Nameberry Favorites
Names That Feel Exotic Yet Simple
Across 23 pages
of 23
Arisbeth
Combination of Ariel and Elizabeth or Hispanic variation of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"lion of God + pledged to God"
Arisbeth is a name that feels poetic and fantastical like Arwen or Amoret, but equally familiar and sunny, like Marisol. It is in fact a name used primarily in Mexico and by Hispanic parents in the…
Ayleen
Variation of Aileen or Ayla
The rise of Ayla seems to have revived this variation.
Zev
Hebrew
"wolf"
Zev is a short, simple, animal name that may relate to the Old Testament Ze'ev -- except he was a villainous character.
Alessio
Italian variation of Alexis
"defender"
Alessio, simpler than the related Alessandro, would be a welcome settler here.
Ayah
Arabic
"sign, miracle"
Sweet and simple, Ayah is a beautiful Arabic name with the particularly lovely meaning of "miracle". In Islam, Ayah refers to signs of God's existence, and is also the name for a verse in the Qur'an.…
Siya
American variation of Sia, short form of names ending -siya, Sanskrit, South African; "victory; furrow; white moonlight; thank you"
"victory; furrow; white moonlight; thank you"
Siya is a sweet and simple looking choice with a variety of origins. In South Africa, it derives from the Zulu and Ndebele Siyabonga, meaning "we thank you", and is predominantly used as a masculine…
Kylen
Modern invented name
"Kyle's land; little Kyle"
This relatively new name appears to have been created by adding the trendy -en suffix to Kyle, or by tweaking the spelling of the more popular and slightly older Kylan. While its invented status…
Eren
Turkish
"saint, holy person"
Eren ranks among the Top 50 boys' names in Turkey, among the Top 1000 in England and Wales, and is virtually unknown in the US. With a sound that's similar to Aaron or Erin, it may be mistaken for…
Emi
English, Slovene, or Japansese
"rival; whole; beautiful favor, beautiful picture"
As an English nickname, Emi can be short for anything beginning with (or containing) the popular "em" sound, such as Emily, Emilia, or maybe even Clementine. As a Japanese name, it can be formed of…
Eren
Turkish
"saint, holy person"
Eren ranks among the Top 50 boys' names in Turkey, among the Top 1000 in England and Wales, and is virtually unknown in the US. With a sound that's similar to Aaron or Erin, it may be mistaken for…
Izan
Basque variation of Ethan or Japanese
"strong, firm; reliable mountain"
Izan, pronounced with the same vowel sounds and emphasis as Ethan, ranks among the Top 20 boys' names in Spain, where it's been popular for two decades. The US is starting to catch onto this…
Jericho
Biblical place-name
A biblical place name with trumpeting verve and strength. Though rarely heard as a first name, Jericho has appeared in the titles of films, TV series, songs, bands, comics, and video games (Clive…
Vada
English, Sanskrit, German
"knowledge, rule"
Vada is a feisty retro choice that feels like a fresh spin on the likes of Ava and Ada. Its bold V initial is bang on trend, although Vada remains very uncommon in the US. It is perhaps best known as…
Aviana
Variation of Avis, Latin
"bird"
Aviana is a name that's like the megapopular Ava and Ariana, but not quite as popular as either. It entered into the mainstream back in 2010 however, after actress Amy Adams chose it for her…
Laith
Arabic, Scottish
"lion; wet"
With a distinctive sound and a robust feel, Laith is a name that also has a touch of breezy charm to it. Currently in the UK Top 1000, it is a cross-cultural boy name that's also on the rise in the…
Ainara
Basque
"swallow (bird)"
A distinctive nature name and member of the trendy bird category, Ainara might make an unusual choice with a lovely secret (to English speakers, anyway) meaning. A Top 100 choice in Spain and in the…
Axton
English
"sword stone"
Macho to the max. But with the rise of x as a fashionable letter anywhere it appears in a name, ala Jaxson or Maxon, we may be hearing more of Axton.
Micah
Hebrew
"who is like the Lord"
While Micah is traditionally a boy name, it is now increasingly used for girls too, likely because it works as an alternative to Michaela, Maia, and McKenna. Still, Micaiah, the name from which Micah…
Sarahi
Variation of Sarai, Hebrew
"princess"
A name with visible links to Sarah and Sarai, Sarahi is a rare and unusual name in the US, used to reflect the Spanish pronunciation of the name. It has made several appearances in the US Top 1000…
Makari
Russian, Greek
"blessed, happy; I wish"
To those unfamiliar with it, Makari might have the sound, feel, and look of a modern inventions, similar to Amari, Jakari, or Makai. It is however a Russian name, derived from the Greek Makarios.…