Browse Names - Behind the Name

Li 1 f & m Chinese
From Chinese 理 (lǐ) meaning "reason, logic", 立 (lì) meaning "stand, establish", 黎 (lí) meaning "black, dawn", 力 (lì) meaning "power, capability, influence" (which is usually only masculine) or 丽 (lì) meaning "beautiful" (usually only feminine). Other Chinese characters are also possible.

Li 2 f & m Hebrew
Means "to me" in Hebrew.

Lian 2 m & f Chinese
From Chinese 莲 (lián) meaning "lotus, water lily", 濂 (lián) meaning "waterfall", or other Chinese characters that are pronounced similarly.

Liberty f & m English
Simply from the English word liberty, derived from Latin libertas, a derivative of liber "free". Interestingly, since 1880 this name has charted on the American popularity lists in three different periods: in 1918 (at the end of World War I), in 1976 (the American bicentennial), and after 2001 (during the War on Terrorism).

Liel f & m Hebrew
Means "my God" in Hebrew, from לִי (li) "for me" and אֵל (ʾel) "God".

Lihuén m & f Mapuche (Hispanicized)
Variant of Liwen using Spanish spelling conventions.

Lilian f & m English, French, Romanian
English variant of Lillian, as well as a French and Romanian masculine form.

Lim m & f Chinese
Hokkien Chinese form of Lin 1.

Lin 1 m & f Chinese
From Chinese 林 (lín) meaning "forest" or 琳 (lín) meaning "fine jade, gem". Other characters can also form this name.

Linden m & f English
From a German and Dutch surname that was derived from Old High German linta meaning "linden tree".

Lindsay f & m English
From the English and Scottish surname Lindsay, which was originally derived from the name of the eastern English region of Lindsey, which means "Lincoln island" in Old English. As a given name it was typically masculine until the 1960s (in Britain) and 70s (in America) after which time it became popular for girls, probably due to its similarity to Linda and because of American actress Lindsay Wagner (1949-).

Lindsey f & m English
Variant of Lindsay.

Lindy m & f English
Originally this was a masculine name, coming into use in America in 1927 when the dance called the Lindy Hop became popular. The dance was probably named for aviator Charles Lindbergh. Later this name was used as a diminutive of Linda.

Ling f & m Chinese
From Chinese 灵 (líng) meaning "spirit, soul", 铃 (líng) meaning "bell, chime", or other Chinese characters that are pronounced similarly.

Linh f & m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 靈 (linh) meaning "spirit, soul".

Lior m & f Hebrew
Means "my light" in Hebrew, from לִי (li) "for me" and אוֹר (ʾor) "light".

Liraz m & f Hebrew
Means "my secret" in Hebrew, from לִי (li) "for me" and רָז (raz) "secret".

Liron m & f Hebrew
Means "my song, my joy" in Hebrew, from לִי (li) "for me" and רֹן (ron) "joy, song".

Lisakhanya f & m Xhosa, Zulu
Means "still shining" in Xhosa and Zulu, from the roots sa "still, continuing" and khanya "to shine".

Lishan f & m Amharic
Means "award" in Amharic.

Liwen m & f Mapuche
Means "morning" in Mapuche.

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