International Baby Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 30 pages
of 30
Greek
"rock, stone"
A strong Greek name with pan-European charm, Petra is a relatively recent feminization of Peter, though it relates back to an incredible ancient city in Jordan that was rediscovered in the early…
Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese variation of Roland, German
"famous throughout the land"
Rolando, along with brother name Orlando, are among the most attractive and appealing of Latinate names. It has been in the US Top 1000 every year since 1946.
Catalan
"serrated mountain"
Montserrat is a Catalan name meaning ‘serrated mountain’. That may not be the most appealing meaning, but the exceptional beauty of the Montserrat mountain range near Barcelona, Spain might change…
Nahuatl
"star"
A celestial choice that's used both in Mexico and by Latinx Americans. The Hispanized form spelling Xitlali may be more familiar.
Spanish, feminine variation of Noel
This name of an admired Puerto Rican pop singer has been picked up by hundreds of Hispanic parents.
Spanish variation of Oswald
Popular in the Hispanic community, unlike its English cousin. It has been very near the bottom of the US Top 1000 for the last three years.
Spanish, Catalan, Russian, Polish variation of Ariadne, Greek
"most holy"
Romantic and elegant but tough and sparky at the same time, Ariadna is a variation of the Greek Ariadne, predominantly used among Spanish speakers. In Greek mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of…
Spanish from German
"saved from combat"
Popular among Hispanic parents, it explains the source of the nickname Gonzo.
Aracely is a feminine name with Spanish origins, particularly popular in Latin American countries like Mexico. It likely derives from Araceli, which comes from the Latin phrase "ara caeli" meaning…
Spanish
"gracious gifts, benefits"
Mercedes is one of the few names attached to luxury living that we can wholeheartedly recommend, it being a legitimate Spanish appellation stemming from one of the epithets given to the Virgin…
Spelling variant of Montserrat, Catalan place-name meaning "serrated mountain"
Monserrat is a variant spelling of the Catalan name Montserrat. It is likely the better spelling in English-speaking countries given the correct pronunciation of the name. Monserrat/Montserrat is a…
"bold wolf"
Romanticizes Rudolph and distances the name from the red-nosed reindeer. After remaining steadily in the US Top 500 for much of the twentieth century, Rodolfo has been slipping of late.
Basque
"Among the thorns"
The name of a popular Mexican singer and a telenovela character, Aranza incredibly rose out of obscurity to become Number 607 in the US in 2014. The name comes from Arantzazu, a shrine associated…
Spanish and Italian
"moorish"
Mauro, a Top 100 name in Spain and Puerto Rico, is etymologically unrelated to the girls' name Maura, but that won't stop many English speakers from drawing the comparison.
Spanish variation of Ephraim
On the Latino Hit Parade, heard much more often than the English version.
Italian variation of Lazarus and Eleazar
"God is my helper"
This sleek Italian name was raised from the dead by Mexican Mozart in the Jungle star Gael Garcia Bernal, who chose it for his son (he also has a daughter named Libertad). For athletic inspiration,…
"light"
Lucero is a relative or nickname of Luz, meaning light. This intriguing name is swimming just beneath the Top 1000 for girls in the US.
Spanish variation of Gilbert
At this point, there are more newborn American baby Gilbertos than Gilberts.
Scottish
"blade of a sword"
First the heroine of Sir Walter Scott's 1822 novel The Pirate , then a glamorous 1940s debutante, then the troubled twin on Beverly Hills 90210, and now fading in favor of more modern Brenna, Briana,…
Italian and Spanish variation of Eloise
"healthy; wide"
Eloisa captures a lovely name back from the spoiled little girl at the Plaza. Historical romance writer Eloisa James has helped make this antique name sound fresh and sassy again.
