Search a name for its meaning, origin, and popularity.
Most first names carry a meaning inherited from the language they came from, often Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Old English or a range of others, and that meaning is usually a word or virtue: many names mean things like "light", "strong", "gift" or "grace". Knowing a name's origin and meaning is part of the fun of choosing one, and the tool above looks up the meaning, origin and popularity of any name.
Popularity moves in waves. Names cycle in and out of fashion over roughly a century, so a name that feels old today was often top of the charts for a grandparent's generation and will likely return. Official birth-name rankings show these trends clearly, which is useful if you want a name that is familiar but not on every classroom register, or the opposite.
Choosing well. Beyond the meaning, it helps to say the full name aloud with the surname, check the initials do not spell something awkward, consider the natural nicknames it invites, and think about how it will sound on both a child and an adult. A name's meaning is a lovely touch, but how it wears day to day matters just as much.
All 211 entries in full. The search box above filters this same list.