Names that mean wish carry a beautiful idea: a heartfelt desire, a cherished hope, a dream someone longs to see become real.
Across languages and cultures, this meaning appears through words for wish, desire, hope, longing, aspiration, and something deeply wanted.
Some names have a direct dictionary meaning of “wish,” while others express the closely related ideas of hope or desire.
That distinction matters when choosing a name, so this guide separates the strongest literal matches from names with broader wish-related meanings.
What Do Names That Mean Wish Represent?
A name connected with a wish can symbolize something deeply hoped for or lovingly desired. Parents may choose this theme for a child who represents a long-awaited blessing, a dream fulfilled, or a hopeful new beginning.
The meaning can take several forms:
- Wish — a direct desire for something.
- Desire — something strongly wanted.
- Hope — an expectation or aspiration for something positive.
- Dream — an imagined or hoped-for future.
- Longing — an intense emotional desire.
- Aspiration — a goal or ideal someone hopes to achieve.
- Wanted — something or someone deeply desired.
This is why a name such as Dilek, which literally means “wish, desire” in Turkish, is a closer match to the keyword than a name such as Hope, which expresses a related but different concept.
Best Names That Literally Mean Wish
If your main priority is a name whose documented meaning directly includes “wish,” these are some of the strongest choices.
| Name | Gender | Origin/Usage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dilek | Girl | Turkish | Wish, desire |
| Amani | Girl | Arabic | Wishes |
| Asha | Girl | Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam | Wish, desire, hope |
| Akanksha | Girl | Hindi | Desire, wish |
| Abhilasha | Girl | Hindi | Desire, wish |
| Arezou | Girl | Persian | Desire |
| Munya | Girl | Arabic | Wish, desire |
| Muna | Girl | Arabic | Wishes, desires |
| Maram | Unisex | Arabic | Wish, desire |
| Nozomi | Unisex | Japanese | Wish or hope |
| Chifuniro | Unisex | Chewa | Will, wish |
| Khumbo | Unisex | Chewa | Wish |
| Tumaini | Unisex | Swahili | Wish, hope |
| Arman | Boy | Persian, Kazakh | Wish, hope |
| Murad | Boy | Arabic and related usages | Wish, desire, wanted |
| Abhilash | Boy | Malayalam, Hindi | Desire, wish |
| Sifiso | Boy | Zulu | Wish |
| Dream | Girl | Modern English | Dream, hope, or wish |
These meanings come from documented linguistic or name references rather than simply interpreting the names by sound.
Girl Names That Mean Wish
Dilek
Dilek is one of the clearest choices for a girl name meaning wish. It is a Turkish feminine name meaning “wish, desire.” The Azerbaijani form is Dilək.
Because its meaning is direct rather than symbolic, Dilek works especially well when you want the name itself to communicate the idea of a cherished wish.
Amani
Amani is an Arabic feminine name meaning “wishes.” It is associated with the Arabic root manā.
Its plural meaning gives the name a particularly poetic feeling: not just one wish, but wishes, hopes, or aspirations.
Asha
Asha is used in several South Asian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, and Malayalam. It comes from Sanskrit āśā, meaning “wish, desire, hope.”
Asha is especially interesting because it sits directly between three related ideas: wishing for something, desiring it, and hoping for it.
Akanksha
Akanksha is a Hindi feminine name derived from Sanskrit ākāṅkṣā, meaning “desire, wish.”
It has a longer, more distinctive sound than Asha and may appeal to parents who want a traditional South Asian name with a strong aspirational meaning.
Abhilasha
Abhilasha is the feminine form of Abhilash and belongs to the Sanskrit-derived naming tradition. The underlying word means “desire, wish.”
It conveys the idea of a heartfelt aspiration rather than a casual request.
Arezou
Arezou is a Persian feminine name meaning “desire.” It is written آرزو in Persian and has alternate transcriptions including Arezoo and Arezu.
This makes Arezou a strong option for someone looking for a Persian name connected with longing and aspiration.
Munya
Munya is an Arabic feminine name meaning “wish, desire.” It is related to the same Arabic word family as Muna.
The name has an elegant, compact sound while retaining a very direct meaning.
Muna
Muna is an Arabic feminine name meaning “wishes, desires.” It is the plural form of Munya. Mona and Mouna are related forms or transcriptions.
Muna is therefore particularly appropriate for the broader idea of hopes and wishes rather than a single wish.
Dream
Dream is a modern English word name. Its meaning can refer not only to experiences during sleep but also to a hope or wish.
Unlike Dilek or Akanksha, Dream is not an ancient traditional personal name. It belongs to the modern English word-name tradition.
Boy Names That Mean Wish
Arman
Arman is a masculine name used in Persian and Kazakh. It means “wish, hope” in Persian.
The combination of wish and hope makes Arman especially suitable for parents who want a masculine name representing a cherished future.
Murad
Murad is a masculine name used in Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Azerbaijani, and Avar. It means “wish, desire, wanted.” It was also borne by five Ottoman sultans.
The word’s meaning makes Murad particularly powerful as a name for someone viewed as deeply wanted or longed for.
Abhilash
Abhilash is used in Malayalam and Hindi and comes from Sanskrit abhilāṣa, meaning “desire, wish.” Its feminine counterpart is Abhilasha.
Sifiso
Sifiso is a masculine Zulu name meaning “wish.” The documented meaning comes from the Zulu word isifiso.
It is an excellent choice when you want a name whose meaning is exceptionally close to the English word “wish.”
Unisex Names That Mean Wish
Nozomi
Nozomi is a Japanese name used for both kids and boys. Depending on the kanji, it can come from 希, meaning “hope,” or 望, meaning “wish.” Other kanji combinations can create different meanings while retaining the same pronunciation.
This is an important example of why Japanese names should not always be assigned one fixed meaning based solely on pronunciation. The kanji selected for the name can change its meaning.
Maram
Maram is an Arabic unisex name meaning “wish, desire.”
Its short structure makes it easy to pronounce while retaining a direct meaning.
Chifuniro
Chifuniro is a Chewa name used for both males and females. It means “will, wish.”
The additional sense of “will” gives this name an interesting connection between personal desire and intention.
Khumbo
Khumbo is a Chewa masculine and feminine name meaning “wish.”
It is a relatively uncommon option for parents searching beyond familiar European and South Asian names.
Tumaini
Tumaini is a Swahili unisex name meaning “wish, hope.” It is connected etymologically with an Arabic root associated with desire.
Because it combines wish and hope, Tumaini works particularly well for a child associated with optimism or a hoped-for future.
Arabic Names That Mean Wish or Desire
Arabic has several names that fit this theme particularly closely.
| Name | Gender | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Amani | Girl | Wishes |
| Munya | Girl | Wish, desire |
| Muna | Girl | Wishes, desires |
| Maram | Unisex | Wish, desire |
| Murad | Boy | Wish, desire, wanted |
| Shawqi | Boy | Desirous, longing |
The Arabic group is especially rich in names connected with desire, wishes, hopes, and longing.
Muna and Munya are closely related, while Murad has a particularly strong “wanted” sense. That makes Murad an interesting choice when the intended message is “deeply desired” rather than simply “hopeful.”
Persian Names That Mean Wish
Persian also offers several attractive options.
Arezou
Arezou means “desire.” Alternate forms include Arezu and Arezoo.
Arman
Arman means “wish, hope.”
These two names express slightly different sides of the same concept. Arezou emphasizes desire, while Arman emphasizes an ideal, hope, or cherished aspiration.
Indian Names That Mean Wish
Indian naming traditions provide several Sanskrit-derived choices.
Asha
Asha means “wish, desire, hope.”
Akanksha
Akanksha means “desire, wish.”
Abhilash
Abhilash means “desire, wish.”
Abhilasha
Abhilasha is the feminine form of Abhilash and carries the same underlying desire/wish meaning.
These names are useful because they offer different styles: Asha is short and familiar, while Akanksha and Abhilasha are longer and more distinctive.
Japanese Names Connected With Wish
Japanese names require special attention because the meaning can depend on the kanji rather than pronunciation alone.
Nozomi is the clearest example. Written with 望, it can mean “wish,” while 希 can give the meaning “hope.” Other kanji combinations can produce other meanings.
This means that if you choose Nozomi specifically for the meaning “wish,” the written form should be considered part of the naming decision.
A related masculine Japanese form is Nozomu, which can be written with 望 and can carry the meaning “wish, hope, desire.” However, the source for this entry is a submitted-name record, so it should be treated with more caution than the established Nozomi entry.
African Names That Mean Wish
Several African-language names directly express wishes or hopes.
Sifiso is a Zulu masculine name meaning “wish.”
Tumaini is a Swahili unisex name meaning “wish, hope.”
Chifuniro and Khumbo are Chewa names used for both boys and kids, with meanings connected to wish.
These names demonstrate that the concept of a wish is not limited to one naming tradition. It appears independently across languages and cultures.
Names That Mean Hope and Are Related to Wish
Sometimes a parent wants the emotional meaning of a wish without requiring the literal dictionary definition.
Hope
Hope is an English virtue name derived from the English word hope, ultimately from Old English hopian. It was first used as a personal name by Puritans in the 17th century.
Esperanza
Esperanza is the Spanish form of the Latin name Sperantia, derived from spero, “to hope.”
Speranza
Speranza is the Italian cognate of Esperanza. Edmund Spenser used the name in The Faerie Queene for the sister of Fidelia.
Espérance
Espérance is the French cognate of Esperanza and is particularly associated with Francophone usage.
These are not literal translations of “wish,” but they belong to the same semantic field of hope and aspiration.
Names That Mean Desire or Longing
If “wish” feels too literal, names meaning desire can offer a more emotional interpretation.
Désirée is a French, Dutch, and German feminine name. It is connected with the French word meaning “desired, wished.” Its masculine counterpart is Désiré.
Desiree is the English form of Désirée and was popularized in the English-speaking world partly through the 1954 film Désirée. Variants include Desirae and Deziree, with diminutives such as Desi and Dezi.
Arezou means desire in Persian, while Maram, Munya, and Murad carry desire-related meanings in Arabic.
Names That Mean Dream, Hope, or Aspiration
A wish does not always have to be translated literally.
| Name | Meaning | Connection to “Wish” |
|---|---|---|
| Dream | Dream, hope, wish | Strong conceptual connection |
| Hope | Hope | Closely related |
| Asha | Wish, desire, hope | Direct and broad |
| Arman | Wish, hope | Direct and aspirational |
| Nozomi | Wish, hope | Direct depending on kanji |
| Tumaini | Wish, hope | Direct |
| Esperanza | Hope | Related |
| Speranza | Hope | Related |
| Espérance | Hope | Related |
Dream is especially distinctive because the English word itself can describe a hope or wish for the future.
Rare Names That Mean Wish
If you want something less common, consider:
- Khumbo — wish
- Chifuniro — will, wish
- Sifiso — wish
- Munya — wish, desire
- Arezou — desire
- Akanksha — desire, wish
- Dilek — wish, desire
- Maram — wish, desire
- Tumaini — wish, hope
- Nozomi — wish or hope
- Abhilasha — desire, wish
- Abhilash — desire, wish
Rarity can be attractive, but it is worth considering pronunciation and spelling before choosing an unfamiliar international name.
Short Names That Mean Wish
For parents who prefer short names, these are especially appealing:
| Name | Approximate Style | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Asha | Short, classic | Wish, desire, hope |
| Muna | Short, elegant | Wishes, desires |
| Dilek | Compact | Wish, desire |
| Arman | Strong, compact | Wish, hope |
| Dream | Modern word name | Hope or wish |
| Hope | Classic English | Hope |
| Muna | Soft and simple | Wishes, desires |
Among these, Asha is particularly versatile because it expresses wish, desire, and hope at the same time.
Beautiful Names That Mean “Long-Awaited Wish”
If your intended meaning is “a child who was deeply wanted,” some names are more suitable than simply choosing a word that means wish.
Murad is especially relevant because its documented Arabic meaning includes “wanted” along with “wish” and “desire.”
Désirée is also connected with the idea of being desired or wished for through its French meaning.
These meanings can communicate a more personal message: you were wanted, hoped for, and cherished.
Names That Mean Wish for a Baby Girl
For a baby girl, some of the strongest choices include:
- Dilek — wish, desire
- Amani — wishes
- Asha — wish, desire, hope
- Akanksha — desire, wish
- Abhilasha — desire, wish
- Arezou — desire
- Munya — wish, desire
- Muna — wishes, desires
- Nozomi — wish or hope
- Dream — hope or wish
The best choice depends on whether you want a literal meaning, a cultural connection, or a modern word-name style.
Names That Mean Wish for a Baby Boy
For boys, consider:
- Arman — wish, hope
- Murad — wish, desire, wanted
- Abhilash — desire, wish
- Sifiso — wish
- Nozomu — wish, hope, desire
- Dilmurod — heart + wish/desire
Dilmurod is particularly interesting because it combines Persian del, “heart,” with Arabic murād, “wish, desire,” creating the sense of a heart’s desire.
Names That Mean Wish for a Rainbow-Baby or Long-Awaited Child
For a child who represents a long-awaited hope, names connected with wish, hope, wanted, dream, or desire can be especially meaningful.
Some fitting choices are:
- Asha — wish, desire, hope
- Arman — wish, hope
- Murad — wish, desire, wanted
- Amani — wishes
- Tumaini — wish, hope
- Dream — hope or wish
- Désirée — desired or wished
- Nozomi — wish or hope
The emotional interpretation is personal, so it is better to describe these names as symbolizing a long-awaited child rather than claiming that their historical meanings specifically referred to a rainbow baby.
Names Similar to Wish
If you like the idea behind names that mean wish, you may also want names associated with:
- Hope
- Dream
- Desire
- Aspiration
- Longing
- Blessing
- Miracle
- Promise
- Destiny
- Faith
- Joy
- Grace
- Fulfillment
- Prosperity
- Love
These concepts overlap emotionally, but they are not interchangeable etymologically. A name meaning “hope” should not automatically be presented as literally meaning “wish.”
Names Opposite or Contrasting With Wish
There is no single universal opposite of “wish” in personal naming. Depending on context, contrasting concepts could include:
- Acceptance
- Reality
- Certainty
- Contentment
- Fulfillment
- Resignation
Interestingly, fulfillment can be viewed as the point at which a wish becomes reality. That makes names associated with blessing, success, or fulfillment useful thematic companions to wish-related names.
Middle Names for Names That Mean Wish
A wish-related first name can pair beautifully with a middle name representing love, light, strength, or blessing.
For kids
- Asha Rose
- Dilek Grace
- Amani Hope
- Muna Grace
- Arezou Mae
- Akanksha Joy
- Nozomi Claire
- Abhilasha Faith
For boys
- Arman James
- Murad Elias
- Abhilash Ray
- Sifiso Daniel
- Arman Gabriel
- Murad Zayn
The best combination usually balances meaning and sound. If the first name already has a strong cultural identity, a simple middle name can make the complete name easier to use internationally.
Nicknames for Wish-Related Names
Some names naturally lend themselves to short forms:
- Asha — Ash
- Amani — Ami
- Akanksha — Aki, Anka
- Abhilasha — Abhi, Lasha
- Arezou — Arez
- Desiree — Desi, Dezi
- Nozomi — Nozo
- Esperanza — Espe
- Désirée — Desi
- Arman — Ari, depending on family preference
Not every nickname is a traditional historical diminutive. Some are simply practical modern shortenings, so it is useful to distinguish family-created nicknames from established forms.
How to Choose the Right Name Meaning Wish
Start by deciding what kind of “wish” you want the name to express.
Choose a literal wish meaning
Pick Dilek, Sifiso, Khumbo, Chifuniro, or Munya if you want the dictionary meaning to be very close to “wish.”
Choose hope as the emotional meaning
Consider Asha, Arman, Nozomi, or Tumaini if you want the name to suggest both wishing and hoping.
Choose desire
Look at Arezou, Akanksha, Abhilash, Abhilasha, Maram, or Murad. These emphasize something deeply wanted rather than merely hoped for.
Choose a modern word name
Dream offers a contemporary English approach because the word itself can refer to a hope or wish.
Consider the cultural context
If you are choosing a name from another language, research its pronunciation, spelling, cultural usage, and written form. A name can have a beautiful literal translation while still carrying cultural associations that are important to understand.
Common Mistakes When Choosing a Name That Means Wish
Treating hope and wish as exact synonyms
They overlap, but they are not identical. Wish generally emphasizes wanting something, while hope often suggests expectation or optimism about something happening.
Ignoring multiple meanings
Some names have different meanings depending on spelling or writing system. Nozomi is a good example because different kanji can change the meaning.
Assuming every online name list is equally reliable
Name websites sometimes contain user-submitted definitions that have not been independently verified. For important etymological claims, established linguistic references are preferable.
Choosing a name only for translation
Meaning matters, but so do pronunciation, cultural context, spelling, family heritage, and how naturally the name works with the surname.
Quick Comparison of the Strongest Choices
| Name | Literal Meaning | Gender | Origin/Usage | Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilek | Wish, desire | Girl | Turkish | Direct, distinctive |
| Amani | Wishes | Girl | Arabic | Elegant, lyrical |
| Asha | Wish, desire, hope | Girl | South Asian | Short, classic |
| Akanksha | Desire, wish | Girl | Hindi | Traditional, distinctive |
| Abhilasha | Desire, wish | Girl | Hindi | Traditional, graceful |
| Arezou | Desire | Girl | Persian | Refined, uncommon |
| Muna | Wishes, desires | Girl | Arabic | Simple, elegant |
| Munya | Wish, desire | Girl | Arabic | Rare, soft |
| Nozomi | Wish, hope | Unisex | Japanese | Modern, international |
| Maram | Wish, desire | Unisex | Arabic | Short, refined |
| Tumaini | Wish, hope | Unisex | Swahili | Meaningful, distinctive |
| Khumbo | Wish | Unisex | Chewa | Rare, direct |
| Chifuniro | Will, wish | Unisex | Chewa | Unique, meaningful |
| Arman | Wish, hope | Boy | Persian/Kazakh | Strong, classic |
| Murad | Wish, desire, wanted | Boy | Arabic and related usages | Traditional, substantial |
| Abhilash | Desire, wish | Boy | Hindi/Malayalam | Traditional |
| Sifiso | Wish | Boy | Zulu | Distinctive |
| Dream | Hope or wish | Girl | Modern English | Contemporary |
30 Names Connected With Wish, Hope, Desire, or Dream
For a broader shortlist, these names cover the main semantic territory:
- Amani — wishes
- Asha — wish, desire, hope
- Dilek — wish, desire
- Akanksha — desire, wish
- Abhilasha — desire, wish
- Abhilash — desire, wish
- Arezou — desire
- Arezu — desire-related variant
- Arman — wish, hope
- Murad — wish, desire, wanted
- Munya — wish, desire
- Muna — wishes, desires
- Maram — wish, desire
- Nozomi — wish, hope
- Tumaini — wish, hope
- Chifuniro — will, wish
- Khumbo — wish
- Sifiso — wish
- Dream — hope or wish
- Hope — hope
- Esperanza — hope
- Speranza — hope
- Espérance — hope
- Désirée — desired, wished
- Desiree — English form of Désirée
- Desirae — variant of Desiree
- Mona — variant/transcription of Muna
- Mouna — Maghrebi Arabic form of Muna
- Arzu — Turkish/Azerbaijani/Uyghur form related to Arezou
- Nozomu — Japanese wish/hope/desire association
The first group contains the closest literal matches; the later names broaden the theme into hope, desire, dreams, and being wanted.
FAQs:
What is the best name that literally means wish?
There is no single universally best choice, but Dilek, Sifiso, Khumbo, Chifuniro, Munya, and Munya-related forms have particularly direct documented meanings connected with “wish.” Dilek literally means “wish, desire” in Turkish, while Sifiso means “wish” in Zulu.
What girl name means wish?
Strong choices include Dilek, Amani, Asha, Akanksha, Abhilasha, Arezou, Munya, and Muna. Their documented meanings range from “wish” and “wishes” to “desire” and “hope.”
What boy name means wish?
Arman, Murad, Abhilash, and Sifiso are strong options. Arman means “wish, hope,” Murad means “wish, desire, wanted,” Abhilash means “desire, wish,” and Sifiso means “wish.”
What unisex name means wish?
Nozomi, Maram, Tumaini, Chifuniro, and Khumbo are documented as unisex names connected directly with wish or hope.
What Japanese name means wish?
Nozomi is a Japanese name that can mean “wish” when written with 望. It can also mean “hope” when written with 希, so the kanji matters.
What Arabic name means wish?
Several Arabic names fit, including Amani, Munya, Muna, Maram, and Murad. Amani means “wishes,” Munya means “wish, desire,” Muna means “wishes, desires,” Maram means “wish, desire,” and Murad means “wish, desire, wanted.”
What Persian name means wish?
Arman means “wish, hope” in Persian, while Arezou means “desire.”
What Indian name means wish?
Asha, Akanksha, Abhilash, and Abhilasha are excellent examples. Asha means “wish, desire, hope,” while Akanksha and Abhilash/Abhilasha are connected with “desire, wish.”
What name means a long-awaited wish?
Murad is particularly meaningful because its documented Arabic meaning includes “wanted” as well as “wish” and “desire.” Désirée also carries the idea of something being desired or wished for.
Is Hope a name that means wish?
Hope does not literally mean “wish,” but it is closely related semantically. The name comes directly from the English word hope, which ultimately derives from Old English hopian.
Is Dream a name that means wish?
Dream is a modern English word name whose meaning includes the idea of a hope or wish. It is therefore closely connected with the theme, although “dream” is broader than the literal word “wish.”
What name means wishes in Arabic?
Amani means “wishes,” while Muna means “wishes, desires.” Both are feminine Arabic names.
What name means desire in Persian?
Arezou means “desire” in Persian. Alternate forms include Arezoo and Arezu, while Arzu is used in Turkish, Azerbaijani, and Uyghur.
What name means wish in Turkish?
Dilek is a Turkish feminine name meaning “wish, desire.”
What name means wish in Zulu?
Sifiso is a masculine Zulu name meaning “wish.”
What name means wish in Swahili?
Tumaini is a Swahili unisex name meaning “wish, hope.”
What name means wish in Chewa?
Khumbo means “wish,” while Chifuniro means “will, wish.” Both are used for males and females.
What is a beautiful name meaning hope and wish?
Asha, Arman, Nozomi, and Tumaini are especially close to both concepts because their documented meanings explicitly include hope, wish, or both.
Conclusion:
Names that mean wish offer a meaningful way to represent hope, desire, dreams, and something deeply cherished. The strongest literal choices include Dilek, Amani, Asha, Akanksha, Abhilasha, Munya, Muna, Maram, Nozomi, Khumbo, Chifuniro, Sifiso, Arman, and Murad.
For a girl, Asha, Dilek, Amani, Akanksha, and Arezou provide different cultural styles while retaining strong wish- or desire-related meanings.
A boy, Arman, Murad, Abhilash, and Sifiso offer direct connections to wishing and desire. For a gender-neutral choice, Nozomi, Maram, Tumaini, Khumbo, and Chifuniro are distinctive possibilities.
The most important distinction is between a name that literally means “wish” and one that symbolically represents hope, dreams, desire, or aspiration. Choosing according to that difference will help you find a name whose meaning genuinely matches the message you want it to carry.
Danny Postma is a professional content writer at NamezGlobe, specializing in funny puns, clever wordplay, and family-friendly humor. Passionate about creating original, SEO-friendly content, Danny helps readers discover the best puns, jokes, and witty captions for every occasion.