These Names Are New to Us (And Maybe You Too)
As baby name experts, you may think we know all (or at least most) of the names out there, but we're constantly discovering new choices!
Literature and film, international name charts, and our own friends and neighbors often introduce us to previously unknown names, as does our brilliant Berry community.
We asked our editorial team to share their latest name discoveries — read on for 16 new-to-us names that may be new to you, too!
Ayça
"If you love the luminescent Turkish name Ayla but are hesitant about her fast-growing popularity, you may love her sister Ayça — who has yet to receive the same love and attention in the States. Ayça, pronounced EYE-cha, means 'crescent moon'." — Brynn
Dovile
"Pronounced doh-VEE-leh, this Lithuanian name has an inspirational meaning — 'girl who gives hope' — as well as the potential for the sweet nickname Dove." — Brynn
Euphelia
"The Eu- sound isn’t very chic right now (although it should be!) but the -phelia ending a la Ophelia could make this an appealing choice. There’s a 17th-century poem titled “An Ode”, for which the name appears to have been invented." — Sophie
Hekuran
"Pronounced HEK-u-ran, Hekuran is an Albanian male name from the word for 'iron'. It may look unfamiliar to English speakers, but it has a strong meaning, sounds the way it's spelled, and is fun to say." — Clare
Ido
"Ido and Iddo are equally correct transliterations of an Arabic and Hebrew name with conflicting meanings, 'to evaporate' and 'to be mighty'. Well-used in the modern Middle East but nearly unknown in the US, Ido/Iddo was a minor Biblical prophet in the Old Testament." — Pam
Kibibi
"Kibibi is an energetic Swahili name with a sweet meaning: 'little lady'. There’s lots of love for reduplicated names a la Gigi and Kiki right now, and Kibibi shares their spark while feeling substantial enough for a given name. It's pronounced kee-BEE-bee" — Sophie
Lalage
"Pronounced la-la-zhay, Lalage is an original bird name used as a female name since ancient times. The Roman poet Horace professes his love for one Lalage, and there's a Lalage who's the heroine of an 1835 play by Poe." — Pam
Leano
"One of the most popular boy names in Switzerland, it's a bit of a mystery but probably a contraction of names like Emiliano or Leonardo. Either way, its sounds make it very cool at the moment. It entered the US charts for the first time in 2022." — Clare
Likan
"Liv Lo and Henry Golding just welcomed a baby girl named Florence Likan. There is little information about her name online — Some sources trace it back to Nepal, while others say it’s related to the Greek word for 'wolf', lykos — but it likely has roots in Iban, an Indigenous language of Malaysia." — Sophie
Luule
"Pronounced loo-leh, Luule is an Estonian word name meaning "poetry". With that sweet double L sound so many love — think Lola, Lila, Lily, and Layla — Luule is distinctive but stylish." — Brynn
Nicandra
"The name of the heroine of Molly Keane's Loving and Giving, Nicandra is the female form of Nicander. A dramatic alternative to Nicole or Nicola and an original route to short form Nica or Nico." — Pam
Ozren
"Ozren is a male given name in Serbia and Croatia, but is also the name of several mountains: two in Serbia, and one in Bosnia and Herzegovina. With Oz and Ozzy being two of the coolest nicknames today, this subtle nature name has potential." — Brynn
Ruska
"Ruska is a Finnish word name referring to autumn foliage — specifically the autumn in Lapland, Finland where the fall colors are especially vibrant and magical. How beautiful is that?" — Brynn
Tris
"Given to a friend-of-a-friend's new baby girl. I don't know the story behind it — whether it honors a Beatrice, Patricia, or Tristan, for example — but I really quite like this unusual, brisk, androgynous girl name." — Clare
Veer
"Among the fastest-rising Indian boy names in the US, Veer has Hindi and Sanskrit origins and means “brave”. The meaning may be convincing enough, but with its strong V initial and compact, ends-in-er form, Veer boasts a lot of style as well." — Sophie
Zahari
"From an Arabic root meaning 'shine', this is rare but fits perfectly with the current love for unisex names ending in -ari." — Clare
If you'd like to suggest a name for addition to Nameberry's ever-expanding database, you can tell us the name and any information you have about it over on our forums.