New International Names: A World Of Possibility
New international names are entering the American lexicon from around the world at an ever-faster pace, as parents look for names that connect to their countries of origin or ancestral heritage.
The boundaries of what we think of as “international” names are constantly changing. It’s beyond old-fashioned to divide the world into White Christian English names versus everything else. In today’s Top 100 baby names, names of diverse origins such as Aaliyah and Leilani, Mateo and Axel, rub shoulders with traditional anglo options like Elizabeth and William, as well as modern additions like Kinsley and Grayson… and we consider all of them American names.
Still, there are many names that are better known in their country of origin than in the States. They may appeal to parents wishing to honor their culture, or simply looking for names with more international reach and meaning than the usual English choices.
Celebrities and athletes often popularize their names internationally. The current interest in multicultural mythology and religion is another source of international names.
We analyzed the Social Security list to find international names becoming more popular in the US. Most of the choices here were given to at least 100 babies in the US last year, but retain a distinctive flavor of their original culture.
New International Names A-E
Adalet – Turkish girl name meaning justice
Ainara – Basque nature name meaning the swallow bird, popular in Spain
Aiza – Elegant Arabic name possibly meaning replacement, or from the name Aisha
Aurelio – Aurelia is rising fast, and its masculine form looks to be following. Short form Elio is also a stylish international option
Avi – Meaning father in Hebrew, this short, light name is rising for both genders
Ayaz – Boy name meaning frost in Turkish and Azerbaijani
Belén – Spanish form of Bethlehem
Celine – A French classic on the rise, best known for the fashion house and singer Celine Dion
Cillian – This saintly name has long been popular in Ireland; now actor Cillian Murphy has brought it to the wider world’s attention too
Dario – Hot in Spain and Italy, and starting to be discovered in the US
Dua – Meaning prayer in Arabic, made famous by singer Dua Lipa
Elif – A popular Turkish girl name, from the first letter of the Arabic alphabet (also called Aleph)
Elowen – This Cornish nature name has long been a name nerd favorite, and it’s finally starting to see more real-world use
Emiko – Meaning smiling child in Japanese, Emiko is stunningly similar-yet-different to other Em names
Emil – This European masculine form of Emily is starting to see a revival
Eren – Popular boy name in Turkey, meaning saint
Multicultural Names F-J
Fiadh – A Top 3 girl name in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Both Fiadh and its anglicized spelling Fia have broken into the American charts in recent years
Finnan – Ancient Irish name meaning little fair one
Gio – Short for Giovanni, but becoming popular in its own right
Giulia – Italian spelling of a classic
Hadassah – Hebrew nature name that makes a fresh alternative to her alter-ego, Esther
Hamza – Another popular Arabic name, possibly meaning strong, that’s gaining ground in the US
Hana – A familiar-sounding name with roots in several languages, including Korean and Hawaiian
Irie – An upbeat choice from the Caribbean and Rastafarianism, used for both sexes but especially rising for girls
Ishani – Indian name from the Sanskrit meaning ruling
Isidro – Dreamy Spanish version of Isidore
Ivo – Pan-European name that’s both Germanic (relating to the yew tree), and a Slavic form of Ivan, making it a cousin of John. Either way, it has huge potential
Jai – Short, snappy Indian name meaning victory, used for both genders in the USA
Jannat – From an Arabic name for paradise, used by South Asian Muslims
Modern International Names K-O
Kali – Indian goddess of destruction
Kamaria – Used in East Africa, originally from the Arabic word for the moon
Kenji – Friendly Japanese name meaning second son
Koa – A super-cool Hawaiian choice, meaning warrior
Leonie – This feminine form of Leo is common in Europe and Quebec, but never widely used in the States
Lev – Short, sweet, and with roots in both Russian (meaning lion) and Hebrew (meaning heart)
Lucien – Lucian is a hot trending name right now, and we love the French form too
Mael – A saintly name from Brittany that (spelled Maël) is a Top 10 boy name in France
Mustafa – Arabic classic meaning the chosen one
Naia – A popular choice in Spain, meaning wave or sea foam in Basque
Noelani – Less popular than many of the “lani” names for girls, but this is an authentic Hawaiian choice meaning heavenly mist
Noor – Arabic for light, becoming more popular in Europe and America
Orla – Irish name popular in the British Isles but slow to take off Stateside
Osman – Turkish name, best known as the founder of the Ottoman Empire
Rising Global Names P-Z
Pascal – Pan-European name perfect for an Easter baby
Pia – Sweet mini-name meaning holy or dutiful, popular in several European and Latin American countries
Qasim – The name of a son of the Prophet Muhammed, whose name is slowly gaining ground in the US
Ren – Unisex Japanese name meaning the lotus flower; it can also be short for names like Soren, Lorenzo, or Renata
Rivka – Hebrew form of Rebecca that’s fresher than the English version
Soraya – Starry Persian name for the Pleiades constellation
Stellan – Swedish name that feels pleasingly like a masculine form of Stella; made famous by actor Stellan Skarsgård
Tadeo – Fast-rising Spanish name that’s less weighty than Thaddeus
Taj – Arabic name meaning crown, a millennial favorite in Australia
Uri – Hebrew name meaning my fire, or my light
Vayu – Hindu god of the air and wind
Viktor – A classic with a spelling that looks novel to English speakers
Xochitl – Nahuatl name meaning flower
Yumi – Japanese girl name meaning archery bow
Zamir – Hebrew boy name, meaning the nightingale bird
Zelie – Saintly name that’s popular with French parents
Read next: International Baby Names list, Popular Names around the world.