Multicultural Names

SantiGold was a newly minted name in 2024, chosen by author and journalist Elaine Welteroth for her second son. She explained that she and her husband chose it for its multicultural roots, in that Santi means "peace" in Thai and "saint" in Spanish and Italian. The addition of 'Gold' makes it compound name, symbolic of success, prosperity, and prestige.

A multicultural nickname with a number of origins and multiple meanings, particular to the bearer. It can be a short form of Bozhidar, or any other name with the Slavic element "božĭjĭ", meaning "divine". It can come from the surname style Bosley, or the Biblical name Boaz. Ambrose and Boris could be alternative long forms.

Estel is unisex name with a number of origins, one being from the name Estelle, meaning "star". Used in the early 19th century in the US, it has since fallen out of style and last appeared in the US stats for boys back in the 80s.

A multicultural name, Kita can be a Croatian short form of Katarina — and an alternative to Kitty, Kate, or Kathy — and a Japanese name that can be translated to "rejoice often" or "northern direction".

This multicultural name is a sweet but solid sounding pet form of Hebrew and Yiddish origin, used as a nickname for Rhoda, Rosa, or Rada. It can also be considered an English surname, derived from either the given names Rudolf or Ridel meaning "fame wolf" and "ride" or from the place name Ryedale meaning "rye valley".

Matangi a Hindu goddess and an aspect of Parvati, the Divine Mother. She rules over speech, knowledge, music, and the arts and worshipping her is said to allow people to control their enemies and become a master in the arts. Some sources suggest her name means "one whose limbs are intoxicated with passion".

Kele is both a Native American name, used by the Hopi people to mean "sparrow hawk", and a name of Hawaiian origin. In the latter case, it sometimes appears as part of a name, usually in a Hawaiian variation of an English name, such as Anakele from Andrew or Kelemi from Jeremy. It could therefore mean "call", "sound", or "equal", reflecting that it is a Hawaiian name that sounds or is equal to another.

Made up of the Slavic elements,borna meaning "protection" and slava meaning "glory", Bronislav is a variation of the Polish Bronisław, used in a number of Slavic countries.

A pretty name with several possible origns, Zulina derive from Arabic. It may combine the element dhu meaning "possessor" with lyn meaning "soft, tender", to create a name with a gentle vibe. Alternatively however, it may also derive from the zuhr root, meaning "blossom, flower", linking it to nature.

An Arabic name with a number of possible meanings, depending on which root you follow, Aizal meanings ranging from may also be a variation of the Turkish Aysel, meaning "moon flood". It was one of the fastest rising girl names in the UK in 2023 when it jumped into the Top 400 having been out of the Top 1000 the year before. Instagram, TikTok and YouTube famous child Aizal Zulqarnain is one bearer of the name.

A name with a variety of meanings, depending on which etymological root you follow. From an Irish word mean "west" to an Albanian name meaning "gold", it was a fast rising name in England and Wales in 2023.

A spelling variation of Ayra, this bright sounding name is well used in India, and certainly has the potential to catch on elsewhere too.

Reminiscent of mid-century Pamela and contemporary Palmer, Palmina is a diminutive of Palma, an Italian, Spanish, and Croatian name meaning "palm", used more specifically to refer to Palm Sunday. Occasionally given to girls born the Sunday before Easter, Palmina is currently a rare choice, perhaps because it may be confused with Palomino, a word used to describe horses with golden coats and white manes.

Predominantly seen as a surname among Ashkenazi Jewish families, but sometimes given as a first name too, Kleid was originally an occupational name for a tailor, derived from the Old German word for "clothing, garment, or dress".

An Arabic name with a strong, regal meaning, Ahil and its alternative spelling Aahil come from the Arabic word for "emperor" or "great leader" and is generally used to refer to someone who rules over a number of nations. It was a fast rising choice in England and Wales in 2023.

A spiky and vivid sounding name, Sonnika could be an elaboration of Sonya, itself a form of Sophia, or derived from the German word sonne "sun". Alternatively, it could be a variation on the Hindi names Soniya and Sonika meaning "golden, lovely, beloved".

A name of Hindi, Urdu, and Sanskrit origin, Savera is associated with new beginnings and the breaking dawn. It is a name that could work well across multiple languages too.

Borne by an early Egyptian pharaoh in around 2850 BC, Nebra's meaning is contested. A likely possibility however is that it means "Lord of the sun", implying the pharaoh's rule over the sun, which wasn't viewed as independent deity during his reign.

Nebra is the name of a town in Germany, notable for the Nebra Sky Disc, a Bronze Aged disc inlaid with gold symbols of the sun, the moon and stars, significant in revealing the astronomical knowledge of the period.

A sparkly, spirited choice, Virve is related to plant growth and to shimmering, wavering light. From its "spouting, shooting" meaning, it gets a springy feel, associated with beginnings and new growth. From its shimmering meaning, it is connected to glistening light and to will o' the wisps (via Finnish Virva and the word virvatuli), giving it a more mystical vibe.