400 Surprising Meanings Of Popular Baby Names

No one chooses a baby’s name lightly. And yet, for all the considerations that parents bring to the job — whether to go with an old-fashioned name or try for something unique — a name’s meaning may not come into the initial conversation at all. Obscured by time and geography, the original meaning can take parents by surprise.

Some of the world’s most popular names — names that connote strength, charm, and success — have surprisingly humble beginnings. Javier, for instance, means “owner of a new house,” while Glen means “from the secluded narrow valley.” Jameson means — you guessed it — “son of James.”

Dozens of popular baby names — from all over the world — are simply variations on “gift from God.” The truth is, the vast majority of us don’t know the original meanings of our own names — much less the thousands of baby names up for consideration. But if a name’s ancient and deeper meaning speaks to you, it might just be the essential key that unlocks the perfect name for a baby girl or boy.

Surprising Boy Baby Name Meanings

Aaran – strong mountain

Aaron – enlightened

Aariz – respectable

Abba – father

Abbey – father rejoiced

Abbot – Hebrew word for “father” or “head of community”

Abie – servant

Abir – strength

Abraham – father of multitudes

Addison – son of the mighty warrior

Ace – one

Adair – from the brook by the oak grove

Adam – made from the earth

Adler – he who is brave

Adrian – derived form the ancient place in Italy

Ahmed – praiseworthy, comfort

Aidan – he who helps

Alan – attractive man, fair one

Albert – he who is brilliant

Amos – burdened

Andrew – courageous

Baldwin – bold friend

Bao – treasure

Ballar – brave, strong

Baxter – baker

Barney – dweller from the barn

Beau – French for “beautiful” (masculine)

Beck – dweller near the brook

Benedict – blessed

Benito – blessed

Benjamin – right hand’s son, favorite son, son of my sorrow

Benson – son of Ben

Bentley – bent grass meadow

Bert – shining, bright

Bingham – one who lives by the bridge

Bill – willful one, strong-minded

Blake – dark or fair

Blythe – cheerful

Braden – from the wide valley

Bram – father of multitudes

Cain – acquired

Caleb – bold

Carl – strong

Carlin – little champion

Carlton – from the strong, courageous town

Carmen – vineyard of the lord

Carmelo – fruitful

Carter – cart maker

Casey – brave, aggressive

Cato – cautious wisdom

Chandler – candle maker

Charles – full grown, a man, a historically royal name

Chekani – to cut

Chimango – builder

Chipati – to part

Clark – learned scholar

Claud – weak

Cortez – courteous

Cosgrove – from the cows grove

Costa – little, constant, steadfast one

Covey – from the cove

Craig – from the rock

Creed – one who believes

Crosby – from the village with a cross

Dale – living in a valley

Dalton – from the town in the valley

Damien – tamer

Daniel – God is my judge

Darby – freedom

Daren – born at night

Dario – wealthy

Davis/David – beloved

Dempsey – proud

Denley – from the meadow

Dillon – faithful

Dimitri – immeasurable, gracious

Donovan – dark warrior

Dorion – gift

Drew – wise, esteemed

Duka – to dance

Duncan – steadfast warrior, strong in faith

Earl – promise

Earl – friend of the sea

Edmond – wealthy protector

Edwin – wealthy friend

Eli – uplifting

Elijah – the Lord is my God

Eloi – chosen

Emery – industrious, hardworking ruler

Emre – brother

Eric – forever ruler

Ezekiel – God strengthens

Felix – lucky, happy

Fidel – faithful

Fortino – fortunate

Gabriel – God is my strength

Garcia – brave spear carrier

Glen – from the valley

Golden – gold friend

Grady – noble, illustrious

Grant – grant

Guy – guide from the forrest

Hamilton – from the proud town

Hedwig – fighter

Henry – ruler of the house

Herald – story bringer

Herb – brilliant warrior

Hermes – messenger

Hillel – new moon

Hiram – exalted, noble

Horace – time keeper

Howard – watcher, guardian

Howell – little, alert

Hubert – bright mind and heart

Huey – intelligent

Hugo – intelligent

Humbert – bright giant

Hugh – having a bright mind

Humphrey – a peaceful warrior

Ike – one who brings laughter, god smiles

Ira – alert, watchful stallion

Isaac – one who brings laughter, God smiles

Israel – he who wrestles with God

Jabbar – one who consoles other

Jacob – supplanter

Jaime – he who supplants

Jamal – a handsome man

Jason – healer

Jared – descending

Jax – son of Jack

Jay – victory

Jayce – healer

Jayden – thankful

Jaylan – calm

Jeffery – man of peace

Jeremiah – the Lord exalts

Jonah – accomplisher

Jordan – to flow downward

Joya – to have restraint

Jude – right with the law

Justin – righteous, just

Kacey – brave

Kade – from the wetlands

Kadir – spring

Kadish – holy

Kai – willow tree

Kalani – heaven, chief

Keanu – sea breeze

Kent – lord

Kin – golden

Kirby – from the church by the meadow

Kingsley – from the king’s meadow

Kyle – from the straight

Lamar – famous

Lavern – springtime

Leif – beloved

Leo – lion man

Leon – lion-like

Leonard – bold, strong

Leor – light of mine

Levi – joined

Leroy – king

Louis – famous fighter

Luke – bringer of light

Marcus – warrior

Maren – sea

Marion – sea

Marlow – from the hill by the lake

Micah – who is like the Lord

Michael – who is like God

Milan – loving

Millar – grain mill worker

Milo – peaceful, merciful, mild

Nathan – gift from God

Nicolas – people’s triumph

Noah – to comfort

Norman – composed of French words for north and man, once used to identify a group of Scandinavians living in Normandy

Oakley – from an oak tree

Oliver – derived from either French Olivier (olive tree) or German Alfihar (elf warrior)

Oren – pale, pine tree

Otis – wealthy

Paco – French man

Paul – derived from Latin word for small, Paulus

Quigley – loving nature

Quincy – fifth, patient

Quon – bright light

Rafi – musical, friend

Raleigh – jovial

Ralph – advisor to all

Randy – secretive

Ravi – sun god

Rio – River

Rich – wise

Roan – red-haired

Robert – bright fame

Robson – son of Robert

Rocco – battle cry

Roger – famous spear

Roland – famous country

Ronan – little seal

Sandros – defender and freer of mankind

Sander – defensive

Schneider – stylish

Seamus – replacement, bonus

Sebastian – dramatic, honorable

Serge – gentle man

Sergio – handsome

Vincent – conqueror

Vito – full of life

Surprising Girl Baby Name Meanings

Abigail – source of father’s joy

Abra – mother of multitude

Acacia – honored one

Ada – prosperous, nobility

Adair – she who is beautiful, exalted

Adalia – honor

Adina – she who is delicate

Adele – graceful and noble

Adelaide – noble, kind

Adrianne – woman from Adria

Agatha – she who is kind

Agnes – sacred and chaste

Aida – helper, derived from the French aider, to help

Ainsley – a meadow

Alana – fair

Alea – honorable

Alessa – protector of humanity

Alethea- truthful

Alexis – defender, helper

Aliana – light

Alice – noble, kind

Almira – royal one

Amira – leader

Amani – faith

Amelia – ambitious

Amy – beloved

Anaïs – graceful, full of grace

Anastasia – resurrection

Angela – angelic

Anika – graceful

Anita – grace

Anna – full of grace, mercy

Anne – full of grace

Annalise – grace, devoted to god

April – open

Araminata – defender

Audra – noble strength

Aviva – fresh, springlike

Aziza – beloved

Beatrice – one who brings happiness

Bailey – from the French word for bailiff, justice officer

Bao – gem

Barbara – stranger, foreigner, once used to refer to non-Romans or those considered uncivilized

Basimati – to be finished

Bea- bringer of joy

Bertha – radiant

Bibi – full of light

Bethany – house of god

Bethel – holy place

Betsy – pledged to god

Bianca – white, shining

Billie – determined

Bindi – a tiny drop

Blair – plain, battle

Blanche – white, pure

Blythe – kind, joyous

Bodhi – awakened, enlightened

Bonnie – beautiful, good

Brigitte – strength

Brittany – strong

Bryn – honorable

Candence – rhythm, flow

Catherine – pure

Caitlin – untainted

Camille – pure, virgin of unblemished character

Cara – friend, she who is dear

Carissa – she who is dear

Carole – joyous song, full-grown man

Cassandra – temptress

Cecilia – blind

Celeste – celestial, heavenly

Cheryl – beloved, dear one

Clio – praise

Constance – unchanging

Cora – young woman

Cynthia – luminous

Dahlia – flower, gentle, tender

Daisy – inspired by the popular flower; the old English word “doeges eage,” days eve, refers to the sun-like yellow center of the flower

Danica – morning star

Daniele – feminine form of Daniel, which means “God is my judge” in Hebrew

Dale – valley

Daria – prosperous

Davina – cherished, beloved

Delma – from the sea

Denise – derivative of the greek god Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry

Diane – divine

Donna – lady

Edna – pleasant

Elena – bright, torch

Elaine – light, bright, torch

Elizabeth – God is abundance

Eleanor – bright shining one, light

Eloise – great in battle

Elsa – noble young woman

Esmé – beloved, loved, guardian

Esmeralda – emerald

Estelle – star

Esther – star

Eva – life

Eve – life

Fatima – captivating,

Finley – fair haired, hero, warrior

Frances – free one

Francesca – free one

Gabrielle – God is my strength

Georgia – farmer, earth worker

Gloria- Glory

Greta – a pearl

Haley – heroine

Hannah- full of grace, mercy

Harriet – rules the home

Hazel – victory

Heidi – noble

Hella – the sun

Hera – protector

Hillary – bringer of joy

Hilda – battle

Ida – labor, industrious one

Idalia – industrious

Iman – God is with us

Ingrid – beautiful, fertile

Irene – peace

Iris – rainbow

Isadora – gift, fertile

Isla – island

Jennifer – fair lady

Jaqueline – supplanter

Jane – God is gracious

Jolie – pretty

Kalliope – beautiful

Kamila – free born

Kara – pure

Karen – pure, unsullied

Klohe – blooming, verdant

Kleopatra – glory, father, of a famous father

Katrina – pure

Keara – dark one

Kendra – knowledgeable

Kristin – anointed one

Kyle – she who is pretty

Kyra – sun

Lala – cheerful

Lana – little, soft

Leah – weary

Leandra – lioness

Madelaine – from the tower

Martha – lady, mistress

Mirabelle – wondrous

Mona – alone

Nadia – filled with hope

Naomi – pleasant

Nanette – grace, favor

Nicole – victory the people

Nicolette – people’s triumph

Nina – gracious

Noel – Christmas, birthday of the Lord

Odele – song

Odelia – wealthy, prosperous

Olivia – olive, symbol of peace

Ophelia – helpful, successor

Pandora – all gifted

Patricia – aristocrat

Rachael – purity

Renee – reborn

Rita – pearl

Roxanne – dawn of day, radiant

Sadie – princess

Sally – princess

Sarah – princess

Sandra – helper, defender

Sharon – a flat place of ground, a plain

Solange – yearly, solemn

Sophie – wise

Tamara – palm tree

Valerie – strong, healthy

Venus – love and desire

Vera – believed to be a word for faith (vjera) or the Latin word for truth (vera)

Victoria – victory

Viola – inspired by the name of the flower

Violet – also inspired by a flower

Virginia – spring like, flourishing

Vivienne – alive, full of life

Willa – feminine version of William, originated from German word for “resolute protector”

Xena – welcoming, hospitable

Yasmine – jasmine flower

Zadie – princess, mother of Zeus

Zara – flower, blossoming

Zelda – blessed, happy

Zinnia – worthy

Zoe – life

Zola – earth, quiet, tranquil