Names That Mean Little Sister

Names that mean little sister include Xiaomei (Chinese), Imouto (Japanese), Naja (Greenlandic), Singil (Uzbek), Kidada (Swahili), Anuja (Sanskrit) and Adelphia (Greek). Some of these are the literal word for a younger sister. Others, like Suki or Etta, carry the idea through meanings such as beloved or little.

Direct Little Sister Names

These names or words translate straight to “little sister” or “younger sister.”

• Xiaomei: Chinese, literally “little sister”
• Meimei: Chinese, “younger sister,” a common pet name
• Imouto: Japanese, “younger sister”
• Naja: Greenlandic, “a boy’s younger sister”
• Singil: Uzbek, “little sister”
• Kidada: Swahili origin, “little sister”
• Khanittha: Thai, “younger sister”
• Lillasyster: Swedish, “little sister”

Words like Imouto and Xiaomei read as descriptions in English speaking countries. They often work better as middle names or nicknames.

Names That Mean Sister

These names mean “sister” in general, without saying older or younger.

• Adelphia: Greek and Latin roots, “sister”
• Adelphe: Greek, “sister”
• Sisko: Finnish, “sister”
• Sorella: Italian, “sister”
• Akia: Arabic, “sister”
• Numees: Algonquin, “sister”

Younger or Youngest

Some names point to a child’s place in the family. They suit the youngest girl especially well.

• Shideezhi: Navajo, “younger sister”
• Teicuih: Nahuatl, “younger sister”
• Xoco: Nahuatl, “youngest sister”
• Anuja: Sanskrit, “born after” or “younger sister”
• Sughra: Arabic, “smaller” or “younger”

Names by Language

Baby Girl Names

These girl names either mean little sister or carry the feeling of one.

• Suki: Japanese, “beloved”
• Etta: Germanic, “little,” often short for longer names
• Mei: Chinese, “younger sister”
• Naja: Greenlandic, “younger sister”
• Anuja: Sanskrit, “younger sister”
• Adelphia: Greek, “sister”
• Aduke: Yoruba, “one who is cherished”

Baby Boy Names

Few boy names mean little sister. These ones point to a sibling bond or smallness instead.

• Xiao: Chinese, “small” or “little”
• Nuka: Greenlandic, “younger sibling”
• Adelphos: Greek, “brother”

A brother who loves his little sister can also pick a name that echoes hers. Matching first letters or shared meanings both work.

Unisex Names

• Sibley: Old English, “sibling” or “relative”
• Nukartaava: Greenlandic, “new little brother or sister”
• Nuka: Greenlandic, “younger sibling”

Japanese Names

Japanese uses one word for younger sister, imouto. Names built on it, or on its tone, feel gentle.

• Imouto: “younger sister”
• Suki: “beloved”
• Ume: “plum blossom,” a symbol of resilience
• Shimai: “sisters”

Chinese Names

The character mei means younger sister in Chinese. It appears in many names, often paired with another character.

• Xiaomei: “little sister”
• Meimei: “younger sister”
• Yimei: “happy younger sister” or “harmonious younger sister,” depending on the characters used
• Hongmei: a name using the mei character

Greek Names

The Greek word adelphe means sister. It gives us several elegant options.

• Adelphia
• Adelphe
• Adelphie

All three sound soft and old world, and they work well as middle names.

English Names

English has no common name that directly means little sister. Some names come close through their meaning.

• Etta: “little”
• Sibley: “sibling”
• Pippa: a playful short form, often used for the youngest girl
• Amy: “beloved,” famous as the youngest March sister in Little Women

Be careful with lists that label names like Liliana as “little sister.” Liliana comes from the lily flower, so check origins before you commit.

Urdu and Hindi Names

Many families in South Asia call a younger sister by a pet name rather than a formal one.

• Chhoti: “little one”
• Guriya: “little doll”
• Guddi: a common affectionate name for a young girl
• Bubli: a playful nickname
• Anuja: a formal name meaning younger sister
• Sughra: an Arabic name meaning younger or smaller

Family Nicknames

Many families skip formal names and use a nickname that shows the little sister’s role.

• Sissy: classic English
• Lil Sis: modern and casual
• Bunso: Filipino, “youngest child”
• Dongsaeng: Korean, “younger sibling”
• Ukhti: Arabic, “my sister”

Literary Names

Sister pairs in books and myth can inspire names with a built in sense of sisterhood.

• Cordelia: the youngest daughter in King Lear
• Amy: the youngest of the March sisters in Little Women
• Lydia: the youngest Bennet sister in Pride and Prejudice
• Antigone and Ismene: the sisters of Greek tragedy

What They Signify

A name for a little sister usually says one of three things. It may name her role in the family, such as younger or youngest. It may describe how she is treated, such as beloved or cherished. Or it may point to the bond itself, like sister or sibling.

Chinese, Japanese and Greek names tend to be literal. English names tend to be symbolic.

How to Choose

1. Check the origin. Confirm the meaning in a trusted source, because many online lists copy each other.
2. Say it aloud. Pair it with your surname and test the sound.
3. Think about spelling. Names like Shideezhi or Xoco may need explaining to others.
4. Consider a middle name. Literal names like Xiaomei often shine in the middle slot.
5. Respect the culture. Use names from a tradition with care, and learn the right pronunciation.

FAQs

What name means little sister?

Xiaomei in Chinese and Adelphia in Greek are among the most direct choices. Xiaomei literally means little sister, while Adelphia means sister.

Is there an English name that means little sister?

No common English name means little sister directly. Etta (little), Sibley (sibling) and Amy (beloved) come closest in spirit.

What Japanese name means little sister?

Imouto is the Japanese word for younger sister. Suki, meaning beloved, is a softer name often used with the same warmth.

What name means younger sister in Urdu or Hindi?

Anuja is a Sanskrit name meaning younger sister and is common in India. In Urdu, Sughra is an Arabic name meaning younger or smaller. Chhoti is a popular pet name.

Can a boy’s name mean little sister?

Rarely. Boy names like Xiao (small) and Nuka (younger sibling) carry the sibling idea, but few mean little sister directly.

Can I use Xiaomei as a first name?

Yes, but it reads as a descriptive phrase in Chinese, like calling someone “Little Sis.” Many parents use it as a middle name or nickname instead.