Baby Names by Meaning
I have always believed that a name carries more than a sound. The meaning behind it - whether it calls to mind open water, ancient courage, or the warmth of first light - shapes the way a child moves through the world. When I started compiling names for this page, I wanted to go beyond the typical lists and show you the words that actually live inside each name: the linguistic roots, the forgotten verbs, the adjectives that no longer exist in spoken language but still echo here.
The categories below are drawn from the quick_meaning notes attached to every name in our database - the same notes you will find on individual name pages. I have grouped them by the idea they carry: names rooted in the natural world, names that point toward a quality of character, names that simply mean strength or light or love. Within each group, names are listed in order of current US popularity, so you can see both the well-known and the overlooked.
Nature Names
From Latin “oliva” meaning olive tree; coined by…
From Old Norse 'Áleifr' meaning ancestor relic, or Latin…
From Latin “luna” meaning moon; the name of Rome’s moon…
From Latin viola meaning violet flower; a color name with…
From Hebrew “El-Yah” meaning my God has answered; a…
From Old English 'haesel' meaning the hazel tree;…
From Latin lilium meaning lily flower; a floral name…
From Old English "welig" referring to the willow tree; a…
From the Roman gens name 'Antonius,' of probable Etruscan…
From Irish 'Aodhan,' a diminutive of 'Aodh' meaning fire, a…
From Latin “lilium” meaning lily flower; a Victorian-era…
From Greek “Christophoros” meaning Christ-bearer; the name…
Virtue Names
From Hebrew 'Eitan' meaning strong, firm, or long-lived; a…
From Ancient Greek “penēlopē” meaning weaver or thread on a…
From Old English 'Wigheard' meaning war-brave or strong in…
From Hebrew 'Kalev' meaning whole-hearted, loyal, or dog as…
From Hebrew "channah" meaning grace or favor; the mother of…
From Germanic “adal” meaning noble; the French diminutive…
From Old French form of Germanic "Adalheidis" meaning noble…
From Irish Gaelic 'O Nuallain' meaning descendant of…
From Greek 'Andreas' meaning manly, brave, or warrior,…
From Greek 'Theos' meaning God, or as a short form of…
From Old English 'Aethelthryth,' compounding 'aethel'…
From Germanic 'Leonhard' (lewo + hardu) meaning 'brave…
Strength Names
From Hebrew לֵוִי meaning joined or attached; the priestly…
From Hebrew 'Eitan' meaning strong, firm, or long-lived; a…
From Greek Alexandros meaning defender of men; carried by…
From Old English 'Wigheard' meaning war-brave or strong in…
From Latin "valentinus" meaning strong or vigorous; the…
From Germanic “adal” meaning noble; the French diminutive…
From Greek 'Andreas' meaning manly, brave, or warrior,…
From Old Irish “Meadhbh” meaning she who intoxicates or…
From Old English 'parker' meaning keeper of the park; a…
From Old English 'east-tun' meaning eastern settlement; an…
From Hebrew 'Yarden' meaning to flow down or descend; the…
From Germanic 'Hludwig' meaning famous warrior; the Spanish…
Light Names
From Latin aurora meaning dawn; the Roman goddess of the…
Diminutive of Eleanor or Elizabeth; Eleanor derives from…
Short form of Honora from Latin 'honor' or of Eleanor from…
From Old French “escarlate” meaning bright red cloth; an…
From Latin “novus” meaning new; in astronomy, a star that…
From Latin “clarus” meaning clear, bright, or famous; the…
From Old English “daeges eage” meaning day’s eye; a…
From Latin 'clarus' meaning bright, clear, famous, or…
From Germanic 'Hrodebert' (hrod + beraht) meaning 'bright…
From Old High German 'Adalina' through 'adal' meaning…
From Greek 'Phoibe' meaning 'bright' or 'radiant'; the name…
From Old English blaec meaning "black" or "bright," a…
Love Names
From a Scandinavian and Italian short form of Maria, rooted…
From Hebrew 'Dawidh' meaning beloved or uncle; the biblical…
From Old English "welig" referring to the willow tree; a…
From Hebrew "channah" meaning grace or favor; the mother of…
From Germanic “heil” meaning healthy or whole; the medieval…
From Hebrew “Miriam” meaning beloved or wished-for child;…
From Old English “daeges eage” meaning day’s eye; a…
From the Latin and Greek form of Hebrew 'Hannah' meaning…
From Latin 'lux' meaning light; the name of a beloved…
From Greek 'georgios' meaning farmer or earthworker; the…
From Greek 'Nike' and 'laos' meaning victory of the people;…
From multiple traditions including Igbo meaning grace and…