Eastern European Names

Timon has strong associations with The Lion King, making it a tough sell for American parents. Attractive Polish variation Tymon, with the emphasis on the first syllable, preserves the strength of the original while eliminating the meerkat connection.

Could be seen as an affectionate Old World take on Kole.

Kenya, a name borrowed from the East African nation and theoretically unisex, is now used mostly for girls. While it's had its ups and downs since entering the US Top 1000 in 1968, it currently ranks lower than spelling variant Kenia.

Adds some zest to Rosa.

See TALIA.

An interesting and appealingly international spin on Barbara, with a lot of charm and energy.

Bence has been the most popular boy name in Hungary for over a decade — it’s held the top spot since 2003, the year Hungary began releasing its baby name data. Bence is the Hungarian translation of Vincent and is also occasionally used as a nickname for Benedek.

Naming your son Armen is like naming him Roman, or German -- it's the term that denotes a person of Armenian descent. Armen has been used as a first name for centuries and is an unusual yet approachable choice, especially if you want to honor your Armenian heritage.

This version is a bit more in tune with modern tastes.

Zenovia makes Zenobia even more unusual. This mythology-adjacent name is worth a look.

Krista may be past its peak -- along with all similar C-starting sisters and their K variations -- yet it's still a pretty name.

Panya is a multicultural possibility with a sound that's pleasing to the English-speaking ear, though the Swahili translation, which might also be "rat," makes it less than savory as an African name.

Despite its varied cultural ties, Zizi still sounds like a cancan dancer or a fluffy lapdog.