Nameberry Favorites
Names That Feel Exotic Yet Simple
Across 23 pages
of 23
Jasiel
Hebrew
"whom God made"
Jasiel and its alternate spelling Yasiel are gaining a following thanks to superstar baseball player Yasiel Puig, a Cuban native who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Biblical Jasiel was a…
Omari
Swahili, Arabic
"populous, flourishing"
This name, like Omar and Amari, has been in the US Top 1000 for many years. After taking a downturn in 2008, it's now again on the upswing. Actor Omari Hardwick keeps it in the public eye. As a name,…
Emberly
English elaboration of Ember
"ember"
The Kimberly of the current age, but currently less popular than either Ember or Everly.
Leilany
Variation of Leilani, Hawaiian
"heavenly flower"
Alternate spelling of Leilani, popular among Hispanic families.
Sevyn
American variation of Seven, number name
"seven"
Sevyn broke into the Top 1000 for girls in 2019, the same year that Seven crossed the threshold for boys. Ys are typically employed to make names more feminine, which is why many more girls were…
Nia
Swahili; Welsh form of the Irish Niamh
"resolve; brilliance"
Short but energetic and substantial, Nia has special meaning for African-American parents, as it's one of the days of Kwanza. Nia also benefits by its similarity to (yet differentness from) the…
Bryer
Variation of Briar, English word name
"a thorny patch"
This spelling of the rising unisex name Briar may strike some parents as more definitively masculine than its source, less Briar-Rose, more last-name-as-a-given-name and cowboyesque. Though it is…
Ryland
Old English
"place where Rye is grown"
Similar to popular Riley and Ryan and the origin of Rylan, this Old English surname has been in the US Top 1000 since the early 2000s. While it has declined in recent years, it was still given to…
Alena
Variation of Helen
Alena is a modern variant of Helen. Alena might also be a spelling twist on the Slavic Alina or a long form of Lena.
Aarav
Hindi
"peaceful"
Aarav is derived from the Sanskrit root "rav," which is related to peace and music. Aarav is also associated with the concept of wisdom. It has traditionally been a common name among Hindus, who…
Analia
Combination name, Ana plus Lia
Analia is a melodic newcomer to the US Top 1000, a fresher spin on the Olde Worlde Anamaria. It charted in the US from 2009 to 2012, and then reentered the popularity list in 2015. El Rostro de…
Kenai
Native American place name
"flat lands"
The name of the protagonist of Disney’s Brother Bear also has a geographical connection: the Kenai Peninsula and Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. With boy names like Kai and Levi at the top of…
Ryatt
Invented name
Ryatt — which may be a combination of names like Ryan and Wyatt — gives you the sound of Riot without the violent connotations. Naturally, it's almost twice as popular among baby boys than Riot, even…
Ryan
Irish
"little king"
This ultrapopular boys' name is rapidly becoming a hot name for girls ; admired for its buoyant Irish spirit. Ryan returned to the Top 500 for girls in 2015 and will no doubt continue to climb…
Jase
Diminutive of Jason
"the Lord is salvation"
Nickname name Jase joined twin brother Jace in the Top 100 in 2013, after first entering the list in 2002 -- but has since dropped in the charts. Inspiration may be Jase (born Jason) Robinson of the…
Ila
Scottish, Hindi, Hungarian, Finnish
"from the island; earth, sacred speech; shining light; joy"
A simple name that's rising fast in the US, likely inspired by the popularity of Isla and Ayla. This streamlined form might appeal to those who like Ana, Ivy, and Ada, and it brings a multicultural…
Bellamy
English and Irish from French
"fine friend"
Bellamy is a surname name with an admirable meaning and upbeat rhythm, similar to jovial choices like Rafferty, Barnaby and Willoughby. Bellamy is rising simultaneously for boys and girls at the…
Sol
Spanish, Portuguese, Norse
"sun"
A short and sweet Spanish and Portuguese name, meaning "sun". Sol has been used on its own for centuries (it belongs to one of the daughters in the 10th-11th century Spanish epic poem "El Cantar de…
Braylen
Modern invented name
Brayden meets Jalen to make Braylen, another entry in this trendy group of names. While Braylen is drifting downward now, it's ranked among the Top 1000 boy names in the US for two decades and is…
Ander
Basque form of Andrew and Andreas, Greek, "strong and manly"
"strong and manly"
This Basque form of the sturdy classic brings a fresh, cool edge to Andrew. It fits in with other trendy -er ending names while also still feeling classic and international. Derived om the Greek…