An international name travels well when it passes three tests: pronounceable on first sight in the languages your family touches, uncontroversial in meaning across those languages, and spelled predictably enough that a barista has a fighting chance. The forty below clear all three bars while keeping their cultural roots intact.
A note on respect: borrowing a name from a culture you love is generally welcomed when done with understanding — know what it means, how it's pronounced, and where it comes from. Our profiles carry each name's home culture and story.
The list
- Mateo — Spanish — gift of God
- Santiago — Spanish — Saint James
- Diego — Spanish — the supplanter
- Javier — Spanish — the new house
- Valentina — Latin — strong and healthy
- Chiara — Italian — bright and clear
- Giulia — Italian — youthful
- Bianca — Italian — white
- Enzo — Italian — ruler of home
- Freya — Norse — the love goddess
- Astrid — Norse — divinely beautiful
- Soren — Danish — Thor's bear
- Anders — Scandinavian — brave
- Kenji — Japanese — strong and intelligent
- Sakura — Japanese — cherry blossom
- Ren — Japanese — lotus
- Amara — Igbo — grace eternal
- Zola — Zulu — tranquil
- Kofi — Akan — Friday-born
- Malik — Arabic — king
- Omar — Arabic — flourishing
- Idris — Arabic — interpreter
- Zara — Arabic — blooming radiance
- Aaliyah — Arabic — exalted
- Leilani — Hawaiian — heavenly flowers
- Malia — Hawaiian — beloved
- Maeve — Irish — she who intoxicates
- Saoirse — Irish — freedom
- Fiona — Gaelic — fair
- Callum — Scottish — the dove
- Ewan — Scottish — born of yew
- Anya — Russian — grace
- Nina — universal — the little one
- Maya — Sanskrit/Hebrew — illusion or water
- Aria — Italian — the melody
- Hana — Japanese/Hebrew — flower
- Noa — Hebrew — motion (feminine Noah)
- Talia — Hebrew — heaven's dew
- Amir — Arabic — prince
- Ravi — Sanskrit — the sun
Most names above have full profiles — browse the girls, boys, and unisex collections.