Names That Mean World

Miro comes from the Slavic root word mir meaning "peace, world". Sometimes Miro is used as a diminutive of longer names like Miroslav or Vladimir, but it can also be given as a name in its own right. Miro has a wonderful meaning and fits right in with trendy names Arlo and Milo, as well as being an artistic honor name for Spanish painter and sculptor Joan Miró.

Vladimir is a cultured and deep-rooted Slavic name associated in this country with cultural figures including piano virtuoso Vladimir Horowitz and the author of Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov.

Just as internationally appealing as its feminine form, Mira, Miran is a name with multiple origins that is popular in Turkey, Azerbaijan, The Netherlands, and the UK.

Clarimond is related to the Occitan name Esclarmonde, and is probably the more wearable of the two variations.

Volodymyr, once a name unknown to most Americans, is now on everyone's lips due to the war between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy bears a common Ukrainian name for his generation. Currently in Ukraine, the most popular baby names for boys are Maksym (Максим), Ivan (Іван), and Matviy (Матвій). The more fashionable Vlad- name for babies is Vladyslav, although President Zelenskyy may soon be a namesake for an influx of infants named in honor of his heroism.

Esclarmonde de Foix was an Occitan countess and an important figure in Catharism, a medieval Christian movement, which allowed women and men to both hold church offices. Her tale inspired an opera by the same name by Jules Massenet; the name is also featured in Kate Mosse's bestselling novel Labyrinth.

The most famous Vlad was nicknamed "the Impaler." Enough said.

This name, used in many Eastern European countries including Serbia and Romania, has two possible (and equally lovely) meanings. The feminine version is Dragomira.

A Persian name with an evocative meaning, Jahan was notably borne by the 17th century Indian emperor, Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal for his wife Mumtaz. Associated with one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Jahan is predominantly used as a masculine name, though is sometimes given to girls too. The popular Turkish and Azerbaijani form is Ci̇han.

Mirko is a diminutive version of Miroslav but is now given as a full name.

A unisex name with an amazing meaning, perfect for the child of travel lovers. It has been in regular use in Ethiopia, borne by a 19th century prince and jazz singer Alemayehu Eshete, dubbed "the Ethiopian Elvis".

Aalam is surely the first name in many books, introduced to the US by DJ Khaled, who chose it for his son in 2020.

Mirela is a name used in Romania and Croatia and is related to popular Mira.

A cool sounding nickname with associations to Bill Cosby.