international names

[annielemongrass]

What are your favourite international baby names for boys and girls. Love love love Maria but it's the most used name globally and that's put me off a bit.

patrick and variations of

Anna
Adam

@fallfallfall

patrick and variations of

Patrick is international how ?

I would suggest names that work in Arabic and Latin countries

Sofia
Yasmin
Etc

@YupNameChangeAgain, Patrick is used as a french name and it works in French and English speaking countries.

Names that are pretty much the same in Arabic and English or Spanish and English work well.

Often names are pronounced slightly differently even if they look the same, so it depends whether or not you are bothered if there is a slight difference

Anna
Michael

If you want European international names, there are lots, most but not all have biblical roots (think of angel’s names).

There are fewer crossovers with Arabic but now I’m thinking of it, they tend to be biblical too - Mary/Maria/Mariam derivatives, for example.

Marina is lovely

@YupNameChangeAgain
Patrick also has Spanish and Italian variations plus others

Anna
Alexander

I kind of get the appeal of a 'takes you anywhere' name, but wonder if everyone picked an 'international name' would there be vast numbers of Annas and Alexes?

@YupNameChangeAgain i just double checked to not offend anyone but also variations of patrick in russian chech and polish plus more options.

paul has even more international variations

Depends on how international you're aiming for... I mean, there's significant overlap between European, North American and Latin American names, but not as much overlap between European and Chinese or Indian names, for example.

Some names I can think that seem reasonably international to me are Hannah/Hana, May (or Mei in Chinese and Japanese), Maya, Layla, Mina, Dalia, Nora, Yara, Lina, Nadia, Sabrina, Talia, Mira and Nina. Not so sure about boy's names though, since they tend to be more specific to one culture.

Joseph
Adam
Leo
Alex

Maria
Eva
Nadia

The pronunciations usually vary. Paul, Robert and Thomas work in French and English but sound different. Peter and Richard sound different in English and German.

Isabel would probably be a good one for a girl

Actually, Isabel doesn't sound exactly the same in English and Spanish and would be Isabelle in France so maybe not

Anita is English, Spanish and (coincidentally, different origin) Indian.

Maya also comes from two different roots - Latin and Sanskrit.

Lina, was on my list.

Naomi is also (coincidentally) both Biblical and Japanese.

Personally I love Maria though!

Zoe/ë

Far easier for girls names - there are loads.

We have a mixed raced British/atheist & West African/Muslim DS who we called Zayne Adam and we are struggling for names for our baby boy due soon!

@Caramelcap

Far easier for girls names - there are loads.

We have a mixed raced British/atheist & West African/Muslim DS who we called Zayne Adam and we are struggling for names for our baby boy due soon!

Idris ?

@Caramelcap

Far easier for girls names - there are loads.

We have a mixed raced British/atheist & West African/Muslim DS who we called Zayne Adam and we are struggling for names for our baby boy due soon!

Harris?

Maria is gorgeous! I have a Nina, and we have met non-British little ones from France, Mexico, Italy and India. I also have a Japanese friend called Nina, and my daughter was named after her Russian grandmother.

Maya