The meaning of names very often sources back to the Bible, the Norman Conquest or to culturally specific definitions and interpretations. From the Bible, the Gabriel is a Hebrew name meaning “God is my strength.” Daniel is a Hebrew name meaning “God is my judge.” Michael is a Hebrew name meaning “Who is like god?” Noah originates of Hebrew and is a name meaning “rest” or “repose”.

Many names for girls also originate of the Bible. Rachel is of Hebrew origin and means “ewe” or “female sheep”. Eve, although primarily an English name also originates of Hebrew and means “living”, “life” or “breath”. Mary is a Hebrew name meaning “beloved” or “wished for child”.

Nature Name Meanings

Nature provides infinite name sources and ideas, whose meanings are generally self-evident. From the high-flying Robin or Swan to precious gems and metals including Ruby, Pearl or Goldie, suitable for a Prince or a Queen. Nature itself offers Flora, derived of Latin and a name meaning “flower”. Flora was the Roman goddess of flowers and spring. Similarly, Fauna was the Greek goddess of fertility and nature. Fauve originates of the French and is a name meaning “wild” and “uninhibited”. For garden variety names, newly expecting parents might consider Rose, Daisy, Lotus, Dahlia, Iris, Lily or Jasmine.

Of course, nature also provide myriad opportunities for masculine names including Buck, Rock, Forest, Glen, Heath, Indigo, Reed, Rowan or River. (Although the names Indigo and River have crossed gender lines to become unisex in meaning.)

Occupational Name Meanings

Occupational name meanings are for the most part, self-evident. In many instances, occupational names have evolved from family surnames to become beloved baby names. Occupational baby name ideas can include Fisher, Archer, Baker, Hunter, Parker, Mason, Paige, Piper, Porter, Scout or the updated, modern and increasingly popular Taylor.

Place Name Meanings

Place name meanings, as with occupational name meanings are typically self-evident and cross borders, cultures and languages. Plan name ideas include Paris, Dakota, Brooklyn, France, Sydney, Austin, America, Cody and Dallas among many, many more.

Heavenly Name Meanings

Many baby names are aspirational and each is individual and inspirational in portending success in years to come. But some reach all the way to the heavens, Valhalla, Olympus and beyond. Apollo, the son of Zeus, is a name meaning associated with medicine, music, art, law, beauty, wisdom and more. Conversely, Apollo is also associated with the Greek verb to destroy. The name meaning of Diana is “heavenly” or “divine” and she was the Roman Goddess of the moon, hunting, forests and childbirth. Zeus is a name meaning “shine” or “sky” and he was the god who ruled over the earth and the whole of mankind. As the son of God in Roman Catholicism, Jesus has a name meaning believed to be “savior”. From Arabic, Mohammed has a name meaning of “praiseworthy” or “glorified”. Athena has a name meaning associated with wisdom. From the Norse gods, Thor has a name meaning associated with thunder and, as the son of Odin, was the god of strength, thunder, war and storms. Phoebe has a meaning of “bright” and “shining”. Mars -- the god of war -- and Paris – the prince of Troy -- are also place names – although Mars was a god long before being named for a planet.

Irish Name Meanings

The Emerald Isle has proferred an abundance of baby name ideas that have endured across centuries. Ryan has a name meaning of “kingly”. Kevin is a name meaning “handsome”. Sean is derived of the Biblical John and means “God is good”. Conner – ever-increasing in popularity is a name meaning “wolf lover”. Riley is a name meaning “brave” and is generally thought and evolution of a surname to become a given name. Shannon is a name meaning “old and wise”. Saoirse, which rhymes with inertia, is a name meaning “freedom”.

Italian Name Meanings

Italian names and name meanings are somewhat iterative, evolved of Roman, Latin, Biblical and Greek influences. As with many cultures, many Italian names are patronymic, meaning they have been handed down from generations before. Popular Italian boy names include Angelo, a name meaning “angel” or “messenger”. Alberto, Latinized from the Germanic, Albert, and a name meaning “noble”. Antonio, a name meaning “praiseworthy”. Dario, evolved of the Greek Darius and a name meaning “kingly”. Vito is a name meaning “life”.

Popular Italian girl names include Sofia a name meaning “wisdom” or “skill”. Giulia evolved of Julius and a name meaning “youthful”. Francesca, evolved from French and a name meaning “free one”. Maria originating of Latin by way of Hebrew and a name meaning believed to be “wished for child”. Angelica, the feminization of Angelo and a name meaning “messenger” or “angel”. Valentina is a name meaning “healthy” or “strong”.