Baby Name Meanings
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 8 pages
of 8
Polish variation of Richiza, German
"wealthy"
Richeza was a name that had its heyday in the Middle Ages but has since fallen into disuse. Richeza, and its variation Richenza, were used by the Swedish and Polish royal families. In a modern…
Norwegian
"famous ruler"
This intriguing Scandinavian name is associated with Roald Dahl, author of the juvenile classics James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory . You can honor an ancestral Ronald…
German surname
"granary administrator, treasurer"
The surname Costner appeared on the charts in 2021, and it was high time, given the popularity of other financial-themed surnames such as Banks and Ledger. Actor Kevin Costner makes it a familiar…
French from German
"famous in battle"
Pronounced klo-TEELD, this name is well used in France, but rarely heard here; it has a chic and sophisticated air.
Greek
"glory-flower"
A highly unusual flower name that could give you Clio for short.
"glory"
Cleora is a now-extinct name (there were no babies named Cleora recorded in the U.S. since 1982) that achieved some standing in the early 20th century thanks to the craze for all things…
"glory to the father"
Sharing an etymology with Cleopatra, this masculine form of the name also has biblical ties. Cleopas was one of the men who encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus following his resurrection. As a…
Italian, Latin
"famous"
The obscure yet not unappealing name of a legendary heroine of Rome, likely derived from the Roman family name, Cloelius. It is believed to come from the Latin word cluere , meaning "to have renowned…
French
"gamble, fortune"
A popular American name in previous centuries in honor of famed Harvard President, Charles Chauncy. This name is burdened by an incredibly pompous sound and best left in the past.
Polish
"weapon of glory"
Also spelled Bronisław, this Polish name has a strong, rugged meaning. It was briefly popular in France in the first half of the 20th century and has been notably borne by Polish anthropologist,…
"pilgrim; fame"
Romer might be considered a streamlined spelling of the German surname Rohmer, whose root means fame or renown, or a name that was given to those who made pilgrimages to Rome, which is related to…
Yoruba, Nigerian
"born to be rich"
Yoruba parents traditionally give their babies names that confer hopes and dreams upon them. A name like Abimbola is thought to inspire wealth.
Buryat, Kurdish
"rich, wealth; morning"
A name with a lot of historical cred — Bayan was the name of two Mongol generals during the Yuan Dynasty and a number of other military rulers.
German
"famous fighter"
Inventive female form of Aloysius.
Feminine variation of Aldo, German, or Old Norse
"old or wave"
Alda's brother name Aldo has been a mainstay of the U.S. popularity chart for decades now, and the related Alden is soaring up as well. This version has never really caught on. (Maybe it's the…
French version of Heracles
"glory of Hera"
This is the French version of Alcides, birth name of the Greek mythological Heracles (Hercules). You're more likely to recognize it as the name of the hot True Blood werewolf, Alcide Herveaux.
English word name
"accomplishment"
What's the recipe for success? Maybe it's having Success on the birth certificate.
"fame of God"
Deriving from the ancient Greek name, Theokleia, Thekla is a contracted form that appears in the New Testament. According to the Acts of Paul, Thekla (or Thecla) is a 1st century saint and the first…
Igbo
"peaceful wealth"
Akudo is an Igbo-Nigerian name stemming from the Igbo word 'udo' meaning peace. Unlike other names containing the name "Udo", Akudo is a feminine name.
Norse
This mythological name of the Norse god of winter sounds, uh, ill.
