20 Classic Baby Names That Sound Great In Multiple Languages
Having A Baby In A Multicultural Family?
It’s not uncommon these days to introduce a new baby to a family made up of two, three, or even more cultures. It can be tricky to land on the perfect name that is not only easily pronounced by everyone in the family but also sounds beautiful in each language. Here are 20 of our favorite classic baby names that sound great in several languages.
1. Tom
Is there a language in which the name Tom doesn't sound great? We don't think so. The name is of Aramaic origin. In Hebrew, it translates to "innocence."
2. Maria
The name Maria is of Latin, Hebrew, and Greek origin which is probably why it sounds beautiful in so many languages. It has many different meanings including "beloved," "of the sea," and "rebellious."
3. Theo
The name Theo is of ancient Greek origin and means "God's gift." Although the name is ancient, it's recently had a resurgence in popularity in the English-speaking world as well as in Germany, Scandinavia, and Brazil where it is currently one of the top 100 names.
4. Nina
Nina is both a Babylonian goddess and an Incan goddess. It's a very popular name in Spain and Russia but also sounds great in English and German.
5. Lena
The name Lena is of Greek origin. It means "tender," "delicate," or in Persian, "light." You can't go wrong with this name as countless cultures use a variation of it including British, Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Persian, Italian, Spanish, and German.
6. Nico
The name Nico as a short form for Nicholas is of Italian and Greek origin but can also be short for Nicole. Today, it's an extremely popular name in Germany but also France, Scandinavia, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Spanish-speaking countries.
7. Emma
The name Emma was the most popular girl's name in the US from 2015 to 2018 and we can see why. The name is of Germanic origin and in addition to its popularity in the English-speaking world, it's also a big deal in Scandinavia, Japan, France, and Italy.
8. Noah
Noah is the most popular name for boys in England and Wales. Although it's often associated with the bible, it's popular across cultures likely due to its melodic vowel sounds. Outside of the UK, it's also very popular in France, Germany, Italy, Chile, Brazil, and Spain.
Vitaliy Zalishchyker on Unsplash
9. Mia
Mia has been in the top ten most popular names in the US, Canada, and Mexico since 2009. Mia likely originated as a diminutive of Maria. In Italian it translates to "mine" and is used as a term of endearment.
10. Sophia
Sophia is a Greek name that dates back to the 4th century. It’s common in Eastern Orthodox countries and became popular in the West in the 1990s as well. Variations of the name remain popular in France, Russia, Turkey, Scandinavia, Iran, South America, and Germany.
11. Ana
Ana or Anna is a name of Latin origin meaning “favor” or “grace.” Variations of the name are widely literally all over the world from Africa to Japan to South America.
12. Luca
Luca is derived from the Latin name Lucas which means “to shine.” The name has always been popular in Latin America, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Romania but more recently has exploded in use in the US, Germany, and Belgium as well.
13. Marco
Marco is a name of Latin origin, derived from the Roman god Mars. Variations of the name can be found in the US, France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, and Slavic countries.
14. Simon
Simon is a name of Hebrew origin that means “listen.” Simon was the most popular name for Jews in the first century in the Roman province of Judea but it continues to be popular today. It’s widely used in Eastern Europe, Germany, Scandinavia, France, China, Spain, and the English-speaking world.
15. Lily
Lily is a popular English name derived from the flower which is a symbol of innocence. The name rose in popularity in the UK during the Victorian era but its popularity today spans far outside of the English-speaking world. It’s popular in Germany, Scandinavia, France, China, Australia, Poland, and Latin America.
16. Adam
Adam has an important role in both the Hebrew Bible and the Muslim Quran making it a popular name in both Christian and Muslim-majority countries. However, its popularity today transcends religious contexts. It’s big in every country from France to the Czech Republic, to Korea.
17. Ariana
The name Ariana has many possible origins including ancient Greek and Iranian. It was one of the top 30 names in the US in 2014 and is also popular in the Spanish-speaking world, the Netherlands, France, Japan, Germany, and Eastern Europe.
18. Leo
Leo is a popular name in several languages. It’s derived from the Latin word for lion. It’s a name shared with the likes of popes, saints, and emperors and is popular in countless countries including Australia, Russia, Italy, England, and France.
19. Danielle
Danielle is the female version of Daniel, a name of Hebrew origin. Despite its religious origin, the name is popular all over the world, even in secular societies. This includes England, the US, the Spanish-speaking world, France, and Eastern Europe.
20. Mila
Mila is a Slavic name meaning “gracious.” It’s also used in Spanish-speaking countries as a shortened version of Milagros, meaning “miracles.” In addition to its wide use in Eastern Europe, it’s also big in the Arab world and increasingly in the English-speaking world.
