​
​
Advanced Search

Names That Mean Brave, Strong, or Powerful

  1. Bedelia

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "strength or exalted one"

    • Description:

      This fanciful Irish extension of Bridget is known here through the wacky Amelia Bedelia books for kids -- an association your child may or may not like.
  2. Egon

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "strong with a sword"

    • Description:

      Muscular German name that never fully assimilated into American culture.
  3. Conal

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "strong as a wolf"

    • Description:

      If there are too many Connors in your neighborhood, this name is equally authentic and much more unusual. Spelled Conal or Conall, it's a prominent name in Irish history, borne by a number of kings and heroes.
  4. Rainey

    • Origin:

      Word name or diminutive of Regina, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "queen"

    • Description:

      Has an old-time country feeling, perhaps due to Ma Rainey, considered the "Mother of the Blues". This is the most popular spelling of the name, given to about 50 girls last year, with half as many called Rainy and a quarter named Rainie, the spelling used by Andie MacDowell for her now-grown daughter.
  5. Enzi

    • Origin:

      African, Swahili

    • Meaning:

      "powerful"

    • Description:

      This short and strong Swahili name shares lots of sounds with trending Ezra and Enzo, and has a great meaning too.
  6. Britta

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian, variation of Birgit or Britt

    • Meaning:

      "strength or exalted one"

    • Description:

      If you want a pan-Scandinavian name with energy and style that could have been a winner, if not for the sound-alike water filtration company Brita.
  7. Kiah

    • Origin:

      Short form of Hezekiah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God gives strength"

    • Description:

      Drawn from old record books, Kiah is an antiquated nickname that feels perfectly appropriate for modern times -- maybe more so than father name Hezekiah.
  8. Quillon

    • Origin:

      Latin or Greek

    • Meaning:

      "crossing swords; strong"

    • Description:

      Pronounced KILL-on, might lead a young boy astray--though that doesn't seem to have halted the progress of the popular Killian.
  9. Uzi

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah is my strength"

    • Description:

      Despite its biblical pedigree and popularity in Israel, it has far too many ties to the lethal submachine gun to find many fans here.
  10. Alcina

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "strong-willed"

    • Description:

      Alcina is an operatic name, best-known as the name of the beautiful sorceress of the eponymous Handel opera drawn from the Orlando poems. Alcina and her sister Morgana live on an island where Alcina seduces every passing sailor but once their novelty wears off, changes them into plants, rocks, or animals. Alcina comes with modern-sounding short forms Alcie or Alsie, which feel more baby-ready now that names such as Elsie, Elsa, and Isla are becoming popular again.
  11. Rock

    • Origin:

      Word name or diminutive of Rocco

    • Meaning:

      "rock or rest"

    • Description:

      Rock definitely has a macho image, if a somewhat caricatured one, ala The Rock. But with the rise of word names and also of tough guy names, Rock feels more plausible than it did a generation ago.
  12. Etana

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "strength of purpose"

    • Description:

      Girlish for Ethan: attractive and unusual.
  13. Kiah

    • Description:

      Kiah is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins and meanings. In Aboriginal Australian languages, it means "from the beautiful place" or is connected to meanings like "shadow place." It also appears in Hebrew, where it may be a variant of Kia, meaning "God's grace." Some sources suggest Kiah could be derived from an African word meaning "season's beginning." The name has gained modest popularity in English-speaking countries since the 1990s, appreciated for its brevity, melodic sound, and cross-cultural appeal. Kiah offers a simple yet distinctive two-syllable structure that's easy to pronounce across cultures. The name carries spiritual undertones in multiple traditions while maintaining a contemporary feel, making it appealing to parents seeking a name that's both meaningful and modern.

  14. Nerio

    • Origin:

      Latin from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "strength, valor"

    • Description:

      Nerio was one of the Roman goddesses of war and a wife of Mars. Her name is among the many intriguing names that mean strong.
  15. Reynard

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "powerful advice"

    • Description:

      Associated with Reynard the cunning fox in medieval European animal tales. Reynard can make an unusual yet historic choice for a modern boy, a modern day Richard or Robert.
  16. Gavriel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is my strength"

    • Description:

      An Israeli place-name as well as being the Hebrew form of Gabriel.
  17. Aza

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "powerful"

    • Description:

      Aza's similarity to the biblical name Asa makes it ripe for adaptation. If you want something more elaborate, you might consider Azariah. Something simpler? It doesn't get much simpler and that is the beauty of Aza (or Asa).
  18. Azaiah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "my strength is Yahweh"

    • Description:

      With Azariah and Azriel in the Top 1000, and Ezra, Josiah, and Isaiah in the Top 100, it makes sense that this lesser known Hebrew choice is being revived in the US. Most likely deriving from Uzziah or Azaziah, Azaiah, it was a fast rising choice in 2024 when it rose more than 350 places, entering the Top 1000 for the first time.
  19. Karma

    • Origin:

      Hindi, Sanskrit "destiny, spiritual force; deed, fate"

    • Meaning:

      "destiny, spiritual force; deed, fate"

    • Description:

      Some parents are hoping to bestow good karma on their children with this name, derived from the Sanskrit word for "fate". Associated with the Hindu and Buddhist belief that someone's actions in this life (and their previous ones) decide their future existences, it is more informally used in the Western world to refer to good or bad luck.
  20. Keren

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "ram's horn, ray of light"

    • Description:

      Israeli-born singer Keren Ann introduced this traditional Hebrew name to the US, where it could well be mistaken for Karen. Nevertheless, 100 girls were given the name in a recent year.

Introducing the Nameberry App

Nameberry App
Find your perfect baby name together with our new mobile app.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Sign up to be notified when the app launches and to receive a discount on full access.
Nameberry App Logo