International Baby Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 29 pages
of 29
German, Scandinavian diminutive of Charlotte
"free man"
Lotte is a short form of Charlotte and a name used in its own right in Scandinavia as well as Dutch- and German-speaking countries. It’s unlikely to catch on in the US, where even Lottie hasn’t…
Latin
"white, or, man from Alba"
An ancient and highly unusual name; St. Alban -- sometimes also called Albinus or Aubin -- was an early martyr in Roman Britain. Using an alternate spelling, Alben Barkley was the 35th U.S.…
Finnish
"summer"
Light, zippy, and sunny, Suvi has a sparky yet sweet feel. Notably borne by Finnish supermodel Suvi Koponen, it is taken from the Finnish word for Summer, making it and interesting alternative to…
Russian, Greek, and Czech variation of Barbara
An interesting and appealingly international spin on Barbara, with a lot of charm and energy.
French variation of Basil
"regal"
Herby and aristocratic Basil remains a tough sell, but we’d like to introduce you to Basile, the delightful French version. It retains all of Basil’s charm, but sheds some of the pesto linkage.…
Armenian variation of Anahita, Persian
"immaculate"
Anahit is the Armenian form of Anahita, the Persian goddess of fertility, wisdom, and water.
Danish, Scandinavian
"god bear"
Strong and unusual Nordic name that would make a cool addition to the N-ending boy name trend.
Hebrew
"God is my joy"
Intriguing twist on several familiar names, though many people will mistake this for Elsa, Eliza, and so on.
French form of Eugenia, Greek
"wellborn, noble"
Eugenie enjoyed a major dusting off when Fergie and Prince Andrew chose it for their daughter, restoring a patina of royal sheen it hadn't had since the time of Napoleon III's glamorous empress--who…
Basque variation of Julian, English
"youthful; downy"
The Basque form of Julian is pared down and may appeal to parents looking for a less-syllabic option. It’s not typically used outside of Spain, but it would make an easy import. Julen is also a…
Slovene, variation of Thaddeus
"gift of God"
Another one of the lively, vowel-ending twists on Thaddeus — à la Tadeo and Taddeo — this time from Slovenia.
Basque
"cowherd"
Popular name in Spain's Basque country, thanks to cowboyish meaning, virtually unknown elsewhere.
Russian
"attractive"
Shorter, more palatable form of Vladimir, best known as the surname of French director Roger.
Italian variation of Benedicta, Latin
"blessed"
The saintly Italian form of the saintly Latin Benedicta.
Greek
"from the east, rising sun"
Anatole is one of the unique boys' names with an unusual-ish feel but an uncertain provenance, with a meaning related to sunrise and thus to fire. While it's Greek in origin, it is associated more…
Italian form of Caesar, Latin, "hairy; to cut"
"hairy; to cut"
The handsome Italian variant of Caesar, a name synonymous with Julius, leadership, emperors, and salad, Cesare offers a form with plenty of flair. A rising choice in Italy where it recently made the…
German and Frisian
"eagle"
Popular in northern Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavian countries, Enno derives from names containing the element 'arn' meaning 'eagle.' In East Frisian tradition, Enno was a name borne by…
Italian variation of Letitia
"gladness"
Letizia is a pretty Latin variation of Letitia; it's one of those Italian names for girls that makes the more familiar version feel less prissy and more appealing. Letizia was the first name of…
Romanian, Latin
"flower; flourishing"
Florin is one of several names derived from the Latin root floris , making it a floral and prosperous choice for boys. A relative of Flora, Florence, and Florian, this form is most popularly heard in…
Lucrezia is an elegant Italian feminine name with ancient Roman roots. Derived from the Latin family name Lucretius, it's associated with wealth and prosperity. The name gained prominence during the…
