By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 47 pages
of 47
Hebrew
"gladness, joy"
A celebratory choice with a bright sound, Simcha is also used as a word to describe Jewish festivities and joyful occasions such as a wedding or a Bar Mitzvah.
Yehoshua is a masculine name of Hebrew origin and is the original form of the names Joshua and Jesus. It combines the elements 'Yeho,' referring to God, and 'shua,' meaning 'salvation' or…
Japanese, Indian, Native American
"happiness; good fortune; fort; allies, friends"
Concise and cool, Kota is a name with multiple origins, making it a versatile choice that travels well. As a Japanese name, Kota, also spelled Kōta and Kouta, is associated with good luck, joy,…
Eesa is a masculine name of Arabic origin, representing the Arabic form of Jesus (Isa in the Quran). The name carries significant religious importance in Islam, where Jesus is revered as an important…
Sanskrit
"belonging to Aditi"
Aditi's seven children, Hindu Gods, are named Aditya.
"priest"
Atharva is derived from Atharvaveda, the fourth Veda in the scriptures of Hinduism. The root of Atharva, atharwan , likely means "priest." Atharva is also connected to the Hindu god Ganesh.
Greek, first letter of the alphabet
Over 50 baby boys were named Alpha last year, along with eight baby girls. Expect a lifetime of "alpha male" jokes, which could prove daunting or confidence-building for your own little Alpha.
Dakoda is an alternative spelling of Dakota, a name derived from the Native American Sioux tribe and their language, meaning 'friend' or 'ally.' This phonetic spelling variant emerged in the late…
"dark, black"
Krishna is the name of a supreme Hindu god, and is often found in Hindu families. While it leans masculine, it is also given to girls, and a survey of names back in 2014 revealed the split was around…
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.…
"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…
Japanese
"sky"
A smart and simple unisex Japanese name meaning "sky". It actually has a second nature meaning in Finnish, albeit a slightly less appealing one: "gravel".
Kekoa is a masculine Hawaiian name carrying powerful meaning and cultural significance. It translates to 'the warrior' or 'the brave one,' embodying qualities of courage, strength, and valor highly…
"pole star; fixed, immovable"
More commonly seen in the form Dhruv, Dhruva is another intriguing Indian boy's name referring the pole star in astrology.
American place-name
"land of the Indians"
This state name emerged in the eighties along with westerners Dakota and Montana, and it's still used occasionally by high-profile parents such as Summer Phoenix and Casey Affleck. Action man Indiana…
Urdu from Persian
"star"
A beautiful Urdu name with a musical sound and a lovely celestial meaning. Sitara got a boost in 2022, potentially from the award-winning 2020 short film "Sitara: Let Girls Dream", bringing awareness…
Lipa is a versatile name with multiple cultural origins. In Slavic contexts, it's a masculine name derived from the word for 'linden tree,' a symbol of friendship and peace in many Eastern European…
Georgian, Russian, Bulgarian, and Belarusian variation of Elijah
"Yahweh is God"
This international variation of the popular Elijah might also be written as Iliya, Ilya, Ilja, and Ilija. It is currently a unisex option in the US.
"noble"
A venerable boys' name in Persian and South Asian cultures that is increasingly used for girls in most parts of the world, thanks largely to the popularity of Game of Thrones character Arya Stark. In…
Variation of Hosea.
