127 Baby Names Meaning Friend (Boys, Girls, & Unisex)

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Naming expert Natalie Mulholland shares names that represent friendship & loyalty

Co-authored by Natalie Mulholland and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: August 28, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Popular (For Girls)
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• Rare (For Girls)
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• Popular (For Boys)
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• Rare (For Boys)
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• Gender-Neutral
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• More Names

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Your future bundle of joy is bound to be a loyal and caring friend to all, so why not pick a name that matches this energy? We partnered with a naming expert to help us compile this comprehensive list to help you do just that! We’ve included a wide array of male, female, and gender-neutral names that mean “friend,” including classic, cute, and rare options. Keep reading to find the perfect name for your friendly little one!

Top Names That Mean Friend

Naming expert Natalie Mulholland shares these names that mean “friend”:

• For Girls: Winnie, Ruth, Samira, Raya, Rowena
• For Boys: Edwin, Alvin, Samir, Alden, Khalil
• Either: Arden, Bellamy, Dakota, Koda

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Section 1 of 6:

Popular Girl Names That Mean “Friend”

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1. 
   If you want a timeless or well-loved name, these names that mean “friend” could be the perfect choices for you! Some of them are classics that have endured over the years, like Winnifred or Ruth, and others are cool and modern-sounding, like Dakota or Raya. All of them are fairly recognizable compared to names in our rarer selection below, which makes them great options if you’re looking for something that’s not too out-there!

   • Ami: “Friend,” “beloved,” “lover,” Latin origin.
   • Amie: “Friend,” “beloved,” “lover,” Latin origin.
   • Amity: “Friendship” or “harmony,” Latin origin.
   • Cara: “Friend” or “beloved,” Latin, Irish, & Celtic origins.
   • Dakota: “Friend” or “ally,” Native American origins.
   • Edwina: “Wealthy friend,” “rich friend,” or “prosperous friend,” British origin.
   • Elvina: “Magical friend” or “elf,” British origin.
   • Karah: “Friend,” “beloved,” or “wild, stormy one,” Irish, American, & Norse origins.
   • Karalee: “Friend” or “beloved,” Latin origin.
   • Karalynn: “Friend,” “beloved,” “love,” or “pond,” Latin & Irish origins.
   • Karee: “Friend,” “pure,” or “beloved,” Armenian, Greek, & Irish origins.
   • Karianne: “Friend,” “beloved,” “grace,” or “pure,” Scandinavian, Greek, Hebrew, Irish, & Latin origins.
   • Karie: “Beloved friend” or “free man,” German & Irish origins.
   • Karine: “Friend” or “beloved,” Armenian, Greek, & Latin origins.
   • Karry: “Friend,” “beloved,” or “free man,” Latin & German origins.
   • Latifa: “Friendly,” “gentle,” “kind,” “pleasant,” Arabic origin.
   • Levina: “Dear friend” or “lightning bolt,” Latin & German origins.
   • Philippa: “Friend of horses,” British & Greek origins.
   • Pippa: “Friend of horses,” British & Greek origins.
   • Raya:“A friend to talk with in the evening,” Arabic origin. “Friend,” “clear,” “pure,” “hero, “fragrance,” “queen,” or “orchid,” Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, Arabic, English, Japanese, & Malay origins.
   • Rowena:“A friend to talk with in the evening,” Arabic origin. “Famous friend,” “white spear,” “fame,” or “joy,” Welsh origins.
   • Ruth: “Friend,” Hebrew origin.
   • Ruthie: “Friend,” Hebrew origin.
   • Wendi: “Friend,” “fair bow,” “blessed ring,” or “to wander,” Welsh & German origins.
   • Winnie: “Gentle friend,” “friend of peace,” “fair bow,” or “blessed ring,” Welsh origin.
   • Winnifred: “Friend of peace” or “blessed peacemaking,” Welsh origin.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Natalie Mulholland is a naming expert and content creator. She focuses on sharing the origin of names, plus what they mean and interesting people who’ve had that name before.
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Section 2 of 6:

Rare Girl Names That Mean “Friend”

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1. 
   These gorgeous names that mean “friend” are on the lesser-known side, so they’re ideal if you want your little girl to stand out in the crowd. There are sweet options like Carabelle, powerful-sounding options like Ethelwyn, melodic options like Safiyah, and much more. Check out our top picks below:

   • Alvina: “Elf friend,” “old friend,” “noble friend,” or “supernatural being,” British, German, & Norse origins.
   • Amika: “Friend,” “beautiful,” “fragrance,” “love,” or “flower,” Latin or Japanese origins.
   • Amissa: “Friend” or “companion,” Hebrew origin.
   • Amita: “Friendship,” “endless,” or “limitless,” Sanskrit & Latin origins.
   • Carabelle: “Friend,” “beloved,” “God’s promise,” or “beautiful,” Italian, French, Hebrew, & Irish origins.
   • Caragh: “Friend,” “beloved,” or “face,” Latin, Irish, & Spanish origins.
   • Caretta: “Friend” or “beloved,” Latin, Irish, & Italian origins.
   • Carine: “Friend,” “beloved,” or “dear,” Latin, Celtic, Greek, & Irish origins.
   • Damica: “Friendly,” French & Italian origins.
   • Elvenia: “Magical friend” or “elf,” British & German origins.
   • Elvine: “Elf friend,” British & German origins.
   • Ethelwyn: “Noble friend,” English origin.
   • Karimah: “A friend,” “generous,” or “giving,” Arabic origin.
   • Lakota: “Friend to us,” Native American origin.
   • Latavia: “Friendly,” “gentle,” “kind,” or “pleasant,” Arabic origin.
   • Lidwina: “The people’s friend,” Scandinavian & German origins.
   • Marvina: “Famous friend,” “noble sea,” or “sea wish,” British & Welsh origins.
   • Mitra: “Friend” or “earth mother,” Hindi, Persian, & Greek origins.
   • Nita: “Friendly” or “to plant,” Hindi, Hebrew, & Choctaw origins.
   • Philia: “Friendship,” Greek origin.
   • Reuelle: “Friend of God,” Hebrew origin.
   • Ruta: “Compassionate friend” or “rue,” Polish, Latvian, or Lithuanian origins.
   • Ruthina: “Friend” or “companion,” Hebrew origin.
   • Safiyah: “Friend” or “pure,” Arabic origin.
   • Samira: “A friend to talk with in the evening,” Arabic origin.
   • Sumitra: “Good friend,” Sanskrit origin.
   • Windy: “Friend,” British origin.
   • Winola: “Charming friend,” German origin.
   • Yoyo: “Friendly,” “pleasant,” “peace,” or “at peace,” Chinese origin.

Section 3 of 6:

Popular Boy Names That Mean “Friend”

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1. 
   These names that mean “friend” don’t necessarily show up in lists of the most common boy names, but they’re more recognizable than the rarer options in the next session. There are a few very popular options, like Eddy, Edwin, and Philip, as well as some old-fashioned classics like Irving, Darwin, and Winston. Check out more choices below:

   • Alden: “Old friend,” British origin.
   • Alvin: “Noble friend” or “elf friend,” British origin.
   • Ames: “Friend” or “amicable,” French, British, & Latin origins.
   • Arwin: “People’s friend,” German origin.
   • Arvin: “Eagle friend,” “army friend,” or “boar friend,” German & Scandinavian origins.
   • Baldwin: “Brave friend,” German origin.
   • Buddy: “Friend” or “companion,” British origin.
   • Connelly: “Friendship” or “love,” Irish origin.
   • Dakoda: “Friend” or “ally,” Native American origin.
   • Darwin: “Dear friend,” British origin.
   • Eddy: “Wealthy friend,” “wealthy guard,” or “wealthy spear,” British origin.
   • Edwin: “Wealthy friend” or “rich friend,” British origin.
   • Ervin: “Army friend,” “wild boar friend,” “sea friend,” or “fresh green water,” German, British, Hungarian, Irish, & Scottish origins.
   • Erwin: “Army friend,” “boar friend,” or “sea friend,” German & British origins.
   • Felipe: “Friend of horses,” Greek & Spanish origins.
   • Godwin: “Friend of God” or “good friend,” British & German origins.
   • Harwin: “Friend of the hare” or “brave,” British origin.
   • Irving: “Sea friend” or “green river,” Scottish origin.
   • Irwin: “Boar friend,” “high cliff,” or “verdant hill,” British & Scottish origins.
   • Jeb: “Beloved friend,” Hebrew origin.
   • Khalil: “Friend” or “companion,” Arabic origin.
   • Koda: “Friend” or “rice paddy of happiness,” Japanese & Native American origins.
   • Marvin: “Sea friend,” “famous friend,” “lover of the sea,” or “sea noble,” Welsh & British origins.
   • Melvin: “Council friend,” “armored chief,” or “gentle chieftain,” Irish, British, Scottish, & French origins.
   • Philip: “Lover of horses,” Greek origins.
   • Philipe: “Lover of horses,” French & Greek origins.
   • Samir: “A friend to talk with in the evening,” Arabic origin.
   • Sherwyn: “Bright friend” or “swift,” British origin.
   • Winston: “Friend stone” or “joyful stone,” British origin.
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Section 4 of 6:

Rare Boy Names That Mean “Friend”

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1. 
   If you’re looking for an eye-catching or showstopping name, check out these rare names that mean “friend” for boys. From Alwyn to Delvan to Nadim to Rafiki, there are tons of unique options with a wide variety of energies and vibes. Explore a few of our faves below:

   • Alwin: “Elf friend” or “noble friend,” British & German origins.
   • Alwyn: “Friend of the elves” or “white,” Latin & German origins.
   • Amit: “Friend,” “infinite,” or “immeasurable,” Indian & Hebrew origins.
   • Arvie: “People’s friend,” “exile,” or “voyager,” Hebrew origin.
   • Aswin: “Ash friend or spear friend,” “friend of God,” or “knight,” German, British, Dutch, Sanskrit, & Thai origins.
   • Berwyn: “Bear friend,” “bright friend,” or “white hair,” British origin.
   • Corwin: “Heart’s friend,” English origin.
   • Darvin: “Dear friend,” British origin.
   • Delavan: “Godly friend,” “proud friend,” or “bright friend,” Irish origin.
   • Delwin: “Godly friend,” “proud friend,” or “bright friend,” Irish origin.
   • Edwyn: “Wealthy friend,” British & German origins.
   • Edlin: “Old friend,” German & British origins.
   • Elvin: “Friend,” “elf,” or “magical being,” British origin.
   • Elwin: “Friend,” “elf,” or “magical being,” British, German, & Norse origins.
   • Elwyn: “Elf,” “noble,” or “friend,” British & German origins.
   • Gladwin: “Lighthearted friend,” “bright,” “cheerful,” or “glad,” British origin.
   • Kelwin: “Friend of ships” or “narrow river,” British origin.
   • Levin: “Dear friend” or “joined,” Hebrew origin.
   • Marwin: “Sea friend,” “famous friend,” “sea wish,” or “sea kid,” German, Welsh, & British origins.
   • Mervin: “Famous friend,” “sea wish,” “young goat of the sea,” Welsh and British origins.
   • Nadeem: “Friend,” "confidant," “close companion,” or “drinking companion,” Arabic origin.
   • Norwin: “Northern friend” or “friend from the north,” British origin.
   • Orwin: “Army friend” or “boar friend,” German origin.
   • Oswin: “God’s friend,” British origin.
   • Rafik: “Friend” or “gentle,” Arabic origin.
   • Rafiki: “Friend” or “companion,” Swahili origin.
   • Reuel: “Friend of God,” Hebrew origin.
   • Selwyn: “Manor-friend,” British origin.
   • Winton: “Friend’s farm,” English origin.

Section 5 of 6:

Gender-Neutral Names That Mean “Friend”

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1. 
   Gender-neutral names are very trendy and popular, and for good reason—many of them tend to have super cool and modern sounds, and they’re very versatile. Luckily, there are a few great unisex names that mean “friend” to choose from! Check them out below:

   • Alvie: “Elf friend,” “noble friend,” “old friend,” or “elf battle,” British origin.
   • Anis: “Close friend,” “pure,” “chaste,” or “holy,” Greek & Arabic origins.
   • Arvy: “People’s friend,” “army’s friend,” “eagle friend,” or “wild boar friend,” German, Celtic, & Norse origins.
   • Auden: “Old friend,” “furious,” or “eager,” British & Norse origins.
   • Bellamy: “Handsome friend,” “fine friend,” or “good friend,” French origin.
   • Dakota: “Friend” or “ally,” Native American origin.
   • Delwyn: “Godly friend,” “proud friend,” or “bright friend,” Irish, British, & Welsh origins.
   • Kary: “Friend,” “beloved,” “loved,” or “dear,” Latin, German, Irish, Italian, Norse, & Turkish origins.
   • Koda: Shortened form of “Dakota,” meaning “friend” or “ally,” Native American origin.
   • Rayne: “Helpful friend” or “counsel,” Scandinavian, Yiddish, French, & Latin origins.
   • Rei: “Friend,” “companion,” “king,” “ray of light,” "beautiful," or “clever,” Hebrew, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, French, & Latin origins.
   • Takoda: “Friends,” “allies,” “foundation,” or “rice field,” Native American & Japanese origins.
   • Vinnie: “Elf or magical friend,” “prevailing,” or “conquering,” Latin & British origins.
   • Winslow: “Friend’s hill” or “wine’s hill,” British origin.
   • Winn: “Friend,” “fair,” “white,” joyful,” or “blessed,” British origin.
   • Wynn: “Friend,” “white,” or “fair,” British & Welsh origins.
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Section 6 of 6:

More Name Inspiration

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1. Looking for even more names? We’ve got you covered! Check out a few more of our themed and curated lists:

   • Names That Mean Kindness
   • Names That Mean Love
   • Names That Mean Nature
   • Coolest Baby Names
   • Fancy Baby Names

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