International Baby Names · Nature, Place and Word Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Italian
"roan"
A color name with an Italian accent.
"sand"
If you're looking for a beachy name with an Italian accento.
"ascent, climb"
An unusual Italian word name with an aspirational meaning.
"stairs"
A rare Italian name with an operatic connection to the Milan opera house, La Scala.
Italian, elaboration of Serena
"serene"
Both rhythmic and serene, Serenella is one of the Italian names for girls virtually unknown in the US but definitely usable. An unusual route to Ella as a short form?
Greek nickname
"pillar"
A sweet elongation of Stella, with its reference to stars.
Modern invented name
Variation of Tamara, popularized by Canadian singer Tamia.
Latin
"earth"
A video-game import (Final Fantasy VI) for a character with green hair and a name that brings the outmoded Terry and Tara into the postmodern age. In ancient Rome, Terra was also a minor goddess and…
Italian word name
"treasure"
Scandinavian, diminutive of Katrina
Nickname name that retains an Old Country feel.
"healthy"
Used in Italy and Spain, but in non-Latin countries could be confused with Valencia.
Maltese place name
Valletta is the capital city of Malta. It takes on an air of attractiveness via model Amber Valletta and could make an appealing alternative to the somewhat dated Valerie.
Spanish
"good fortune"
Ventura started life as a shortening of Bonaventura, Spanish for good luck or good fortune, but now stands on its own. It has a pleasant sound and the stylish 'V' ending, but Angelenos would…
"green"
This is an outside possibility for opera-lovers, with the additional eco/color factor.
"true"
The o ending and the positive meaning in many languages makes this a winner, and with the feminine Vera making a surprise return, and the new love for the letter 'V', this becomes a name that has…
Nickname name
Could be a short form of Sylvia, Olivia, or any other similar name. Or a vivid Italian word name.
Italian, Russian and Hungarian variation of Violet, English
"purple"
With Violet in vogue, this vibrant international variation has been on the rise since the 2010s. Vintage and floral like its more popular sister, Violetta has a slightly softer sound and a touch of…
"life"
Vital and vivacious, Vita is stirring back to life along with many of her V-themed sisters -- Vivian, Vivica -- and is becoming a new celebrity baby favorite. Vita Sackville-West was a British author…
Polish, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Latvian, Albanian
"God is Gracious; lily; voice, fairy"
An international possibility, heard from England and Israel to Poland, Latvia, and Albania. It is a name with a vast range of possible meanings and origins, including: a Polish variation of Jane,…
Arabic, Hebrew
"splendour, light, glow; shaking, trembling"
A succinct variation of Ziya, Zia is an Arabic boy name, with a glowing meaning, also used as the Urdu and Bengali transcription. Notable bearers of the name include Bangaledeshi politician Ziaur…
