Names that mean life
This list groups names by the literal gloss at the start of each meaning, not the cultural notes that follow. Closely related meanings are gathered under life. Tap any name for its story, or grow a tree and see which of them belong in your family.
Sanjeev Sanskrit · living, reviving
Aisha Arabic · alive, thriving; a beloved classic honoring the Prophet Muhammad's wife, popular since the 1970s
Vitaliy Ukrainian · vital, full of life
Enid Welsh · soul, spirit, life; Arthurian legend heroine
Ayesha Arabic · alive, prosperous; the common alternate spelling of Aisha used widely in Indian Muslim American families
Chava Hebrew · life; Hebrew form of Eve
Eve Hebrew · from Hebrew Ḥawwa, 'to breathe' or 'to live'
Vito Italian · life
Vita Latin · life
Haya Arabic · modesty, life; famously borne by Princess Haya bint Hussein of Jordan, equestrian and former Sheikha of Dubai
Vivan Sanskrit · full of life; a common alternate spelling of Vivaan
Viviana Latin · "alive, lively", from Vivian
Vivian Latin · from Latin Vivianus and vivus, 'alive'; an established English name in Hong Kong, carried by actor and singer Vivian Chow
Vida Spanish · means 'life'; also used as a short form of Davida
Ayse Turkish · living, alive (Turkish form of Aisha; Ayşe)
Chinwe Igbo · life belongs to God
Liv Scandinavian · life (Norwegian, short and strong; actresses Liv Ullmann and Liv Tyler)
Frehiwot Amharic · fruit of life
Vivianna Latin · elaboration of Vivian, traditionally 'alive, lively'
Aishah Arabic · alive, flourishing (the Quranic spelling of Aisha)
Éabha Irish · Irish form of Eve, life
Nnamdi Igbo · my father is alive
Aysha Arabic · variant of Aisha, traditionally 'living, alive'
Vivianne Latin · variant of Vivian, 'alive, lively'
Chaya Hebrew · "living" (Hebrew ḥaya); considered a feminine form of Chaim
Vivien Latin · variant of Vivian, traditionally 'alive, lively'
Vivienne French · form of Vivian, "alive"
Chaim Hebrew · 'life', a traditional Jewish name
Idil Somali · traditionally meaning the best, prime of life
Evie Hebrew · pet form of Eve/Eva, "life"
Eva Hebrew · "life," the Latin form of Eve, from the Hebrew Chava; the spelling most of Europe uses, from Spain to Scandinavia to the Slavic world, and a quiet constant in America for over a century. Two syllables of pure vintage warmth
Vidal Latin · Spanish and Catalan form of Latin Vitalis, vital, full of life; used historically by both Jewish and Christian families.
Yeva Russian · life (Russian form of Eve)
Vivaan Sanskrit · full of life (fast-rising 2020s pick)
Vitalik Slavic, from Latin · Slavic form of the Latin vitalis, meaning of life or vital; famously borne by Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum.
Zoey Greek · "life," the Greek word Hellenistic Jews used to render Eve; Zoey is the phonetic American spelling of Zoe, no diacritics needed, and since the 2000s the more popular of the two in the US. Ancient meaning, thoroughly modern dress
Zoya Russian · life, from the Greek zoe via the Russian form Zoya; popular among Indian Muslim American families
Daisha Modern American · a modern American coinage, likely a D-prefixed elaboration of Aisha, Arabic for living, alive; part of the tradition of prefixed names
Iesha Modern American · An African-American phonetic variant of the Arabic name Aisha, alive or living; popularized partly by a 1991 song.
Sujin Korean · long life and precious, or genuine, in common hanja
Zoe Greek · "life," the word Hellenistic Jews chose to render Eve; borne by an early martyr and Byzantine empresses, then rediscovered by the modern world with all its brightness intact. Three letters, two sounds, one of the oldest meanings there is
Soojin Korean · long life and precious in common hanja; a spelling of Su-jin
Keisha African American · modern coinage, likely influenced by Aisha, Arabic for 'living'
Aisyah Malay · alive, flourishing (Arabic Aisha), the Prophet's scholarly wife. Aisyah is the standard Malaysian and Singaporean school-roll spelling; US-diaspora families often simplify to Aishah or Aisha.
Charitha Telugu · good conduct, one's life story (Sanskrit charita); the th spelling marks the Telugu romanization
Hisako Japanese · child of long life, or of long ago, depending on the kanji
Zoie Greek · variant spelling of Zoe, meaning life
Aayush Sanskrit · long life (Sanskrit ayus); a defining Nepali boys' name of the 1990s and 2000s cohort
Zoi Greek · Greek for life, a variant spelling of Zoe; famously borne by Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, New Zealand's Olympic slopestyle snowboarding champion.
Anvi Sanskrit · often glossed as 'full of life' or 'earth-like' depending on regional spelling traditions
Hyman Hebrew · An Anglicized Yiddish form of Chaim, Hebrew for life, common among Ashkenazi Jewish immigrant families.
Ava Latin · traditionally linked to avis, "bird," though its root is debated: medieval Avas may have carried a Germanic name or a form of Eve, "life." Borne by a ninth-century saint and by the first named woman poet in German, and reborn as a sleek modern favorite
Lakeisha Modern American · An American coinage blending the prefix La- with Keisha, itself possibly linked to Arabic Aisha, living, or Hebrew Keziah.
Ewa Polish · life (Polish form of Eve). Its name day falls on December 24, so every Ewa celebrates at the Christmas Eve wigilia table when the whole family is already gathered, the textbook example of Poland's name-day calendar; a staple for girls born in 1950s to 70s Poland.
Sameer Arabic · companion in evening conversation (often shortened to Sam in daily American life)
Katarzyna Polish · pure (Polish form of Katherine). The formal register behind Kasia, showing how Polish naming runs on two levels, the full name for documents and saints' days and the diminutive for daily life; one of the defining names of Poland's 1970s and 80s generation.
Nani Telugu · a native Telugu pet name for a little boy, sometimes kept for life, as with the star Nani; usually a home name rather than the certificate name
Which of these fits YOUR family? →