Dog Names That Mean Miracle

As a male name, Joni is a nickname for Jon or Jonathan, akin to Johnny or Jonny. It's more commonly used as a girl name, where it originated as a nickname for Joan.

Maori form of Matthew

Peppy cheerleader with African roots.

Too much teasing potential for an English speaker.

Pretty smoosh name from the popular elements Ella + Dora, or a spin on Eleanora influenced by Dora "gift".

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.

A unisex name in Hawaii, with great potential for cool nickname Ma(c)k.

A pretty name with that fashionable V intitial, little known outside of Latvia.

A highly unusual Dora name that may be a spin on the Japanese name Midori, meaning "green," or a combination of Mia "my" plus Dora "gift."

Very rarely used for girls, but New York socialite Kelly Bensimon and photographer Gilles Bensimon gave it to their youngest daughter in 2000.

The ultimate ethereal name for lovers of fairies, pixies, and sprites.

Slovene mini name that was once short for names like Doroteja and Mateja, but now is more popular independently.

A nice meaning -- congruent with the recent vogue for names like Blessing -- helps offset this Hawaiian name's proximity to overused Makayla and McKenzie.

Mostly heard on girls, but we've met boys wearing the name, too.

Marvel is rising for both sexes, and this cheerful, melodic variation could appeal too.

Somali and East African form of Hiba.

The Estonian writer Mats Tõnisson created Milvi as a nickname for Miranda. It's also connected to the Estonian word miilama, meaning "glow" or "burn slowly".

Although it's a traditional male name in the Middle East, Ata has a more feminine read in the US.

A joyous, celebratory-sounding name.

Liodor is the Leo and Theodore mash-up you didn't know you needed — with authentic Russian roots! It ultimately derives from the Greek name Heliodoros.