Names Deemed "wholesome"

This is a list of names in which the community's impression is wholesome.
gender
usage
impression
Rohit m Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit रोहित (rohita) meaning "red".
Roksolana f Ukrainian, Russian
Ukrainian and Russian form of Roxelana.
Roland m English, French, German, Swedish, Dutch, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, Albanian, Georgian, Carolingian Cycle
From the Old German elements hruod meaning "fame" and lant meaning "land", though some theories hold that the second element was originally nand meaning "brave".... [more]
Roly m English
Diminutive of Roland.
Roma 1 m Russian
Diminutive of Roman.
Romana f Italian, Polish, Slovene, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Late Roman
Feminine form of Romanus (see Roman).
Romeo m Italian, Romanian
Italian form of the Late Latin Romaeus or Late Greek Ρωμαῖος (Romaios), which meant "from Rome" or "Roman". Romeo is best known as the lover of Juliet in William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet (1596). Shakespeare based his play on earlier Italian stories by Luigi Da Porto (1524) and Matteo Bandello (1554), which both featured characters named Giulietta and Romeo.
Romilly m & f English (British, Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from the name of various Norman towns, themselves from the given name Romilius.
Romola f Italian (Rare)
Italian feminine form of Romulus.
Romy f German, Dutch, French, English
Diminutive of Rosemarie, Rosemary, and names beginning with Rom.
Ron 2 m Hebrew
Means "song, joy" in Hebrew.
Ronald m Scottish, English, Dutch, German
Scottish form of Ragnvaldr, a name introduced to Britain by Scandinavian settlers and invaders. It became popular outside Scotland during the 20th century. A famous bearer was the American actor and president Ronald Reagan (1911-2004). It is also associated with Ronald McDonald, the clown mascot for the McDonald's chain of restaurants, first appearing in 1963.
Ronen m Hebrew
Derived from Hebrew רֹן (ron) meaning "song, joy".
Ronja f Swedish, Finnish
Invented by Swedish children's author Astrid Lindgren, who based it on the middle portion of Juronjaure, the name of a lake in Sweden. Lindgren used it in her 1981 book Ronia the Robber's Daughter (Ronia is the English translation).
Ronne m Frisian
Variant of Roan.
Roopertti m Finnish (Rare)
Older Finnish form of Robert.
Roosevelt m English
From a Dutch surname meaning "rose field". This name is often given in honour of American presidents Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) or Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945).
Rosa 1 f Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch, German, English
Generally this can be considered to be from Latin rosa meaning "rose", though originally it may have come from the unrelated Germanic name Roza 2. This was the name of a 13th-century saint from Viterbo in Italy. In the English-speaking world it was first used in the 19th century. Famous bearers include the Polish-German revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919) and the American civil rights activist Rosa Parks (1913-2005).
Rosabel f English (Rare)
Combination of Rosa 1 and the common name suffix bel, inspired by Latin bella "beautiful". This name was created in the 18th century.
Rosaire m French
Means "rosary" in French.
Rosalba f Italian
Italian name meaning "white rose", derived from Latin rosa "rose" and alba "white". A famous bearer was the Venetian painter Rosalba Carriera (1675-1757).
Rosaleen f English (Rare), Irish
Variant of Rosaline. James Clarence Mangan used it as a translation for Róisín in his poem Dark Rosaleen (1846).
Rosalía f Spanish, Galician
Spanish and Galician form of Rosalia.
Rosalia f Italian, Late Roman
Late Latin name derived from rosa "rose". This was the name of a 12th-century Sicilian saint.
Rosalie f French, German, Dutch, English
French, German and Dutch form of Rosalia. In the English-speaking this name received a boost after the release of the movie Rosalie (1938), which was based on an earlier musical.
Rosalin f English (Rare)
Medieval variant of Rosalind.
Rosalina f Portuguese, Spanish
Latinate form of Rosaline.
Rosalind f English
Derived from the Old German elements hros meaning "horse" and lind meaning "soft, flexible, tender". The Normans introduced this name to England, though it was not common. During the Middle Ages its spelling was influenced by the Latin phrase rosa linda "beautiful rose". The name was popularized by Edmund Spencer, who used it in his poetry, and by William Shakespeare, who used it for the heroine in his comedy As You Like It (1599).
Rosalinda f Spanish, Italian
Latinate form of Rosalind.
Rosaline f English
Medieval variant of Rosalind. This is the name of characters in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost (1594) and Romeo and Juliet (1596).
Rosalyn f English
Variant of Rosaline. It can also be considered an elaboration of Rose with the common name suffix lyn.
Rosa María f Spanish
Combination of Rosa 1 and María.
Rosamund f English (Rare)
Derived from the Old German elements hros "horse" and munt "protection". This name was borne by the wife of the Lombard king Alboin in the 6th century. The Normans introduced it to England. It was subsequently interpreted as coming from Latin rosa munda "pure rose" or rosa mundi "rose of the world". This was the name of the mistress of Henry II, the king of England in the 12th century. According to legends she was murdered by his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Rosana f Portuguese, Spanish
Portuguese and Spanish form of Roxana.
Rosanna f Italian, English
Combination of Rosa 1 and Anna.
Rosanne f English, Dutch
Combination of Rose and Anne 1.
Rosaria f Italian
Italian feminine form of Rosario.
Rosaura f Spanish
Means "golden rose", derived from Latin rosa "rose" and aurea "golden". This name was (first?) used by Pedro Calderón de la Barca for a character in his play Life Is a Dream (1635).
Rose f English, French
Originally a Norman French form of the Germanic name Hrodohaidis meaning "famous type", composed of the elements hruod "fame" and heit "kind, sort, type". The Normans introduced it to England in the forms Roese and Rohese. From an early date it was associated with the word for the fragrant flower rose (derived from Latin rosa). When the name was revived in the 19th century, it was probably with the flower in mind.
Roseline f French
French form of Rosalind. Saint Roseline of Villeneuve was a 13th-century nun from Provence.
Rosella f Italian
Italian diminutive of Rosa 1.
Roselle f Various
Diminutive of Rose. This is the name of a type of flowering shrub (species Hibiscus sabdariffa) native to Africa but now grown in many places, used to make hibiscus tea.
Roselyn f English
Variant of Rosalyn.
Rosemary f English
Combination of Rose and Mary. This name can also be given in reference to the herb, which gets its name from Latin ros marinus meaning "dew of the sea". It came into use as a given name in the 19th century.
Rosenda f Spanish
Feminine form of Rosendo.
Rosetta f Italian
Italian diminutive of Rosa 1.
Rosette f French
French diminutive of Rose.
Roshan m & f Persian, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Means "light, bright" in Persian.
Rosica f Bulgarian
Alternate transcription of Bulgarian Росица (see Rositsa).
Rosie f English
Diminutive of Rose.
Rosina f Italian
Italian diminutive of Rosa 1. This is the name of a character in Rossini's opera The Barber of Seville (1816).
Rosine f French
French diminutive of Rose.
Rositsa f Bulgarian
Diminutive of Rosa 2.
Roslyn f English
Variant of Rosalyn.
Ross m Scottish, English
From a Scottish and English surname that originally indicated a person from a place called Ross (such as the region of Ross in northern Scotland), derived from Gaelic ros meaning "promontory, headland". A famous bearer of the surname was James Clark Ross (1800-1862), an Antarctic explorer.
Rossa f Italian (Rare)
Means "red" in Italian.
Rossana f Italian
Italian form of Roxana.
Rosy f English
Diminutive of Rose.
Rowan m & f Irish, English (Modern)
Anglicized form of the Irish name Ruadhán. As an English name, it can also be derived from the surname Rowan, itself derived from the Irish given name. It could also be given in reference to the rowan tree, a word of Old Norse origin (coincidentally sharing the same Indo-European root meaning "red" with the Irish name).
Rowen m & f English (Modern)
Variant of Rowan.
Rowland m English
Medieval variant of Roland.
Roxelana f History
From a Turkish nickname meaning "Ruthenian". This referred to the region of Ruthenia, covering Belarus, Ukraine and western Russia. Roxelana (1504-1558), also called Hürrem, was a slave and then concubine of Süleyman the Magnificent, sultan of the Ottoman Empire. She eventually became his wife and produced his heir, Selim II.
Roy m Scottish, English, Dutch
Anglicized form of Ruadh. A notable bearer was the Scottish outlaw and folk hero Rob Roy (1671-1734). It is often associated with French roi "king".
Róza f Hungarian
Variant of Rózsa.
Rozália f Hungarian, Slovak
Hungarian and Slovak form of Rosalia.
Rozalia f Polish, Romanian
Polish and Romanian form of Rosalia.
Rozaliya f Russian
Russian form of Rosalia.
Rozenn f Breton
Means "rose" in Breton.
Rózsa f Hungarian
Means "rose" in Hungarian. It is a cognate of Rosa 1.
Ruadhán m Irish
From Old Irish Rúadán, derived from rúad "red" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of the founder of the monastery of Lorrha in the 6th century.
Ruairidh m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Ruaidhrí.
Ruben m Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, French, Italian, Armenian, Biblical Latin
Form of Reuben in several languages. This was the name of an 11th-century Armenian ruler of Cilicia.
Rudolph m English
English form of Rudolf, imported from Germany in the 19th century. Robert L. May used it in 1939 for his Christmas character Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Runa f Norwegian, Danish, Swedish
Feminine form of Rune.
Rupert m German, English
German variant form of Robert, from the Old German variant Hrodperht. It was borne by the 7th century Saint Rupert of Salzburg and the 8th-century Saint Rupert of Bingen. The military commander Prince Rupert of the Rhine, a nephew of Charles I, introduced this name to England in the 17th century. A notable bearer is the Australian-American businessman Rupert Murdoch (1931-).
Ruperto m Spanish
Spanish form of Rupert.
Ruslan m Russian, Tatar, Bashkir, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Turkmen, Azerbaijani, Ossetian, Chechen, Ingush, Avar, Circassian, Indonesian, Malay
Form of Yeruslan used by Aleksandr Pushkin in his poem Ruslan and Ludmila (1820), which was loosely based on Russian and Tatar folktales of Yeruslan Lazarevich.
Russell m English
From an English surname, of Norman origin, meaning "little red one" (a diminutive of Old French rous "red"). A notable bearer of the surname was the agnostic British philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), who wrote on many subjects including logic, epistemology and mathematics. He was also a political activist for causes such as pacifism and women's rights.... [more]
Rūta f Lithuanian, Latvian
Means "rue" in Lithuanian, the rue plant being a bitter medicinal herb that is a national symbol of Lithuania. This is also the Lithuanian form of Ruth 1.
Rutger m Dutch
Dutch form of Roger.
Ruth 1 f English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian, Spanish, Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name רוּת (Ruṯ), probably derived from the word רְעוּת (reʿuṯ) meaning "female friend". This is the name of the central character in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament. She was a Moabite woman who accompanied her mother-in-law Naomi back to Bethlehem after Ruth's husband died. There she met and married Boaz. She was an ancestor of King David.... [more]
Ruža f Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian
Means "rose" in Croatian, Serbian and Macedonian, a cognate of Rosa 1. In Macedonian, ружа is an alternate form of the word роза (roza).
Růžena f Czech
Derived from Czech růže meaning "rose".
Ryland m English (Modern)
From an English surname, which was originally derived from a place name meaning "rye land" in Old English.
Saana f Finnish
From the name of a mountain in northern Finland.
Saara f Finnish
Finnish form of Sarah.
Sabriyya f Arabic
Feminine form of Sabri.
Sacagawea f Indigenous American
Probably from Hidatsa tsakáka wía meaning "bird woman". Alternatively it could originate from the Shoshone language and mean "boat puller". This name was borne by a Native American woman who guided the explorers Lewis and Clark. She was of Shoshone ancestry but had been abducted in her youth and raised by a Hidatsa tribe.
Sachairi m Scottish Gaelic (Rare)
Scottish Gaelic form of Zacharias.
Sadaf f Arabic, Persian, Urdu
Means "seashell, mother-of-pearl" in Arabic.
Saeed m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Dhivehi
Alternate transcription of Arabic سعيد (see Said), as well as the usual Persian, Urdu and Dhivehi transcription.
Sæwine m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements "sea" and wine "friend".
Safa m & f Persian, Turkish, Arabic
Persian and Turkish form of Safaa or Safaa', as well as an alternate Arabic transcription of either of those names.
Safi m Arabic
Means "pure" in Arabic, derived from صفا (ṣafā) meaning "to be clear, to be pure".
Safira f Portuguese
Portuguese form of Sapphira. It coincides with the Portuguese word for "sapphire".
Safiya f Hausa, Kazakh, Arabic
Hausa and Kazakh form of Safiyya. It is also an alternate transcription of the Arabic name.
Sage f & m English (Modern)
From the English word sage, which denotes either a type of spice or else a wise person.
Saira f Urdu
Possibly means "traveller" in Arabic.
Sakiko f Japanese
From Japanese (saki) meaning "blossom" and (ko) meaning "child", as well as other combinations of kanji characters.
Sakina f Arabic, Urdu
Means "calmness, peace" in Arabic.
Sakura f Japanese
From Japanese (sakura) meaning "cherry blossom", though it is often written using the hiragana writing system. It can also come from (saku) meaning "blossom" and (ra) meaning "good, virtuous, respectable" as well as other kanji combinations.
Sakurako f Japanese
From Japanese (sakura) meaning "cherry blossom" and (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations are also possible.
Salathiel m Biblical, Biblical Greek
Greek form of Shealtiel. This form is also used in some English translations of the Bible (including the King James Version).
Saleh m Arabic, Indonesian
Alternate transcription of Arabic صالح (see Salih), as well as the usual Indonesian form.
Saliha f Arabic
Feminine form of Salih.
Salil m Arabic
Means "drawn, unsheathed" or "son, descendant" in Arabic.
Sallie f English
Variant of Sally.
Sally f English
Diminutive of Sarah, often used independently.
Salma f Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian
Means "safe" in Arabic, derived from سلم (salima) meaning "to be safe".
Salvatore m Italian
Italian cognate of Salvador.
Salvatrice f Italian
From Salvatrix, the feminine form of Salvator (see Salvador).
Samia 1 f Arabic, Bengali
Alternate transcription of Arabic سامية (see Samiya), as well as the usual Bengali transcription.
Samina f Arabic, Urdu
Alternate transcription of Arabic ثمينة (see Thamina), as well as the usual Urdu transcription.
Samira 1 f Arabic, Persian
Feminine form of Samir 1.
Samiya f Arabic
Feminine form of Sami 2.
Samo m Slovene, History
Meaning uncertain. This was the name of a 7th-century ruler of the Slavs, who established a kingdom including parts of modern Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. He was possibly of Frankish origin.
Samson m Biblical, English, French, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshon), derived from שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh) meaning "sun". Samson was an Old Testament hero granted exceptional strength by God. His mistress Delilah betrayed him and cut his hair, stripping him of his power. Thus he was captured by the Philistines, blinded, and brought to their temple. However, in a final act of strength, he pulled down the pillars of the temple upon himself and his captors.... [more]
Samu m Hungarian, Finnish, Spanish
Hungarian, Finnish and Spanish diminutive of Samuel.
Sámuel m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Samuel.
Samuel m English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Romanian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Jewish, Amharic, Biblical
From the Hebrew name שְׁמוּאֵל (Shemuʾel) meaning "name of God", from the roots שֵׁם (shem) meaning "name" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". Other interpretations have the first root being שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) meaning "to hear" leading to a meaning of "God has heard". As told in the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament, Samuel was the last of the ruling judges. He led the Israelites during a period of domination by the Philistines, who were ultimately defeated in battle at Mizpah. Later he anointed Saul to be the first king of Israel, and even later anointed his successor David.... [more]
Samuele m Italian
Italian form of Samuel.
Samuli m Finnish
Finnish form of Samuel.
Samwise m Literature
Means "simple, half wise" from Old English sam "half" and wis "wise". This is the name of a hobbit in J. R. R. Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings (1954). Samwise Gamgee, often called Sam, is the faithful companion of Frodo on his quest to destroy the One Ring. Samwise is an English-like translation of his true hobbit name Banazîr.
Sanaz f Persian
Possibly means "full of grace" in Persian.
Sandhya f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam
Means "twilight" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a Hindu goddess of twilight, a daughter of Brahma.
Sandra f Italian, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Czech, Romanian
Short form of Alessandra. It was introduced to the English-speaking world (where it is usually used independently of Alexandra) by author George Meredith, who used it for the heroine in his novel Emilia in England (1864) and the reissued version Sandra Belloni (1887). A famous bearer is the American actress Sandra Bullock (1964-).
Sandro m Italian, Georgian
Short form of Alessandro (Italian) or Aleksandre (Georgian). Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) was an Italian Renaissance artist, the painter of The Birth of Venus and other famous works.
Sandu m Romanian
Short form of Alexandru.
Sandy m & f English
Originally a diminutive of Alexander. As a feminine name it is a diminutive of Alexandra or Sandra. It can also be given in reference to the colour.
Sanem f Turkish
Means "idol" in Turkish.
Sang m & f Korean
From Sino-Korean (sang) meaning "common, frequent, regular" or other characters that are pronounced similarly. It usually occurs in combination with another character.
Sanja f Croatian, Serbian, Slovene
Derived from South Slavic sanjati meaning "to dream". Alternatively, it could be from the Russian name Sanya 2.
Sanjana f Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit सञजन (sañjana) meaning "uniting, joining".
Sanne f Dutch, Danish
Dutch and Danish short form of Susanna.
Santina f Italian
Feminine diminutive of Santo.
Santino m Italian
Diminutive of Santo.
Santos m Spanish
Means "saints" in Spanish. It is used in reference to the Christian festival Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints' Day) celebrated on November 1.
Sanya 1 f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic سنيّة (see Saniyya).
Sanya 2 m & f Russian
Diminutive of Aleksandr or Aleksandra.
Saoirse f Irish
Means "freedom" in Irish Gaelic. It was first used as a given name in the 20th century.
Saori f Japanese
From Japanese (sa) meaning "sand" or (sa) meaning "already, now" combined with (ori) meaning "weaving". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Sappho f Ancient Greek
Possibly from Greek σάπφειρος (sappheiros) meaning "sapphire" or "lapis lazuli". This was the name of a 7th-century BC Greek poetess from Lesbos.
Sarah f English, French, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Hebrew, Arabic, Biblical
From the Hebrew name שָׂרָה (Sara) meaning "lady, princess, noblewoman". In the Old Testament this is the name of Abraham's wife, considered the matriarch of the Jewish people. She was barren until she unexpectedly became pregnant with Isaac at the age of 90. Her name was originally Sarai, but God changed it at the same time Abraham's name was changed (see Genesis 17:15).... [more]
Saraswati f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi
Means "possessing water" from Sanskrit सरस् (saras) meaning "fluid, water, lake" and वती (vatī) meaning "having". This is the name of a Hindu river goddess, also associated with learning and the arts, who is the wife of Brahma. She appears in the Vedas.
Sari 1 f Finnish
Finnish variant of Saara.
Sariah f Mormon
Possibly from an alternate reading of Hebrew שׂריה (see Seraiah). In the Book of Mormon this is the name of Lehi's wife.
Sarika f Hindi, Marathi
From a Sanskrit word referring to a type of thrush (species Turdus salica) or myna bird (species Gracula religiosa).
Sarnai f Mongolian
Means "rose" in Mongolian.
Sarra f Biblical Latin, Old Church Slavic
Biblical Latin and Old Church Slavic form of Sarah. The spelling Sara also occurs in Latin Bibles.
Sashi m & f Kannada
Alternate transcription of Kannada ಶಶಿ (see Shashi).
Sasithorn f Thai
Means "the moon" in Thai (a poetic word).
Satomi f Japanese
From Japanese (sato) meaning "village" or (sato) meaning "intelligent, clever, bright" combined with (mi) meaning "beautiful". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Saturnina f Ancient Roman, Spanish
Feminine form of Saturninus. This was the name of a legendary saint who was supposedly martyred in northern France.
Saúl m Spanish
Spanish form of Saul.
Saulė f Lithuanian, Baltic Mythology
Means "sun" in Lithuanian. This was the name of the Lithuanian sun goddess.
Sauli m Finnish
Finnish form of Saul.
Saveliy m Russian
Russian form of the Latin name Sabellius meaning "a Sabine". The Sabines were an ancient people who lived in central Italy.
Savely m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Савелий (see Saveliy).
Saveria f Italian
Italian feminine form of Xavier.
Savitri f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi
Means "of the sun" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a hymn in the Rigveda dedicated to Savitr, a sun god. This is also the name of Savitr's daughter, a wife of Brahma, considered an aspect of Saraswati. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata it is borne by King Satyavan's wife, who successfully pleas with Yama, the god of death, to restore her husband to life.
Sayaka f Japanese
From Japanese (sa) meaning "sand" or (sa) meaning "thread, silk" with (ya) meaning "also" or (ya), an interjection, combined with (ka) meaning "fragrance" or (ka) meaning "increase". This name can also be composed of other kanji combinations. It is often written using the hiragana writing system.
Sayen f Mapuche
Meaning uncertain, possibly a derivative of Mapuche ayün "love".
Sayuri f Japanese
From Japanese (sa) meaning "small" and 百合 (yuri) meaning "lily". This name can also be composed of other kanji combinations.
Scot m English, Scottish
Variant form of Scott.
Scott m English, Scottish
From an English and Scottish surname that referred to a person from Scotland or a person who spoke Scottish Gaelic. It is derived from Latin Scoti meaning "Gael, Gaelic speaker", with the ultimate origin uncertain.
Séamus m Irish
Irish form of James.
Seán m Irish
Irish form of John, derived via the Old French form Jehan.
Sean m Irish, English
Anglicized form of Seán. This name name, along with variants Shawn and Shaun, began to be be used in the English-speaking world outside of Ireland around the middle of the 20th century.
Sebastiano m Italian
Italian form of Sebastianus (see Sebastian).
Sefu m Swahili
Possibly a Swahili form of Saif.
Sekani m Tumbuka
Means "laugh" in Tumbuka.
Selah f Biblical
From a Hebrew musical term that occurs many times in the Old Testament Psalms. It was probably meant to indicate a musical pause.
Selena f Spanish, English, Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Selene. This name was borne by popular Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla (1971-1995), who was known simply as Selena. Another famous bearer is the American actress and singer Selena Gomez (1992-).
Selina f English, German
Variant of Celina or Selena. As an English name, it first came into use in the 17th century.
Selini f Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Selene.
Selma 2 f Turkish
Turkish form of Salma.
Selwyn m English (Rare)
From a surname that was originally derived from an Old English given name, which was formed of the elements sele "manor" and wine "friend".
Sem m Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Dutch
Form of Shem used in the Greek and Latin Bibles.
Senan m Irish
Anglicized form of Senán.
Sendoa m Basque
Means "strong" in Basque.
Seneca m Ancient Roman
From a Roman cognomen derived from Latin senectus meaning "old". This was the name of both a Roman orator (born in Spain) and also of his son, a philosopher and statesman.... [more]
Seoc m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Jack.
Seoirse m Irish
Irish form of George.
Seo-Yun f Korean
From Sino-Korean (seo) meaning "felicitous omen, auspicious" and (yun) meaning "soft, sleek", as well as other hanja character combinations.
September f English (Rare)
From the name of the ninth month (though it means "seventh month" in Latin, since it was originally the seventh month of the Roman year), which is sometimes used as a given name for someone born in September.
Sequoia f & m English (Rare)
From the name of huge trees that grow in California. The tree got its name from the 19th-century Cherokee scholar Sequoyah (also known as George Guess), the inventor of the Cherokee writing system.
Serafino m Italian
Italian form of Seraphinus (see Seraphina).
Seraiah m Biblical
Means "Yahweh is ruler" in Hebrew, from שָׂרָה (sara) meaning "to have power" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several minor characters in the Old Testament, including the father of Ezra.
Seraphina f English (Rare), German (Rare), Late Roman
Feminine form of the Late Latin name Seraphinus, derived from the biblical word seraphim, which was Hebrew in origin and meant "fiery ones". The seraphim were an order of angels, described by Isaiah in the Bible as having six wings each.... [more]
Séraphine f French
French form of Seraphina.
Seren f Welsh
Means "star" in Welsh. This is a recently created Welsh name.
Serena f English, Italian, Late Roman
From a Late Latin name that was derived from Latin serenus meaning "clear, tranquil, serene". This name was borne by an obscure early saint. Edmund Spenser also used it in his poem The Faerie Queene (1590). A famous bearer from the modern era is tennis player Serena Williams (1981-).
Serenity f English (Modern)
From the English word meaning "serenity, tranquility", ultimately from Latin serenus meaning "clear, calm".
Setare f Persian
Alternate transcription of Persian ستاره (see Setareh).
Setareh f Persian
Means "star" in Persian.
Setiawan m Indonesian
From Indonesian setia meaning "loyal, true", ultimately from Sanskrit सत्य (satya), combined with the masculine suffix -wan.
Seung m & f Korean
From Sino-Korean (seung) meaning "rise, ascend", (seung) meaning "victory" or (seung) meaning "inherit", as well as other characters that are pronounced similarly.
Sevda f Turkish, Azerbaijani
Means "love, infatuation" in Turkish and Azerbaijani, ultimately from Arabic سوداء (sawdāʾ) meaning "black bile, melancholy, sadness".
Seweryn m Polish
Polish form of Severinus.
Seymour m English
From a Norman surname that originally belonged to a person coming from the French town of Saint Maur (which means "Saint Maurus").
Shaelyn f English (Rare)
Elaboration of Shae using the popular name suffix lyn.
Shahrzad f Persian
Alternate transcription of Persian شهرزاد (see Shahrazad).
Shahzad m Persian, Arabic, Urdu
Means "prince, son of the king" in Persian.
Shakil m Arabic
Means "handsome" in Arabic.
Shakir m Arabic, Urdu
Means "thankful" in Arabic, from the root شكر (shakara) meaning "to thank".
Shalom m Hebrew
Means "peace" in Hebrew.
Shamira f Hebrew
Means "guardian, protector" in Hebrew, from the root שָׁמַר (shamar) "to guard, to watch".
Shan f Welsh
Anglicized form of Siân.
Shandiin f & m Navajo
From Navajo sháńdíín meaning "sunshine".
Shani 1 f & m Hebrew
Means "red, scarlet" in Hebrew.
Shanta f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Means "pacified, calm" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Ramayana this is the name of a princess of Anga who marries Rishyasringa.
Shantanu m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali
Means "wholesome" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of a king of Hastinapura.
Shanti f Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
From Sanskrit शान्ती (śāntī) meaning "quiet, peace, tranquility".
Sharon f & m English, Hebrew
From an Old Testament place name, in Hebrew שָׁרוֹן (Sharon) meaning "plain", referring to a fertile plain on the central west coast of Israel. This is also the name of a flowering plant in the Bible, the rose of Sharon, a term now used to refer to several different species of flowers.... [more]
Sharyl f English
Variant of Cheryl.
Sheila f Irish, English
Anglicized form of Síle.
Shekinah f Various
From the Hebrew word שׁכִינה (sheḵina) meaning "God's manifested glory" or "God's presence". This word does not appear in the Bible, but later Jewish scholars used it to refer to the dwelling place of God, especially the Temple in Jerusalem.
Shelby m & f English
From an English surname, which was possibly a variant of Selby. Though previously in use as a rare masculine name, it was popularized as a feminine name by the main character in the movie The Woman in Red (1935). It was later reinforced by the movie Steel Magnolias (1989) in which Julia Roberts played a character by this name.
Shelley f & m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "clearing on a bank" in Old English. Two famous bearers of the surname were Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822), a romantic poet whose works include Adonais and Ozymandias, and Mary Shelley (1797-1851), his wife, the author of the horror story Frankenstein. As a feminine given name, it came into general use after the 1940s.
Shelly f & m English
Variant of Shelley.
Shepherd m English
From an English occupational surname meaning "sheep herder, shepherd".
Sheri f English
Variant of Sherry.
Sherif m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic شريف (see Sharif).
Sherry f English
Probably inspired by the French word chérie meaning "darling" or the English word sherry, a type of fortified wine named from the Spanish town of Jerez. This name came into popular use during the 1920s, inspired by other similar-sounding names and by Collette's novels Chéri (1920, English translation 1929) and The Last of Chéri (1926, English translation 1932), in which it is a masculine name.... [more]
Sherwood m English
From an English place name (or from a surname that was derived from it) meaning "bright forest". This was the name of the forest in which the legendary outlaw Robin Hood made his home.
Sheryl f English
Variant of Cheryl.
Shihab m Arabic
Means "shooting star, meteor" in Arabic.
Shikoba m & f Choctaw
Means "feather" in Choctaw.
Shiloh m & f Biblical
From an Old Testament place name possibly meaning "tranquil" in Hebrew. It is also used prophetically in the Old Testament to refer to a person, often understood to be the Messiah (see Genesis 49:10). This may in fact be a mistranslation.... [more]
Shimon m Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Simeon (and Simon 1).
Shinsuke m Japanese
From Japanese (shin) meaning "extend, stretch, open" or (shin) meaning "real, genuine" combined with (suke) meaning "help, assist". This name can also be formed from other combinations of kanji characters.
Shion f & m Japanese
From Japanese 紫苑 (shion) meaning "aster". It can also come from (shi) meaning "poem" and (on) meaning "sound". Other kanji combinations can form this name as well.
Shiori f & m Japanese
As a feminine name it can be from Japanese (shi) meaning "poem" combined with (ori) meaning "weave". It can also be from (shiori) meaning "bookmark" (usually feminine) or (shiori) meaning "lithe, bending" (usually masculine), as well as other kanji or kanji combinations.
Shiphrah f Biblical
Means "beautiful" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the midwives (the other being Puah) who disobeys the Pharaoh's order to kill any Hebrew boys they deliver.
Shira f Hebrew
Means "singing" in Hebrew.
Shireen f Persian
Alternate transcription of Persian شیرین (see Shirin).
Shirin f Persian
Means "sweet" in Persian. This was the name of a character in Persian and Turkish legend.
Shirley f & m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "bright clearing" in Old English. This is the name of a main character in Charlotte Brontë's semi-autobiographical novel Shirley (1849). Though the name was already popular in the United States, the child actress Shirley Temple (1928-2014) gave it a further boost. By 1935 it was the second most common name for girls.
Shivani f Hinduism, Hindi
Means "wife of Shiva 1" in Sanskrit. This is an epithet of the Hindu goddess Parvati.
Shōhei m Japanese
From Japanese (shō) meaning "soar, glide" and (hei) meaning "level, even, peaceful", in addition to other combinations of kanji that are pronounced the same way.
Shona f Scottish
Anglicized form of Seonag or Seònaid. Though unconnected, this is also the name of an ethnic group who live in the south of Africa, mainly Zimbabwe.
Shoshana f Hebrew
Modern Hebrew form of Susanna.
Shoshanna f Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Susanna.
Shota m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 翔太 (see Shōta).
Shouta m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 翔太 (see Shōta).
Shpresa f Albanian
From Albanian shpresë meaning "hope".
Shu f Chinese
From Chinese (shū) meaning "good, pure, virtuous, charming", besides other characters that are pronounced similarly.
Shubham m Hindi, Marathi
Derived from Sanskrit शुभ (śubha) meaning "splendid, bright, auspicious".
Shufen f Chinese
From Chinese (shū) meaning "good, pure, virtuous, charming" combined with (fēn) meaning "fragrance, aroma, perfume". Other character combinations are possible as well.
Shun 2 f & m Japanese
From Japanese 駿 (shun) meaning "fast", (shun) meaning "talented", or other kanji that are pronounced the same way.
Shura f & m Russian
Russian diminutive of Aleksandra or Aleksandr.
Shweta f Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati
From Sanskrit श्वेत (śveta) meaning "white".
Shyamala f Tamil, Telugu, Marathi
Feminine form of Shyamal.
Siana f Welsh
Diminutive of Siân.
Siarhei m Belarusian
Belarusian form of Sergius.
Sibyl f English
From Greek Σίβυλλα (Sibylla), meaning "prophetess, sibyl". In Greek and Roman legend the sibyls were female prophets who practiced at different holy sites in the ancient world. In later Christian theology, the sibyls were thought to have divine knowledge and were revered in much the same way as the Old Testament prophets. Because of this, the name came into general use in the Christian world during the Middle Ages. The Normans imported it to England, where it was spelled both Sibyl and Sybil. It became rare after the Protestant Reformation, but it was revived in the 19th century, perhaps helped by Benjamin Disraeli's novel Sybil (1845).
Siddhartha m Sanskrit, Buddhism, Bengali
Means "one who has accomplished a goal", derived from Sanskrit सिद्ध (siddha) meaning "accomplished" and अर्थ (artha) meaning "goal". Siddhartha Gautama was the real name of the Buddha.
Sidony f English (Archaic)
Feminine form of Sidonius. This name was in use in the Middle Ages, when it became associated with the word sindon (of Greek origin) meaning "linen", a reference to the Shroud of Turin.
Sienna f English (Modern)
From the English word meaning "orange-red". It is ultimately from the name of the city of Siena in Italy, because of the colour of the clay there.
Sietse m Frisian
Diminutive of Siet.
Sigfrid 1 m Swedish (Rare)
Swedish form of Siegfried. This was the name of an 11th-century saint from England who did missionary work in Scandinavia.
Signe f Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Estonian, Latvian
Modern Scandinavian form of Signý.
Signy f Norwegian
Norwegian variant form of Signý.
Signý f Old Norse, Norse Mythology, Icelandic
Old Norse name that was derived from the elements sigr "victory" and nýr "new". In Norse legend she was the twin sister of Sigmund and the wife of Siggeir.
Sigrid f Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, German, Estonian, Finnish (Archaic)
From the Old Norse name Sigríðr, which was derived from the elements sigr "victory" and fríðr "beautiful, beloved".
Sigurd m Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Norse Mythology
From the Old Norse name Sigurðr, which was derived from the elements sigr "victory" and vǫrðr "guard, guardian". Sigurd was the hero of the Norse epic the Völsungasaga, which tells how his foster father Regin sent him to recover a hoard of gold guarded by the dragon Fafnir. After slaying the dragon Sigurd tasted some of its blood, enabling him to understand the language of birds, who told him that Regin was planning to betray him. In a later adventure, Sigurd disguised himself as Gunnar (his wife Gudrun's brother) and rescued the maiden Brynhildr from a ring of fire, with the result that Gunnar and Brynhildr were married. When the truth eventually came out, Brynhildr took revenge upon Sigurd. The stories of the German hero Siegfried were in part based on him.
Sıla f Turkish
Means "reunion, arrival" in Turkish.
Silvana f Italian
Italian feminine form of Silvanus.
Sílvia f Portuguese, Catalan
Portuguese and Catalan form of Silvia.
Silvia f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, German, Dutch, English, Late Roman, Roman Mythology
Feminine form of Silvius. Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. This was also the name of a 6th-century saint, the mother of the pope Gregory the Great. It has been a common name in Italy since the Middle Ages. It was introduced to England by Shakespeare, who used it for a character in his play The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594). It is now more commonly spelled Sylvia in the English-speaking world.
Silvija f Latvian, Lithuanian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian
Form of Silvia in several languages.
Silviya f Bulgarian
Bulgarian form of Silvia.
Sima 2 f Hindi, Marathi, Bengali
From Sanskrit सीम (sīma) meaning "boundary, limit".
Simão m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Simon 1.
Simba 1 m Shona
Means "power, strength" in Shona.
Simcha f & m Hebrew
Means "happiness, joy" in Hebrew.
Simeon m Biblical, Bulgarian, Serbian
From Συμεών (Symeon), the Old Testament Greek form of the Hebrew name Shimʿon (see Simon 1). In the Old Testament this is the name of the second son of Jacob and Leah and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the New Testament the Greek rendering Σίμων (Simon) is more common, though Συμεών occurs belonging to a man who blessed the newborn Jesus. He is recognized as a saint in most Christian traditions.... [more]
Simin f Persian
Means "silvery" in Persian.
Simon 1 m English, French, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Dutch, Hungarian, Slovene, Romanian, Macedonian, Georgian, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
From Σίμων (Simon), the New Testament Greek form of the Hebrew name שִׁמְעוֹן (Shimʿon) meaning "hearing, listening", derived from שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) meaning "to hear, to listen". This name is spelled Simeon, based on Greek Συμεών, in many translations of the Old Testament, where it is borne by the second son of Jacob. The New Testament spelling may show influence from the otherwise unrelated Greek name Simon 2.... [more]
Šimona f Czech (Rare)
Czech variant of Simona.
Simran f & m Punjabi, Hindi
Means "continuous remembrance" in Punjabi, derived from Sanskrit स्मरण (smaraṇa) meaning "recollection".
Sincere m & f English (Modern)
From the English word meaning genuine or heartfelt.
Sinéad f Irish
Irish form of Jeannette.
Sini f Finnish
Means "blue" in Finnish. More specifically, sini is a poetic term for the colour blue.
Sinikka f Finnish
Elaborated form of Sini, also meaning "bluebird".
Síomha f Irish (Rare)
Modern Irish form of Síthmaith.
Sioned f Welsh
Welsh form of Janet.
Sipho m Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele
Means "gift" from Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele isipho.