Baby Name Meanings
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 10 pages
of 10
Arabic
"capable, powerful"
Qadir is a classic Muslim name that represents one of the ninety-nine attributes of Allah. Since the initial Q is pronounced as K, this handsome name is sometimes Anglicized as Kadir.
German
"spear of strength"
Innocent, sincere, and bright-eyed, and as outdated as its mother name, Gertrude.
Latin
"strength, health"
The final o adds a macho touch.
"powerful protector"
Richmond is a place-name — it's the capital of Virginia, US, and a town in London, UK — that makes a fresh way to honor an ancestral Richard.
Word name or diminutive of Rocco
"rock or rest"
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.
Spanish from Greek
"virile, strong"
Long considered Mr. Hall's exclusive property, it's now ready to be adopted by others.
Sanskrit
"power"
Shakti is the female equivalent of the god Shiva in Hinduism. A sacred name sometimes used in a secular way.
African, Swahili
"powerful"
This short and strong Swahili name shares lots of sounds with trending Ezra and Enzo, and has a great meaning too.
English variation of Eisele, German
"iron"
Isley is used more often for girls, thanks to the similar name Isla, but actor Glenn Howerton chose it for his son, born in 2014. The musical connection via the Isley Brothers puts it in the same…
Place name, English, Spanish, French, Latin "worth; valley"
"worth; valley"
A distinctive and unusual choice, Vail may stem from the Latin, French, and Spanish valor and valeur , denoting worth, merit, and value: a perfect meaning for a baby. There is the possibility however…
Greek
"force of Zeus"
With historical roots as a beautiful and intelligent ancient queen and literary ties to Hawthorne and Edith Wharton novels, this rarity could appeal to adventurous parents seeking the romantically…
"strength of a spear"
Could cute nickname Gertie, remembered as cute five-year-old Drew Barrymore in E.T. , revive the long shunned Gertrude? It's tempting to dismiss Gertrude as a name on its way through the door marked…
Norse
"the strong house; the way of the sun"
Currently popular in Norway where it ranks in the Top 50, Solveig is a sunny but strong choice, also familiar across Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Finland. It notably appears as the name of the…
Greek, Portuguese, Romanian
"force; blessed; white"
A bright and bouncy micro name, far rarer than Mia or Gia. In Greek mythology, Bia is the personification of force and raw energy. In Portuguese, it's a nickname for Beatriz, and in Romanian it's…
Diminutive of Gavriel, Hebrew
"God is my strong man"
Usually derived from the Gavriel — the Hebrew form of Gabriel — Gavi is a cool, casual, and versatile nickname. Notably borne by Spanish footballer Gavi (Pablo Martín Páez Gavira), in this case it…
English
"fortress; strong leader who defends."
Warrick has recently come into the spotlight as the character Warrick Brown on the TV show CSI . The more conventional spelling is Warwick, a medieval English noble name.
Place-name and Sanskrit
"strength"
Evokes picture-postcard image of colorful Indonesia. Bali Barret is a Paris fashion insider who oversees women's style for Hermes. Bali rhymes with tally or galley.
Scandinavian, variation of Birgit or Britt
"strength or exalted one"
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.
Hebrew, variant spelling of Uzziah, “Jehovah is my strength”
One of the most unusual of the biblical iah-options, this was the name of a long-reigning king of Judea, and just might appeal to the parent looking for a quasi-unique Old Testament choice. And it…
Hawaiian
"the power of the ocean"
This Hawaiian name gracefully celebrates the force of nature, paying tribute to the ocean. If you're looking for unique names that mean ocean , this should be on your short list.
