Multicultural Names

Lilting and pretty, but with plenty of substance, Amila is a name that works easily in different cultures. Similar in sound to international favorites, Amelia and Mila, it feels familiar but with a twist.

From Hebrew, Oria is a variation of Oriya, created by combining Ori meaning "light" with yah indicating God. From Italian, it is a variation of the Latin Aurea, a golden Saint name, once popular in Spain.

Gently appealing, a floral choice in Japanese.

A gender-neutral Chinese name that originated as a surname, An can be used for girls or boys and means peace or quiet. An may also be a Vietnamese name meaning safe and secure. Its equivalence to the English article an may make it feel slight in an English-dominant culture.

Adapted from the German Senta, itself a short form of Crescentia or Kreszentia, Zenta is a zippy sounding Latvian and Hungarian name which was popular in the early 20th century.

Short and zippy, Zani is a multicultural choice that is currently only occasionally used for either sex. It has its origins in Hebrew, both as a name in its own right, meaning "gift from God", and as a variant of of John via the Venetian form, Zuana. Alternatively, it might come from the Arabic name Zaniah, meaning "corner", which is also the Medieval name of one of the star in the constellation Virgo. Another source however, is from the Albanian Zana, which could mean "voice" or "fairy" from Albanian, or "divine" if it's considered a form of Diana.

A multi-cultural and unisex choice, Kami could be: a variation of Kameron, Kamden or similar; an Armenian name meaning "wind"; or a Japanese name meaning "divine".

A surname style name of Dutch and Anglo-Saxon origin, which could make an interesting alternative to Ben or Bennett.

As a Japanese name, Keita could mean "great celebration", "big enlightenment", "great opening" or similar, depending on which kanji combinations are used. As an East African name, it can mean "worshipper" or "blessing", while a few sources link it to the Scottish name, Keith, thanks to its Celtic root, Kayto, meaning "wood".

A short, sweet name of Arabic origin, Nida derived from the inādā root, meaning "to call". In Islamic tradition, it is used in the Quran to refer to a prayer or plea to Allah. Writer and director of We Are Lady Parts, Nida Manzoor, and Indian women's rights activist Nida Khan are notable bearers.