30 Most Popular Singaporean Names for Boys and Girls

You see, the rise of Singaporean baby names in the US always surprises you at first—then it clicks. Now, I think it’s because you’re drawn to that cultural blend Singapore does so well, where Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Eurasian influences sit side-by-side (kind of like your own multicultural parenting journey, if you’re anything like me). What I’ve found is that unique names travel fast in modern naming trends, especially as Asian-American identity shapes global baby names.

Let’s get into the ones worth knowing next.

Top 15 Singaporean Names for Girls (With Meanings & Origins)

You see, when you’re looking for girl names that feel multicultural and still roll off the tongue easily in the US, Singaporean names hit this sweet spot I didn’t expect at first. Now, I think it’s because you’re getting that blend of Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences—each with meanings tied to peace, beauty, or wisdom—that just feels… intentional. What I’ve found is that once you say these out loud a few times (I do this in my notes app like a total nerd), you start hearing the softness or brightness each name carries.

Here’s a comparison table you can skim—well, that’s how I use it anyway—because seeing the origins side-by-side helps you decide which vibe fits your girl best:

Name	Origin	Meaning	Pronunciation	My Take
Mei Lin	Chinese	“Beautiful forest”	may-lin	You’ll love how airy it sounds.
Jia Hui	Chinese	“Wise and kind”	jah-hway	Gentle, thoughtful energy.
Asha	Indian	“Hope”	ah-sha	Warm, universally friendly.
Devi	Indian	“Goddess”	deh-vee	Strong but still sweet.
Amira	Malay/Arabic	“Princess”	ah-meer-ah	Polished, modern.
Nurin	Malay	“Light, radiance”	noo-reen	Bright and effortless.
Li Yan	Chinese	“Graceful swallow”	lee-yen	Soft, poetic tone.
Hana	Malay/Japanese crossover	“Flower”	hah-nah	Easy, familiar—great crossover appeal.
Priya	Indian	“Beloved”	pree-yah	Warm, comforting name.
Farah	Malay/Arabic	“Joy”	fa-rah	Light and uplifting.
Yue Ling	Chinese	“Moon spirit”	yoo-eh-ling	Dreamy (I always linger on this one).
Nalini	Indian	“Lotus”	nah-lee-nee	Elegant, a bit artistic.
Sarahna	Malay	“Serenity”	sah-rah-nah	Calming, slow rhythm.
Xin Yi	Chinese	“Joyful heart”	sheen-ee	Bright spark of a name.
Amala	Indian	“Pure”	ah-mah-lah	Soft consonants, very soothing.

Tips for American Parents Choosing Singaporean Names

You see, when you’re choosing a Singaporean name for your baby, you feel this mix of excitement and pressure—you want something meaningful, but you also don’t want your kid spending 12 years correcting substitute teachers. Now, I think the sweet spot sits right between cultural respect and everyday usability. And what I’ve found (usually after scrolling through way too many naming tools at midnight) is that a few practical checks make the whole process smoother.

Here’s what tends to help you make a thoughtful choice:

• Say the name out loud three times—you’ll hear instantly if it fits your family’s “sound” or if it’s going to trip people up.
• Look up the cultural significance; you don’t want to pick something just because it “sounds pretty.” (Mistake I made once… never again.)
• Consider hybrid naming, like pairing a Singaporean first name with a more American-friendly nickname.
• Check initials and rhythm, because you’d be surprised how many combinations feel awkward once you write them down.
• Ask someone outside your circle to pronounce it; their first try tells you a lot.

If you trust your ear and stay open to cultural nuance, you’ll land on a name that feels both rooted and totally at home in your American life.

Names cherry

Naming Etiquette in Singapore vs. U.S. Traditions

You see, the first time you look at Singaporean naming etiquette next to U.S. traditions, you realize pretty quickly that you’re juggling two totally different logics. Now, I think the biggest adjustment you’ll run into is the surname-first vs. first-name-first sequence. In my experience, that’s where most of the confusion happens—especially when you’re trying to keep the cultural meaning intact without making everyday introductions awkward (I’ve messed this up on forms more times than I want to admit).

Here’s what I’ve found helps you understand the differences more clearly:

• Singapore prioritizes family lineage, so you’ll usually see the surname first. You’re signaling respect and hierarchy right from the start.
• The U.S. prioritizes individuality, which is why the given name goes first and feels more “casual” in daily use.
• Meaning vs. aesthetics plays out differently too—Singaporean names lean meaningful, while American parents often choose what sounds right.
• Adapting names gets easier when you shift the order for American contexts but keep the original structure on official documents. (A tiny trick I use is noting both versions in my contacts app.)

If you take anything from this, let it be this: you can respect heritage and still make the name feel natural in your American day-to-day—you just need a little flexibility in how you present it.

Top 15 Singaporean Names for Boys (With Meanings & Origins)

You see, when you start digging into Singaporean boy names, you’ll notice—pretty fast—that you’re dealing with this fascinating blend of Chinese, Malay, and Indian roots. Now, I think the fun part is how easily many of these names fit into an American context once you’ve got the pronunciation down (I’ve mispronounced so many the first time, so don’t worry if you do too). What I’ve found is that each name carries a tiny origin story, and you start appreciating the phonetics more than you expected.

Here’s a quick table I put together—you’ll probably compare them the way I do, asking which ones feel most “you” and which ones sound strong out loud:

Name	Origin	Meaning	Pronunciation	My Take
Wei Jie	Chinese	“Great hero”	way-jee-eh	You’ll love how clean it sounds.
Jian Hao	Chinese	“Noble and bright”	jee-en-how	A bit formal but classy.
Arjun	Indian	“Bright, shining”	ar-jun	You’ve heard this one; still powerful.
Rishi	Indian	“Sage, wise one”	ree-shee	Gentle but confident.
Zayed	Malay/Arabic	“Growth, abundance”	zai-yed	Modern vibe—I use it in examples a lot.
Hakim	Malay/Arabic	“Wise, learned”	hah-keem	Strong consonants; stands out.
Kai Wen	Chinese	“Open and cultured”	kai-wen	Easy for Americans to say.
Ming Hao	Chinese	“Brilliant and vast”	ming-how	Flows better than you expect.
Iman	Malay/Arabic	“Faith”	ee-mahn	Soft, warm energy.
Imran	Indian/Malay	“Prosperity”	im-rahn	You’ll hear it in global naming trends.
Yu Sheng	Chinese	“Abundant life”	yoo-shung	A bit poetic—I love it.
Harish	Indian	“Lord of the forest”	huh-ree-sh	Earthy and steady.
Faris	Malay/Arabic	“Knight”	fah-riss	Sharp but friendly.
Ren Wei	Chinese	“Benevolent strength”	ren-way	Balanced, almost meditative.
Naveen	Indian	“New, fresh”	nah-veen	Youthful and upbeat.

How These Names Fit into American Baby Naming Trends

You see, when you start comparing Singaporean names to the Social Security Administration’s baby-name data, you notice something kind of funny—you’re not really trying to chase rankings anymore. Now, I think the real appeal is how these names slip into U.S. naming culture without trying too hard. And what I’ve found, especially when I’m combing through SSA lists every spring (yes, I’m that person), is that Americans are leaning hard into uniqueness without drifting into “wait… how do I say that?” territory.

Here’s the thing—Singaporean names fit that sweet middle zone beautifully:

• They’re unique without feeling unreachable, which you’ll appreciate if you’ve ever worried about your kid constantly correcting teachers.
• They echo values you see in 2025 trends: identity, cultural fusion, and names with stories.
• They sit comfortably next to rising multicultural picks like Aaliyah, Kai, Mira, or Arjun—even if they’re not appearing in top SSA rankings yet.

And in my experience, when you say these names out loud next to popular American ones, you hear that same rhythm parents love right now. My personal takeaway? You can choose something global without it sounding out of place in your neighborhood preschool roll call.