Baby Name Meanings · Name Image
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
Norwegian
"divine strength"
This Scandinavian name was made famous in English-speaking countries as the name of the dog in the "Thin Man" series. Danish actress Asta Nielsen was another famous bearer. Asta can be considered as…
Feminization of Ebbe, Swedish and Danish, or variation of Old English Æbbe
"bear god; brave boar"
Ebba, the feminine version of Ebbe (a diminutive of Eberhard or Asbjorn) and also a form of an old English name, is in the Swedish Top 10 but virtually unknown in the US. However, with the rise of…
Irish
"strong as a wolf"
Too many Connors in your neighborhood? This name--spelled with one 'l' or two--is equally authentic and much more unusual.
German
"spear of strength"
Innocent, sincere, and bright-eyed, and as outdated as its mother name, Gertrude.
Spanish from Greek
"virile, strong"
Long considered Mr. Hall's exclusive property, it's now ready to be adopted by others.
Short form of Gabriella or Ariella
"God is my strength; lion of God"
An alternative to Gabriella, Briella, Bella, or Ella, Riella may also appeal to those who like Rhianna, Reese, and Aurelia. It was chosen by YouTubers Savannah Jean and Josh Alexander for their…
Hebrew
"strength, might"
A Top 100 pick in Israel that feels simple and appealing enough to work in almost any language.
Swahili or Shona
"lion; strength"
Traditional African name made cartoonish by the Disney character in The Lion King. In Shona it means "strength".
"strength of a spear"
Could cute nickname Gertie, remembered as cute five-year-old Drew Barrymore in E.T. , revive the long shunned Gertrude? It's tempting to dismiss Gertrude as a name on its way through the door marked…
Norse
"the strong house; the way of the sun"
Currently popular in Norway where it ranks in the Top 50, Solveig is a sunny but strong choice, also familiar across Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Finland. It notably appears as the name of the…
Denzell appears to be a variant spelling of the surname Denzel, which originated as an English surname derived from a place name in Cornwall combining the Cornish elements 'din' (fort) and 'hal'…
Diminutive of Gavriel, Hebrew
"God is my strong man"
Usually derived from the Gavriel — the Hebrew form of Gabriel — Gavi is a cool, casual, and versatile nickname. Notably borne by Spanish footballer Gavi (Pablo Martín Páez Gavira), in this case it…
English
"fortress; strong leader who defends."
Warrick has recently come into the spotlight as the character Warrick Brown on the TV show CSI . The more conventional spelling is Warwick, a medieval English noble name.
Place-name and Sanskrit
"strength"
Evokes picture-postcard image of colorful Indonesia. Bali Barret is a Paris fashion insider who oversees women's style for Hermes. Bali rhymes with tally or galley.
Scandinavian, variation of Birgit or Britt
"strength or exalted one"
If you want a pan-Scandinavian name with energy and style that could have been a winner, if not for the sound-alike water filtration company Brita.
Dutch and Scandinavian variation of Arnold
"ruler; strong as an eagle"
Works better as a full name than Arnie does as a nickname.
Hungarian, from German
Commonly heard in its native country, and might get a boost here too, now that Alanis Morrissette has used it for her son Ever's middle name.
Korean
"strong"
An Asian name that would be easily understood in this country.
"hardy, brave, strong"
Sometimes pronounced MAY-nerd, which is death to a name. However, the name Maynard was given to 25 boys in 2022.
Persian
"tall, strongly-built, brave"
Used in Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, this strong-sounding name belonged to a hero in Persian legend. Its derivation is unclear, but the consensus seems to be that it…
