Names Deemed "refined"

This is a list of names in which the community's impression is refined.
gender
usage
impression
Yara 1 f Arabic
From Persian یار (yār) meaning "friend, helper".
Yasaman f Persian
Variant of Yasamin.
Yasamin f Persian
Persian form of Yasmin.
Yasemin f Turkish
Turkish form of Jasmine.
Yasir m Arabic, Urdu
Means "easy, wealthy" in Arabic, derived from the root يسر (yasira) meaning "to be easy, to be rich". This was the name of an early Islamic martyr. It was also borne by Yasir Arafat (1929-2004), a leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Yasmeen f Arabic, Urdu
Alternate transcription of Arabic ياسمين or Urdu یاسمین (see Yasmin).
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.
Yasmine f Arabic, French (Modern), English (Modern)
Alternate transcription of Arabic ياسمين (see Yasmin).
Yasu 1 f & m Japanese
From Japanese (yasu) meaning "peace, quiet", (yasu) meaning "peaceful" or (yasu) meaning "flat, smooth, level", as well as other kanji that are pronounced the same way.
Yawen f Chinese
From Chinese () meaning "elegant, graceful, refined" combined with (wén) meaning "cloud patterns". This name can be formed of other character combinations as well.
Ye-Jun m Korean
From Sino-Korean (ye) meaning "art, talent, craft" combined with (jun) meaning "talented, handsome", as well as other hanja combinations.
Yelena f Russian
Russian form of Helen.
Yelysaveta f Ukrainian
Traditional Ukrainian form of Elizabeth.
Yelyzaveta f Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Elizabeth.
Yeong-Hui f Korean
From Sino-Korean (yeong) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero" or (yeong) meaning "dive, swim" combined with (hui) meaning "beauty" or (hui) meaning "enjoy, play". Other combinations of hanja characters can form this name as well.
Yeshua m Biblical Hebrew, Ancient Aramaic
Contracted form of Yehoshuaʿ (see Joshua) used in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible. The form was also used in Aramaic, and was most likely the name represented by Greek Iesous (see Jesus) in the New Testament. This means it was probably the real name of Jesus.
Yevhen m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Eugene.
Yi f & m Chinese
From Chinese () meaning "suitable, proper", () meaning "resolute, decisive, firm", () meaning "justice, righteousness", () meaning "profit, benefit", () meaning "joy, harmony" (which is usually only feminine) or () meaning "ceremony, rites" (also usually feminine). Other characters can also form this name.
Yijun m & f Chinese
From Chinese () meaning "joy, harmony" combined with (jūn) meaning "king, ruler". This name can also be formed from other character combinations.
Yıldız f Turkish
Means "star" in Turkish.
Yoan 1 m French
French form of Johann.
Yohan m French
French form of Johann.
Yōko f Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "light, sun, male" or () meaning "ocean" combined with (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.
Yoko f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 陽子 or 洋子 (see Yōko).
Yolande f French
French form of Yolanda. A notable bearer of the 15th century was Yolande of Aragon, who acted as regent for the French king Charles VII, her son-in-law. She was a supporter of Joan of Arc.
Yona m & f Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Jonah. It is a unisex name in modern Hebrew.
Yoshi m & f Japanese
From Japanese (yoshi) meaning "good luck", (yoshi) meaning "righteous", or (yoshi) meaning "good, virtuous, respectable", as well as other kanji with the same reading.
Yoshiko f Japanese
From Japanese (yoshi) meaning "good, virtuous, respectable", (yoshi) meaning "fragrant, virtuous, beautiful" or (yoshi) meaning "joy, pleased" combined with (ko) meaning "child". This name can be formed from other kanji combinations as well.
Yosyp m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Joseph.
Younes m Arabic (Maghrebi), Persian
North African and Persian form of Yunus.
Ysabel f Spanish (Archaic)
Medieval Spanish form of Isabel.
Yu f & m Chinese
From Chinese () meaning "jade, precious stone, gem", () meaning "pleasant, delightful" or () meaning "rain". Other characters can form this name as well.
m & f Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness", () meaning "permanence", () meaning "brave", or other kanji that are pronounced the same way.
Yua f Japanese
From Japanese (yu) meaning "tie, bind" and (a) meaning "love, affection". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Yui f Japanese
From Japanese (yu) meaning "tie, bind" or (yu) meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" combined with (i) meaning "clothing, garment". It can also come from stand-alone (yui) using a different nanori reading. This name can be formed of other kanji or kanji combinations as well.
Yūka f Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" and (ka) meaning "flower, blossom". It can also be composed of different kanji that have the same pronunciations.
Yuka f Japanese
From Japanese (yu) meaning "reason, cause" combined with (ka) meaning "fragrance" or (ka) meaning "good, beautiful". It can also be formed from different kanji that have similar pronunciations.
Yūki m & f Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" or () meaning "permanence" combined with (ki) meaning "hope", (ki) meaning "brightness" or (ki) meaning "living". Other combinations of kanji can form this name as well.
Yuki f & m Japanese
From Japanese (yuki) meaning "happiness" or (yuki) meaning "snow". It can also come from (yu) meaning "reason, cause" combined with (ki) meaning "valuable" or (ki) meaning "chronicle". Other kanji or kanji combinations are also possible.
Yukiko f Japanese
From Japanese (yuki) meaning "happiness" or (yuki) meaning "snow" combined with (ko) meaning "child". Alternatively, it can come from (yu) meaning "reason, cause" with (ki) meaning "joy" or (ki) meaning "valuable" combined with (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Yuko f Japanese
From Japanese (yu) meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" and (ko) meaning "child", as well as other combinations of kanji.
Yuli m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Юлий (see Yuliy).
Yulia f Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian
Alternate transcription of Russian Юлия or Ukrainian/Belarusian Юлія (see Yuliya).
Yulian m Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian
Russian, Bulgarian and Ukrainian form of Julian.
Yuliana f Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Indonesian
Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian and Indonesian form of Juliana.
Yulianna f Russian
Russian variant form of Juliana.
Yuliy m Russian, Ukrainian
Russian and Ukrainian form of Julius.
Yume f Japanese
From Japanese (yume) meaning "dream, vision". It can also come from (yu) meaning "abundant, rich, plentiful" and (me) meaning "bud, sprout", as well as other kanji or kanji combinations.
Yu-Mi f Korean
From Sino-Korean (yu) meaning "have, possess" and (mi) meaning "beautiful". Other hanja character combinations can also form this name.
Yumi f Japanese
From Japanese (yumi) meaning "archery bow". It can also come from (yu) meaning "reason, cause", (yu) meaning "friend" or a nanori reading of (yu) meaning "archery bow" combined with (mi) meaning "beautiful". Other kanji or kanji combinations are also possible.
Yumiko f Japanese
From Japanese (yumi) meaning "archery bow" or (yu) meaning "reason, cause" with (mi) meaning "beautiful" combined with (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Yun f & m Chinese
From Chinese (yún) meaning "cloud" or (yǔn) meaning "allow, consent", as well as other Chinese characters that are pronounced in a similar way.
Yūna f Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "excellence, superiority, gentleness" or () meaning "grapefruit, pomelo, citrus fruit" combined with (na) meaning "vegetables, greens" or (na), a phonetic character. Other combinations of kanji are also possible.
Yūri f Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "permanence" and (ri) meaning "village". This name can also be formed from other combinations of kanji.
Yuri 2 f Japanese
From Japanese 百合 (yuri) meaning "lily". Other kanji or combinations of kanji can also form this name.
Yusra f Arabic
Means "wealth, ease" in Arabic, a derivative of يسر (yasira) meaning "to be easy, to be rich".
Yuu m & f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji or or (see ).
Yuuka f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 優花 or 有香 (see Yūka).
Yuuki m & f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 優希 or 悠希 or 優輝 or 悠生 (see Yūki).
Yuuko f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 優子 or 悠子 or 裕子 (see Yūko).
Yuuna f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 優菜 or 優奈 or 柚菜 (see Yūna).
Yuzuki f Japanese
From Japanese (yuzu) meaning "grapefruit, pomelo, citrus fruit" and (ki) meaning "hope". Other combinations of kanji can form this name as well.
Yvain m Arthurian Cycle
Form of Owain used by the 12th-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes for his Arthurian romance Yvain, the Knight of the Lion.
Yves m French
Medieval French form of Ivo 1. This was the name of two French saints: an 11th-century bishop of Chartres and a 13th-century parish priest and lawyer, also known as Ivo of Kermartin, the patron saint of Brittany.
Yvette f French, English
French feminine form of Yves.
Yvonne f French, English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
French feminine form of Yvon. It has been regularly used in the English-speaking world since the late 19th century.
Zaahira f Arabic
Feminine form of Zaahir 1.
Zaccaria m Italian
Italian form of Zechariah and Zacharias.
Zahari m Bulgarian
Bulgarian form of Zechariah.
Zaharina f Bulgarian, Macedonian
Bulgarian and Macedonian feminine form of Zechariah.
Zahia f Arabic
Feminine form of Zahi.
Zahira f Arabic
Feminine form of Zahir.
Zahra 1 f Arabic, Persian
From Arabic زهراء (zahrāʾ), the feminine form of أزهر (ʾazhar) meaning "shining, brilliant, bright". This is an epithet of the Prophet Muhammad's daughter Fatima.... [more]
Zaina f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic زينة (see Zayna).
Zaira f Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Zaïre. It was used by Vincenzo Bellini for the heroine of his opera Zaira (1829), which was based on Voltaire's 1732 play Zaïre.
Zara 1 f Literature, English
Used by William Congreve for a character in his tragedy The Mourning Bride (1697), where it belongs to a captive North African queen. Congreve may have based it on the Arabic name Zahra 1. In 1736 the English writer Aaron Hill used it to translate Zaïre for his popular adaptation of Voltaire's French play Zaïre (1732).... [more]
Zara 2 f Bulgarian
Diminutive of Zaharina.
Zareen f Urdu
Variant of Zarina.
Zarina f Uzbek, Kazakh, Tajik, Urdu, Malay
From Persian زرین (zarīn) meaning "golden". According to the 5th-century BC Greek historian Ctesias, this was the name of a Scythian queen.
Zavia f English (Rare)
Modern feminine form of Xavier.
Zayna f Arabic
Feminine form of Zayn.
Zelda 1 f Yiddish
Possibly a feminine form of Zelig.
Zélie f French
Short form of Azélie. This is another name of Saint Marie-Azélie Guérin (1831-1877).
Zemfira f Azerbaijani, Tatar, Bashkir, Literature
Meaning unknown, possibly of Romani origin. This name was (first?) used by Aleksandr Pushkin in his poem The Gypsies (1827).
Zenaida f Late Greek
Apparently a Greek derivative of Ζηναΐς (Zenais), which was derived from the name of the Greek god Zeus. This was the name of a 1st-century saint who was a doctor with her sister Philonella.
Zéphyrine f French (Rare)
French feminine form of Zephyrinus (see Zeferino).
Zhi m & f Chinese
From Chinese (zhì) meaning "will, purpose, ambition" or (zhì) meaning "wisdom, intellect", as well as other characters that are pronounced similarly.
Zia m Arabic, Urdu, Bengali
Alternate transcription of Arabic ضياء (see Ziya), as well as the usual Urdu and Bengali transcription.
Zinaida f Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian
Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian form of Zenaida.
Zinnia f English (Rare)
From the name of the flower, which was itself named for the German botanist Johann Zinn.
Zipporah f Biblical, Hebrew
From the Hebrew name צִפּוֹרָה (Tsippora), derived from צִפּוֹר (tsippor) meaning "bird". In the Old Testament this is the name of the Midianite wife of Moses. She was the daughter of the priest Jethro.
Zoe f English, Italian, Spanish, German, Czech, Ancient Greek
Means "life" in Greek. From early times it was adopted by Hellenized Jews as a translation of Eve. It was borne by two early Christian saints, one martyred under Emperor Hadrian, the other martyred under Diocletian. The name was common in the Byzantine Empire, being borne by a ruling empress of the 11th century.... [more]
Zoé f French, Hungarian
French and Hungarian form of Zoe.
Zoë f Dutch, English
Dutch form and English variant of Zoe.
Zosia f Polish
Diminutive of Zofia.
Zuri f Swahili
Means "beautiful" in Swahili.
Zvezdana f Serbian, Slovene
Serbian and Slovene form of Zvjezdana.
Zvonimir m Croatian
Derived from the Slavic elements zvonŭ "sound, chime" and mirŭ "peace, world". Dmitar Zvonimir was an 11th-century Croatian king.