Baby Names by Meaning

Strength is one of the most universally desired meanings in baby names, and different cultures have found wildly different ways to express it.

Ethan (Hebrew) means "strong" or "firm." It's straightforward and unpretentious, which is kind of the whole point.
Gabriel (Hebrew) means "God is my strength." The archangel association gives it extra weight.
Valentina (Latin) means "strong, vigorous." It's fierce and feminine at the same time.
Bridget (Irish) means "strength" or "exalted one." One of the oldest strength names in the Irish tradition.
Andrew (Greek) means "strong and manly." It's been reliable for centuries.
Matilda (Germanic) means "mighty in battle." Roald Dahl knew what he was doing.
Liam (Irish) means "strong-willed warrior." The #1 boys' name and a strength name. Not a coincidence.
Andrea (Greek/Italian) means "strong and courageous." Works across multiple languages.

Strength names tend to age well because the quality itself never goes out of style. Nobody has ever regretted naming their child something that means "strong."

Love names are the emotional heart of naming. They say something about what the child means to you before they've even done anything.

Amelia (Germanic) means "industrious" but is often associated with "beloved" through its root connections. The love association has won.
David (Hebrew) means "beloved." The most straightforward love name in Western tradition.
Cara (Italian/Latin) means "dear, beloved." Simple and warm.
Amadeus (Latin) means "love of God." Bold, musical, unforgettable.
Mila (Slavic) means "gracious" or "dear." It's taken off globally for good reason.
Jedidiah (Hebrew) means "beloved of the Lord." Old Testament gravitas.
Esme (French) means "esteemed, loved." Salinger fans know this one. Short, lovely, distinctive.
Philip (Greek) means "lover of horses." Okay, it's a specific kind of love, but it counts.

Love names work because they embed your feelings directly into your child's identity. Every time someone says their name, they're inadvertently saying something beautiful.

Light names are having a moment, and it makes sense. They're optimistic without being naive, meaningful without being heavy-handed.

Lucas (Latin/Greek) means "light." Top 10 name, universal appeal.
Eleanor (Greek/French) means "bright, shining one." The vintage revival champion.
Clara (Latin) means "bright, clear." Clean and luminous.
Robert (Germanic) means "bright fame." Classic in the truest sense.
Lucia (Italian/Spanish) means "light." The Latin feminine form of Lucius. Gorgeous.
Aaron (Hebrew) means "high mountain" or "exalted," and is sometimes associated with "light bringer."
Dawn (English) means exactly what you think. Sometimes the simplest names are the most powerful.
Nora (Irish/Greek) is derived from Eleanor, carrying the "light" meaning forward.

Light names cut across cultures and centuries. Every civilization has found its own word for luminance and turned it into a name.

Hope and wisdom names are for parents who want their child's name to carry a forward-looking quality, something aspirational.

Hope: Nadia (Slavic/Arabic, "hope") is international and beautiful. Esperanza (Spanish, "hope") is rich and musical. Jesse (Hebrew) is sometimes interpreted as "gift" or "hope." Phoenix (Greek) symbolizes renewal and rising from the ashes.

Wisdom: Sophia (Greek, "wisdom") is the most obvious and still one of the best. Quinn (Irish, "wise, intelligent") is sharp and gender-neutral. Sage (Latin, "wise") works as both a nature name and a wisdom name. Solomon (Hebrew, "peace" with strong wisdom associations) carries the weight of the wisest king.

The interesting thing about hope and wisdom names is that they set a tone rather than a description. You're not saying your child is wise. You're saying wisdom matters to you.

Nature and joy names round out the major meaning categories, and both are trending upward.

Nature: Sylvia (Latin, "of the forest") is back from the dead and better than ever. Adam (Hebrew, "earth") is literally the OG nature name. Dylan (Welsh, "son of the sea") connects to water. Luna (Latin, "moon") is celestial nature. Silas (Latin, "wood, forest") is a quiet nature name. Aurora (Latin, "dawn") bridges nature and light.

Joy: Asher (Hebrew, "happy, blessed") is climbing the charts fast. Abigail (Hebrew, "father's joy") is timeless. Felix (Latin, "happy, fortunate") is genuinely joyful. Beatrice (Italian/Latin, "she who brings happiness") is elegant joy. Isaac (Hebrew, "he will laugh") is maybe the most wonderful meaning of any name on this entire page.

At SlumberSongs, we think the meaning of a name deepens when it's set to music. A personalized lullaby takes your child's name, its meaning, and the hopes behind it, and turns it all into a song they'll hear every night.