525+ European Names for Girls and Boys

Iria is a diminutive version of Eirene / Irene and is therefore associated with the Greek goddess of peace.

An attractive Nordic name most common in Iceland. It was derived from the Old Norse elements bryn, meaning "armor," and her, "warrior" or "army."

Famous as the long-suffering wife of the philosopher Socrates.

A cool Slavic short form of Sigmund, properly spelt Žiga in Slovene.

It's unusual, but that may be its best feature.

Russian form of Roderick given to a small number of American boys each year.

This name was on the U.S. Top 1000 in the early 20th century, when recent immigrants frequently chose native names that have since died out for American babies. But if you're of Finnish or Estonian ancestry, you may want to consider reviving this one with a positive meaning.

Galician form of Joel, in the Top 25 in Galicia and Top 250 in Spain. As with Joel and Noel, pronunciation can sound like one syllable or two.

The saintly Italian form of the saintly Latin Benedicta.

Meabh, the native Irish spelling of Maeve, is in the Top 100 in Ireland and becoming more popular here in its Anglicized form. Outside of Ireland, life will be easier with the Maeve spelling of this lovely queen's name.

This Dutch name stems from the Greek root word "philos" meaning "love". It is relatively common in the Netherlands.

A common animal name in Finland, it could work as an alternative to Otto or Otis.

Part of a group of lovely A-starting names popular in Spain, along with Ainhoa and Aitana. Spanish actress Aroa Gimeno introduced this one.

Intriguing twist on several familiar names, though many people will mistake this for Elsa, Eliza, and so on.

Timon has strong associations with The Lion King, making it a tough sell for American parents. Attractive Polish variation Tymon, with the emphasis on the first syllable, preserves the strength of the original while eliminating the meerkat connection.

The Finnish word for "mint" is a popular name in Finland, comparable to the Danish Mynte.

Bence has been the most popular boy name in Hungary for over a decade — it’s held the top spot since 2003, the year Hungary began releasing its baby name data. Bence is the Hungarian translation of Vincent and is also occasionally used as a nickname for Benedek.

Popular name in Spain's Basque country, thanks to cowboyish meaning, virtually unknown elsewhere.

An interesting and appealingly international spin on Barbara, with a lot of charm and energy.

Eniko Hart makes this Japanese name familiar in the US. In Hungary, it's a literary name invented by the poet Mihály Vörösmarty in the 19th century. He based it on the name of the legendary mother of the Hungarian people, Enéh.