Names That Cross Cultures

Families with roots in two cultures often want a name that feels at home in both. These 50 names are spelt the same way in several traditions, but each tradition gave them its own root and meaning. Here is what each name means in every culture that uses it.

• Maya · /MY-uh/
  • Hindu / Indian: Illusion; divine creative power
  • Greek: Mother, good mother
  • Hebrew: Water
  • Mesoamerican: Name of the Maya civilisation
• Tara · /TAH-ruh/
  • Hindu / Indian: Star; one who carries across
  • Buddhist / Tibetan: Saviour, liberator
  • Irish: Hill; elevated place
• Neil · /NEEL/
  • Irish / Scottish: Champion; cloud; passionate
  • Indian: Blue; sapphire
• Kiran · /KEE-run/
  • Hindu / Indian: Ray of light; sunbeam
  • Sikh / Punjabi: Ray of light
  • Irish: Little dark one
• Asha · /AH-shuh/
  • Hindu / Indian: Hope, wish, aspiration
  • Swahili / East African: Life; she who lives
  • Zoroastrian / Persian: Truth, cosmic order
• Leela · /LEE-luh/
  • Hindu / Indian: Divine play
  • Arabic: Night
• Mira · /MEE-ruh/
  • Hindu / Indian: Ocean; devotee
  • Slavic: Peace; world
  • Latin: Wonderful, admirable
• Zara · /ZAH-ruh/
  • Arabic: Blossom; radiant
  • Hebrew: Princess
  • Indian (Urdu/Hindi): A little; delicate
• Nina · /NEE-nuh/
  • Spanish: Little girl
  • Russian / Georgian: After Saint Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia
  • Babylonian: A goddess of water and the city of Nineveh
  • Indian: Eyes; lovely-eyed
• Arya · /AR-yuh/
  • Hindu / Indian: Noble, honourable
  • Persian: Noble
• Ravi · /RUH-vee/
  • Hindu / Indian: Sun
  • Hebrew: My teacher
• Dev · /DAYV/
  • Hindu / Indian: God; divine; shining one
  • Irish / English: Little stag
• Ana · /AH-nuh/
  • Hebrew / Christian: Grace, favour
  • Hindu / Indian: Hope (in some readings)
  • Turkish: Mother
• Sara · /SAH-ruh/
  • Hebrew: Princess
  • Hindu / Indian: Essence; pure; best part
  • Arabic: Joyful; princess
• Aman · /UH-mun/
  • Arabic / Urdu: Safety, protection
  • Hindu / Indian: Peace
  • Sikh / Punjabi: Peace
• Noor · /NOOR/
  • Arabic / Muslim: Light
  • Sikh / Punjabi: Divine light
  • Persian / Urdu: Light, radiance
• Isha · /EE-shuh/
  • Hindu / Indian: Goddess; one who protects
  • Hebrew: Woman
  • Arabic: Night; the night prayer
• Rhea · /REE-uh/
  • Greek: Flowing; earth
  • Hindu / Indian: Singer; graceful
• Ira · /EE-ruh/
  • Hindu / Indian: Earth; Saraswati
  • Hebrew: Watchful
  • Russian: Peace
• Lina · /LEE-nuh/
  • Arabic: Tender; palm tree
  • Hindu / Indian: Absorbed, devoted
  • European: Short form of names like Carolina and Paulina
• Samir · /suh-MEER/
  • Arabic: Companion in evening talk
  • Hindu / Indian: Gentle breeze
• Amara · /uh-MAH-ruh/
  • Igbo / Nigerian: Grace
  • Hindu / Indian: Immortal
  • Greek: Unfading, eternal
• Kai · /KY/
  • Hawaiian: Sea
  • Scandinavian: Keeper of keys; earth
  • Japanese: Ocean; pioneer
• Aria · /AR-ee-uh/
  • Italian: Air; a solo song in opera
  • Persian: Noble
  • Hindu / Indian: Noble
• Elena · /eh-LAY-nuh/
  • Greek: Torch; shining light
  • Hindu / Indian: Used as a modern name, without a traditional Sanskrit root
• Adam · /AD-um/
  • Hebrew / Christian: Earth; man
  • Arabic / Muslim: First human; the prophet Adam
• Omar · /OH-mar/
  • Arabic / Muslim: Long-lived; flourishing
  • Hebrew: Eloquent; speaker
• Rohan · /ROH-hun/
  • Hindu / Indian: Ascending; rising
  • Irish: Little red-haired one
• Anya · /AHN-yuh/
  • Russian: Grace
  • Hindu / Indian: Unique; inexhaustible
• Ayaan · /ah-YAHN/
  • Arabic / Muslim: Gift of God; clear
  • Hindu / Indian: Path; the sun's course
• Mila · /MEE-luh/
  • Slavic: Gracious; dear
  • Hindu / Indian: One who was found; union
• Riya · /REE-yuh/
  • Hindu / Indian: Singer; graceful
  • Arabic: As an Arabic word, showing off
• Leo · /LEE-oh/
  • Latin / Christian: Lion
  • Indian (astrology): Lion sign
• Sana · /SAH-nuh/
  • Arabic / Muslim: Brilliance; praise
  • Japanese: Gauze and greens
  • Hindu / Indian: Praise
• Arjun · /AR-jun/
  • Hindu / Indian: Bright, shining, white
  • Sikh / Punjabi: After Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru
• Esha · /AY-shuh/
  • Hindu / Indian: Desire; wish
  • Arabic: Alive
• Tia · /TEE-uh/
  • Spanish: Aunt
  • Greek: Divine; goddess
  • Hindu / Indian: Parrot; sweet-voiced
• Ilan · /ee-LAHN/
  • Hebrew: Tree
  • Hindu / Tamil: Young
• Naya · /NAH-yuh/
  • Arabic: Reed flute
  • Greek: Water nymph
  • Hindu / Indian: New
• Ali · /AH-lee/
  • Arabic / Muslim: Exalted, high
  • English: Short form of names like Alistair and Alison
• Daniel · /DAN-yel/
  • Hebrew / Christian: God is my judge
  • Arabic / Muslim: God is my judge
• Hana · /HAH-nuh/
  • Japanese: Flower
  • Arabic: Happiness, bliss
  • Hebrew / Czech: Grace
  • Korean: One; first
• Raj · /RAHJ/
  • Hindu / Indian: King; rule
  • Sikh / Punjabi: Kingdom; rule
• Lila · /LEE-luh/
  • Hindu / Indian: Divine play
  • Arabic / Persian: Night; also lilac
  • English: Lily flower
• Aryan · /AR-yun/
  • Hindu / Indian: Noble, honourable
  • Persian: Noble; of Iran
• Nadia · /NAH-dee-uh/
  • Slavic: Hope
  • Arabic: Caller; tender; dewy
• Sami · /SAH-mee/
  • Arabic: Elevated, sublime
  • Hebrew: God has heard
  • Finnish: Short form of Samuel
• Inaya · /ee-NAH-yuh/
  • Arabic / Muslim: Care, concern; God's protection
  • Hindu / Indian: Used as a modern name, often read as gift of God
• Ishaan · /ee-SHAHN/
  • Hindu / Indian: Lord Shiva; the north-east direction
  • Arabic / Urdu: Kindness; excellence
• Alina · /ah-LEE-nuh/
  • European: Noble; bright
  • Arabic: Noble, exalted
  • Hindu / Indian: Beautiful; dedicated