Baby Name Meanings
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Japanese or Chinese
"tenderness, gentleness; gold"
Similarity to the English name Jean could be a plus in a Japanese-American or Chinese-American family.
Japanese
"kind help"
Arabic
"gentle, kind"
Classic Muslim name representing one of the ninety-nine attributes of Allah; Queen Latifah has drawn attention to the feminine form of the name.
Swedish and Danish
"happiness, good fortune"
Sweet Lykke, virtually unknown in English-speaking countries, is one of the top girl names in Sweden.
Sanskrit
"loving kindness"
According to Buddhist eschatology, Maitreya is next great Buddha who will appear on Earth, following Gautama Buddha. Though this messianic figure is usually (if not exclusively) depicted as a male,…
Persian
"kind, lovable, sunny"
English speakers might want to pronounce this lovely name like the familiar Mary or Merry, but the correct Persian pronunciation includes the h -- meh-ree.
Korean
"beautiful and kind-hearted"
This fairly common Korean girls' name counts Korean actress Lee Mi-Yeon and American composer Serra Miyeun Hwang among notable bearers.
Hebrew
"generous"
Biblical name from the Old Testament.
Irish
"son of the kind one"
Most parents interested in this name would be honoring either an ancestor or painter Georgia O'Keeffe.
Nepali
"help; kindness"
For those looking for a name that connects to their Nepali heritage, Omya is a name that translates well.
"springtime"
Not to be confused with Rabbi (a Jewish leader, scholar, and teacher), Rabi is an Arabic name meaning "springtime", that also appears as Rabih and Rabeeh. It can also be used as a variation of Ravi,…
"friend, companion, gentle, kind"
Confident Middle Eastern choice. Children will relate to the Rafiki form via the wise guru in Disney's "The Lion King."
"sweet; goodly"
Sadbh is the modern Irish form of the more streamlined but equally confusing Sadb or Sadhbh: these names are pronounced to rhyme with five. In Irish mythology Sadb or Sadbh or Sadhbh, a goddess lover…
