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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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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TartanDMs · 19/10/2020 14:18

Leila
Max
Ben
Adam

ChanklyBore · 19/10/2020 14:13

Robert? I’d say that is pretty well used in Europe and the US and doesn’t tie to any historical period or age group either. John? Peter? Ali? Sebastian?

Girls, Mari/Mary/Maryam/Miriam? Elena/Eleanor/Elinor?

Zara?

RudeAF · 19/10/2020 14:12

Sara/Sarah is pretty well represented in all the Abrahamic religions

PurpleWave · 19/10/2020 14:05

I know it's hated on MN, but Kai is used in a lot of countries.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_(name)

SwimmingOnEggshells · 19/10/2020 13:23

Across Europe I'd also add Patrick/Patrik/Patryk

It's used in France, Germany, Eastern Europe, Russia, Balkan states, Scandinavian countries.

movingonup20 · 19/10/2020 13:15

Hannah is fairly universal for a girls name, spelling spelling aside. It means flower in Japanese in fact. I have an Arab Muslim friend called Hannah and a Chinese one.

movingonup20 · 19/10/2020 13:12

Most biblical names are fairly universal, I have an Indian friends called Joseph and another called David (both Hindus and they have an Indian name as well). There's spelling differences but sticking with traditional names means they sound like someone to be taken seriously

Freshlasagnesheet · 19/10/2020 13:04

I would say Sofia/Sophia for sure. Number 1 girls name in the world.

Emma is also very popular around the world

Lily which works in almost every language

Anna
Catherine
Maria
Laura
Maya
Mila
Lana
Lena
Isabella
Hannah/hana/hanna
Amelia/Emilia as well
Perhaps Emily too because other cultures it’s Emilie/Emelie

Boys are even easier, agree Alexander, almost all biblical names.

user1471428569 · 19/10/2020 12:53

Elias.

It works in the Mediterranean bassin, in Northern Europe including Scandinavia and also in Arabic.

Tsubasa1 · 19/10/2020 12:52

Mikail
Zack
Leo
Thomas
Daniel
Ella
Maria
Lara
Hannah

BlackberryCitron · 19/10/2020 12:48

Max

BlackberryCitron · 19/10/2020 12:45

Leo
Maya
Benedict
Eva

TanteRose · 19/10/2020 12:43

Maya

Literally everywhere!

LaBellina · 19/10/2020 12:41

Anna
Marc
Hugo
Charlotte
Thomas
Frederick

Kanaloa · 19/10/2020 12:39

I would say Anna and Alex. Maybe Joseph and Thomas but there are pronunciation differences.

SeanCailleach · 19/10/2020 12:36

Lee
Ben
Sol
Mo

lekkerkroketje · 19/10/2020 12:35

I've lived all over Europe and there are a some names that pop up often. As a PP said, they're mostly shortenings of a longer version, where the spelling or pronunciation vary. Here are some from my direct acquaintance where I know a few of different nationalities. I've got one. I have to change the pronunciation depending what language I'm speaking, but it makes life so much easier!

Chris (-tof, -toph, -tophe, -topher, -tian, Kris-)
Alex/Ali (-is, -ander, -andra, -son, -na)
Andy (Andrea, Andre, Andrew)
Mary (-a, -ie, -y, -ia, -ine, -iana, -yan, -yam)
Suzanne
Lisa (Liese, Liza, Elise, Elizabeth, Liesbeth)
Thomas
Nina
Catherine
Fatima/Muhammed (of every nationality and spelling!)
Nic (-o, -ole, -ola, -olas, ikolas)
Sarah
Claudia
Ann
Mark/Marc
David
Helen
Luc (Luke, Lukas, Luca)
Mat (-thew, -thieu, -tias, -teo, -hilda)

Garcellesaidwhaaat · 19/10/2020 12:30

Beyonce.

ttcAlex · 19/10/2020 12:10

Alexander/Alex, Martin, Gabriel, Daniel, Stephan/Stefan, Max, Victor

Maria, Anna/Ana, Victoria, Alexandra, Gabriela

Penyu · 19/10/2020 12:08

Ariana

I have seen this name 'claimed' by many countries (NZ Maori and French for starters, really no cross over there!)

Lots of others have regional variations on spelling as others have pointed out.

There are some Muslim names which have 'cross-over' like Zaid and Aisha as well.

TheDaydreamBelievers · 19/10/2020 12:05

I can think of some that variations of are common throughout Europe- Maria/Marie/Mairi/Mhairi/Mari or Matthew/Matthieu/Matteo etc. But there is a definitely Asia/Europe divide

InvincibleInvisibility · 19/10/2020 11:52

The problem is that although the basis of the name could be international, the spelling won't be.

Alexander vs Alexandre
Thomas vs Tomas
Anna vs Ana
Joseph vs Josef

We only needed names that are spelt the same in French and English and that was hard enough.

EssentialHummus · 19/10/2020 11:49

Raphael, Gabriel?

SonEtLumiere · 19/10/2020 11:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HarryLimeFoxtrot · 19/10/2020 11:47

Sarah

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