M

Mahaila
Indian 1) var form of Arabic "Mahala", i.e. "Fat, bone or marrow", 2) also var. Form of Mahola H = dance
Mahasin
M = "how beautiful"
Mahin (mah-HEEN)
P= related to the moon
Mahirimah (mah-heer-eh-mah)
P= Sun-Moon, i.e. very beautiful
Mahliqa (mah-lee-kah)
P, Mehlika (meh-lee-kah) T, = moonlike
Mahsati (mah-SAH-tee)
P= moon lady
Mahasti (mah-HAS-tee)
P= "You are a moon"
Mahira (mah-heer-ah)
H = energetic
Mahtab (mah-taab)
P= moonlight
Maia
G = mythology: daughter of Atlas, Mother of Hermes
Majidah
M = powerful, noble
Manolya
T = magnolia
Malha
H = queen
Marika
Jewish = Slavic form of Mary
Marilla
H = form of "Mary"
Marinna/Marina/Rina/Marna/Marisa
Jewish = from the Latin "marius" the sea
Marjanna
P = coral
Marjani (mahr-JAH-nee)
F-Swahili= coral, Kiswahili=red coral
Maisha (mah-EE-shah)
F-Kiswahili= life
Malaika (mah-LAH-EE-kah)
F-Kiswahili= Angel Malkia (MAHL-kee-yah)
F-Kiswahili= Queen, also H- Malka (mal-kah), M-Malika
Manishie
R-Scot/Eng Gypsy = woman, wife
Manzuma
E = poem or song
Mariyah (maar-ee-YAH)
M = lady with fair complexion
Maryam (maar-ee-yam)/Maryum
M = famous lady- mother of Sayyidona Esaa
Mavis
T = blonde
Mazana
H = an invented name from the Hebrew word for amazing
Mehira
H = from "mahir", speedy or energetic
Mehtap
T = moonlight
Melanie
G = "from "Melas", i.e. black
Melani
T (no special meaning)
Melek/Melik
T = angel (see also Malika)
Melina
G = "melos" a song
Melissa
G = a bee, from "meli" honey
Meltem
T = breeze
Menekse
T = violet (flower)
Mercan
T = coral
Merhamet
T = mercy
Merla/Merle
From Latin/French = a bird
Mersin
T = myrtle
Meryem
T = form of Maryam/Miriam
Mia/Michaela
H = "who is like God?"
Milena
from old High German/Jewish = "milo" mild, peaceful
Mine (mee-neh)
T = enamel
Minnetar
T = grateful
Minnet
T = gratitude
Mirit
H = sweet wine
Meira (meh-eh-rah)
H = light, connotation of sharing one's light with others
Melantha
G = dark flower
Melita
G = honey bee (form of "Melissa)
Meral (meh-rahl)
T= gazelle
Mira/Mirra
= short form of Miriam/Miranda, Latin = "strong, wonderful"
Mirella/Mirabella
Latin = of great geauty
Miriam (MAR-ee-um)
M, F-Ethiopian= the biblical "Mary"
Moira/Moriae
G = mythology "goddess of destiny/fate"
Molara
- Basque, form of "Mary"
Morgan
Welsh = sea dweller
Moyna
Celtic = gentle, soft
Muneerah (moo-neer-ah)
M = brilliant, shining, something that reflects light
Musherrah
M = counselor
Mushtaree
M = Jupiter, planet

N

Naadirah/Nadira (nah-DEER-ah)
M = rare, choice, precious, fem. Of "nadir", lowest point in English
Naia/Naiad
G = to flow/i.e. water
Nalani
Hawaiian = calmness of the heavens
Nawaar
M = blossom, flower
Nabila/Nabeelah (nah-BEE-lah)
M-Egyptian= Noble
Nadhirrah (nahd-heer-ah)
M = bright face with lustre & noor; healthy & happy
Nadima (nah-DEE-mah)
M = companion, friend
Nadhiyah
M = lively, pretty
Nafeesah (nah-fee-sah)
M = refined, pure, exquisite
Nageena
M = gem, pearl
Nahid
P = name for Venus, goddess of love in mythology
Na'ilah
M = one who obtains favor
Nagmah (nag-mah)
M = melody, song
Na'imah
M = blessing, happiness
Najah
M = safe, rescued, delivered
Najibah
M = high-born, excellent
Najida/Naajidah (nah-jee-dah)
M = courageous; one who accomp. difficult tasks
Najiyyah
M = friendly, affectionate
Najla
M = "has beautiful, wide eyes"
Naranj (nah-ranj)
P= orange/citrus fruit
Naja (HAH-jah)
M, F-Somalia= success
Najma/Najmah (NAJ-mah)
A= Star
Nane (nah-neh)
T = mint
Nara
Celtic = happy
Nargis
M = Narcissis Flower
Narin
T = delicate
Naseelah (nah-SEE-lah)
M = zephry; fragrant or cool breeze
Nasirah (nah-seer-ah?)
M = helper; aide, assistant
Nasreen (nahs-REEN)
M = white rose, jerico rose; joniquil
Nasya
H = miracle
Nava/Navit
H = beautiful
Nayer
P/Jewish = sunshine
Nazima
M = poetess, matron
Nazirah
M = leader, vanguard
Nazmiye
T = poem (nazim)
Navah
H = beautiful
Nayyirah
M = luminous, shining, brilliant
Nawal (nah-WAHL)
M, F-N. Africa= gift, attainment
Najlah
M = delicate feminine
Nazli (nahz-lee) or Nazi (nah-zee)
P= coquettish
Neelam
M = blue gem, precious stone
Nefes
T = breath
Nefsi/Nefis
T = wonderful
Nehan/Neslihan
T = happy lady
Nehayat
T = end, final
Neimah
H = pleasant
Nelofar
M = lotus, water lily
Nena
M = motherly
Nergis
T = daffodil
Nerita
G = sea snail
Nese
T = joy
Nila/Nyla
Egyptian = An ancient Egyptian princess/ the river Nile/Egyptian
Nilfer
T = water lilly/lotus
Nissa/Nyssa (NEE-sah)
H = sign, emblem G = beginning
Nisaa (nee-SAH)
M = women; "she that makes men forget"
Nitzah/Nizah
H = flower bud
Noelani
Hawaiian = a princess, means "beautiful one from heaven"
Nuha
M = wisdom, prudence
Nura
M = flower, blossom
Nuray
T = moonlight
Nureen
A/Jewish = light
Nurhan
T = bright lady
Nysa/Nyssa
G = the goal

O

Odella/Odele
G = melody/song
Ofra (OH-frah)
F-Mandinka= moon, H = kid or young goat
Ohelah
H = tent
Orah/Ora
H = light
Oralee
H = my light
Oriana/Oria
Jewish/ Latin = "oriens" meaning orient or the East
Orial
Old French/Latin = gold
Orli
H = "light is mine"
Ornah
H = pine

P

Parijan (par-ee-jahn)
P= fair soul
Parikhan (par-ee-khan)
P= fairy queen
Parvaneh/Parvane (pahr-van-EH)/Parvana
P = butterfly, T = night moth (regular butterfly is Kelebek)
Parvin (par-veen)
P= cluster of stars, Pleiades
Pazia/Paz
H = golden
Penda (PEHN-dah)
F-Swahili= beloved, Kiswahili= "to love"
Peninah
H = Pearl or coral
Perizad (per-ee-ZAHD) also Perizada,
P=born of the fairies
Phedre
G = "the shining one"
Phemia
G = voice, speech
Phila
G = love
Philana
G = lover of mankind
Pinar
T = fountain, spring
Pisliskurja
R-Bosnian gypsy = "darling"

Q

Qamar (kah-mahr)/Qamarah
M = the moon

R

Rabie
T = goddess
Rabiyah
M = garden, spring
Rafiqa
M = sweetheart, companion
Rafiyyah
M = high, lifting up
Rahibe
T = nun
Rajaa
M = hope
Rakhshanda
M = shining, brilliant
Ranaa
M = to look
Ra'naa (RAH-uh-nah?)
M = lovely, beautiful, graceful, delicate
Radhiya (rahd-HEE-yah)
M F-Swahili= agreeable, contented
Radhiyyah (rahd-hee-YAH)
M = pleased, contented, delighted
Ra'eesah (rah-EE-sah)
M = leader, princess, noble, a wealthy lady
Rafiqa
M = sweetheart, companion
Raheemah (rahd-HEE-mah)
M = kind, affectionate
Raihaanah (ra-ee-HAH-nah)
M = bouquet of flowers, sweet-smelling flower
Raisa/Raissa/Raizel/Rayzel/Razil
Jewish-Yiddish = rose
Rajeeyah
M = hoping, full of hope
Rakhshanda
M = shining, brilliant
Ramah
H = high
Ramla (rahm-lah)
F-Swahili= fortuneteller or prophet
Rana (rah-nah)
F-Kiswahili= happiness, rest
Rananah
H = fresh
Rani/Rane
H = my joy
Rashida
M = intelligent
Rashieka/Rashiqa (ruh-SHIH-kah)
A = descended from Royalty
Raushanah/Roshannah
M = skylight, bright
Rawnie
R-Gypsy = fine lady, i.e. non-gypsy
Rawiyah
M = narrator, storyteller
Rayah/Raya
H = friend
Rayyah
M = aroma, fragrance
Razi
A = my secret
Raziya (rah-ZEE-yah) F-Swahili= sweet, agreeable
Rehena (reh-HAY-nah)
F-Swahili= compassion, Kiswahili= mercy
Renana
H = joy, song
Reshmaan
M = silky, of silk
Riesa
H = form of Thesesa
Rimona/ Rominah
H = pomegranate
Rina/Reena/Rinnah/Roni/ronit
H = song, joy
Rishona
H = first
Roni
H = my joy
Rukshana (Rook-SHAH-nah)
Russian variation of Roxanne, Sulieman's wife.
Rya
T = dream

S

Saahirah/Sahira (sah-HEER-ah)
M = earth, moon, spring which flows constantly
Saar-rah (sahr-RAH ) not "sarah"
M = lady who charming manner brings joy
Saba (SAH-bah)
F-Kiswahili= the # 7, pron . (sah-BAH) M=morning
Sabba
M = eastern wind, zephr
Sabbirah
M = patient, enduring
Sabeehah (sah-BEE-hah)
M = beautiful, handsome; lady w/fair complexion
Sabina/Savine/Savina
Latin "of the Sabines", an ancient tribe
Sabra
H = thorny cactus, 2) those born in modern Israel
Sabreen
M = patient
Sadiqah
M = truthful, sincere
Sadira
P = lotus tree
Sadiya/Sadya/Sa'diyya
A = lucky, good fortune
Sagheerah (sag-HEER-ah)
M = small, slender; tender
Sa'diyah (SAH-dee-yah?)
M = good fortune, happiness, blessed
Safi (sah-fee)/Safaa/Saffiyah
M, F-Kiswahili= clean, pure
Safira/Saphira/Sephira
H = form of sapphire
Sakinah
M = tranquility, calmness
Salihah
M = virtuous, upright
Salima/Saleemah (sah-LEE-mah)
M= safe from harm; mild, healthy, without defect
Salena/Salina
Latin = soft
Samaah
M = generousity
Samara
Latin = seed of the elm
Samia (sah-MEE-ah)
M= noble, lofty
Samina (sah-MEEN-ah)
M = healthy girl; fertile land without rock and stone; also fatty, or plump
Samira/Sameerah (sah-MEER-ah)
M = one who narrates stories in the night/ story teller/ entertainer
Samiyah
M = elevated, lofty
Sanobar
M = pine tree
Sara

T = epilepsy; H = (Sarai/Sarah/Saretta/Sarina) = princess, noble
Sarafina (sehr-uh-FEE-nah)
H= ardent, like the angel who protects god's throne
Saree/Sarita
H = form of Sarah
Sauda
M = "black"
Sefa
T = pleasure
Segulah
H = treasure
Seher
T = dawn
Selma
T (no special meaning)
Selvi
T = cypress
Serap
T = mirage
Sevda
T = love, passion
Sevgi
T = love
Sevgili
T = darling
Sevinc
T = joy, delight
Seyyal
T = traveller
Sezen
T = feeling, suspicion
Shabanna
M = belonging to night, 2) young lady
Shabibah
M = youthful
Shabnam
M = dew
Shadiyah
M = singer
Shaheena
M = falconess
Shana/Shaina (SHAY-nah)
Yiddish = beautiful
Sheena
= Gaelic form of Jane
Shariykah
M = companion, partner
Selena/Celena
G = moon, like Selene the moon gooddess
Selima (seh-LEE-mah)
M, H= Peace
Shaia
R-Basque Gypsy = sister, also "tchaia"= young girl
Shaina/Shayna
H-Yiddish = beautiful
Shakarnaz (shah-kar-nahz)
P= sugar
Shakeelah (shah-KEE-lah)
M = comely, beautiful, well-formed, well-shaped
Shakira/Shaakirah (shah-KEER-ah)
M = grateful, contented
Shakufa (shah-KOO-fah)
P=opening bud
Shala/shahlaa (shah-LAH)
M = having grey eyes w/shade of red; species of Nacissis flower; also Shahla -Afghani = beautiful eyes
Shamaamah (shah-mah-mah)
M = fragrance of sent of itr (perfume)
Shameela/Shameelah
M = quality, character; young shoot, a bud
Shameena/Shamina (shah-MEE-nah)
M = fragrant, sweet-smelling scent; sweet breeze
Shamoodah (sha-moo-dah)
M = diamond, i.e. brillance, lustre
Shamsa (SHAM-sah)
P= Sun, feminine ending. Shamsha I= Sun
Shani (SHAH-nee)
F-Swahili= marvelous, Kiswahili = unusual thing/adventure
Shara/Sharna/Sharonda/Sharrona
H = form of Sharon
Sharifa/Shareefah (shah-REE-fah)
M= noble, gentle, urbane
Shazadi (shah-ZAH-dee)
P= princess
Shey
R-Am Gypsy = pre-puberty gypsy girl
Shebari
R-Am Gypsy = gypsy girl of marriageable age; bride
Shiri/Shirilee (sheer-ee-lee)
H = my song
Shirin (sheer-IN)
P=sweet, a legendary beauty
Shula/Shu'la
A = flaming, bright
Siddiqah
M = "one who keeps her word"
Sidona
H = enticing
Sidra
M = religious "lote-tree at the fartherest border of paradise"
Sigliah
H = violet
Sivia/Sivya
H = a deer
Songl
T = last rose
Soraya, Suraya (Soh-rai-yah)
P= Star, Pleiades constellation; Princess
Surayyah
M = free of worry; happy
Souzan
P = burning, fire
Suad
M = good fortune
Suhailah (soo-HAY-lah)
M = canopy, tent, marquee
Sura
T (no special meaning)

T

Tabitha
G/Aramic = roe, a gazelle
Tahmina (tah-MEE-nah)
P=Rustam's wife in famous poem
Tahira/Tahirah (tah-HEER-ah)
M = pure, chaste, pious, clean
Tahiyyah
M = greeting, cheer
Tajah
M = crown
Talia
H = dew
Taliah
H = lamkin
Talibah
M = seeker of knowledge
Talor/Talora
H = dew of the morning
Talya
T (no special meaning)
Tamar/Tamara/Tamarah( H) Tamra (tam-rah)
P= date (fruit) yeilding palm tree
Tania
Russian = the fairy queen
Taslimah
M = salutation, peace
Tavi/Tavita
H = fem. form of David, i.e. "Beloved"
Temirah
H = tall, erect, "like a palm"
Tayyibah (tah-YEE-bah)
M = good, sweet, agreeable, pure, chaste; "halaal"
Tarana
(tuh-rah-nuh) P= melody
Thalia
G = to flourish, to bloom
Thurrayya
M = star; the Pleiades
Timora
H = tall (as the palm tree)
Tikvah
H = hope
Tira
H = encampment/enclosure
Tirza/Tirzha/Tirsa
H = pleasant
Tomris
T (no special meaning)
Tova/Tovah
H = good
Tuhfah
M = present, gift
Tzafrirah (zah-freer-ah)
H = morning zephr

U

Uhuru (oo-HOO-ru)
F-Kiswahili= freedom

V

Ve'ra (ve-Rah)
R-Gypsy=truthful

X

Xenia/Ximena
= from the Greek "Xenia", hospitality to a stranger

Y

Yalanda
G = form of Yolanda (violet flower)

Z

zena (Zee-na)
G-= derivation unknown

Names for kajira A-L
Gor index