Most recommended names have been assembled because they are popular, fashionable or because they are associated with celebrities. I’ve assembled these names because they have meanings which may appeal to parents looking for names with substance. I’ve selected 25 fairly common boys’ and girls’ names that may inspire and guide your child in a positive direction.
Just for fun, I’ve listed them two ways: names before meanings and meanings before names—so you consider the names you like best and the meanings you like best. Hopefully, you’ll find a name you like that has a meaning you like too.
Boys’ Names (Origins) Meanings
Angus (Scottish) exceptional, outstanding
Aubrey (German) noble
Asher (Hebrew) happy, blessed
Brian (Irish) strong, virtuous, honorable
Casey (Irish) brave
Charles (English) strong, manly
Charif (Lebanese) honest
Chen (Chinese) great, tremendous
Drew (Welsh) wise
Ferdinand (Spanish) adventurous, daring
Felix (Latin) happy, fortunate
Gareth (Welsh) gentle
Gilbert (English) trustworthy
Habib (Arabic) beloved
Justin (Latin) just, righteous
Kevin (Irish) handsome
Kareem (Arabic) noble, distinguished
Kohana (Lakota) swift
Leif (Scandinavian) beloved
Lowell (English) beloved
Maximillian (Latin) greatest
Nolan (Irish) famous, noble
Riley (Irish) valiant
Rashad (Arabic) wise counselor
Shalom (Hebrew) peace, peaceful
Sharif (Arabic) honest, noble
Tony (Latin) praiseworthy
Valiant (French) valiant
Victor (Latin) victor
Vijay (Hindi) victorious
Vitas (Latin) lively, vital
Xavier (Arabic) bright
Meanings: Boys’ Names (Origins)
Adventurous, daring: Ferdinand (Spanish)
Beloved: Habib (Arabic)
Beloved: Lowell (English)
Beloved: Leif (Scandinavian)
Brave: Casey (Irish)
Bright: Xavier (Arabic)
Exceptional, Outstanding: Angus (Scottish)
Famous, Noble: Nolan (Irish)
Gentle: Gareth (Welsh)
Great, Tremendous: Chen (Chinese)
Greatest: Maximillian (Latin)
Handsome: Kevin (Irish)
Happy, Blessed: Asher (Hebrew)
Happy, fortunate: Felix (Latin)
Honest, Noble: Sharif (Arabic)
Lively, vital: Vitas (Latin)
Noble: Aubrey (German)
Just, Righteous: Justin (Latin)
Noble, Distinguished: Kareem (Arabic)
Peace, Peaceful: Shalom (Hebrew)
Praiseworthy: Tony (Latin)
Trustworthy: Gilbert (English)
Strong, Virtuous Honorable: Brian (Irish)
Swift: Kohana (Lakota)
Valiant: Riley (Irish) Valiant (French)
Victor: Victor (Latin)
Victorious: Vijay (Hindi)
Wise: Drew (Welsh)
Wise Counselor: Rashad (Arabic)
Girls Names (Origins) Meanings
Amanda (Latin) lovable
Amelia (German) hard worker
Amy (Latin) beloved
Bonita (Spanish) pretty
Brisa (Spanish) beloved
Carina (Italian) dear little one
Carissa (Greek) beloved
Cher (French) beloved, dearest
Claire (French) clear, bright
Clarissa (Greek) brilliant
Dulcinea (Spanish) sweet
Dulce (Latin) sweet
Gail (English) merry, lively
Grace (Latin) graceful, gracious
Felicity (English) happy, fortunate
Fernanda (Spanish) adventurous, daring
Hilary (Greek) cheerful, merry
Irene (Greek) peaceful
Joy (Latin) joyful, joyous
Jun (Chinese) truthful
Justine (Latin) just, righteous
Keiko (Japanese) happy child
Lara and Larissa (Greek) cheerful
Linda (Spanish) pretty
Olympia (Greek) heavenly
Qadira (Arabic) powerful
Sonya, Sophia (Greek) wise
Taka (Japanese) honored
Valencia (Spanish) strong
Valerie (Latin) strong
Yoko (Japanese) good
Meanings: Girls Names (Origins)
Beloved: Amy (Latin)
Beloved: Brisa (Spanish)
Beloved: Carissa (Greek)
Beloved, dearest: Cher (French)
Cheerful, merry: Hilary (Greek)
Cheerful: Lara, Larissa (Greek)
Clear, Bright: Claire (French)
Dear Little One: Carina (Italian)
Good Girl: Yoko (Japanese)
Graceful, Gracious: Grace (Latin)
Happy, Fortunate: Felicity (English)
Happy child: Keiko (Japanese)
Hard Worker: Amelia (German)
Honored: Taka (Japanese
Joyful, Joyous: Joy (Latin)
Just, Righteous: Justine (Latin)
Lovable: Amanda (Latin)
Peaceful: Irene (Greek)
Powerful: Qadira (Arabic)
Pretty: Bonita (Spanish)
Pretty: Linda (Spanish)
Strong: Valencia (Spanish), Valerie (Latin)
Sweet: Dulce (Latin) Dulcinea (Spanish)
Truthful: Jun (Chinese)
Wise: Sonya, Sophia (Greek)
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