Names That Mean Wise, Intelligent, and Smart

Tanya with a G.

A Navajo nature name with a cool, fresh sound.

Magee became one of the first gender-bending Irish surname names so popular today thanks to New York television newswoman Magee Hickey. In case you don't know, the g is hard, as in Maggie, but with the opposite emphasis.

This name has been off the USA Top 1000 list since before 1900, but it has some great musical credentials: consider American blues singer Alger "Texas" Alexander and country music legend Pat Alger.

Some cutting-edge parents might revive Osbert as a substitute for Oscar. We like the "divinely brilliant" meaning. Cool or terminally nerdy? Your call.

Wise, with vivacity.

Sophina is an English elaboration on the internationally popular Sophia, borne by American actress Sophina Brown.

One of the few Korean names to migrate to Western culture, via supermodel Hye Park.

With its word name style and two equally lovely meanings, Brilliance could be one to watch.

The name of the elephant-headed Hindu god of wisdom is rarely heard outside India.

A bit too self-congratulatory and, understandably, exceedingly rare. Still, if you're looking for a modern virtue name for your daughter, this may be one of the best qualities to exemplify.

Talib is a North African name with an admirable meaning, associated with rapper Talib Kweli.

This beautiful lakeside town in southern New Zealand would make an unusual but wearable choice for a daughter. It benefits from having a great meaning, too.

Wisdom is a rare modern virtue name that might increase in use as this whole category becomes more mainstream. Wisdom is one of the gender-neutral names now on the table for both boys and girls.

Similar to the Turkish name Bilge (Bil-jeh), which has the same meaning.

A pretty Arabic possibility which would work well in many languages.

All the Fitz names are hard to carry, but this one has a wonderful meaning and might be a good middle name choice to honor a brilliant lineage.

Hutchings, rarely heard as a first name, is a semi-patronymic denoting 'son of Hugh'. What it's got going for it is cute nickname Hutch, a cousin of Hitch and Huck.