Baby Name Meanings
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 14 pages
of 14
Finnish
"happiness, luck"
A popular Finnish name with an upbeat meaning, Onni is a popular choice in its native Finland where a recent year saw it rank at #6 — though it has ranked as high as #1 in the 2010s. Fairly intuitive…
Spanish from Latin
"peaceful"
Paciano is an appealing twist on all the newly fashionable names that suggest peace.
Hungarian variation of Anna; Hindi
"grace; emerald, leaf"
Panna is a name with many allusions — in addition to being a Hungarian variant of Anna (PAWN-naw) and a Hindi gemstone name (PAHN-nah), it is also a serene and sacred city in India and the Italian…
Persian
"lucky, happy"
Parvaiz would certainly stand out in an American classroom.
Hebrew
"peace"
Pazel's abbreviated version, Paz, is far more modern and attractive.
Italian and Spanish
"serene"
Placido was commonly used by early Christians to convey their serenity in the faith, and it was borne by several minor saints.
Thai
"joyful"
This name has a sound that seems to match its meaning.
Maori
Rangimarie is the Maori words for peace, and is occasionally used as a feminine name. Dr Rangimarie Pere is a prominent New Zealander with this name.
Rongo is a masculine Maori name stemming from both the name of a god and also the Maori word for peace, "rangimarie", which itself is occasionally used as a feminine name. Rongo was the name of the…
Variation of Sabir
"patient"
Sabri is a unisex spin on the Quranic Sabir or Sabira, for the parent who wants a traditional Arabic name that feels more contemporary.
Japanese
"child of joy"
Sachiko was one of the first Japanese names familiar to Americans when it was used in the 1950s by actress Shirley Maclaine for her daughter, called the adorable short form Sachi. While Sachiko does…
Arabic
"peace through faith"
A name with considerable history, as the celebrated sultan of Egypt and Syria in the time of the Crusades.
Italian, elaboration of Serena
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?
Indian
This is the Indian version of the Hindi word meaning peace.
Irish
Has a decidedly Roman Catholic feel, thanks to the bishop.
Arabic or diminutive of Shulamit, Hebrew
"flame; peace"
Shula is a short form often used on its own in Israel. Sula is another, related, option. As an Arabic name, it has a bright, fiery meaning.
Cornish
"success"
Sowena is the Cornish word for success, a wonderful and encouraging meaning for a baby girl's name. Sowena can also be spelled Sowenna.
African, Swahili
"patience"
One African name that's virtually unknown in the western world, but sounds both soft and strong.
African, Kiswahili
"hope"
The raja sequence of sounds gives it a regal feel.
Finnish, Estonian
This name was on the U.S. Top 1000 in the early 20th century, when recent immigrants frequently chose native names that have since died out for American babies. But if you're of Finnish or Estonian…
