Traveling Lite Baby Names

  1. Rafi
    • Origin:

      Arabic, diminutive of Rafiq; Spanish, diminutive of Rafael
    • Description:

      Most people will assoicate it with the well-known children's singer.
  2. Ari
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Ariel, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "lion of God"
    • Description:

      In 2010, baby boys named Ari outnumbered baby girls 4 to 1; today, there are nearly equal numbers of boys and girls named Ari. And that's only counting the babies who receive Ari as a full name. Ari can also be short for not only Ariel but Aria, Arya, Ariana, and any other name starting with Ari. Ari entered the US Top 1000 for girls in 2016.
  3. Yanis
    • Origin:

      Greek, French, from Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"
    • Description:

      One of the relatives on the widely-branching family of John names, Yanis is in the French Top 50 and was a fast rising choice in the UK in 2022, when it went from being outside the Top 1000 to within the Top 700.
  4. Saga
    • Origin:

      Swedish word name
    • Meaning:

      "story; seeress"
    • Description:

      Apt name for a little drama queen with a long future ahead of her. Saga is a Top 30 girls' name in Sweden.
  5. Ruben
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "behold, a son"
    • Description:

      The streamlined Spanish Ruben is much more popular than the original Biblical Hebrew version in the US.
  6. Joan
    • Origin:

      Catalan, Occitan variation of John, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      There are now more boys than girls given the name Joan each year in the US, although the two are distinct names. The masculine version, pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable, is among the top names in Spain.
  7. Erik
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Eric, Old Norse
    • Meaning:

      "eternal ruler"
    • Description:

      While substituting a C for a K is a modern trend, Erik is in fact the traditional spelling of the name, derived from the Old Norse Eiríkr and introduced to the English speaking world in the Anglo-Saxon period. Now, Erik is popular in Scandinavia and throughout much of Central and Eastern Europe, where it ranks in the Top 100 in Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, and more.
  8. Maura
    • Origin:

      Anglicized variation of Maire
    • Description:

      Somber, almost mournful name that still has a lovely sound.
  9. Tobin
    • Origin:

      English surname derived from Tobias
    • Meaning:

      "God is good"
    • Description:

      Tobias-related name that makes an attractive and modern-sounding form of the biblical original. It was recently chosen by Karolina Kurkova for her son.
  10. Iver
    • Origin:

      Norwegian variant of Ivar
    • Meaning:

      "yew wood, archer, warrior"
    • Description:

      Iver is a popular name in its native Norway, but parents in the U.S. are starting to take note of this rugged yet gentle name. Stemming from the original Norse name Ívarr, it is part of a small group of names with similar roots: Ivar, Ivor, Ivo, Ives, and Evander. It was brought to England by Scandinavian settlers in the Middle Ages, and to the US by in the 19th century.
  11. Saul
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "prayed for"
    • Description:

      Jewish parents in particular may be drawn to this quiet, composed name of the first king of Israel and the name of Saint Paul before his conversion. In modern times, it has been associated with Nobel Prize-winning novelist Saul Bellow. Its meaning makes it appropriate for a long-awaited child.

      Saul is a character in a John Dryden poem, and heard in the Handel oratorio, "Saul."

  12. Armin
    • Origin:

      Form of Herman or Armen
    • Meaning:

      "soldier or wish, hope"
    • Description:

      Possibly related to the Ermin- names (which gave us Emma and her variants) or to Herman OR to the Persian/Kazakh/Armenian names Arman or Armen, this is an unusual choice which fits current trends.
  13. Belen
    • Origin:

      Spanish place name
    • Description:

      Actually the Spanish name for Bethlehem, which means "house of bread," this name is high on Spain's popularity list and is rising in the US as well. Though this is one of the Spanish names for girls that has not for the most part crossed over to the English-speaking population, that could change thanks to its similarity to the popular Belle or Bella.
  14. Alex
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Alexandra or Alexis
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      One of the most evenly divided unisex names these days; strong and energetic, if overused, for both genders.
  15. Ina
    • Origin:

      Latin, feminine suffix
    • Description:

      This suffix is used as an independent name, but doesn't your little girl deserve more?
  16. Andre
    • Origin:

      French and Portuguese variation of Andrew
    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"
    • Description:

      Andre is one of the international forms of Andrew that has been familiar in the English-speaking world for decades without any need to be overly Anglicized - though round the world, it is more likely to be written as André.
  17. Oskar
    • Origin:

      German variation of Oscar
    • Description:

      Oskar is to Oscar as Jakob is to Jacob: more distinctive and continental.
  18. Noor
    • Origin:

      Arabic; Dutch variation of Eleonora
    • Meaning:

      "light"
    • Description:

      An interesting name associated with the elegant American-born Queen Noor of Jordan. Noor is very popular among modern Muslim parents around the world and is beginning to cross over, perhaps because of its simplicity and its resemblance to the stylish Western Nora. It appeared in the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2015.
  19. Ren
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "water lily, lotus"
    • Description:

      In Japan the lotus is the Buddhist symbol of purity and perfection. In the US, Ren can also be short for Lauren or Renee, but it could be misspelt as the more popular Wren.
  20. Lea
    • Origin:

      Variation of Lee or Leah
    • Meaning:

      "meadow; weary"
    • Description:

      While traditionally pronounced as a homonym for Lee, Glee actress Lea Michele pronounces her name like Leah, and it may also rhyme with Freya. Regardless of your preferred pronunciation, it's interesting to note that Lea has always charted in the US Top 1000, despite coming close to the bottom a few times, making it one of the girl names starting with L that both fits in and stands out.