Baby Name Meanings
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 5 pages
of 5
Arabic
"sociability"
Inas is one of those simple but rare names that's worth a look, whether you're trying to bridge Arabic and English cultures or are looking for a meaningful, unusual choice. No baby girls were named…
Hebrew
"friend of God"
Spelling a bit elaborate and confusing.
Variation of Samira
"companion in evening conversation"
This more elaborate version of the name is heard occasionally, but Samira or the related Samara is simpler and just as rhythmic.
German
"charming friend"
Native-American feel via similarity to Winona.
"friend, companion, gentle, kind"
Confident Middle Eastern choice. Children will relate to the Rafiki form via the wise guru in Disney's "The Lion King."
French
"open-spirited, friendly"
Rarely heard but pleasing feminissima name for a baby girl.
Irish
"fierce as a hound"
Connolly, an alternate spelling of Connelly, could make a livelier and less common substitute for Connor.
Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian
"compassionate friend; rue"
The Polish form of Ruth has mostly been lost outside of Poland, but though rare, it can still be heard in Polish and Eastern European communities. Ruta has only ever appeared on Illinois' state data,…
Dutch
"brave friend"
Dutch form of Baldwin
English surname name
"friendly"
The surname of enterprising journalist Nellie Bly and poet Robert Bly makes a simple, modern, and upbeat sounding choice for either a boy or a girl.
Swahili
"friend"
Frequently found in all three forms: Sadik, Sadiki, and Sadiq.
English
"bright friend"
One step up from Irwin, and that's not nearly enough.
One "bald" name we can get behind, thanks to pioneering African-American author James Baldwin – though the name is now also associated with the Baldwin brothers, particularly Alec.
English from Latin
Amice is a name that was used in the Middle Ages but has fallen out of use now. It seems completely suited for modern life, though, with a pronunciation that's like Alice wth an m.
Welsh
"beloved friend"
Taffy, in addition to being a diminutive of Dafydd, is a slang term for Welsh people in general – probably from the River Taff. Too candy-like to be used in the US.
Latin
"female friend"
Amica is a word meaning girlfriend that is not often used as a name in Italy, but it would sound pretty and name-like elsewhere.
Japanese
Variation of Winfrith, English
"peaceful friend"
Oprah's almost mononymic first name is too closely tied to her personality (and brand) for us to recommend it as a baby name in good faith. Her surname, however, is definitely name-worthy. Winfrey…
Ames is that jewel of a name that's simple and familiar while at the same time being unusual and rare. With gender neutral surname names ending in S trending today -- think Brooks, Wells, Oakes --…
Diminutive of Alvin, English
"noble friend; friend of the elves"
Alvie is the spelling parents tend to prefer, and may rise along with Archie, Alfie, and Albie. The Alvy variation is strongly associated with Alvy Singer, Woody Allen's character in Annie Hall .
