Names That Feel Exotic Yet Simple

Used by parents who love that Z initial, Zayden is also part of the Rhymes-with-Aiden-Clan. This particular for form ranks in the US Top 300 and the UK Top 600, outranking spelling variations Zaiden and Zaden.
 
While the name is generally considered a blending of popular sounds, it might also be viewed as a variation on the Arabic Zaydan, which means "growth, increase". In this case, it would be pronounced zie-DAN (though like with Zayn, it might be pronounced zay-DAN too).
 
Singer Tori Kelly named her son Zayden Michael in 2025, while Xaden is a rising spelling variant, gaining in popularity due to its appearance in the book series, Fourth Wing.

Zayden

The name is derived from the term commonly used in the Book of Psalms, which has a many Hebrew scholars in confusion over its meaning. Given its context in the Bible, Selah is likely to mean "to praise" or "pause and reflect upon what has just been said." Lauryn Hill used this name for her daughter. It is the last word in Anita Diamant's novel The Red Tent.

Selah

One of the most appealing of the newly hip occupational names, evoking sweet smells emanating from the oven. Much fresher sounding than than others that have been around for a while, like Cooper, and Carter.
 American football star Baker Mayfield has propelled his name into the big time over the past decade. There also are plenty of notable surnamed Bakers, including writers Nicholson and Russell, actor Simon, Senator Howard, rocker Ginger, jazz musician Chet, blues singer Anita, and entertainer Josephine. Baker is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/top-last-names-in-the-us">most common surnames in the US</a>.

Baker

Currently in the US Top 300, Saylor finds the middle ground between the popular and unisex Taylor, and the more unexpected, wordier Sailor. In fact, it is currently used more often than either of its sound-alikes. 
 
For a name that feels like it could just be a creative spelling, Saylor has a surprisingly interesting etymology. On one hand, it is a variation of the English word sailor, relating it to the sea, to travel, and to boatmanship. 
 
On the other, it's a surname in its own right. In Medieval Germany, it was related to the word seil, meaning "rope" and was therefore used as an occupational surname for ropemakers. In Middle English, it was linked to the the Old French word sailleor meaning "to leap", and therefore used to describe a dancer, tumbler, or acrobat.
 
Ultimately, parents may choose this version because it feels less like a word and more like a name, and because including the letter Y makes it feel contemporary and on trend.

Saylor

Eliana and her spelling variations are multicultural favorites that have been rising across the English-speaking world since the turn of the 21st century. Popular in Netherlands, the UK, Canada, France, and Brazil, Eliana and sisters come with in-built nicknames Ellie, Elle and Ana which makes them versatile and appealing
 
Spelling variation Elianna is uniquely popular to the US however, where it joins Eliana and Elliana in the Top 300. While it may be the least popular option of the three, it is still given to more than 1200 girls each year. Moreover, a recent year also saw it enter the Top 1000 in England and Wales, meaning it may well catch up with its sister spellings.

The name Eliana may have roots in the Latin family name Aelius, related to the Greek helios, which means "sun". In Hebew, El means God and ana means answered, which may make Elianna or Eliana a good name for a prayed-for child.
 
Elianna may also make a good option if you were hoping to honor someone named Anne or Anna, and it could be considered more of a compound name, blending Anna with the likes of Ella, Eli, or Elizabeth, in which case, you could play around a bit with the meaning, to get "graceful fairy maiden", "uplifting grace", or "God is gracious". 
 
A word of warning to those pondering Elianna purely as a more "unique" option than Top 100 Eliana, while the name itself sits within the US Top 30, playground analysis suggests that when you combine all the Elianas, Eliannas, Ellianas, Elyannas etc. together, it begins to feel more like a Top 10 choice, ranking similarly to Ava and Sofia.

Elianna

Most of the notable Rivers have been male, but this nature name certainly flows as well for a girl. The name River is still rising for both genders, with about 3500 baby boys receiving the name last year vs. 1900 baby girls.

Kelly Clarkson's choice of River for her newborn daughter further raised the profile of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">name for girls</a>. Baseball great Derek Jeter and Hannah Davis used the same name as Clarkson for their daughter born in 2021, River Rose.

River

Alaina, part Alana and part Elena and maybe also a little bit Elaine, is one of the many feminine forms of Alan (or its French form Alain) that have grown in popularity over recent decades, surpassing the male original.  Not quite fashionable but also not quite un, Alaina is a choice that may feel more distinctive than it really is.

Alaina

Cohen is a common last name among Jews and an important spiritual name in the Jewish religion, associated with the hereditary priests who claimed descent from the biblical Aaron. As a result of its religious significance, Cohen is considered by some to be inappropriate to use as a first name, particularly by people with no Jewish heritage.

 Nevertheless, Cohen is becoming increasingly popular in the US as a first name for boys, possibly inspired by the character Seth on TV's The O.C. who was commonly called by his last name, Cohen. It currently ranks among the 300 most popular first names for American baby boys, boosted by its sleek and strong sound and proximity to more popular choices like Logan and Rowan.

 Cohen is also found in Ireland as a surname, an unusual variant of Coyne, Cowan or Coen. The Coen spelling is also a Dutch name in its own right, derived from Coenraad (Conrad), although in that case it rhymes with "moon". Spelled as Koen in the US, however, it is probably being used as a variation of Cohen.

 
Given to more than 1400 babies in 2024, when combined with all its other variations, there were nearly 3000 boys named Cohen-or-similar in the US.

Cohen

This Old Testament name has been one of the most popular girls names in Israel over the last decade and is also a favorite in Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. First appearing in the US charts back in the 2010s, it now sits in the Top 300, and while it may feel like an attempt to make Noah unisex, it is in fact a separate, feminine name.
 Borne by a female figure in the Old Testament named Noa (or Noah), this form of the name derives from the Hebrew No'ah, meaning "motion". The popular Biblical male name Noah is derived from a different Hebrew origin: Noach, meaning "rest, repose".
 Noa is the established, modern Hebrew spelling of the female name, but it may also be found as a variant spelling of the male name Noah – popular in countries including France, Wales, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. As such, Noa is still a unisex choice. 
 
Additionally, Noa also has roots in Japanese, in which it means "my love, my affection", adding to the versatility of this short moniker. In this case, it would be pronounced NO-A, with emphasis on both syllables.

Contemporary Kairo fits in with the modern trend of substituting a C for a K initial, and in this case, it works to get you more easily to the cool nickname Kai. In fact, parents in the US and the UK see it as working so well that Kairo took over from Cairo as the preferred spelling of the name back in 2018. Given to nearly 1500 babies each year, Kairo is in the US and UK Top 300. 
 
Deriving from the Arabic al-Qāhirah meaning "the conqueror", Cairo - and Kairo - are associated with the Egyptian city, a place of historical importance and modern architecture too. As a name, Cairo was popularized by rapper Tyga, who used it as his son's middle, and by Brazilian footballer, Cairo Santos.
 
Notable Kairos include rapper and influencer, Kairo Keyz, and Kairo Forbes, the daughter of DJ Zinhle and the late rapper, AKA. 
 While Kairo still feels like an unexpected choice, when you combine all the Cairos, Kairos and Kryos together, it was given to nearly 3000 babies in a recent year, making it feel like a name around the #120 mark, similar in popularity to Jasper, Emmett, or Milo.

Kairo

Callahan, the simpler spelling of Callaghan, is a rhythmic jig of a name whose history harks back to the ancient King of Munster. In the Dirty Harry movies, the Clint Eastwood character is Harry Callahan.

Callahan

Kiara can be considered a variation of both the Italian name Chiara and the Irish name Ciara. Chiara is the Italian form of Clara, meaning "bright" or "clear," while Ciara is the feminine form of male given name Ciar, derived from the old Irish cíar, meaning "dark." 
 
Kiara is also an Australian name derived from an Aboriginal word for the white cockatoo, and has roots as a Korean name meaning "first ray of sun".
 
Simba's daughter in The Lion King, Kiara fits in with stylish modern names like Keira and Kaia.

Kiara

Wren, a lilting songbird name, could be the next Robin. Wren entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2012 and is among the new wave of popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/501/english-names-for-girls">English names for girls</a>.
 Wren makes a particularly pleasing middle name choice, as does her newly discovered cousin Lark. But it's more popular as a middle name than you might think, the quirkier cousin of Rose.
 This petite bird was regarded in Ireland as the "magician of the birds" and the Druids considered it a bird of prophecy. Thanks to an early fable, it has also been known as King of the Birds.
 For architects there's the link to the great Sir Christopher Wren, the celebrated eighteenth century designer of London's St. Paul's Cathedral.

Wren

With a soft sound, a preppy feel, and a unisex style, Palmer is a last name that's been climbing up the charts for girls in the US. Having entered the Top 1000 in 2018, more recent stats place it in the Top 300. More than four times as many girls received the name than boys in 2023, though Palmer is a name on the rise all round. 
 
An English surname that derives from the Latinpalma, the literal meaning of the name is "one who carries the palm (trees)". On a more symbolic level, it means "pilgrim", because Christian Pilgrims traditionally brought palms with them when they visited the Holy Land. Alternatively, it is linked to Palm Sunday, the week before Easter, when new palms are brought to churches so the old ones may be burnt in time for Ash Wednesday.
 
Palmer might work then for Christian parents wanting a modern sounding name that still reflects their faith, but it could also make a very modern honor name for grandma Pamela. Or, given its long history as a last name and its contemporary style, it could work for anyone who likes it, or for those looking for an alternative to Piper or Harper.

Palmer

Bright, spirited, and playful, Nyla shares sounds with the popular Isla, Lila, Layla, and Delilah, making it feel fresh and in style. A name with a number of possible origins, it made a brief, anomalous appearance on the US charts in 1941, before disappearing again for the next 60 years. It has been back in the US Top 1000 since 2001, and is currently on the rise, given to around 1230 girls each year.
 
One theory around Nyla's origin is that it derives from the Arabic name Naila - also spelled Nayla, Neyla, and Na'ila - giving it a meaning associated with ambition and success. While the traditional pronunciation would be na-EE-luh, Nyla could be an Anglicized interpretation. Another possibility is that Nyla is a feminine form of Niles, Neil, or Niall, meaning either "cloud" from the Old Irish nél or "hero; champion" from the Old Irish nia.
 
 Anlla and Nila might provide another source of inspiration: both are Sanskrit and Hindi names meaning "wind, air" and "dark blue" respectively. Alternatively, Nyla may just be a modern creation, inspired by Kyla, Tyler, and Skyler.
 
Wherever it comes from, Nyla is now a well-established choice in the US and is equally on the rise in the UK, where it is in the Top 250. 
 Famous bearers of the name include Indian actress Nyla Usha and New Zealand long-distance runner Nyla Carroll.

Nyla

Cataleya is the name of a genus of orchids that gained visibility as a baby name after it was used for the character played by Zoe Saldana in Colombiana. Part Caitlin, part Aaliyah, and part Leah, Cataleya is a trendy choice that just might transcend its momentary popularity. It is a spelling adaptation of Cattleya, named after the British horticulturalist William Cattley.

Cataleya

Collins is a surname name that has made the girls' Top 1000 thanks to its use for the daughter of the real-life Blind Side heroine. As of 2022, Collins climbed into the US Top 300. This derivation of the Greek Nicholas—which means "people of victory"—or the Irish and Scottish Colin—which may itself be a Nicholas derivation or an Anglicization of the word for pup—has a stylish feel made more so by that final s.

Collins

The name of a figure from Greek mythology, Adonis is a high-pressure name often synonymous with masculine beauty. Nonetheless, many mythological names that would have previously been deemed off limits have made their way up the popularity charts—for instance, Penelope currently ranks highly for girls. And indeed, Adonis was one of the fastest-rising boys' names of 2016, moving up 307 spots on the U.S. popularity chart in just one year.

Adonis

Effortlessly stylish with an international feel, Milan re-entered the US charts back in 2013 after a 55 year hiatus. It has been powering up the charts ever since, following in the footsteps of sweet sound-alike Mila, and spotlighted by singer Shakira, who chose it for her son. 
 
A fast rising choice of 2023, Milan comes from the Slavic element milŭ meaning "gracious, dear", however, as an Italian place name, it is more likely from the Latin Mediolanum, meaning "middle of the plain". It could also be connected to the Sanskrit milana meaning "union", which might explain its usage in India. 
 
Milan has been a Top 10 name for boys in The Netherlands and Hungary, as well as making the Top 20 in Belgium. A famous literary namesake is Czech writer Milan Kundera, author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being. In America, it is a solidly unisex name whose usage is no doubt also inspired by the stylish Italian city of the same name.
 
Given to around 1500 boys in a recent year compared to 450 girls, for every one girl called Milan, there are three boys.
 
Milan is a name with plenty of variations and diminutives including Milen, Miko, Miłosz, Milenko, Milano, and Mylan.

Milan

Delaney has been a popular surname-style choice since 90s, when it joined other Irish surnames such as Cassidy, Kennedy, and Mallory on the US Charts. Buoyant, bright, and cheerful, it ranks in the US Top 250 and is given to nearly 1300 babies every year.

Derived from the Old Irish name Dubhshláine, Delaney can mean "dark challenger" or "dark river" depending on which translation is used. Alternatively, it could be an English surname, taken from the Old French de l'aunnaie", meaning "from the alder grove".

Only ever given to a handful of babies each year since the early 1900s, Delaney leapt up the charts in the 90s, It's rise in popularity could be attributed to its similarity in sound or style to the likes of Mackenzie, Destiny, Kimberly, or Kaylee, or it may be that parents liked it as a fresh twist on Elaine and a new way to the nickname Lainey. 
 Alternatively, pop cultural influences might have driven the name up the charts, with singer Delaney Bramlett releasing new music, actress Dana Delany starring in the successful TV drama, China Beach , and the Delaney family in The Baby Sitters Club book series.

Delaney

Names that feel exotic yet simple have unique sounds, but are more common than you may think. These are names that you 

 like you've never heard before, yet are familiar and easy to pronounce, spell, and understand.

If it seems like every other child you meet is called Sofia or Theodore, but your taste doesn't stray as far as, say, Azula or Pepper or Cosmo, you might be searching for one of these 

. All of the names on this list rank in the US Top 1000 for 2025, making them mainstream choices for babies today.

 but intuitive elements include Sloane and Catalina, Waylon and Callum. On the rarer end of the spectrum are names like Sarahi and Zoya, Kenji and Aldo.

Names with unique sounds thatare familiar and easy to pronounce, spell, and understand, including meaning, origin, and popularity (Page 6)