Native American names are a manifestation of diverse cultures and traditions. They are deeply embedded in the natural world thus reflecting the connection that Native American communities have with nature, and their environment. As a result they serve as a reminder of the rich heritage of indigenous peoples in America. In this article, we explore a selection of Native American names and their meanings.
Native Americans have been on the continent for a long time and when it comes to naming places their influence is easily seen throughout the USA. For instance many rivers, cities and states have names that are of native origin. Contrarily Native American first names have only begun to get more popular during the latest decades, which is especially due to historical circumstances.
Nonetheless Native American names have always been a testament to the diverse cultures and traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. These names are often deeply rooted in the natural world, thus reflecting the reverence and close connection that Native American communities have with their environment.
To illustrate that take the name Kiona for example: Originating from the Makah tribe, the female first name means “Brown Hills”. It reflects the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest landscapes, which is where the natural settlement area of the tribe was. Another female first name that points out the connection between culture and naming would be Talasia. The Cherokee name refers to a corn tassel and in doing so it pays tribute to the importance of corn in the tribe’s agriculture.
In addition to often being deeply rooted in flora and fauna, many native names are also compound words. The male name Keokuk for instance, which is of Sauk origin, translates to “One who is alert and watchful.”
Another example of a compound word as has been noted would be Hiawatha. The mentioned name is used for both boys and girls. It comes from the Iroquois tribe and means something like “He who combs” or “He who creates water”. An additional gender-neutral name is Dakota. It is of Sioux origin and means “Friend and ally”.
All these names and their translations illustrate the composition of several words within one name. Therefore, if you look for a Native American name, make sure you don’t just use one part but the whole compound. Moreover, it is a good idea to know what compound words to use together in order for them to make grammatical sense.
One thing becomes vividly clear through these examples: Within the indigenous community, Native American names are more than just labels. They are imbued with cultural significance and a deep connection to the natural world. Considering that for many years the government did not only discourage but, in many cases, plainly forbid Native Americans to give their children indigenous names, it only makes sense that using these names now can be an act of empowerment. In addition to that, indigenous names get increasingly more appreciation for their beauty and meaning by people from all walks of life. While this can generally be seen as a good thing, there are some more things to consider on a cultural level.
For one thing, giving your child a Native American name while not only lacking ties to the tribe where it originates from but also without having proper understanding of its cultural significance could come across as cultural appropriation and disrespectful to the tribe. Therefore it helps to do some research first on meaning as well as the origin of the name. Furthermore it’s always a good idea to talk to a member of the tribe, asking about the correct pronunciation and reasoning behind the name. That way you can fully understand the meaning and to pay tribute to its cultural heritage all while also loving the sound of the Native name. To make the research a little bit easier for you, below you find a small selection of beautiful Native American names, their origin and meaning.
The name Abigail accompanied people for many centuries, it was sometimes more, sometimes a little less popular. In general, the name associates with intelligence, kindness and empathy. Why Abigail is a joy for many, you can learn here.
Like so many names familiar to us today, Abigail originates in Hebrew. ʾĂvî-Ghayil means ‘my father’s joy’ or ‘my father is joyful’. The name Abigail in itself exudes joy, which is certainly one reason why it once again proves to be one of the most popular names ever in the United States, especially in the 21st century. Because of the biblical origin of the name, the meaning ‘my God is joyful’ is also conceivable, since one could interpret ‘avi’ for ‘my father’ as ‘my God’. The best known Abigail from the Bible is the wife of the rich shepherd Nabal. She proves to be a faithful woman who leads an exemplary life and stands against revenge. After Nabal’s death, King David marries her as his third wife.
The name Abigail became established throughout Europe with the spread of Christianity, giving rise to many country-specific forms. It also found favor in some African countries; for example, there is a Swahili, a Somali, and a Yoruba variant of Abigail. In England, Abigail did not establish itself as a common name until the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Puritans especially loved the name. Abigail evolved into a slang term for servant in the 17th century, as the biblical Abigail refers to herself as a servant. This is also the origin for the surname Abigail. Probably for this reason, the name went out of fashion until it experienced a revival − at least in the USA − from about 1950.
Especially with the name Abigail, it is noticeable that many celebrities are actually known by a nickname like Abby or Abbey. These evolved into first names in their own right now as well. Abbey Clancy, born Abigail Marie Clancy, is an example of this. Since 2015, the model hosts the TV show “Britain’s Next Top Model.” Australian actress Abbie Cornish, on the other hand, chose her real name for her career. It is worth noting that the name Abigail is very popular among Hawaiian princesses. Since the early 19th century, several princesses have been recorded with this given name. The last of them was Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa, who died in 2022.
To date, there were two First Ladies of the United States with the name Abigail. Abigail Adams, the second First Lady from 1797 to 1801, and the 13th Abigail Fillmore from 1850 to 1853. The former was even the namesake for one of the most famous Abigails of the present day: actress Abigail Breslin (*1996). At the latest since her remarkable appearance as a 9-year-old in the film ‘Little Miss Sunshine’, the whole world knows her. Subsequently, she starred, among others, in the zombie comedy ‘Zombieland’ (2009) and its sequel, as well as in the tragicomedy ‘August: Osage County’ (2013). Other well-known actresses are Abigail Spencer (b. 1981) and Abigail Cowen (b. 1998), who took a role in the series ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina‘ (2018-2020).
‘Dear Abby’ was the most successful newspaper column in the world in the 1950s and 60s. The writer’s name, Abigail Van Buren, is just a pseudonym for Pauline Phillips. She combined the name of the biblical Abigail with the last name of former U.S. President Martin Van Buren. Pauline‘s twin sister, Esther Lederer, wrote the column “Ask Ann Landers,” which attracted a great deal of readership as well.
The name Abigail is quite popular as a movie title. A Venezuelan telenovela called ‘Abigail‘ ran from 1988 to 1989. There is also a Russian fantasy adventure film and an American short film, both of which were released in 2019. This is another example of how the name Abigail is known worldwide.
The Hawaiian variant of Abigail is Apikalia or ʻApikaʻila. However, this name does not appear in official US name statistics.
Abigail may be the one of most popular names in the United States in the 21st century. One in 300 girls under the age of 10 bears this name – that’s a lot for one name. Up to the end of the 19th century the popularity of Abigail was quite high, but it reached rather middle ranks. As a rule, it ranked between 400th and 1000th. Abigail reached its absolute lowest point at 1628th place in 1921, by far the worst year for this name.
Since the 1950s, the Abigail name again experienced a significant upward trend. In 1989, it was better than #100 for the first time, and shortly after, in 2001, it was in the TopTen for the first time. The best ranking was even #4 in 2005. Until 2017, Abigail remained in the TopTen, but since then it remains not far from it. Considering this strong trend and the fact that the name stayed in the TopTen for such a long time, Abigail is rightly considered one of the most popular names of the last decades.
Are you looking for a traditional name that fits our modern time? Then you should consider choosing Charlotte for your girl. It is not only the name of one of the fastest-growing major cities in the US in recent years but also of many royals in the last centuries. Come and check it out.
As you must have guessed with the reference to the royals, the name Charlotte connects to Charles. Charles is a French name that comes from the Germanic Karl and means ‘free man’. Since the Middle Ages, Charles enjoyed high popularity, especially among royal families. After the conquest of England in 1066, French became the language of the nobility and in court there. French culture shaped the English upper class for centuries, and so the name Charles also developed into one of the most popular on the island. And Charlotte? Charlotte is the feminine form of the originally masculine name Charlot, a diminutive of Charles. The earliest evidence of Charlotte dates to the 14th century. In England, it first appeared in the middle of the 17th century.
King Charles II of England named two of his illegitimate daughters like this. The name caught on much later when honorable members of the royal family enhanced its reputation. The first to do so was the German-born Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who married King George III in 1761. Among other things, she brought the tradition of the Christmas tree to England. In France and Great Britain, the popularity of the name Charlotte continued to grow. By the end of the 19th century, it was also already among the top 100 in the U.S. From 1950, fewer and fewer parents gave this name to their daughters, but Charlotte was never unpopular. It reached its worst rank in 1982: #302. Since the 2000s, popularity has literally exploded and Charlotte − already a common name − is more in demand than ever.
The most famous young name bearer is definitely Charlotte Emma Aitchison. Doesn’t ring a bell? This happens to be the real name of the English singer Charli XCX. At the latest with the song ‘Boom Clap’ from 2014, the then 22-year-old made a name for herself worldwide. By the way, Charli XCX can see music: she is a sound-to-colour synaesthete.
Certainly more famous to your grandparents and parents than to you, but still indestructible in front of the camera stands Charlotte Rampling. The English-French actress (*1946) began her career as a model and enjoys a reputation as an icon of the Swinging Sixties. At first she made arthouse films in France and Italy, but since the 1980s she has also starred in English-language works. The list of her awards is as long as her filmography. These include the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival and an Oscar nomination. Rampling recently took on a role in the acclaimed 2021 film ‘Dune’ and 2023’s ‘Dune: Part Two’.
If we travel further into the past, we discover Charlotte Blacklock, for example. She campaigned for women’s suffrage in Great Britain at the beginning of the 20th century and started a hunger strike. Nowadays, Charlotte Brontë is certainly better known. The English writer lived from 1816 to 1855 and wrote, among other things, the novel ‘Jane Eyre’ (1847). In it, Brontë deals with the themes of love and responsibility for one’s own life. Her two sisters Emily and Anne also wrote novels, the former ‘Wuthering Heights’ and the latter ‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall’.
You see, the name Charlotte has a long list of famous people. Who knows, maybe one day your daughter will be one of them?
Charlotte was the name of an English ship, one of eleven of the First Fleet. With them, the first convicts reached Australia in 1788. The ships sailed for about 250 days and carried nearly 800 prisoners. Contrary to widespread opinion, free settlers who wanted to start a new life in Australia also traveled with them. By the way, the ship received its name from the above-mentioned Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. And the city of Charlotte, North Carolina got its name from the English queen, which is why it bears the nickname ‘Queen City’.
The beautiful name Charlotte suits not only people, cities and ships, but also numerous different things. This includes the Charlotte spiral, a figure skating spiral. The skater bends forward, one leg stretching straight up. The face is as close as possible to the lower foot. The figure requires flexibility and balance. Charlotte Oelschlägel, a German skater of the 1920s, invented it. She also created the death spiral.
Lovers of desserts may be familiar with the cake Charlotte. This is a warm bread pudding originating in England, which first appeared in recipe books in 1808. A few years later, a French chef in London developed a cold version of the dessert; nowadays, both variants are equally well-known.
Although the Charlotte name has such a long history, the 21st century has been the most successful so far. Charlotte has never been as popular as it was in our time. Since 2000, the name has jumped up many places year after year, reaching the American top ten for the first time in 2014. But it didn’t stop there: every year it went up even further, until it reached third place in 2021. It seems only a matter of a short time before Charlotte becomes the most popular name in the USA. Its success is spreading to other countries as well: in Australia, Charlotte was the most-used name for example in 2013 and 2022. In England, it has been a continuous part of the top ten since the 1980s. Charlotte‘s success story shows no signs of ending!
In the last decade, the name Benjamin has become more popular than ever in the United States − and people have always found it to be one of the more common names. If you like the name and would consider naming your son Benjamin, we recommend this article. Learn all the important facts about Benjamin and why the name is especially interesting if you are a proud resident of the South.
The name Benjamin first appears in the early Old Testament, in the Book of Genesis. Jacob, one of the patriarchs of the Israelites, named his twelfth and youngest son Binyamin. This Hebrew name means ‘son of the right hand’ or also ‘son of the south’. Over the centuries, it evolved into the spelling Benjamin. The biblical Benjamin and his brothers founded their own tribes, the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Benjamin‘s family settled in the area around the city of Jerusalem, more southern than most other families. Therefore, and because of the meaning of the name, Benjamin is a good choice if you want to instill pride in your son’s Southern heritage.
So you see, the history of the name Benjamin goes back a long way. But that does not mean it has always been a popular name. Only after the Protestant Reformation followers of the new Christian orientation gave their sons the name Benjamin. Martin Luther started the Reformation in Germany in 1517. To further distinguish themselves from Catholicism, they abandoned traditional saints’ names in favor of more obscure ones mentioned in the Bible. Other examples of this development include Abraham, Daniel, and Ethan. Probably, the most famous American bearer of the name Benjamin is Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers.
Without him, the list of celebrities would never be complete: Benjamin Franklin lived from 1706 to 1790. He worked as a writer, scientist, politician and many other things. His most famous deeds are guaranteed to include his work on the U.S. Declaration of Independence, which he later signed. But the man on the $100 bill accomplished even more: he dedicated his life to improving the common life. For example, he constructed a new type of wood stove that developed less smoke. This benefited the health of the poor population in particular. He also founded the first volunteer fire departments in Philadelphia and the first lending library in America. These are just a few examples from the legendary life of this great man, who serves as a prime example of social advancement through strength and discipline.
Benjamin Franklin Parker, by the way, is the full name of Uncle Ben, a well-known character from the Spider-Man comics. Not only fictional characters, but also real people of the present are called Benjamin. These include, for example, Benjamin Kowalewicz, singer of the Canadian band Billy Talent, and also Ben Affleck. His full given name is Benjamin Géza. Affleck represents Batman for many today, a role he played in several movies in the 2010s. However, he already managed to become famous abruptly in the 1990s: As a young man, he co-wrote the film ‘Good Will Hunting’ with his friend Matt Damon and won the screenplay Oscar. Since then, the actor has also earned much praise as a director of intelligent thrillers. In 2012 he won his second Oscar as producer of ‘Argo’, this time for Best Picture.
The name day of the biblical holy progenitor Benjamin is December 19. The anecdote from the Bible serves also as the origin of the expression ‘the Benjamin of the family’. Since Benjamin happened to be the youngest son, the term often describes the youngest of the family — especially if he turns out to be a few years younger than his other siblings.
The original spelling of the name, Binyamin, explains why Benjamin is also known as a surname: the term bin Yamin refers to a son of Yamin, whose name means ‘right hand’ or ‘south’. In the U.S., Yamin, or Jamin, appears to be a rare name, but may gain prominence in the coming years in the wake of Benjamin‘s popularity. Incidentally, the surname Benjaminson may also be known in English-speaking countries.
Long names often inspire people to many pet names, as in this case: Ben, Benny or Bennie are just a few examples. In recent years, Benji attracted particular attention. It began to exist as a proper name in the 1970s, and has been gaining popularity since the 2010s. In this country, the name occurs frequently in California; outside the U.S., Australians and New Zealanders in particular find it beautiful. Benji, by the way, serves as a comedic sidekick in the ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies, played by Simon Pegg. Also, Benji is a coveted dog name, which probably has to do with the movie series about the fictional dog. The stray dog Benji rescues kidnapped children. In 1974, the first film of the series was released in theaters, which still has its fans today.
Now you have read a lot of background on Benjamin, but what is the current situation? Currently, almost 800,000 people in the USA bear this name. That does not sound like a lot when you consider the total population. But statistically, every 430th person you meet on the street or while shopping is named Benjamin. That’s a lot, so it comes as no surprise that Benjamin happens to be one of the most popular names in the country — currently as well as over the past 50 years.
This beautiful name experienced its least popular period in 1960, when it only ranked 152 according to our SmartGenius statistics. Many other names dream of reaching this ranking one day! In the late 19th century, Benjamin came close to the top ten, then faded a bit. But since the 1970s, this traditional name regained the top spots. In 2016, Benjamin finally cracked the top ten. Since then, it has held steady there. Overall, Benjamin counts as one of the most popular names of all time.
Everyone loves Olivia: at least that's what our name statistics say. Over the past twenty years, it has become increasingly popular and is generally one of the most popular first names in the US. Read on to find out where the name comes from, why it is so special, and what alternatives there are.
The first name Olivia is derived from the Latin word ‘olīva’, which can be translated as ‘olive tree’, ‘olive branch’ or ‘olive’, and is the feminine form of Oliver. And this meaning could be very deciding for choosing the name: An olive branch has a high symbolic meaning that goes back to the customs of ancient Greece. It stands for peace and victory and is therefore often used in supplications to the gods. But what is about the sound?
Since the end oft he 90s the name became more popular – in the USA it was especially in the 2010s. Maybe it is the soft sound, that is responsible for its growing popularity. The consonants L und V are articulated with little tension, as they are voiced – which is in general perceived more gently. Moreover, with four syllables the name stands out from the average – considering that mainly in the last twenty years even monosyllabic names have become more common. There is a persistent prejudice among the population that long names with three or more syllables seem ‘more intelligent’. This means that the classic name convinces parents with its sound, the rare initial letter O and its outstanding length. Or maybe it’s inspiring women called Olivia that make the name so palatable to so many people.
Undoubtfully, one oft he moste famous Olivias ever is Olivia Newton-John (1948 – 2022). She rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s as an actress as well as a singer. Her hit singles ‘Physical’ (1981) and ‘Xanadu’ (1980) comittedt to the memory of several generations. Her portray of Sandy Olsson in the musical film ‘Grease’ (1979) alongside John Travolta became her signature role. In fact, Olivia Newton John may have played a significant role in the popularity of the name. Even though no other Olivia comes close to her celebrity status, we don’t want to neglect other tough women with the same name.
Olivia Colman (*1974) for example: She is a British actress who is best known for her comedic and dramatic roles in film and televison. Besides the Academy Award for Best Actress in ‘The Favourite’, she also won three Golden Globes. The American author Olivia Goldsmith (1949 – 2004) however, was one of the world’s most successful authors of witty, ironic women’s literature. Her bestseller ‘First Wives Club’ sold over five million copies and was made into a film of the same name in 1996 starring Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler. Another famous character with a very similiar name to Olivia is Olive Oyl, the wife of famous cartoon muscle man Popeye.
If you love the sound of the name Olivia but are searching for a variant form of it you could choose Olive, which sounds a little bit more fancy. If you prefer shorter names in general maybe the short form Livia is a nice alternative. You want it even shorter? Livy is another shortform of Olivia which totally keeps pace with the times. You really like the length of the name Olivia but you would like to give yout child a more individual name? How is it about Lydia, Ophelia, Olivette or Alivia?
Choosing the right first name for your son is extremely important. A name decisively shapes the first impression you have of other people. Learn all there is to know about the very popular name Ethan. This article will be of great help when you decide whether Ethan is a candidate for your offspring or not.
Like many names known and popular in Europe since the Middle Ages and later in the USA, Ethan comes from Hebrew. The name Eitan derives from the adjective ēṯān, which means ‘firm’ and ‘lasting’. Ethan is thus the ‘strong’ or the ‘reliable’. By the way, this makes Ethan a particularly suitable name if there are any siblings in the planning!
Ethan proves to be the name of several characters in the Bible, more precisely in the Old Testament. They are marginal figures who make but brief appearances. Only Etan, the Ezrachite, managed to attract a higher level of attention. He possibly wrote Psalm 89 and finds mention in the 1st Book of Kings: Here we read a description of Solomon’s wisdom and exemplary rule. Solomon was said to have been even wiser than Etan the Ezrachite. This biblical passage is also the reason why people associate the name Ethan with ‘wisdom’, even though the meaning of the name is different.
So you see, the history of the name Ethan goes back a long way. But that does not mean it is a popular name. Only after the Protestant Reformation followers of the new Christian orientation gave their sons the name Ethan. Martin Luther started the Reformation in Germany in 1517. To further distinguish themselves from Catholicism, they abandoned traditional saints’ names in favor of more obscure ones mentioned in the Bible. Other examples of this development include Abraham, Daniel, and Tobias. In the United States, the 18th-century revolutionary Ethan Allen made his first name nationally known. More about Allen in the next section.
However, it took until the 90s of the 20th century for the first name Ethan to win over masses and become one of the most popular names in the country.
Now for the exciting part: Which celebrities are named Ethan? There are quite a few, so we have reduced them to the most important ones. Of particular importance is, of course, the already mentioned Ethan Allen. He lived from 1738 to 1789 and played a major role in the American War of Independence. Allen was a colonel in the Continental Army and fought for the independence of Vermont. After three years of imprisonment in England, he returned in 1778 and worked briefly as a judge while participating in negotiations for Vermont to become an independent state. He did not live to see his goal; he died in 1789, two years too soon.
If you are not interested in history, here are the celebrities for you. Qquite a few actors bear this name, for example Ethan Peck, Ethan Suplee and Ethan Philipps. But by far the most famous is Ethan Hawke. Born in 1970, the writer and actor earned several Oscar nominations and his best-known films include ‘Training Day’ (2001) and ‘Boyhood’ (2014). He covers an enormous range of roles, having appeared in comedies, thrillers, science fiction, action and dramas.
However, the film industry offers another heavyweight with this outstanding name: Ethan Coen (*1957), one of the brothers of the Coen directing duo. The two directors are among the most successful of their guild, creating numerous classics such as ‘Barton Fink’ (1991), ‘Fargo’ (1996) and ‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007). The duo also write and edit their own films, ensuring a parodic style all their own.
Even though Ethan is the specifically English spelling that evolved from the Hebrew Eitan via Etan, the variant appears in many countries. It is still most popular in English-speaking countries. But Ethan gains popularity in Belgium, Italy, France, Poland and Chile, to name a few.
Ethan is one of nearly 400 masculine names found in every state. But that does not mean it is equally popular everywhere. It is especially trendy in Utah and Nevada, where about 1 in 170 men have the name.
Incidentally, the name is different from Étan or Étaín, Old Irish feminine names. They probably derive from the word ‘ét’, meaning ‘jealousy’ or ‘passion’. By the way, Ethan also occurs as a last name. It is one of the rarest surnames in the entire US with about 120 people bearing it.
As already indicated, the name Ethan accompanies mankind for several centuries. Yet the wave of popularity does not go back that far. Only since the 1990s, a significant, ever-growing number of parents named their sons − and some daughters − Ethan. It peaked in the early 2000s. Since then, its popularity declines again, but nonetheless Ethan remains among the most popular first names of recent years. As is often the case with such sleepers, pop culture probably caused the rapid rise. Actors becoming famous and fictional characters like Ethan Hunt from ‘Mission: Impossible’ are changing the tastes of many young parents. This is not unusual; even 1939’s ‘Gone With the Wind’ showed the same trends.
Currently, Ethan ranks as the 7th most popular first name in the last 10 years in the U.S., according to our SmartGenius stats. That means 1 in 300 boys younger than 10 are named that. In some states, the name even reached the TopTen in 2021. These are New York, New Jersey, Florida and Maryland. So, does it seem that a change is in the offing and that the popularity of Nevada and Utah will shift toward the East Coast in the next few years? We will see. Finally, it remains to say that Ethan proves relatively easy to spell and pronounce, making it a practical choice for parents who want a name that is both meaningful and easy to use in everyday life.
The name Liam has been in the top 3 most popular boys' names in the USA for years. On several occasions it has even occupied first place. In our SmartGenius statistics for the last 10 years Liam is therefore on the 2nd place, only very close behind Noah. Here's everything you need to know about this outstanding name.
The name Liam was not always as popular in the USA as it is today. In fact, when George Washington became president, the name was completely unknown in this country. It was not until the mid-19th century, when many Irish fled the Great Famine and emigrated to America, that Liam became popular outside of Ireland. After that, it took until the 1990s for this beautiful-sounding short first name to go from rare to popular. But where does the name come from and what does it mean?
Liam derived as a short form of the name William, which is also very popular at the moment. It ranks third in our SmartGenius statistics. William comes from the Germanic name Willehelm, which is now known in German as Wilhelm. Other linguistic variations include the Dutch Willem, the French Guillaume, and the Spanish Guillermo. As you can see, the name has caught on in many parts of the world and is proving to be historically popular.
So far so good, but what does the name mean and how did it get to England and Ireland? Willehelm is composed of ‘willo’ for ‘will, desire’ and ‘helm’ for ‘helmet, protection’. The name Liam therefore also means ‘helmet of will’ or simply ‘guardian, protector’ as a modern form of Willehelm. When the Normans conquered England from France in 1066, the name spread across the island in the form ‘Willaume’. Only over the centuries did the people there adopt the foreign name as their own and develop the form known today as William. Liam was a special Irish form, an abbreviation of Uilliam, and, as described above, became world famous relatively late.
Since Liam is an Irish name, it is primarily Irish and, more recently, American and British people who bear this first name. However, in some cases, such as the actor Liam Neeson, who starred in Schindler’s List and is now an action star, Liam is just a short form of William. Liam Gallagher, lead singer of the band Oasis, is also called William. A real Liam is the Irish writer Liam O’Flaherty, who lived from 1896 to 1984 and wrote numerous novels and short stories. Hollywood made movies of some of his works, such as John Ford’s The Informer in 1935. Ford, by the way, was O’Flaherty’s cousin.
In the 1980s, the name Liam became very popular in Great Britain. The up-and-coming actor Liam Neeson, who had been called that since childhood, certainly played a big part in this. His early theater and film roles as well as his partnership with the famous Helen Mirren also contributed to his fame. The hype spilled over to the US and Australia, as evidenced by today’s well-known actors. Liam Aiken, Liam Hemsworth, Liam McIntyre and child actor Liam James all belong to the first wave of popularity. Then, from 2000, Liam really took off, reaching the top ten in the US for the first time in 2012 and the top spot in 2017.
The name Liam occurs in every state in the USA. This makes it one of less than 400 male first names to reach this mark. It is noticeable that Liam is particularly common in the Northeast, in Florida and in the West of the country. The highest percentage of the population appears in the Silver State of Nevada. Both in glittering Las Vegas and in remote villages, Liam wins over young parents − not many first names manage that.
Liam‘s popularity in the USA has spread to other countries. Some of them are far away and otherwise not inclined to use English-language names with any frequency. Some examples are France, Poland, Sweden, Chile, Israel, and Croatia. This appreciation in many countries certainly contributed to the decision to name the Yahoo! mascot Liam. If you want to be more creative, you can choose one of the many spelling variations. These include Lian, Lien, and Leam.
In the 1990s, the Liam name began its rapid rise in the USA. While it was ranked 360th in 1994, it climbed to 240th a year later. In 2000, it reached 140th place and since then it has continued to climb at an even faster rate. Liam broke into the top ten in 2012, and a year later it was in the top three, where it has remained ever since. From 2017 to 2021, Liam even defended its number one spot as the most popular name ever in the US.
One in 300 boys aged 10 and under now has this name. Only the name Noah turns out to be more common in this age group. In total, nearly 300,000 Americans of all ages are now named Liam, or 0.08% of the total population! And it does not look like anything is going to stop this triumph. Liam enjoys a reputation as a simple, melodious, and strong name. That’s a lot of qualities that are hard to beat.
Noah is currently THE first name in the USA. It is incredibly old and many people associate it with Noah's Ark from the Old Testament. How did this traditional name manage to become more popular than ever before in the fast-paced 21st century?
The name derived from the Hebrew Noach which means ‘rest’ or ‘repose’. The origin of the word is not entirely clear, but it most likely comes from the Sumerian word ‘nukhu’, meaning ‘rest’. In England, Noah has been in common use since the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. It proved to be a permanent fixture since the early days of the United States. However, Noah did not enjoy any particular popularity. Throughout history, many people bore the name Noah, but it was not until the 1990s that the name really took off.
Today, Noah as a first name exists in many variations around the world. In Arabic, for example, the name is Nūḥ, in Turkish and Indonesian Nuh, in Somali Nuux, or in Lithuanian Nojus. The most common variants are the feminine Noa and Noe, which enrich the languages Bulgarian, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish, for example. In addition, Noah is a common surname outside the United States in France and in some African countries such as Somalia, Nigeria, and Cameroon.
The story of the Flood and Noah‘s Ark is one of the most famous in the Bible. God planned to wipe out sinful humanity, sparing only Noah and his family because they were righteous. Noah built the ark to save two of each animal to repopulate the earth after the flood. Noah and God made a new covenant in which God promised never to let another flood occur. As a sign of His promise, He created the rainbow to remind people of His grace in the future.
Since Noah tose to extreme popularity since the 1990s, there will probably be significantly more VIPs with this name in the future than there are nowadays. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any, after all, there has always been someone with this name. A well-known example of the early 20th century is Noah Lewis, a harmonica virtuoso and a central figure in the jug band scene. Noahs have also made their mark in the film industry, such as director Noah Baumbach and, most recently, actor Noah Centineo.
Who else should every American know? The answer is Noah Webster. He was a lexicographer, translator, and writer who was born in West Hartford, Connecticut in 1758 and died in New Haven, Connecticut in 1843. Webster, like many, strove for American independence, which also had to be culturally established after 1776. His goal was to form a national language distinct from British English. He simplified it − ‘color’ instead of ‘colour’ or ‘center’ instead of ‘centre’ − and thus founded the American orthography as we know it today.
And, of course, there’s Noah Galloway, a former soldier and current motivational speaker. He is famous for his participation in the 20th season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in 2015, where he finished third with his partner. This is all the more impressive since he lost his left arm and leg in the line of duty. At least since he graced the cover of ‘Men’s Health’, Galloway became an American symbol of strength and resilience.
Noah‘s popularity skyrocketed in the 1990s, and now more than 20,000 newborns are given the melodious name each year. 1.1% of all boys born in the U.S. in the last 10 years are named Noah. That puts Noah at #1 in our SmartGenius statistics! There are representatives of the name in every single state, and they are especially common in Nevada, where 0.6% of all residents are named Noah. Noah also experiences unprecedented growth in numerous other countries. Our neighbor Canada has also seen a boom since the 1990s, which eventually rubbed off on Europe. In the 2000s, the popularity of the name increased significantly in France, Germany, Ireland and Italy. Australia has also been in the grip of Noah fever for several years.
So how is it that this traditional name is so incredibly popular in the technologized 21st century of all places? As is often the case with names, the answer lies in the movies. Americans are crazy about movies, and at the latest since ‘Gone With the Wind’ (1939), movie characters have served as inspiration for naming their own children. In the case of Noah, the famous series ‘ER’ (1994 – 2009) filled this role. It made not only George Clooney, but also Noah Wyle famous. The incipient boom intensified once again in 2004, when the movie ‘The Notebook’ melted numerous hearts. Ryan Gosling earned his status as a movie star in the role of Noah Calhoun.
Emma has been a top ten name among expectant parents for more than one decade. In the United Kingdom, it was also once very popular in the last century. Something seems to excite people about this name. But what is it that draws mothers and fathers to name their child Emma every year?
Everybody loves Emma. Why do we make this assertion? Because it’s true! It tranks the first place for girls in the SmartGenius statistics. In the last ten years, 1.2% of all American parents named their daughter Emma. That means that over 20,000 babies each year receive this popular name. Have you ever wondered why that is?
On the one hand it could due to its meaning. Emma means ‘the great’ or ‘the all-embracing’. Originally Emma comes from the Old High German words ‘irmina’ and ‘ermana’ signifying ‘whole’ or ‘universal’. On the other hand parents might love the name Emma because of its sounding. It is easy to understand and contains only the soft consonant ‘m’ – the first consonant babies learn during language acquisition, just think of the word ‘Mom.’ Coincidentally, the name Emma sounds almost as familiar as the nickname for the mother.
At any rate, Emma sounds harmonious and not harsh at all. Moreover, it should be easy to understand and pronounce in almost any language. For some people, a distinct gender attribution is also important. This is very obvious in the name Emma because of the ending on the vowel ‘a’, which pleases many parents. Some researchers even think that Emma is a derivative of the name Irmgard or Emanuela. That, in turn, would fit the trend that short names have become increasingly popular in recent years.
By the way, this does not only apply to the USA. Also in Europe, the name Emma, as well as the tendency to shorter names, lines with the trend for about 20 years. In the United Kingdom, Emma once before experienced a great wave of popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. There where also historical personalities who already bore this name, as you can see with the English model, dancer, and actress Emma, Lady Hamilton (1765–1815). In the U.S. in particular, however, the name didn’t really take off among parents until the 2000s. Maybe the name became that popular only then because there are so many celebrities called Emma: Emma Watson, Emma Bunton, Emma Thompson, Emma Roberts or Emma Stone.
Emma Watson, who portrayed Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, could have had an influence on the popularity curve in particular. With resounding success, she was an integral part of the cinema scene for ten years in the 2000s and also delighted fans with her social commitment: Since 2014, she has been a UN Special Ambassador for Women’s and Girls’ Rights and a high-profile feminist. Many of her fans might have become parents in recent years.
Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton has also certainly won over many former followers of the girl band. Many who attended their concerts in the late 90s and early 2000s had children during the 2010s and remembered their idol ‘Baby Spice.’ And that brings us to the point of what people associate with the name. Of course, the more common a name is, the more people relate to it.
However, there are also names that do not only give rise to positive feelings. This may be because they are labeled as ‘old-fashioned’ or simply ‘too complicated’. Of course, there are also names that are associated with people who have not left such a good image in society. Things are different for our Emma: the melodic sound, the soft consonant, the uncomplicated name structure and her many, good-looking, talented, successful and clever namesakes strongly contribute to the fact that people associate good feelings with Emma.
It is probably for the same reason that names related to Emma are so popular such as Emily or Emilia. If you also like the name Emma, but you don’t want to give your child such a common name, you might also consider these less familiar variations: Emmabelle, Emmabeth, Emmaclaire, Emmalea, Emmaleigh, Emmarose, Emme, Emmey, Emmi, Emmy or Emony for example. Emma also works as a diminutive for the names Emmeline, Amelia or Amelie.
You don't want to give your daughter a plain English first name? You are looking for something more exciting and melodious that is not familiar to everyone? Then you are probably looking for an exotic female name. We have a list for you of girls' names from all over the world.
What makes a name appear exotic for us? Most often, these are names that originate in a language other than your own culture. They are still rare enough to attract attention. After all, many English first names derive from Irish, Latin or Hebrew. Keep in mind that the USA is a country of immigration, so we already know many names from other cultures. Thence, The Cambridge Dictonary defines “exotic” as “unusual and exciting because of coming (or seeming to come) from far away.”
This means that US Americans perceive names as exotic that originate from Arabic, Persian, European, Russian, Indian, East Asian, or African. This includes so incredibly many languages and religions that it is nearly impossible not to find a beautiful exotic female first name for your daughter. For example, there are names like Aaliyah: It’s well known in the US, but it comes from Arabic and means “high” or ” lofty”. Thus, some people will still find it “exotic”. Other names, like Yuna, seem to be English in the first glance. In fact, however, it is a popular Japanese name.
There are so many wonderful cultures, languages and religions that provide melodic names with deep meaning. Maybe you even have a personal connection to the language or country where the “exotic” names come from? No matter which name you choose: We recommend you to make sure that it matches your surname. If you are interested in the meaning and not just the sound, you might want to look up the name before assining it. Here is our list with 30 exotic female names!
