By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 10 pages
of 10
Arabic
"beautiful dawn"
Not a spunkier version of Merlin, Zerlin has roots in the Middle East, Spain and Eastern Europe and is thought to mean "beautiful dawn". The countries where this name is most heard are Israel,…
Zerlina is a variation of Zerlin, meaning "beautiful dawn". Zerlina is most famous as the wily, clever servant girl in Mozart's opera Don Giovanni , where she is the only character to seemingly get…
French variant of Zerlin and Zerlina
Although a variant of the operatic Zerlina, Zerline has her own theatrical tale. She is the star character of the opera Fra Diavolo by Daniel Auber. Zerline, daughter of the innkeeper of Terracina,…
Neapolitan blend of Arabic, Slavic, Latin influences. "brilliant one; one who wish for peace"
"brilliant one; one who wish for peace"
This name belongs to the eponymous heroine of Rossini's opera Zelmira (1822) about a (fictional) princess of Lesbos who saves her father and husband and her kingdom. As a name, it may well be viewed…
Persian
"noble lineage"
Scheherazade -- or Sheherazade --is a legendary Persian queen immortalized as the narrator of all one thousand stories in the One Thousand and One Nights . Her story is even more remarkable than the…
Variation of Aideen or Adina
Spelled this way, Adine could be a relative of either the Irish Aideen, which means jealousy, or the Arabic Adina, meaning slender. We'll go with the slender.
"great"
Simple plus unusual is a winning combination.
"ornament"
Alzira found its highest degree of popularity in the mid-nineteenth century after Giuseppe Verdi created an opera of the name Alzira, after its romantic heroine. Despite Verdi using the name for a…
"breeze, fresh air"
Associated with a spring festival, this name is used by both Muslims and Christians.
"heart, soul"
An Arabic name that can easily cross cultures. Janan might make a distinctive honor name for an ancestral Jan, Jane, or John.
"bright eyes"
Pretty and feminine Arabic name.
"immortal, everlasting"
Khalida is an evocative Middle Eastern choice. Its male counterpart, Khalid, recently returned to the US Top 1000.
"truthful"
North African name with a distinctive beat.
"pretty"
One of many similarly pretty names, this one identifiable as a female form of the familiar Shaquille.
English, color and coffee name
Save this for your next run to Starbucks.
"ready for battle"
The M and the R add welcome strength.
The tale-spinning heroine of The Thousand and One Nights , Sheherazade is an extravagantly elaborate name for a little girl. Too extravagantly elaborate? It's lovely and beguiling, and with the rise…
"tree and spice name"
A hardwood tree native to Africa, India and other tropical regions, which bears sweet pod-shaped fruits which are used as a flavoring in many world cuisines, including Indian and Filipino. A rare and…
Arabic, Greek
"praise; death"
A multicultural choice with two rather different meanings, Thana is an Arabic name with the spiritual meaning of "praise". It may also appear as Thanaa, Sana, and Sena, the latter spellings…
"astute, wise"
Unusual Arabic name with an inspiring meaning for a baby girl.
