So, you’re expecting a January baby? Congratulations! Having a baby and choosing a name in the new year allows parents to impart a sense of hope for the future and all the incredible things to come. January baby names can be inspired by nature and reference the winter season. These appellations might also reference the Capricorn astrological sign. Further, January baby names might have meanings that celebrate the new year’s dawn.
These names for girls and boys hold meanings of “hope,” “newness,” “dawn,” and other sentiments that seem appropriate for babies born into a fresh year. These baby names have forward-looking meanings, which would be especially appropriate for those born at the start of a new year in the glorious month of January.
January Baby Names for Girls
Oriana
Oriana is a dashing medieval name, with a meaning similar to Aurora. In medieval tales, she was the beloved of the knight Amadis. Oriana has Latin origins and means “dawn.” Unfortunately, Aurora has eclipsed this name in modern times. Both are great options for your January baby.
Eira
You’ll find the name Eira in both Welsh and Norse traditions. In Welsh, the name relates to “snow.” In Old Norse, Eir is the name of a goddess of mercy. The name is very popular in Sweden and Norway. We don’t hear it often in the United States, but you could change that.
Neve
Neve is a name that comes from the Irish appellation, Niamh. This gorgeous appellation means “snow.” New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern chose the name Neve for her daughter, born while she was in office. We have Neve Campbell to thank for bringing this name to America’s attention.
Alula
The palindromic name Alula has Arabic origins and sweetly means “first leap.” Alula is the name of two binary star systems in Ursa Major. We expect this name to grow in popularity in the coming years, so get ahead of the curve now!
Zora
Zora is an inspiring literary heroine name honoring Zora Neale Hurston, an important Black writer, and leader of the Harlem Renaissance. Zora is a multicultural hit, and you will find it in several naming traditions, including Slavic, Arabic, and many languages spoken throughout Africa. The name means “dawn.”
Nadia
Nadia has been a popular name for girls in the US since the seventies. That should be no surprise, as the name is a multicultural hit with Russian, Slavic, and Arabic origins. The name can mean “hope,” but in Arabic, its meaning is considered “tender.” All-in-all a very good pick.
Nova
Nova was absent from the US top 1000 from 1938 until 2011! Now, it’s back and bigger than ever before. This energetic name has Latin origins and means “new.” This one really makes us see stars.
Garnet
Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January. The gem’s name comes from French and means “pomegranate.” Like her sisters Ruby and Pearl, Garnet once enjoyed great favor. Garnet hasn’t experienced the same resurgence, but we hope that changes because it’s a rock-solid name.
Makara
If you’d like to go the astrology route, you can choose the Hindi name Makara which means “Capricorn.” This name would be most appropriate for a girl born between December 21 and January 21.
Demetria
Demetria is the name of the Greek goddess who is responsible for bringing the winter season. You can shorten this lovely name to Demi, as both Demi Moore and Demi Lovato have done. This handsome name means “earth mother.”
Signy
Signy is a popular Scandinavian name with Norse origins that means “new victory.” Yes! We love it! The name can also be spelled, Signe. Signe was a very popular name in the US until 1915. Let’s bring this baby back to life! It’s a winning January baby name.
Lumi
One of the most exotic January names for girls, Lumi is a Finnish name that means “snow.” Lumi may be a rare girl’s name in the USA and England, but it comes in the top 50 in Finland. Lumi sounds perfectly cute yet modern and fashionable.
Neoma
An obscure yet on-trend name with two wonderful meanings associated with it. Neoma is one of the freshest celestial girl names with moon-related meanings, rarer than Luna or Phoebe. The name has both Greek and Hebrew origins and can mean “new moon” or “pleasantness.”
January
Mad Men actor January Jones has helped parents see this name as a possibility. There was a brief surge in popularity for this month-name in the seventies that quickly fizzled out. Let’s bring this retro name back to life, parents!
Epiphany
Epiphany is based on an ancient Greek word for a feeling or realization that comes upon you suddenly. It often relates to the divine, as in the realization that Christ is the son of God. The Feast of the Epiphany commemorates the Magi’s visit to the infant Jesus, and takes place on January 6, making it one of the best winter names for girls born in January.
January Baby Names for Boys
Frost
Frost is an English surname meaning “born in a cold spell.” Frost belonged to a beloved poet you probably have heard of named Robert Frost. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” was published in the 1920s and it’s one of his most cherished and popular poems. As far as winter names go, you couldn’t do better.
RELATED: The Ultimate List of Baby Names for Winter Babies
Whittaker
Whittaker is a unique name for a boy that has English origins and means “from the white covered field.” As far as imagery goes, this name conjures romantic images of snow-covered fields blanketed in an icy sheet. We love this name and the nickname Whitt.
Navin
The attractive name Navin has Hindi origins and means “new” or “novel.” This gentle name for boys would be the perfect way to celebrate your son born in January.
Neander
Neander is a distinguished Greek name that means “new man.” Could there be a more appropriate name for a baby boy? Neander is the classical form of the common surname Newman.
Blaze
While Blaze might make you think initially of a warm hearth, the name has another meaning that’s associated with Blizzards. It shares the same root and also means “snowstorm.” If you’d like a subtle nod to the season and a name with plenty of attitude, you’ve found it in Blaze.
Quilo
Quilo isn’t a name you hear often these days, but we think it still has plenty of charms. This name has roots in Roman mythology and is associated with the cold, north wind. Think of this name as a cross between Shiloh and Quinten. It totally works!
Ensio
Ensio derives from the Finnish word ensimmäinen, meaning “first one.” The name is pronounced EHN-see-oh, which sounds vaguely Italian. You do not often hear this name in the US, but we hope parents consider it!
Bodhi
Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday in Winter, typically in December but sometimes in January. Let the holiday be ab inspiration behind your son’s baby name. The name means “awakening,” which is rather appropriate, wouldn’t you say?
Neo
This nouveau name of Keanu Reeves’s character in The Matrix has not experienced the same burst of popularity as its female counterpart, Trinity, but it definitely sounds fresh. Neo has Latin origins and means “new” or “gift.”
Primo
Primo has that jaunty ‘o’ ending and Italian flavor that many modern parents like so much. Primo not only sounds fresh, but it also means “first.” The name has Latin origins and has maintained popularity in Italy today.
Pyry
Take a moment a consider the exotic Finnish name Pyry. In Finnish, the name is pronounced Pue-Rue, which may or may not be to your liking. We expect that most Americans will try and pronounce it Pie-Ree. This wonderfully weird name means “blizzard.”
Yukio
Yukio is a wonderfully playful Japanese baby name that can have a variety of meanings depending on the kanji used to build the name. One popular one is “snow.”
Novak
Tennis star Novak Djokovic introduced this new first name to the English-speaking world, though it had long been familiar as a surname. Novak has Serbian origins and means “new.”
Xavier
Xavier originated its use as a given name after Saint Francis Xavier, co-founder of the Jesuit order, who got his name from the Spanish-Basque village where he was born. The name in both Basque and Arabic traditions means “new house” or “bright.” We’ll take both!
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Ogden
Ogden is a classic English name that means “from the oak valley.” Oaks are associated with the month of January, and in Finland, January is considered the Month of the Oak. Ogden is a beautiful name that has fallen out of fashion, but we would love to see make a comeback.
There you go! We hope you found some January baby names to consider for your baby. Being born at the start of the New Year is truly a blessing, and these names celebrate it. For even more baby name inspiration, keep reading. We have some excellent names inspired by various mythologies to share with you.
25. Aries
Much better than Capricorn or Cancer, the boy’s name Aries is a handsome name. Aries was the Roman god of War. Which, may or may not appeal to you. The name means “a ram.”
24. Athena
The girl’s name Athena has grown in popularity over the last two decades! Which is wonderful because this storied name really is beautiful. Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom and Athens is named for her.
23. Atlas
Actor and influencer, Shay Mitchell named her baby girl Atlas last year. Typically, the name is given to boy but we see the crossover appeal for a baby girl as well. Unisex baby names are all the rage right now! Atlas was a Greek titan who carried the world on his back. The name has come to mean “to carry.”
22. Aurora
Aurora was the Roman goddess of sunshine. How precious would that sentiment be for your daughter? The name Aurora means “dawn.”
21. Argo
Argo is a boy’s name of Greek origin that was the name of the ship sailed by Jason in his search for the Golden Fleece. Argo is a handsome name that we’d love to hear more of. In ancient Greece, “Argos” was a nickname that connoted laziness! But, don’t hold that against the name! It’s been a long, long time.
20. Clio
Clio is the name of the ancient Greek mythological muse of history and heroic poetry. The storied name for girls means “glory.” It makes for a great alternative to Cleo or Cleopatra.
19. Castor
One of the twins that form the constellation of Gemini, Castor is an excellent name for a baby boy. The Greek name means “pious one.”
18. Delia
The name Delia means “born from the island of Delos.” In Greek mythology, Delos was a magical island where both Apollo and Artemis called home. Delia has such a sweet sound to it.
17. Finn
One of the greatest heroes of Irish Mythology, Finn MacCool was an intrepid warrior with supernatural powers. The name means “fair” or “white.” Finn is a precious name for a little boy.
16. Echo
In Greek mythology, Echo was a nymph who fell in love with Narcissus who did not return her favor. She faded so that all that was left was her voice. Not that happiest story, but Echo is an exquisite name for a little girl.
15. Hector
In Homer’s Iliad, Hector is a great hero of the Trojan War. The name Hector is Greek and means “holding fast.” Hector is such a strong and bold name for a little boy.
14. Freya
The name Freya comes from Norse mythology and she was the goddess of love, fertility, and beauty. The name means “noble” and it has been growing in popularity in the UK. Freya is a gorgeous name for a girl.
13. Hermes
More than the name of a luxury brand, Hermes was the Greek god of speed and good luck. The handsome and lyrical name means “messenger of god.”
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12. Iris
The Greek goddess Iris was the god of the rainbow! She rode rainbows as a bridge between the mortal world and the godly one. The name Iris refers to rainbows, but it is also shared with the purple Iris flower.
11. Janus
Janus is a god that’s usually depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions because he sees both the future and the past. The Greek name that was adopted by the Romans means “gateway.” The name represents renewal and is often given to boys born in January, the start of the new year.
10. Isis
The Egyptian goddess, Isis governed the moon, motherhood, wisdom, and fertility. The goddess was worshipped outside of Egypt and relics of her followers were found all over the Greek and Roman empires. Isis is a stunning name that means “throne.”
9. Kirin
Kirin is a name born from Chinese mythology that’s just beautiful. It’s a gender-neutral name that also belongs to a horse-like creature with wings that’s similar to a dragon. Kirin is a great alternative to the Irish name Kieran.
8. Juno
Juno is such an old name that somehow feels very fresh. Juno is a Latin name that once referred to the patron goddess of Rome and the protector of women and marriage. The name means “queen of the heavens.”
7. Lir
Pronounced the same as Lear, Lir is an Irish name for boys that belonged to the god of the sea. Lir has fallen out of fashion and no boys were given the name in the US in 2018 (the latest year data is available). We’d love for this simple and elegant name to come back in style.
6. Leda
In Greek myth, Leda was a great beauty who gave birth to Helen of Troy. The name means “happy.” Any little girl would surely feel tickled to learn that her name is synonymous with happiness. The name is popular across Europe where it’s commonly pronounced “lee-da” by everyone except the Italians who say “lay-dah.”
5. Pan
Pan was a Greek god with the legs of a goat who played a piped instrument. The figure was known for his playfulness and mischievousness. The name means “shepherd.” Pan is short and sweet and would be such a fun name for a boy.
4. Maeve
Maeve comes from Irish myth and refers to the queen of the fairies. This mysterious-sounding name for girls means “she who intoxicates.” Images of Maeve are often accompanied by mead and honey.
3. Paris
Forget Paris Hilton! Paris is a name for boys that belonged to Helen of Troy’s lover according to Greek mythology. Although it’s probably best knows as the French capital, Paris comes Greek.
2. Rhea
Rhea comes from Greek mythology and she was the earth mother and mother of all the gods. Rhea means “a flowing stream.” The popularity of this name ebbs and flows as well. It spiked in 1984 before falling off the charts and then most recently had a good year in 2004. Rhea is a great name for a girl and we’d love for it shoot back up in popularity.
1. Thor
The most butch name… ever. Thor comes from Norse mythology and he was considered the god of thunder, rain, and strength. The name means “thunder” and we think it would make a fine name for your son.
Mythology from every culture and tradition is a great place to look for inspiration when you’re trying to find a unique name for your child. Many mythological figures are associated with ideas and positive qualities that we all want to see in our children. From Achilles to Zeus, there’s no shortage of mythological names to choose from.
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