Names That Mean Friend or Friendly

One "bald" name we can get behind, thanks to pioneering African-American author James Baldwin – though the name is now also associated with the Baldwin brothers, particularly Alec.

Edin is a variant on the name Edwin from the Isle of Man. It may get confused as a misspelling of Eden in the US, but the pronunciation is different..

Oprah's almost mononymic first name is too closely tied to her personality (and brand) for us to recommend it as a baby name in good faith. Her surname, however, is definitely name-worthy. Winfrey works as a modern update to Whitney, with the added bonus of being associated with one of the most influential women of our time.

Appealing Indian and Arabic choice.

Dutch form of Baldwin

Philophrosyne was the spirit of welcome, friendliness, and kindness in Greek Mythology. She was one of the four younger Charites.

Inas is one of those simple but rare names that's worth a look, whether you're trying to bridge Arabic and English cultures or are looking for a meaningful, unusual choice. No baby girls were named Inas in the US last year. For English speakers, the second syllable rhymes with has or jazz.

One step up from Irwin, and that's not nearly enough.

Definitely a far stretch for any child.

An appealing name with a gentle feel, Sumitra is a name of Sanskrit origin used in India and Thailand as a feminine name, and in Indonesia as a masculine one. It combines the elements su and mitra, meaning "good" and "friend" respectively.
The name appears on a (feminine) figure in the Hindu epic Ramayana and has been borne by actress Sumitra Devi, regarded as one of the best Bollywood actresses of the '40s and '50s, and by Sumitra Bhav, one half of a film-making duo with Sunil Sukthankar.

Nefertari Meritmut was the first and favorite wife of pharoah Ramesses II "the Great". She was highly educated and undertook important diplomatic work on behalf of her husband, corresponding with other prominent figures and even making speeches.

Pal is a masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Hungarian, it's equivalent to Paul, derived from Latin 'Paulus' meaning 'small' or 'humble.' In South Asian cultures, particularly India, Pal means 'protector' or 'caretaker.' The name also functions as a nickname for Paul or similar names in many Western countries. Short and straightforward, Pal is instantly recognizable and easy to pronounce across languages. While not currently ranking among popular baby names in most Western countries, it maintains steady usage in Hungary and parts of South Asia. The word's friendly associations in English (as in 'friend' or 'buddy') gives the name a warm, approachable quality. Its multicultural nature makes it appealing for families seeking a simple name with international versatility.

The Maori form of an Old English given name, notably borne by George Augustus Selwyn, the first Bishop of New Zealand. The Bishop gave his name to several places and a river in New Zealand and this Maori variation has since been used as a surname and occasionally as a given or middle name. New Zealand rugby player McFarlane "Mack" Herewini is a more recent bearer.

In Greek Mythology, Herophile was Aphrodite and Poseidon's daughter and a sibyl who predicted the fall of Troy.

This more elaborate version of the name is heard occasionally, but Samira or the related Samara is simpler and just as rhythmic.

Amice is a name that was used in the Middle Ages but has fallen out of use now. It seems completely suited for modern life, though, with a pronunciation that's like Alice wth an m.

A rare name from Archaic Germanic that is rarely used nowadays, Godwin is the Germanic variant of Anglo-Saxon Godwine. Also used as a surname, it may be a bit heavy as a first name for a modern baby boy. Namesakes include the Austro-Hungarian fighter ace Godwin von Brumowski, and Godwin, Earl of Wessex (originally Godwine).