Baby Names and Meanings

Before you give your baby the name that has passed down through generations of your family, do you want to know what that name means? If you’re choosing a name because it sounds cool, do you also have some idea of the significance of the name?

There are a few different ways to go about creating baby names. You can choose a popular baby name, one that is traditional or one that has been in your family or you can create your own baby name, and as such, give your baby name the meaning that you intend. Let’s start by looking at how you can create a meaningful baby name, and then consider some popular baby names and their meanings.

If you are making up a new and unique baby name for your baby boy or baby girl, you can do this in a number of ways. You can choose an object that has a special meaning for you, such as Ocean or Camera. (Camera is tennis player Arthur Ashe’s daughter). You can also combine two names or two words to make a word that is unique to you and that possibly combines meanings of names. Consider, for instance, the name Tessalyn: this could come from the names Tessa and Lynn or Theresa and Lynn. If these are two important people in your life, they will be honoured to share a part of your baby name.

One meaning that baby names often have is being named after someone specific. Sometimes baby names are named after someone in your family or friends, and sometimes after somebody who has passed away. Be sure that your baby name is taken from someone you love and respect: you want to be able to tell your baby about their namesake in very positive terms. Other people choose baby names based on royalty, celebrities, or even fictional characters. Nicholas Cage, for instance, named his son Kal-el, which, in comic books, is Superman’s birth name.

Other baby name meanings are taken from ancient roots, often Biblical, or from Latin or Roman times. Some baby names meanings are easy to figure out if you take a second to consider the baby name not as a name or a person, but as a word. For instance, Victor or Victoria means exactly what it sounds like: someone who emerges victorious, the victor. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, Sarah, and Mary are all common names with Biblical sources: see our page on Christian names for more detail about these names. Other common names, like Laura, Lauren, Lawrence, or Laurel come from classical times: these names mean “from the laurel-bush.” Laurels were the plants that winners wore after championships or tournaments: these names (like Victor and Victoria) also mean “winner.”

An easy way to find out what associations and meanings your baby name has is to search the name online. If you do an internet search for a name, see what historical and famous figures share your possible baby name. For instance, you might not like the name Ted, because it makes you think of Ted Kaczynksi, the Unabomber. On the other hand, you might feel fondly about the name Ted because of Ted Kennedy or the former President Teddy Roosevelt. While looking at famous people who share the name, when you consider the full name Theodore, it comes from the Greek theos and doron, to mean Gift of God. Baby names can be packed with many meanings, and as you explore each name, you’ll find names that you particularly love or that lose their appeal when you know their meaning. Be sure to check out our page of Baby Name Definitions for some meanings for baby names for both baby boys and baby girls. Other pages throughout this site offer meanings for many baby names.