MeaningNames is a multilingual encyclopedia of baby names — built for parents, students, writers, and anyone curious about the stories behind a name.
Our mission
Naming a child is one of the most meaningful decisions a family makes. We believe every name deserves a thoughtful, well-researched explanation — not a copy-pasted one-liner. MeaningNames brings together meanings, etymology, cultural context, and pronunciation guidance for tens of thousands of names across Arabic, English, Turkish, Indonesian, Urdu, and more.
How we research names
Our entries are written and edited by a small team with backgrounds in linguistics, Islamic studies, and translation. We start from primary sources — classical dictionaries, scholarly works on onomastics, and authoritative naming traditions in each language — and only then enrich the text with AI to expand coverage and translate explanations consistently across languages.
Every entry tries to answer three questions: What does this name actually mean? Where does it come from? How is it used today?
Why it is free
We want a child's name story to be accessible to every family, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. MeaningNames is supported by unobtrusive advertising so the encyclopedia itself stays free to read, search, and share.
What you will not find here
- Generic, auto-generated filler ("a popular name in many cultures").
- Sensational or fabricated trivia.
- Personal data collection beyond what is needed to run the site safely.
Tell us if we got something wrong
Languages evolve, traditions vary by region, and family stories sometimes contradict dictionaries. If you spot an error or want to suggest a better explanation for a name you know well, please reach out. We read every message.