Names That Mean Child

After decades of disuse, soft and feminine Evelyn has returned to the baby name stage in a huge way. It reached the Top 10 for the first time in 2017. Evelyn has now surpassed its former heights, joining a legion of contemporary little Evas, Avas, Eves, Evies, and Evelines.

The oldest-known form of Mary, serious and solemn Miriam has been a particular favorite of observant Jewish parents. But we can see it extending beyond that sphere into the next wave of Old Testament names post-Rachel, Rebecca, Sarah, Hannah, and Leah. Miriam is currently the Number 1 girls' name in Israel.

As a highly popular girls' name in all Spanish-speaking countries, this saintly Latin variation of Mary retains a timeless beauty. Through the centuries, Maria remains one of the most widely-used girl names starting with M.

A variation of Greek Dionysius, itself derived from the name of the god of wine, revelry, and dance, Dion gives a nod to mythology while also having historical ties to a student of Plato, to a Greek mathematician and to 1st century writer and historian.

As a contemporary name, it came into popular use in the late 1950s and remained in the Top 1000 until 2006. It has dipped in and out of the charts since then, and is still given to a not insignificant 200 boys each year.

Aiko is a very common Japanese name with a lovely meaning that is rarely heard outside the Asian community.

One of those names with a wide array of meanings across different cultures; it's the Lithuanian form of Anna, for instance, and William Blake used it as the name of one of his mysterious, godlike characters. But it's found major popularity in Spain, where it's just outside the Top 50. It makes the Top 10 in Catalonia, being both a diminutive of Mariona and the word for "wave".

Although the sound is pretty, "my" is too common of an English word for My to be usable as a baby name in Anglophone countries.

Distinctive and intriguing relative of Rae.

Common Japanese name rising for both sexes in the US.

Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, well known in the U. S. , might inspire some namesakes.

Traditionally the name for the fifth-born child, however, we like it no matter where the child is in the birth order.

Hanako has a delicate sound and quaint meaning -- but there's a catch. According to widespread urban legend in Japan, Hanako is the name of the ghost of a little girl who haunts school bathrooms, who sometimes answers if you call her name.

As a feminine name, Kiko is Japanese in origin. One possible meaning is "hope child," but different kanji combinations will yield alternate meanings.

Sachi, often short for Sachiko, was given to 25 girls in the US in a recent year. While it is technically Japanese, this short form has an unidentifiably international feel and might be a relative of the stylish Sacha.

Little-known name from the Old Testament.

Popular in Hawaii in the first decades of the 20th century, this name also means "rock" in Māori.

Two similarly delicate names, Tamako and Tamaki, can be found in the Japanese community.

Strong Japanese unisex choice. Dragons are a symbol of power in Japan.

Dainty and doll-like.

Perky and attractive Japanese girl name, associated with actress Rinko Kikuchi and photographer Rinko Kawauchi.