Baby Names That Mean Gift: 75+ Precious Names for Your Little Blessing
Baby Names That Mean Gift: 75+ Precious Names for Your Little Blessing
The Greatest Gift
After five years of trying, three rounds of IVF, and one devastating miscarriage, my daughter arrived. We named her Theodora—'gift of God'—because that's exactly what she felt like. Not just a baby, but a miracle. An answer to prayers I'd almost stopped praying.
Gift and blessing names carry special weight for families who waited, who struggled, who wondered if parenthood would ever happen. But they work for any family who recognizes the profound gift that every child represents. Even surprise babies, even easy pregnancies—every child is a gift.
These names say it out loud. Matthew, Nathaniel, Dorothy, Jesse—all meaning 'gift of God' or variations. They're not just names; they're statements of gratitude. They tell children: you were wanted, you were welcomed, you are precious beyond measure.
This guide explores names meaning gift, blessing, treasure, and miracle from cultures around the world. Because whatever your path to parenthood, your child is a gift worth naming.
Why Gift Names Resonate
Gift names carry layers of meaning.
For Families Who Waited
Gift names have particular power for families who struggled with infertility, loss, or long adoption journeys. These names honor the wait and celebrate the arrival. They say: after everything, here you are. Worth every tear, every treatment, every prayer.
For All Families
Even without struggle, children are gifts. Gift names recognize the miracle of new life—the improbability that this specific person exists, with their specific combination of genes and spirit. Every child beats enormous odds just to be born.
Gratitude Made Audible
Gift names turn gratitude into daily practice. Every time you call your child's name, you're acknowledging the gift they are. Every time someone asks what the name means, you get to say: 'gift.' It keeps gratitude present.
A Message to the Child
Children with gift names grow up knowing they were wanted. They know their parents saw them as precious, as blessing, as treasure. That knowledge shapes identity in positive ways.
Gift Names for Girls
Girl names meaning gift span the obviously precious to the subtly blessed.
Classic Gift Girl Names
- Dorothy (DOR-o-thee) - Greek, 'gift of God.' Wizard of Oz eternal.
- Dorothea (dor-o-THEE-a) - Greek original. More formal.
- Theodora (thee-o-DOR-a) - Greek, 'gift of God.' Reversed Dorothy.
- Daria (DAR-ee-a) - Persian, 'gift.'
- Donata (doh-NAH-ta) - Latin, 'gift.'
- Cadence (KAY-dens) - Latin, 'rhythm' but sounds like a gift.
- Janet (JAN-et) - Hebrew, 'God is gracious.' Gift of grace.
Modern Gift Girl Names
- Thea (THEE-a) - Short for Theodora. 'Gift of God.'
- Dottie (DOT-ee) - Diminutive of Dorothy. Vintage charm.
- Mattea (ma-TAY-a) - Feminine Matthew. 'Gift of God.'
- Shai (SHY) - Hebrew, 'gift.' Short and modern.
- Iva (EE-va) - Hebrew, 'gift from God.'
- Godiva (go-DY-va) - English, 'God's gift.' Chocolate association.
Blessing Girl Names
- Beatrice (BEE-a-tris) - Latin, 'she who brings happiness/blessings.'
- Benedicta (ben-eh-DIK-ta) - Latin, 'blessed.'
- Beata (bee-AH-ta) - Latin, 'blessed.'
- Gwyneth (GWIN-eth) - Welsh, 'blessed, happy.'
- Gwen (GWEN) - Welsh, 'fair, blessed.'
Gift Names for Boys
Boy names meaning gift often reference divine gifts.
Classic Gift Boy Names
- Matthew (MATH-yoo) - Hebrew, 'gift of God.' Gospel writer.
- Nathaniel (na-THAN-yel) - Hebrew, 'gift of God.' Biblical disciple.
- Nathan (NAY-than) - Hebrew, 'he gave.' Shorter version.
- Theodore (THEE-o-dor) - Greek, 'gift of God.' Roosevelt presidential.
- Jonathan (JON-a-than) - Hebrew, 'God has given.'
- Jesse (JES-ee) - Hebrew, 'gift.' David's father.
- Zebadiah (zeb-a-DY-a) - Hebrew, 'gift of God.'
Modern Gift Boy Names
- Theo (THEE-o) - Short for Theodore. Very popular now.
- Matteo (ma-TAY-o) - Italian Matthew. Rising star.
- Nate (NAYT) - Short for Nathan/Nathaniel.
- Donovan (DON-o-van) - Irish, 'dark chieftain' but sounds like 'gift.'
- Shai (SHY) - Hebrew, 'gift.' Works for boys too.
Blessing Boy Names
- Benedict (BEN-eh-dikt) - Latin, 'blessed.'
- Bennett (BEN-et) - Variation of Benedict.
- Asher (ASH-er) - Hebrew, 'blessed, fortunate.'
- Barack (ba-RAK) - Hebrew, 'blessing.'
- Baruch (ba-ROOK) - Hebrew, 'blessed.'
Names Meaning Blessing
Blessings and gifts are intertwined concepts.
Directly Blessed Names
- Benedict/Benedicta - 'Blessed'
- Bennett - 'Blessed' variant
- Beata - 'Blessed'
- Beatrice - 'She who blesses'
- Asher - 'Blessed, fortunate'
- Gwyneth - 'Blessed, happy'
- Gwen - 'Blessed, fair'
Favored Names
- Hannah - Hebrew, 'grace, favor'
- Anna - From Hannah
- John - Hebrew, 'God is gracious'
- Grace - English, divine favor
Fortune Names
- Felicity - Latin, 'fortune, happiness'
- Felix - Latin, 'fortunate, lucky'
- Prosper - Latin, 'fortunate'
Miracle and Treasure Names
Some names go beyond gift to miracle.
Miracle Names
- Miracle (MEER-a-kul) - English, literally miracle. Bold word name.
- Marvel (MAR-vel) - English, 'wonderful thing.'
- Wonder (WUN-der) - English, 'marvelous thing.'
- Miracula - Latin form of miracle.
- Milagros (mee-LAH-grohs) - Spanish, 'miracles.'
Treasure Names
- Gemma (JEM-a) - Italian, 'gem, jewel.'
- Jewel (JOOL) - English, precious stone.
- Pearl (PURL) - English, precious gem.
- Ruby (ROO-bee) - English, precious stone.
- Jasper (JAS-per) - Persian, 'treasurer.'
Precious Names
- Priscilla (pri-SIL-a) - Latin, 'ancient, precious.'
- Alaina (a-LAY-na) - Celtic, 'precious.'
- Keeva (KEE-va) - Irish, 'gentle, beautiful, precious.'
International Gift Names
Every culture names children as gifts.
Hebrew Gift Names
- Matthew/Mattea - 'Gift of God'
- Nathan/Nathaniel - 'He gave' / 'Gift of God'
- Jonathan - 'God has given'
- Jesse - 'Gift'
- Shai - 'Gift'
- Zebadiah - 'Gift of God'
Greek Gift Names
- Theodore/Theodora - 'Gift of God'
- Dorothy/Dorothea - 'Gift of God' (reversed)
- Isidore - 'Gift of Isis'
- Apollodorus - 'Gift of Apollo' (rare)
Arabic Gift Names
- Atiya - 'Gift'
- Hibatullah - 'Gift of God'
- Mawhiba - 'Gift, talent'
African Gift Names
- Dineo (Sotho) - 'Gifts'
- Mpho (Sotho) - 'Gift'
- Sifiso (Zulu) - 'Wish, gift'
- Neo (Tswana) - 'Gift'
Asian Gift Names
- Megumi (Japanese) - 'Blessing, grace'
- Seonmul (Korean) - 'Gift'
- Prasad (Sanskrit) - 'Gift, offering'
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Are gift names too sentimental?
They can be—Miracle or Precious might feel heavy. But classic gift names like Matthew, Theodore, and Dorothy have centuries of use without seeming overly sweet. Choose based on how the name sounds: Theo feels modern and casual; Theodore feels distinguished; Theodora feels elegant. All mean 'gift of God.'
Q2: Which gift names are most popular?
Theodore and Theo are surging—top 20 in multiple countries. Matthew remains steady and classic. Asher (blessed) is rapidly rising. For girls, Dorothy is having a vintage revival, and Thea is climbing. Bennett and Beatrice are stylish choices.
Q3: Do gift names carry religious meaning?
Many do—'gift of God' is explicitly divine. But you can use them without religious intent. Theodore sounds simply sophisticated to most ears. Asher feels modern and unisex. The meaning is there for those who want it; others just hear a beautiful name.
Q4: What about names for rainbow babies or IVF babies?
Gift names are particularly meaningful for families who struggled. Rainbow baby names (after loss) and IVF baby names often include gift meanings: Theodore, Matthew, Dorothy, Miracle. Some families want to honor the journey; others prefer not to broadcast it. Either approach is valid.
Q5: Are there any gift names to avoid?
Precious and Miracle might invite teasing. Godiva has chocolate associations. Some gift names are very old-fashioned (Dorothea, Zebadiah). Choose names that work in your cultural context and won't burden your child.
Unwrapping the Gift
My Theodora is ten now. She knows her name means 'gift of God,' and she knows the story of how she came to be. Not the medical details, but the waiting, the hoping, the praying, and finally—the gift.
When she was little, she'd ask: 'Am I still a gift?' Yes, always. When she was difficult (she's ten; she's difficult sometimes): 'Am I still a gift?' Yes, even now. Especially now.
That's what gift names do. They're not just about the moment of arrival. They're about the ongoing gift of having this person in your life, through easy days and hard ones, through every age and stage. The gift keeps unwrapping.
Every child is a gift—science can't fully explain consciousness, can't explain how this particular person came to exist. Gift names just make the mystery explicit. They say: you're here, and we're grateful.
Find your perfect gift name on SoulSeed, where every name carries blessing and every child is a treasure.
