Names for People
This is the heart of names.contact: thousands of first names, last names and nicknames for real people, organized so you can browse the way you actually think. Start with baby names if you’re expecting, jump to girl names or boy names for style lists and letter-by-letter guides, or explore last names to learn where your surname comes from.
Below is a quick sampler from each of our main collections, with real meanings and origins. Every list links out to hundreds more names, and our names by country section covers naming traditions from Ireland to Japan.
Names for People: browse all lists
Girl names people love right now
A mix of chart-toppers and rising favorites. Explore many more on our girl names hub, from pretty girl names to strong girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Olivia | “Olive tree” | Latin |
| Charlotte | “Free” (feminine of Charles) | French |
| Amelia | “Work” | Germanic |
| Hazel | The hazel tree | English |
| Violet | The violet flower | English |
| Aurora | “Dawn” | Latin |
| Eleanor | Possibly “light” | Occitan / Greek |
| Iris | “Rainbow” | Greek |
| Nora | Short form of Eleanor or Honora | Irish |
| Isla | From the Scottish island Islay | Scottish |
Boy names with staying power
Classic, modern and international picks. See our boy names hub for letter lists and styles like cool boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Theodore | “Gift of God” | Greek |
| Mateo | “Gift of God” | Spanish |
| Henry | “Ruler of the home” | Germanic |
| Oliver | “Olive tree” | Latin |
| James | “Supplanter” | Hebrew |
| Ezra | “Help” | Hebrew |
| Everett | “Brave as a wild boar” | English |
| Leo | “Lion” | Latin |
| Silas | “Of the forest” | Latin |
| Jasper | “Treasurer” | Persian |
Unisex and gender-neutral names
Names that work for anyone, growing fast in the US. Find hundreds more under unisex names and gender-neutral names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Rowan | “Little red one” | Irish |
| Riley | “Rye clearing” | English / Irish |
| Avery | “Elf counsel” | English |
| Quinn | “Descendant of Conn” | Irish |
| River | The river | English |
| Sage | “Wise” | Latin |
| Emerson | “Son of Emery” | English |
| Wren | The wren bird | English |
Old-fashioned names making a comeback
Great-grandparent names are back in nurseries. Browse old names and rare names for more hidden gems.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Beatrix | “She who brings happiness” | Latin |
| Mabel | “Lovable” | Latin |
| Clara | “Bright, clear” | Latin |
| Walter | “Army ruler” | Germanic |
| Arthur | Possibly “bear” | Celtic |
| Otis | “Wealthy” | Germanic |
| Juniper | The juniper shrub | English |
| Ambrose | “Immortal” | Greek |
Common last names and what they mean
Most English surnames began as jobs, places or a father’s name. Discover yours in our last names section.
| Surname | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Smith | Metalworker | Occupation |
| Johnson | “Son of John” | Patronymic |
| Garcia | Possibly “young” or “bear” | Spanish / Basque |
| Miller | Grain miller | Occupation |
| Brown | Brown-haired or brown-skinned | Nickname |
| Taylor | Tailor | Occupation |
| Nguyen | Vietnam’s most common surname, from a dynasty name | Vietnamese |
| Walker | Cloth fuller | Occupation |
Nicknames and pet names
The names people actually call each other. See all our nicknames and pairing ideas in twin names and middle names.
| Nickname | From | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Kit | Katherine or Christopher | Playful, gender-neutral |
| Bea | Beatrice or Beatrix | Sweet, vintage |
| Theo | Theodore | Friendly, modern |
| Nell | Eleanor or Helen | Old-fashioned charm |
| Jack | John | Classic, easygoing |
| Frankie | Frances or Francis | Spunky |
| Libby | Elizabeth | Cheerful |
| Ike | Isaac | Retro |
How to choose a name for a person
- Say the full name out loud. First, middle and last names should flow together without awkward rhythms or initials.
- Look up the meaning and origin. A beautiful meaning adds a story — our name meanings lists make that easy.
- Think about nicknames. Almost every name gets shortened; make sure you like the likely nickname too.
- Check popularity. If you want something distinctive, compare against the SSA’s annual baby name data before you decide.
- Honor family and heritage. A middle name is a lovely place for a grandparent’s name or a name from your culture.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular names in the US?
Olivia, Emma, Charlotte and Amelia have been consistently among the top girl names, while Liam, Noah, Oliver and Theodore lead for boys (SSA data).
What is the most common last name in the US?
Smith is the most common surname in the United States, followed by Johnson, Williams, Brown and Jones (US Census data).
What is a unisex name?
A unisex or gender-neutral name is used for people of any gender — for example Rowan, Riley, Avery, Quinn and River.
Where do last names come from?
Most surnames come from a parent’s name (Johnson), an occupation (Smith), a place (Hill) or a nickname describing appearance or personality (Brown).
How do I find the meaning of my name?
Search our name meaning lists or look up your name’s origin language. Most names trace back to Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Germanic or Celtic roots.