Name Meanings
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Names That Mean Air
Names that mean air reference the sky, the wind, the weather, even the breath we take. Air names are ethereal and celestial. Many of the baby names meaning air are word names such as Aura and Sky, but other names have more subtle air meanings hidden in their ancient roots. Names with air-related meanings work for babies born under the air signs of the zodiac: Aquarius, Gemini, and Libra.
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Names That Mean Beautiful
Baby names that mean beautiful come from a range of cultures and represent a variety of styles. A meaning of beautiful or pretty is one that appeals to many parents of baby girls, and what would a little girl like more than a name denoting beauty? But there are also boy names with the meaning of beautiful or handsome, qualities prized in either gender. Here are some baby names that for boys and girls that mean beautiful.
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Names That Mean Blessed
Baby names meaning blessed and names that mean blessing may have a religious connotation to you or may simply mean gifted in any number of ways. Blessed is a meaning fitting names of different origins and styles for both girls and boys. Along with names that mean blessing, blessed or bless, we also include here names that mean gift. Names meaning blessed include the following.
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Names That Mean Blond
If your baby has blond hair -- or you're expecting a little towhead -- here's a selection of baby names that mean fair or blond. Names for blondes (that's the female noun) include girl names that mean blond, white, or fair. There are also several names suitable for blond babies that are typically masculine or gender neutral.
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Names That Mean Dark
Expecting a baby with dark hair, or eyes, or skin, or simply looking for a name that means (or suggests) darkness? You could search for names that literally mean black, dark, or night. Or you might prefer to browse for names that suggest dark things, such as Sable or Ebony. The names here either mean dark or reference dark things or nighttime and would be perfect for a brown-eyed baby girl or dark-haired baby boy.
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Names That Mean Dawn
Baby names that mean dawn appeal on both a literal and a symbolic level. Dawn might mean a new beginning for your family or your child's emergence into the world. You might want a name that means dawn for a child that's born at sunrise or early in the morning. Dawn might mean a new attitude, a new realization, a new way of life. Included here are also the names of gods and goddesses and other notable figures associated with the dawn. Of course, a name meaning dawn might simply relate to the newness associated with any brand-new life. In this group of names that mean dawn, we also include names for girls and boys that mean sun, names that mean new day, names that mean light and names meaning bright, names that mean gold, names that mean morning, and names that mean early.
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Names That Mean Earth
Baby names with earth-related meanings might be perfect for a child born under one of the earth signs of the zodiac: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Earth names might appeal to parents who are gardeners, mountain climbers, or ecologists. Earthy names might literally mean earth, stone, or ground, or they may refer to places and characteristics of the earth. Earth-related heroes and mythological figures related to the earth can inspire earth names too. One of these names that mean earth can offer stability and ground your child.
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Names That Mean Fair
Baby names that mean fair are perfect for light-toned or blonde-haired babies. Many fair baby names originated in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, where pale-skinned children were common. Names for fair babies include those with more conspicuous ties to lightness, like Whitney and Fairchild, as well as names with subtler connections, such as Fiona and Banning. If you’re expecting a fair baby, these names are worth your consideration.
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Names That Mean Fame and Fortune
Baby names meaning fame or fortune might not be able to bless your child with these covetable attributes, but they can certainly give him or her something to aspire to. Names meaning famous, fortunate, or wealthy come from a wide range of cultures and can fit many different styles. Consider these famous names for your child if your dreams for them include the limelight.
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Names That Mean Fire
Baby names that mean fire are a diverse group, working for both girls and boys, from a range of cultures ancient and modern, representing different feelings and styles. Fire names might literally mean fire or fiery or blaze or sun, or be the names of gods or goddesses of fire or the sun, or have other fire-related associations. Names with fire meanings can work for babies born under the zodiac fire signs of Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius. Baby names that mean fire include the following.
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Names That Mean Freedom
Baby names meaning freedom might inspire your child to reach for the stars, liberating him or her to be whatever she chooses. Free or freedom or liberation or adventure is a positive name meaning, underscoring your belief in your child's free will and unlimited destiny. There are names that mean free for girls and boys, as well as names with freedom meanings that are gender neutral. If you're interested in a name that means freedom, you can find one in any style and with many origins. Charles and Francis and their variations are the most widely-used names meaning free, but there are also many selections beyond them. Browse our collection of names that mean free or freedom.
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Names That Mean Friend or Friendly
All these baby names have meanings that relate to friends or friendship—something we're sure you wish for your child. Names that mean friend represent a range of cultures and styles. Friendliness is a positive quality to invest in your baby's name. Names for a friendly baby include those like Arden, Jeb, and Sameria. Browse these names that mean friend or friendly.
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Names That Mean Gift
Baby names meaning gift might reference your child being a gift from God or from the universe, a gift for your family or for the world. A name meaning gift might also imply the gifts your child may receive from God, nature, and from his or her loved ones. And of course, a perfect name is the most important gift you can give your child.
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Names That Mean Good or Kind
Kindness is a quality that all parents hope to imbue in their children. We’ve added all the names that mean goodness and kindness in this list. Good and kind baby names can also be related to concepts such as gentleness and generosity. If you are in need of names for a kind baby, one of these could be perfect for you.
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Names That Mean Grace
Baby names meaning grace imply beauty, gentleness, and kindness. Grace or gracious is a lovely meaning for a name for both girls and boys. You may hope your child possesses physical grace but perhaps more important is grace of personality and of spirit. Names with grace in the meaning often reference God -- John and all the names that stem from it, for instance, mean "God is gracious" -- but not always. If you love the meaning of grace or you're looking for a name that will inspire grace and graciousness in your child, browse this list of names that mean grace for girls and boys.
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Names That Mean Handsome
Baby names that mean handsome can help your little boy's self-image. A number of names imply good looks, from Keeley and Keefe to Bello and Beau. Names for good-looking babies come from many cultures, including Japan, Ireland, and Hawaii. Any of the names on this list would be appropriate for your beautiful baby boy. Handsome baby names for boys include:
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Names That Mean Happy
Happiness is a wonderful meaning for a baby's name, suggesting an upbeat personality and a positive future. Names that mean happy, happiness, joy, bliss or some other upbeat feeling include ancient mythological names along with modern word names. Names with happiness-related meanings come from a range of cultures and origins. Here are some names for a happy baby.
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Names That Mean Honor
Many parents hope their child grows up to be honored and respected, and some might choose to reflect that in their son or daughter’s name. Names related to honor and respect have meanings such as praise, esteemed, admirable, and integrity. Prestigious baby names include current favorites like Nora and Jude, as well as lesser-heard names like Cadogan and Mireya. Take a look at this list if you need an honorable baby name for your child.
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Names That Mean Hope
Names meaning hope reflect the optimism we're filled with for our babies' futures. The baby names here either mean hope in various cultures or symbolize hope. We also include names with meanings related to hope: newness, rebirth, light, sun, butterflies, daisies, spring, and the color green. If you're looking for a name meaning hope for your baby girl or baby boy, browse this list.
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Names That Mean Light
Names that mean light or bright shine beautifully and boldly on a baby. The meaning light can commemorate a sunny day or burst of knowledge, can confer brightness on your baby's future or illuminate a mid-winter birth. Babies born at Hanukkah or New Year's sometimes are given names that mean light. Here is our collection of names that mean light or bright or clear for girls and boys.
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Names That Mean Love
Baby names that mean love might be the perfect choice for a baby born near Valentine's Day or conceived on a honeymoon, or of course, for any child born into a world of love. Love is always a wonderful meaning for a name, and there are baby names meaning love for baby girls and boys in every language and style. Included here are names that mean loving, names that mean beloved, names that mean desire, names that mean heart, and and even names that mean lovely. Here, all our names with love meanings for boys and girls.
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Names That Mean Luck
Baby names meaning luck may not be enough on their own to bless your child with good fortune, but as they say, it couldn't hurt. Names meaning luck or lucky or fortunate include a wide range of different styles and include names with luck-related meanings as well as word-names that literally mean luck. Names for a lucky baby can also be related to good luck charms, like four-leaf clovers or the number seven.
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Names That Mean New Beginnings
Baby names that mean new, newness, or new beginnings appeal to parents looking for a name that signifies the hope and fresh start a baby can bring to your life. Names that mean new are often used for New Year's babies or spring babies, but new is a wonderful meaning for a name for a baby girl or boy born at any time of year. We also include here names of boys and girls with meanings related to newness: fresh, green, spring, dawn, change, and the number one. These are baby names that mean change, newness, and dawn, in various cultures.
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Names That Mean Ocean
Baby names that mean ocean or sea are a subset of names that mean water. Included here are names with ocean or sea related meanings, the names of specific oceans and seas, as well as the names of sea creatures and mythological figures.
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Names That Mean Peace
Peace is a beautiful meaning for your baby's name, both for what it suggests about your child's temperament and what it conveys about your values and hopes for the world. Peaceful meanings of names can include words such as calm, silence, and tranquility, or even relate to a peace-related symbol such as dove or olive branch. Here are some of the most usable of the baby names for girls and boys that mean peace.
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Names That Mean Pure
Baby names that mean pure or innocent symbolize the essential innocence of a newborn. With each baby, our faith in the purity of new life is restored. Purity or innocence is a name meaning commonly found in the etymology of first names. With many names originating from religious sources, from the Bible to the Torah to the Koran to saints' names and other religious tracts, purity or innocence from sin was a common meaning and a desirable quality. Katherine in all its variations is one of the most familiar girl names meaning pure, but there are many choices for both genders, both popular and unique. Also included here are some names with meanings related to purity and its symbols: names associated with the color white, for instance, and names that mean new or virginal. Baby names for boys and girls that mean pure or innocent include the following.
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Names That Mean Ruler or Royal
Names with royal meanings are not necessarily actual royal baby names, such as George and Charlotte, but names that mean king, prince, queen, royal, or ruler. Choosing a baby name with a royal meaning is one of the many positive ways you can give your child a name to live up to. There are names that mean ruler or royal in every style, from a range of cultures, for girls and for boys. A complete list of our names that mean royal or ruler is here.
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Names That Mean Strong
Baby names that mean strong may help arm your boy or girl for whatever lies ahead. Strength-related name meanings have become more popular to parents in recent years, as they prepare their children for challenging times. Names for strong babies come from a variety of different cultures and encompass many different styles. The following are baby names that include strength or power in their meaning.
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Names That Mean Strong, Brave or Powerful
Names that mean brave, strong, or powerful are newly interesting to parents who realize those positive qualities are gender neutral and desirable for all children, whether they're embodied in the meaning of a name or not. Traditionally, there are fewer girls' names that mean brave or powerful than there are boys' names with strong meanings. But they're not unknown and several stylish contemporary girls' names -- Audrey, Matilda, and Imara, for instance -- mean brave or powerful, along with a big group of brave and powerful names for boys. If you're names for girls and boys with strong meanings that might empower and inspire your child, browse this selection.
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Names That Mean Sweet
Baby names that mean sweet can be connected to sugary treats like candy or sundaes, or related to sweetness found in nature, like honey, maple, and nectar. Sweet baby names include familiar word names such as Baker and Sugar, as well as names with less obvious links to sweetness, like Jarah and Eulalie. Here are examples of names for a sweet baby.
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Names That Mean Trouble
Baby names with negative meanings used to be a no-no, but now many parents want to arm their children for a difficult world by choosing a name that means trouble, or danger, or aggression. There is a certain charm about modern names like Maverick and Rebel that come prepackaged with a badass image. And you might argue the negative meanings concealed inside otherwise-lovely classic names, such a Cecilia meaning blind and Kennedy meaning misshapen head, don't really matter in the modern world anyway. And then there are names inspired by notorious trouble-makers, like Delilah or Dexter. Whether you're looking for a name with a negative meaning on purpose or you've fallen in love with one by accident, here's a master list of names that mean trouble....literally.
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Names That Mean Victory
Names meaning victory or glory have a naturally winning aura, imparting an upbeat feeling to a child. Name meanings related to victory include victorious and glorious. You'll notice groups of related names here which share victory-related meanings: There are the Nicholas names, those related to Sigrid, and names in the Victor constellation. If you want your child's name to mean victory or some other kind of win, consider the choices on this list.
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Names That Mean Water
Baby names that mean water include names that mean ocean and sea, names that mean waves and tide, names meaning river or lake or bay and brook, and names meaning rain and even mist. The names of notable rivers, such as Hudson, and other bodies of water are listed here. The names of gods and goddesses of the sea can be counted as water names, as can the names of fictional mermaids and other mythical water creatures. Fish names can qualify as water names too. Names with water-related meanings might be right for babies born under one of the water signs of the zodiac: Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio. Or you might be looking for baby names that mean water if you live near the ocean or another body of water. Swimmers, surfers, and boaters might want water names for their babies. Or you may simply love the image of water reflected in your baby's name. Names with water meanings can be found in cultures all around the world for both baby girls and baby boys.
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Names That Mean Wealth
Names meaning wealth or wealthy or rich indicate not only money or material riches but a richness of spirit. The meaning of wealth can be an auspicious element of a baby's name. Edward is perhaps the best-known name meaning wealth, but baby names that mean rich, prosperous or wealthy can be found in all cultures and there are names with wealth meanings for both girls and boys. If you want to invest your child's name with wealth, choose one of these names with a rich meaning.
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Names That Mean Wise
Baby names that mean wise or intelligent or smart have a contemporary feel, with wisdom is a more valuable quality than ever. These names meaning wise represent a range of cultures and styles. Names for a wise baby include familiar choices like Sophia and Hudson, as well as less common picks like Zelmira and Gyan. Also included here are names that symbolize wisdom through their association with wise figures. Here are some baby names that confer wisdom by their meaning.
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Names with Animal Meanings
Baby names with animal meanings range from the obvious, such as Robin or Lionel, and those with subtler animal meanings, such Rachel (which means ewe) or Tabitha (gazelle). This list of baby names with animal meanings contains both those that announce themselves clearly, such as Fox and Wolf, and those whose animal meaning is more hidden. The following range of animal baby names would be perfect for your wild child.
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Names with Inspirational Meanings
Baby names with inspirational meanings or from spiritual sources strike an uplifting chord. Inspirational baby names are virtuous in nature, with meanings like comfort, generous, and bliss. Names with inspiring meanings might encourage your child to embody the virtue behind their name. This list includes classic virtue names like Justice and Grace, as well as names with subtler inspirational meanings, such as Grady and Veronique. Consider these names if you want to set your child up for a lifetime of inspiration.
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Names with Military Meanings
Military ranks and weapons have become cool new baby names. We've got military names that reference people general or particular, real and mythical, from Sergeant to MacArthur to Mars. This list also includes word names associated with military objects, such as Arrow and Rocket. We've included names that mean army or battle as well as names meaning warrior, fighter, or soldier. Although the majority of military names are for boys, we also include some that work for girls or that are gender neutral. If you're in the military or want to honor the armed forces with your child's name, browse these military baby names.
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Names with Uplifting Meanings
Positive meanings are a plus for all baby names, creating something for your child to live up to. The girl names here include modern virtue names such as Peace and True that are literally inspirational words as well as more conventional names with meanings such as brave, strong, and beautiful. Baby names for girls with positive meanings could set your child on the right course for life. Consider these girl names with uplifting meanings for your daughter.
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Occupational Baby Names
Most occupational baby names were originally surnames that described a person’s job. Names related to jobs have taken on significant style value over the past years and are destined to rise even further. Think of them as the surname-names or place-names of the future. Most of these occupational baby names work best for boys but can cross over to the girls' side.
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Redhead Baby Names
Expecting a little redhead? Or maybe you love the color red or are expecting a baby born under one of the fire signs of the zodiac. Here are some baby names that mean red or redhead.
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Son Baby Names
Baby names that end in son originated just the way you think: they designated that the person—Jackson, say, or Jefferson—was the son of Jack or Jeffery. Son makes a stylish first name ending today, mostly for boys but since the era of Allison, also for girls. Son baby names can make for an original way to honor an ancestor or relative while slightly varying the name. Some prime examples:
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Space Baby Names
There are cool star names like Uma and Bono, and then there are the even more extreme astronomical star and constellation names, which might appeal to parents looking for baby names that are unique and celestial—in other words, a heavenly name. Space names for babies include all things planetary and nebular, from names of stars to satellites. If you are looking for baby names related to space, here are some stellar ideas:
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Spiritual Baby Names
Spiritual baby names suggest qualities we'd all like our children to aspire to and fit our new definition of cool. While they seem as if they can work for both genders, most spiritual baby names have been veering toward the feminine side. A few, such as Trinity, Destiny, Sky, and Genesis, are already staples on the girls' popularity lists. Spiritual names deriving from a range of religions and beliefs are, for many parents, a modern substitute for biblical or saints' names. Here, some spiritual names that might be right for your baby.
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Strong Girl Names
Strong baby names for girls are a more rarefied group than strong names for boys, with fewer girls' names meaning strong, powerful, or brave. We've gathered all the girl names with meanings that denote strength or power here. Names for strong girls can be long and feminine, like Gabriella or Valentina, or short and unisex, like Drew or Casey. For more strong names for baby girls, consult our lists of Names of Great Heroines and Short & Strong Girls' Names. And you might also want to consult our list of strong boy names.
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Virtue Names
Virtue names, favored by the Puritans, represent qualities we should embody or at least aspire to. They are word names that often speak to a parent’s values that they hope to pass on to their children. While some of the Puritanical virtue names such as Obedience and Modesty might be a bit too outdated for a 21st century child, there are plenty of modern virtue names that would feel right at home on today’s playgrounds. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if names like Reverie and Zen or Loyal and True become downright mainstream in the coming years.
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Writing-Related Names
Literary names have become a very stylish group in recent years, and here's an offshoot that's gotten less attention. With credit to @Vana , a berry who created an original list of similar names, these names all relate to writing itself. Writing-related baby names can connect to poetry, plot structure, and literary devices. If you're a writer or simply a book lover, one of those original word names connected to writing may be, well, right for you.
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