Know the meaning you want, but not the name? Type a word such as light, hope or peace, and see names with that meaning from every religion and culture on this site, each labelled with where it comes from.
How to use the name meaning search
- Type a word in the search box. Results update as you type.
- Choose boy, girl or both, and how many names you want to see.
- Press Generate to shuffle the matching names and see a different selection.
- Copy or download the list, or tap the heart to build a shortlist on this device.
Who uses the Name Meaning Search
Parents with a meaning in mind
Some families choose the meaning first, perhaps a word that marks the story of a birth or a quality they hope a child will grow into. Searching by meaning turns that wish into a list of real names you can react to, and you can save your favourites to discuss together.
Interfaith and multicultural families
A shared meaning can bring two backgrounds together. Searching one word shows how different traditions express the same idea, which may reveal a name that feels right on both sides of the family, even when the two names sound nothing alike.
Writers choosing symbolic names
A character called "hope" or "victory" can quietly support a story's themes. Each result shows the culture it comes from, so you can pick a name that suits your character's background and not only the symbolism you are after.
Gifts and keepsakes
A name with a special meaning can make a thoughtful starting point for a pet, a small business or a personal project. Check the meaning in a trusted source first, especially if it is going on something permanent.
Popular meanings to try
Not sure where to start? Each of these opens a search straight away:
- Names that mean light
- Names that mean hope
- Names that mean peace
- Names that mean joy
- Names that mean gift
- Names that mean star
- Names that mean brave
- Names that mean beautiful
- Names that mean wise
- Names that mean love
Getting better results
- Use one short word. "Light" works better than "a person who brings light".
- Try similar words, because a name may be listed as "bright" or "radiant" and not "light".
- Search for the start of a word: "wis" finds both "wise" and "wisdom".
To browse without searching, try the Muslim, religious or culture generators.
Name Meaning Search questions
How does the search work?
We compare your words with the short meaning we list for each name. Every word you type must match the start of a word in the meaning, so "light" finds "light of" but not "delight". Results are shuffled, and your search stays in your browser.
Why did my word find few names or none?
Our lists are selected by hand and each name has only a short meaning, so a name may be listed under a similar word. If "bright" finds little, try "light" or "radiant". Rare words may have no match at all.
Which names are included?
The search covers our Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist, Hispanic, Yoruba, Igbo, Swahili, Chinese, Japanese and Korean lists. American names from Social Security records are not included, because those records have no meanings.
Can I trust the meanings?
They are short, traditional explanations and not official definitions. Scholars and families sometimes disagree, and Chinese, Japanese and Korean meanings depend on the written characters. Check a trusted source before you decide on a name.
Why does one name appear more than once?
Some names are used in more than one tradition, and the meaning can differ between them. Naomi, for example, appears in our Christian, Jewish and Japanese lists. Each result is labelled so you can tell them apart.
Last updated by GetRandomName.