International Baby Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 29 pages
of 29
Alizée is a feminine name of French origin, derived from 'alizé,' meaning 'trade wind.' It gained international recognition through the popular French singer Alizée Jacotey who rose to fame in the…
Latin
"of the city"
Urban was not an uncommon name through the 1930s (rising as high as Number 435), having been attached to several saints and early popes, but it has completely disappeared from the landscape--both…
"strength, health"
The final o adds a macho touch.
Polish variation of Nicodemus, Greek
"victory of the people"
A slightly more approachable take on Nicodemus that boasts the very-cool nickname Niko, Nikodem is ultimately the Polish variation of Ancient Greek name Nikodemos. A Biblical choice, it was borne by…
French
"yew wood"
On paper, with its stylish ties to fashion legend Yves Saint-Laurent (born Henri), Yves looks great, but the pronunciation--EVE-- could lead to gender confusion. German variation Ivo might be cooler…
Daris is a masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from the Persian name Dariush (meaning 'possessing goodness'), be a variation of Darius, or stem from the Greek 'doron' meaning…
Russian, variation of Leonidas "lion"
"lion"
This form got noticed as the first name of long-reigning Russian president Brezhnev; other bearers include playwright and short-story writer Andreyev, Leonid the Magnificent,a Russian performance…
French; Norwegian; Danish; Dutch; German, variation of Matilda
"battle-mighty"
Mathilde is even more popular in France than Matilda, a hipster favorite thanks to Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger, is here. And the French pronunciation, while confusing to English speakers,…
Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan, Arabic
"place between the valleys; light"
Deriving from the Catalan title for the Virgin Mary, Nostra Senyora de Núria , meaning "Our Lady of Nuria", this distinctive name is a popular choice in Spain and Portugal. Nuria is a Spanish…
Russian, from Hebrew
"gift of God"
A lively Russian form of Matthew with a unique and attractive ending sound.
Polish diminutive of Mina, short form of Wilhelmina, German
"resolute protection"
In the contemporary US, Minka attracted notice via actress Minka Kelly, who played the gorgeous Lyla on Friday Night Lights . This cute and lively nickname name can (and does) certainly stand on its…
Roque is a distinctive masculine name with Spanish and Portuguese origins, derived from the Germanic element 'hrok' meaning 'rest' or from the medieval Latin 'rocca' meaning 'rock'. In…
Italian feminine variation of Cosmo, Greek
"order, beauty, universe"
Cosima, the kind of elegant and unusual name the British upper classes love to use for their daughters, is given to a handful of baby girls in the US after being chosen by two high-profile celebs in…
Catalan variant of Paul
"small; peace"
A very common name in Catalonia, in the northeast of Spain, in no small part because it translates as "peace" in the Catalan tongue. Alec and HIlaria Baldwin used it as one of the middle names for…
Italian
"joy"
Prettier than Joy and just beginning to be used here.
Spanish
"someone from the Basque region"
Schoolchildren will recognize this name via Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.
German variation of Katherine, Greek
"pure"
Katharina is an attractive form of Katherine and a great way to update a classic. Popular in Austria and a classic in Germany, it is typically pronounced as ka-ta-REE-na, though kath-uh-REE-nuh or…
French, diminutive of Esther or Estelle, Hebrew
"star"
Estée, with or without an accent, is most famously associated with cosmetics entrepreneur Estée Lauder, whose birth name was actually Josephine Esther Mentzer. The name is believed to be a stylized…
Italian variation of Guinevere or Jennifer
"white shadow, white wave"
Arty and elegant, Ginevra is one of the most popular girls' names in Italy at the moment, ranking at #3 in a recent year. Ultimately from the Arthurian Guinevere, it's a relative of Jennifer, meaning…
Swedish word name
"story; seeress"
Apt name for a little drama queen with a long future ahead of her. Saga is a Top 30 girls' name in Sweden. Saga was the Norse goddess of poetry, storytelling, and history. She was a prophetess — able…
