International Baby Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 14 pages
of 14
Place name, Persian, Hebrew
"lion; secret song"
A multicultural and unisex choice, Shiraz is connected to a city in Iran and a type of wine made from Syrah grapes. While the exact meaning of the place name is unknown, one theory is that it comes…
Variation of Xenia, Sena, or Thana, English, Scandinavian, Turkish
"hospitable, welcoming; praise"
A name that looks simple on the surface but has a variety of complex roots, Senia is often used as an alternative form of Xenia, a Greek name meaning "hospitable, welcoming" or "guest". This spelling…
Chinese, Swedish, Danish, Portuguese
"horse, graceful; pearl; beloved, bitter, drop of the sea"
Short and succinct, Ma is a Chinese feminine name meaning "horse", "graceful", or "elegant" depending on the Han character used. It may also be used as a surname, and occasionally as a masculine…
Arabic, Japanese, "treasure; a pause, interval + to stand, sit"
"treasure; a pause, interval + to stand, sit"
A modern some sounding choice, Kanza is in fact a sparky Arabic and Japanese choice with a lovely meanings. From its Arabic roots, it relates to treasure and wealth, adding value to the name; from…
Chinese, Scandinavian, Hawaiian
"beautiful; beloved, bitter, drop of the sea; pebbly"
Sweet and pleasant, Maili is one of those names which looks simple but does in fact have a wide range of origins, ranging from Scandinavian to Chinese. From its Chinese roots, Maili may be used as an…
Variation of Gina, Korean, Swahili, Sanskrit
"wisdom + elegance; precious child; to walk; to live"
Sometimes used as a variation of Gina, a short form of Eugenia, Georgina, Virginia, Regina, and similar, Jina is also an anglicized form of the Korean Jin-a and Ji-na meaning "precious child" and…
Tswana, Amharic, Japanese, Spanish
"cloud; honey; circle, round; beloved + wellborn"
Spirited yet gentle in sound, Maru is a multicultural and unisex option. Associated with an internet-famous cat from Japan, a Māori god of war and fresh water, and a character in the game Stardew…
Tswana, Amharic, Japanese, Maori
"cloud; honey; circle, round; gentle, easy, safe"
Gentle in sound, multicultural in origin, and cool and succinct in style, the name Maru is fresh feeling choice. Borne by a Scottish Straight cat from Japan (once dubbed the most famous cat on the…
Irish variation of Máire or Mary, Spanish place name, Zulu, Sotho, Lala
"beloved, bitter; estate of Modius, estate of measure; spirit, wind"
A multicultural choice with a distinctive sound, Moya may appeal as a unique alternative to Maia/Maya or Mia. Given to a handful of girls each year in the US, it is more commonly heard in the UK or…
Diminutive of Kenneth; Japanese
"born of fire or handsome; healthy and strong"
In many minds this one belongs to Barbie, but with such positive meanings and international connections, can Ken make the transition to usability again?
Breton, Cornish
"forest, woodland; coast, coastland"
Arvor is an intriguing choice with two possible meanings. From Celtic and Breton, it means "woodland, forest, trees" and may be a cognate of Arbor from Cornish, however, it translates to "coast" or…
Chinese; Hawaiian
"beautiful; plum"
Homophonous with Mae and May, the beautiful (literally) Mei is poised to climb the charts. The hero of the 2022 Disney/Pixar film Turning Red is a Chinese-Canadian teen named Meilin "Mei" Lee, which…
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…
English, Frisian, Spanish, Slavic
"thought or sweetheart"
An Ethiopian place-name and multicultural diminutive for many names, including the Slavic Tatiana and the Spanish Cayetana. Tana is also a rare Frisian name, meaning "thought", as well as a masculine…
Russian, Hungarian, Arabic, African, Nsenga
"related to Zeus; rose; adornment, ornament; spirt name"
A truly international name with an arty feel, Zina has many origins. It is used as a short form of Zinaida, Rozina, and Zenobia in Russia, Hungary, and Poland and as an alternative form of Xena,…
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…
English form of Irish Ailbhe, Swedish and Norwegian feminine form of Alf
"white; elf"
While the male Alva or Alvah relates directly to the minor Biblical character, the female version is more likely an Anglicized form of the Irish name Ailbhe, or a feminine form the name Alf (and Alf-…
Hebrew, Russian
"heart; lion"
This concise one-syllable name, has two possible derivations and two positive meanings associated with it. In Hebrew, it means "heart", while in Russian it means "lion". So strong and simple Lev has…
Spelling variation of Cara or Norse mythology name
"wild stormy one"
Kara and the soundalike (though not necessarily related) Cara are among the most multi-cultural names around. Cara has roots in Latin, Italian, Irish, Spanish, and Portuguese, and Kara can be viewed…
Japanese place name or Celtic
"happy"
Soft, simple, and far more unusual than Tara or Farrah. As a Japanese place name, it's been used occasionally as a surname and is beginning to be used as a first. Nara is also the name of a Hindu…
