9542 names · 58 meanings

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Choose a meaning and discover names from cultures around the world — each with its true origin. Tap any name for its full story.

Names meaning “Brave”

Bold names for courage and fearlessness.

219 names

Andrew

Greek

Andreas, from andreios “manly, brave”

Full name origin

Andrea

Greek / Italian

Feminine of Andreas — “brave”

Full name origin

Leonard

Germanic

Lewo “lion” + hard “brave, hardy”

Full name origin

Bernard

Germanic

Bern “bear” + hard “brave, hardy”

Full name origin

Matilda

Germanic

Maht “might” + hild “battle”

Full name origin

Abhay

Sanskrit

Abhaya — “fearless”

Full name origin

Veer

Sanskrit

Vīra — “brave, hero”

Full name origin

Shuja

Arabic

Shujāʿ — “brave, courageous”

Full name origin

Andreas

Greek

From andreios “manly, brave”

Full name origin

André

French

Form of Andreas — “brave”

Full name origin

Andrei

Slavic

Form of Andreas — “brave”

Full name origin

Drew

English

Short for Andrew — “brave”

Full name origin

Everett

Germanic

From Eberhard: eber “boar” + hard “brave, hardy”

Full name origin

Gerard

Germanic

Ger “spear” + hard “brave, hardy”

Full name origin

Bernadette

French

Feminine of Bernard — “bear” + “brave”

Full name origin

Leonardo

Italian

Form of Leonard — “lion” + “brave”

Full name origin

Reinhard

Germanic

Ragin “counsel” + hard “brave”

Full name origin

Archibald

Germanic

Ercan “genuine” + bald “bold”

Full name origin

Theobald

Germanic

Theud “people” + bald “bold”

Full name origin

Bahadur

Turkic / Persian

“Brave, valiant”

Full name origin

Dilawar

Persian

“Brave-hearted”

Full name origin

Isamu

Japanese

勇 — “courage”

Full name origin

Yūki

Japanese

勇気 — “courage” (one common spelling)

Full name origin

Hardy

English

From Old French hardi “bold, daring”

Full name origin

Everard

Germanic

Brave boar

Full name origin

Ferdinand

Germanic

Bold journey

Full name origin

Conrad

Germanic

Bold counsel

Full name origin

Baldwin

Germanic

Bold friend

Full name origin

Leopold

Germanic

Bold people

Full name origin

Vikram

Sanskrit

Valour

Full name origin

Veera

Sanskrit

Brave

Full name origin

Shaurya

Sanskrit

Bravery

Full name origin

Jasur

Uzbek

Brave

Full name origin

Cesur

Turkish

Brave

Full name origin

Jasiri

Swahili

Brave

Full name origin

Shujaa

Swahili

Hero, brave

Full name origin

Leonie

French

Lion

Full name origin

Leandra

Greek

Lion-woman

Full name origin

Leander

Greek

Lion-man

Full name origin

Arslan

Turkish

Lion

Full name origin

Aslan

Turkish

Lion

Full name origin

Asad

Arabic

Lion

Full name origin

Haidar

Arabic

Lion

Full name origin

Sher

Persian

Lion

Full name origin

Simba

Swahili

Lion

Full name origin

Aryeh

Hebrew

Lion

Full name origin

Ariel

Hebrew

Lion of God

Full name origin

Valentin

French

Strong, healthy

Full name origin

Valentino

Italian

Strong, healthy

Full name origin

Bernardo

Spanish

Brave as a bear

Full name origin

Bernhard

German

Brave as a bear

Full name origin

Leonel

Spanish

Little lion

Full name origin

Lionel

French

Little lion

Full name origin

Leonidas

Greek

Son of the lion

Full name origin

Aiden

Irish

little fire

Full name origin

Tadhg

Irish

poet

Full name origin

Cian

Irish

ancient, enduring

Full name origin

Seamus

Irish

supplanter

Full name origin

Blaine

Irish

yellow, slender

Full name origin

Brennan

Irish

descendant of Braonan

Full name origin

Wyatt

English

brave in war

Full name origin

Donncha

Irish

brown chief

Full name origin

Angus

Scottish Gaelic

one strength

Full name origin

Bruce

Scottish

from Bruis, Normandy place-name

Full name origin

Sandy

Scottish

defender of mankind

Full name origin

Tavish

Scottish

twin

Full name origin

Zara

Scottish

princess

Full name origin

Ruan

Irish

little red one

Full name origin

Antoine

Latin

inestimable

Full name origin

Gérard

Germanic

spear brave

Full name origin

Christine

Greek

anointed

Full name origin

Adrián

Latin

from Hadria

Full name origin

Ramiro

Germanic via Spanish

famous counsel

Full name origin

Valentín

Latin

strong, healthy

Full name origin

Valentim

Latin

strong, healthy

Full name origin

Vasco

Basque

crow

Full name origin

Ragnar

Old Norse

army counselor

Full name origin

Arvid

Old Norse

eagle tree

Full name origin

Daan

Hebrew

God is my judge

Full name origin

Piet

Greek

rock

Full name origin

Igor

Old Norse

warrior of Ing

Full name origin

Arkady

Greek

of Arcadia

Full name origin

Ruslan

Turkic

lion

Full name origin

Bolesława

Slavic

more glory

Full name origin

Błażej

Greek

stammering

Full name origin

Jakub

Hebrew

supplanter

Full name origin

Mieszko

Slavic

unknown

Full name origin

Valerii

Latin

strong, healthy

Full name origin

Svatopluk

Slavic

holy host

Full name origin

Makar

Ukrainian

blessed, happy

Full name origin

Alexandr

Greek

defender of men

Full name origin

Michaal

Hebrew

who is like God?

Full name origin

Jarmila

Slavic

strong, spring-time warmth

Full name origin

Artemis

Greek

safe, uninjured

Full name origin

Ali

Arabic

high, exalted

Full name origin

Basima

Arabic

smiling

Full name origin

Babak

Persian

little father

Full name origin

Esfandiar

Persian

made of holy lead

Full name origin

Bora

Turkish

strong wind, storm

Full name origin

Ozan

Turkish

bard, poet

Full name origin

Yiğit

Turkish

valiant, brave

Full name origin

Alper

Turkish

heroic man

Full name origin

Akın

Turkish

raid, attack

Full name origin

Rasim

Arabic

delineator, designer

Full name origin

Tunç

Turkish

bronze

Full name origin

Zeynep

Arabic

father’s ornament, precious

Full name origin

Cenk

Persian

battle

Full name origin

Kartik

Sanskrit

name of a month; one who nourishes

Full name origin

Tarun

Sanskrit

young, youthful

Full name origin

Ashwin

Sanskrit

possessing horses, horse tamer

Full name origin

Balwinder

Punjabi

powerful ruler

Full name origin

Veerpal

Punjabi

protector hero

Full name origin

Armaan

Persian

wish

Full name origin

Bunta

Japanese

literally “warrior’s son”

Full name origin

Shahid

Arabic

witness, martyr

Full name origin

Aslam

Arabic

safer, more secure

Full name origin

Yuuki

Japanese

courage; bravery

Full name origin

Yong

Chinese

brave; courageous

Full name origin

Gan

Chinese

bold; daring

Full name origin

Yongqiang

Chinese

brave, strong

Full name origin

Dae-han

Korean

great and Korean

Full name origin

Seungmin

Korean

victory, clever

Full name origin

Hương

Sino-Vietnamese

fragrance; perfume

Full name origin

Junseo

Korean

talented and auspicious

Full name origin

Jinhwan

Korean

truth and brilliance

Full name origin

Minsu

Korean

bright and excellent

Full name origin

Hojin

Korean

great and true

Full name origin

Chanho

Korean

bright and great

Full name origin

Taesu

Korean

great and excellent

Full name origin

Jonghyun

Korean

enduring and virtuous

Full name origin

Chanwoo

Korean

bright and handsome

Full name origin

Somchai

Thai

worthy man

Full name origin

Charn

Thai

spirited, brave

Full name origin

Chatree

Pali-Sanskrit

warrior

Full name origin

Akin

Yoruba

brave, valiant

Full name origin

Dare

Yoruba

to brave, to challenge

Full name origin

Kanoa

Hawaiian

the free one

Full name origin

Makoa

Hawaiian

fearless, bold

Full name origin

Kauanoe

Hawaiian

the gentle rain

Full name origin

Kofe

Tongan

coffee

Full name origin

Arax

Armenian

swift river

Full name origin

Arta

Armenian

truth

Full name origin

Grigor

Armenian

watchful, alert

Full name origin

Ararat

Armenian

high place

Full name origin

Zsuzsanna

Hebrew

lily

Full name origin

Beáta

Latin

blessed

Full name origin

Zita

Greek

seeker

Full name origin

Kata

Greek

pure

Full name origin

Miklós

Greek

victory of the people

Full name origin

András

Greek

manly, brave

Full name origin

Ferenc

Latin

free man

Full name origin

Tibor

Latin

from the Tiber

Full name origin

Gergely

Greek

watchful, alert

Full name origin

Bálint

Latin

strong, healthy

Full name origin

Vlad

Slavic

to rule, ruler

Full name origin

Vlăduț

Slavic

little ruler

Full name origin

Iulian

Latin

belonging to Julius

Full name origin

Iulia

Latin

belonging to Julius

Full name origin

Vilmos

Hungarian < Germanic

will, helmet

Full name origin

Benedek

Hungarian < Latin

blessed

Full name origin

Agus

Latin

venerable, esteemed

Full name origin

Bima

Javanese

strong, mighty

Full name origin

Gilang

Javanese

shining, brilliant

Full name origin

Abhaya

Sanskrit

fearless

Full name origin

Birendra

Sanskrit

lord of heroes

Full name origin

Biraj

Sanskrit

splendor, courage

Full name origin

Birat

Sanskrit

great, heroic

Full name origin

Bir

Sanskrit

hero, brave

Full name origin

Naing

Burmese

victorious, conqueror

Full name origin

Nyein

Burmese

peaceful, calm

Full name origin

Soe Win

Burmese

cool and bright

Full name origin

Serey

Khmer

freedom

Full name origin

Chanthavong

Lao

moon lineage, brave moon

Full name origin

Bukh

Mongolian

bull

Full name origin

Tsolmon

Mongolian

Venus, morning star

Full name origin

Batsaikhan

Mongolian

firm and beautiful

Full name origin

Mendbayar

Mongolian

life joy, good health

Full name origin

Tsedev

Mongolian

chief, leader

Full name origin

Baasanjav

Mongolian

Friday blessing

Full name origin

Mikheil

Hebrew

who is like God?

Full name origin

Aleko

Greek

defender of men

Full name origin

Lasha

Georgian

light

Full name origin

Tornike

Georgian

unknown

Full name origin

Tringa

Albanian

brave one

Full name origin

Vojislav

Slavic

battle glory

Full name origin

Vojin

Slavic

warrior

Full name origin

Bujar

Albanian

generous

Full name origin

Hrvoje

Croatian

from Hrvat, Croat

Full name origin

Vytautas

Lithuanian

having ruled the people

Full name origin

Arvydas

Lithuanian

eagle-seeing

Full name origin

Eimantas

Lithuanian

true thinker

Full name origin

Raimonds

Germanic

wise protector

Full name origin

Argo

Greek

swift

Full name origin

Heiki

Germanic

home ruler

Full name origin

Kalevipoeg

Estonian

son of Kalev

Full name origin

Madis

Hebrew

gift of Yahweh

Full name origin

Toomas

Aramaic

twin

Full name origin

Valdo

Germanic

rule

Full name origin

Halla

Old Norse

rock

Full name origin

Tamatea

Māori

man of great courage

Full name origin

Toko

Māori

support, prop

Full name origin

Sibongiseni

Zulu/Xhosa

we are grateful

Full name origin

Aferki

Amazigh

brave

Full name origin

Aras

Kurdish

name of a river

Full name origin

Serhat

Turkish/Kurdish

border, frontier

Full name origin

Bawer

Kurdish

belief, confidence

Full name origin

Bauyrzhan

Kazakh

brother soul

Full name origin

Nursultan

Kazakh

radiant ruler

Full name origin

Shavkat

Uzbek

dignity, valor

Full name origin

Bakhytgul

Kazakh

flower of happiness

Full name origin

Yerzhan

Kazakh

brave soul

Full name origin

Ashur

Assyrian

god Ashur

Full name origin

Dawood

Aramaic/Arabic

beloved

Full name origin

Khoshaba

Aramaic/Assyrian

good Friday

Full name origin

Qasha

Aramaic

priest

Full name origin

Ramzy

Arabic/Coptic

symbolic, sign

Full name origin

Kitchi

Algonquin

brave

Full name origin

Borut

Slavic

battle

Full name origin

Janez

Hebrew via Latin

God is gracious

Full name origin

Every name began as a word

Long before a name belonged to a person, it belonged to the language. Lucy and Lucian both grew from the Latin lux, “light.” Noor shines with the Arabic word for light, Jyoti with the Sanskrit. Across continents and centuries, parents have reached for the same handful of hopes — light, courage, peace, love, grace — and dressed them in the sounds of their own tongue. That is why a name finder organised by meaning is really a map of human wishes.

Our library groups 9,542 names into 58 meanings, drawing on Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Japanese, Yoruba, Irish, Slavic and many other traditions. For each name we give the culture it comes from and the literal root it grew out of — not a vague “feeling,” but the actual word an ancestor once spoke. Choosing a meaning first lets you compare how very different peoples expressed the same idea, and often reveals that two names you thought were unrelated are, at heart, the same wish.

How to use this finder

Pick a meaning that matters to you — say, “brave” or “light” — and browse the names gathered under it. You can filter by whether a name is traditionally given to boys, girls, or used for any child, and you can search by a name or an origin to see what it means. When a name catches your eye, open it for the fuller story of where it came from and how it travelled. A good name is one whose sound you love and whose meaning you are proud to explain — and the second half of that is exactly what NameWise is here to help with.