Baby Names That Start With N
1461 baby names beginning with the letter N — boys and girls, each with meaning and audio pronunciation.
The most-loved baby names starting with N, most-popular first. Tap any name to hear it pronounced and read its meaning.
Girl Names
Nanki#14709 in the U.S.Nanki is a Punjabi name closely tied to Bebe Nanaki, the elder sister of Guru Nanak, the foundeNaomirose#14710 in the U.S.Naomirose runs two names together. Naomi is Hebrew, 'pleasantness; sweetness', borne in the BibNarayani#14711 in the U.S.Narayani is the feminine of Narayana, one of the great names of Vishnu. As a divine name it belNardos#14712 in the U.S.Nardos is an Ethiopian name from Amharic, meaning 'nard' or 'spikenard' — the costly aromatic oNarel#14713 in the U.S.Narel reads as a short modern name, most often as a clipped form of Narelle — an Australian namNarielle#14714 in the U.S.Narielle is a contemporary coinage built with the -ielle ending familiar from Gabrielle and DanNasaya#14715 in the U.S.Nasaya reads as a contemporary American coinage in the Anaya/Amaya/Saya family of sounds. No doNasli#14716 in the U.S.Nasli is used chiefly among Parsi and Persian-speaking families. It is generally connected to nNatallia#14717 in the U.S.Natallia is the Belarusian spelling of Natalia, from Latin natalis, 'of birth' — and, in ChristNatanya#14718 in the U.S.Natanya is a Hebrew name meaning 'gift of God', from natan, 'he gave', with the divine element Naudia#14719 in the U.S.Naudia is a modern respelling of Nadia, with an -au- that shifts the vowel. Nadia is the SlavicNautica#14720 in the U.S.Nautica comes from Latin nauticus, 'of sailors; of ships', from nauta, 'sailor' — the sea senseNaveen#14721 in the U.S.Naveen is Sanskrit, from naveena, 'new; fresh; novel'. In India it is overwhelmingly a boy's naNavika#14722 in the U.S.Navika is Sanskrit, the feminine of navika, 'sailor; boatman; helmsman', from nau, 'boat; ship'Navneet#14723 in the U.S.Navneet is a Punjabi and Sanskrit name usually glossed 'fresh butter' (navaneeta) — an image boNawaal#14724 in the U.S.Nawaal (Nawal) is an Arabic name meaning 'gift; bestowal; a present freely given', from a root Nayellie#14725 in the U.S.Nayellie is a modern respelling of Nayeli, a name popular in Mexican-American communities and cNazifa#14726 in the U.S.Nazifa is an Arabic name meaning 'pure; clean; unblemished', the feminine of nazif. It is widelNechy#14727 in the U.S.Nechy is a Yiddish diminutive, most often of Nechama — Hebrew for 'comfort; consolation'. AffecNeeley#14728 in the U.S.Neeley is a spelling of the Irish surname Neely, an anglicisation of Gaelic forms connected witNehmat#14729 in the U.S.Nehmat comes from Arabic niemah, 'blessing; favour; bounty', carried into Urdu and Persian as nNeilah#14730 in the U.S.Most often a modern respelling of Neila or Naila (Arabic Na'ila, 'achiever; one who attains'), Neily#14731 in the U.S.A modern nickname-style coinage: Neily reads as a pet form of Neila/Nyla, or as a bright respelNejla#14732 in the U.S.The Turkish and Bosnian form of Arabic Najla (Nejla), 'wide-eyed; having large, beautiful eyes'Nellee#14733 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Nellie, itself a long-standing pet form of Eleanor, Helen, Ellen and CorNely#14734 in the U.S.A Spanish and Central European short form of Nelly — itself a pet form of Cornelia, Eleanor or Nephele#14735 in the U.S.From Greek nephele, 'cloud'. In Greek myth Nephele is the cloud-nymph whom Zeus shaped in Hera'Nereyda#14736 in the U.S.A Spanish name built on Nereida — from the Nereids, the fifty sea-nymph daughters of Nereus in Neri#14737 in the U.S.From Hebrew ner, 'lamp; candle', with the possessive ending: 'my light; my lamp'. Neri is also Nerissa#14738 in the U.S.From Greek Nereis, 'sea-nymph' (a Nereid). Shakespeare gave the name to Portia's clever, warm-hNevah#14739 in the U.S.A modern -ah respelling of Neva, which is read variously as Spanish nieve/neva ('snow'), as theNevena#14740 in the U.S.From the South Slavic word nevena, 'marigold' — the bright orange calendula flower long used inNeyomi#14741 in the U.S.A modern phonetic respelling of Naomi, from the Hebrew Na'omi, 'pleasantness; sweetness' — the Niarah#14742 in the U.S.A modern elaboration of Nia — Swahili for 'purpose' (one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa) anNiasia#14743 in the U.S.A modern American coinage joining Nia (Swahili 'purpose') to the fashionable -asia ending seen Nida#14744 in the U.S.From the Arabic nida, 'call; voice; summons'. Widely used in Arabic-speaking countries, in TürkNikol#14745 in the U.S.A Central and Eastern European spelling of Nicole, from the Greek Nikolaos — nike ('victory') pNikola#14746 in the U.S.From the Greek Nikolaos — nike ('victory') plus laos ('people'). This is genuinely two names inNimrit#14747 in the U.S.A Punjabi name of Sikh usage, usually read as 'one absorbed in remembrance of the divine' or 'iNior#14748 in the U.S.A very rare modern coinage. It sits close to the Hebrew elements nir ('ploughed field') and or Nirvair#14749 in the U.S.From Punjabi nirvair, 'without enmity; free of hatred'. It is one of the qualities of the divinNishika#14750 in the U.S.A Sanskrit-derived Indian name, most often traced to nisha, 'night', and so read as 'of the nigNiv#14751 in the U.S.From the Hebrew niv, 'expression; idiom; turn of phrase' — by extension, eloquence and articulaNivi#14752 in the U.S.In Indian use Nivi is a Sanskrit-derived name glossed as 'gift; that which is dedicated or offeNoha#14753 in the U.S.From the Arabic Nuha (Noha), 'wisdom; intelligence; good sense' — well used in Egypt and acrossNohea#14754 in the U.S.From the Hawaiian nohea, 'lovely; handsome; of fine appearance' — built on the root hea and theNohealani#14755 in the U.S.A Hawaiian compound of nohea, 'lovely; handsome; of fine appearance', and lani, 'heaven; sky; rNohelia#14756 in the U.S.A Spanish elaboration of Noel/Noelia — ultimately from the Latin natalis (dies), 'birth day', wNoire#14757 in the U.S.The French adjective noire, the feminine of noir, 'black'. Used as a given name it is a modern Nollie#14758 in the U.S.A vintage-style pet name that has recently been given as a full name. It serves as a diminutiveNikiya#14759 in the U.S.A name in the Nike/Nikita family (Greek nike, 'victory') and, famously, Nikiya — the temple danNolynn#14759 in the U.S.A modern American blend: a No- element (from Nola, Noelle or Nova) joined to the popular -lynn Noomi#14760 in the U.S.A Swedish and wider Scandinavian form of Naomi, from the Hebrew Na'omi, 'pleasantness; sweetnesNoon#14761 in the U.S.The English word noon — midday — used as a given name. Its history as a word runs back to LatinNoorulain#14762 in the U.S.From Arabic nur al-ayn, 'light of the eye' — an affectionate phrase for a beloved child or a chNor#14763 in the U.S.In Malay and Indonesian use, Nor is the common spelling of Arabic Nur, 'light' — very widely usNorajane#14764 in the U.S.A written-together double name in the Southern American tradition: Nora — a short form of HonorNorajean#14765 in the U.S.A written-together double name: Nora — from Honora ('honour') or Eleanor — joined to Jean, the Noran#14766 in the U.S.Used in Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world as a name built on nur, 'light' — often glossed aNovalina#14767 in the U.S.A modern elaboration of Nova — Latin nova, 'new', and the astronomer's word for a suddenly brigNovee#14768 in the U.S.A modern nickname-style spelling built on Nova (Latin nova, 'new'), with the -ee ending that cuNuam#14769 in the U.S.A name from the Chin (Zomi) communities of Myanmar and their diaspora, where nuam carries a senNube#14770 in the U.S.The Spanish word nube, 'cloud', used as a given name. It is a nature word-name rather than a trNoellia#14771 in the U.S.A spelling of the Spanish Noelia, a feminine of Noel, from the French for 'Christmas' (ultimateNyaomi#14771 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Naomi, from the Hebrew Na'omi, 'pleasantness; sweetness'. The Ny- openinNyel#14772 in the U.S.A rare modern coinage, built from the fashionable Ny- opening and the -el ending. It may be reaNyima#14773 in the U.S.From Tibetan nyima, 'sun; day' — also the Tibetan name for Sunday. It is a widely used name in Nyjai#14774 in the U.S.A modern American coinage joining the Ny- opening to the -jai ending (as in Jai, itself a SanskNyloni#14775 in the U.S.A rare modern coinage built on the Ny- opening with a flowing -loni close; it may be read as a Naiza#14776 in the U.S.A modern coinage with no single documented source. It sits near the Arabic Naila, 'one who attaNyxie#14776 in the U.S.A modern pet form of Nyx — the Greek primordial goddess of the night, whose name is simply the Nzuri#14777 in the U.S.The Swahili adjective nzuri, 'good; beautiful; fine' — one of the first words a learner of SwahNarine#14789 in the U.S.From the Armenian Narine, 'woman' (from nar, and often glossed 'feminine'); also linked by folkNicholas#14806 in the U.S.From the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victory,' + laos, 'people') — the nameNiema#14807 in the U.S.From the Arabic Ni'ma (Nima), 'blessing; grace; favor' — a warm virtue name. A gentle, meaning-Nirva#14812 in the U.S.A short modern name that echoes Nirvana — the Sanskrit and Buddhist term for 'liberation; the bNanna#15005 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Nanna, of uncertain meaning (variously 'brave; daring' or 'mother'); the NorNoriella#15098 in the U.S.A modern coinage joining Nori (a short form of Eleanora/Honora, or the Japanese element nori) wNarya#15123 in the U.S.In Tolkien's legendarium, Narya is one of the Three Rings of the Elves — the Ring of Fire, wornNgawang#15148 in the U.S.A Tibetan name meaning 'possessing the power of speech; master of speech' (ngag-dbang) — a commNarcisa#15195 in the U.S.The narcissus (daffodil) flowerNaomigrace#15374 in the U.S.A compound of Naomi ('pleasantness; delight') and Grace ('grace; favor'), joined as one writtenNaelynn#15831 in the U.S.A modern American coinage: the Nae-/Nay- sound plus the fashionable -lynn ending (itself from WNeydelin#15882 in the U.S.A Latin-American coinage echoing Madelyn and Nadia, with a soft -elin ending. No single fixed mNayli#15978 in the U.S.A modern coinage with no documented source, sitting near Nayla - an Arabic name read as 'one whNazyah#16218 in the U.S.A modern coinage with the fashionable -yah ending, echoing the Nazli/Naziah sound family. It haNadalia#16540 in the U.S.Modern coinage blending Nadia ('hope', Slavic) and Natalia ('Christmas Day, born at Christmas')Nairoby#16551 in the U.S.A spelling of Nairobi — the capital of Kenya, from the Maasai Enkare Nyrobi, 'a place of cool/cNaleiah#16555 in the U.S.A modern coinage blending a Na- opening with the -leiah/-liah sound of Nalia and Aleah. No singNamani#16556 in the U.S.A modern name, variously echoing Amani ('aspirations; peace', Swahili/Arabic) or Naomi; a freshNataliah#16563 in the U.S.A spelling of Natalia/Natalie — from the Latin natalis, 'birthday; of the birth' (specifically Nathan#16565 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Natan, 'he gave; gift.' The name of a prophet in the Bible. Overwhelmingly a boNaylie#16574 in the U.S.A modern name, variously a short form of Nayeli ('I love you', Zapotec) or a -lie coinage; routNehemie#16580 in the U.S.A French/Haitian feminine form of Nehemiah — from the Hebrew Nechemya, 'Yahweh comforts; the coNikayla#16596 in the U.S.A modern coinage blending Nikki/Nicole ('victory of the people') with Kayla, or read as a variaNilsa#16600 in the U.S.A feminine form of Nils (a Scandinavian form of Nicholas, 'victory of the people'), also used iNissa#16610 in the U.S.A Hebrew name Nissa, linked to nes ('sign; banner; miracle') or nasah ('to test'); separately aNiyyah#16614 in the U.S.From the Arabic niyyah, 'intention; purpose' — a meaningful concept in Islamic practice, where Noble#16618 in the U.S.From the English word noble — via the Latin nobilis, 'noble; well-known; distinguished; of highNuvia#16628 in the U.S.Nuvia is read a few ways — sometimes linked to Latin novus ('new') and sometimes as a modern coNyleigh#16634 in the U.S.A modern American coinage, respelling Nyla/Nylee with the trendy -leigh ending seen in EverleigNaaya#16850 in the U.S.A modern respelling echoing Naya and Naia (variously read as 'new' or 'wave' in different tradiNaeemah#16853 in the U.S.From the Arabic Naima/Naeemah, 'blessing; contentment; tranquillity' — a word linked in IslamicNamia#16865 in the U.S.A modern coinage with no documented source, sitting near Amia, Samia and Nadia. Those are neighNataya#16877 in the U.S.A modern coinage with no documented source. It sits near Natalia, from Latin natalis, 'birthdayNaaliyah#16879 in the U.S.Naaliyah reads as a respelling in the Aaliyah family, from the Arabic 'aliyah — 'exalted, high,Naviya#16882 in the U.S.A spelling that echoes the Sanskrit Navya, 'new; fresh; worthy of praise.' As written here the Naeva#16884 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing Neva, Nova and Eva, layering their bright vowels. No single fixed meanNahida#16885 in the U.S.From the Persian Nahid, the planet Venus and the ancient goddess Anahita (of water and fertilitNaielle#16886 in the U.S.A modern coinage joining a Naia-/Nai- sound with the French diminutive -elle. It has no single Nayve#16889 in the U.S.A modern, single-beat coinage that echoes the sounds of Neve and Maeve; it has no documented etNajd#16891 in the U.S.From the Arabic Najd, 'highland; the central plateau of Arabia' (from a root, 'elevated ground'Nakyla#16894 in the U.S.A modern coinage joining a Na- prefix with Kyla (a name variously linked to 'narrow strait' or Naledi#16896 in the U.S.Naledi means 'star' in Sesotho and Setswana, languages of Lesotho, South Africa and Botswana. INeziyah#16897 in the U.S.A Hebrew-styled coinage echoing Neziah, a name listed among the temple servants in the biblicalNamya#16899 in the U.S.A modern coinage with no documented source. It sits near Amya and Nyla, and echoes Sanskrit-shaNarah#16901 in the U.S.A modern spelling with no single documented route. It echoes Nara - a Japanese city and a name Narjis#16904 in the U.S.From the Arabic/Persian Narjis, 'the narcissus flower.' In Shia tradition Narjis is the mother Neiva#16905 in the U.S.A name echoing Neva (a river; also short forms) and the Spanish Nieves ('snows,' for Our Lady oNatalija#16912 in the U.S.A Slavic (Serbian/Croatian/Lithuanian) form of Natalia, from the Latin natalis, 'birthday' — spNathanaelle#16913 in the U.S.A French feminine of Nathanael/Nathaniel, from the Hebrew Netan'el, 'God has given.' Elegant anNatsumi#16915 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name most often written with the characters for 'summer' and 'beauty,' givingNiaylah#16918 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing Nyla and Layla, layering their soft sounds. No single fixed meaning; rNavisha#16919 in the U.S.Navisha is a modern Sanskrit-styled name. Popular readings link it to nav ('new') with a feminiNayelii#16922 in the U.S.A doubled-i spelling of Nayeli, a Latin American name often linked to a Zapotec phrase, 'I loveNazyiah#16927 in the U.S.A modern stylized spelling of Naziah, itself echoing Arabic Naziha ('pure') and modern -iah namNeilany#16931 in the U.S.A modern coinage with the -lani/-lany music of Leilani (Hawaiian, 'heavenly flowers') and MelanNesiah#16934 in the U.S.A modern coinage on the -iah pattern (like Neriah, Isaiah), with no single documented meaning. Nessie#16935 in the U.S.A Scottish/English pet form of Agnes ('pure; holy') and of Vanessa, long a warm nickname; also Nivrithi#16935 in the U.S.A Sanskrit name (nivritti), 'contentment; cessation; turning inward; spiritual bliss' — a serenNgoc#16939 in the U.S.The Vietnamese Ngoc (diacritics dropped here), 'jade; gem; precious' — a treasured, luminous imNianna#16941 in the U.S.A modern coinage that reads as Nia (Welsh/Swahili) joined to Anna (Hebrew Hannah, 'grace') — orNnenna#16941 in the U.S.An Igbo (Nigerian) name meaning 'father's mother' — traditionally given to a girl seen as resemNicholette#16942 in the U.S.A feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victory,'Narin#16947 in the U.S.From the Turkish word narin, 'slender, delicate, graceful'. It is used as a given name in TurkeNolie#16947 in the U.S.A modern pet form or coinage in the Nola/Magnolia family, with the sweet -ie ending. It reads aNilaya#16949 in the U.S.From Sanskrit nilaya, 'dwelling, abode, home; a resting place'. In modern use it may also be reNoriel#16951 in the U.S.A name in the Hebrew-styled '-el' family, where el means 'God' (as in Nuriel, 'fire/light of GoNimani#16953 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing Imani ('faith,' Swahili) and Nirmani, with a soft -ani ending. No singNimue#16954 in the U.S.The name of the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend — the enchantress (also called Viviane) tiNovalia#16955 in the U.S.A modern coinage built on Nova (Latin, 'new'; also a star that suddenly brightens) with a flowiNissy#16956 in the U.S.A short, affectionate name that reads as a pet form (of Denise, Nisha, or similar) or a modern Nithila#16957 in the U.S.A Tamil/Sanskrit name meaning 'pearl' (nithila/nithilam) — a luminous gem of the sea. Soft and Novelle#16957 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing Nova ('new') and the word novel ('new; a story'), finished with the FrNivira#16958 in the U.S.Nivira is a very new coinage with no documented source. It reads as a sound-built name in the NNiyamat#16960 in the U.S.Niyamat is a form of Arabic ni'mat (nima), 'blessing, favor, God's bounty', widely used in UrduNiza#16961 in the U.S.Two honest routes: the Hebrew Nitza/Niza, 'a bud; a blossom' (a fresh, budding image), and a SpNuriah#16961 in the U.S.From the Arabic nur, 'light,' with the -iah ending — read as 'light; radiance.' A luminous, faiNoelly#16962 in the U.S.Noelly is an elaboration of Noelle, the feminine of the French Noel — 'Christmas', from the LatNore#16966 in the U.S.A short, single-syllable name in the Nora/Noor family — read as a clipped form or modern coinagNorrie#16969 in the U.S.Norrie is a Scottish diminutive, historically attached to Norman or Norval and used for boys; iNovalea#16973 in the U.S.A modern coinage joining Nova (Latin, 'new'; also 'a new star') with a -lea/-leah ending. CelesNovaya#16974 in the U.S.A modern coinage that echoes the Russian novaya, 'new' (feminine), and the Nova family. We noteNuseyba#16976 in the U.S.A spelling of the Arabic Nusaybah — the name of Nusaybah bint Ka'b, a woman companion honored iNyjah#16983 in the U.S.A modern name echoing Nyah, with a soft -jah ending. It is unisex — borne notably by a male athNyoni#16988 in the U.S.A Shona (Zimbabwean) name meaning 'bird' (nyoni) — a light, free image of the natural world. AlNyri#16989 in the U.S.A short modern coinage, spelled close to Nyree (a name known from New Zealand, sometimes linkedNaeli#16997 in the U.S.Naeli reads as a trimmed spelling of Nayeli, a name widely used in Mexican-American families anNiori#16999 in the U.S.A modern coinage in the Nia/Nora sound-family, layering a Ni- opening with an -ori ending. It cNaraly#17020 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing Nayeli and Aralyn, with a -aly ending. No single fixed source; routes Nureen#17022 in the U.S.A Noor-family name from the Arabic nur, 'light,' with an -een ending. Read as 'luminous; full oNymira#17032 in the U.S.Nymira has no documented etymology. It reads as a modern coinage: a Ny- opener joined to -mira,Nazaya#17036 in the U.S.A modern coinage with no documented etymology, its sound brushing Anaya and Amaya. Given honestNehir#17042 in the U.S.From the Turkish nehir, 'river.' A flowing, elemental nature name.Noorie#17087 in the U.S.A soft form of Noor/Nur, the Arabic and Persian word for 'light' — a luminous, gentle name. WarNorri#17096 in the U.S.A short name or respelling in the Nori/Norrie family, sometimes a pet form of Nora or Eleanor aNovasky#17099 in the U.S.A modern smoosh of Nova (Latin, 'new'; also an astronomical nova, a suddenly-bright star) and tNhien#17301 in the U.S.From the Vietnamese Nhien (Nhiên), tied to 'nature' and to a gentle, calm quality (as in tu nhiNouran#17327 in the U.S.An Arabic name from nur ('light'), read as 'two lights; radiant; full of light.' A luminous, geNeissa#17354 in the U.S.A modern name reading as a short form of Vanessa or a spin on Nyssa (a Greek place name, tied tNyarah#17492 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing Nyah and Kiara, layering their bright sounds. No single fixed meaning;Nakylah#17660 in the U.S.A modern coinage layering Nakia and Makayla sounds with a -kylah ending. No single fixed sourceNessiah#17710 in the U.S.A modern coinage that echoes the word 'Messiah,' also readable as Nessa (from Agnes/Vanessa) plNareli#17998 in the U.S.A Latin American given name echoing Nayeli and Areli. Nayeli is often linked to a Zapotec root Neftali#18464 in the U.S.The Spanish form (Neftali) of the Hebrew Naphtali, 'my struggle; wrestling' — a son of Jacob anNoralie#18514 in the U.S.A modern name built on Nora (from Honora, 'honor,' or Eleanor, 'light') with a soft -lie endingNanaadwoa#19010 in the U.S.An Akan (Ghanaian) name joining Nana — an honorific for a chief or elder — with Adwoa, the day-Nazarah#19374 in the U.S.An Arabic-styled name whose route is not settled. It may connect to nazara ('to look, to see') Nafisah#19579 in the U.S.From the Arabic Nafisa, 'precious; priceless; of great worth.' Sayyida Nafisa was a revered desNaariEchoes the Sanskrit nari ('woman'), and also reads as a modern doubled-vowel coinage. Two syllaNadhiTwo honest routes: in Sanskrit nadi means 'river' (a flowing, life-giving image), while in ArabNaelisA modern coinage with no documented source. It sits near Anais, a Catalan and French form of AnNaelithNaelith is a newly emerging coinage. It joins the fashionable Nae-/Nay- opening to an -ith closNaelysA modern coinage layering a Nae-/Naia- sound with an -lys ending, in the current Spanish-influeNaiarieA modern coinage echoing Naiara (a Basque Marian name) and Nayeli, with a bright -arie ending. NaileiaA modern coinage echoing Naila and Leia, layering their soft sounds. No single fixed meaning; rNaimoraA modern coinage with no documented etymology, its sound brushing Naima and Mora/Zamora. Given NaiyomiA modern spelling echoing Naomi, from the Hebrew for 'pleasantness; delight.' The stylized spelNaiyoriA modern coinage, a Nai- sound with an -ori ending. No documented etymology; routes uncertain.NakaylynA modern coinage joining a Na- prefix with Kaylyn (itself a Kay + -lyn blend). No single fixed NamakaFrom the Hawaiian Namaka (Namakaokahai), 'the eyes (of the sea)' (na maka, 'the eyes'); the Haw
Boy Names
Naalnishhe works; industrious oneNabuFrom the Akkadian Nabu, 'the announcer; the caller' (from nabu, 'to announce/call'); the MesopoNahvyirNahvyir is a newly emerging coinage. Its -ir ending rhymes with Amir and Nasir, and the Y-heavyNaichethe mischievous oneNairoA Colombian given name, borne by the cyclist Nairo Quintana, understood to have Indigenous (MuiNakulaFrom the Sanskrit Nakula, 'mongoose'; the handsome fourth Pandava brother of the Mahabharata, sNalaFrom the Sanskrit Nala, of layered meaning (variously 'stem; reed; hollow stalk'); the noble kiNamierA modern American coinage with no documented etymology. It follows the -mier pattern shared by NannaFrom the Sumerian Nanna, of uncertain meaning (linked to 'the illuminator'); the Sumerian moon-