Baby Name Meanings
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
Hebrew
"God is gracious"
More modern options: Shaw, Shay, or even Sean.
Irish form of Janet
One of the best known of the Irish girls' names , thanks to singer Sinead O'Connor. Though it's still in the Irish Top 100, it's no longer quite as fashionable in Ireland as Aoife or Aisling. But by…
Form of Yehochanan or John, Hebrew
A contracted form of Yehochanan, the Biblical Hebrew form of John. Variants include Yohanan and Johanan and the increasingly popular short form is Yahya.
English
"graceful protection"
Though slightly haughtier and less accessible than cousin Edmond, Esmond could appeal to some parents seeing a distinguished appellation. It began being used (albeit sparingly) in England in the…
French variation of Jean
Together with the more common (in France) Jeannine spelling, this feminine form of Jean was most popular in the 1930s in its home country, and in the 1960s in the US. It's fallen off the Top 1000…
Greek
"she possesses sweetness and grace"
Ear-catching alternative to Lydia.
Punic and Assyrian
"grace of Baal, god of fertility and fortune"
These days, it's thought of less as the name of the great general and more as the first name of Lecter the fictional cannibal. Either association is too heavy for a child to bear.
Romanian variation of Jane
Jenica might work if you can't decide between Jennifer and Jessica. It's certainly a more distinctive option.
Hebrew and Armenian
A joyous, celebratory-sounding name.
Spanish variation of Grace
Although Gracia is the literal Spanish translation of Grace and is used as the Grace equivalent in Spanish-speaking countries, where it's pronounced grah-see-ah or grah-thee-ah, it's also a long-time…
German
"grace + god is my light"
A pretty and substantial German smoosh name, a combination of Hanne and Eleonore. Most popular in Germany from the 1930s to the 1950s. Former German Chancellors Helmut Kohl and Helmut Schmidt both…
Diminutive of Jones, English surname derived from John
It's difficult to imagine anyone using the first name Jonesy -- and in fact, in the most recent US tally, there were nearly 100 babies named Jones but none named Jonesy. Still, this is a name that…
Arabic
"beautiful, graceful"
Soft and appealing, with a whiff of vanilla.
"sweetness, grace, beauty"
Interesting Old Testament name that embraces many traditional female attributes; also name of a place in the Jordan Valley. In the Bible, a daughter of King Ammon and wife of Solomon.
French diminutive of Ann
"grace"
Not quite Nanette and not quite Ninon, this is one of the more unusual 'ette' options. There was an eponymous Spanish film, starring Elsa Pataky, based on a novel.
Welsh variation of Jane
Simple and pretty and user-friendly, the Welsh Sian was used by U2's Dave "the Edge" Evans for his daughter. In Welsh, it is also spelled Siân.
Greek diminutive of Anna
A sweet yet substantial diminutive of classic Anna, Annoula has appeared in the title of an early Greek film, Annoula's Dowry , and in a song by Antonis Kalogiannis, Annoula Tou Chionia "Annoula of…
"bright grace"
Hindi
"divine grace"
The added h turns Anita alluring and breathy.
Italian variation of Grazia
An appealingly international spin on Grace.
