By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 18 pages
of 18
Japanese
"Thunderbird"
Japanese feminist Raicho Hiratsuka chose the name Raicho for herself - no doubt because of its fabulously meaning. As a journalist and publisher, Raicho fought for the rights of working class women…
English
While in Armenia, Italy and Nigeria Saro is regarded as a masculine name, in English Saro is a rare feminine name, familiar because of the old English folk song Pretty Saro, which was rediscovered in…
Greek
"bringer of blossoms"
Thallo, the Greek goddess of spring, buds, and blooms has a decidedly less flowery name than her Roman counterpart, Flora. Thallo is one of the Horae in Greek mythology: goddesses associated with the…
Meaning "implacable; unceasing", Alecto is the name of one of the three Furies in Greek mythology: deities of the Underworld who were responsible for punishing the crimes of humanity. J. K. Rowling…
Spanish
An energetic Spanish surname with serious first name potential, thanks to its trendy initial V and -o ending. A famous bearer is Spanish surrealist artist Remedios Varo (1908-1963).
"peach child"
Momoko is a Japanese name meaning "peach child." It's also the name of a character in the popular Sailor Moon manga series.
Yoruba, Nigerian
"joy"
This charming West African mini name fits in with the other similarly short names that are all the rage right now. Ayo is enjoying new visibility thanks to actress Ayo Edebiri, star of TV's The Bear .
Greek mythology name
"wife or hidden"
Leto is the titaness of motherhood (there's a title!) and, with Zeus, mother of the twin Olympians Artemis and Apollo. Simple, sleek, and unique, Leto is one mythological name for girls we might…
Cobie Smulders used Cado as the middle name of her daughter Shaelyn.
Variation of Pompey, Latin
"five"
Variation of Pompey.
Italian
"place name"
Ravello is an Italian town on the Amalfi Coast. It's a popular travel destination and was a favorite spot for many notable creatives, including Virginia Woolf, Greta Garbo, and Tennessee Williams.…
Nature name
Quirky tree name with baby name potential.
Spiritual word name, Chinese
"large waves; the path; harmony of the universe"
Tao (rhymes with cow) is the Chinese concept of the harmony that governs the universe. The religion stemming from this notion is called Taoism, putting Tao in the category of spiritual baby names ,…
"resourceful child"
Motoko Kusanagi, perhaps the best known association to the name, is a character from the sci-fi anime and manga series The Ghost in the Shell . She's a strong, wise, and independent cyborg who…
Kanako was most common in Japan during the late '70s and early '80s, but it sounds fresh to American ears.
"beautiful night child"
Most common in Japan in the mid-20th century, but to Western ears it doesn't sound dated.
For those who like names with lots of nickname possibilities, Makiko offers three sweet ones: Maki, Kiko, and Kiki.
"spinner"
Clotho is one of the three Fates of Greek Mythology. She and her sisters determined life from birth to death—Clotho spun the thread of life. Her Roman name is Nona because she was active during the…
"white jasmine or reason, logic"
Riko is a hugely popular name for baby girls in contemporary Japan, and one that easily translates to the West.
"sincerity, truth"
Makoto is a unisex name in Japan, although many more men bear the name.
