Nature, Place and Word Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 8 pages
of 8
Diminutive of Margaret, Greek
"pearl"
Just when we had written off Peggy as the eternal perky, pug-nosed prom-queen she projected from the 1920s into the fifties, along came Mad Men , with intriguing mid-century characters with names…
Hebrew
"gold, golden"
The more dignified and attractive Hebrew equivalent of Golda or Goldie.
Greek
"sea-green jewel"
Dated British favorite that never caught on in this country, where Jade remains the green gem of choice. Interesting namesakes: British writer Beryl Bainbridge and British aviatrix Beryl Markham.
Jewel name, for the French
"pomegranate"
One of the jewel names in use a hundred years ago, for both boys and girls, due for revival along with sisters Ruby and Pearl. But interestingly, Garnet means pomegranate, the fruit who shares a deep…
Jewel name, from the French
One of the jewel names in use a hundred years ago, due for revival along with sisters Ruby and Pearl.
Arabic and Swahili from Persian
"jewel"
An attractive and traditional unisex name perfect for a cross-cultural child. Despite the current popularity of names ending in -ari, Johari is surprisingly rare in the US, though recent years have…
Japanese
"amber"
Masculine name with a gem meaning.
"gold"
A Middle Eastern name rarely heard here, but with a certain swashbuckling charm.
French
Bijou is a name that lives up to its definition -- a real jewel. Warning: not unheard of on poodles' dog collars. Actress Bijou Phillips is its best known bearer. It can also be spelled Bijoux.
Feminine form of Ophir, a Biblical place name famed for its riches.
Variation of Ngọc, Vietnamese
"jade"
Popular unisex choice in Vietnam.
"treasure, jewel"
A lovely Japanese alternative to Tamara.
Celtic
"gem of the sea"
Ula is among the unusual U names that may have a range of origins and meanings, from the Celtic one given here to its possibilities as a short form of Eulalia or Ursula. Ulla is a Scandinavian name…
Arabic
"gem"
Rare and memorable Arabic girl name with a sparkling meaning. Yaqoot is generally associated with rubies and garnets.
Gemstone name
Rare for girls and rarer still for boys, Topaz is a gemstone name with a cool -Z ending, reminiscent of stylish options such as Azriel, Azariah, and Azai, along with the more classic Christopher,…
Albanian
Ultimately derived from an Old Turkic word, itself borrowed from Chinese, this distinctive and sparky looking choice is predominantly used in Albania. It is related to the popular Turkish and…
Hindi, Indonesian, Sanskrit
"jewel, treasure"
Short and snappy with an appealing meaning, Ratna is a Hindi name, derived from a Sanskrit word meaning "jewel" or "treasure". While some English speakers may be put off by the "rat" beginning, in…
English
"gemstone; glass"
Referring to a type of opalescent gemstone, usually white with blueish, pinkish, and yellow hues, Opalite can be naturally occurring, though it is often made artificially of glass. A beautiful gem…
Azerbaijani and Turkish
A Top 10 name in Azerbaijan and a Top 50 choice in Turkey, this gemstone name is said with a short second syllable rather than a drawn out sound. Also used as a surname, it is notably borne as a…
Persian
"diamond"
Succinct and straightforward with a sparkling meaning, Almaz is a unisex choice, ultimately derived from the Persian almās meaning "diamond". Associated with wealth, power, strength, and beauty,…
