What do you consider to be truly international names?

[Noterday]

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!

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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?

Leila
Max
Ben
Adam

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

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

Anna
Sophia
Maria
Sarah

Anna
Isabella
Emma
Frederick

Nina

I know several people called Anita with very diverse backgrounds

Anna

Alex

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!

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.

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

Nina

Sasha?

Kim
Jo
Ken

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...

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

Alex, Adam, Ben

Maria, Eva, Nadia

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.