Names I'm Considering for an OC I Made for One of My Favorite Anime

Ayla

Hebrew or Turkish

"oak tree; halo, moonlight"

Bright, fresh, and sunny, Ayla is a fashionable and exciting international choice for girls. Reminiscent of other trending names such as Layla, Isla, and Ava, Ayla has recently found its place in the…

Aylin

Turkish

"of the moon"

This Turkish name has some of today's most popular sounds: partly like Isla and Ayla with the well-loved -lin ending of Evelyn, Oaklynn, and Brooklynn. Used internationally, it's currently on trend…

Yara

Arabic, Persian, Brazilian, Hebrew

"friend, helper; strength; water nymph; honeycomb"

The multicultural Yara is a sweet but substantial choice that could make a more unusual take on Sara and also work in multiple languages. Popular in Portugal, The Netherlands, and Switzerland,…

Zahra

Arabic

"flower"

Abbreviated form of Zahara that was used by Chris Rock for his daughter and as a middle name by both Eddie Murphy and David Bowie. Compared with the even-more-abbreviated Zara, Zahra may create more…

Mara

Hebrew

"bitter"

Mara is the evocative ancient root of Mary, appearing in the Book of Ruth, in which Naomi, devastated after the death of her two sons, says "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara." It's one of the girl…

Rhea

Greek mythology name

"a flowing stream"

Rhea is an old-style creative name of the Greek mythological earth mother of all the gods. A lot better than the Roman equivalent: Ops. Rhea reentered the US Top 1000 in 2015 and has been heading…

Neriah

Hebrew

"light of Jehovah"

A version of a symbolic name given to girls born on Hanukkah, the festival of lights. It can also be spelled Neriya(h), but this spelling made it into the Top 1000 in 2013. Neriah was among the…

Keziah

Hebrew

"cassia tree"

This lively Old Testament nature name (belonging to one of the three beautiful daughters of Job) entered the US Top 1000 list in 2024, and ranks highly here on Nameberry — making it one to watch!…

Soraya

Persian

"Pleiades constellation"

Soraya is a Persian name made famous in the Western world by the one-time empress of Iran, who settled in Europe, primarily in France. Soraya is derived from Thurayya, the Arabic name of the…

Elara

Greek mythology name

"hazelnut, spear"

A bright, airy choice, Elara appears in Greek mythology and is borne by a lover of Zeus who gave birth to a giant son called Tityos. One of Jupiter's moons is named after her, adding a celestial feel…

Khadija

Arabic

"premature child"

The Prophet Muhammad's first wife and the first convert to Islam, and a very popular name in the Muslim community. It ranks in the Top 200 girls' names in France, Italy and England & Wales (alongside…

Alya

Arabic

"heavens, highborn, exalted"

Alya is most familiar in the US in its much-more-complicated form Aaliyah, the spelling used by the later singer. The traditional name of the star system Theta Serpentis, Alya is also an established…

Adira

Hebrew

"strong"

Adira is one of those names that feels familiar without being overused. Simple but with subtle flair, Adira crosses different languages easily and could provide an alternative option tor the likes of…

Isra

Arabic

"nocturnal journey"

An Arabic name with a powerful and alluring meaning, in Islamic tradition, Isra refers to one part of the Night Journey that the Prophet Muhammad, in which he led other prophets such as Ibrahim, Isa,…

Senna

Botanical name; Arabic

"brightness"

Senna is a flowering bush common in the tropics, with bright yellow flowers. In herbal medicine, Senna has gained some notice as the active ingredient in so-called "dieter's teas," which works mainly…

Haya

Hebrew or Japanese

"life; universal feathers"

Appealing crosscultural choice.

Suri

Yiddish, Hebrew, Persian, Sanskrit

Suri, a once obscure name, hit the headlines when it was chosen by Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise for their daughter in 2006. A truly multi-cultural choice, Suri is a unique name with a variety of…

Laia

Catalan diminutive of Eulalia

"sweet-speaking"

Saint Eulalia was born in Spain and is the patron saint of Barcelona, so her name and its derivatives are popular throughout the land — especially in her native Catalonia.

Ayala

Hebrew

"doe, gazelle"

This animal-themed name is among the most popular for girls in contemporary Israel. Parents who want to move beyond the mega-popular Aliyah and sisters might want to consider Ayala. The male form is…

Shaina

Hebrew

"beautiful"

Despite its Irish sound, this commonly used word name has usually been confined to Jewish families.