Alternatives to Naomi

A classic reimagined. Noemia is a very feminine elaboration of Naomi, also spelled Noémia in Portugal and Brazil.

A masculine name in the Old Testament, but used contemporarily as a feminine name.

Nola, a name with a sleek, enigmatic quality, was used for the much-pursued heroine of Spike Lee's 1986 breakout film, She's Gotta Have It, and again by Woody Allen in Match Point. It's a short form of the traditional Irish name Fionnuala. Nola reentered the US Top 1000 in 2008, for the first time in 50 years.

This adorable cross cultural name updates Naomi and offers an accessible Japanese option. Strikes the right balance by being distinctive without seeming strange.

This striking Nordic variant of Biblical Naomi is famously borne by Swedish actress Noomi Rapace, best known for her role as Lisbeth Salander in the film adaptations of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy.

Japanese name that would have no trouble assimilating — though many would associate it with the dried seaweed used to wrap sushi. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West use Nori as a nickname for their daughter North.

In Japanese, Nozomi is typically written with the kanji for "wish" or "hope."

This spelling of Naomi guarantees you'll get the pronunciation you desire.

Old Testament name of the daughter-in-law of Naomi, now eclipsed by the originally misspelled Oprah.

Ruth, with its air of calm and compassion, was the third most popular name in the 1890s, remaining in the Top 10 through the 1920s. It's still in use today as some parents tiring of Rachel and Rebecca are giving Ruth a second thought. Some see such Old Testament girls’ names as Ruth and Esther rising on the heels of boy equivalents Abel and Moses.

The short O variation of Tomi (homophonous with Tommy) was used for dozens of daughters in midcentury America, putting it firmly in grandma name territory.