Traveling Lite Baby Names
- Laia
Origin:
Catalan diminutive of EulaliaMeaning:
"sweet-speaking"Description:
Saint Eulalia was born in Spain and is the patron saint of Barcelona, so her name and its derivatives are popular throughout the land — especially in her native Catalonia.
- Timo
Origin:
Norwegian, Finnish, German, and Dutch variation of TimothyMeaning:
"honoring God"Description:
Popular in its own right in Germany and definitely makes a more intriguing and grownup short form of the classic Timothy than Timmy or even Tim.
- Rika
Origin:
Japanese, or diminutive of names that end in -rikaMeaning:
"beautiful village; peaceful ruler; estate ruler"Description:
Rika is most common as a Japanese name, when it means "beautiful village" in one kanji combination. It is also seen as a nickname and given name in Scandinavia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands, where Rika originated as a nickname for names such as Fredrika and Henrika.
- Indy
Origin:
Short form of IndianaDescription:
Indie — as in indie films — is the more girlish version of the name, but earthy, gender-neutral Indy is catching up slowly and steadily. Indy entered the Top 1000 for girls for the first time in 2023 after rising over 100 places. For a longer full name, vibrant Indigo remains more and more stylish each year.
- Farah
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"happiness"Description:
Farah is a soft and lovely Arabic name, best known here in this original spelling via the last Empress of Iran, Farah Palavi. It's currently a Top 250 name in both France and the Netherlands, which both have a large Arabic-speaking population, and appears in at least two video games.
- Rian
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little king"Description:
More authentic and original form of Ryan, but far less common of the two spellings.
- Artem
Origin:
Ukrainian variation of ArtemisDescription:
Ukrainian Artem (ar-TEM) and Russian Artyom/Artiom (which can also be transcribed as Artem, though still pronounced ar-TYOM in Russian) are ultimately derived from the name of the Greek goddess Artemis: goddess of the moon and hunting. The meaning of her name is unknown, though it may be related to the Greek for "safe" or for "butcher".
- Lukas
Origin:
German variation of LucasMeaning:
"man from Lucanus"Description:
Highly popular in Germany, Norway, Lithuania, and Austria, Lukas is a spelling variation of the also extremely popular Lucas. The "K" spelling gives it extra kick and a more international, globe-trotter feel.
- Enzi
Origin:
African, SwahiliMeaning:
"powerful"Description:
This short and strong Swahili name shares lots of sounds with trending Ezra and Enzo, and has a great meaning too.
- Emile
- Ula
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"gem of the sea"Description:
Ula is among the unusual U names that may have a range of origins and meanings, from the Celtic one given here to its possibilities as a short form of Eulalia or Ursula. Ulla is a Scandinavian name usually an abbreviation of Ursula or Ulrika.
- Ted
Origin:
Diminutive of Theodore or EdwardMeaning:
"gift of god; rich guard"Description:
Like Ed, Eddie and Teddy, Ted is rarely used as an independent name – in the US, at least. In the UK, Eddie ranks just outside the Top 200, Teddy ranks just outside the Top 30, and Ted is a Top 200 pick.
With Theodore rising, Ted may have new life among parents who don't want to use the short form Theo. And TV's Ted Lasso makes it a quintessential nice guy name.
- Kuba
Origin:
Short form of JakubDescription:
Kuba is the attractive short form of Jakub, the spelling of Jacob commonly used in Poland. Much more distinctive than Jake!
- Tai
Origin:
ChineseMeaning:
"great extreme"Description:
Tai, which rhymes with Kai, is a unisex name with a range of international references. It means the equivalent of "too much" in Chinese but is also used as a Maori name meaning "the tide" and in Romanian means "yours." While it's only ever ranked in the U.S. Top 1000 as a girls' name, during the height of the popularity of Olympic skater Tai Babilonia, Tai makes a simple intriguing modern choice for either gender.
- Maud
Origin:
English and French diminutive of Matilda, GermanMeaning:
"battle-mighty"Description:
Maud, lacy and mauve-tinted, was wildly popular a hundred years ago but has been rarely heard in the past fifty. Some stylish parents are starting to choose Maud again, especially as a middle. Maude is another spelling, associated with actress Maude Apatow.
- Aras
Origin:
LithuanianMeaning:
"eagle"Description:
A sweet, simple name with roots in several cultures. In Lithuanian, Aras is a poetic bird name, while in Persian and Kurdish it is both a word ("equal"), and the name of a river that flows through Turkey, Armenia, Iran and Azerbaijan. It is one of the most popular boy names in Turkey, and also ranks in the Netherlands and England and Wales.
- Shira
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"my song"Description:
Popular Israeli choice, ripe for adoption here. Parents who great up in the 1980s may remember animated heroine Shira, Princess of Power.
- Carla
Origin:
Feminine variation of CarlDescription:
While Charlotte and Caroline are considered stylish and classic members of the Charles family, this somewhat severe Germanic form is fading. It reached its apex at Number 76 in 1965.
- Orlo
Origin:
Short form of Orlando or Roland, GermanMeaning:
"famous throughout the land"Description:
Orlo is a name nobody ever heard of until the surprise popularity of the unrelated but similar-sounding Arlo. If Arlo can be a hit, why not Orlo? Why not indeed.
- Arla
Origin:
SwedishMeaning:
"early"Description:
While Arla has a literal meaning in Swedish, its roots as a name are probably more closely related to such names as Arlene or Orla. Arla is among the girls' Top 1000 names in the UK.