By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 127 pages
of 127
Word name
This began as a nickname, usually for someone who was a "third," as in William III. But in an age where any noun goes, this could be thought of as representing a little voyager -- hopefully not into…
French
"yew wood"
On paper, with its stylish ties to fashion legend Yves Saint-Laurent (born Henri), Yves looks great, but the pronunciation--EVE-- could lead to gender confusion. German variation Ivo might be cooler…
Hebrew
"highest point; helped by God"
A distinctive and sharp sounding name, Ziah has a modern yet well-established sound. It could derive from Zion, Josiah, Azariah, Aziah, Isaiah or similar.
Kiswahili
"good, beautiful"
Singular, strong, and rare outside East Africa.
"laborer"
Amal is the name of a male figure in the Bible, a member of the tribe of Asher. Not, in this case, Mrs. George Clooney.
Amyr is a concise masculine name with multicultural resonance. It appears to be a variation of Amir, which has Arabic origins meaning 'prince,' 'commander,' or 'leader.' This spelling variant…
Berl is a masculine name of Yiddish origin, typically serving as a diminutive of Ber or Dov, both meaning 'bear.' The name was relatively common among Eastern European Jewish communities in the 19th…
Dace is a masculine name with multiple origins. It primarily derives from the name of a small freshwater fish found in European waters, ultimately from Latin 'densus' meaning 'thick' or 'dense.' In…
Elai is a concise masculine name with multiple potential origins. In Hebrew, it can mean 'my God' or 'ascension,' while in Basque it may refer to a 'cheerful person.' The name also exists in Filipino…
Greek mythology name
"to keep in, to curb"
Eryx has a sci-fi sound and deep roots. In Greek mythology, Eryx was the son of Poseidon and Aphrodite and a king in Sicily. He was a great boxer, but was eventually beaten by Heracles. He probably…
Leam is a succinct masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a shortened form of Liam (Irish variant of William meaning 'resolute protection'), a variation of the Hebrew name Liem ('my…
Lean is a masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variation of Leon, derived from the Greek word "león" meaning "lion," symbolizing strength and courage. Alternatively, it could be…
Ghanaian
"king"
Nana, most often used for girls as a a short form of Anna or Nancy, is an African name for boys meaning king or in some translations, "born on Tuesday." Isaac Hayes used the name for his son. It may…
Owyn is a masculine name with Welsh and Celtic roots, serving as a variant spelling of Owen. The traditional name derives from 'Eugene' or the Welsh 'Owain,' meaning 'well-born,' 'young warrior,' or…
Arabic; English
"compassionate; wolf counsel"
Raif (or Raef, Rayif) is a Muslim name usually given in reference to the Qur’anic verse "God is most compassionate and most merciful to mankind." A notable bearer is Saudi writer, dissident and…
Tiam is a masculine name with Persian origins, though it may also have roots in other cultures. In Persian, it may be related to concepts of strength or completeness. The name has a compact, modern…
Geographical name
Vale is part place name, part nature name -- a poetic term for a type of valley. Today Show coanchor Savannah Guthrie put Vale on the baby name map when she chose it for her daughter, but there's no…
Diminutive of Vladimir, Slavic
"great ruler, peaceful ruler, ruler of the world"
The most famous Vlad was nicknamed "the Impaler." Enough said.
English occupational name
"weaver"
This pleasant single-syllable surname might be especially appealing to someone involved with the internet (and who isn't?)--even if some others might see it as a drawback. Webb is one of those names…
Zeyd is a masculine name with Arabic origins, traditionally spelled as Zayd in Arabic. The name carries significant historical importance in Islamic tradition as Zayd ibn Harithah was an adopted son…
