Names That Mean Life

A spunky nickname name for parents with showbiz aspirations for their daughter.

Though a common name in Hungary, the relatively rare Z sound is striking to English speakers. Penn Gillette used the Zolten spelling for his son; it was also the name of Dracula's dog, and was also a robotic character in Dude, Where's My Car?.

Irish spelling of Eva or Ava, also spelt Eabha in Ireland.

A neologism coined for the 2012 Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, which aims to come up with new terms for emotions that currently lack words

Viva la baby with this life-affirming name, one of the appealing group of girl names that mean life.! Singer Rufus Wainwright chose it for his baby daughter, perhaps in celebration of a new life entering the world the year after he lost his mother Kate McGarrigle. The baby's middle name is Katherine.

Vivia, the fresh Italian version of newly popular name, streamlines and even vivifies the original.

A life-affirming choice — just beware pronunciation issues among the goyim in your neighborhood.

Mavie is cute as can be, and feels stylish today as similar-sounding Maeve rising in popularity. Mavie may be inspired by the French phrase "ma vie" — meaning "my life". Mavie can also be a diminutive of classic Mavis. Soccer star Neymar Jr. and girlfriend Bruna Biancardi named their daughter Mavie in 2023.

Appealing crosscultural choice.

Avita sounds like a drug name. In fact, it is! (It's an acne medication.) While that may not be enough to stop you, you might want to consider Aviva, Vita, or Evita (which has issues of its own) instead.

A Top 10 name in Moscow. In Russian, the emphasis is put on the first syllable.

Vivian is the classic spelling, now in the Top 100, while Vivien is the most common alternative. This one foregrounds the "Anne," and so could serve as a nod to a relative or friend by that name.

Zoe is one of those popular names that's inspired many spelling variations, and Xoe is one of the new ones. A simple name sure to attract a lot of attention.

This name of a daughter of Zeus has an intriguing air of antiquity.

Embroidered lace hankie of a name, used in a Thomas Hardy novel. That literary cred lends some gravitas.

No-no appelation of a child saint and martyr whose name is a term for the nervous condition known as Saint Vitus' Dance. Its one recommending feature is that it's among the elite group Boy names that mean life.

Melodic and unusual, and she will outgrow any bib jokes.

Vivaan is a life-related name from India that has made its way onto the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2014. While unusual, it has a familiar and appealing lively sound and feel. However, be aware that people unfamiliar with the name may misread and mispronounce it as Vivian.

This lovely compound name blends two of the most stylish girl names of the moment. The result has a pretty and sophisticated sound, reminiscent of stylish rarities like Evelina.

Despite being one of the rare boy names that mean life, Chaim barely survived early Jewish immigration, being watered down to Hyman and Hymie. Today, the original seems like the most promising form of the name, familiar thanks to bestselling author Chaim Potok.