Names

A short list, not a catalogue. Meanings are compressed; ask a speaker of the language before you carve one in stone.

• Elif

  Girl · Arabic

  The letter alif — a slender, upright grace.

• Yusuf

  Boy · Hebrew

  God increases. A story of patience and beauty.

• Asya

  Girl · Arabic

  Asiya — she who stands firm and consoles.

• Kerem

  Boy · Turkic

  Generosity, a noble kindness.

• Defne

  Girl · Greek

  Laurel — victory and a lasting green.

• Ömer

  Boy · Arabic

  Life, a long span of days.

• Zeynep

  Girl · Arabic

  A precious tree; her father’s ornament.

• Deniz

  Any · Turkic

  The sea. Wide, salt, without a fence.

• Mira

  Girl · Latin

  Wonder; a light one looks at.

• Efe

  Boy · Turkic

  Elder brother; a brave protector.

• Maryam

  Girl · Hebrew

  Maryam — beloved, luminous.

• Adam

  Boy · Hebrew

  Of the earth; the human name.

• Lina

  Girl · Arabic

  Tender palm; a gentle light.

• Amir

  Boy · Arabic

  Flourishing. Prosperity, not rank.

• Raha

  Girl · Persian

  Free, at ease, unconfined.

• Arman

  Boy · Persian

  Longing, and an ideal.

• Rojin

  Girl · Kurdish

  Daylight; a bright day.

• Baran

  Any · Kurdish

  Rain. What brings a green year.

• Eleanor

  Girl · French

  Bright one; light-bearer.

• Arthur

  Boy · English

  Strong as a bear; a legend’s name.

• Iris

  Girl · Greek

  Rainbow; the messenger.

• Theo

  Boy · Greek

  God’s gift. Short for Theodoros.

• Luna

  Girl · Latin

  The moon.

• Mateo

  Boy · Hebrew

  Gift of God.

• Céleste

  Girl · French

  Heavenly.

• Julien

  Boy · Latin

  Youthful; of the Julian line.

• Freya

  Girl · Nordic

  Noble woman; love.

• Soren

  Boy · Nordic

  Stern, clear, composed.

• Hana

  Girl · Japanese

  Flower.

• Haru

  Any · Japanese

  Spring; fair weather.

• Aoi

  Any · Japanese

  Hollyhock blue; the unfading.

• Ren

  Any · Japanese

  Lotus; also virtue.

• Seo-yeon

  Girl · Korean

  Auspicious, beautiful years.

• Min-jun

  Boy · Korean

  Clever, talented, humble.

• Mei

  Girl · Chinese

  Beautiful; plum blossom.

• Anaya

  Girl · Sanskrit & Hindi

  Care; an answer from God.

• Arjun

  Boy · Sanskrit & Hindi

  Bright, clear, white.

• Amina

  Girl · Arabic

  Trustworthy; the one felt safe with.

• Zuri

  Any · Swahili

  Beautiful.

• Imani

  Girl · Swahili

  Faith.

• Baraka

  Any · Swahili

  Blessing.

• Noor

  Any · Arabic

  Light.

• Levent

  Boy · Turkic

  Tall and well-set.

• Nehir

  Girl · Turkic

  River. What flows and feeds.

• Pınar

  Girl · Turkic

  A spring of water.

• Emre

  Boy · Turkic

  Friend, brother, the beloved.

• Arya

  Any · Persian

  Noble.

• Ines

  Girl · Spanish

  Pure, holy.

• Lars

  Boy · Nordic

  Crowned with laurel.

• Sofia

  Girl · Greek

  Wisdom.

• Ayşe

  Girl · Arabic

  Living, alive, at ease.

• Eylül

  Girl · Turkic

  September, the ninth month.

• Ada

  Girl · Turkic

  Island; also noble.

• Duru

  Girl · Turkic

  Clear, limpid.

• Asel

  Girl · Arabic

  Honey.

• Toprak

  Any · Turkic

  Earth. What one stands on.

• Kuzey

  Boy · Turkic

  The north.

• Arda

  Boy · Turkic

  In the line; a mark.

• Mert

  Boy · Persian

  A person of his word.

• Layla

  Girl · Arabic

  Night.

• Salma

  Girl · Arabic

  Safe, unharmed.

• Fatima

  Girl · Arabic

  She who weans; a beloved daughter.

• Hassan

  Boy · Arabic

  Beautiful, good.

• Ibrahim

  Boy · Hebrew

  Father of many.

• Noah

  Boy · Hebrew

  Rest, comfort.

• Leah

  Girl · Hebrew

  Weary; also gentle.

• David

  Boy · Hebrew

  Beloved.

• Clara

  Girl · Latin

  Bright, clear.

• Lucia

  Girl · Latin

  Light.

• Felix

  Boy · Latin

  Fortunate, happy.

• Camille

  Any · Latin

  A youth of the rite.

• Margot

  Girl · French

  Pearl.

• Santiago

  Boy · Spanish

  Saint James.

• Catalina

  Girl · Greek

  Pure.

• Astrid

  Girl · Nordic

  Divine beauty.

• Ingrid

  Girl · Nordic

  Ing’s beauty.

• Erik

  Boy · Nordic

  Sole ruler; eternal.

• Athena

  Girl · Greek

  The name of the goddess of wisdom.

• Nikos

  Boy · Greek

  Victory of the people.

• Yuki

  Any · Japanese

  Snow; also happiness.

• Sora

  Any · Japanese

  Sky.

• Ji-woo

  Any · Korean

  Purpose, the world, rain — by the hanja.

• Ha-jun

  Boy · Korean

  Summer, talent, virtue — by the hanja.

• Lin

  Any · Chinese

  Forest; also jade.

• Wei

  Any · Chinese

  Great, towering.

• Priya

  Girl · Sanskrit & Hindi

  Beloved.

• Dev

  Boy · Sanskrit & Hindi

  Divine, shining.

• Amani

  Any · Swahili

  Peace.

• Avan

  Girl · Kurdish

  Order, an era.

• Heval

  Any · Kurdish

  Friend, companion.

• Shirin

  Girl · Persian

  Sweet.

• Dara

  Any · Persian

  Wealthy; one who holds.

• Anya

  Girl · Slavic

  Grace. From Anna.

• Mila

  Girl · Slavic

  Dear, gracious.

• Ivan

  Boy · Slavic

  God is gracious.

• Rose

  Girl · English

  The rose.

• James

  Boy · Hebrew

  Supplanter. The English form of Jacob.