International Baby Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 29 pages
of 29
Diminutive of Wilhelmina, German
"resolute protection; love"
One of those pan-European nickname names much more familiar in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe than in the US, though related name Mina is making a comeback here. Light and bright, it could be an…
English, Literary, meaning unknown
Though modern parents seeking to honor an ancestor named Thelma might opt for the airier Thea instead, Thelma is starting to make its way back onto adventurous vintage name lovers' radars. It is…
Feminization of Zlatan
"gold"
Armenian
"sharp, slender"
A cool-soungin ancient Armenian name which has belonged to several historical kings.
Celtic
"bear"
Some sources say Artis is a form of Arthur, and it certainly has the same root and meaning of bear. But Artis is a name in its own right with a 60-year history on the US Top 1000, from about 1900…
Norwegian
"divine strength"
This Scandinavian name was made famous in English-speaking countries as the name of the dog in the "Thin Man" series. Danish actress Asta Nielsen was another famous bearer. Asta can be considered as…
Italian
"January"
This name of the patron saint of Naples would make an apt choice for a New Year's baby, or one with Neapolitan roots.
Russian variation of Cyril, Greek
"lordly"
Strong and attractive form of Cyril.
Slavic; Estonian; Finnish; Hungarian; German, from Latin
"steadfast"
This sleek form of Constantine is traditional in many European countries, and most popular in German-speaking nations and Russia.
Latin
"of the sea"
Marin is a lovely county north of San Francisco, pronounced with the accent on the second syllable. Marin is a masculine name in France and Romania, as well as several Slavic countries, including…
Italian variation of Raphael, Hebrew
"God has healed"
A top choice in Italy.
Feminization of Ebbe, Swedish and Danish, or variation of Old English Æbbe
"bear god; brave boar"
Ebba, the feminine version of Ebbe (a diminutive of Eberhard or Asbjorn) and also a form of an old English name, is in the Swedish Top 10 but virtually unknown in the US. However, with the rise of…
Greek
"beloved, bandage"
A paramour of Alexander the Great and the heroine of a Jules Massenet opera based on the life of a fourth century Egyptian saint, this name is nothing if not dramatic. Often spelled with a diaeresis…
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 variation of Candace, Latin
"white, pure, sincere"
Candice is the spelling of this ancient name used by actress Candice Bergen. Candice is a form of Candace, an ancient title of a dynasty of Ethiopian queens mentioned in the New Testament. A few…
"rosary"
Rosario comes from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Rosario , or "Our Lady of the Rosary", Rosary referring to the vocal and mental prayers in Catholicism, that reflect on the…
Breton
"God is gracious"
Yannick originated as a diminutive of Yann, the Breton form of John. However, it has since become popular as a standalone name in its native region of Brittany, as well as in France as a whole, where…
Scandinavian
"sun gift"
Sunniva was an Irish-born saint who fled to Norway, where she hid in an island cave with her followers and eventually died. After miracles were reported on the island, the cave was excavated and…
Basque
"the beginning"
This Basque name is quite popular in Spain, where it has long been in the Top 100 names. This is likely due to its pleasant meaning; the sound, dignified in Spanish and Basque, may not fare so well…
French
"noble type"
A chic and sassy French choice, popular in France but likely to be confused with the more prosaic Alex in English-speaking countries. Although sometimes used in the US as a variant spelling of Alex,…
