Cross-cultural Baby Names
92 Cross-cultural names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Explore 92 baby names with a cross-cultural feel. Every name links to a full page with its sourced meaning, origin, popularity chart, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation. Names are listed most-popular first.
Cross-cultural Girl Names
Samara#320 in the U.S.May derive from the Hebrew Shomron (Samaria), meaning 'watch mountain' or 'guardian', or from A▶Mira#335 in the U.S.From Latin 'mirus' (wonderful, amazing), Sanskrit 'mira' (ocean, sea), or Slavic 'mir' (peace, ▶Raya#369 in the U.S.From Hebrew 'ra'ya' (friend, companion) or Arabic 'raya' (flag, banner) or Bulgarian short form▶Kyomi#548 in the U.S.From Japanese, commonly written with kanji combining kyo (京, 'capital city,' or 清, 'pure, clean▶Dalia#800 in the U.S.Branch or fate; from the Hebrew Daliyah meaning gentle, drooping branch, or alternatively linke▶Naya#813 in the U.S.New or fresh; from Arabic naya meaning new or recently arrived, or from the Hebrew root naah me▶Aliya#823 in the U.S.From Arabic aliya meaning 'high', 'exalted', or 'noble', a feminine form of Ali; also from the ▶Tara#847 in the U.S.From Irish Gaelic teamhair or tara meaning 'hill' or 'elevated place' (the Hill of Tara was the▶Milena#950 in the U.S.Slavic feminine name derived from the element mil meaning gracious, dear, or beloved, found in ▶Yuna#952 in the U.S.In Japanese, Yuna can be written with kanji meaning kindness, gentle, or moon among other meani▶Akira#983 in the U.S.Japanese name typically written with kanji meaning bright, clear, or intelligent, among other m▶Masa#2995 in the U.S.In Japanese, Masa (雅) means elegant, graceful, or refined; alternate kanji can give meanings in▶Anela#3012 in the U.S.Hawaiian form of Angela, meaning 'angel' or 'messenger of God'; also a Czech/Slovak diminutive ▶Raveen#10262 in the U.S.Raveen is an uncommon name of uncertain route: it may draw on Raveena, an Indian name (linked t▶Mayana#10760 in the U.S.A modern, uncertain name most often read as an elaboration of Maya (variously 'water,' 'illusio▶Naori#10806 in the U.S.Naori may draw on Japanese elements (nao, 'honest; to mend, restore'), or read as a Hebrew-flav▶Nima#10824 in the U.S.From the Persian Nima, 'well-being; blessing; good fortune' — a gentle, established name across▶Rai#10867 in the U.S.A short name read across cultures - in Japanese Rai can mean 'trust; lightning; thunder' depend▶Riki#10886 in the U.S.A short name read across cultures - in Japanese Riki can mean 'strength; power' by the characte▶Rui#10896 in the U.S.A Japanese name Rui, whose meaning shifts with the characters - 'a kind of gem; lapis; tears; t▶Tam#11067 in the U.S.A short form of Tamar or Tamsin (Hebrew roots), used on its own; separately it is a Vietnamese ▶Rini#11908 in the U.S.A short name used as a Japanese nickname and endearment and, separately, as a diminutive of Cor▶Saaya#11924 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name (variously written, often blending sa- with -ya, 'colorful; beautiful'),▶Samadi#11934 in the U.S.Used as an East African/Swahili name, and separately echoing the Sanskrit Samadhi, 'deep medita▶Aamara#12183 in the U.S.A spelling of Amara, a name found in several traditions: Igbo ('grace'), Sanskrit ('eternal; im▶Elika#12491 in the U.S.A name with more than one route: a Persian girl's name (also a place in Iran) and, separately, ▶Essa#12532 in the U.S.A short name that arises as a pet form of Esther, Vanessa, or Tessa, and separately as an Arabi▶Eto#12535 in the U.S.A short name of uncertain route: cited as a Japanese word/name element and, separately, as an A▶Maaya#12926 in the U.S.A spelling of Maya. By its routes it can trace to the Sanskrit maya ('illusion; the world's app▶Meilynn#12963 in the U.S.A modern combination of Mei (Chinese 'beautiful,' or a form of Mae) and Lynn (from the Welsh ll▶Miko#12982 in the U.S.Miko is used as a Japanese girl's name whose sense depends on the characters chosen — 'beautifu▶Lauri#12990 in the U.S.As a girl's name, a spelling of Laurie, a pet form of Laura from Latin laurus, 'laurel' - the w▶Neya#13046 in the U.S.Neya reads as a short modern coinage close to Naya and Maya; it is also used in Indian families▶Dai#13823 in the U.S.Dai has several routes: a Welsh pet form of David ('beloved'); a Japanese element meaning 'grea▶Jasmeen#14165 in the U.S.Jasmeen is a spelling of Jasmine, from Persian yasamin, the jasmine flower, borrowed into Arabi▶Jhana#14201 in the U.S.Jhana is the Pali term for meditative absorption — the deep, settled states of concentration de▶Jhia#14203 in the U.S.Jhia is a modern spelling of Jia or Gia. Gia is an Italian short form of Gianna ('God is gracio▶Mori#14605 in the U.S.Two honest routes: in Japanese, mori means 'forest, woods' and is common as a surname and name ▶Chae#14845 in the U.S.Chae is a very short name whose route is uncertain. In American use it reads as a bright one-be▶Sekai#14880 in the U.S.From the Shona (Zimbabwe) Sekai, 'laughter; joy' (from seka, 'to laugh'); separately a Japanese▶Mieka#14987 in the U.S.Mieka is usually a spelling of Mika, which serves as a short form of Michaela or Dominika and t▶Monisha#15355 in the U.S.Monisha traces most cleanly to Sanskrit Manisha, 'intellect, thought, wisdom' (a name also of t▶Mati#16856 in the U.S.A short name with several honest routes: in Hebrew it is a pet form of Matityahu, 'gift of the ▶Shade#17252 in the U.S.The English word shade ('shelter from light; a hue'); also a Yoruba name, a short form of Folas▶Takia#17689 in the U.S.Takia reflects Arabic Taqiyya/Taqiyah, 'pious, devout, mindful of God,' from the root t-q-w; in▶Tika#17769 in the U.S.Tika has more than one possible route. In South Asian use it echoes the Sanskrit word tika (als▶Sheela#18731 in the U.S.Sheela has two honest routes. In the English-speaking world it reads as a spelling of Sheila, t▶AnnhienA compound of Ann ('grace; favor') with the Vietnamese Hien ('gentle; wise; virtuous'), joined ▶
Cross-cultural Boy Names
Akari#542 in the U.S.From Japanese, commonly written with kanji meaning 'bright' or 'light' (明, 灯, or 光); Akari mean▶Junior#752 in the U.S.The younger; from Latin iunior, the comparative form of iuvenis meaning young, used to distingu▶Ayan#762 in the U.S.Gift of God; from the Arabic and Somali name Ayan meaning luck, good fortune, or divine gift▶Kenji#944 in the U.S.Japanese name commonly written with kanji meaning strong and healthy or wise and second son, th▶Kadin#3181 in the U.S.Friend or companion; from Arabic Qadin; also used in Turkish contexts meaning fighter or warrio▶Audi#8319 in the U.S.Audi reads in two ways: as the German car brand (from Latin 'audi', 'listen', a play on founder▶Nishan#9494 in the U.S.From the Armenian Nishan, 'sign; mark; token,' and separately the Punjabi nishan, 'sign; banner▶Siyan#9609 in the U.S.A modern name with several possible echoes (Turkish, Chinese, and coined uses); no single docum▶Luqa#10480 in the U.S.The Arabic form of Luke (Luqa), used for the Gospel writer Saint Luke; ultimately from the Lati▶Oshin#10605 in the U.S.A modern spelling read variously as a form of Ocean (the sea), or as a name found in Japanese a▶Vadhir#10795 in the U.S.Vadhir is used in Latino and Indian communities alike; one reading links it to Sanskrit vajra-a▶Bing#11228 in the U.S.Bing has two main routes. As an English name it is chiefly a nickname, most famously that of th▶Kawan#11632 in the U.S.Kawan reads as a modern given name; it also connects to the Brazilian Kauan ('hawk') and to Ara▶Khilan#11672 in the U.S.Khilan reads as a modern given name; it is also used in India, where readings vary. As used it ▶Kiori#11691 in the U.S.A modern given name that also echoes Japanese names such as Kaori/Kiori (whose meaning depends ▶Kiren#11693 in the U.S.A spelling that bridges two names: the Irish Kieran ('little dark one') and the Sanskrit Kiran ▶Kovan#11702 in the U.S.A modern given name on the Ko-/-van sound; it also appears in Kurdish use, where readings vary.▶Kriday#11705 in the U.S.A modern given name that may echo Sanskrit words such as krida, 'play; sport', in Indian use. A▶Kritin#11708 in the U.S.A modern given name that may echo Sanskrit words such as kritin, 'accomplished; skilled', in In▶Kyere#11711 in the U.S.A modern given name that also appears as an Akan (Ghanaian) surname. As used here it carries no▶Ramil#11975 in the U.S.A name used across Tatar, Azerbaijani, and South Asian Muslim communities; it is variously link▶Riko#12003 in the U.S.A Japanese name whose meaning varies by kanji (often 'reason; logic' or 'village child'); separ▶Rito#12005 in the U.S.A short form of Spanish names ending in -rito (such as Margarito), and separately a Japanese gi▶Tomi#12173 in the U.S.A short form of Thomas ('twin'), and separately a Yoruba name (as in Oluwatomi) and a Japanese ▶Trishan#12182 in the U.S.Trishan is a modern coinage that may draw on the sound of Tristan or on South Asian name elemen▶Amaari#12286 in the U.S.A double-a spelling of Amari, a modern name often read as 'strength' and sometimes linked to th▶Agan#12356 in the U.S.A short given name read variously — as a Turkish or Indian name in some communities, or as a mo▶Atai#12474 in the U.S.Atai is a short name that appears across several cultures (including Central Asian and West Afr▶Azani#12504 in the U.S.Azani is a modern name variously connected to African usage and a Hebrew element sometimes read▶Bian#12542 in the U.S.Bian is used as a Chinese and Vietnamese name; readings vary by character and tone (a Chinese s▶Bihan#12543 in the U.S.Bihan is a Breton word and surname meaning 'small' or 'little'; it also appears in Vietnamese u▶Baba#12568 in the U.S.A widely shared term of respect - 'father; elder; grandfather; a wise or holy man' - used acros▶Camil#12597 in the U.S.Camil is a form of Camillo/Kamil, from Latin Camillus, a word for a young attendant at religiou▶Dairo#12677 in the U.S.A Yoruba (Nigerian) surname, and separately a Spanish/Colombian given name. Its routes are unce▶Derin#12727 in the U.S.Derin has two documented routes: a Welsh/English name linked to Derwen ('oak') or a short moder▶Dia#12740 in the U.S.Dia is a short name read several ways: as Spanish dia ('day'), as an Indian name meaning 'lamp,▶Erlan#12821 in the U.S.Erlan appears in more than one tradition — as a Kazakh and Central Asian name, and separately i▶Naki#13544 in the U.S.A short name found across cultures — among the Ga/Akan of Ghana it can mark a first daughter, a▶Shota#13870 in the U.S.A Georgian name, famously the medieval poet Shota Rustaveli, and separately a Japanese name who▶Yuli#14023 in the U.S.A short form of Yuliy/Julio (from the Latin Julius, 'youthful; downy-bearded'); also used as a ▶Yuga#14170 in the U.S.From Sanskrit yuga, 'an age; an epoch' — in Hindu cosmology one of the four great world-ages, s▶Zihan#14184 in the U.S.Used both as a Chinese given name (where characters chosen give meanings such as 'wisdom' or 'p▶Zexi#14222 in the U.S.In U.S. use, most often a modern coinage said 'ZEK-see', with no documented meaning. Zexi is se▶AraizA rare name appearing as a Basque place name/surname and separately in South Asian use; reading▶
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Frequently Asked
What are popular Cross-cultural baby names?
Popular Cross-cultural baby names include Samara, Mira, Raya, Akari, Kyomi, Junior. Each page has the meaning, popularity, and an audio pronunciation.
How many Cross-cultural baby names are here?
More4Kids lists 92 Cross-cultural baby names, each with a sourced meaning and audio pronunciation.