Baby Names by Origin
Choose a culture or language to see its names, meanings and naming customs.
Many families want a name that reflects their heritage, a grandparent's language or a place they love. Pick an origin below to see 66,073 names with meanings, for boys and girls, along with how that culture traditionally chooses names.
Indian languages
- Indian names14,297 names
Indian names often carry a spiritual or poetic meaning, drawn from Sanskrit, nature, deities and virtues.
- Sanskrit names4,306 names
Sanskrit names come from one of the world's oldest languages and usually express qualities such as truth, light, knowledge and peace..
- Hindi names38 names
Hindi names are mostly drawn from Sanskrit and are used across North and Central India, often chosen by the first syllable of the baby's nakshatra..
- Tamil names4,102 names
Tamil names come from one of the world's oldest living classical languages.
- Telugu names14 names
Telugu names blend Sanskrit roots with Telugu forms and are often linked to family deities such as Venkateswara, Lakshmi and Hanuman..
- Bengali names422 names
Bengali families often give a formal name (bhalo naam) and a pet name (daak naam).
- Kannada names8 names
Kannada names mix Sanskrit and Kannada roots, often honouring family deities and the poets of the Vachana tradition..
- Malayalam names17 names
Malayalam names are shared by Hindu, Christian and Muslim families in Kerala, mixing Sanskrit roots with distinctly Malayali forms and spellings..
- Punjabi names1,587 names
Punjabi names are shared by Sikh and Hindu families; many are unisex and carry meanings of courage, devotion and joy..
Middle East & Central Asia
- Arabic names4,803 names
Arabic names are popular across the Middle East, South Asia and beyond, and often describe virtues, beauty or faith..
- Hebrew & Biblical names4,391 names
Hebrew names include many classics found in the Bible.
- Persian names146 names
Persian names come from Iranian culture and poetry, and are often inspired by nature, light and heroic legends..
- Turkish names89 names
Turkish names draw on Turkic, Arabic and Persian roots and often mean light, strength, hope or nature..
- Armenian names96 names
Armenian names come from one of the oldest Christian cultures, with roots in Armenian, Persian and Greek..
Europe
- English names11,995 names
English names range from old Anglo-Saxon classics to modern surname-style and nature names..
- Irish names2,998 names
Irish names have Gaelic roots, distinctive spellings and lovely meanings rooted in nature and legend..
- Scottish names929 names
Scottish names come from Gaelic and Highland tradition, with meanings tied to landscape, legend and clan history..
- Welsh names85 names
Welsh names have Celtic roots and a soft, musical sound..
- Latin names136 names
Latin names come from ancient Rome and have travelled into many European languages.
- Greek names2,225 names
Greek names draw on mythology, philosophy and early Christianity, and many have meanings tied to wisdom, victory or life..
- French names1,653 names
French names are known for their elegant sound and are loved around the world..
- Italian names546 names
Italian names are warm and melodic, and many have Latin roots..
- Spanish names2,877 names
Spanish names are popular across Spain and Latin America, and many have religious or Latin origins..
- Portuguese names20 names
Portuguese names are used in Portugal, Brazil and Goa, and many have Latin or saints' roots..
- German names1,931 names
German names include many timeless choices with meanings about nobility, strength and protection..
- Dutch names230 names
Dutch names are short, friendly and practical, and many travel well across languages..
- Scandinavian names1,063 names
Scandinavian names come from Norse tradition.
- Slavic names837 names
Slavic names are used across Eastern Europe and often mean glory, peace or kindness..
- Hungarian names125 names
Hungarian names put the family name first and include many that are unique to Hungary, alongside Latin and Germanic classics..
Africa
- African names2,912 names
These names come from several African languages, including Yoruba, Igbo, Swahili, Akan and Shona, and many carry meaningful messages..
East & South-East Asia
- Chinese names176 names
A Chinese name's meaning depends on the characters chosen.
- Japanese names512 names
A Japanese name's meaning depends on the characters (kanji) chosen.
- Korean names99 names
A Korean given name usually has two syllables, each written with a Chinese character (hanja) that fixes its meaning; the meanings here are the common ones..
- Vietnamese names120 names
Vietnamese names place the family name first and often carry meanings of virtue, nature or hope..
- Thai names45 names
Thai given names are often long and formal, with a short nickname used every day; many come from Sanskrit and Pali..
Americas & Pacific
- Native American names240 names
These names come from many Indigenous nations of North America, and their meanings and spellings vary by language and community..
Also browse names by meaning or names by rashi and nakshatra.