We all know that names carry weight. They are often the first impression we make and can tell a lot about our cultural background, family history, or even personal attributes. But did you know that some of the most common monikers we hear daily have genuinely bizarre origins and meanings? From the playground to the classroom, you’d be surprised at the unusual hidden meanings behind some of the most popular baby names.
Choosing a name for your little one is no small task. It’s a decision that will follow them throughout their life. While most soon-to-be parents consider factors like popularity, originality, and how the name sounds, few delve into what these names actually mean. So, whether you’re searching for the perfect name for your bundle of joy or love learning about names, strap in as we explore some popular baby names with the strangest hidden meanings.
Transmissions from the Dark Side
- Akuma: demon
- Ares: bane
- Duald: darkness
- Elegy: lament
- Ephai: gloomy
More Appellations with Dark Meanings
- Fogarty: exiled
- Gorgophone: slayer
- Jabez: pain
- Masozi: tears
- Meribah: quarreling
Final Names with Cursed Meanings
- Odysseus: wrathful
- Penthesilea: mournful
- Rue: regret
- Snorri: onslaught
- Torquil: cauldron
Appellations with Meanings Related to Body Parts
- Ascella: armpit
- Bronwen: breast
- Dandelion: tooth
- Delphia: womb
- Olwen: footprint
More Body Part Meanings
- Osiris: eyesight
- Perna: leg
- Sharpay: skin
- Taliesin: brow
Baby Names That Comment on Appearance
- Algernon: moustached
- Belcher: pretty face
- Blaine: angular
- Brady: broad-chested
- Brecken: speckled
- Cameron: crooked nose
- Gifford: puffy cheeks
More Appellations All About Appearance
- Esau: hairy
- Hamill: scarred
- Jaeda: long-necked
- Kennedy: misshapen head
- Loman: small bare one
- Rajiv: striped
- Roc: frizzy
Descriptive Meanings
- Bilhah: bashful
- Bina: understanding
- Caprice: impulsive
- Dempsey: haughty
- Howell: eminent
- Kessie: chubby
More Meanings That Describe a Person
- Kymani: adventurous
- Maverick: nonconformist
- Molloy: venerable
- Montague: pointy
- Motoko: resourceful
Final Appellations with Descriptive Meanings
- Panya: tiny
- Pendleton: overhanging
- Shea: dauntless
- Sophrona: sensible
- Vogue: fashionable
Baby Names With Occupational Meanings
- Bader: surgeon
- Carbry: charioteer
- Collier: miner
- Halloran: pirate
- Idrissa: interpreter
- Jenner: engineer
More Appellations About Professions
- Kellogg: pork butcher
- Lochlainn: Viking
- Mailer: enameler
- Millard: caretaker of the mill
- Neviah: forecaster
- Odalis: chambermaid
Final Occupational Baby Appellations
- Porter: doorkeeper
- Sloane: raider
- Tupac: accountant
- Vedette: actor
- Wainright: wagonmaker
Baby Names with Household Meanings
- Bechette: spade
- Binnie: basket
- Bogart: bowl
- Booth: shed
- Cody: pillow
- Hestia: fireside
More Domestic-Inspired Appellations
- Jara: jug
- Jumelle: binoculars
- Keller: cellar
- Kyoko: mirror
- Matita: pencil
- Mesa: table
Final Names with Household Meanings
- Minahil: door
- Obelia: needle
- Taci: washtub
- Tasso: cup
- Zaniah: corner
Appellations with Food and Beverage Meanings
- Auster: oyster
- Bezai: eggs
- Cassia: cinnamon
- Cicero: chickpea
- Craven: garlic
- Dunja: quince
- Fideo: noodle
More Delicious Meanings
- Galador: milk
- Galette: pancake
- Idra: fig
- Jarah: honeycomb
- Layton: leek
- Malina: raspberry
- Miette: crumb
Final Names with Foodie Meanings
- Mora: blackberry
- Noyce: walnut
- Palin: wine
- Rapunzel: lettuce
- Rimona: pomegranate
- Vieira: scallop
Appellations with Nature-Inspired Meanings
- Alioth: sheep
- Arantxa: thornbush
- Arley: rabbit
- Azami: thistle
- Berquist: twig
- Boyne: cow
- Castor: beaver
More Meanings About Nature
- Fana: jungle
- Gilead: camel
- Halcyon: kingfisher
- Kobe: tortoise
- Koko: stork
- Nahma: sturgeon
- Numair: panther
Final Names with Nature-Inspired Meanings
- Osman: snake
- Poe: peacock
- Rohan: sandalwood
- Shada: pelican
- Takeo: bamboo
- Tupelo: swamp
Appellations That Mean Various Actions
- Devere: fishing
- Fatima: abstains
- Faunia: befriend
- Ido: evaporate
- Leib: roaring
- Ligeia: whistling
More Hidden Action Baby Names
- Malala: grieved
- Nira: plowed
- Nixi: childbirth
- Ozlem: yearning
- Pakuna: jumping
- Philemon: kiss
Final Action Appellations
- Susmita: smile
- Tallulah: leaping
- Terpsichore: dancing
- Tycho: hitting
- Waverly: quivering
Miscellaneous Meanings
- Azha: the breeding place
- Balbo: mutterer
- Burr: bristle
- Calah: opportunity
- Chadwick: dairy
More Random Baby Name Meanings
- Chan: sweet smelling tree
- Corentin: hurricane
- Devrim: revolution
- Evrim: evolution
- Faro: lighthouse
Best of the Rest
- Heber: togetherness
- Keats: kite
- Koren: gleaming
- Maeve: intoxicates
- Mika: fragrance
Final Names with Weird Meanings
- Missouri: canoe
- Nemo: nobody
- Nicomedes: pondering
- Petronilla: yokel
- Tafari: awe
As we wrap up our exploration of popular baby names with unexpected hidden meanings, remember that a name is just the beginning of a person’s story. While some of these meanings may have surprised you, they don’t define the person who carries the name. The beauty of names lies in their diversity and depth, reflecting different cultures, histories, and narratives. So whether you’re naming a child or simply curious about name meanings, we hope this journey through the strange and fascinating world of names has been as enlightening for you as it was for us. After all, there’s more to a name than just a label—it’s a piece of our identity.