400 Surprising Meanings Of Popular Baby Names
Every babyβs name has a story behind it.

No one chooses a babyβs name lightly. And yet, for all the considerations that parents bring to the job β whether to go with an old-fashioned name or try for something unique β a nameβs 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 worldβs most popular names β names that connote strength, charm, and success β have surprisingly humble beginnings. Javier, for instance, means βowner of a new house,β while Glen means βfrom the secluded narrow valley.β Jameson means β you guessed it β βson of James.β
Dozens of popular baby names β from all over the world β are simply variations on βgift from God.β The truth is, the vast majority of us donβt know the original meanings of our own names β much less the thousands of baby names up for consideration. But if a nameβs 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 β strong mountain
Aaron β enlightened
Aariz β respectable
Abba β father
Abbey β father rejoiced
Abbot β Hebrew word for βfatherβ or βhead of communityβ
Abie β servant
Abir β strength
Abraham β father of multitudes
Addison β son of the mighty warrior
Ace β one
Adair β from the brook by the oak grove
Adam β made from the earth
Adler β he who is brave
Adrian β derived form the ancient place in Italy
Ahmed β praiseworthy, comfort
Aidan β he who helps
Alan β attractive man, fair one
Albert β he who is brilliant
Amos β burdened
Andrew β courageous
Baldwin β bold friend
Bao β treasure
Ballar β brave, strong
Baxter β baker
Barney β dweller from the barn
Beau β French for βbeautifulβ (masculine)
Beck β dweller near the brook
Benedict β blessed
Benito β blessed
Benjamin β right handβs son, favorite son, son of my sorrow
Benson β son of Ben
Bentley β bent grass meadow
Bert β shining, bright
Bingham β one who lives by the bridge
Bill β willful one, strong-minded
Blake β dark or fair
Blythe β cheerful
Braden β from the wide valley
Bram β father of multitudes
Cain β acquired
Caleb β bold
Carl β strong
Carlin β little champion
Carlton β from the strong, courageous town
Carmen β vineyard of the lord
Carmelo β fruitful
Carter β cart maker
Casey β brave, aggressive
Cato β cautious wisdom
Chandler β candle maker
Charles β full grown, a man, a historically royal name
Chekani β to cut
Chimango β builder
Chipati β to part
Clark β learned scholar
Claud β weak
Cortez β courteous
Cosgrove β from the cows grove
Costa β little, constant, steadfast one
Covey β from the cove
Craig β from the rock
Creed β one who believes
Crosby β from the village with a cross
Dale β living in a valley
Dalton β from the town in the valley
Damien β tamer
Daniel β God is my judge
Darby β freedom
Daren β born at night
Dario β wealthy
Davis/David β beloved
Dempsey β proud
Denley β from the meadow
Dillon β faithful
Dimitri β immeasurable, gracious
Donovan β dark warrior
Dorion β gift
Drew β wise, esteemed
Duka β to dance
Duncan β steadfast warrior, strong in faith
Earl β promise
Earl β friend of the sea
Edmond β wealthy protector
Edwin β wealthy friend
Eli β uplifting
Elijah β the Lord is my God
Eloi β chosen
Emery β industrious, hardworking ruler
Emre β brother
Eric β forever ruler
Ezekiel β God strengthens
Felix β lucky, happy
Fidel β faithful
Fortino β fortunate
Gabriel β God is my strength
Garcia β brave spear carrier
Glen β from the valley
Golden β gold friend
Grady β noble, illustrious
Grant β grant
Guy β guide from the forrest
Hamilton β from the proud town
Hedwig β fighter
Henry β ruler of the house
Herald β story bringer
Herb β brilliant warrior
Hermes β messenger
Hillel β new moon
Hiram β exalted, noble
Horace β time keeper
Howard β watcher, guardian
Howell β little, alert
Hubert β bright mind and heart
Huey β intelligent
Hugo β intelligent
Humbert β bright giant
Hugh β having a bright mind
Humphrey β a peaceful warrior
Ike β one who brings laughter, god smiles
Ira β alert, watchful stallion
Isaac β one who brings laughter, God smiles
Israel β he who wrestles with God
Jabbar β one who consoles other
Jacob β supplanter
Jaime β he who supplants
Jamal β a handsome man
Jason β healer
Jared β descending
Jax β son of Jack
Jay β victory
Jayce β healer
Jayden β thankful
Jaylan β calm
Jeffery β man of peace
Jeremiah β the Lord exalts
Jonah β accomplisher
Jordan β to flow downward
Joya β to have restraint
Jude β right with the law
Justin β righteous, just
Kacey β brave
Kade β from the wetlands
Kadir β spring
Kadish β holy
Kai β willow tree
Kalani β heaven, chief
Keanu β sea breeze
Kent β lord
Kin β golden
Kirby β from the church by the meadow
Kingsley β from the kingβs meadow
Kyle β from the straight
Lamar β famous
Lavern β springtime
Leif β beloved
Leo β lion man
Leon β lion-like
Leonard β bold, strong
Leor β light of mine
Levi β joined
Leroy β king
Louis β famous fighter
Luke β bringer of light
Marcus β warrior
Maren β sea
Marion β sea
Marlow β from the hill by the lake
Micah β who is like the Lord
Michael β who is like God
Milan β loving
Millar β grain mill worker
Milo β peaceful, merciful, mild
Nathan β gift from God
Nicolas β peopleβs triumph
Noah β to comfort
Norman β composed of French words for north and man, once used to identify a group of Scandinavians living in Normandy
Oakley β from an oak tree
Oliver β derived from either French Olivier (olive tree) or German Alfihar (elf warrior)
Oren β pale, pine tree
Otis β wealthy
Paco β French man
Paul β derived from Latin word for small, Paulus
Quigley β loving nature
Quincy β fifth, patient
Quon β bright light
Rafi β musical, friend
Raleigh β jovial
Ralph β advisor to all
Randy β secretive
Ravi β sun god
Rio β River
Rich β wise
Roan β red-haired
Robert β bright fame
Robson β son of Robert
Rocco β battle cry
Roger β famous spear
Roland β famous country
Ronan β little seal
Sandros β defender and freer of mankind
Sander β defensive
Schneider β stylish
Seamus β replacement, bonus
Sebastian β dramatic, honorable
Serge β gentle man
Sergio β handsome
Vincent β conqueror
Vito β full of life
Surprising Girl Baby Name Meanings
Abigail β source of fatherβs joy
Abra β mother of multitude
Acacia β honored one
Ada β prosperous, nobility
Adair β she who is beautiful, exalted
Adalia β honor
Adina β she who is delicate
Adele β graceful and noble
Adelaide β noble, kind
Adrianne β woman from Adria
Agatha β she who is kind
Agnes β sacred and chaste
Aida β helper, derived from the French aider, to help
Ainsley β a meadow
Alana β fair
Alea β honorable
Alessa β protector of humanity
Alethea- truthful
Alexis β defender, helper
Aliana β light
Alice β noble, kind
Almira β royal one
Amira β leader
Amani β faith
Amelia β ambitious
Amy β beloved
AnaΓ―s β graceful, full of grace
Anastasia β resurrection
Angela β angelic
Anika β graceful
Anita β grace
Anna β full of grace, mercy
Anne β full of grace
Annalise β grace, devoted to god
April β open
Araminata β defender
Audra β noble strength
Aviva β fresh, springlike
Aziza β beloved
Beatrice β one who brings happiness
Bailey β from the French word for bailiff, justice officer
Bao β gem
Barbara β stranger, foreigner, once used to refer to non-Romans or those considered uncivilized
Basimati β to be finished
Bea- bringer of joy
Bertha β radiant
Bibi β full of light
Bethany β house of god
Bethel β holy place
Betsy β pledged to god
Bianca β white, shining
Billie β determined
Bindi β a tiny drop
Blair β plain, battle
Blanche β white, pure
Blythe β kind, joyous
Bodhi β awakened, enlightened
Bonnie β beautiful, good
Brigitte β strength
Brittany β strong
Bryn β honorable
Candence β rhythm, flow
Catherine β pure
Caitlin β untainted
Camille β pure, virgin of unblemished character
Cara β friend, she who is dear
Carissa β she who is dear
Carole β joyous song, full-grown man
Cassandra β temptress
Cecilia β blind
Celeste β celestial, heavenly
Cheryl β beloved, dear one
Clio β praise
Constance β unchanging
Cora β young woman
Cynthia β luminous
Dahlia β flower, gentle, tender
Daisy β inspired by the popular flower; the old English word βdoeges eage,β days eve, refers to the sun-like yellow center of the flower
Danica β morning star
Daniele β feminine form of Daniel, which means βGod is my judgeβ in Hebrew
Dale β valley
Daria β prosperous
Davina β cherished, beloved
Delma β from the sea
Denise β derivative of the greek god Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry
Diane β divine
Donna β lady
Edna β pleasant
Elena β bright, torch
Elaine β light, bright, torch
Elizabeth β God is abundance
Eleanor β bright shining one, light
Eloise β great in battle
Elsa β noble young woman
EsmΓ© β beloved, loved, guardian
Esmeralda β emerald
Estelle β star
Esther β star
Eva β life
Eve β life
Fatima β captivating,
Finley β fair haired, hero, warrior
Frances β free one
Francesca β free one
Gabrielle β God is my strength
Georgia β farmer, earth worker
Gloria- Glory
Greta β a pearl
Haley β heroine
Hannah- full of grace, mercy
Harriet β rules the home
Hazel β victory
Heidi β noble
Hella β the sun
Hera β protector
Hillary β bringer of joy
Hilda β battle
Ida β labor, industrious one
Idalia β industrious
Iman β God is with us
Ingrid β beautiful, fertile
Irene β peace
Iris β rainbow
Isadora β gift, fertile
Isla β island
Jennifer β fair lady
Jaqueline β supplanter
Jane β God is gracious
Jolie β pretty
Kalliope β beautiful
Kamila β free born
Kara β pure
Karen β pure, unsullied
Klohe β blooming, verdant
Kleopatra β glory, father, of a famous father
Katrina β pure
Keara β dark one
Kendra β knowledgeable
Kristin β anointed one
Kyle β she who is pretty
Kyra β sun
Lala β cheerful
Lana β little, soft
Leah β weary
Leandra β lioness
Madelaine β from the tower
Martha β lady, mistress
Mirabelle β wondrous
Mona β alone
Nadia β filled with hope
Naomi β pleasant
Nanette β grace, favor
Nicole β victory the people
Nicolette β peopleβs triumph
Nina β gracious
Noel β Christmas, birthday of the Lord
Odele β song
Odelia β wealthy, prosperous
Olivia β olive, symbol of peace
Ophelia β helpful, successor
Pandora β all gifted
Patricia β aristocrat
Rachael β purity
Renee β reborn
Rita β pearl
Roxanne β dawn of day, radiant
Sadie β princess
Sally β princess
Sarah β princess
Sandra β helper, defender
Sharon β a flat place of ground, a plain
Solange β yearly, solemn
Sophie β wise
Tamara β palm tree
Valerie β strong, healthy
Venus β love and desire
Vera β believed to be a word for faith (vjera) or the Latin word for truth (vera)
Victoria β victory
Viola β inspired by the name of the flower
Violet β also inspired by a flower
Virginia β spring like, flourishing
Vivienne β alive, full of life
Willa β feminine version of William, originated from German word for βresolute protectorβ
Xena β welcoming, hospitable
Yasmine β jasmine flower
Zadie β princess, mother of Zeus
Zara β flower, blossoming
Zelda β blessed, happy
Zinnia β worthy
Zoe β life
Zola β earth, quiet, tranquil
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