Baby Names That Mean Grace: 75+ Elegant Names for Your Little Blessing
Baby Names That Mean Grace: 75+ Elegant Names for Your Little Blessing
The Versatility of Grace
Grace might be the most multifaceted word in English. It means elegant movement. It means kindness extended. It means divine favor. It means getting something you don't deserve but deeply need. It means the pause before a meal, the extra time on a deadline, the way a dancer moves.
My grandmother was named Grace, and she embodied every meaning. Graceful in her movements despite arthritis. Graceful in her kindness despite having little. Full of grace in the spiritual sense that gave her peace. When I named my daughter Hannah (which also means grace), I was naming her for my grandmother—and for the quality I most hoped she'd develop.
Grace names have never really fallen from popularity because grace itself never falls from importance. We always need people who move beautifully, who extend kindness freely, who carry divine favor into broken places. These names aren't trends; they're timeless hopes.
This guide explores names meaning grace, favor, blessing, and elegance from cultures worldwide. Whether you're drawn to grace's spiritual dimension or its aesthetic one, there's a grace name that fits.
The Many Meanings of Grace
Understanding grace helps you choose the right grace name.
Divine Grace
In religious traditions, grace means unmerited favor—blessing received not because you earned it but because it was given. Christian theology centers on grace. Judaism speaks of chen (favor, grace). Islam honors rahma (mercy, grace). Names meaning divine grace carry spiritual weight: Hannah, John, Gianna, Giovanni.
Graceful Movement
Physical grace means moving beautifully—with coordination, elegance, poise. Dancers have grace. Athletes have grace. Names in this category evoke fluidity and beauty: Grace itself, Grazia, Graciana.
Social Grace
Social grace means kindness, tact, and courtesy. People with social grace make others comfortable, smooth rough situations, and extend forgiveness easily. Names carrying this meaning include those meaning 'kind' or 'gentle' alongside traditional grace names.
A Grace Period
Grace can mean extra time or second chances. To give grace is to extend patience, to forgive deadlines, to offer another try. Names meaning mercy or patience carry this aspect of grace.
Grace Names for Girls
Grace names for girls span classic to modern.
Classic Grace Girl Names
- Grace (GRAYS) - English, literally 'grace.' Kelly elegance. Perpetually top 100.
- Anna (AN-a) - From Hannah, 'grace.' Saint Anna. Universal.
- Anne (AN) - French form. Anne of Green Gables. Royal usage.
- Hannah (HAN-a) - Hebrew, 'grace, favor.' Biblical prophet's mother.
- Nancy (NAN-see) - Diminutive of Anne. 'Grace.'
- Nina (NEE-na) - Diminutive of Anna. 'Grace.'
- Anita (a-NEE-ta) - Spanish diminutive. 'Little grace.'
- Annette (a-NET) - French diminutive. 'Little grace.'
Modern Grace Girl Names
- Gracie (GRAY-see) - Diminutive of Grace. Sweet and current.
- Graciela (gra-see-EL-a) - Spanish, 'grace.' Romantic sound.
- Grazia (GRAH-tsee-a) - Italian, 'grace.' Sophisticated European.
- Anya (AHN-ya) - Russian form of Anna. 'Grace.'
- Chanelle (sha-NEL) - From Hebrew chen, 'grace.' Fashion echoes.
- Annika (AN-i-ka) - Scandinavian Anna. 'Grace.'
- Annabel (AN-a-bel) - Combination of Anna + Belle. 'Grace + beauty.'
Hannah Variations
- Chana (KHAH-na) - Hebrew original. More traditional.
- Chanah - Variant spelling.
- Hanna - German/Scandinavian spelling.
- Johanna (yo-HAN-na) - Germanic form including Johann (grace of God).
- Joanna (jo-AN-na) - Greek form. Same meaning.
Grace Names for Boys
Grace names for boys often emphasize divine favor.
John Names (God's Grace)
- John (JON) - Hebrew, 'God is gracious.' The classic.
- Giovanni (jo-VAH-nee) - Italian John. Elegant.
- Juan (WAHN) - Spanish John. Widespread.
- Ivan (ee-VAHN) - Russian John. Strong.
- Sean (SHAWN) - Irish John. Celtic charm.
- Ian (EE-an) - Scottish John. Short and crisp.
- Evan (EV-an) - Welsh John. Familiar but distinctive.
- Hans (HAHNS) - German/Dutch John. European.
- Jan (YAHN) - Various European languages. John.
- Jean (ZHAHN) - French. John.
Other Grace Boy Names
- Hansel (HAN-sel) - Germanic diminutive. 'Little grace.'
- Chen (KHEN) - Hebrew, 'grace.' Direct.
- Chaim (KHYEEM) - Hebrew, 'life.' Grace of living.
- Enoch (EE-nok) - Hebrew, 'dedicated.' Divine favor.
- Noah (NOH-a) - Hebrew, 'rest, comfort.' Found grace in God's eyes.
Favor and Blessing Boy Names
- Benedict (BEN-eh-dikt) - Latin, 'blessed.' Gracious blessing.
- Bennett (BEN-et) - Variation of Benedict.
- Asher (ASH-er) - Hebrew, 'blessed, fortunate.'
- Jesse (JES-ee) - Hebrew, 'gift.' Given grace.
- Theodore (THEE-o-dor) - Greek, 'gift of God.' Divine favor.
Names Meaning Divine Favor
Divine favor is grace in its deepest sense.
Gift of God Names
- Theodore/Theodora - Greek, 'gift of God'
- Dorothy - Greek, 'gift of God' (reversed)
- Matthew - Hebrew, 'gift of God'
- Nathaniel - Hebrew, 'gift of God'
- Jonathan - Hebrew, 'God has given'
- Theodosios - Greek, 'giving to God' or 'God's gift'
God is Gracious Names
- John/Joan/Jean - All forms of 'God is gracious'
- Giovanni/Giovanna - Italian forms
- Ivan/Ivana - Slavic forms
- Sean/Siobhan - Celtic forms
- Yohanan - Hebrew original
Blessed Names
- Benedict/Benedicta - 'Blessed'
- Beatrice - 'She who brings happiness/blessings'
- Asher - 'Blessed, fortunate'
- Gwen - Welsh, 'blessed, fair'
- Gwyneth - Welsh, 'blessed, happy'
Elegant and Graceful Names
Some names convey grace through elegance and beauty.
Names That Sound Graceful
- Arabella - 'Yielding to prayer.' Elegant sound.
- Isabella - 'Devoted to God.' Graceful flow.
- Juliana - 'Youthful.' Elegant length.
- Gabriella - 'God is my strength.' Graceful sound.
- Evangeline - 'Good news.' Flowing elegance.
- Seraphina - 'Fiery.' Angelic grace.
Names Meaning Elegant
- Bonita - Spanish, 'pretty, elegant'
- Hermione - Greek, possibly 'eloquent, graceful'
- Greer - Scottish, 'watchful, grace-adjacent sound'
Gentle and Kind Names
- Mildred - 'Gentle strength' (grace through gentleness)
- Clemence - 'Mild, merciful'
- Clement - 'Mild, merciful'
- Mercedes - Spanish, 'mercies' (grace extended)
International Grace Names
Grace appears in every language.
European Grace Names
- Grazia (Italian) - 'Grace'
- Graciela (Spanish) - 'Grace'
- Graça (Portuguese) - 'Grace'
- Grâce (French) - 'Grace'
- Grazyna (Polish) - Related to grace
- Anais (French) - From Hannah, 'grace'
Hebrew Grace Names
- Hannah/Chana - 'Grace, favor'
- Chen - 'Grace, charm'
- Yochanan - 'God is gracious'
- Ann - From Hannah
Asian Grace Names
- Anugraha (Sanskrit) - 'Divine grace'
- Prasad (Sanskrit) - 'Grace, offering'
- Megumi (Japanese) - 'Blessing, grace'
- Eun (Korean) - 'Grace'
African Grace Names
- Neema (Swahili) - 'Grace, favor'
- Imani (Swahili) - 'Faith' (grace-adjacent)
- Baraka (Swahili) - 'Blessing'
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is Grace too common?
Grace is popular but not overused—it's a middle name favorite more than first name. If you want uniqueness, try international variants: Grazia, Graciela, Anais. Or Hannah variations: Anya, Annika, Chana. Grace itself is common enough to be familiar, unusual enough to still feel special.
Q2: Are grace names religious?
They can be, but don't have to be. Grace has secular meanings (elegance, kindness) alongside spiritual ones (divine favor). Names like Hannah and John have biblical origins but are used by non-religious families constantly. Grazia or Gracie feel more aesthetic than theological.
Q3: Which grace names feel most elegant?
Grazia (Italian) sounds sophisticated. Graciela (Spanish) feels romantic. Anais (French) has artistic associations. Giovanni and Gianna have Italian elegance. For English speakers, Grace itself—simple, clean, two syllables—has Kelly-level elegance.
Q4: Can boys be named Grace?
Not directly, but 'God is gracious' names work perfectly: John, Giovanni, Ivan, Sean, Evan. These all carry grace in their meaning without the feminine sound. Some cultures use Chen (Hebrew) or similar grace-words as masculine names.
Q5: What names combine well with Grace as a middle name?
Grace works as a middle name with almost anything—it's the classic filler choice. Short first names benefit from its single syllable rhythm. Long first names gain balance. Grace smooths out nearly any combination.
Grace Upon Grace
My grandmother Grace died when I was twelve, but I still remember her hands—arthritic but gentle, moving with surprising elegance through kitchen tasks she'd done a million times. She had grace in every sense: beautiful movement, endless kindness, and a faith that sustained her through hardships I can only imagine.
When I named my daughter Hannah, I wasn't just choosing a pretty sound. I was hoping she'd inherit grace—the kind that moves beautifully, extends kindness freely, and receives blessings with gratitude. I was naming her for a quality that makes life more livable, for everyone.
That's what grace names offer. They're not about elegance as performance or religion as doctrine. They're about the human quality that smooths rough edges, that gives second chances, that moves through the world making it slightly easier for everyone else.
May your grace-named child grow into all those meanings.
Find your perfect grace name on SoulSeed, where elegance meets blessing and every name carries favor.
