This Arabic name, which can be used for either boys or girls, can also mean "wide-eyed" in the sense of someone who is studious and perceptive. Ayaan is most familiar to people in the West from its connection to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali women's right activist.

Short and to-the-point, it turns an ancient biblical name into a friendly cowboy.

The Polish form of the floral Jasmine, ultimately from the Persian yāsamīn. A fast rising name in Poland in the early 2020s, 2024 saw it rank in the Top 50 for the first time.

Central European form of Matthew.

A simplified spelling of the French name Yannick. It's almost unknown to English speakers, but could be an interesting Euro-chic alternative to the more popular Henrik.

Nicknames ending in o are invariably cute, though this one is a boys' name in its own right. And not just any boy name, but a saint's name no less. Saint Hanno, aka Saint Anno, was an 10th century archbishop of Cologne, He is also known as, less attractively, Hanno of Worms, which is one of the oldest cities in Germany.

A rare feminisation of Mahé, a French form of Matthew originating from the Breton language. The most well-known bearer of this name is the Québécoise actress Mahée Paiement.

Maori form of Matthew

Teasagh or Teasag, which can be Anglicized as Jessie, is a Scottish form of Jean, which itself originated as a Scottish feminine form of John. Scotswomen called Jessie are more likely to be properly named Teasagh than Jessica.

Too much teasing potential for an English speaker.

A form of the classic Theodore, most often used in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Tewodros is an alternative spelling.

This charming feminine form of Thaddeus is based on the Slovene variant Tadej. Its melodic sound and stylish nickname Teja make it an attractive possibility, even outside of its native country.

Some parents might like this energetic diminutive for Dorothy used in the Bush family, though the traditional Dottie and Dot seem to be coming back.

Juana with an X factor.

Derived from the Tigrinya elements hiyab, meaning "gift," and el, "God."

A romantic way to get to covetable nicknames Gia and Nina.

More commonly spelled FEODORA, a charming choice for the intrepid baby namer, especially with its dynamic nickname FEO (pronounced FAY-o).

This female form of Nathan can be pronounced with three syllables or four, and could make an interesting alternative to Natalia.