Nameberry Favorites
Updated September 2026
Across 23 pages
of 23
Arabic
"prosperity; exalted nation"
A Quranic name especially popular in South Asia, it is also used across Europe, from Bosnia to France, from Spain to England. It appears in the Quran as the name of Maryam's (the Virgin Mary) father,…
Spanish feminization of Elio, Italian and Spanish
"sun"
Though the most famous Elia, screenwriter Kazan, was male, this name sounds like a spin on many popular girls' names, from Ella to Ellie to Isla and Leah. While the Italian pronunciation has the…
French
"oath, pledge"
Gage was part of the craze for one-syllable surnames, with associations to tasty green gage plums and the mathematical gauge. Gage was first noticed as a character in Stephen King's Pet Semetary…
Variation of True, English word name
"true"
Short and sweet but edgy too, Tru is fresh feeling virtue name that's currently in the US Top 1000 for boys and girls. Given to around 270 girls in 2023, the longer form True also on the rise. Rarely…
Compound name, Nova + Lee, Latin and English
"new meadow"
Can be shortened to Nova, which has seen a meteoric rise into the Top 50 in recent years. Novalee appeared on the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2016 and continues to drift gently upward.
Slavic, Turkish, Russian, Arabic
"give peace; iron; heart, mind, conscience"
The most common form of Damir is of Slavic origins, deriving from the elements da , meaning "give" or "take," and mir , "peace." It's also seen as a variation of the Turkish name Demir, meaning…
Japanese
"bright, intelligent"
A popular Japanese name for both sexes that's migrated to the West because of its appearance in manga and video games and because of its international feel. It was a fast rising choice in 2024, when…
English
"faithful, loyal"
Loyal is one of the few virtue names suitable for boys, an honorable and principled Boy Scout-esque appellation with a surprisingly long and distinguished history. Loyal was a mid-list name at the…
English compound name, Ada + Lee
"noble + meadow"
Adalee's rise into the Top 1000 is thanks to the current fashion for all names ada-related, including the similar Adeline and Adelaide. It does have a sweet melodic charm, but given the thousands of…
Portuguese form of Israel, or invented name, Hebrew
"he who struggles with God; God is salvation"
Isael, and more particularly its spelling variation Izael, are among the fastest-rising boys' names in the US. It is used as a Portuguese form of Israel, though it may also be a twist on Ismael and…
Russian and Greek variation of Zoe, Greek
"life"
Now that Zoe is getting wildly popular in the U.S. and the U.K. -- one poll puts it at number one in Wales -- parents may start hunting down fresh twists like this.
Greek, variation of Rhea
"a flowing stream"
Likely boosted by its similarity to fast-rising names Rhea, Raya, and Freya, enough parents chose this sweet and simple name in 2023 to push it into the US Top 1000 for the first time.
Hebrew
"my cover is God"
Castiel, which vaulted into the Top 1000 on the wings of the angel hero of the television show Supernatural , is the name of the Angel of the day Thursday. It may also derive some appeal from the…
Modern invented name
Zayla debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2021 and has been flirting with that magic #1000 mark ever since, hopping on and off the list. The name might be thought of as the popular Ayla or Layla with the…
Modern invented name or variation of Casey, Irish
"brave in battle"
The American appetite for boys names starting with the Kay-sound seems unlimited: Think Cason, Kaison, Caiden, Kayden... and Kace. Which hit the Top 1000 for the first time in 2017, remained there…
"wandering man"
Gatlin has risen into the Top 1000 in recent years on the strength of its association with the Olympic champion sprinter Justin Galtin as well as the Gatlin Brothers of Nashville fame. The name has…
Spelling variation of Kellen
"swamp; slender"
Kellan Lutz is the attractive young actor who plays Emmett Cullen in the Twilight series.
Spelling variation of Xavier
This phonetic version is occasionally used and removes any confusion about whether the X is fully pronounced or not.
Combination of Mae and Lyn
"beloved; drop in the sea + beautiful; soft; lake"
If you can add Lynn to a name, someone will and Mae is no exception to the rule. This compound name sits somewhere between the mid-century charm of Marilyn, Jerilyn, and Jocelyn, and the contemporary…
Latin or Tswana
"new or gift"
This nouveau name of Keanu Reeves's character in The Matrix has not enjoyed the same burst of popularity as its female counterpart, Trinity, but it definitely sounds, well, newer. Neo Rauch is an…