Dog Names That Mean Comfort

An Arabic name borne by Ali al-Ridha, a 9th-century Shia imam.

Variant of Ahinoam

Distinguished by association with renowned African diplomat Salim Ahmed Salim, this name is popular in many variations throughout the Arab world. Its use is growing in the US as well, especially in its Salem version.

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.

This English surname offers an interesting mix of images: it sounds upper-crusty yet macho, and also conjures up the coziness of a wintery ski lodge. As a surname it is associated with the Massachusetts Republican Senate Minority Leader in the Woodrow Wilson era, Henry Cabot Lodge, who was the father of poet George Cabot Lodge and grandfather of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., who was ambassador to the UN and Richard Nixon's 1960 presidential running mate.

It's hard to find a name meaning much sweeter than Obiajulu's.

In the US, Salima is the more usual variation of this name. Salem, which might be another variation or an alternative place-name for Jerusalem, is more popular for girls as well as boys.

The three soft a's make for a calm and rhythmic name, though some risk of salami jokes.