Names That Mean Given

Nathan is an Old Testament name that's ranked among the Top 100 names for boys for 50 years, and could well stay there for another 50. Strong, solid, and attractive, It's a name familiar to every schoolchild through Nathan Hale, the Revolutionary War spy.

With Liam at the top of the boys' popularity list, parents might discover the still-rare Niam. A name with various origins, Niam can be a Hindi name, deriving from the word niyam meaning "rule" or "law"; an Arabic name - often used on girls - meaning "blessings" or "given by God"; and an Irish name, an form of Niamh.

Ananias is a New Testament name of three different figures. The two good ones were a high priest and a disciple of Paul. The not good Ananias was the husband of Sapphira who conspired to deceive the apostles and was struck dead.

Variant of the popular Slavic name Bogdan, meaning "given by god".

For jet-setting parents or those with many cultural backgrounds, a name that is workable across various languages is often a priority. Natan is a great option, as it is a familiar name in many European countries. It is currently most popular in Poland but seeing significant use in Israel as well.

Widely used in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, has an air of generosity and could easily be adopted here.

Spanish spelling of the Hebrew classic that might prove confusing to non-Spanish speakers.

Evokes a sympathetic feeling of generosity and charity.

Rare but intriguing saints' name that offers an unconventional way to get to Theo.

A cool and charismatic Sotho name with a great meaning.

With Theodora showing signs of revival, this rare saints' name could be an appealing alternative.