And what might your favorite English name sound like in a different country such as Norway, Finland, Poland, or France? Let’s have a look.
Are Names Different in Different Languages
Yes. Why? We’re glad you asked. Different languages have different phonologies, that is, different sounds and different rules about how to arrange them. English, for example, allows a word to start with -st, while Spanish often prefers to put a vowel before this combination. This is why we have Steven in English and Esteban in Spanish. Japanese, on the other hand, uses the -r and -l sounds very differently and doesn’t allow a consonant at the end of a word. This is why you might hear Daniel translated as Danieru in Japan. And in some Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Norway, the j-sound is pronounced as i, giving us Johannes (pronounced yo-HAN-nes) for John. This is one reason why the same name may look and sound so different in Switzerland, Russia, the Netherlands, Turkey, and so forth.
Immigration and Name Changes
Sometimes, when people move to a country with a different language from their own native language, they may change their name so that it’s easier for people in their new country to pronounce. The Hindi name Ajay, for example, sounds like the English nickname “A.J.” Ibrahim, a popular name in Swahili, is a variation on Abraham. Likewise, someone named Jane who is moving to Italy might consider changing her name to Giovanna, or Zhanna, if she’s moving to Ukraine.
Same Name, Different Languages
Now for the fun part: what do familiar names look like in different languages? You might be surprised by the changes familiar names go through in translation. It might also surprise you to learn that some popular names, like Jacob and James, are actually variations on the same name. You might notice that we don’t include a lot of baby names that became popular after the 20th century. This is because modern names haven’t had enough time to spread and change across languages. What is Jacob in other languages? This question answered, and more.
Boy Name Variations by Country and Origin
Here are a few of the most popular boy names with different versions and origins from around the world Aaron: Name Variations Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Exalted Aaro (Estonian), Haruna (Fula), Harun (Indonesian), Aronne (Italian), Aronas (Lithuanian) Adam: Name Variations Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Man Aatami (Finnish), Akamu (Hawaiian), Adamo (Italian), Adao (Portuguese), Adan (Spanish), Adem (Turkish) Alexander: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Protector Iskandar (Arabic), Sikander (Bengali), Alexandre (French), Aleksandru (Romanian), Aleksandr (Russian. Nicknames: Alex, Alexei, Sasha), Alejandro (Spanish, Portuguese) Andrew: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Masculine Andreas (Danish), Andor (Hungarian), Anaru (Maiori), Andrei (Russian) Anthony: Name Variations Origin: Etruscan Meaning: A Roman family name Teun (Dutch), Anakoni (Hawaiian), Antonio (Italian), Anto (Serbian), Anton (Swedish) Arthur: Name Variations Origin: Brythonic Meaning: Bear Yase (Chinese), Artush (Czech), Artturi (Finnish), Artur (Irish), Aseo (Korean), Arturo (Spanish) Charles: Name Variations Origin: Proto-Germanic Meaning: Ruler Karel (Dutch), Karl (German), Carlo (Italian), Charuzu (Japanese), Carolus (Latin), Karol (Polish), Carlos (Spanish) Christopher: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Christ-bearer Krisdapor (Armenian), Kilikopela (Hawaiian), Kristof (Hungarian), Cristoforo (Italian), Hristofor (Romanian), Crisdean (Scottish Gaelic), Cristobal (Spanish), Cristoffis (Welsh) David: Name Variations Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Beloved Daoud (Arabic), Taavet (Estonian), Daibhi (Irish), Tavita (Samoan) Henry (Harry): Name Variations Origin: Germanic Meaning: Home Ruler Endika (Basque), Henri (French), Hendrik (Dutch), Heinrich (German), Enrico (Italian), Enrique (Spanish) Jacob (James): Name Variations Origin: Greek, Hebrew Meaning: To follow Jaak (Dutch), Yage (Chinese), Seamas (Irish), Giacomo (Italian), Yakov (Hebrew, Russian), Jakab (Hungarian), Iakobus (Latin), Jaghub (Persian) John: Name Variations Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Gracious Yahya (Arabic), Ohannes (Armenian), Vanja (Croatian), Johann (German), Sean (Irish), Yohana (Hindi), Hannes (Icelandic), Giovanni (Italian), Yohanes (Indonesian), Jonas (Lithuanian), Ivan (Russian), Ian (Scottish), Evan (Welsh) Joseph: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: He Will Add Yusuf (Arabic), Josef (Icelandic ), Seosamh (Irish), Giuseppe (Italian), Jose (Spanish), Issoufu (West African), Yossel (Yiddish) Joshua: Name Variations Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Yahweh is Salvation Isa (Arabic), Josu (Basque), Yeshua (Hebrew), Jesus (Spanish) Leonard: Name Variations Origin: Germanic Meaning: Brave lion Lennart (Danish), Lenni (Finnish), Leonardo (Italian), Leonardas (Lithuanian) Mark: Name Variations Origin: Latin Meaning: Consecrated to the god Mars Marc (French), Maleko (Hawaiian), Markus (Norwegian), Malek (Polish), Marcos (Spanish) Michael: Name Variations Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Who is like God? Misho (Bulgarian), Miska (Finnish), Mihalis (Greek), Mihai (Romanian), Miguel (Spanish) Matthew: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Gift of God Matevos (Armenian), Mathias (German), Matthieu (French), Matteo (Italian), Maciej (Polish), Matviy (Ukrainian) Nicholas: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Victory of the People Nikola (Bulgarian), Niko (Croatian), Klaus (German), Miklos (Hungarian), Niels (Icelandic), Nicolo (Italian), Klavs (Latvian), Nils (Swedish) Paul: Name Variations Origin: Latin Meaning: Humble Palle (Danish), Bulus (Hausa), Paolo (Italian), Pawel (Polish), Pablo (Spanish), Pavlo (Ukrainian), Phao-lo (Vietnamese) Robert: Name Variations Origin: Germanic Meaning: Bright Fame Robi (Croatian), Rupert (Dutch), Raivo (Estonian), Reuben (Hebrew), Roibeard (Irish), Robban (Swedish) Samuel: Name Variations Origin: Hebrew Meaning: God has heard Ismail (Arabic), Shmuel (Hebrew), Samu (Hungarian), Sawyl (Welsh) Theodore: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Gift of God Toros (Armenian), Teo (Croatian), Tivadar (Hungarian), Fyodor (Russian) Thomas: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Twin Tomika (Croatian), Maas (Dutch), Tuomo (Finnish), Tamati (Maoiri), Tomasz (Polish), Tamhas (Scottish Gaelic) William: Name Variations Origin: Germanic Meaning: Helmet of Will Guillaume (French), Wilhelm (German), Liam (Irish), Guglielmo (Italian), Guillermo (Spanish) Vincent: Name Variations Origin: Roman Meaning: To Conquer Bikendi (Basque), VIncenz (German), Vincenzo (Italian), Censu (Maltese), Vicente (Spanish)
Girl Name Variations by Country and Origin
If you’re looking for unique baby girl names, why not choose a variation from a different culture? Agnes: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Chaste Oanez (Breton), Anais (French), Agni (Greek), Agnieszka (Polish), Inez (Spanish), Nesta (Welsh) Alexandra: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Another name for the goddess Hera Alesya (Belorussian), Sashka (Bulgarian), Sandra (Polish), Alja (Slovene) Ann, Anna: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: After the prophetess Hannah Anika (German), Anouk (French), Hannah (Hebrew), Nainsi (Irish), Anita (Spanish), Henye (Yiddish) Catherine: Name Variations Origin: French Meaning: Pure Katya (Bulgarian), Trijntje (Dutch), Ekaterina (Greek), Kalena (Hawaiian), Katre (Lithuanian), Catalina (Spanish), Ina (Swedish) Charlotte: Name Variations Origin: French Meaning: Ruler Charlize (Afrikaans), Searlait (Irish), Carolina (Italian), Karola (Polish), Carlotta (Spanish), Lottie (Swedish) Christina: Name Variations Origin: Latin Meaning: Christian Hristina (Bulgarian), Kirsti (Finnish), Kristin (Icelandic), Tina (Italian), Kirsty (Scottish) Claire: Name Variations Origin: Latin Meaning: Bright, clear Klara (Croatian), Chiara (Italian) Elizabeth: Name Variations Origin: Hebrew Meaning: My God is an Oath Alzbeta (Czech), Lisbet (Danish), Isabeau (Dutch), Babette (French), Liesel (German), Erszebet (Hungarian), Liana (Portuguese) Emily: Name Variations Origin: Roman Meaning: Rival Mille (Danish), Emmi (Finnish), Emilia (Italian), Milly (Norwegian), Milka (Polish) Frances: Name Variations Origin: German Meaning: French person Francoise (French), Ziska (German), Francisca (Portuguese), Paquita (Spanish) Hannah: Name Variations Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Grace, favor Anja (Danish), Annette (Franch), Anika (Polish), Anisoara (Romanian), Nandag (Scottish Gaelic), Hanne (Swedish) Helen: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Torch Ellen (Finnish), Nelly (French), Eleni (Greek), Lena (Hungarian), Ileana (Romanian), Alyona (Ukrainian) Isabella: Name Variations Origin: Medieval Occitan Meaning: My God is an Oath Zabel (Armenian), Liliana (Czech), Sabela (Galician), Belinha (Portuguese), Ysabel (Spanish) Jane: Name Variations Origin: French Meaning: God is Gracious Jeanette (Danish), Janine (Dutch), Jenny (Finnish), Siobhan (Irish), Giovanna, Gianna (Italian), Juana (Spanish), Siwan (Welsh) Julia: Name Variations Origin: Roman Meaning: Related to Jupiter Yuliya (Bulgarian), Lili (Hungarian), Giulia (Italian), Julieta (Portuguese), Julissa (Spanish) Lily: Name Variations Origin: Latin Meaning: Lily flower Lilliane (French), Liana (Georgian), Lilien (Hungarian), Lilja (Icelandic) Lucy: Name Variations Origin: Roman Meaning: Light Lucille (French), Lucia (Italian), Lucinda (Portuguese), Luz (Spanish), Liusaidh (Scottish Gaelic) Margaret: Name Variations Origin: Latin Meaning: Pearl Retha (Afrikaans), Margot (French), Gretchen (German), Mairead (Irish), Maisie (Scottish), Rita (Spanish), Marharyta (Ukrainian) Mary: Name Variations Origin: Egyptian Meaning: Beloved Mia (Danish), Mieke (Dutch), Mitzi (German), Malia (Hawaiian), Miriam (Hebrew), Mai (Norwegian), Mhairi (Scottish), Mele (Tongan) Natalie: Name Variations Origin: Latin Meaning: Christmas Day Natalia (German), Nathalie (French), Natacha (Portuguese), Natasha (Russian) Regina: Name Variations Origin: Latin Meaning: Queen Regine (French), Ina (German), Gina (Italian), Reina (Spanish) Sarah: Name Variations Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Noblewoman Salli (Finnish), Kala (Hawaiian), Sarika (Hungarian), Sarai (Spanish), Tzeitel (Yiddish) Sophia: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Wisdom Sonja (Danish), Fieka (Dutch), Viivi (Estonian), Soffia (Icelandic), Zosia (Polish) Stephanie: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Crown, wreath Stepanka (Czech), Kekepania (Hawaiian), Fanni (Hungarian), Stefania (Italian), Estefania (Portuguese) Theresa: Name Variations Origin: Greek Meaning: Summer Tena (Croatian), Tessa (Dutch), Therese (French), Thea (Norwegian), Terezija (Slovene) So Many Names, So Little Time This is just a sample of the variations on familiar names throughout the world. Want to learn more about baby names in different cultures? Check out our database of baby names by origin! For more baby name inspiration check out these popular baby name lists:
Top 1000 Most Popular Baby Girl Names in the U.S. Top 1000 Most Popular Baby Boy Names in the U.S. The 100 Coolest Baby Names in the World
