of Marianna
English, combination of Mary and Beth
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + oath"
Marybeth, something written like this as one word and sometimes as Mary Beth, is one of those compound versions of Mary popular in the midcentury US. Parents were trying to move away from plain old…
Olanna is a feminine name with Nigerian origins, particularly associated with the Igbo culture. The name gained literary recognition through Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel 'Half of a Yellow Sun,'…
Hebrew
"pearl"
A jewel-encrusted choice, far more unusual than Pearl.
English
"river meadow"
A rarer spin on River or Everly, using one of the most popular name endings of the moment.
Slovak and Croatian variation of Salome, Hebrew
"peace"
Disproportionately common among the American Amish.
English word name
"month name"
Parents are beginning to turn away from springtime months like April and June and are moving toward the cooler and crisper three-syllable September, October, November, and December.
Portuguese
"mermaid"
The lovely Sereia is the Portuguese word for mermaid but can also be used as a name. English speakers may shy away from the name because of pronunciation questions and indeed, any little Sereia…
Hindi
"life and death"
Shivani sounds fresh and powerful.
Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Slovene and Serbian form of Theodora
"gift of God"
Teodora is an extremely attractive and international choice, with several equally attractive, user-friendly nicknames. Appealing short forms might include Tea, Dora, or Dory for English speakers,…
Yessica is a feminine name that serves as a variant spelling of Jessica. The original Jessica derives from Hebrew origins, traditionally associated with the biblical name Iscah, meaning 'to behold'…
Zephaniah as a feminine name represents an unusual gender crossover from its traditional masculine usage. Originally a Hebrew biblical name meaning 'God has hidden' or 'God has treasured,' Zephaniah…
Abrianna is a feminine name with modern origins, created as an elaboration of 'Abria' or as a blend of the names 'Abra' and 'Anna.' It may also be considered a variant of 'Adrianna' or 'Brianna' with…
Finnish and Swedish, meaning unknown
Adessa may be a Scandinavian variation of the place name Odessa.
Alaira is a lyrical feminine name with a modern feel, though it draws on elements of traditional naming patterns. It may be considered a creative variation of names like Alana, Alaina, or Aleira, or…
Aleska is a feminine name that likely developed as a variation of Aleksandra or Alexia, names deriving from the Greek Alexandros, meaning "defender of mankind." With Slavic influences evident in its…
Persian
"wind"
This old Persian name was chosen by actress Geena Davis for her daughter. It's an attractive variation on a name that exists in dozens of forms, from Alissa and Eliza to the French Alizee, but you'll…
"elf-friend"
This variation of the more well known Alvin adds an unusual and feminine touch to the original. It sounds a bit more like what it means--"elf friend."
Arabic
"trust, devotion, loyalty, devotion"
A symbolic name in Islamic tradition, Amanah is reflective of the free will God gives to mankind and has the aspirational meaning of "loyalty" and "devotion". It ranked in the England and Wales Top…
Amauri is traditionally a masculine name with Germanic origins, though it appears as a feminine name in this context. The name derives from Germanic elements meaning 'work' and 'power' or 'ruler,'…
