Names That Mean Good or Kind

Used both as a given name and as a surname, Bashir is a familiar but still unusual choice in the USA and UK, even among Muslim families. In 2014, only 25 boys were named Bashir in the US. One reason for its low usage could be a connection to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes, including genocide, in Darfur.

In the US, Rashad is one of the most popular and best-known Arabic names, through several sports and entertainment celebrities.

Tuvia is the Hebrew cognate of Tobias or Tobiah, found in the Bible and used in this form in Israel. The film "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" included a character named Tuvia, who was female, pointing to the biggest downside of this name to the English-speaking ear: It sounds quite feminine.

Igbo name made more familiar by its relationship to the popular Belle and Bella.

Offbeat name sometimes heard in the African-American community.

Phonetic spelling of the Muslim Aanisah, chosen by singer Macy Gray for one of her daughters.

Gennady is derived from an early saint's name (Gennadius) and shares the same Greek root word as the English word generous. It is a familiar if still uncommon boys' name in Russia. If you're looking for unique boy names you might want to put this one on your list.

Could cause pronunciation problems.

Vanina is a name that is, at first glance, miles apart from its origin. But once you say it aloud and look for it, you can see the direct line from Evangelina to Vanina. Vanina could also be a good alternative for people who like the sound of Vanille or Vanilla, but can't bring themselves to use a flavor as a name.

Hebrew form of Tobiah, also used as a feminine form.

Name of a son of the Prophet Muhammad, with a particularly positive meaning.

Used for both genders in its native country, though more often for girls, Tirion is a rare Welsh name with a lovely sound and meaning.

In the Bible this was the name of a midwife who helped deliver Moses.

Think the letter X is always cool in names? Meet Eudoxia. An ancient name with a great meaning, associated with a number of saints and Byzantine royals. You might also like the similar Eudocia or Eudora.

Attractive Middle Eastern choice.

In Greek Mythology, Eucleia was the spirit of glory and good repute. She was a member of the younger Charites.

A variant spelling of Charis or Carys, relatively popular in the Netherlands.

There aren't many Glendas under forty.

The strong and unusual name of a medieval (male) saint and a contemporary (female) novelist, Benilde Little.

Commonly used in Japanese families.