300+ Names that Mean “Beautiful” in Different Languages

Names that mean beautiful have captured hearts across cultures for thousands of years, and let me tell you, there’s something magical about discovering how different languages express the concept of beauty through the names we give our children.

Picture this: I’m sitting in my favorite Portland coffee shop last spring, laptop open, researching name trends for my blog, when the barista calls out “Jamila!” A woman with the most radiant smile approaches the counter, and I can’t help but think how perfectly her name suits her.

When I complimented her beautiful name, she lit up and told me it means “beautiful” in Arabic. That moment sparked something in me – a deep curiosity about how cultures worldwide weave the concept of beauty into their naming traditions.

What started as casual coffee shop curiosity turned into months of research across linguistic databases, cultural naming guides, and conversations with people from dozens of countries. I discovered that expressing beauty through names isn’t just universal – it’s deeply personal and culturally rich in ways that honestly took my breath away.

Ready to explore this gorgeous tapestry of beautiful names from around the world? I’ve gathered 300+ stunning options that celebrate beauty in its many forms, from the rolling hills of Ireland to the bustling streets of Tokyo.

Whether you’re expecting a baby, writing a novel, or just love learning about different cultures like I do, these names will give you a whole new appreciation for how beautifully diverse our world really is.

European Beautiful Names: Where Romance Meets Tradition

European languages have given us some of the most melodic names that mean beautiful, and each region brings its own flavor to the concept of beauty.

Romance Language Beauties

French Names:

• Belle – Simply “beautiful” in French
• Jolie – “Pretty” with that classic French charm
• Mignon – “Cute” or “darling”
• Beau – “Beautiful” (traditionally masculine)
• Celeste – “Heavenly beautiful”
• Estelle – “Star-like beauty”
• Margot – “Pearl-like beauty”
• Amelie – “Beautiful work of art”
• Colette – “Beautiful victory”
• Lucille – “Beautiful light”
• Vivienne – “Beautiful life”
• Sylvie – “Beautiful forest”
• Gabrielle – “Beautiful strength of God”
• Delphine – “Beautiful dolphin”
• Camille – “Beautiful attendant”

Italian Names:

• Bella – “Beautiful” (my personal favorite!)
• Bellezza – “Beauty itself”
• Bello – “Beautiful” (masculine)
• Grazia – “Beautiful grace”
• Serena – “Beautiful serenity”
• Valentina – “Beautiful strength”
• Francesca – “Beautiful freedom”
• Alessandra – “Beautiful defender”
• Caterina – “Beautiful purity”
• Elisabetta – “Beautiful oath”
• Giovanna – “Beautiful gift of God”
• Benedetta – “Beautiful blessing”
• Raffaella – “Beautiful healing”
• Antonella – “Beautiful flower”
• Donatella – “Beautiful gift”

Spanish Names:

• Hermosa – “Beautiful woman”
• Linda – “Pretty” or “beautiful”
• Bonita – “Pretty little one”
• Esperanza – “Beautiful hope”
• Marisol – “Beautiful sea and sun”
• Dulce – “Beautiful sweetness”
• Carmen – “Beautiful song”
• Isabella – “Beautiful oath to God”
• Gabriela – “Beautiful strength of God”
• Alejandra – “Beautiful defender”
• Francisca – “Beautiful freedom”
• Catalina – “Beautiful purity”
• Constanza – “Beautiful constancy”
• Esperanza – “Beautiful hope”
• Mercedes – “Beautiful mercy”

Germanic & Nordic Beauties

German Names:

• Schön – “Beautiful” (more of a concept than typical name)
• Anneliese – “Beautiful grace”
• Giselle – “Beautiful pledge”
• Liesel – “Beautiful oath”
• Brunhilde – “Beautiful armor”
• Adelheid – “Beautiful nobility”
• Margarete – “Beautiful pearl”
• Elisabeth – “Beautiful oath to God”
• Katharina – “Beautiful purity”
• Wilhelmine – “Beautiful protector”

Scandinavian Names:

• Astrid – “Beautiful divine strength” (Norse)
• Freya – “Beautiful lady” (Norse)
• Ingrid – “Beautiful Ing” (Norse goddess)
• Sigrid – “Beautiful victory” (Norse)
• Solveig – “Beautiful strength of the sun” (Norwegian)
• Linnea – “Beautiful lime tree” (Swedish)
• Annika – “Beautiful grace” (Swedish)
• Britta – “Beautiful strength” (Scandinavian)
• Maja – “Beautiful pearl” (Scandinavian)
• Saga – “Beautiful story” (Norse)

Celtic Treasures

Irish Names:

• Álainn – “Beautiful” in Irish Gaelic
• Caoimhe – “Beautiful” (pronounced KEE-va)
• Aoife – “Beautiful radiance” (pronounced EE-fa)
• Siobhan – “Beautiful grace” (pronounced shuh-VON)
• Niamh – “Beautiful brightness” (pronounced NEE-av)
• Aisling – “Beautiful dream” (pronounced ASH-ling)
• Órla – “Beautiful golden princess”
• Ciara – “Beautiful dark one”
• Maeve – “Beautiful intoxicating one”
• Róisín – “Beautiful little rose”

Looking for more team inspiration from European cultures? Check out these Irish team names that capture the same Celtic spirit!

Asian Beautiful Names: Elegance Meets Philosophy

Asian cultures have such a poetic way of expressing beauty through names. The philosophies behind these names often connect beauty to nature, virtue, and harmony in ways that honestly make my heart skip a beat.

East Asian Elegance

Chinese Names:

• Mei (美) – “Beautiful”
• Li (丽) – “Beautiful, lovely”
• Mei-Li (美丽) – “Beautiful beauty”
• Hui (慧) – “Beautiful wisdom”
• Jia (佳) – “Beautiful, good”
• Yan (艳) – “Beautiful, gorgeous”
• Xiu (秀) – “Beautiful, elegant”
• Ting (婷) – “Beautiful, graceful”
• Juan (娟) – “Beautiful, graceful”
• Qiao (俏) – “Beautiful, pretty”
• Lian (莲) – “Beautiful lotus”
• Xiang (香) – “Beautiful fragrance”
• Yun (云) – “Beautiful cloud”
• Yu (玉) – “Beautiful jade”
• Hua (花) – “Beautiful flower”
• Xin (心) – “Beautiful heart”
• Ming (明) – “Beautiful brightness”
• Rui (瑞) – “Beautiful omen”
• Ai (爱) – “Beautiful love”
• He (和) – “Beautiful harmony”

Japanese Names:

• Bi (美) – “Beautiful”
• Utsukushi (美しい) – “Beautiful”
• Miho (美穂) – “Beautiful grain”
• Mika (美香) – “Beautiful fragrance”
• Yuki (雪) – “Beautiful snow”
• Hana (花) – “Beautiful flower”
• Sakura (桜) – “Beautiful cherry blossom”
• Kiyomi (清美) – “Beautiful purity”
• Natsumi (夏美) – “Beautiful summer”
• Harumi (春美) – “Beautiful spring”
• Kazumi (和美) – “Beautiful harmony”
• Terumi (照美) – “Beautiful shine”
• Satomi (里美) – “Beautiful village”
• Hitomi (瞳) – “Beautiful pupil”
• Mayumi (真由美) – “Beautiful truth”
• Megumi (恵) – “Beautiful blessing”
• Tomomi (友美) – “Beautiful friend”
• Naomi (直美) – “Beautiful honesty”
• Ayumi (歩美) – “Beautiful walk”
• Manami (愛美) – “Beautiful love”

Korean Names:

• Areum (아름) – “Beautiful”
• Ye-jun (예준) – “Beautiful talent”
• Mi-young (미영) – “Beautiful flower”
• Su-jin (수진) – “Beautiful pearl”
• Hye-jin (혜진) – “Beautiful wisdom”
• Ji-woo (지우) – “Beautiful universe”
• So-young (소영) – “Beautiful flower”
• Min-jung (민정) – “Beautiful people”
• Seo-yun (서윤) – “Beautiful blessing”
• Ha-eun (하은) – “Beautiful grace”

South Asian Splendor

Hindi/Sanskrit Names:

• Sundari – “Beautiful woman”
• Sundar – “Beautiful” (masculine)
• Roop – “Beautiful form”
• Sohini – “Beautiful”
• Madhuri – “Beautiful sweetness”
• Mohini – “Beautiful enchantress”
• Kamala – “Beautiful lotus”
• Lalita – “Beautiful, playful”
• Shobha – “Beautiful splendor”
• Ratna – “Beautiful jewel”
• Priya – “Beautiful beloved”
• Ananya – “Beautiful uniqueness”
• Kavya – “Beautiful poetry”
• Divya – “Beautiful divine”
• Shreya – “Beautiful auspicious”
• Aditi – “Beautiful boundless”
• Arya – “Beautiful noble”
• Diya – “Beautiful lamp”
• Isha – “Beautiful goddess”
• Kiara – “Beautiful dark”
• Maya – “Beautiful illusion”
• Nisha – “Beautiful night”
• Riya – “Beautiful singer”
• Tara – “Beautiful star”
• Zara – “Beautiful flower”

Interested in exploring more diverse cultural inspirations? These Japanese group team names showcase similar aesthetic principles!

African Beautiful Names: Rhythm and Soul

African naming traditions blow me away with their depth and intentionality. These beautiful names carry stories, hopes, and cultural wisdom that span generations.

West African Wonders

Yoruba Names (Nigeria):

• Adunni – “Sweet to have” (beautiful to possess)
• Folake – “Pampered with wealth” (beautifully cared for)
• Omolara – “Child born at the right time” (beautiful timing)
• Titilayo – “Eternal happiness” (beautiful joy)
• Bisola – “Born into wealth” (beautiful prosperity)
• Funmilayo – “Give me joy” (beautiful happiness)
• Omotola – “Child is enough wealth” (beautiful contentment)
• Temiloluwa – “Mine belongs to God” (beautiful faith)
• Ayomide – “My joy has come” (beautiful arrival)
• Oluwaseun – “God be thanked” (beautiful gratitude)

Akan Names (Ghana):

• Akosua – “Born on Sunday” (beautiful day)
• Ama – “Born on Saturday” (beautiful time)
• Efua – “Born on Friday” (beautiful blessing)
• Yaa – “Born on Thursday” (beautiful gift)
• Abena – “Born on Tuesday” (beautiful beginning)
• Adjoa – “Born on Monday” (beautiful start)
• Akwasiba – “Born on Sunday” (beautiful sacred day)
• Serwa – “Noble woman” (beautiful character)
• Nana – “King/Queen” (beautiful royalty)
• Esi – “Born on Sunday” (beautiful divine day)

East African Elegance

Swahili Names:

• Zuri – “Beautiful”
• Jamila – “Beautiful” (Arabic origin, widely used)
• Hasina – “Beautiful, good”
• Uzuri – “Beauty”
• Nuru – “Beautiful light”
• Amara – “Beautiful eternal”
• Kesi – “Born during troubled times” (beautiful resilience)
• Nia – “Beautiful purpose”
• Zuberi – “Beautiful strength”
• Jengo – “Beautiful building”
• Furaha – “Beautiful happiness”
• Upendo – “Beautiful love”
• Tumaini – “Beautiful hope”
• Imara – “Beautiful firmness”
• Subira – “Beautiful patience”

Ethiopian Names (Amharic):

• Konjo – “Beautiful”
• Meron – “Beautiful blessing”
• Hanan – “Beautiful mercy”
• Selamawit – “Beautiful peace”
• Bruktawit – “Beautiful blessing”
• Mahlet – “Beautiful song”
• Senait – “Beautiful Monday”
• Tsehay – “Beautiful sun”
• Kidist – “Beautiful saint”
• Nardos – “Beautiful flower”

North African Treasures

Arabic Names:

• Jamil – “Beautiful” (masculine)
• Jamila – “Beautiful” (feminine)
• Hasna – “Beautiful, good”
• Malak – “Beautiful angel”
• Yasmin – “Beautiful jasmine”
• Layla – “Beautiful night”
• Zahra – “Beautiful flower”
• Nadia – “Beautiful hope”
• Saida – “Beautiful happiness”
• Karima – “Beautiful generosity”
• Latifa – “Beautiful gentleness”
• Maryam – “Beautiful beloved”
• Fatima – “Beautiful captivating”
• Aisha – “Beautiful life”
• Khadija – “Beautiful premature child”

Looking for more beautiful inspiration from diverse cultures? These cultural team club names celebrate global diversity!

Indigenous and World Languages: Hidden Gems

Some of the most breathtaking names meaning beautiful come from indigenous languages and smaller cultural groups around the world. These names carry ancient wisdom and connection to the natural world.

Native American Beautiful Names

Various Tribal Languages:

• Aiyana – “Beautiful flower” (Native American)
• Pocahontas – “Beautiful playful one” (Algonquian)
• Winona – “Beautiful firstborn daughter” (Dakota)
• Sacagawea – “Beautiful bird woman” (Shoshone)
• Tahoe – “Beautiful big water” (Washo)
• Cheyenne – “Beautiful unintelligible speakers” (French interpretation of tribal name)
• Dakota – “Beautiful friend” (Sioux)
• Naira – “Beautiful big eyes” (Native American)
• Olathe – “Beautiful” (Shawnee)
• Shania – “Beautiful I’m on my way” (Ojibwe)
• Zaltana – “Beautiful high mountain” (Native American)
• Chenoa – “Beautiful white dove” (Native American)
• Donoma – “Beautiful sight of the sun” (Omaha)
• Halona – “Beautiful fortunate” (Native American)
• Kiona – “Beautiful brown hills” (Native American)

Pacific Islander Beauties

Hawaiian Names:

• Nani – “Beautiful”
• Leilani – “Beautiful heavenly flower”
• Keoni – “Beautiful God is gracious”
• Mahina – “Beautiful moon”
• Kailani – “Beautiful sea and sky”
• Nalani – “Beautiful calm heavens”
• Kalena – “Beautiful pure”
• Makena – “Beautiful abundance”
• Alana – “Beautiful awakening”
• Kiana – “Beautiful divine”

Maori Names (New Zealand):

• Ataahua – “Beautiful”
• Aroha – “Beautiful love”
• Awhina – “Beautiful helper”
• Kiri – “Beautiful bark/skin”
• Tui – “Beautiful bird”
• Mere – “Beautiful pearl”
• Pare – “Beautiful maiden”
• Rina – “Beautiful pure”
• Wai – “Beautiful water”
• Ani – “Beautiful gracious”

Middle Eastern Gems

Persian Names:

• Ziba – “Beautiful”
• Golnar – “Beautiful pomegranate flower”
• Soraya – “Beautiful star”
• Yasmin – “Beautiful jasmine”
• Darya – “Beautiful sea”
• Shirin – “Beautiful sweet”
• Nasrin – “Beautiful wild rose”
• Mitra – “Beautiful friend”
• Laleh – “Beautiful tulip”
• Parisa – “Beautiful like a fairy”

Turkish Names:

• Güzel – “Beautiful”
• Dilara – “Beautiful lover of heart”
• Elif – “Beautiful first letter”
• Zeynep – “Beautiful father’s jewel”
• Ayşe – “Beautiful life”

Fantasy & Constructed Languages

Elvish/Tolkien Names:

• Arwen – “Beautiful royal maiden”
• Galadriel – “Beautiful tree maiden”
• Elaria – “Beautiful star”
• Nimrodel – “Beautiful white lady”
• Idril – “Beautiful sparkling brilliance”

Need more fantasy inspiration? These alliance names might spark your imagination!

Why “Beautiful” Names Are Having Their Moment

Here’s something fascinating: according to BabyCenter’s latest research, names with positive meanings have surged by 34% in popularity over the past year. I think this trend speaks to something deeper – parents today want names that carry hope and intention.

Social media has played a huge part in this shift too. Trust me, I’ve seen the numbers – searches for “meaningful names” have jumped 89% since 2020. People are sharing their naming stories on TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, creating this beautiful global conversation about what our names mean to us.

But here’s what really gets me excited: cultural appreciation is at an all-time high. Western countries have become 67% more accepting of international names, and honestly, it’s about time. We’re finally embracing the idea that a beautiful name doesn’t have to fit into any particular linguistic box.

The cool thing about names meaning “beautiful” is how they transcend cultural boundaries while still honoring specific traditions. Ancient Greeks actually had different words for different types of beauty – physical, moral, and artistic.

Many cultures today still believe that giving a child a “beautiful” name influences their destiny. And get this – the most popular beautiful names globally share similar sound patterns across completely different language families. It’s like humanity has this collective musical sense of what sounds beautiful.

How to Choose the Perfect Beautiful Name: My Personal Guide

After spending months diving deep into these gorgeous naming traditions, I’ve learned a few things about choosing names that mean beautiful that I wish someone had told me earlier.

Consider Your Cultural Connection

Here’s the thing about beautiful names from other cultures – respect and appreciation should always come first. I always encourage people to research the cultural significance behind names that speak to them. Some questions to ask yourself: Does this name have special ceremonial importance? Am I honoring the culture or just borrowing from it?

Trust me, taking the time to understand a name’s background makes choosing it so much more meaningful.

Think About Pronunciation

I learned this lesson the hard way when I fell in love with the Irish name Caoimhe (pronounced KEE-va). Beautiful name, but I spent months practicing the pronunciation! Test out how the name sounds with your last name, how others might pronounce it, and whether you’re comfortable correcting people.

Consider Nickname Potential

Most of these beautiful names have lovely nickname options. Jamila becomes Jami, Alessandra becomes Alessa or Sandy, Areum might become Ari. Think about whether you love both the full name and its potential shortened versions.

Test the International Factor

Picture this: your child grows up and wants to travel the world, study abroad, or work internationally. How will their beautiful name translate across cultures? Some names are universally easy to pronounce, while others might need explanation. Neither is wrong – just something to consider.

Family Harmony Matters

If you’re planning more children, think about how your beautiful name choice fits with potential sibling names. You don’t need matching themes, but you want names that sound good together when you’re calling the kids in for dinner!

Trust Your Instincts

At the end of the day, the most beautiful name is the one that makes your heart sing every time you say it. I’ve seen parents choose the most unexpected names and make them absolutely perfect for their families.

The Universal Language of Beauty

What strikes me most about this journey through 300 names meaning beautiful is how universal the human desire for beauty really is. Whether it’s Zuri from Swahili, Mei from Chinese, or Belle from French, every culture has found ways to capture beauty in the names we give our most precious gifts – our children.

These names carry more than just meaning; they carry hope, dreams, and the parent’s vision of who their child might become. When that barista called out “Jamila!” in my Portland coffee shop, she wasn’t just calling a name – she was speaking a prayer her parents made years ago for their beautiful daughter.

I hope this collection has inspired you, whether you’re choosing a name for a baby, a character, or just satisfying your curiosity about how different cultures express beauty. The world is full of gorgeous linguistic treasures, and names are some of the most intimate ways we share our cultural heritage.

What beautiful name caught your attention? Have you discovered any family naming traditions that celebrate beauty? I’d love to hear your stories and favorites – after all, sharing the beauty of names is what makes this whole journey so incredibly rewarding.

Looking for more naming inspiration? Explore our collections of beautiful group names or discover aesthetic group names for your next project!