International Baby Names
Multicultural Names
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About this list
Multicultural baby names are names that have roots in more than one language or culture. There are thousands of multicultural names; what's here are some of our favorites.
Multicultural names often appeal to parents looking to blend diverse origins. If one of you is Irish and the other Jewish, if one parent comes from a Spanish-speaking country and the other has an Indian background, a multicultural baby name can be a perfect way to represent your child's blended heritage.
Multicultural names might be popular and familiar. The Top 10 girls' name Ava is a multicultural name, for instance, with roots in Hebrew, Latin, and German languages. The super hot boys' name Kai derives from Hawaiian, Frisian, and Chinese cultures.
And then there are the many multicultural baby names that are rare in the English-speaking world, yet are easy to spell and pronounce. Examples include Eos, with is both Greek and Welsh; Alda, both German and Old Norse; and Bara, which is Hebrew and Japanese.
There's a whole group of names we call Traveling Lite, which merge a range of backgrounds in ways that transcend any individual language or ethnic identity. Examples include Ayla, Naja, and Asa.
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The names
Ava
Hebrew, Latin or Germanic
"life; bird; water, island"
Ava is one of the prime examples of a modern classic name, ranking in the Top 10 for 20 years, from 2005 through 2024, only falling out in 2025. In medieval times, Ava was a diminutive of Germanic…
Ailany
Variation of Ailani, Ailyn, Aileen, or Aylin, Hispanic, Hawaiian, Irish, Turkish
"high chief; shining light; of the moon"
Fun, bright, and melodic, Ailany is a modern Hispanic name with multicultural influences. It broke into the US top 1000 for the first time in 2023 and by 2024, it had risen over 750 places to sit…
Aria
Italian and Hebrew
"air; song or melody; lion"
Aria is a multi-cultural name with two extremely popular versions: this more word-like one along with Arya, the spelling used for the feisty young heroine of Game of Thrones . There were about 6400…
Ella
German; English
"all, completely; fairy maiden"
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. Ella is one of those names that has ranked in the US Top…
Riley
English, Irish
"rye clearing; courageous"
Riley—an upbeat, friendly surname name—is red hot for girls and still going strong for boys. If you haven't been spending much time around babies recently, you may be surprised to learn that Riley is…
Delilah
Hebrew or Arabic
"delicate"
Melodic and lively, Delilah has cut itself (mostly) free from its treacherous past to become a contemporary favorite. Though some people are naturally still put off by the deceptive Biblical figure,…
Maya
Sanskrit, English, Hebrew, Estonian
"illusion, magic; mother; water; beloved, bitter, drop of the sea"
Maya, which has an almost mystical image, has been steadily climbing in popularity in the US and the English-speaking world, along with a range of other countries, including France, Germany, Israel,…
Ayla
Hebrew or Turkish
"oak tree; halo, moonlight"
Bright, fresh, and sunny, Ayla is a fashionable and exciting international choice for girls. Reminiscent of other trending names such as Layla, Isla, and Ava, Ayla has recently found its place in the…
Kai
Hawaiian, Frisian, Chinese
"sea; warrior; triumph"
Kai is an internationally flexible name with many possible origins and meanings, growing in popularity in the US and a diverse range of European countries. In the US, the name Kai is most commonly…
Amir
Arabic or Hebrew
"prince, ruler; treetop"
Concise, familiar and multicultural, Amir enjoys widespread popularity around the world. A common name in the Middle East and across Africa, it has been on the rise in the US since the late 70s, and…
Mary
Hebrew or Egyptian
"drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"
Mary is the English form of Maria, which ultimately was derived from the Hebrew name Maryam/Mariam. The original meaning of Maryam is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew…
Alina
Slavic, Germanic, Arabic, Scottish
"bright, beautiful; noble; delicate, soft; defending men"
Alina has been drifting up the US popularity charts since the early 1980s, and now sits in in the Top 200. But Alina's real strength is in its international flexibility: The name ranks highly in a…
Amira
Hebrew, Arabic
"princess"
This shimmery name, often given to girls born on the harvest feast of Shavuot, and also used in the Muslim community, is increasing in popularity. Amira is of Hebrew and Arabic origin, meaning…
Alana
Feminization of Alan, Irish; variation of Ilana, Hebrew; Gaelic; Hawaiian
"handsome, rock; oak tree; child; awakening"
Alana, in all its various spellings, was at one time reserved for daughters of dads named Alan, but is now much more widespread. It came into prominence via model/actress/celeb spouse Alana Hamilton…
Arya
Sanskrit; Modern variation of Aria
"noble; air/song"
Arya was derived from an Indo-Iranian word meaning "Aryan" or "noble." It is a masculine given name in Iran, Indonesia, Bali, and Sanskrit-speaking regions of India. In Hindu- and English-speaking…
Amaya
Spanish version of Amaia or Japanese
"mother city; the end; night rain"
The Spanish form of Amaya is both a given name and a surname, originating from the Spanish mountain and village of Amaya. In this context it means "mother city" or "the capital." Amaya can also be…
Amari
Hebrew, Sanskrit, Latin, Yoruba
"eternal, goddess, loved, strength"
Amari is a name that's rising in popularity for both boys and girls in the US, used last year for about 2000 baby boys and 1000 baby girls. It's among the Top 20 gender neutral names. The range of…
Lila
Arabic, Sanskrit
"night; play"
Lila is one of the girl names with a double l sound — Lila, Lola, Layla, Leila, Lily et al — that have caught on in a major way., Delicate yet dynamic, Lila has a slightly international flair. The…
Kaia
Latin, Scandinavian, or Hawaiian
"to rejoice or sea"
The new Maia, the next Kayla, Kaia has been on the charts since the year 2000. You might see it as a female form of the also-rising Kai, which means sea in Hawaiian and is sometimes used for girls as…
Kylie
Noongar, Scottish
"boomerang; narrow spit of land"
Popular pop name, inspired by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was at its height in Australia in the 1970s and early 80s; often cited as a Noongar name meaning "boomerang". Kylie has also been…
