Why not consider a Basque name? There are Basque girl names and Basque boy names that many people use today and so many are brilliant.
Proudly sitting on the northern Atlantic coast, bordering France and Spain, the Basque country is a community of people with their own unique traditions, language and culture. Because of this rich and vibrant history, the Basque country has unique and fantastic names for you to be inspired by.
Many Basque names derive from Latin, Arabic, Hebrew and more. These names are a good way to reference a more commonly used name in a different way, through the Basque form.
There can be a feminine form of Basque baby names, and a masculine form of Basque baby names, even unisex baby names too. Often there is a Basque form of biblical and spiritual names, like variations of names for the Virgin Mary, or names dedicated to her.
We hope this list of names is inspiring to you and can help you choose a name. If you're still stuck and looking for inspiration, then check out our baby name list for other parts of the world, like Welsh names here and Old English names here.
Boy Names
There are plenty of brilliant Basque names for boys that you can choose from. Their origins date back many years, having spiritual meanings, floral meanings, celestial meanings and more. Many boy names here are the Basque form of well-known names. This makes them perfect if you want something that people know but in a slightly different way.
1) Abarran (Basque, Arabic origins) this means 'chief herdsman, or 'open country' and 'land' in Arabic.
2) Aitor (Basque roots) this means 'good father', named after the ancestor of the Basque people.
3) Ander (Basque roots) this is the Basque variation of Andrew, meaning 'man' or 'manly'.
4) Andone (Basque roots) different form of Anthony, this means 'flower'.
5) Antton (Basque roots) another variation of Anthony, this name means 'priceless one'.
6) Agrider (Basque roots) a widely used Basque name, meaning 'beautiful light'.
7) Basajuan (Basque roots) this means 'Lord of the Woods', from old Basque folklore character 'Old Man of the Woods'.
8) Benat (Basque, German roots) variation of Bernard, meaning 'brave as a bear'.
9) Bolivar (Basque roots) this means 'mill at the riverbank'. from famous South American revolutionary Simon Bolivar.
10) Ganiz (Basque roots) the Basque version of the name John, meaning 'God is Gracious'.
11) Gorka (Basque, Greek origins) this is a traditional Basque name, a form of the name George, which means farmer.
12) Iker (Basque roots) this means 'visitation', a fast rising name in the United States because of the sports star, Iker Casillas.
13) Illari (Basque roots) this means 'cheerful'.
14) Inigo (Basque roots) derived from the name San Ignacio of Lotyoa, the first ruler of Pamplona.
15) Itzal (Basque roots) this means 'shadow'.
16) Markel (Basque origins) this means 'Mars', a son of celestial beauty.
17) Mattin (Basque roots) the Basque form of Martin, originally a Roman name, from the God of War.
18) Mikel (Basque, Scandinavian origins) this means 'gift from God'.
19) Palben (Basque roots) this has a few meanings, from 'redhead', 'dark', so it's open to interpretation.
20) Samso (Basque, Hebrew origin) the Basque form of Samson, which means 'Sun Child', a reference to Samson who had great strength because of his long hair.
21) Xabier (Basque origin) this means 'new house', originally from a famous Basque saint.
22) Xavier (Basque origin) this means 'bright', from Saint Francis Xavier.
23) Zorion (Basque roots) this means 'happiness'.
24) Zuzen (Basque roots) a traditional name that means 'Just', for justice and virtue.
Girl Names
Basque names for girls are beautiful and have diverse meanings, from floral attributes, to spiritual and often play on the feminine form of other names. This makes them unique, they can serve as great inspiration for you. Basque feminine names sometimes refer to a place name, the Virgin Mary and more.
25) Ainhoa (Basque roots) this derives from a town in Southern France, referring to the Virgin Mary.
26) Alasne (Basque roots) this means 'miracle' in the Euskara language.
27) Amaya (Basque origin) derived from the name of a village in Spain, it can also mean 'heavenly valley' and is growing in popularity.
28) Arantxa (Basque roots) deriving from the name of the town that houses the sanctuary of the Virgin Mary, the name also means 'thorn bush'.
29) Arrosa (Basque roots) this is a different form of the name 'Rose'.
30) Elixane (Basque roots) this means 'pledged to God'.
31) Erdutza (Basque roots) this refers to the Virgin Mary, and also means 'snow'.
32) Iara (Basque origin) this can be a boy name or girl name, meaning 'cheerful'.
33) Irati(Basque roots) this means 'fern field' and is popular in Spain.
34) Itziar (Basque roots) derived from the Basque village containing the shrine of the Virgin Mary, this is said to mean 'old stone'.
35) Izaro(Basque roots) this refers to a small island off the coast of Spain.
36) Jakinda (Basque roots) this is the Basque word for 'hyacinth', often found in the Basque country.
37) Joska (Basque roots) the Basque form of Jessica, this means 'Jehovah increases'.
38) June (Basque roots) a popular name in the Basque region, named after the Goddess Juno, protectress of women and marriage.
39) Leire (Basque roots) taken from the name of a beautiful monastery in Spain, it's a popular name for Basque people.
40) Lourdes (Basque roots) referring to a town in the Basque country, said to be the place where a woman had a vision of the Virgin Mary.
41) Maialen (Basque roots) the Basque form of Magdalene, meaning 'princess'.
42) Naiara (Arabic, Basque roots) named after the city Najera in Spain.
43) Nekane (Basque roots) this means 'sorrow', a form of the name Dolores.
44) Nerea (Basque origin) variation of the name Nere, meaning 'mine', one of the top 20 names in Spain.
45) Urraca (Basque roots) meaning 'magpie', this name has been used by several queens of medieval Iberian Kingdoms.
46) Uxue (Basque origin) meaning 'dove', and referring to the Spanish town Ujue.
47) Ximenia (Basque roots) this means 'tropical plant bearing wild limes' and derives from a Spanish monk called Ximenes.
48) Xuxa (Basque roots) a variation of the name Shoshana, meaning 'lily'.
Popular Basque Names
There are lots of popular Basque names, both in the feminine form and the masculine form. Here is our list of the most popular Basque names, from Basque male names, to Basque female names, and some unisex too, there's so much variety.
As many Basque baby names have their roots in historical meanings, they're a great source of inspiration as the Basque region is old.
49) Ane (Basque origin) this is the Basque form of Ana, meaning 'favour' or 'grace'.
50) Erdune (Basque roots) this means 'snow', typically a boy name, but can be a girl name too.
51) Josune (Basque roots) feminine form of Josu, meaning Jesus, typically a boy name.
52) Miren (Basque roots) meaning 'rebellion', 'lady of the sea', the Basque form of Maria.
53) Oihane (Basque origin) this means 'forest', typically a girl name.,
54) Asier (Basque roots) this means 'the beginning', typically a boy name that is quite popular in Spain.
55) Eneko (Basque roots) this means 'my little one', typically a boy name.
56) Inaki (Basque origin) variation of the Basque form of Eneko, named after the San Ignacio of Loyola, variation of Iñigo.
57) Koldo (Basque origin) this means 'glorious in battle', variation of the Basque form of Louis.
We Want Your Photos!
Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Bachelor of Arts specializing in English and Drama, Master of Arts specializing in Performance: Design and Practice
Luca DemetriouBachelor of Arts specializing in English and Drama, Master of Arts specializing in Performance: Design and Practice
Experienced in writing and sub-editing, Luca holds a Bachelor's in English Literature and Drama from the University of Birmingham, where he served as the culture editor at Redbrick Paper. He is currently pursuing a Master's in Performance: Design and Practice at the University of the Arts in London, showcasing his passion for the arts, performance, and history. With a keen interest in traveling, Luca enjoys exploring new cultures and experiencing diverse perspectives.
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.