By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 40 pages
of 40
Diminutive of Martina, Christina, Carolina, and similar
"warlike; Christian; free man"
Short, sweet, and to the point, Ina is a derived from the likes of Martina, Christina, Carolina, and so on. Used across Europe as a stand-alone name and as a diminutive, Ina was once popular in the…
Short form of Louise
"renowned warrior"
Lou is usually a short form of Louise, Louisa, or Lucy in English-speaking countries, when Lou is used for girls at all. But in France and Germany, it's a fashionable choice all on its own, sure to…
Word name
Name that enjoyed some popularity early in the 20th century but now is locked in another, ahem, era.
Diminutive of Emma, Emily, Emilia etc.
Emy is a feminine name that functions as a shortened form of names like Emily, Emma, or Emilia. This diminutive version offers a sweet, modern simplicity while maintaining connections to its longer…
Swahili, Basque, "tenacity, purpose, aim; sea fam, wave"
"tenacity, purpose, aim; sea fam, wave"
A relatively new name on the scene, increasing in popularity since 1999. It is likely a variation of Nia, a Swahili name based on the Arabic Niya meaning "tenacity, purpose, determination".…
Lya is a delicate feminine name with several possible origins. It may be a variant spelling of Lia, which itself is a variation of Leah, meaning "weary" or "delicate" in Hebrew. In some cultures, Lya…
Latin
"light"
This name of a character played by Kirsten Dunst in the movie Virgin Suicides , originally a novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, is gaining attention, also thanks to the heroine Lux, Lady of Luminosity in…
Hawaiian; Igbo
"beautiful"
Folk singer DiFranco popularized this simple, appealing form. In Igbo mythology, Ani is one of the names of the goddess of the earth, fertility, creativity, and morality.
Japanese, French, Welsh, Vietnamese, Navajo
"dance; May; cherry blossom; coyote"
Cross-cultural winner.
Sanskrit, Hebrew
"light, peace, nation"
Uma is a sweet, strong name for a Hindu goddess... and a Hollywood one. But as popular as Uma Thurman is, other parents have not yet picked up on her name, making it a rarity. Uma is one of the more…
Latin, Irish, or Old Norse
"one; lamb; happy"
In an epic poem, the personification of truth, beauty, and unity; this ancient name is popular in several European countries but less common in the US. The Oona spelling is slightly more popular but…
Armenian
"king"
Simple and yet distinctive, Ara is a mythological name of a famously handsome king. Although it originated as a boys' name, in the contemporary US, it's now much more commonly used for girls. Ara was…
Joi is a feminine name that represents a creative spelling of Joy. The name directly connects to the emotion of joy, expressing happiness, delight, and elation. By replacing the 'y' with an 'i', the…
Modern English
"I love you"
This sweet little acronym, popularized in the age of texting, has established itself as a baby name. The similarity to Ivy, Isla and Riley/Miley has undoubtedly played a role.
Idy is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may function as a diminutive of names containing the element 'id' such as Idina or Idalia, or it could derive from Germanic elements meaning…
Spelling variation of Aya or Hindi
"goat"
Sounds like and is often confused with Asia, though it has an air of retro cool via the seminal Steely Dan album. Or, pronounced eye-ah, it can be an alternate spelling of the international favorite…
Short form of Alison or Alice or Arabic
"supreme, exalted"
One of the sweet simple unisex names balanced enough to stand on its own. Ali can either be used as a shortening of Al- beginning names. For example, comedian Ali Wong is an Alexandra. Ali is also an…
Diminutive of several names
Baby names that started off as diminutives -- Ena, Ita, Etta -- seem too insubstantial for a modern female.
Japanese, form of Buddhism
Parents searching for a simple, peaceful name may be attracted to this one.
