Symbolic Meanings of Names


Afghani

Badria: Moonlike
Mallalai: Beautiful
Palwasha: Spark of light
Roxanna: Sparkling
Shahla: Beautiful eyes

Arabian

Akilah ("ah KEE lah"): Intelligent
Anan: Clouds
Falak: Star
Fatin ("FAH teen"): Captivating
Hana: Happiness
Hilel: The new moon
Sabir: Patient
Shadi: Singer
Talib: Seeker
Umm: Mother

Armenian

Anahid: Goddess of the moon
Astrid: Star
Nairi: Land of canyons
Siran: Lovely

Basque

Izar: Star
Lur: Earth
Nora: Greek, Light
Pellkita: Latin, Happy

Burmese

Mima: Woman
Mya: Emerald

Cambodian

Chan: Sweet-smelling tree
Chantrea ("CHAN thee ay"): Moonshine
Dara: Stars

Ethiopian

Desta: Happiness
Fannah: Fun
Seble: Autumn

Finnish

Ametisti ("AH may tis tea"): Amethyst
Eeva: Life
Haltijatar ("HAHL ti yah tahr"): Fairy
Haukka ("HOUK kah"): Hawk
Joki ("YOA key"): River
Jumalatar ("YOU mah lah tar"): Goddess
Kalevi ("KAHL ev ee"): Hero
Kesa ("KAY sah"): Summer
Kevat ("KAY vaht"): Spring
Kuu ("KOO"): The moon
Lilja ("LEEL yah"): Lily
Linna: Castle
Luuta: Broom
Maaginen ("MAA gi nayn"): Magic
Metsa ("MAYT sa"): Forest
Noita ("NOI tah"): Witch
Moituus ("NOI tooss"): Witchcraft, magic
Onnellinen ("OAN nayl li nayn"): Happy
Onyksi ("OA newk si"): Onyx
Satu ("SAH too"): Fairy tale
Syksy ("SEWK sew"): Autumn
Talvi ("TAHL vi"): Winter
Timantti ("TI mahnt ti"): Diamond
Vesiputous ("VAY si poo toa ooss"): Waterfall

French

Artur: Celtic, Noble, Bear man
Blaise: Latin, Stammerer
Candide: Pure white
Demitri: Greek, Goddess of the harvest
Denis: Greek, God of wine
Fantine: Childlike
Gustave: Teutonic, Staff of Gods
Isidore: Greek, A gift of ideas
Marlon: Little falcon
Morgance/Morgane: Sea-dweller
Natacha/Nathalie: Born at Yule
Sylvie/Sylvianne: From the forest
Tatiana: Russian, Fairy queen
Vivien/Vivienne: Lively

Greek

Aretha: Nymph
Calandra: Lark
Charis ("KAHR is"): Love
Cloris: Goddess of flowers
Damia: Goddess of the forces of nature
Delia: Goddess of the moon
Kalliope ("kahl ee O pee"): Beautiful voice
Medea: Part Goddess, part sorceress
Silas/Silvanos: Forest
Thea: Goddess
Vanessa: Butterfly

Hawaiian

Haimi: The seeker
Kahoku ("kuh HOH koo"): The star
Kaili ("kah EE lee"): Hawaiian deity
Kala ("kuh LAH"): Sun, Princess
Kalama: Flaming torch
Kali ("KAH lee"): Spear carrier
Kele: Seahorse
Kolika: From the ocean
Konane ("ko NAH neh"): Bright as moonlight
Laka: Goddess of the hula
Lani: Sky
Leilani: Sky child
Lono: God of peace and farming
Luana: Enjoyment
Lukela Like a fox
Mahina: Moon
Makani: Wind
Mana: Supernatural power
Mapuana ("mah poo AH nuh"): Wind-blown fragrance
Nahele ("nah HEH leh"): Forest, grove of trees
Peni ("PEH ne"): Weaver

Indian

Aditi: Goddess
Ambar: Sky
Ambika: Goddess of power and destruction
Amma: Mother Goddess
Amritha: God
Anala: Fire
Anila: Wine God
Chandra: Moon; Moon God
Ellama: Mother Goddess
Ganesha: God of good luck and wisdom
Guri: Goddess of abundance
Hema: Daughter of the mountains
Indra: God of power
Manda: God of the occult
Matrika: Mother
Mitra: God of daylight
Sesha: Symbol of time
Sita: Mother Earth Goddess
Soma: Moon

Italian

Argento: Silver
Capra: Goat
Cascata: Waterfall
Chiaro di Luna: Moonlight
Corrente: Stream, current
Dea: Goddess
Dio: God
Incanto: Witchery
Luce stellare: Starlight
Luna: Moon
Magico: Magician
Maliardo: Sorcerer
Mistico: Mystic
Mita: Myth
Pagano: Pagan
Quercia: Oak
Raggio lunare: Moonbeam
Salice: Willow
Scintillante: Twinkling
Scintillare: Twinkle
Sirena: Mermaid
Stella: Star
Stellato: Starlit
Strega: Female Witch
Stregone: Male Witch
Stregoneria: Witchcraft
Sucente: Starlike

Irish Girl's Names

Affrica: Pleasant
Arienh ("A reen"): Pledge
Bebhinn ("BEH vin"): Melodious lady
Briana: Strong
Bride: Strength
Caitlin Pure
Erin: Peace
Fiona White, fair
Glynis: Valley
Grainne ("GROH nyuh"): Grace
Ide ("EED uh"): Thirst
Kelly: Warrior
Kennocha ("ken OH kuh"): Beauty
Kerry/Keriann: Dark-haired
Lasairiona ("las a REE nuh"): Flame wine
Luighseach ("LOO seh"): Bringer of life
Mave: Mirth
Mavelle: Songbird
Morgan: Sea dweller
Moya: Great
Rowena: White mane
Sheena: God's gift
Siobhan ("shuh VAHN"): Gracious
Sorcha: Clear, bright
Tara: Tower
Una ("OO nuh"): Unity

Irish Boy's Names

Aidan: flame, fiery
Aindreas ("AHN dree ahs"): Manly
Artur: Noble, bear man
Baird: Ballad singer
Bevan: Youthful warrior
Brenainn ("BREH neen"): Sword
Brendan: Raven
Broin ("bree AHN"): Raven
Carlin: Little champion
Cillian/Killian ("KEEL yan"): War
Conroy: Wise man
Conway: Hound of the plain
Corey: From the hollow
Cullan/Collin: Handsome
Dagda: Good God
Daibheid ("DEH vid"): Beloved
Dallas: Wise
Daray: Dark
Devin: A poet
Donagh: High king
Donahue: Dark warrior
Donovan: Dark warrior
Duncan: Dark man
Erin: Peace
Evan: Young warrior
Faolan/Felan ("FEH lahn"): Wolf
Farrell: Courageous
Farry: Manly
Ferris: The rock
Fionan ("FIN ee ahn"): Fair
Gannon: Fair of face
Glen: Valley
Innis: Island
Kearney: Warrior
Keegan: Little and fiery one
Logan: From the hollow
Maghnus ("MAKH nus"): Great
Mannix: Monk
Nealon: Champion
Nolan: Famous
Padraig ("PAH dreek"): Noble
Rory: Famous ruler
Scully: Town crier
Sean/Shawn/Shane: God's gift
Searlas ("SHAR las"): Full-grown: manly
Wynne: White, fair

Kenyan

Barika: Bloom
Dalila ("dah LEE lah"): Gentle
Machupa ("mah CHOO pah"): Likes to drink
Makalani ("mah kah LAH nee"): One skilled in writing
Mwassaa ("m wah SAH"): Timely
Paka: Pussycat
Pili ("PEE lee"): Second-born
Sadiki ("sah DEE kee"): Faithful
Sanura ("sah NOO rah"): Kitten
Shani ("SHAH nee"): Marvellous
Sikudhani ("see koo THAN nee"): A surprise

Latin

Ardere: Fire
Astrum: Star
Deus: God
Dia: Goddess
Diva: Goddess
Divus: God
Fabula: Myth
Lumen: Star
Luna: Moon
Lunae Lumen: Moonlight
Magice: Magic
Paganus: Pagan
Quercus: Oak
Saga: Witch
Sagus: Prophetic
Siderbus Inlustris: Starlight
Stella: Star

Native North American

Aleshanee: She plays all the time
Amitola: Rainbow
Aponi: Butterfly
Awenasa: Cherokee. My home
Awenita: Fawn
Ayita: Cherokee. First in the dance
Elsu: Falcon flying
Enola: Alone
Gaho: Mother
Hadan: Fiery
Hinun ("hee NOON"): God of clouds and rain
Iye ("EE yeh"): Smoke
Jacy: Moon; creator of all plants
Kachina: Sacred dancer
Kai: Willow tree
Karmiti: Trees
Kaya: My elder sister
Kimama: Butterfly
Leotie ("leh o TEE eh"): Prairie flower
Litonya: Hummingbird darting
Lulu: Rabbit
Luna: Moon
Macawi: Motherly
Macha: Aurora
Mahal: Woman
Mahkah: Earth
Mamid: The star dancer
Mascha: Owl
Masou ("mah SO OO"): Fire deity
Meda: Prophet
Miakoda: Power of the moon
Migina: Returning moon
Mimiteh: New moon
Nahimana: Mystic
Nasnan: Surrounded by a song
Nata-Akon: Expert canoeist
Niabi: Fawn
Nidawi: Fairy girl
Nita: Bear
Nova: Chasing a butterfly
Nuna: Land
Onatah: Corn spirit, daughter of the earth
Orenda: Magic power
Pelipa: Lover of horses
Raini: Deity who created the world
Satinka: Magic dancer
Sedna: Goddess of food
Snana: Jingles like little bells
Tadewi: Wind
Taigi: Returning new moon
Taima: Crash of thunder
Taini: Coming new moon
Tala: Wolf
Tama: Thunderbolt
Tateeyopa: Happy hostess, her door
Tuwa: Earth
Waitilanni: Wonder water
Wakanda: Inner magical power

Scandinavian

Davin ("DAH vin"): The brightness of the Finns
Disa: Active spirit
Freya ("FRAY yah"): Goddess Freyja
Kaia ("KAH ee ah"): From Gaia, earth Goddess
Karen ("KAH rehn"): Pure (also Kari, Karine, Katinka, Trine)

Scottish

Aaid: Magpie
Baird: Poet
Blair: Child of the fields
Cameron: Crooked nose
Campbell: Crooked mouth
Coleen: Girl
Duncan: Dark-skinned warrior
Gaisgeil: Heroic, brave
Geasachd: Enchantment, astrology
Geasadair: Wizard
Gointe: Bewitched, fay
Grian: Sun
Grianchrisos: Zodiac
Grianghamhstad: Winter Solstice
Grianghath: Sunbeam
Muir: Sea
Muireannach: Female champion
Muirn: Joy
Murdachan: Mermaid
Orra: Charm, amulet
Orraidheachd: Enchantments
Orrtha: Music or bewitchery
Orrthannan: Enchantment
Osran: Peace
Pogadh: Kissing
Ruis: Elder tree
Sgaileach: Shadowy, ghost-like
Suil: Willow tree
Uilioc: Mistletoe
Uchdbhan: Fair-breasted
Ur: Yew tree