International Baby Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 20 pages
of 20
Sequoia is a masculine name derived from the name of the massive redwood trees native to California, which were themselves named after Sequoyah (c.1770-1843), the Cherokee silversmith who created a…
Creek
"old town"
Unlike many other western city names, Tulsa has not proved attractive to parents. The name derives from Tallasi, meaning "old town" in the Creek language.
Cherokee or variation of Jonah, Hebrew
"bear; dove"
A name with a double animal connection via two distinct origins, one Native American and the other Hebrew and Biblical. Yona is rare in the US but not unknown: It was given to a dozen baby girls in…
Aztec
"dewdrop"
This name of Aztec origin has the lovely possible meaning of "dewdrop". Both the Jatziry and Jatziri spellings were given to a few dozen baby girls in 2022.
Nahuatl
"descending eagle"
This name of Aztec origin has the lovely possible meaning of "dewdrop". Both the Jatziri and Jatziry spellings were given to a few dozen baby girls in 2022.
Variation of Itzel, Mayan
"rainbow lady"
Itza is a rare Itzel variant that shares its colorful meaning. Itza also connects to the Itza people of Guatemala and their language of the same name. Chichen Itza was a city built by the Mayans in…
American state name
"people of the west wind"
Cool and breezy, Kansas is a rare geographical name, given to fourteen girls in a recent year. Known as the Sunflower State, Kansas is associated with rolling hills, vast prairies, and The Wizard of…
Hebrew and Arabic
"tender"
An interesting and rhythmic name often heard in the Native American community; in fact,in the Gold Rush era in California and Nevada, it was so common that it became a generic English term for a…
Ewe, Akan, Ghanaian, Cherokee
"born on Saturday; water"
Ama is a day name used by the Akan people of Ghana for girls born on Saturday. Names that reference a baby's birth by day of the week, time of day, or season of the year are common in many African…
Native American, Cherokee, place-name
"bend in the river or meeting place"
When playwright Thomas Lanier Williams adopted the pen name of Tennessee, he created a new possibility among American place-names, although it's admittedly a bit bulky in size. Reese Witherspoon…
Turkish
"emperor, ruler"
A Turkish twist on the trend for ruler names. Spelled Håkan, this is the Swedish form of Haakon. It may also be a Native American name meaning "fiery".
Native American
"son of bird clan leader"
Name from legend that might be an interesting Jason alternative.
Hebrew or Navajo
"fortune; juniper tree"
Simple Biblical name with an auspicious meaning. There are two men named Gad in the Old Testament — one the first son of Jacob and Zilpah, and the other a prophet of King David. Gad can also be used…
"brown hills"
Striking and accessible choice.
Mapuche
"swift hawk"
The most famous Lautaro was a leader of the indigenous resistance against the Spanish in Chile in the 16th-century, making it a historically significant choice, still used today in Argentina, Chile,…
English or Mapuche
"villager, country-dweller; blue"
The y helps a bit, but still a painful image.
Hispanized form of Citalli, Nahuatl
"star"
Derived from the language of the Nahua people of Mexico and Central America, Xitlalli is a variation on Citalli, a sparkly name meaning "star".
American place name, Ute
"people of the mountains"
This would make a startling but likable choice; poet Dylan Thomas used it for a character in his play "Under Milk Wood."
Tupi
"wise person"
Move over Maia, Mia and Mara - there's a new melodious M name on the block! Maiara has a great meaning and a soft flowing sound which fits in with current trends.
