Names That Mean Pure

The name of a venerated 19th century poet and martyr in the Bábí and Bahá'í faiths. She was an early proponent of women's rights, famously removing her veil among a crowd of men at the Conference of Badasht in 1848. For this she was placed under house arrest, and executed four years later on account of her beliefs.

Tahirih

Means "pure" in the Tagalog language of the Philippines.

Dalisay

Kyomie made its US debut in 2025, a year when its variants Kiyomi and Kyomi were among the fastest rising choices for girls. Originally a Japanese name meaning "pure and beautiful" (or "record of the era's beauty" or "holy, sacred, and beautiful" depending on the kanji used), Kyomie may appeal to those who like the softer look of the -ie ending. 
 
Given to 50 girls, it was also one of the fastest rising debuts of the year, outranked only by Elanith and Simea.

Kyomie

Glenys, like Glynis, is a Welsh name that has never caught on outside Wales. 

Glenys

Caitrona is a feminine name of Irish Gaelic origin, representing a variant spelling of Caitríona, the Irish form of Katherine. The name ultimately derives from Greek 'Aikaterine', with debated meanings including 'pure' or possibly connections to the goddess Hecate. Pronounced approximately as 'kah-TREE-oh-na', it carries the rich heritage of Irish naming traditions. 

While less common than the anglicized form Catriona or the original Caitríona, this spelling variant maintains the name's Celtic roots while being slightly more approachable in international contexts. 

In the US and other Anglophone countries, however, Caitrona and its other Irish spellings will pose considerable pronunciation challenges. And the English equivalent, Katrina, has lost a lot of steam since the devastating New Orleans hurricane.

Caitrona

Cay is a rare respelling of the retro nickname Kay, but one that may gain ground as a name that's both simple and unique. Like Kay, it can be a diminutive for any of the hundreds of Catherine variations that start with a C or of more modern names such as Caylee or Cadence. Or it can stand on its own as a sleek contemporary nickname-name.

A variation of the Arabic Tahir, most notably used in North Africa, Tahar was a popular choice in Tunisia in the 1950s and also featured in the French Top 500 around the same period. Pronounced as TA-heer in Maghrebi Arabic and as TA-AR in France, it shouldn't be confused with the similarly transcribed Taha.
 
Notable bearers include poet and writer Tahar Ben Jelloun, actor Tahar Rahim, and boxer Tahar Tamsamani.

Tahar

Kitija is a zippy, Latvian short form of Katrīna, itself a variation of Katherine. It was a popular choice in its native country in the 90s and 2000s when it ranked in the Top 100. Basketball player Kitija Laksa and cross country skier Kitija Auzina are notable bearers.

Kitija

Modernized spelling not enough to revive Karen. 

Caryn

One of the original so-weird-it's-cruel <a href="https://nameberry.com/fameberry">celebrity baby names</a> doesn't sound quite so impossible with the resurgence of virtue names. But be charitable and choose Charity instead.

Chastity

A short form of Virginia, which could really work for some, however alternative spelling Virgie, along with Ginny, Gigi, and Ginger are often preferred. 

Virgy

More familiarly spelled as Katia, this C spelling offers a gentler looking option that may be more intuitive if the given name is spelled as Caterina. Sometimes written as Cátia in Portuguese, this name is a familiar choice in Brazil. 

Catia

A sleek and stylish name of Arabic origin, Khalis comes from the word for "pure". Predominantly used for boys, and occasionally for girls too, it is familiar in Egypt, Iraq, Malaysia, and, more recently, France. 

Khalis

Katti or Kattie is a short form of Katherine, more old fashioned than Kate and more unusual than Kathy.

Katti

Predominantly used for girls, Kiyomi is very occasionally given to boys too. 


Kiyomi

Popular in Latvia, Keita is a short form of Katrīna, also used as a stand alone name, much like Kate is in English speaking countries. 
 
Keita is also used as an East African and a Japanese masculine name.

Keita

Nahid is modern form of Anahita, itself an Old Persian name borne by a water goddess in Iranian mythology, also associated with healing, fertility, wisdom, and the lotus flower. The name stems from an adjective and an epithet meaning "clean, pure, immaculate, undefiled". Also spelled as Naheed, this form is used as the Persian name for the planet Venus.
 
The name coincides with the Arabic Nahid (NA-heed), a masculine name meaning "rising".

Nahid

Lucasta was invented by seventeenth century poet Richard Lovelace for a collection of poems dedicated to a lover named Lucy, and is familiar through the Eugene O'Neill play and film Anna Lucasta. Lucasta is a distinctive, rarely used choice and a logical extension of the Luke/Luc/Luca names.

Lucasta

A melodic Dutch variant of Catherine which can also be seen as Catelijne, Cathelijn, Kathelijne or Katelijne. It likely derived via the Medieval French Cateline. 

Cathelijne

Cathelijn is variation of the classic Catherine, that likely emerged via the Medieval French Cateline. Also appearing as Cathelijne (pronounced with four syllables), Cathelijn is sleek and succinct but melodic at the same time. A notable bearer is Dutch athlete and Olympian Cathelijn Peeters.