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Baby names

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Original poster

What do you consider to be truly international names?

58 replies

Noterday · 19/10/2020 11:33

Some names (eg Raj, Sven, Chad, Ling) have pretty strong hints as to which country or region that person may be from.

Which names, to you, are very difficult to place? So if you heard the name, you wouldn't assume them to be from any particular continent or country.

So what works in many regions and languages, in terms of not being totally "out there", and not being too hard to pronounce in any language/ accent?

I'm struggling to think of ANY right now!

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PrimeraVez · 22/10/2020 14:47

We live overseas in a very multicultural environment. Off the top of my head, names I know of here that don’t have a clear link to their nationality/cultural background:

Girls
Isabel (and all variants)
Sophia
Olivia

Boys
Alexander
Leo
Lucas

PattyPan · 22/10/2020 14:43

Anna
Sophia
Maria
Elena
Katrina
Victoria
Sonia

Alex
Nicolas
David
Lucas
Thomas
Daniel
Lee
Karl

MimiDaisy11 · 22/10/2020 14:27

I was surprised to see Japanese women called Naomi when I lived there so I wonder how many other countries use it. That might be a contender too.

SaucyHorse · 22/10/2020 13:58

"nothing with an r in it [...] So that leaves:
Sarah
Mary/Maria"

Looks like you forgot your first rule there.

One of the contestants said he named his son Victor, as it's a name that is spelled and pronounced the same all over Europe.

In many European countries it is spelled Viktor. But yes, it's a good one!

Of course as OP says, there is no name that works absolutely everywhere, but there are some really good ones suggested here. Generally names from the Abrahamic religions are good bets that can cover large parts of the world. I think Adam would probably have to win the prize for 'most international name'.

bathorshower · 21/10/2020 14:57

Depends on just how international you mean - nothing with an r in it (interchangeable with l in a lot of languages)

A good number of languages can't cope with consonant clusters or consonants at the end of a syllable. So that leaves:

Sarah
Mary/Maria
Maya
etc. for girls.

Boys names have variants that work, as fewer of them end in vowels, e.g, Luka rather than Luke

janiejones5446 · 21/10/2020 14:44

The Dictionary of Medieval Names lists the most common names of the middle ages throughout Europe. That gives an indication of which names really got around back then, many of which are still common today. It's an interesting read.

Men's names: dmnes.wordpress.com/2015/09/23/the-most-popular-names-for-men/

Women's names: dmnes.wordpress.com/2015/09/15/the-most-popular-names-for-women/

CornwallCucumber · 21/10/2020 14:28

I live in Switzerland which has four languages and a large immigrant population and I would say that most of the names on their "most popular baby names" list are international/pan European. The vast majority of them are names that exist in English and other languages, with minor spelling and pronunciation differences.

What do you consider to be truly international names?
Jaimeles · 21/10/2020 14:22

Everyone seems to forget Africa. Biblical names ( which are NOT "Europeans") such as Daniel would be common in West Africa , Southern Africa ( Christian countries) while Muslim names would be more common in East/Muslim Africa. I would pick Mohammad/Mohamed/Muhammad as an international name , common in Asia/Africa and very well known in the rest of the world either through history or immigration.

formerbabe · 21/10/2020 09:19

Alex, Adam, Ben

Maria, Eva, Nadia

Squeakerfoot · 21/10/2020 01:20

As PP said, Maya/Maia/Maja can be found all over the place.

Monday55 · 20/10/2020 14:03

Pretty much half of the names in the bible.
Matthew
Simon
Luke
Peter/pete
John
Jane
Sarah
Marry / Maria
Gabriel
Isaac
Moses
Elliot
Etc etc...

Phphion · 20/10/2020 13:58

Kim
Jo
Ken

GU24Mum · 20/10/2020 11:56

Sasha?

borageforager · 20/10/2020 11:54

Nina

TicTacTwo · 20/10/2020 11:48

Anna, Mia (Me-ah), Emma, Leah/Lia, Hanna/Hannah,

AlexaShutUp · 20/10/2020 11:24

I know several people called Anita with very diverse backgrounds

2mendingfences, I was coming on to say Anita. Traditionally used as an Indian name as well as in lots of European backgrounds.

MissisBee · 20/10/2020 11:22

This reminds me of an episode of Going For Gold (remember that amazing show!)
One of the contestants said he named his son Victor, as it's a name that is spelled and pronounced the same all over Europe.
Don't ask me why I remember such inconsequential trivia from 25 years ago. My brain is weird!

FizzyGreenWater · 20/10/2020 11:19

Anna

Alex

Mendingfences · 20/10/2020 08:32

I know several people called Anita with very diverse backgrounds

LadyGAgain · 20/10/2020 06:35

Nina

TheChristmasPrincess · 19/10/2020 23:12

Anna
Isabella
Emma
Frederick

Firebird83 · 19/10/2020 23:04

Anna
Sophia
Maria
Sarah

PixellatedPixie · 19/10/2020 14:23

Layla / Laila - girls name in many cultures from
Arabic to Hebrew / Israeli but also commonly recognised in Europe and the US.

Ylfa · 19/10/2020 14:23

I think Icelandic names travel the least well but are among the most memorable!

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