A baby name generator that explains every name
Choosing a name is easier when you can see why a name means something to you. This baby name generator draws from a list of more than 4,500 names, each with its gender use, language of origin, syllable count and meaning — from Olivia and Liam to Aarav, Ananya, Saoirse, Kenji, Amara and Zara. Filter by boy, girl or unisex, by origin or naming tradition, by first letter, length and syllables, or search the meanings for a word such as “light”, “river” or “victory”, then let the generator surprise you.
It covers names in everyday use across English-speaking countries and Europe, more than 1,100 names popular with Indian families (Sanskrit, Tamil, Bengali, Punjabi and other languages, plus names used by Indian Muslim families), and over 1,000 names from Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, African, Pacific, Slavic and Nordic traditions.
Your shortlist is saved in your browser only. Nothing is uploaded and there is no sign-up.
How to use the Baby Name Generator
- Set the filters: Gender, Naming tradition, Origin, Starts with, Length and Syllables. The line underneath shows how many names match.
- Press Generate a name for one name on a meaning card, or Batch of 10 for ten different ideas at once.
- Type your surname to hear how the full name flows and see the initials.
- Tap the heart on any name to add it to your Shortlist, where names are compared side by side by meaning, origin, length and syllables.
- Open Browse all matching names to scan every name that fits, or press Copy list to share your shortlist with a partner.
Baby Name Generator features
Meaning and origin for every name
Each entry gives the language the name comes from and a short meaning. Spelling variants (Aiden, Ayden, Aidan) keep the meaning of the original, and modern coinages are labelled as such.
Indian names with meanings
A large set of Sanskrit and regional Indian names — Aarav, Vihaan, Saanvi, Kavya, Ishaan, Meera — with dictionary meanings, plus names popular with Indian Muslim and Sikh families.
Precise filters
Combine gender, tradition, origin groups (Celtic, Middle Eastern, African, East Asian and more), first letter, a letter-count range, syllables and a word search across names and meanings.
Shortlist and compare
Hearted names are compared in one table with your surname and initials, and kept in your browser between visits.
Playful reveal
Names flip onto the card and batches rise into place one by one; animation is skipped if you prefer reduced motion.
How the name list was put together
The list was compiled and written for this tool from standard etymologies — Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Germanic, Celtic and Sanskrit roots, among others — rather than copied from a database. Names are included only where the origin is reasonably well established; where scholars disagree the meaning says “probably”, and where a popular modern name has no clear source (Advik, Vivaan, Reyansh) it says so instead of inventing one. Origin means the language a name comes from, so João (written Joao) is listed as Hebrew because it comes from John, and Kiara as Italian.
The same spelling can have different meanings in different languages: Tara is “star” in Sanskrit and “hill” in Irish, Maya is “illusion” in Sanskrit and comes from the Greek Maia in Europe. Such names appear once per origin, so filter by origin to see the reading that matters to your family.
Tips for choosing a name
- Say it with your surname. Names that end in the same sound the surname starts with can run together; a contrast in syllable count often flows better (a two-syllable first name with a one- or three-syllable surname).
- Check the initials — the surname box shows them — and how the name shortens: most long names gain a nickname. The nickname generator can help.
- Think about spelling. Variant spellings are listed separately because each is a real choice; a common spelling saves a lifetime of correcting forms.
- For Indian names, families often consider the meaning, the first letter suggested by the naming star (nakshatra) and harmony with siblings’ names — use the Starts with filter to narrow by letter.
- Share the shortlist. Copy it to a partner, or put the finalists in the spin the wheel tool for a playful decider.
Baby Name Generator FAQ
How many names are in the baby name generator?
Just over 4,500 entries: about 2,300 names used in English-speaking countries and Europe, about 1,200 names popular in India, and about 1,100 names from other world traditions. Names with different meanings in different languages count once per origin.
Can I find Indian baby names with meanings?
Yes. Choose “Popular in India” under Naming tradition, or pick Sanskrit, Tamil, Bengali, Punjabi and others under Origin. Each name shows its meaning; combine with Starts with to search by letter.
Are the meanings accurate?
They follow standard etymologies and are deliberately cautious — uncertain derivations are marked “probably”. Name meanings are often debated, so treat them as a starting point and check a specialist source for a name you love.
What does unisex mean here?
A name used for both boys and girls, such as Riley, Kiran or Sasha. Choosing Unisex shows only those names.
Is my shortlist private?
Yes. It is saved in this browser’s local storage and never sent anywhere. Clearing your browser data removes it.
Can I pick a random name from my own list?
Use the random name picker for your own list of names, or the random name generator for full fictional names.