Browse Names - Behind the Name

Ai 1 f Japanese
From Japanese 愛 (ai) meaning "love, affection", 藍 (ai) meaning "indigo", or other kanji with the same pronunciation.

Ai 2 f Chinese
From Chinese 爱 (ài) meaning "love, affection", 蔼 (ǎi) meaning "friendly, lush", or other characters that are pronounced similarly.

Altansarnai f Mongolian
Means "golden rose" in Mongolian, from алтан (altan) meaning "golden" and сарнай (sarnai) meaning "rose".

Bai m & f Chinese
From Chinese 白 (bái) meaning "white, pure", 百 (bǎi) meaning "one hundred, many" or 柏 (bǎi) meaning "cypress tree, cedar" (which is usually only masculine). Other Chinese characters can form this name as well. This name was borne in the 8th century by the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai, whose given was 白.

Danai 1 f Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Danaë.

Danai 2 f Shona
From Shona dana meaning "call, summon".

Fadzai f Shona
From Shona fadza meaning "please, make happy".

Farai m & f Shona
From Shona fara meaning "rejoice, be happy".

Fungai m & f Shona
From Shona funga meaning "think, judge".

Hai m & f Chinese
From Chinese 海 (hǎi) meaning "sea, ocean" or other characters that are pronounced similarly.

Itai 2 m & f Shona
From Shona ita meaning "do, act, perform".

Jummai f Hausa
From Hausa Jumma'a meaning "Friday" (of Arabic origin).

Kai 2 f Estonian
Short form of Kaia.

Kai 3 m & f Hawaiian
Means "sea" in Hawaiian.

Lorelai f English (Modern)
Variant of Lorelei. This name featured on the television series Gilmore Girls (2000-2007) where it was borne by the two main characters (the younger one went by the nickname Rory).

Mai 1 f Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 梅 (mai) meaning "plum, apricot" (refers specifically to the species Prunus mume).

Mai 2 f Japanese
From Japanese 舞 (mai) meaning "dance" or 麻衣 (mai) meaning "linen robe". It can also come from 真 (ma) meaning "real, genuine" combined with 愛 (ai) meaning "love, affection". Other kanji or kanji combinations can also form this name.

Mai 3 f Estonian, Norwegian, Danish, Breton
Diminutive of Maria. This is also the Estonian and Norwegian name for the month of May.

Mai 4 f Arabic
Means "water" in Arabic, a dialectal variant of ماء (māʾ).

Malai f Thai
Means "garland of flowers" in Thai.

Malalai f Pashto
Means "sad, grieved" in Pashto. This was the name of a Pashtun woman who encouraged the Afghan forces during the 1880 Battle of Maiwand against the British.

Netsai f Shona
From Shona netsa meaning "trouble, annoy, bother".

Nyarai f Shona
From Shona nyara meaning "be shy, be quiet, be humble".

Rumbidzai f Shona
From Shona rumbidza meaning "praise".

Sarai f Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Hebrew, Spanish
Means "my princess" in Hebrew, a possessive form of שָׂרָה (sara) meaning "lady, princess, noblewoman". In the Old Testament, this was Sarah's name before God changed it (see Genesis 17:15).

Sarnai f Mongolian
Means "rose" in Mongolian.

Sekai f Shona
From Shona seka meaning "laugh".

Shai m & f Hebrew
Either from Hebrew שַׁי (shai) meaning "gift" or else a Hebrew diminutive of Isaiah.

Tai m & f Chinese
From Chinese 太 (tài) meaning "very, extreme" or other characters pronounced in a similar way.

Tambudzai f Shona
From Shona tambudza meaning "make trouble, frustrate".

Taurai m & f Shona
From Shona taura meaning "speak".

Tendai m & f Shona
From Shona tenda meaning "be thankful, thank".

Thamarai f Tamil
Means "lotus" in Tamil.

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