Olympic Baby Names

Young Japanese stars Shione Sawada and Shione Kaminaga have brought some attention to this uncommon Japanese name.

Shione

In India, Shiva is an unambiguously male name; but in the middle east, Shiva derives from the Persian words for charm and eloquence, and is usually used as a female name.

Shiva

A variation of the Old Norse name Sindri, which is borne by a blacksmith dwarf in Norse mythology, who, with his brother, made Thor's hammer. With its appealing meaning "sparkling", this form is familiar in Norway and was particularly popular in the 90s, when it ranked #21 in the Norwegian charts. 

Sindre

The similarity to snoring makes this one hard to wear.

Snorri

Suela

Rare name across the globe, but most often heard in South Africa.

Sunette

Susi is a charming feminine name that functions as a diminutive of Susanna or Susan, names derived from the Hebrew Shoshannah meaning 'lily' or 'rose.' This short form is particularly common in German, Finnish, and Hungarian-speaking regions, though it appears across many European cultures. Susi carries a sweet, friendly quality with its soft sounds and approachable nature. While often used as a nickname, it has established itself as an independent given name in many countries. The name exudes a casual warmth and vintage appeal, reminiscent of mid-20th century preferences. Though not typically among top-ranking names, Susi has maintained steady usage, particularly in Central European countries. Its international recognition makes it work well across language barriers while retaining its affectionate, familiar character.

Susi

There will probably be lots of little namesakes after the fastest man in the world, Jamaican Olympic runner Usain Bolt--middle name St. Leo.

Usain

Famed track and field sprinter Wyomia Tyus's name never caught on after her multiple gold medals in the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games.

Wyomia

In the same currently-popular style as Yareli and Yaretzi, this name is worn by Cuban-American boxer Yarisel Ramirez.

Yarisel

Combining "Hez", a short form of Heather, and the -ley suffix meaning "field, clearing", Hezly is a modern invented name that has yet to catch on. 
 
US Olympic gymnast Hezly Rivera might change that though, especially after helping her team earn a gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Rivera's parents are Henry Rivera and Heidy Ruiz, and it's possible her name was chosen to match the pattern and sounds of theirs. She also uses the fun nickname "Hez" which feels both a little retro and a little cool. 
 
 Part Haley, part Esme with a hint of Hazel too, this name feels right on trend!

Hezly

With a sunny, airy sound, a clunky-cool look, and a lovely, nature-inspired meaning, Solfrid was popular in its native Norway back in the mid-20th century, but has been out of the Top 100 since the 60s and has yet to catch on elsewhere. Made up of the Old Norse elements,sól meaning "sun" and fríðr meaning "beautiful" or "beloved", notable bearers include Olympic weightlifter, Solfrid Koanda, actress Solfrid Heier, and content creator, known as Solfrid ASMR.

Solfrid

Rugged but gentle, Sholto is a traditional Scottish first name, especially within the Douglas clan, with Sholto Douglas being its mythical ancestor. It is an Anglicized form of Sìoltach, meaning "sower". 
 
Sholto appears in on a minor character in Elizabeth Gaskell's1855 novel, North and South, and as a surname in Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novel, The Sign of the Four. It has been notably borne by wheelchair rugby player Sholto Taylor, pianist Sholto Kynoch, and rower Sholto Carnegie.

Sholto

A spirited and distinctive name, used predominantly in its native Ethiopia, Tigst can also be spelled as Tigist. Derived from Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia, it has the virtuous meaning of "patience". A notable bearer is Tigst Assefa, a long-distance runner who was the first woman to break the 2-hour 12-minute barrier in a marathon. She won the 2025 London Marathon.

Tigst

Abebe

 dating from the 1896 games until now. The Olympics spotlights global choices that might not otherwise attract our attention. Olympians are to thank for introducing names such as Bode, Usain, and Picabo into public consciousness.

 include Anais, Bruno, Duke, Florence, Harry, Jules, Madden, and Thiago. Among the most distinctive Olympic names with strong ties to Olympians are Babe, Commodore, English, and Knute.

 range from trendy and well-used to never-before-seen picks, but we've chosen to feature some of more 

Olympic athlete baby names including Bode, Madden, and Anais, along with meaning, origin, and popularity (Page 9)