Baby Name Meanings · Nature, Place and Word Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated October 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Latin
"eighth"
With the rise of ancient Roman names, Octavian suddenly seem plausible again. A variation of Octavius and relative of the more modern Octavio, it's an equally attractive member of the trio.
Sanskrit
"one thousand"
Sahasra is a rising Sanskrit name with a powerful sound and plenty of significance within Hindu tradition. Rarely used in the US before 2005, it has been given to at least 50 girls each year since…
Coda is a masculine name with Italian musical origins, derived from the term meaning 'tail' or 'ending' in music notation, indicating the concluding passage of a piece. This contemporary name has…
Scandinavian
"headlands, promontory"
Like its cousin Tessa, Nessa -- a shortening of Vanessa or Agnes or Anastasia among other possibilities -- is an attractive nickname that can stand on its own.
English word name or nickname
"two"
Basketball's Jayson Tatum introduced this to the naming lexicon when he used it as a clever nickname for his son, Jayson Christoper Jr. It fits in with nicknames like Trey or Trip for boys who are…
Irish
"noble good"
Mona had more than a moment in the sun, peaking in 1950 at Number 230 but falling off the Top 1000 completely in the late 1980s. Its similarity to the word "moaner" undercuts the appeal of its…
Numerical word name
Seinfeld's George threatened to name his future child Seven, and then singer Erykah Badu actually did it.
Latin, Irish, or Old Norse
"one; lamb; happy"
In an epic poem, the personification of truth, beauty, and unity; this ancient name is popular in several European countries but less common in the US. The Oona spelling is slightly more popular but…
Invented name
"a million"
A meeting of two trends — compound names a la Myking and Alegend and money-related -illion names such as Million and Billion.
Feminine form of Alf or anglicized form of Ailbhe, Danish, Icelandic, Irish
"elf; bright, light, white"
Elva is a multicultural choice, being both an anglicization of the Irish Ailbhe and an feminine form of the name Alf, meaning "elf". Popular in the US at the beginning of the 20th century, it…
Romanian form of Octavian
A cool international name that could join the ranks of cool N-ending boy names. Americans may know it best from retired NFL player Tavian Banks.
English word name
The most common of the -illion numerical names, which are rising up the ranks.
"third power of a million"
It's difficult to conceptualize the numerical value of a trillion, but this extraordinarily large number name is a rising choice for baby boys.
English and Italian from Arabic and Sanskrit
"void"
Zero has been documented as a given name before, but it's largely familiar as a stage name (such as Zero Mostel, born Samuel Joel Mostel) and comic book and anime characters. Nevertheless, fourteen…
Japanese
"second love"
Now that Kenji is rising up the ranks, it's only a matter of time before parents discover Renji. Renji Abarai is a character in the anime series Bleach , in which the kanji used for his name mean…
Spanish form of Sixtus, Latin
"scraped, polished; sixth"
A number related name option, Sixto is the Spanish variation of the Latin Sixtus, which means "sixth", or "scraped", depending on what root you follow. It sounds better when said the Spanish way…
"fifth"
A literary name figuring in the story of Ben Hur and the novels of Anthony Trollope that has the feel of Roman antiquity that is beginning to appeal to many parents. Quintus was one of only about…
Spanish
"three"
The Spanish word for the number three, not to be confused with the French très (tray) meaning "very", Tres has been used as a boy name in the US since the late 1950s. Given to a small handful of…
Norse
"knot"
A strong, powerful choice, ancestor of the modern Superboy Names. Knut is the name of the patron saint of Denmark; Knute Rockne was a legendary Notre Dame football coach. Knute is the middle name of…
Italian
"first"
Primo is number one among the Latin birth-order names--Octavius et al--and the one most likely to be used in these days of smaller families. It has that jaunty 'o' ending and Italian flavor that many…
