By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 119 pages
of 119
Variation of Yara, Arabic, Tupi
"small butterfly; lady of the water"
Iara rhymes with Yara, an Arabic name of which it can be a variation. More commonly it's associated with Iara of Brazilian myth — a water nymph, sometimes mermaid, of Tupi and Guaraní legend. In the…
Greek or Welsh
"violet; beautiful lady"
Isla is hot, Iona is cool – maybe it's time Iola got a second look? Last heard from on Carol Burnett's Mama's Family show, Iola feels like just the sort of uncommon, vowel-rich, vintage name that…
Jeri is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Geraldine or Jeraldine, though it has long since established itself as an independent given name. It ultimately derives from Germanic…
Hebrew
"autumn rain"
Unique possibility for a girl born between September and November.
Sanskrit
"jasmine"
Common Sanskrit name for baby girls.
Jynx is an uncommon feminine name with modern origins, inspired by the English word 'jinx' meaning a person or thing believed to bring bad luck. The distinctive spelling with a 'y' instead of an 'i'…
Yoruba
"God cares for me"
Short for Olukemi or a rare name in its own right, this Yoruba name has a beautiful meaning. A notable bearer is British MP Olukemi (Kemi) Badenoch.
Hawaiian or Norse
"leeward or woman, wife"
Kona is strongly associated with the Kona coffee of Hawaii. The Hawaiian word kona means "leeward" or "dry side of the island," and Kona districts are where Kona coffee is grown. It's a unisex name…
Leva is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Hebrew, it relates to "lioness," suggesting strength and courage. It also appears as a variant of Levi or as a Slavic name meaning…
Mati is a concise feminine name with diverse cultural roots. In Hebrew, it can be a shortened form of Matilda, meaning 'strength in battle.' In Estonian and Finnish, Mati relates to 'gift of God.'…
Mave is a feminine name with Irish Gaelic origins, typically considered a variation of Maeve (or Méabh in traditional Irish spelling). The name carries significant weight in Irish mythology, as Queen…
Japanese
"beautfiul evening"
Short and sweet alternative to Mia, Mila, Maya, et al.
English, invented name
Sounds like Nia, looks like Leah.
Hindi, Hebrew, and Choctaw
"friendly, to plant, and bear"
One of those slender names, like Lena or Etta, that's used in several cultures and carries a range of meanings. But by being so many things, it doesn't feel decidedly like anything.
Nivi is a concise, feminine name with diverse cultural connections. In Inuit culture, it relates to 'snow,' reflecting the beautiful Arctic landscape. The name also appears in Hindu traditions,…
Swahili
"light, born during the day"
Related to the better-known Arabic name Noor.
Literary name, English word name
"a composition in verse"
A handful of baby girls were named Poem in the US in the most recent year, along with Poet and Poetry. But of course, these word names can work for boys too.
Word name
Reef is a rare gender-neutral word name in the stylish ocean category. There were a handful of baby girls named Reef last years, and 60 baby boys — a not inconsiderable number.
Rivy is a feminine name with several possible origins. It may be a diminutive form of names like Rivera or Rivka (the Hebrew form of Rebecca), or possibly derived from the Latin word "rivus" meaning…
Sadi is a feminine name with multicultural origins and meanings. In Persian tradition, it relates to good fortune and happiness, while some associate it with being a diminutive of Sarah, meaning…
