Names with Inspirational Meanings

Roni may sound like the Doowop-era Ronnie or Ronni, often named for her dad Ron, but it's actually a freestanding Hebrew name with an uplifting meaning.

Ayan is an African name heard for both sexes.

Pretty and feminine Muslim name popular in Egypt.

Resonant and unusual.

Udo is the Igbo word for peace, and, in Nigeria, is a name usually reserved for men. Related names include Akudo, Udoka and Udo-Amaka.

This name was on the U.S. Top 1000 in the early 20th century, when recent immigrants frequently chose native names that have since died out for American babies. But if you're of Finnish or Estonian ancestry, you may want to consider reviving this one with a positive meaning.

Upbeat choice.

Another traditional Indian name, best known here via novelist Vikram Seth.

Short form of the name Anglicized as Saladin, very popular throughout the Arab world.

Appreciated by religious Jews for its connection to "Hatikva," the Israeli national anthem.

Variation of Channah and Hannah making multiple appearances in the US popularity charts during the latter portion of the twentieth century, Chana has now remained in the Top 1000 since 2008.

Naum is rarely heard outside Russia, Bulgaria and surrounding areas. It is a creative name via the prominent Russian Constructionist sculptor Naum Gabo.

Ear-catching alternative to Lydia.

This name, used in many Eastern European countries including Serbia and Romania, has two possible (and equally lovely) meanings. The feminine version is Dragomira.

Common in Wales, but would really stand out here. One of the middle names of Stella McCartney's daughter Reiley; Dilys Powell was a well-known British film critic, Professor Dilys Derwent a Harry Potter character., a witch who worked as a Healer at St. Mungo's Hospital, and was a celebrated Headmistress of Hogwarts School..

Zaynab, from the Arabic word for beauty and the name of a flowering tree, was the name of a granddaughter, daughter and two wives of the Prophet Muhammed. Related names include the simplified forms Zaina and Zayna and the Swahili-inflected Zainabu, along with possibly Zenobia, a name related to the Greek mythological god Zeus. Zaynab is one of the most popular Muslim girls' names around the world.

Lowena is the Cornish word for "joy". As a given name, it is most commonly spelt Lowenna. Another variation is the more unisex Lowen.

For Americans, a little too he for a she.

Name of the last king of Egypt.

Sometimes used as the masculine form of Irene / Eirene, Irenaeus is a name seen in the Early Christian church (for example, Saint Irenaeus who is considered to be one of the Church fathers). Other forms of this name are Irenaus and Eireneus.