By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 18 pages
of 18
Persian
"jasmine flower"
This name, whose sweet and fragrant floral essence has always been widespread across the Near Eastern world, has now landed on US popularity lists in a variety of spellings. It's been dropping…
Arabic, "high, exalted"
"high, exalted"
Simple and melodic, this spelling offers an alternative to the more-popular Aliyah or Aaliyah -- the name of the late R&B singer who propelled the name into the US Top 100.
Serbo-Croatian
"dawn"
Zora is a meaningful literary heroine name honoring Zora Neale Hurston, an important black writer and leader of the Harlem Renaissance. Spelled Zorah, it is a biblical place name, and is also the…
Arabic
"premature child"
The Prophet Muhammad's first wife and the first convert to Islam, and a very popular name in the Muslim community. It ranks in the Top 200 girls' names in France, Italy and England & Wales (alongside…
Arabic, Hebrew
"maidens; noble, exalted"
A charming multicultural choice with a daring yet grounded sound, Adara is a both a Hebrew name with a noble meaning, and an Arabic name with ties to astronomy. Popular in Puerto Rico and Spain, it…
"pure, serenity, clarity"
An English, Persian, and Turkish transcription of Arabic Safaa or Safaa', Safa is a a serene but strong choice and has proved popular among Muslim parents in the UK. Spritually significant, As-Safaa…
"prosperous, ease"
A strong and simple Arabic name, popular in the UK and more recently in the US where it entered the Top 1000 in 2024. Yusra comes from the Arabic yasira meaning "to be rich, prosperous", adding an…
Spanish variation of Jamila, Arabic
"beautiful"
Popular in Mexico and familiar in the US, Yamileth is an elaborate and fresh form of Yamila, ultimately derived from the Arabic Jamil. Meaning "beautiful", it shares sounds with other familiar and…
Arabic, Basque, mythology, "shining light, enlightenment; sunray; goddess"
"shining light, enlightenment; sunray; goddess"
Inara is an appealing choice with multiple origins, currently in the Top 500 in the UK and the Netherlands. Gentle looking but bright in feel, it is also on the rise in the US, possibly owing to its…
Zulu, Malay, Arabic
"it is raining; soft, delicate"
A gentle, evocative, and multicultural choice, Liyana is both a Zulu name associated with rainstorms and a Malay and Arabic name, meaning "soft, delicate". In a recent year, it has been a rising star…
Italian, diminutive of Daniela, Arabic
"God is my judge; close, near"
Dania is a fun, offbeat name with international flair that would be a wonderful choice to honor a Danielle, Daniel, or a Dana. It is both an Italian diminutive of Daniela and a spelling variation of…
Arabic, English "helper; grace"
"helper; grace"
Aniya is a a cross-cultural choice with a bright, fresh sound. While alternative spelling Aniyah is in the US and UK Top 1000, Aniya dropped out of the charts in 2021, and is now given to around 250…
"trustworthy, faithful"
The usage of this Arabic name has been increasing in the US, joining the Top 1000 for the first time in 2015. Aminah bint Wahb was the mother of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Arabic, African, Kazakh
"large eyes; time; beautiful flower; clear, obvious, revealed; seeing, witnessing"
With diverse roots and meanings, Ayana is a cross-cultural possibility with Arabic, African, and Kazakh origin. Both Ayana and Ayanna enjoyed a spike of popularity in the 1990s, but have faded since…
Arabic, Persian
"sign"
Ayat is a Quranic name for girls that literally translates to "sign" or "clue" but in the context of the name, it refers to signs of God, manifestations of the divine, or verses from the Quran. In…
Spelling variation of Alana or Elena, Turkish, Arabic
"bright shining light; soft, tender, delicate"
A multicultural choice, Aleyna is a familiar name in Turkey, the UK, the Netherlands, and in France, where it has been on the rise in recent years. In the US, it has been given to a growing number of…
Arabic variation of Jasmine
Any of the Y forms, which also include Yasmeen, Yasmin, and Yasmina, make this name more unusual and distinctive.
"sky"
Popular in Azerbaijan, a fast-rising choice in England and Wales, and a recent debut to the Netherlands Top 500, Sama is a succinct and gentle Arabic name with the lovely, celestial and nature…
"hope, inspiration"
Amal is an attractive name with a wonderful meaning that has long been used in many Middle Eastern countries, especially Lebanon (and migrant communities). It is of course getting a lot more coverage…
"beauty, grace"
Zaina is the simplified form of Zaynab, the name of the eldest daughter of Muhammad. Zayna is another accepted spelling, while international forms include Zainabu, which exists in both the Arabic and…
