Nameberry Favorites
Names That Feel Exotic Yet Simple
Across 23 pages
of 23
Lyra
Greek
"lyre"
Lyra is a name with ancient and celestial roots that's found new popularity thanks to its starring role in Philip Pullman's book series, His Dark Materials and its subsequent movie and TV adaptions.…
Salem
Biblical place-name or Arabic
"safe"
Salem is a biblical place-name in Canaan, believed to be the same as Jerusalem. Americans may be more familiar with Salem as the name of the Massachusetts town famous for its witch trials in the late…
Sergio
Italian and Spanish variation of Sergius, Roman family name
"servant"
Widely heard in both Italian and Spanish households, Sergio and his many international brothers are rooted in Sergius, one of the original Roman family names. The meaning is unknown, but possibly is…
Mya
Variation of Maia, Maya, or Mia, Greek, Scandinavian, Hebrew, Burmese
"mother; larger, greater; bitter, beloved; emerald"
This distinctive spelling was popularized by the R&B singer Mya (Harrison) and entered the US Top 100 in 2009 after the singer appeared on Dancing with the Stars . While it has since declined in the…
Uriel
Hebrew
"God is my light, God is my flame"
The name of the archangel in Rabbinic and Russian Orthodox tradition, Uriel is associated with truth, wisdom, and light. Also appearing in medieval literature, the name shares a similar meaning to…
Zariah
Arabic, Hebrew, Russian
"flower, God has helped, dawn"
Zariah has three possible origins: the Arabic Zahrah which means ‘flower’, the Hebrew name Azariah, meaning ‘God has helped’, or the Russian word Zaria which means ‘sunrise/dawn’. Either way, it's a…
Reign
English word name
"rule"
Reign is one of a new, ahem, kingdom of word names that suggest a high-born child, joining Royal, Lorde, Titan, Saint, King, Princess, and Noble. We predicted this kind of defining name to be the…
Rome
Place name, Latin, Greek
"to hurry or flow; strength"
Given that Rome is arguably the most important city in European history, it has been used as a first name remarkably little. However, with Roman in the Top 100 and one-syllable choices in vogue, it…
Jaylani
modern invented name
A recent addition to the name lexicon with some real potential.
Kyson
English
"son of Kyle"
An update of Tyson for parents who prefer the Ky nickname to Ty. It was the middle name of a character on Heroes .
Haisley
Modern invented name
Combine two parts Paisley with one part Hazel and one part Harley, add a dash of Hayes, and voila: Haisley.
Anahi
Tupi
"maize or immaculate"
The name of a Guaraní princess killed by Spanish conquistadors in Tupi-Guarani legend. A Ceibo tree – the national flower of Argentina – is said to have bloomed in the spot where she died. The…
Kasen
Modern invented name
Kasen is one of several linked names, all spelled differently and pronounced the same. Kayson is the most popular spelling of the name, but they include Cason, Casen, Cayson and so on. Kasen's appeal…
Aniyah
Arabic, English modern invention
"helper, caring; grace"
Aniyah is a cross-cultural choice with a modern sound and classic roots. Currently in the Top 1000 in both the US and the UK, it has two different origins. As an Arabic name, Aniyah means "caring" or…
Amirah
Arabic
"princess"
The feminine form of Amir, a soft and regal baby name popular in the Muslim community.
Solana
Spanish
"sunshine"
A bright and warm possibility for a summertime girl, Solana feels both soulful and fresh, distinctive and familiar. Originally adapted from the Spanish surname and Saint name, Solano, it entered the…
Royce
English
"son of the king"
It may seem like an indecisive cross between Roy and Reece, but Royce was fairly popular in the 1930s and '40s. It has seen a resurgence in recent years, helped by some well-known athlete bearers.…
Leonidas
Greek
"lion"
Leonidas is an ancient name that has started rising again along with centuries-old names such as Augustus and Cato. The original Leonidas was the most famous of Sparta's warriors, sacrificing his…
Analeia
Variation of Analeah or combination of Ana and Leia, Brazilian, Portuguese, English
"grace + weary"
Analeia combines three popular elements: classic and international Ana, the pop cultural, Star Wars inspired Leia, and the Biblical Leah. It was one of the fastest rising names in the US in 2024,…
Jream
Variation of Dream, English word name
Families with a J-initial sibset may opt to spell Dream this way. While Dream has been climbing up the charts since its entry in 2017 — attributed to the birth of a Kardashian baby by that name —…