Baby Names: Meanings, Origins & Audio Pronunciation
Explore more than 15,000 baby names — every one with audio pronunciation you can actually hear, a real, source-checked meaning, and origins spanning 380+ cultures. Search below, or browse by origin, theme, popularity, or first letter.
No names match these filters.
About the More4Kids Baby Name Directory
Choosing a name for your child is one of the first and most personal gifts you'll ever give them, and it's a decision you'll hear spoken aloud for the rest of your life. More4Kids has been helping parents since 2005, and this directory brings together more than 15,000 baby names — each one researched, pronounceable, and built to be genuinely useful rather than padded filler. Whether you already have a shortlist or you're just starting to dream, you can search by name, meaning, or origin, or browse the whole collection by the qualities that matter most to you.
What makes these pages different starts with something simple: you can hear every single name. Each entry includes real audio pronunciation, which matters most for the beautiful international and heritage names that are easy to love on paper but hard to say with confidence. No more guessing whether you're saying a name the way its culture intends.
Just as important, every meaning is checked against real sources, not invented. We cite where a name's meaning and history come from, and when the evidence isn't strong enough to state something confidently, we say so or leave it out rather than make it up. Our names span more than 380 cultures and origins — from the most popular choices of the year to rare heritage names you won't find on thin, copy-paste name sites. The goal is a directory you can actually trust with a decision this important.
If you'd rather describe what you're looking for in plain language — say, "a gentle vintage girl's name with Irish roots that means light" — you can ask Nia, our AI baby-name finder. Nia only suggests real, verified names from this directory, so you get inspiration without the made-up results so common elsewhere.
How to use this directory
Start typing in the search box above to match a name, a meaning, or an origin instantly. Use the filters to narrow by gender, by popularity (the current Top 100 or community favorites), by the number of syllables, or by origin and theme. Every result links to a full name page with its pronunciation, meaning, origin story, popularity, variations, and frequently asked questions. There's no sign-up and nothing to buy — just explore as long as you like.
Popular and trending baby names
Some parents want a name that's beloved and familiar; others are hoping for something rare that their child won't share with three classmates. This directory helps with both. Filter to the Top 100 to see the names families are choosing most right now, or sort by community favorites to discover names that More4Kids readers are loving. Popularity isn't everything — a name that feels right to you always wins — but it's useful context, and we refresh it as new naming data becomes available each year so the trends you see reflect real, current choices rather than a stale snapshot.
Most popular girl names
Mary·Elizabeth·Patricia·Jennifer·Linda·Barbara·Margaret·Susan·Dorothy·Sarah·Jessica·Helen·Nancy·Betty·Karen·Lisa·Anna·Emily·Sandra·Ashley·Kimberly·Ruth·Donna·Carol·Michelle·Laura·Amanda·Emma·Melissa·Rebecca·Stephanie·Deborah·Sharon·Kathleen·Cynthia·Amy·Shirley·Angela·Catherine·Virginia·Katherine·Evelyn·Brenda·Frances·Pamela·Nicole·Samantha·Alice·Christine·Rachel·Olivia·Maria·Janet·Carolyn·Martha·Debra·Marie·Grace·Victoria·Heather·Diane·Julie·Joyce·Rose·Joan·Christina·Julia·Lauren·Lillian·Kelly·Ann·Hannah·Doris·Jean·Kathryn·Judith·Charlotte·Mildred·Andrea·Megan
Most popular boy names
James·John·Robert·Michael·William·David·Joseph·Richard·Charles·Thomas·Christopher·Daniel·Matthew·Anthony·George·Donald·Paul·Mark·Andrew·Edward·Steven·Kenneth·Joshua·Kevin·Brian·Timothy·Ronald·Jason·Jacob·Jeffrey·Ryan·Nicholas·Frank·Gary·Eric·Jonathan·Stephen·Benjamin·Samuel·Larry·Justin·Raymond·Scott·Brandon·Henry·Jack·Alexander·Gregory·Patrick·Walter·Dennis·Jerry·Aaron·Tyler·Jose·Peter·Nathan·Adam·Douglas·Zachary·Harold·Arthur·Noah·Carl·Albert·Ethan·Kyle·Lawrence·Christian·Joe·Willie·Gerald·Jeremy·Roger·Austin·Keith·Jesse·Terry·Harry·Sean
Tips for choosing the right baby name
A few small habits make the decision easier. Say each name out loud with your last name a few times — rhythm and flow matter more than they seem on paper, which is exactly why we put audio on every page. Check the initials and the most likely nicknames, since those travel with your child for life. Think about the meaning and heritage you'd be proud to explain one day, and if you have other children, try the name alongside their names to hear how the set sounds together. Most of all, give yourself permission to sit with a shortlist; the right name usually makes itself known.
Browse baby names by origin
Names carry the story of where they come from. Explore some of our most-loved origins below, or see the complete list of cultures and traditions represented in the directory.
Browse baby names by theme & style
Looking for a certain feel — nature-inspired, vintage, biblical, classic, or modern? These curated style hubs gather names that share a mood or tradition, so you can find one that fits the family you're building.
Browse baby names A–Z
Prefer to browse by first letter? Jump straight to every name beginning with the letter you have in mind — each list is paginated through the full set.
More ways to explore
Ask Nia, our AI name finder → Baby Name Guides → Names by meaning → Browse by letter & syllables →