Baby Name Meanings
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
Breton
"honor"
Unusual Honor or Nora alternative, but we prefer the originals.
Slavic, Italian and Nordic from Latin
"priceless"
Despite the popularity of Anthony and its masculine variants, female derivatives of its source – the Roman family name Antonius , of unknown meaning – have never caught on in the same way. Sister…
English, modern combination of Esme and Marie
"loved, esteemed + drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Parents have been creating their own names from existing appellations since the beginning of time. So have authors, from Shakespeare to George R. R. Martin. As far as modern attempts go, Esmarie,…
Sanskrit
"praise, charm"
Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin is a master namer, and this unusual choice from India is beginning to be heard in nurseries as well as on television. Sansa was perhaps slower to catch on…
Slavic
"gracious, dear, beloved"
Milos, typically spelled Miloš, derives from various names including the Slavic element, milŭ , such as Miloslav, Bogomil, or Milrad. Popular in the Czech Republic, the name is also used in Serbia,…
Igbo
"glorify God"
A common unisex name in Nigeria. Kerry Washington used it as the middle name for her son Caleb.
Arabic
"praised"
Name of a great Indian Mogul king, a Matt Groening cartoon character, and many Indian restaurants.
"honorable, noble"
Pretty and feminine Muslim name popular in Egypt.
Russian from Hebrew
"praise to God"
Ukrainian figure-skating champion Oksana Baiul made it known here.
English word name
"regard with respect"
One of the newest virtue names, given to 11 girls (and 11 boys) in the most recent year on record. Nickname Addy might make this one feel more grounded.
Latin
"glory"
Originally the name of the titular faerie queene of Spenser's epic poem "The Faerie Queene," published in 1590. Gloriana was, along with Belphoebe, an allegory for Queen Elizabeth. In the 400-odd…
Hebrew
"my music, my praise"
This unusual and spunky biblical name was one of the Kings of Israel as well as one of Judah's grandsons and has a wonderful meaning. We'd like to see Zimri being used more, and we think it has…
Czech; Slovak; Slovene
"peace and glory"
An ancient name with a lovely meaning, still in wide use throughout the Slavic-speaking world. Short forms include Miro, Mirek, Mirko and Miško.
Greek
"the praised one"
In Greek and Roman mythology, Aeneas was the legendary son of Venus (or Aphrodite) who was the hero of Troy and Rome. Appearing in the Aeneid by the poet Virgil, he goes on to found the Roman state…
Arabic, Urdu or Sanskrit
"respectable, awe-inspiring; or a name for the goddess Saraswati"
Variant of Ayra
French
"to admire"
A pretty name that may pose pronunciation problems for non-French speakers or those who've never encountered it, but it is worth the effort. Pronounced meer-AY (or closer to MEE-RAY in French), it…
Japanese
"respect; soaring peace"
Notably borne by baseball star Shohei Ohtani, Shohei can also be transcribed as Shōhei or Shouhei. As with many Japanese names, the meaning varies depending on what kanji combinations are used, but…
"glorious rule"
In Eastern Europe, more fashionable these days than Vladimir.
"glorious, renowned"
Rare and distinctive name with intimations of antiquity, also a Shakespearean character.
"the honorable one"
Long associated with Egyptian-born actor/bridge expert Omar Sharif, also a title bestowed on descendants of Muhammad.
