Small world

Elena is at its most popular point ever in the US, thanks to its cross-cultural appeal and the overall popularity of El- names. It's more international than Ellen or Eleanor, but still accessible.

The related Lucas and Luke are both hugely popular boy names in the US and internationally, and now Luca has joined them on boys' popularity lists around the world.

Though some might find it a bit heavy-booted, Ivan is one of the few Russian boys' names to become fully accepted into the American naming pool.

A strong Greek name with pan-European charm, Petra is a relatively recent feminization of Peter, though it relates back to an incredible ancient city in Jordan that was rediscovered in the early nineteenth century.

Once-obscure Spanish name inching back up into the US Top 1000 girl names after a short break. Araceli Segarra is a noted mountain climber.

This name, stemming from the Mayan mythological figure of the Rainbow Lady, is a surprising pop hit, primarily among Hispanic parents.

Joyful-sounding name that makes a really original option.

Though she has long stood on her own, Elke has many longer cross-cultural connections, to the Dutch/German/Scandinavian Adelheid and Alice and the English Adelaide, as a feminine version of Elkanah and as a Yiddish form of Eleanor.

Iliana is one of the vaguely but usually undefinably international names that have a wide range of spellings and pronunciations. Ilium was the poetic name of the city of Troy, and variations of this name — especially Ileana and Ileanna — have been widely used, projecting a rather bohemian image. The traditional Greek pronunciation would be ee-lee-AH-nah while in English speaking countries, it might be ill-ee-AH-nah.

An appealing Asian name with a nickname feel.

Karin was a fairly popular spelling variation of Karen in the US but fell off the Top 1000 in the late 80s, as Karen's popularity wained. Today, the Karen meme interferes with the otherwise appealing sound of this name.

Simple and worldly, popular and carrying two positive meanings in two diverse cultures. A winner prime for wider use.

The fashion for elaborate girly-girl names, especially those that end with -ella or -ana, has put this distinctive Latin favorite into play.

The Old Testament Noah has been so popular for so long that variations are becoming popular too. Noe is a streamlined form used in Greek and Latin Bibles, and in Georgia too. Spelled as more often as Noé, it is also popular across France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Spain.

Tanya with a G.

Refugio is a masculine name of Spanish origin that carries deep symbolic meaning. Translating directly to 'refuge' or 'sanctuary,' it emerged from religious contexts, referring to places of shelter and protection. In Hispanic cultures, the name gained significance through connections to 'Nuestra Señora del Refugio' (Our Lady of Refuge), a Catholic devotion to the Virgin Mary. Refugio has historical importance in Latin American communities, particularly in Mexico and the southwestern United States. While never extremely common in English-speaking regions, the name maintains steady usage in Spanish-speaking communities and carries connotations of safety, protection, and spiritual shelter. Bearers of this name often go by the affectionate nickname 'Cuco' among family and friends.

A strong and simple Arabic name, popular in the UK and more recently in the US where it entered the Top 1000 in 2024. Yusra comes from the Arabic yasira meaning "to be rich, prosperous", adding an air of stateliness and ambition to the name.

Kamau is from the Kikuyu language native to Kenya. It is recognizable as the middle name of comedian W. Kamau Bell.

This simple unisex Vietnamese name has multiple possible meanings, including "hero", "petal", "brave", "bright", depending on the characters used to write it.