Journal · Names by origin

Spanish Names for Babies That Travel Well in English

A pronunciation-first guide to Spanish names for babies, with meanings, 2024 data from Spain and tips for English-speaking families.

Names That Mean Light: 11 Picks With Roots Worth Knowing

Eleven baby names that mean light or bright, with roots you can check, the disputed ones flagged, and a simple say-it-aloud test for each.

Italian Names: Meanings, Sound and What Parents Pick

A practical guide to Italian names: origins, pronunciation, what Italian parents choose, and the traps to check before you commit to one.

French Names for Babies: Meanings and How to Say Them

French names ask you to commit to a sound. Ten picks with meanings, pronunciation and a quick test to run with your partner before you decide.

Hawaiian Names for Babies: Meanings and Pronunciation

Ten Hawaiian names with their meanings, how to pronounce them, how to spell the ʻokina and kahakō, and how to choose one with care.

Names That Mean Moon: How to Pick One That Actually Fits

Names that mean moon range from Luna (Latin) to Selene (Greek) to Mahina (Hawaiian). Twelve picks with etymology, phonetics, and the aloud test that decides the shortlist.

Biblical Baby Names: Ten Picks That Hold Their Weight

Ten biblical baby names: Amos, Boaz, Ezra, Naomi, Miriam, Susanna, Silas, Lydia, Levi and Esther. Origins from Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic, each with a phonetic note.

Japanese Boy Names: Meaning, Sound, and What They Carry

From Ren to Haruki, Japanese boy names carry kanji meanings that Western names rarely do. Here is how to choose one confidently.

Japanese Boy Names That Travel Well: Sound, Kanji, Meaning

A guide to Japanese boy names built from kanji: which ones travel well internationally, how to pronounce them, and what each character means.