By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 119 pages
of 119
Nigerian
"joy arrives"
Has an evocative African beat.
African, Swahili
"life"
A variant of Asha, which is related to the classic Arabic name Aisha, yet another way to say life. Other on-the-rise names with this uplifting meaning: Zoe and Vivian varieties such as Viviana,…
Place name
An unexplored choice, evocative of the snowcapped Andes, with a pleasant, catchy sound.
Celtic
"long-winged swimming birds"
Suggests the salty, windswept air of the seashore.
Basque
"era, time"
Part of a group of lovely A-starting names popular in Spain, along with Ainhoa and Aitana. Spanish actress Aroa Gimeno introduced this one.
Spelling variation of Dayana
Turkish, Hebrew, or English
"scepter, bronze, or forest"
Arda is a simple gender-neutral name with several possible origins and meanings. As a Turkish name, it's usually used for males and means scepter. There is also a river in Turkey called the Arda. The…
Armenian, meaning unknown
Though it might be acceptable in its native land, the fact of Azni being an anagram of a word with unpleasant World War II associations would limit its usage here.
English
"winter solstice"
Yule is one Christmas baby name that doesn't sound very festive. We prefer Winter or even Christmas itself.
American invented name
Cloris is bad enough without shortening. Consider FLOR instead, a beautiful Spanish name.
Irish
"swift"
Popular in Ireland, though not as popular as its spelling variant Eimear, Emer is a mythological name, associated with the legendary wife of the warrior hero Cuchulainn. She was said to possess the…
Daun is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It can be viewed as a variation of Dawn, derived from the Old English word for the first appearance of light in the morning, symbolizing new…
Portuguese
"bay"
This possible word name, which rhymes with Maia, makes an even more distinctive alternative.
Roman name, meaning unknown
Atia Balba Caesonia was a Roman noblewoman who was the mother of Emperor Augustus. As was the practice at the time, she had two sisters also named Atia, Atia Prima and Atia Tertia. The real-life Atia…
Lyre is an uncommon feminine name inspired by the ancient stringed musical instrument associated with Greek mythology, poetry, and music. The lyre was particularly connected to Apollo, the god of…
Dwan is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be derived from the English word 'dawn,' referring to the first appearance of light in the morning, symbolizing new beginnings and hope.…
Dutch diminutive of Yvonne, French
"yew wood"
Think of Yfke as a cooler Yvonne, or a more unusual Eva. The Frisian name is rarely heard beyond the Netherlands.
Hungarian river name or Icelandic
"eiderdown"
Duna refers the Hungarian word for the Danube River or to the Icelandic term for the down of a duck. Duna also bears a resemblance to both Dune and Djuna. In this era of word names and invented…
Slavic diminutive of Ekaterina
"pure, unsullied"
This short form is used by supermodel Ekat Kiseleva.
Lute is a rare feminine name with both musical and literary origins. As a musical reference, it comes from the stringed instrument that was popular in Renaissance and medieval periods. The word…
