International Baby Names

All-American Baby Names

American baby names come from a range of sources as diverse as the U.S. itself, including American place names, hero names, and invented names.

American Boy Names

American boy names range from place names to hero names to Native American names to boy names with a Western ring.

American Girl Names

American girl names include US place-names, newly-minted names, American hero names, and of course Native American names.

Ancient Roman Names

Ancient Roman Names are suddenly hot and fresh again as fashionable baby names, especially for boys — with names such as Felix, Atticus, Cassius, and Cyrus powering up the US popularity charts.

Names from Ancient Rome are enjoying a major style revival. The fashion for Roman boy names was influenced by Hunger Games and by the HBO series Rome. Many of these names, such as Cyrus and Julius, had been buried for centuries, only to seem fresh and new in the modern US.

Ancient Roman Names for Girls

Ancient Roman names are white hot right now. Stars such as Octavia Spencer and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, have brought attention to this attractive group of names. Roman names for girls have history but feel fresh. They are feminine but connote strength, such as Aurelia and Livia.

Australian Baby Names: Aussie Favorites

In a multicultural nation like Australia, how do you define Australian names? Here we've listed Aussie names that stem from Indigenous Australian languages, place names or names that have become indelibly linked with the land Down Under through literature or popular culture, such as Matilda and Kylie.

Best American Baby Names

American baby names come from a range of sources, just like Americans themselves. There are Native American baby names, American place names for babies, names important in American history and namesakes for American heroes and artists, and baby names invented by Americans and used primarily in the US.

Best British Boy Names

British baby boy names have a style all their own, and fashionable British names are often a step or two ahead of American baby names. Some of the hottest baby boy names in England, Scotland, and Wales are still cool and underused choices in the U.S., as seen below.

Best British Girl Names

Do British girl names have a distinct style? You bet, and often the style of British names is a step or two ahead of the style of American names.

Best International Variations of Elizabeth

Regal Elizabeth is one of the most classic baby names you can choose for your little girl. Famous bearers of the strong and traditional female name Elizabeth include two British monarchs (including the current Queen, Elizabeth II), Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, philanthropist and wife of Alexander Hamilton, poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, pioneering physician Elizabeth Blackwell, and iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Best Irish Boy Names

Irish baby names for boys have been growing in popularity in the U.S. in recent years, with Liam reaching Number 1 and all the different spellings of Aiden climbing to the top of the list. Along with Liam and Aiden, other Irish boy names on the US Top 1000 include Finn, Declan, Connor, and Brody. In Ireland, top Irish boy names include Conor, Fionn, Oisin, and Cillian. Unique Irish names for boys attracting attention include Cashel, Cormac, and Rafferty.

Best Irish Girl Names

Irish baby names for girls have been growing in popularity in the U.S. and around the world in recent years, with Irish language names such as Saoirse and surname-names like Riley finding widespread favor.

Best Scottish Boy Names

Scottish names for boys are a handsome group, including choices that have traveled far beyond Scotland's shores, such as Douglas and Malcolm and the nouveau Knox, along with many names that are still most at home in the Highlands, from Hamish to Kelso to Baird.

Best Scottish Girl Names

Scottish baby names for girls are a lovely bunch, including choices that a very familiar to American ears, such as Isla and Fiona, as well as names that have yet to cross over, like Elspeth and Aberdeen.

Boy Names from Africa

African baby names for boys from a range of cultures and tribes include the choices here. For our full list of African baby names, click here.

Boy Names Uncommon in the US

There are many thousand boy names uncommon in the US that are nevertheless widely used in their native lands. Does that mean they're ripe for import? Perhaps.

British Baby Names

British baby names have a unique style all their own. British names overlap with American and European names to some extent, but there are many names that are far more popular in Great Britain than they are anywhere else.

Cool International Boy Names

Cool international boy names from Italy and Ireland, Scandinavia to the Middle East and beyond include a wide variety of choices. Some of these international names for boys, such as Cruz and Orion, are cool in the US and abroad, but many have yet to be discovered by American parents.

Cool International Girl Names

Cool international girl names from a range of cultures and countries are ripe for the picking no matter where you live. As the world becomes a smaller place, baby names for girls become more international, with names like Lucy and Jenna being swapped for Luciana and Gemma.

Cornish Baby Names

Cornish baby names are those with Celtic roots connected to the gorgeous southwest corner of England. The most notable Cornish baby name is Jennifer — the top baby name in America throughout the 1970s — which is the Cornish variation of the Welsh mythological name Guinevere.

Dutch Baby Names for Boys

Dutch boy names are uncommon in the US, where we’re mainly familiar with them via notable bearers of Dutch names such as Willem Dafoe and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. So far, these figures have done little to inspire American parents in the way of baby names — only a small number of boys are given their names each year.

Dutch Baby Names for Girls

Dutch girl names have historically been overlooked by American parents, but as the world of possible baby names expands, more parents may begin to embrace Dutch names for their daughters. One of the top Dutch names in the US is Noor — which also has separate Arabic roots — a diminutive of Eleonora.

English Names with International Style

English names have traveled to non-English speaking cultures in recent years, moving up the popularity lists in several European countries including France, Germany, and Sweden. Note that when we say English names, we may include names that technically have their origins in other cultures but that have enjoyed widespread use in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and other English-speaking locales for decades. The traditional English names enjoying new international popularity and style include the following selections.

European Boy Names

The most popular European boy names in the US are typically Spanish or Italian in origin and follow the trend of boy names ending in O. Others have been introduced through pop culture — the once-rare Basque name Iker has become an international sensation thanks to Spanish soccer player Iker Casillas.

European Girl Names

European girl names are the most common group of names by origin in the US. The names on this list , though, are well-used for baby girls throughout Europe but remain largely undiscovered by American parents.

Exotic Lite Baby Names

Maybe you want an exotic name for your baby....but not too exotic. Something international, yet recognizable to most Americans. Your category? Could be the Exotic Lite baby names here, from a range of cultures.

Exoticized Names

Make your favorite baby names more international by exoticizing them. The examples here put an international spin on standard baby names used in English-speaking countries.

Finnish Baby Names

Finnish names may look simple, but those double vowels are undeniably exotic to native English speakers. Some prime Finnish baby name examples:

Finnish Baby Names for Boys

Although Finnish baby names are Scandinavian, they sound a lot quirkier to the American ear than Swedish, Norwegian and Danish baby names do. Here are some of the more accessible.

Finnish Baby Names for Girls

Even though Finnish baby names are Scandinavian, they sound much quirkier to the American ear than Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish baby names do. Here are some of the most accessible baby names to the English speaker, though not all are popular in Finland itself.

French Baby Names for Boys

Charming French baby names for boys, far beyond old-fashioned Jean and Jacques, are just waiting to be discovered. Here: some of the best new French baby names for boys.

French Word Names

The parent in search of truly distinctive baby names has to move farther than ever away from the established roster. One new direction -- or is it two? -- for the intrepid baby namer is toward international word names, which combine two of today's coolest trends. We combed our own diccionarios for French, Italian, and Spanish words that could make perfectly appropriate, attractive baby names, and here are some French choices. But no reason to stop here--consider words from the language of your own ethnic background, be it Czech or Chinese, and add them to the list of your personal possibilities.

Here, some French baby names fashioned from French words for your consideration:

Girl Names from Africa

African names for baby girls hail from all around the continent and offer an uncommon yet usable complement of choices. A few African girl names are starting to catch on in the US, including Zola and Zuri, which feature the exciting Z initial.

Greek Baby Names for Modern Kids

Classic Greek baby names are a rich source of modern names, But which Greek names work best for today's babies? Some names of ancient gods and goddesses — such as Apollo and Calliope — have become newly baby-appropriate, while there are many other traditional names that have Greek roots.

Hawaiian Baby Names

Hawaiian names are becoming more widely used in the US in recent years, especially for girls. Names ending in -lani are particularly popular, thanks to the resurgence of the name Leilani. It’s even inspired parents to create pseudo-Hawaiian names for their daughters, such as Jenni “JWOWW” Farley did for her daughter Meilani.

Hebrew Baby Names

Hebrew baby names include many of the most popular names used in the contemporary Western world. Names from the Bible, such as Solomon and Sadie, along with names used in contemporary Israel, including Yael and Lior, are worth consideration.

Hipster British Baby Names for Boys

Hipster British baby names for boys feel fresher and funkier than the classic royal names most often associated with the British Isles. These quirky British boy names are popular — though, naturally, not *too* popular! — with hipster parents from London to Liverpool. There are some clear trends to be seen here: lively -o and -ee ending sounds are big with the Brits, old man chic is most definitely in, and nicknames as given names are everywhere. If you're looking for a great British baby boy name beyond James or George, you'll find a wealth of wonderful options in this list — no matter whether your taste leans more toward Milo or Marmaduke!

Hipster British Baby Names for Girls

Hipster British baby names for girls are an exotic and eclectic bunch! From sweet vintage nicknames like Peggy and Posy, to elaborate choices like Pandora and Pollyanna, the Brits are renowned for bestowing quirky baby girl names on their daughters. All of these beautiful British girl names have serious style cred in London right now, but they hit the hipster sweet spot in terms of popularity — none rank in the Top 100 baby girl names in England & Wales, and most sit much lower down the list. If you're looking for a cool British girl name beyond Emma or Elizabeth, here are some of our favorite hipster picks!

Hispanic Baby Names

Latin culture has an important influence on the United States, and that includes Hispanic baby names. Baby names that a generation ago might have been used exclusively by Latinx parents, such as Camila and Leonardo, are now filtering into the mainstream.

Irish Surname Names

Many of the best Irish baby names did not start life as first names at all but are Irish surname names. An astonishing number of these Irish surname names used as firsts make the US Top 1000, especially for girls.

Italian Baby Boy Names Beyond Giovanni & Giuseppe

Italian baby boy names are heard more often in Rome, Italy than Rome, New York, but are eminently usable here as Italian baby names continue to grow in favor.

Italian Word Names

One new direction -- or is it two? -- for the intrepid baby namer is toward foreign-word names, which combine two of today's coolest trends. We combed our own diccionarios for Italian words that could make perfectly appropriate, attractive Italian baby names. But no reason to stop here--consider words from the language of your own ethnic background, be it Czech or Chinese, and add them to the list of your personal possibilities.

Japanese Baby Names

Japanese baby names are Romanized translations of kanji — the characters used in the Japanese language. Japanese names can be written in multiple combinations of kanji —sometimes hundreds — and the meaning of a name changes depending on which characters are used. The name Kenzo, for example, has meanings related to wisdom, health, or humility when written in different kanji permutations.

Jewish Baby Names

Jewish baby names are multi-dimensional, representing Hebrew names from the Torah, Yiddish names that were historically used by Ashkenazi Jews, and names with gentile origins that eventually gained widespread use among Jewish communities.

Mexican Baby Names

Mexican baby names are typically Spanish names along with names from indigenous Mexican cultures and languages, such as Nahuati, known historically as Aztec or Mayan, and Zapotec. Spanish baby names popular in Mexico differ from those most popular in the US, Spain, or South American countries, so we focus on the top Spanish names in Mexico on this list. Also, some of the top Mexican names derive from other languages and cultures, such as the Greek Andrea and the Hebrew Daniel. Baby names popular in Mexico include the following.

Olympic Baby Names

Take a peek at these Olympic baby names dating from the 1896 games until now. The Olympics spotlights global choices that might not otherwise attract our attention. Names of Olympians range from trendy and well-used to never-before-seen picks, but we’ve chosen to feature some of more unique Olympian names here. These gold medal baby names show real promise:

Popular English Boy Names

English names for boys -- that is, names that originate in the English language -- are used around the world. Many of the top boys' names today are English. These popular English boy names include occupational names such as Hunter and Mason and surname-names like Auden and Colton, as well as English word names such as the newly-trendy Bear. Some classics such as James and Edward are English, as are many common nicknames such as Joe, Jim, and Mike. Here are the most popular English names for boys around the world. For the complete roster, browse our master list of English boy names.

Popular English Girls' Names

Popular Irish Baby Names

The top Irish baby names are very different in the US and in Ireland, with selections from each country rarely heard in the other. Choices like Liam, Finn, and Conor overlap, but in general many of the Irish-rooted names common in Ireland are like Caoimhe and Oisín, that are unintuitive to Americans. The exception is Saoirse, which is rising in the US thanks to actress Saoirse Ronan.

Popular Italian Baby Names

The top Italian baby names in the US and Italy are more different than they are similar, with Americans preferring names such as Isabella and Leo, while the Italians go for Ginevra and Alessandro. There is some overlap between the two countries, with names including Leonardo, Elena, Matteo, and Arianna ranking highly in both the US and Italy.

Posh Baby Names

The following names are the names most indicative of the upper class in Britain over the last thirty years based on peerage birth announcements compared with national statistics. In other words, these names are uncommon choices in Britain except for among the upper class where they are well used.

Prince Names

The prince names here are those chosen by royal families around the world for their little boys over the past decade or so. Your idea of prince names can be expanded to include those used over past generations—Charles and William, say—and to extend to fictional princes such as Phillip or...well, maybe not Charming.

Princess Names

The princess names for girls here are those chosen by royal families around the world over the past decade or so. Your idea of princess names can be expanded to include those used over past generations—Anne and Elizabeth and even Diana, say— and to extend to fictional princesses such as Ariel and Aurora.

Royal Baby Names

Royal baby names on this list are those used by royal families in recent years. Along with the traditional George, Charlotte, and Louis, other royal names making news range from the down-to-earth Archie to the fashionable Leonore to the popular Emma. The royal boy and girl names here include those used by British royal parents as well as those from other countries throughout Europe, including Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Russian Baby Girl Names

Russian baby names for girls, long a style backwater, are coming into their own as a fashionable choice. Many of the top supermodels of recent years have been from Russia, Ukraine, and other parts of Eastern Europe and have imported their Russian names along with their willowy beauty. And a recent First Daughter had not one Russian name but two: Sasha Obama's nickname would usually be a short form in Russia for Alexandra, but her proper name was the classic Russian girls' name Natasha.

Scottish Baby Names

Scottish names reflect the rich cultural heritage of The Scots, originally a Celtic tribe that migrated from northern Ireland. This list includes both uniquely Scottish Gaelic baby names, and other names that have been used predominantly in Scotland for so long and often that they are thought of internationally as typically Scottish names, such as Isla and Maisie.

Spanish Baby Girl Names

Spanish baby names for girls include several choices familiar to non-Spanish speakers: Maria, Sofia, and Lucia, for instance. And then there are other girls' names, popular in Latin and South America as well as in Spain, largely unused outside Spanish-speaking cultures.. Spanish girls' names popular in the US, Latin America, South America, and Spain include Lucia, Sofia (the Spanish spelling of the popular Sophia) and the classic Maria. The list of most popular names in Spain includes such girl names as Vega, Laia, Candela, Aitana, and Jimena, all still very exotic in the English-speaking community. What follows is a select list of Spanish names for girls.

Spanish Baby Names

Spanish baby names are widely-used in the US, and many of the same Spanish names are on the popularity lists throughout North and South America as well as in Spain. The names on this list include the best-known Spanish baby names and the most usable Spanish names for girls and boys that bridge cultures.

Spanish Baby Names for Boys

Spanish baby names for boys include lots of choices widely known through the Western World: Juan and Jose, Pablo and Pedro. The parent who wants to find Spanish boys' names that move beyond the obvious choices still has a lot of attractive options. Some of these Spanish names for boys are popular in Spain: Hugo and Iker, for instance, while others, such as Angel, are popular in the US.

Spanish Word Names

The parent in search of truly distinctiveSpanish baby names has to move farther than ever away from the established roster. One new direction -- or is it two? -- for the intrepid baby namer is toward foreign-word names, which combine two of today's coolest trends. We combed our own diccionarios for French, Italian, and Spanish words that could make perfectly appropriate, attractive baby names, and here are some Spanish ideas. But no reason to stop here--consider words from the language of your own ethnic background, be it Czech or Chinese, and add them to the list of your personal possibilities.

Stylish Girl Names That End in Consonants

Girl names ending in consonants contrast with those ending in vowels. Girl names ending in vowels are considered very feminine (especially those that end in A), or cutesy and girlish (particularly those that end with -ie or Y). Most of the top girl names end in a vowel, but increasingly, parents are attracted to consonant-ending girl names such as Charlotte and Harper.

Top Irish Baby Names

Irish baby names on Ireland's recent Top 100 popularity list include the following native choices. In the US, top names from this list include Irish boy names Liam and Finn. Liam and Finn are international stars too, making the lists of top names in nations as diverse as Germany, Sweden, and New Zealand. Irish girl names Caitlin and Tara have been trending downward in the US in recent years, though we're starting to hear more girls named Saoirse and Niamh. Irish baby names that are top-ranked in their native land include the following.

Uncommon Girl Names in the US

Uncommon girl names in the US may be well-liked and widely used in other countries around the world. Ebba might be uncommon in Seattle, for instance, but standard in Stockholm, while Alba is unusual in Milwaukee but everywhere in Madrid.

Unique French Baby Girl Names

French baby girl names aren't limited to the same old noms — the Michelles and Danielles and Gabrielles. These days the most popular French names for girls are Charlotte — which despite its French origins may feel more English, thanks to the connection to the Princess of Cambridge — and the unisex name Aubrey.

Unique International Variations of Katherine

Katherine is one of the most enduring classic baby names for girls. Famous Katherines and Catherines from history include three wives of Henry VIII (Catherine of Aragon, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr), Russian Empress Catherine the Great, and legendary Hollywood actress Katharine Hepburn. Iconic literary Catherines include Catherine "Cathy" Earnshaw from Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, Catherine "Kitty" Bennet and Catherine Morland from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey, and Catherine Barkley from Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms. And Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is a highly influential modern bearer of the classic girl name Catherine.

Unique Irish Girl Names

Irish baby names have been well used for girls outside the Emerald Isle for decades, but there's a new wave of Irish girl names that sound fresh and intriguing. Some of these beautiful Irish names for girls, such as Aoife, Niamh, and Fiadh, have been in Ireland's Top 100 for years, and are just starting to catch on in England and the US too.

Unique Italian Baby Names for Girls

Unique Italian baby names for girls differ significantly by country. Many Italian names Americans consider to be unique are quite common in Italy, and plenty popular Italian choices among Americans fail to chart in their native country. Americans favor Italian names such as Isabella and Aria, and Italians prefer Giulia and Ginevra.

Unusual International Baby Girl Names

Unusual international girl names are a great place to start if you're looking for a beautiful and unique baby girl name with a solid history. With uncommon baby names getting more and more fashionable, it can be hard to find one that still feels fresh and undiscovered. But there's a whole world of beautiful options out there!

Uncommon international names for girls that are popular here on Nameberry (but not in the US, shhhh!) include Anjali, Cressida, Eira, Saoirse and Ziva. And if you're looking for a truly unique international name for a girl, there are plenty of beautiful rare options in the list below, including Araluen, Demelza, Ismene, Mahalia and Zuleika.

Along with Eira and Zora, other short and funky international girl names outside the US Top 1000 include Bijou, Daru, Ezri and Rio. Or if you prefer long, statement-making names, try Antonina, Cleophee, Endellion or Zipporah.

When considering rare international names for your baby girl, it's always important to bear each name's cultural context in mind. If the name is not from a culture familiar to you, do some reasearch (asking on our friendly international Forums is a great place to start!) to make sure that you understand the background to the name, and any cultural significance it may have.

Browse a selection of the best unusual international girl names below, or check out our full list of Cool International Girl Names for even more ideas!

Unusual Irish Boy Names

Unusual Irish boy names have become more, well, usual in recent years, as more name emigrate from Ireland to the wider world.Irish-American parents have long been especially keen to adopt Irish names for their children, and are looking further afield for original choices.

Unusual Irish Names

Unusual Irish baby names are still abundant, even with the emigration over the past few decades of plenty of new and unique Irish names. Now, such Irish baby names as Liam, Declan, Finn, Saoirse, and Sinead are no longer considered unusual in the US.