Names That Mean Life

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 in Ethiopia. 
 
From its Irish roots, Moya is a variation of Máire (and in turn, of Maria and Mary too), giving it the meanings "beloved", "bitter", or "drop in the sea" due to the cloudy origins of the classic name. 
 
As an African name, it is used in a variety of languages including Zulo, Sotho, Lala, and Tsonga, though it ultimately stems from Proto-Bantu mʊ̀jòjà meaning "life, spirit". More broadly, it is used to mean "wind", though the root remains the same. 
 
From its Spanish roots, it is predominantly used as a surname or place name, however, it likely derives from the Latin name Modius or Modianus, ultimately meaning "measure". As such, Moya can mean "estate of measure".
 
The name has been borne by singer Moya Brennan, producer and entrepreneur Moya Doherty, actress Moya O'Sullivan, and scholar, activist, and writer, Moya Bailey (who coined the term misogynoir).

Moya

Selig comes from the Yiddish vocabulary word meaning 'happy, fortunate, blessed.'  Most of us are more familiar with its Woody Allen variation, Zelig. 

Selig

Although appearing as a patronym (nope, it doesn't mean "son of Elizabeth"), Macbeth originated as a given name. It is derived from the Gaelic MacBeatha, describing a religious man.
 
The Shakespearean connection gives it a weightiness that could be difficult for a child to carry.

Macbeth

Grandparents are sure to link this to disgraced Nixon vice president Spiro Agnew. 

Spiro

Tarvo has two potential origin stories. The first is that it derives from the Old Finnish word tarvas, meaning "wild aurochs," a wild species of cattle that is now extinct. The second possible derivation is from the Estonian tarv, meaning "energy."

Tarvo

Rarely used Spanish name, referring to shifting to another life beyond this one. <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/608/boy-names-that-mean-life">Boy names that mean life</a> are an elite group of which this is an unusual member.

Transito

An extremely popular choice in its native Hungary (at #3 for the past decade), Levente is an ancient Hungarian <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/453/royal-baby-names">royal name</a>, in use since at least the 10th century. This name sounds the same but has a different derivation to the Turkish name Levent.

Levente

In Slavic cultures, Saint Vitus is called Sveti Vid, making this a saintly appellation.

When actress Deborah Kerr entered the scene, there was a great debate over her name's pronunciation. Car or Ker. Your choice. 

Kerr

Vigor

A simple and straightforward choice from northwest Africa.

Idir

No-no appelation of a child saint and martyr whose name is a term for the nervous condition known as Saint Vitus' Dance. Its one recommending feature is that it's among the elite group <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/608/boy-names-that-mean-life">Boy names that mean life</a>.

Vitus

Hyman was commonly used by first-generation Jewish immigrants to Anglicize Chaim, but similarities to terms like heinie and hymen have taken it out of the realm of modern possibility. The original Chaim would be preferable to Hyman.

Hyman

Hy was once a nickname for Hyman, a Jewish Anglicization of Chaim. Today it has gone extinct, for obvious reasons.

Zealous and noble, an unusual and strong choice -- and if the original is too much of a mouthful, you can always call him Zen. 

Zenobios

For lovers of Pasternak's great doctor, a lively middle name choice, one made by actress Nia Long. 

Zhivago

"Huggin? As in 'it out'?" It's probably a fatal flaw, even with Old Norse names becoming fashionable. The same evocative root word, though, forms the basis of the more familiar Hugo.

Hugin

An upbeat and unusual name featuring the fashionable V sound and striking initial Z.

Zinovy

A male take on the feminine name Zoe, it's hard to give an attractive pronunciation. 

Zoilo

The original Zooey, hero of J.D. Salinger's Franny & Zooey, was male, but nowadays the name is more closely associated with actress/singer Zooey Deschanel. With Zoe at number 31 for girls and Zoey in the Top 50, the related Zooey feels more female than ever. But it's distinctively quirky for either sex.

Zooey

Life is one of the most popular meanings for baby names today, symbolizing the beginning of the new life of the child. 

Names in this category might literally mean life but also can have life-related meanings such as breath, growth, or strength. We've also included here some habitational names that refer to a person who lives in a certain place, particular one who lives on a farm or near a field where crops are grown.

Several popular girl names mean life, including Ava, Zoe, and Vivian in all their forms and spellings. Brooks and the biblical Abel are two of the top baby names meaning life for boys.

If you want to browse all the names with life-related meanings, this list is for you.

Baby names meaning life for girls, boys, and unisex, including all life meanings of names (Page 7)