Ancient (mostly) and/or Internationally-Inspired Names

  1. Acacia
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "thorny"
    • Description:

      Acacia is an attractive, rarely used Greek flower name enhanced by its popular beginning-and-ending-with 'a'-construct, and is gradually beginning to catch on as a new member of the stylish girl names starting with A.
  2. Adalia
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, German, "God is my refuge; noble one"
    • Meaning:

      "God is my refuge; noble one"
    • Description:

      Distinctive, elegant, and luxurious, Adalia can be a variation of Adele, or a Hebrew name with a Biblical background. Although it is given exclusively to girls in the US, in the Bible it is masculine. The similar Adlai might be easier to wear for boys in English speaking countries, while Adalia fits in with Adeline, Amelia, and Dahlia.
  3. Adara
    • Origin:

      Arabic; Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "virgin; or noble, exalted"
    • Description:

      Perfect name for a Virgo or an Aries baby. It is also the name of a character in the fantasy Belgariad series.
  4. Adela
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "noble"
    • Description:

      A vibrant variation of Adele, with a bit of extra flair from that "-a" ending. It could join the army of popular A girls' names, especially with its tie to the success of singer Adele.
  5. ADIB
    • Alaric
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "all-powerful ruler"
      • Description:

        Alaric is an ancient regal name that sounds modern enough to be considered. Alaric was a traditional name for the kings of the Ostrogoths, the most famous of whom was Alaric I, the King of the West Goths who sacked Rome in 410.
    • Alden
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "old, wise friend"
      • Description:

        Hot young actor Alden Ehrenreich, the new Han Solo, gives this formerly-stodgy surname name an attractive new image, making it a fresh successor to Aiden or Holden. Before it got this fresh shine, Alden was among the classic Thanksgiving baby names.
    • Alpheus
      • Origin:

        Hebrew from Greek
      • Meaning:

        "changing"
      • Description:

        There is some disagreement whether there are one or two figures named Alpheus in the Bible. There's an Alpheus who's the father of James and an Alpheus who's the father of Levi, and if James and Levi are brothers, then that's the same Alpheus. Or not.
    • Althea
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "with healing power"
      • Description:

        Althea is a poetic, almost ethereal name found in Greek myth and pastoral poetry, associated in modern times with the great tennis player Althea Gibson, the first African-American to win at Wimbledon.
    • Amadeus
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "lover of God"
      • Description:

        Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's middle name could make an interesting pick for music-loving parents--if only in middle place. Amadeus is the title of a Peter Shaffer play which became an award-winning film in 1984.
    • Amalia
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "work"
      • Description:

        Amalia is a widely cross-cultural name, heard from Italy to Romania, Germany to Scandinavia. The current heir to the Dutch throne is Princess Catharina-Amalia of Orange. It can be pronounced ah-MAH-lee-a or ah-mah-LEE-a.
    • Amare
      • Origin:

        African
      • Meaning:

        "handsome"
      • Description:

        Originating in Ethiopia, this warm-feeling name is now associated with Phoenix Suns basketball player Amare Stoudemire. It has ranked in the US Top 1000 since 2005.
    • Amari
      • Origin:

        Hebrew, Sanskrit, Latin, Yoruba
      • Meaning:

        "eternal, goddess, loved, strength"
      • Description:

        Amari is a name that's rising in popularity for both boys and girls in the US, used last year for about 2000 baby boys and 1000 baby girls. It's among the Top 20 gender neutral names.
    • Amato
      • Origin:

        Italian
      • Meaning:

        "loved"
      • Description:

        Saint's name that emanates amore.
    • Ambrose
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "immortal"
      • Description:

        Gentle but grandiose and beloved by British novelists including Evelyn Waugh and P. G. Wodehouse, Ambrose was a fast rising name in 2022. Entering the UK Top 1000 for the first time and proving popular among Nameberry users, its elegance, softness, and vintage style means it fits in with popular Theodore, Sebastian, and Jeremiah.
    • Amias
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "loved"
      • Description:

        Amias or Amyas is a unique name with an attractive sound and feel and a lovely meaning. Though it might sound like a Biblical name, it is not, but is a surname that may be related to Amadeus or even be a male version of Amy--which would make it one of the few boys' names to be derived from a girls'.
    • AMICUS
      • Amin
        • Origin:

          Arabic
        • Meaning:

          "faithful, trustworthy"
        • Description:

          Amin is a simple but strong name with a solid meaning. It was borne by the sixth Abbasid caliph, a ruler of the Abbasid Muslim Empire in the 9th century, a descendant of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.
      • Annora
        • Origin:

          Latin
        • Meaning:

          "honor"
        • Description:

          Annora is a noble name, a distinctive twist on its most essential form: Honor. Other variations to explore include Honora and Nora.
      • Anselm
        • Origin:

          German
        • Meaning:

          "with divine protection"
        • Description:

          A somewhat solemn appellation, Anselm is a saint's name, connected to the twelfth century archbishop of Canterbury, and in modern times tied to the German neo-expressionist painter Anselm Kiefer.