Browse Names - Behind the Name

Ámbar f Spanish (Modern)
Spanish cognate of Amber.

Amets m & f Basque
Means "dream" in Basque.

Ameyalli f Nahuatl
Means "spring, fountain" in Nahuatl.

Anayeli f Zapotec (Hispanicized)
Variant of Nayeli.

Ashling f Irish
Anglicized form of Aisling.

Atenea f Spanish
Spanish form of Athena.

Ayaka f Japanese
From Japanese 彩 (aya) meaning "colour" combined with 花 (ka) or 華 (ka) both meaning "flower". Other kanji combinations are possible.

Citlali f Nahuatl
Variant of Citlalli.

Citlalli f Nahuatl
Means "star" in Nahuatl.

Davinia f English (Rare), Spanish (Modern)
Probably an elaboration of Davina. About 1980 this name jumped in popularity in Spain, possibly due to the main character on the British television series The Foundation (1977-1979), which was broadcast in Spain as La Fundación.

Deisy f Spanish (Latin American, Modern)
Spanish form of the English name Daisy.

Deysi f Spanish (Latin American, Modern)
Spanish form of the English name Daisy.

Iara f Tupi
Means "lady of the water" in Tupi, from y "water" and îara "lady, mistress". In Brazilian folklore this is the name of a beautiful river nymph who would lure men into the water. She may have been based upon earlier Tupi legends.

Ikram f & m Arabic, Urdu
Means "honour" in Arabic, from the root كرم (karuma) meaning "to be generous".

Iman f & m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Indonesian, Malay
Means "faith" in Arabic, derived from أمن (ʾamuna) meaning "to be faithful". It is typically feminine in Arabic and masculine in Persian.

India f English, Spanish (Modern)
From the name of the country, which is itself derived from the name of the Indus River. The river's name is ultimately from Sanskrit सिन्धु (Sindhu) meaning "body of trembling water, river". India Wilkes is a character in the novel Gone with the Wind (1936) by Margaret Mitchell.

Iridián f Spanish (Mexican, Modern)
Means "related to Iris or rainbows", ultimately from Greek ἶρις (genitive ἴριδος). It briefly entered the American top 1000 list in 1995, likely due to a Mexican singer named Iridián.

Itzel f Mayan
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Classic Maya itz meaning "resin, nectar, dew, liquid, enchanted". Otherwise, it might be a variant of Ixchel.

Ixchel f Mayan Mythology, Mayan
Possibly means "rainbow lady", from Classic Maya ix "lady" and chel "rainbow". Ixchel was a Maya goddess associated with the earth, jaguars, medicine and childbirth. She was often depicted with a snake in her hair and crossbones embroidered on her skirt.

Izar f & m Basque
Means "star" in Basque.

Jaci 2 f & m Tupi
From Tupi îasy meaning "moon".

Jaqueline f English (Modern), Portuguese (Brazilian)
Variant of Jacqueline.

Leilani f & m Hawaiian
Means "heavenly flowers" or "royal child" from Hawaiian lei "flowers, lei, child" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".

Maiara f Tupi
From Tupi maya arya meaning "great-grandmother".

Maram f & m Arabic
Means "wish, desire" in Arabic.

Metztli f & m Aztec and Toltec Mythology, Nahuatl
Means "moon" in Nahuatl. This was the name of the Aztec god (or goddess) of the moon.

Meztli f & m Aztec and Toltec Mythology, Nahuatl
Variant of Metztli.

Millaray f Mapuche
Means "golden flower" in Mapuche, from milla "gold" and rayen "flower".

Nayeli f Zapotec (Hispanicized), Spanish (Mexican)
Possibly from Zapotec nadxiie lii meaning "I love you" or nayele' meaning "open".

Nicte f Mayan (Hispanicized)
From Yucatec Maya nikte' meaning "flower" or specifically "plumeria flower". It is derived from Classic Maya nich "flower" and te' "tree".

Rayen f Mapuche
Means "flower" in Mapuche.

Sora f & m Japanese
From Japanese 空 (sora) or 昊 (sora) both meaning "sky". Other kanji with the same pronunciations can also form this name.

Soraya f Persian, Spanish, French, Portuguese (Brazilian)
Persian form of Thurayya. It became popular in some parts of Europe because of the fame of Princess Soraya (1932-2001), wife of the last Shah of Iran, who became a European socialite.

Tiare f Tahitian
Means "flower" in Tahitian, also specifically referring to the species Gardenia taitensis.

Tonalli m & f Nahuatl
Means "day, warmth of the sun" in Nahuatl.

Triana f Spanish (Modern)
From the name of a neighbourhood in the city of Seville, of uncertain meaning.

Uiara f Tupi
Variant of Iara.

Xitlalli f Nahuatl (Hispanicized)
Variant of Citlalli.

Xóchilt f Nahuatl (Hispanicized)
Spanish variant form of Xochitl.

Xóchitl f Nahuatl (Hispanicized)
Spanish form of Xochitl.

Xochitl f Nahuatl
Means "flower" in Nahuatl.

Yara 1 f Arabic
From Persian یار (yār) meaning "friend, helper".

Yara 2 f Tupi
Variant of Iara.

Yaretzi f Spanish (Latin American, Modern)
Possibly a variant of Yaritza.

Yaritza f Spanish (Latin American)
Elaborated form of Yara 1 or Yara 2 (using the same suffix as Maritza).

Yasmin f Arabic, Hebrew, Urdu, English (Modern), Spanish (Modern), Portuguese (Modern)
Means "jasmine" in Arabic and Hebrew, derived from Persian یاسمین (yāsamīn). In modern times it has been used in the western world, as an Arabic-influenced variant of Jasmine.

Yasmina f Arabic, Spanish (Modern), French (Modern)
Variant of Yasmin.

Ylenia f Italian, Spanish (Modern)
Variant of Ilenia.

Yolotl f & m Nahuatl
Means "heart, spirit" in Nahuatl.

Yolotli f & m Nahuatl
Variant of Yolotl.

Yūki m & f Japanese
From Japanese 優 (yū) meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" or 悠 (yū) meaning "permanence" combined with 希 (ki) meaning "hope", 輝 (ki) meaning "brightness" or 生 (ki) meaning "living". Other combinations of kanji can form this name as well.

Yuki f & m Japanese
From Japanese 幸 (yuki) meaning "happiness" or 雪 (yuki) meaning "snow". It can also come from 由 (yu) meaning "reason, cause" combined with 貴 (ki) meaning "valuable" or 紀 (ki) meaning "chronicle". Other kanji or kanji combinations are also possible.

Yunuen f & m Spanish (Mexican)
Meaning unknown, probably of indigenous (maybe Purépecha) origin. This is the name of an island on Lake Pátzcuaro in Mexico.

Yuuki m & f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 優希 or 悠希 or 優輝 or 悠生 (see Yūki).

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