Updated October 2026
Across 4 pages
of 4
Arabic or Hebrew
"light or my fire"
A name used in the Middle East but that could easily work in the US. As a girls' name, Nuri can also be a short form of Nuria. It was chosen by Christy Lefteri for the protagonist of her novel, The…
Scandinavian variation of Nicholas
"people of victory"
Like Lars, Sven, Niels, and Nels, an unjustly neglected straightforward Scandinavian name. Surname Nilsson or the anglicized Nelson derives from Nils.
Hebrew
"generous"
Irish
"little saint"
An Anglicized form of the Irish name, Naomhán, Nevan might feel like an updated Neville or Evan. With a charming meaning, it feels familiar but underused.
English word name
"natural, physical world"
An all-encompassing nature name, Nature has seen surprising take up for girls in recent years, with more than 270 given the name in the first half of the 2020s. For boys, it has remained rare, given…
Spanish place-name
"covered in snow"
Western place-name that feels equally appropriate for both genders. Note: Natives say rhyme that second syllable with had, so it's not nehv-AH-da.
French
"new town"
More often used in Britain than here, where most names ending in ville fall into the unthinkable class, this might make an exception via fans of the musical Neville Brothers. Charles Dickens used the…
"light of Jehovah"
Neriah is a biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah as the father of Baruch and Seraiah ben Neriah. According to the Talmud, Neriah and his sons are all prophets. The name is traditionally…
English
"a small salamander"
Rarely used on its own and irrevocably tied to former House Speaker Gingrich -- who was christened Newton.
Greek, diminutive of various names beginning with the element Niko-
Attractive, approachable, and more striking Nick alternative.
Variation of Nazir, Arabic
"similar"
Naz is occasionally used as-is on the birth certificate, but you're more likely to encounter it as a nickname for Nazir or Nazareth.
"marked"
Old Testament name that could work as an alternative to Dakota.
English, diminutive of Edward
"wealthy guardian"
Ned is a gently old-fashioned Nancy Drew-Bobbsey Twins-era short form for Edward that sounds cooler than Ed and is enjoying a small style renaissance. Usage of Ned in literature goes back to a Ben…
Roman god of the sea, freshwater springs, and horses.
This Roman mythology (and planet) name would be very hard to handle. It derives from a root meaning cloud.
Spanish
"from Navarre"
Dashing surname for the Basque kingdom.
"wise"
Navon is a Hebrew name meaning "wise", known as the surname of Israeli politician Yitzhak Rachamim Navon, who was president of Israel in the late 70s and early 80s.
"wrestling, struggling"
Rarely used biblical choice -- he's a son of Jacob -- with a bit of a white-bearded image.
Literary invented name
Invented in 1939 as the name of Marvel Comics character Namor the Sub-Mariner. Bill Everett, the creator, decided on Namor after writing noble, dignified names in reverse—Namor is Roman spelled…
Place name from Penacook
"beautiful stream with a pebbly bottom"
The name of a city in New Hampshire which takes its name from the Nashua River, named by the Indigenous Algonquian tribe the Nashuway or Nashua. A striking alternative to Joshua.
"my candle"
Gender-neutral choice ideal for a child born during Hanukkah.