Name Spellings, Initials and Sounds
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 8 pages
of 8
Sanskrit
"gift"
This Indian name meaning gift or offering feels familiar via sound-alikes Angela or Angelina, and made a brief appearance on the U.S. Top 1000. Anjali is a pretty route to a name that's at once easy…
Hebrew
"my flame, my light"
This short but strong name, commonly heard in Israel, has a lot of crossover potential, and is among the most usable on the minuscule menu of U names. The are two Uris in the Old Testament--the…
Japanese or English
"loved one; lily"
As a Japanese name, Suki has the sweet meaning "loved one". It's also an English diminutive of Susanna, making it a creative and modern way to honor a Susan in your life.
Finnish
An airy variant of the Finnish name Aura, which derives either from the Greek "aura" (breath; breeze) or from Old Norse "aurr" (earth; clay). It is also sometimes encountered as a short form of…
Ghanaian, Akan, Twi
"born on Friday"
This Akan day name is very much associated with Kofi Annan, the seventh secretary general of the United Nations. The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the…
Russian from Greek Demetrius
Worldly, artistic and attractive Slavic version of the name of the Greek god of fertility and farming.
"my sheaf"
Old Testament name of a king of Israel, related to the harvest.
Place-name and Native American
"the great one"
Alaska's Denali National Park is the home of the highest mountain in the US, officially renamed Denali in 2014, endowing the name with a lofty feel. There were 20 boys and 55 girls given the name in…
Hebrew diminutive of Esther, Persian, or Basque
"star; sweet honey"
Esti is most commonly a short form of Esther and Estelle, both making the big move from old lady name to cool young name. It's also a popular short form of the Basque names Estitxu and Estibalitz, or…
Hindi
"basil"
Tulsi is more than a simple nature name: The holy basil plant is sacred in the Hindu religion, used to honor the god Vishnu and representative of his consort, the goddess Tulsi. The Tulsi plant is…
Mohawk variation of Katherine
"pure"
St. Kateri Teckakwitha is the first Native American saint, canonized in 2012. St. Kateri was the daughter of a Mohawk warrior, born in 1656 in upstate New York. She converted to Christianity at age…
Variation of Emery; variation of Amari, German; Hebrew
"industrious; eternal"
When pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable, Emari is considered a variation of Emery, a stylish unisex name common among baby girls. But in most cases, Emari is used as an alternate…
Magali is a feminine name with rich cultural connections, primarily of Provençal French and Occitan origin. The name evolved as a regional variation of Margaret, which derives from the Greek…
Iranian/Persian
"fairy"
Simple yet meaningful Iranian name that would make an excellent import to the English-speaking world.
Variation of Sakarias, Finnish
"the Lord has remembered"
Technically speaking, Sakari is the Finnish version of Zachary, with the emphasis on the first syllable. In practice, it's a modern American unisex name, pronounced sah-KAR-ee.
Hawaiian, Polynesian mythology
The name of the second-biggest (and third-most populous) island in Hawaii was one of the fastest-rising boys' names of 2017. A major factor was surely Dwayne Johnson's character in Moana , the…
Ancient Egyptian
"beautiful companion"
Nefertari Meritmut was the first and favorite wife of pharoah Ramesses II "the Great". She was highly educated and undertook important diplomatic work on behalf of her husband, corresponding with…
Japanese
"snow; happiness"
Succinct and memorable, Yuki is a Japanese name, which may relate to winter or joy, depending on the kanji used. It is a unisex choice, notably borne by singer Yuki Kuramochi (stylized as YUKI).
Ruairi is a traditional Irish masculine name with ancient Celtic roots. Derived from the Irish Gaelic 'Ruaidhrí', it combines 'ruadh' meaning 'red' and 'rí' meaning 'king', thus translating to 'red…
African, Swahili
"powerful"
This short and strong Swahili name shares lots of sounds with trending Ezra and Enzo, and has a great meaning too.
