By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 273 pages
of 273
Arabic, exact meaning unknown
"holy city; temple; place of great importance"
The Islamic prophet Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca, now known as the holiest city in Islam. Officially called Makkah al-Mukarramah, or Makkah, it is located in modern-day Saudi Arabia.…
Word name
Windswept and dramatic, but perhaps asking for trouble. Quite popular in Denmark and Sweden, where it derives from Stromr, which is a fairly common surname. Storm Thorgerson is a famous bearer of the…
German
"friend of the people"
This name's popularity peaked in the 1930s in the mid 600s - but we think it is time for a reconsideration. Arvin feels more modern than similar names like Marvin and Alvin. It also boasts a…
Kyran is a masculine name with Irish and Gaelic origins, derived from 'Ciaran' meaning 'dark' or 'dark-haired.' It was originally associated with Saint Ciaran, the founder of Clonmacnoise monastery…
Scottish and Irish, Brazilian
"oak tree ford; wealthy spearman; wealth and fame"
Adair has flair, the grace of a Fred Astaire, and a daring, spirited vibe. It's usually considered a Scottish surname, derived from the name Edgar, though other possibilities are that it derives from…
Nigerian, Yoruban
"the victor"
An easily assimilated African name, a novel twist on Johnny.
Amais is a rare masculine name with possible French or Latin origins. It may be related to the French word "aimer" meaning "to love," suggesting connotations of affection and tenderness. The name has…
Arabic
"announcement, call to prayer"
A strong and meaningful Muslim name which is popular in the UK.
Hebrew
"salvation"
Since so many of the biblical prophet names -- Daniel, Jonah, Nathan, Samuel -- are overused, you might want to consider this distinctive alternative. Hosea was the author of the book of prophesies…
"bestowed"
Musab is a masculine name of Arabic origin with rich historical and religious significance. The name means 'bestowed' or 'granted' and has connections to Islamic heritage, notably through Mus'ab ibn…
Tamim is a masculine name of Arabic origin meaning 'perfect,' 'complete,' or 'strong.' This name has deep historical roots in Arabic culture and appears in Islamic history, notably as the name of the…
Scandinavian
"Olaf's son"
An alternative to Oliver, Orson, or Colson, this Scandinavian surname is no longer tied exclusively to the well-publicized twins, Ashley and Mary-Kate. Instead, it fits in with other surname-style…
"empathetic, merciful"
To Muslims, an auspicious name.
Sylus is a masculine name that represents a modern variation of Silas, which has ancient Greek and Latin origins. The traditional Silas derives from Silvanus, meaning 'of the forest' or 'woodland…
Cylas is a modern masculine variation of the ancient Greek name Silas, which means 'forest' or 'woodland.' The distinctive spelling with 'C' instead of 'S' emerged in recent decades as parents sought…
Efren is a masculine name of Spanish origin, derived from the Hebrew name Ephraim, which means 'fruitful' or 'productive.' In the Bible, Ephraim was the second son of Joseph and founder of one of the…
Variation of Hayes, Hazy, or Haze
A modern looking choice that may be a variation of stylish surname Hayes ("hedged area") or a spin on the words Hazy and Haze, depending on how you pronounce it.
English
"enclosure or fortified place"
Usually adding an e to the end of a name makes it more feminine, but Locke is at most recent count used only for baby boys. Still, this stylishly strong one-syllable name is theoretically…
Spanish variation of Matthew
"gift of God"
This semi-obscure historic name was recently chosen for their son by Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez. A possible namesake is Maceo Grajales, a Cuban guerrilla leader who was second-in-command of the…
Hebrew, Arabic
"leopard"
A worldly choice that translates well, Namir is an animal-related choice in Hebrew and Arabic.
