Baby Name Meanings
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 9 pages
of 9
Hungarian variation of Jasmine, Persian
"gift from God"
Dutch variation of Jasmine, Persian
A Top 50 choice in the Netherlands.
Amharic, Ethiopian
"gift from God; holy oil"
While Meron looks like a variation of Maren or Marion, her origins are in Ethiopia: Meron is the name of the holy oil used for christenings in the Ethiopian Orthodox church.
English
"God's gift"
Whether you think of the chocolates or the naked long-haired lady on the horse, Godiva is a name with baggage no child should have to carry.
Slavic variation of Theodora
More commonly spelled FEODORA, a charming choice for the intrepid baby namer, especially with its dynamic nickname FEO (pronounced FAY-o).
Hebrew
One of the most unusual of the "iah" names, it comes with the appealing and usable nickname Zev.
Form of Hanno, diminutive of Johan, German variation of John
"God is gracious"
Anno is an extreme rarity: a simple, familiar-sounding name with deep history that is completely unknown in the US and rare in its native Germany. Anno is the name of a saint also known as Hanno, a…
German, Dutch, Scandinavian variation of Johannes
Johannes never caught on in the US, but popular European short form Hannes may be more accessible.
Diminutive of Johan, German variation of John
Nicknames ending in o are invariably cute, though this one is a boys' name in its own right. And not just any boy name, but a saint's name no less. Saint Hanno, aka Saint Anno, was an 10th century…
Polish
"god is gracious"
A short form of the very popular Polish name Jan, which is the equivalent of John in English. Short forms ending in -ek are very widespread in Poland, but it is rare that one is given as the official…
Hungarian variation of John
Pronounced YAH-nosh, has a serious, violin-playing air. Perhaps that's why it has so many nicknames: JANCKZI, JANCSI, JANI, JANKIA, JANKO.
Variation of Jannik
With its upbeat Slavic/Scandinavian air, it has the most potential of all the Jan names.
Irish Gaelic
More streamlined – and more authentic – than Shawna.
A Gaelic form of Jane which shares its simple, sleek look – but is much rarer. The Anglicized form Sheena peaked at #80 in the US in 1984, inspired by singer Sheena Easton.
Popular Irish name brought here by singer Sinead O'Connor, could make a striking choice for a child with deep Irish roots.
Extension of Jann or Yann
A simplified spelling of the French name Yannick. It's almost unknown to English speakers, but could be an interesting Euro-chic alternative to the more popular Henrik.
Scottish variation of Jean
Teasagh or Teasag, which can be Anglicized as Jessie, is a Scottish form of Jean, which itself originated as a Scottish feminine form of John. Scotswomen called Jessie are more likely to be properly…
Diminutive of Jonathan
"gift of Jehovah"
Jaunty, to say the least, Jonty might be an option if Johnny feels too old school. It has been noticed most often on the playing fields, as in U.K. rugby player Jonty Parkin (born Jonathan) and South…
Amharic form of Theodore
"gift of God"
A form of the classic Theodore, most often used in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Tewodros is an alternative spelling. Notable bearers include director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom…
Ewe
"gift"
Sweet but spirited, Nunana is a name used by the Ewe tribe of West Africa and is most familiar as a given name in Ghana. Derived from the word for "gift", it is a pleasant choice with nicknames Nuna…
