Names That Mean Happy

  1. Gaius
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "to rejoice"
    • Description:

      Stately Gaius (pronounced GUY-us) was in the name of many ancient Romans, including Julius Caesar. Little-used before the year 2000, it now feels like a fresh possibility in the revival of Latin boys' names like Atticus and Cassius. Caius and derivatives like Caio come from the same root, and in ancient Roman times Caius was probably pronounced as Gaius. You could also see Gaius as a male version of the earth-goddess name Gaia.
  2. Letty
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Letitia or similar
    • Meaning:

      "joy, gladness"
    • Description:

      Letty is a sweet vintage gem, playful and cosy and more unexpected than Lottie, the popular pet form of popular Charlotte. Originally used as a nickname for Letitia or Lettice, it could also work for Scarlett, Juliet, Violet, Leighton, Arlette, Loretta, Colette, or Liberty.
  3. Felicia
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "lucky"
    • Description:

      A lacy, lucky name very popular in the Hispanic community a decade ago, less so now.
  4. Revel
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "rejoice"
    • Description:

      A joyous (if a little rowdy) word name that's still relatively undiscovered by parents, being given to about 10 babies of each sex per year. Glee actor Matthew Morrison named his son Revel in 2017.
  5. Arcadia
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "region offering peace and contentment"
    • Description:

      Arcadia, a name for an unspoiled paradise, makes an attractive secular alternative to Nevaeh or Eden. For parents who want an unusual name with a friendlier nickname, Arcadia has the advantage of cute Cady.
  6. Fane
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "happy, joyous"
    • Description:

      Fane, used as a nickname in the Middle Ages for someone with a cheerful disposition, is one of the more offbeat members of the Zane-Kane family.
  7. Elza
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God is my joy"
    • Description:

      Intriguing twist on several familiar names, though many people will mistake this for Elsa, Eliza, and so on.
  8. Cayo
    • Origin:

      Latin, from the Roman family name Caius
    • Meaning:

      "rejoice"
    • Description:

      Cayo is a rare and rhythmic Spanish name, all but unknown in the English-speaking world, that would make a lively choice.
  9. Gil
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "happiness"
    • Description:

      Pronounced zheel, it's a dashing conquistador; as gill, it's the nice and slightly boring guy down the street.
  10. Naim
    • Origin:

      Scottish; Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "river with alder trees; happy"
    • Description:

      Naim, also sometimes spelled Naime, is a pleasant choice that may have some confusing pronunciation issues in English-speaking countries (where may will say this name as "name"). But don't let that deter you if you're in love with this moniker.
  11. Kalea
    • Origin:

      Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "joy, happiness"
    • Description:

      Kalea is a Top 100 name for girls in Hawaii, that may also be spelled as Kale'a. Sources differ on the meaning of the name, but the most authoritative land on "joy or happiness", with other suggestions being "clear", "call, voice", "the bright one" or a combination of other Hawaiian names, such as Kalani and Leilani.
  12. Merewen
    • Origin:

      Old English
    • Meaning:

      "sublime delight"
    • Description:

      This Anglo-Saxon gem was borne by a few medieval women including Saint Merewen, Abbess of Romsey Abbey. It has also been used in literature, for example in Kit Berry's Stonewylde series. Merewen has the mellifluous vowels and Celtic charm of other current favorites like Elowen and Meredith.
  13. Onni
    • Origin:

      Finnish
    • Meaning:

      "happiness, luck"
    • Description:

      Onni is the Number 1 boy's name in Finland yet largely unknown in the English-speaking world. Its uplifting meaning makes it a plausible possibility if you want to honor your Nordic heritage.
  14. Farah
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "happiness"
    • Description:

      Farah is a soft and lovely Arabic name, best known here in this original spelling via the last Empress of Iran, Farah Palavi. It's currently a Top 250 name in both France and the Netherlands, which both have a large Arabic-speaking population, and appears in at least two video games.
  15. Merry
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "lighthearted, happy"
    • Description:

      She'd better be. Merry is one of the classic names for Christmas babies.
  16. Gioia
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "joy"
    • Description:

      Prettier than Joy and just beginning to be used here.
  17. Alanna
    • Origin:

      Variation of Alana
    • Meaning:

      "handsome, cheerful"
    • Description:

      The extra n makes it feel less like an feminization of Alan and more like a name unto itself. Alanna is more common in Puerto Rico than the original Alana.
  18. Tirzah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "delight"
    • Description:

      A fairly common Hebrew name without much crossover potential.
  19. Hilary
    • Origin:

      Latin from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "cheerful, happy"
    • Description:

      Hilary (also spelled with two 'l's) is a hot potato of a name, so closely identified with Sen. Clinton that it's hard for most parents to see it as a baby name. A pity, really, as it's got so much going for it: the popular, rhythmic three-syllable structure, the fact that it's strong but light, proper but jaunty, with an irresistible meaning -- having the same root as hilarious.
  20. Letitia
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "joy, gladness"
    • Description:

      Letitia is a delicate, once prim and proper sounding name whose staid image has been unbuttoned by numerous phonetic spellings. The original, often used in Spanish-speaking families, would still make an attractive, delicate choice. After a solid century on the Top 1000 list, Letitia fell off in the early 1980s and has not yet returned.

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