Baby Name Meanings
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
Modern form of Senán or elaboration of Sean, Irish
"little old one; God is gracious"
Seanan might be considered an Anglicized form of Seanán, itself a modern form of Senán, an Old Irish name meaning "little old one", giving it a wise and ancient feel. The name of a 6th century saint…
Irish
"the wise one"
Undiscovered Irish surname with a lot more bounce and masculine dash than Shannon.
Irish surname, variation of Shannon
"old and wise"
Sheenan updates the longtime Irish favorite Shannon, which ranked in the US Top 100 through much of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Shanon fell off the Top 1000 about ten years ago, but Sheenan is a worthy…
Hindi and Sanskrit
"good character, wise"
Sunita is an easily-translated name brought to the American lexicon by astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams, who holds the record for most spacewalks by a woman.
Greek
"wise, skilled + glory"
Most famously the name of the ancient Greek tragedian, who wrote the plays Electra, Antigone, and Oedipus Rex, among others. The name is still used in Greece today, in its modern form of Sofoklis.…
Vietnamese
"bright blue; brilliant"
A common Vietnamese name heard evenly for boys and girls in the U.S. Sounds like tahn or tong, depending on what part of Vietnam you come from.
Italian variation of Hugh, Igbo
"mind, intellect; eagle"
Ugo is a familiar choice in Italy and France, where it is used as variation of Hugh or Hugo, but also in Nigeria, where it means "eagle" in Igbo.
Arabic
"astute, wise"
Unusual Arabic name with an inspiring meaning for a baby girl.
Maori placename
"place of knowledge"
This beautiful lakeside town in southern New Zealand would make an unusual but wearable choice for a daughter. It benefits from having a great meaning, too.
Hebrew
"gold, brilliantly bright"
Zariza is a unique name sure to appeal to Z lovers.
Neapolitan blend of Arabic, Slavic, Latin influences. "brilliant one; one who wish for peace"
"brilliant one; one who wish for peace"
This name belongs to the eponymous heroine of Rossini's opera Zelmira (1822) about a (fictional) princess of Lesbos who saves her father and husband and her kingdom. As a name, it may well be viewed…
Mongolian
"mind, intellect"
A wise and intellectual name that is used in Mongolia as both a name in its own right or as an element of other names.
"lover of wisdom"
Love Sophia but want a truly bold choice too? You could try Sophronia, but Philosophia is a rarer option still. Associated with the word philosophy , it combines the Greek elements philos and sophia…
Hindi
"intelligent, smart"
If meaning were destiny, this would start a boy off on the right foot.
