By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 143 pages
of 143
Russian variation of Nicholas
"people of victory"
Russian forms, like Russian supermodels, are hot these days. This is a strong, worldly way to make Nicholas new; it was chosen for his son by Barry Bonds, Jr. Nikolai also comes with several…
Invented name
Created in the style of Jabari, a fashionable Swahili name. Jakari is mainly used among African American families in the US.
Japanese
"fire, flame"
A Japanese name with real firepower, Kasai was one of the fastest rising names of 2025. Given to just 15 boys in back in 2015, a more recent count saw it given to 437, reflecting an interest in…
Swahili, Arabic
"populous, flourishing"
This name, like Omar and Amari, has been in the US Top 1000 for many years. After taking a downturn in 2008, it's now again on the upswing. Actor Omari Hardwick keeps it in the public eye. As a name,…
Native American place name
"flat lands"
The name of the protagonist of Disney’s Brother Bear also has a geographical connection: the Kenai Peninsula and Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. With boy names like Kai and Levi at the top of…
French, variation of Remy
"oarsman"
Makes the jaunty Remy a little more nicknamey and feminine. Remi is on the rise for both girls and boys, having entered the Top 1000 for boys in 2019.
Hebrew
"strength"
This name, with its great meaning, has seen a notable rise for boys since the mid-2010s. It debuted on the US charts for girls in 2021, while for boys, it was one of the fastest rising choices of…
"father"
Avi, the short form of many Hebrew names, is often used on its own in Israel. It entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2015.
African
"rejoice"
This name from the Shona language is a new entrant to the Top 1000 in the US.
Russian, Greek
"blessed, happy; I wish"
To those unfamiliar with it, Makari might have the sound, feel, and look of a modern inventions, similar to Amari, Jakari, or Makai. It is however a Russian name, derived from the Greek Makarios.…
"second son; healthy + second; wise + second; modest second"
A international feeling name of Japanese origin that could be used to refer to a child's place in the family, Kenji has attracted notice in the US as the name of The Food Lab chef, James Kenji…
Variation of Amari
Damari is thought to be a variation of the popular trans-cultural name Amari with the Da- prefix. Amari means "eternal" in Hebrew and may mean "strength" in Yoruba, though other sources list the…
"follower of Marduk"
Mordechai and Mordecai are equally valid — both are used as transcriptions from the Hebrew bible, and one did not originate before the other. But although popular culture tends to prefer the…
Possibly Swahili, Arabic, or Igbo
"silent soldier, quiet warrior; lion, Thursday, determination; I am with God"
A stylish sounding choice with a similar feel to Kamari, Amari, and Kyzer, Kamazi was a fast rising choice in 2024, when it for given to 113 boys, nearly ten times the number it was given to the…
"gift"
Shai, pronounced like shy, might morph to rhyme with may among native English speakers. This simple and attractive name is sometimes confused with or anglicized as Shay or even the Irish Shea.
Sanskrit
"sage"
A number of stylish Indian names are making their way to the US mainstream, including wise Rishi. In Hindu mythology, the Rishis are sages and seers; in modern times, Rishi Rich is a popular…
Zakari is a modern variant of the classic name Zachary, which derives from the Hebrew name 'Zechariah' meaning 'God has remembered.' This contemporary spelling offers a fresh take while maintaining…
"gazelle"
Tzvi is a Top 100 pick in Israel. It's a cool, sharp-sounding name which would make for a great distinctive alternative to Levi. A famous historical bearer is Shabbetai Tzvi or Zevi, an Ottoman rabbi…
Russian from Greek Demetrius
"follower of Demeter"
Dimitri is a Slavic variation of the Russian Dmitriy, a name that comes from the Greek Demetrius. Demetrius was derived from Demeter, the name of the Greek goddess of fertility and farming. Among the…
Finnish, Arabic, Sanskrit "wise protector; father of multitudes; archer; pleasing"
"wise protector; father of multitudes; archer; pleasing"
Rami has gained notoriety in the English-speaking world as the first name of the Oscar-nominated actor Rami Malek, whose parents immigrated to the US from Egypt. Rami also feels more approachable…
