Baby Name

The most popular modern baby names haven't exactly left tradition behind. It's not like parents are naming their infants "laser" or "bandwidth." In fact, many of today's most chosen child names, including the most popular modern girl names, reveal a distinctly traditional streak. This article will look at the ten most popular girls names of the past ten years, as listed by the Social Security Administration, explore their meanings and when they came into vogue among parents.

Italian baby names are a nice option for those parents looking for something authentic and unique. What are the top Italian baby names for boys, and how will you know if the meaning fits? We turned to Baby Names by Country to get a glimpse of some of the top names used in Italy today, then compared them to favorites on several top baby names lists. We look at the five most popular picks in the U.S. to help you decide which Italian baby name is right for your new son!

For Hawaiians, naming a child is a most important task. Parents or grandparents may specifically invent a name, or the name could be inspired by a dream or an event taking place around the time of the baby's birth. If you are considering a Hawaiian baby name, you should know a couple of things before you select a name.

Firstly, the pronunciation of the name is very important because if you pronounce it incorrectly, the name can mean a totally different thing. Familiarize yourself with the Hawaiian alphabet, which is much different from the English alphabet, as it only contains 12 letters: 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 7 consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w). A great guide to the Hawaiian alphabet and its pronunciation, Alternative Hawaii's Hawaiian Alphabet can help you with any pronunciation questions you may have.

Secondly, many Hawaiian baby names can theoretically be used for both boys and girls, although some names are more popular for each gender. However, sometimes certain names' meanings only fit one gender, so check the name's meaning before you make a final choice.

In the Hindu tradition, many parents name their children after Hindu gods and goddesses. As there are many Hindu gods and goddesses who are all known by many different names, options are endless for Hindu baby names in honor of these gods and goddesses. If you are deciding on a name for a baby, it can be both interesting and inspirational to look at different cultures' baby names. You never know where you might find that perfect name.

If you're looking for Hindu baby names, the website Indian Hindu Names is an excellent resource for many names, including those of Hindu gods and goddesses. We will look at the following four Hindu gods and goddesses as well as names derived from each one: Lord Krishna, the embodiment of love and divine joy; Lord Vishnu, the lord of peace and truth; Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. prosperity, light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity, and courage; and Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts.

Hindu Baby Names of Lord Krishna and Their Meanings

The following Hindu boy names are derived from Lord Krishna, the embodiment of love and divine joy:

Achala - The still one
Bihari - One who plays
Dinabandu - Friend of the afflicted
Hrshikesha - Lord of the senses
Jagannatha - Lord of all places
Madhava - Bringer of springtime
Parameshvara - The highest god
Shyamasundara - The beautiful, dark one

Hindu Baby Names of Lord Vishnu and Their Meanings

The following Hindu boy names are derived from Lord Vishnu, the lord of peace and truth:

Ananta - Endless; eternal; infinite
Hayagriva - Giver of knowledge
Janardana - One who is worshiped by people for wealth
Narayana - The supreme man who is the foundation for all men
Purushottama - The supreme eternal being
Sridhara - Ultimate wealth
Trivikrama - Conqueror of the three worlds
Vishal - The unstoppable one

Hindu Baby Names of Goddess Lakshmi and Their Meanings

The following Hindu girl names are derived from Goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of beauty, charm, and grace:

Chanda - Moon
Padma - Lotus dweller
Prakruti - The personification of nature
Swaha - The wife of Agmi, the lord of the fire
Ulkavahini - One who rides an owl
Vidya - The personification of wisdom
Vikruti - The multi-faceted nature
Vishnupriya - One who is the beloved of Vishnu

Hindu Baby Names of Goddess Saraswati and Their Meanings

The following Hindu girl names are derived from Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts:

Arya - The noble one
Bharati - Eloquence
Dhaneshvari - The divinity of wealth
Kamadhenu - The wish-fulfilling cow
Mahavani - The transcendent word
Mahavidya - The holder of supreme knowledge; transcendent knowledge
Sarada - The giver of essence
Vagishvari - The mistress of speech

If you're having a baby and trying to decide on a name, why not consider a Greek baby name? With origins from ancient times as well as from tales of mythology, the Greek language is filled with many beautiful names. If you know what your baby's sex will be and you're having a little girl, you have many wonderful choices of Greek baby girl names, including the following with thanks to Parents Connect for providing the name meanings and pronunciations.

Anastasia. Derived from the Greek boy name of Anastasios which comes from the Greek anastasis ("standing up"), this Greek girl name means "resurrection." Pronounced either "ah nah STAH see ah," "ah nah STAY zhuh," or "ah nah stah SEE ah," this name can be shortened to either "Ana" or "Stacey."

Demetria. Meaning "Earth mother; barley mother," this Greek baby name is pronounced "deh MEE tree ah." Derived from the boy's Greek name Demetrius, both names are forms of Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture.

Helena. Pronounced either "HEL eh nuh" or "hel AY nah," this Greek girl name means "wicker, reed, shoot; torch; basket." Helena is a form of Helen, as in Helen of Troy, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta who caused the Trojan War by sailing to Troy with Paris.

Jacinda. Meaning "hyacinth," this Greek baby name is pronounced "ja SIN dah." A form of the name Jacinta, this name can also mean "beautiful flower name."

Melanctha. Pronounced "mah LANG thah," this Greek girl name means "black flower." This name also belongs to the heroine of one of Gertrude Stein's "Three Lives," who searches for knowledge and power.

Ophelia. Derived from the Greek ophleos ("help"), this Greek baby name means "aid; help." Pronounced "o FEE lee ah," this name was made famous in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" as Ophelia is a potential wife of Prince Hamlet.

Phoebe. Made popular by Lisa Kudrow's character on the sitcom "Friends," this Greek girl name means "bright; moon." Pronounced "FEE bee" and derived from the Greek phoibos ("bright one"), this name can also mean "beautiful goddess."

Sophronia. Meaning "prudent," this Greek baby name is derived from the Greek boy name of Sophronius, which is related to the Greek elements sos ("harmony") and phonos ("voice"). Pronounced "so FRO nee ah," this name can be shortened to "Sophie."

Xandra. Derived from the Greek boy name of Alexandros which comes from the Greek alekso ("I defend, assist or help") and aner ("man"), this Greek girl name means "defending men." Pronounced "ZAN drah," this name can be a shortened version of the name "Alexandra."

Zinaida. Pronounced either "zi NAY dah" or "zee nah EE dah," this Greek baby name means "belonging to Zeus, the father of Gods and men." Variant forms of this name include Zena, Zenaida, Zenaide, and Zinaide.