155 ancient baby names for babies with old souls
Being called "ancient" might not be a compliment, but having an ancient baby name is a different story.
Ancient baby names are the perfect choice for parents looking for a name unlikely to be repeated among their children's future classmates. In other words, choose an ancient baby name if you want your baby to stand out.
Beautiful names like Persephone and Timon have stood the test of time, but these ancient baby names aren't likely to be on the top 10 list of most popular baby names anytime soon. There's even an "X" ancient baby name: Xerxes.
There are a few exceptions: Among ancient baby boy names, Sebastian is ranked number 13 on the list of most popular baby boy names. Alexander (number 22), Jason (147), Felix (192), Julius (400) and Damon (424) all cracked the top 500 most popular baby boy names. Among ancient baby girl names, you'll find Mila (28), Valentina (49), Brianna (152), Aurelia (371) and Fiona (400) on the top 1,000 list.
If you want the most ancient of ancient baby names, consider Kushim. According to some historians, Kushim may be the oldest recording of a name. It was the name of an accountant and appears on tablets from ancient Persia as early as about 3400 B.C.E.
Here is a list of 155 ancient names and their origins and meanings.
Ancient baby names for boys:
Aarav: Hindi, peaceful
Alexander: from Greek, defending men
Amadeus: from Latin, lover of God
Amias: from French, loved
Andreas: Greek version of Andrew, strong and manly
Arit: Sanskrit, one worthy of praise
Arram: Hebrew, high
Atlas: from Greek, bearer of the heavens
Atticus: Latin, from Attica
Augustus: from Latin, great or magnificent
Aurelius: from Latin, the golden one
Balthasar: Baal, protect the king
Bharat: from Sanskrit, universal monarch
Bodhi: from Sanskrit, awakening or enlightenment
Bruce: from Latin, a man from the brushwood
Bruno: German, brown
Caesar: from Latin, long-haired. Caesar was also the title given to rulers of the Roman empire.
Caius: from Latin, rejoice
Cassius: from Latin, hollow
Castor: from Greek and Latin, beaver
Cato: from Latin, all-knowing
Caxton: Old Norse/Old English, lump settlement
Corbett: French, young crow
Cornelius: from Latin, horn
Cosmo: from Greek, Italian, and English, order and beauty
Cyrus: from Persian, sun
Damon: English, to tame or subdue
Decimus: from Latin, tenth
Demetrius: from Greek, follower of Demeter, the Greek goddess of harvest
Divit: from Sanskrit, heaven
Engjell: Albanian, English and Slavic, angel
Evander: Scottish, strong, or a good man
Felix: from Latin, happy
Flavius: from Latin, yellow or golden
Ivo: German, yew wood or archer
Hardik: from Sanskrit, heartfelt friendship
Helios: from Greek mythology, the sun god
Hiro: Japanese, large or widespread
Horatio: from Latin, hour or time
Icarus: from Greek mythology, a character who flew too close to the sun
Jason: from Greek, healer
Jasper: from Persian, bringer of treasure
Julius: from Greek, youthful
Jupiter: from Latin, supreme
Lazarus: Latinized from the Greek Eleazar, God is my helper
Leander: from Greek, lion-man
Loki: from Norse mythology, a trickster god
Lucius: from Latin, light
Magnus: from Latin, greatest
Marcellus: from Latin, young warrior
Marcus: from Latin, warlike
Marius: from Latin, related to Mars, the god of war
Maximus: from Latin, greatest
Mercury: from Roman mythology, the messenger god
Neptune: from Roman mythology, a variation of Neptunus, god of the sea
Nero: from Latin, stern
Obi: African, heart
Octavius: from Latin, eighth
Odysseus: from Greek, hero of Homer’s epic saga
Orion: from Greek mythology, a rising star
Orpheus: from Greek, the darkness of night
Osirus: Egyptian, with strong eyesight
Otto: from German, wealthy
Ozius: from Greek, salvation
Quintus: from Latin, fifth
Remus: from Latin, meaning unknown, one of the legendary wolf twins who, with brother Romulus, founded Rome
Rhodes: from Greek, where roses grow
Romulus: from Latin, a citizen of Rome, one of the legendary wolf twins who, with brother Remus, founded Rome
Rufus: from Latin, red-haired
Scorpius: Italian, a creature with a burning sting
Sebastian: from Greek and Latin, a person from the ancient city of Sebastia
Seneca: from Latin, people of the standing rock. Also, Seneca is the name of a Native American tribe.
Septimus: from Latin, the seventh son
Severus: from Latin, stern
Shadrack or Shadrach: Babylonian, command of Aku
Tarquin: Latin, Roman clan name
Theon: from Greek, godly
Thor: Norse, thunder
Tiberius: Latin, from the Tiber
Timon: from Greek, worthy or honorable
Titus: from Latin, title of honor
Urban: from Latin, of the city
Wolfgang: German, traveling wolf
Xerxes: Persian, a hero among heroes
Zephyr: from Greek, west wind
Zotikos: from Greek, full of life
Ancient baby names for girls:
Abelia: from Hebrew, sigh or breath
Aeliana: from Latin, sun
Aine: Gaelic, pronounced AWN-yah, radiance. Aine is the name of a legendary Irish fairy queen.
Anahita: Persian, river, and water goddess
Aphra: from Hebrew, dust
Aquilla: from Latin, eagle
Arya: Sanskrit, noble, air, song
Asha: from Sanskrit or Swahili, hope or life
Atarah: from Hebrew, crown
Athalia: from Hebrew, the Lord is exalted
Aurelia: from Latin, golden one
Avalon: Welsh, apple
Basilia: from Greek, basil
Boudicca: Ancient Irish, victory
Brianna: Celtic, one who is honorable and noble
Bronwen: Welsh, blessed and pure of heart
Calliope: from Greek mythology, beautiful voice
Candida: from Latin, white
Cassia: from Latin, feminine form of Cassius, or from Greek, cinnamon
Cerridwen: Welsh, poetry
Chrysanthe: from Greek, golden flower
Columba: from Latin, dove
Cyra: Persian or Greek, sun or throne
Damaris: from Greek, dominant woman
Deidre: Gaelic, a young girl
Delicia: from Latin, delight
Dominica: Italian, belonging to the Lord
Drusilla: from Latin, fruitful
Elishah: from Hebrew, salvation of God
Faustina: from Latin, fortunate one
Felicia: from Latin, lucky
Fiona: Gaelic, white or fair
Flavia: from Latin, golden or blonde
Florentina: from Latin, blooming
Gaia: from Greek, earth mother
Hadassah: from Hebrew, myrtle tree
Hilaria: from Latin, cheerful
Honoria: from Latin, a woman of honor
Isolde: Welsh, ice ruler. In Arthurian legend, Isolde was the name of a queen of Ireland.
Itzel: Mayan, rainbow lady
Juno: from Latin, queen of the heavens
Junia: from Latin, born in June
Justina: from Greek, fair or just
Kamala: Hindi or Hawaiian, lotus or a garden. Kamala is also a name for the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
Khrystyna: with Greek and Russian origins, follower of Christ
Laurentina: from Latin, laurel tree
Liene: from Greek and Latvian roots, bright and beautiful
Lipa: from Greek, a friend of horses
Livia: from Latin, blue or envious
Lucia: from Latin and Italian, light
Lucretia: from Latin, profit or wealth
Mahala: from Hebrew and Aramaic, tender
Marilla: from Latin, shining sea
Mila: Russian, gracious or dear
Minerva: from Latin, of the mind or intellect
Niamh: from Irish mythology and pronounced NEEV, beauty, and brightness
Octavia: from Latin, eighth
Parisa: Persian, like a fairy
Perpetua: from Latin, perpetual
Persephone: from Greek mythology, daughter of Zeus by Demeter, queen of the harvest
Persis: from Greek, Persian woman
Rhiannon: Celtic, great queen.
Silvia: from Latin, of the woods
Tanaquil: from Etruscan, gift of God
Tulsi: Hindi, basil
Valentina: from Latin, strength or health
Valeria: from Latin, strength or health
Vita: from Latin, life
Viviana: from Latin, life
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
