​
​
Advanced Search

The Most International Names

Pamela Redmond
By Pamela Redmond
Updated Fri Feb 16 2024
The Most International Names

There are some names that manage to find wide international popularity, hitting the top baby name lists in a range of countries. We mean English-speaking and European countries, for the most part, though there are a few names that are so culturally flexible they're also popular in some Asian, Middle Eastern, and African locales.

These super-flexible international names and work well for the children of parents hoping to bridge two or more diverse cultures. Or they might appeal to citizens of the world, literal or in spirit. You can seamlessly move from one country to the next and everyone will recognize your name.

Some of these names are classics that exist in the lexicons of many countries, like Anna and Alexander. Some are popular names that caught on at the same time in several different countries: Emma and Noah might be good examples from this group.

More fascinating are the names that at some point were ethnically distinct, largely confined to the culture of one country, but then found massive international popularity. The Irish Liam is a prime example of this, ranking among the Top 100 boy names in no fewer than 19 countries: US, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and Israel.

Also included here are some names that might not be super-popular in this many countries, but that have roots and are used in a diverse range of cultures. Hana and Kai might be examples from this group.

Here is our list of the most international baby names, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

RELATED:

Search Names by Origin

Popular Names

  1. Milo

    • Origin:

      Latin and Old German

    • Meaning:

      "soldier or merciful"

    • Description:

      Milo is most commonly considered to be Germanic name derived from the Latin word miles, meaning "soldier." However, there is evidence to suggest it also may have independently spawned from the Slavic root milu, meaning "merciful." Milo predates brother name Miles, a variation that evolved when the name immigrated to the British Isles in the Middle Ages. Mylo is an alternate spelling.
  2. Lucy

    • Origin:

      English variation of Lucia, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      A versatile classic, Lucy is both sweet and solid, a saint's name, and the heroine of several great novels. First fashionable in England and Wales, Lucy is now a popular choice in the US, The Netherlands, and New Zealand.
  3. Iris

    • Origin:

      Flower name; Greek

    • Meaning:

      "rainbow"

    • Description:

      Iris has so much going for it. It's a fashionable flower name. It's a mythological name, from the Greek goddess of the rainbow. And it's a classic name, always ranking in the girls' Top 1000 but now at its highest point ever.
  4. Felix

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "happy, fortunate"

    • Description:

      Felix is one of those ancient but nontraditional names for boys that have come into favor over the past few decades, a favorite of parents who want a masculine name with history and heft that breaks ranks with the standard Franks and Freds. Felix is also an international darling, ranking in the Top 100 in several European and English-speaking countries.
  5. Finn

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "fair or white"

    • Description:

      Finn is a name with enormous energy and charm, that of the greatest hero of Irish mythology, Finn MacCool (aka Fionn mac Cuumhaill), an intrepid warrior with mystical supernatural powers, noted as well for his wisdom and generosity.
  6. Ava

    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Latin or Germanic

    • Meaning:

      "life; bird; water, island"

    • Description:

      Ava is one of the prime examples of a modern classic name, rising thought the course of a generation into the Top 10, where it has lingered for nearly 20 years.
  7. Henry

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "estate ruler"

    • Description:

      Henry is well and truly back in style. The classic returned to the Top 10 in the US in 2021 for the first time in over a century, and as of 2024, sits at Number 6. Like James and Theodore, Henry is a strong, traditional name that also manages to feel stylish and gentle.
  8. James

    • Origin:

      English variation of Jacob, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "supplanter"

    • Description:

      James is one of the classic Anglo-Saxon names, a stalwart through the ages that is more popular—and yes, stylish—than ever today. It recently came out Number 1 in a poll of America's favorite boys' baby names, and is the most common male name, counting people of all ages, in the US.
  9. Arthur

    • Origin:

      Celtic

    • Meaning:

      " bear"

    • Description:

      Arthur, once the shining head of the Knights of the Round Table, is, after decades of neglect, now being polished up and restored by stylish parents, inspired perhaps by the new generation of royals. Arthur has led the list of possible names for the young British princes, chosen as a middle name for Prince Louis, son of William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales.
  10. Lucas

    • Origin:

      Latin form of Luke

    • Meaning:

      "man from Lucania"

    • Description:

      Lucas is a Top 10 boys' name with a slightly-less-popular almost-identical twin brother, Luke. Like Elijah and Elias, Lucas and Luke come from the same root and have the same meaning and so feel even more popular than they are.
  11. Oscar

    • Origin:

      English or Irish

    • Meaning:

      "God spear, or deer-lover or champion warrior"

    • Description:

      Oscar is one of the most stylish Old Man Names of our era. While it's softened slightly in popularity over the past 20 years, that may be considered a very good thing.
  12. Alice

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "noble"

    • Description:

      Alice is a classic literary name that's both strong and sweet, ranking in the US Top 100 and popular throughout the Western world. Alice is derived from the Old French name Aalis, a diminutive of Adelais that itself came from the Germanic name Adalhaidis, which is composed of the Proto-Germanic elements aþala, meaning "noble," and haidu, "kind, appearance, type."
  13. Leo

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "lion"

    • Description:

      Leo is a strong-yet-friendly name that was common among the Romans, used for fourteen popes, and is now at its highest point ever in the US thanks in part to Leonardo "Leo" DiCaprio.
  14. Elias

    • Origin:

      Greek variation of Elijah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Yahweh is God"

    • Description:

      Strong, charismatic, and sleek, Elias has followed in the footsteps of Elijah and Eli to become a popular choice among parents today.
  15. Leon

    • Origin:

      Greek variation of Leo

    • Meaning:

      "lion"

    • Description:

      Currently overshadowed by the bright and lively Leo, Leon feels a slightly more serious, more quietly confident than its short and trending counterpart.
  16. Jack

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of John

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      Jack may have fallen from its Number 1 place in England, but in the US it's as popular as it was at its height in the 1920s and 1930s. A durable, cheery, everyman form of John, Jack ranks as one of the most popular boy names starting with J.
  17. Sophie

    • Origin:

      French variation of Sophia, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "wisdom"

    • Description:

      Sophie is the French form of the Greek Sophia, for which it is also commonly used as a nickname. Given Sophia's long standing among the Top 10 girl names in the US, Sophie may feel more popular than it actually is.
  18. Clara

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "bright, clear"

    • Description:

      Clara is a strong, lovely girls' name that's always ranked among the US Top 1000 girl names but has been climbing since the turn of this century. It now ranks right at Number 78, making it a modern classic that's neither too popular nor unfamiliar.
  19. Ella

    • Origin:

      German; English

    • Meaning:

      "all, completely; fairy maiden"

    • Description:

      Ella is a sweet, simple name that owes much of its current popularity to the popularity of other names, from Emma to Bella to Emily to Ellie.
  20. Nora

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Honora or Eleonora, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "honor or meaning unknown"

    • Description:

      Nora is a lovely, refined name that conjures up images of Belle Epoch ladies in fur-trimmed coats skating in Central Park. Long seen as a quintessentially Irish name though its roots are not in Ireland, Nora is a quietly stylish favorite that's tiptoed to the top of the popularity ladder.

Introducing the Nameberry App

Nameberry App
Find your perfect baby name together with our new mobile app.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Sign up to be notified when the app launches and to receive a discount on full access.
Nameberry App Logo