Pet Names · Dog Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 21 pages
of 21
Japanese, English short form or Eleanor, Leonora, Nora, Honora, or North, form of Nor or Nuri, Arabic, Turkish
"ceremonial rites, doctrine, seaweed; unknown, honor, north; my light"
Nori is one of those names with several origins that would have no trouble assimilating into a variety of cultures. It might also be associated with the dried seaweed used to wrap sushi or with the…
Irish
"little king"
More authentic and original form of Ryan, but far less common of the two spellings in the US. There were about 170 baby boys named Rian in the US last year, versus over 4000 named Ryan. In its…
Latin
"queen of the heavens; young"
Juno is an ancient name that feels as fresh as if it had been minted, well, not yesterday, but in 2007. Since the release of the popular indie film Juno , this lively but strong Roman goddess name…
Japanese
"beauty, flow, lapis lazuli"
Rumi is a Japanese girl name, with a sweet yet substantial sound. Reminiscent of other popular choices in the West — think Ruby, Remy, and Romy — it is currently achieving more notice thanks to…
Rori is a feminine name with Gaelic origins, though it can occasionally be used for boys as well. Traditionally, it's a feminine variation of Rory, which means 'red king' in Gaelic. The name has a…
Diminutive of Victoria, English, Japanese
"victory; bird"
A more modern nickname for Victoria than Vicky, Tori is used fairly frequently on its own, kept in the public eye by singer Tori Amos and actress Tori Spelling. Still, it's far from fashionable,…
Variation of Emma, German, Japanese
"universal; favor, benefit + flax"
Streamlined and succinct, Ema is a multicultural choice with wide-reaching appeal and versatility. From its German roots, Ema is a form of the classic Emma, used in Spanish, Portuguese, Slovene,…
"ocean wave"
An aquatic Japanese choice that would work well cross-culturally. American parents are starting to pick up on this short and sweet international choice, with over 100 baby girls in the US receiving…
Variation of Maria or Mary, Basque, Japanese
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved; gift, mother; truth, genuine, villlage"
Mari enjoyed some mid-century popularity as a nicknameish version of Mary, but now deserves a second look as a multicultural classic. Popular in Norway and Armenia as a variation of Marie, it is…
Japanese, Slovene, Hebrew, English, Greek
"beautiful fragrance; who is like God?; follower of Demeter"
Mika is a sparky and stylish Japanese girls' name that translates easily to English. Also used as a Slovene and Hebrew diminutive for Mihaela and Michaela, as an alternative spelling to the Biblical…
Variation of Mia or Maya; Japanese
"palace, shrine, temple"
Is it pronounced MEE-ah or MY-ah? Only the bearer knows for sure, which is one of the central problems with this hybrid name. Miya is also a Japanese name that comes from the word meaning "palace"…
Issa is a masculine name with multicultural origins. In Arabic culture, it is the name for Jesus (prophet Isa in Islam) and means 'God is salvation.' It also appears in Slavic languages as a…
Germanic, Persian, or diminutive of Isabel
"ice; strong-willed; pledged to God"
Isa is a name unto itself as both a Persian name meaning "strong-willed" and as Germanic one derived from the element is meaning "ice". It can also be a short form of Isabel, Isabella, Isadora,…
Botanical name; Arabic
"brightness"
Senna is a flowering bush common in the tropics, with bright yellow flowers. In herbal medicine, Senna has gained some notice as the active ingredient in so-called "dieter's teas," which works…
Japanese, Indian, Native American
"happiness; good fortune; fort; allies, friends"
Concise and cool, Kota is a name with multiple origins, making it a versatile choice that travels well. As a Japanese name, Kota, also spelled Kōta and Kouta, is associated with good luck, joy,…
Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese
"river or place of the cherry blossoms"
Rio is one of Japan's most popular girls' names, constantly sitting in that country's Top 10. Of course, Rio may also stem from the Portuguese and Spanish word for river, and the Brazilian city Rio…
"light; vermilion"
Akari is a gender-neutral Japanese name used fairly evenly between the sexes in the US. There are several well-known female singers and actors named Akira in Japan, and Akira Watanabe is a popular…
Hebrew or Japanese
"life; universal feathers"
Appealing crosscultural choice.
Yiddish, Hebrew, Persian, Sanskrit
Suri, a once obscure name, hit the headlines when it was chosen by Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise for their daughter in 2006. A truly multi-cultural choice, Suri is a unique name with a variety of…
Japanese or Korean
"sky; conch shell"
A simple and pretty multicultural name: as a Japanese name, it's unisex and means "sky"; as a Korean name, it's feminine and means "conch shell".
