Hope is the quiet promise every parent whispers over a crib, and it turns out countless names carry that same wish. The Puritans made Hope a first name back in the 17th century, choosing a virtue they wanted their children to grow into, and the idea never really went out of style.
Below you will find 100 names that mean hope, sorted into 59 girl names, 28 boy names, and 13 unisex picks. Each one comes with its meaning, origin, and a little of its personality, so you can tell the soft and old-fashioned choices from the bright, modern ones.
Take your time and see which one feels like your baby. The right name usually gives you that small, sure tug of recognition.
Popularity at a Glance
The most popular names on this list in the United States, 1965 to 2025: Asher, Iris, Emmanuel, Jesse and Olive.
59 Girl Names That Mean Hope
These girl names meaning hope are perfect for your little angel.
- Aakanksha: An unforgettable girl’s name from Sanskrit that means “desire, wish.”
- Aisling: This poetic Irish girl’s name means “dream, vision” and is pronounced ASH-ling.
- Amal: A regal Arabic feminine name meaning “hope, longing,” famously borne by lawyer Amal Clooney.
- Amala: Like Amal, yet even more dainty and feminine-sounding.
- Amani: A dreamy Arabic option among hope names that means “wishes, aspirations.”
- Asha: An earthy-sounding pick with Swahili origins meaning “life” and “hope.”
- Avic: A sweet Gaelic name meaning “dreams, goals” for a baby you have high hopes for.
- Brayleigh: A modern American girl name that shines with the meaning “ray of hope.”
- Charity: Another popular virtue name that goes beautifully with Faith and Hope.
- Creda: A unique English female name meaning “faith.”
- Dawn: This English word name holds all the hopeful imagery of a new beginning.
- Dove: This graceful white bird symbolizes hope and peace.
- Elpida: A cute Greek feminine name meaning “hope” relating to Elpis.
- Elpis: Meaning “hope,” Elpis was the personification of hope in Greek mythology.
- Emela: A sweet variant of Amal and a great alternative pick if you like Emily.
- Esha: A whisper of a Hindi girl’s name that means “wish, desire.”
- Esperanza: The Spanish form of late Latin Sperantia, meaning “hope,” worn by jazz star Esperanza Spalding.
- Faith: A popular English word popularized by the Puritans as a “hopeful” virtue name.
- Femi: An adorable pick among Egyptian girl names meaning “hope” and “love.”
- Fidelia: Meaning “faithful,” this Spanish name is a feminine equivalent to Fidel.
- Hae-In (해인): A dreamy Korean girl’s name meaning “hope, benevolence.”
- Hana: A globally loved girl name meaning “hope” in Kurdish, “flower” in Japanese, and “grace” in Hebrew.
- Hanifa: Meaning “true believer,” this Arabic girl’s name is honest and faithful.
- Hila: A divine name meaning “halo” in Hebrew and “hope” in Pashto.
- Hiwa: A Kurdish girl’s name that means “hope.”
- Hooys: A spiritual Armenian girl’s name meaning “hope.”
- Hope: A gorgeously optimistic English name used since the 17th century.
- Hopelyn: A unique, modern name that combines Hope with that pretty “-lyn” suffix.
- Iris: A Greek rainbow goddess and a beautiful flower symbolizing hope.
- Itxaro: A cool Basque pick among girl names meaning “hope.”
- Laelynn: A dreamy American name meaning “flower of hope.”
- Marzena: A Polish female name meaning “child to dream for,” perfect for your hope-come-true.
- Mumina: A pretty and soft Arabic girl’s name ideal for any little “believer.”
- Munya: The “moon” pronunciation element of this Arabic name meaning “wish, desire” sounds so dreamy and hopeful.
- Nada: A cute, simple name meaning “hope” with South Slavic roots.
- Nadezhda: The full Slavic form behind Nadia and Nadya, literally meaning “hope.”
- Nadia: A worldwide favorite meaning “hope,” the short form of Slavic Nadezhda.
- Nadine: A stylish French variant of Nadia meaning “hope.”
- Nadja: A stylish German and Russian spelling of Nadia.
- Nassandra: Said to mean “spirit with high hopes,” this African girl’s name sure is magical.
- Natia: A sweet Georgian girl’s name meaning “light,” a bright diminutive of Natela.
- Natsuki: Depending on the kanji used, this pretty Japanese girl’s name means “summer” and “hope.”
- Nomathemba: A beautiful South African choice meaning “mother of faith.”
- Olive: This earthy tree name reminds us of the olive branch, a symbol of hope and peace.
- Poppy: A popular English name after the flower that symbolizes hope and resilience.
- Rajiya: The most radiant of Arabic names meaning “hopeful.”
- Rajwa: A sweet Arabic name meaning “hope.”
- Saki: This gorgeous Japanese name meaning “hope, blossom” just blooms with good vibes.
- Shpresa: A spirited Albanian name that literally means “hope.”
- Shprintze: A character in Fiddler on the Roof, this unique Yiddish “hope” name comes from Esperanza.
- Sperantia: A late Latin name meaning “to hope,” the root behind Spanish Esperanza.
- Spes: The goddess and personification of hope in ancient Roman religion.
- Tamanna: A dreamy Hindi name for a girl with hopeful meanings of “desire” and “wish.”
- Taraji: A Swahili word for “hope.”
- Tariro: A perky Shona (South African) name meaning “hope.”
- Tikva: A sweet, upbeat-sounding Hebrew gem among girl names that mean “hope.”
- Umida: A pretty Uzbek name meaning “hope.”
- Vera: A sophisticated Russian pick meaning “faith,” the sister virtue to Nadezhda (hope).
- Zayah: A bright, virtuous Arabic name linked to “faith” and “hope.”
28 Male Names That Mean Hope
Heavenly names meaning hope are wonderful choices for handsome boys.
- Amanaki: A punchy Polynesian name meaning “hope, expectation.”
- Amnon: An honest biblical Hebrew male name meaning “faithful.”
- Arman: A handsome Persian name meaning “wish, hope, aspiration,” also loved across Central Asia.
- Asher: A Hebrew name meaning “happy, blessed,” now a US top-20 boys’ pick.
- Bakari: A Swahili boy’s name meaning “promising” or “hopeful.”
- Ceevan: A hopeful Hindu name meaning “dream coming true.”
- Chison: A biblical Latin name meaning “hope” and “trust.”
- Colm: An Irish name with the hopeful meaning of “dove,” pronounced “col-lum” with two syllables.
- Daijon: A modern American name meaning “God’s gift of hope.”
- Douwe: A hopeful Dutch boy’s name meaning “dove,” pronounced “dow-ya.”
- Elpidio: A unique Portuguese male name meaning “hope.”
- Emmanuel: Meaning “God is with us,” this spiritual Hebrew name radiates hope and devotion.
- Enoch: A virtuous biblical name for a boy meaning “dedicated, faithful.”
- Fidel: A Spanish male name rooted in Latin meaning “faithful.”
- Hanif: A powerful Arabic male name meaning “true believer.”
- Husik: An uplifting Armenian boy’s name from huys (“hope”), borne by the 4th-century Saint Husik.
- Imeda: A Georgian boy’s name straight from imedi, the word for “hope.”
- Jahleel: A spiritual Biblical male name meaning “to wait, to hope in God.”
- Kazuki: A radiant Japanese male name meaning “shining harmony” and “hope.”
- Lucien: Meaning “light,” this French male name shines like a beacon of hope.
- Makas: A handsome Hindi choice among male names meaning “hope.”
- Matthan: A handsome alternative to the popular Matthew meaning “hope of the Lord.”
- Mumin: A gentle, Arabic-rooted masculine name meaning “believer.”
- Murat: A Turkish name meaning “wish” or “desire,” for a long-hoped-for son.
- Raza: An African-rooted male name for your little hope-bringer.
- Themba: A spiritual South African male name meaning “faith.”
- Toivo: Finnish for “hope,” this Finnish boy’s name caught on as a virtue name in the early 1900s.
- Umid: The Uzbek form of the Persian Omid, meaning “hope.”
13 Unisex Names That Mean Hope
These gender-neutral names meaning hope are perfect for any little miracle-bringer.
- Amandeep: This Sikh unisex name is full of hopeful virtues, meaning “lamp of peace.”
- Chiyembekezo: A strong Chewa (South African) unisex name meaning “hope.”
- Deene: An elegant, gender-neutral French name meaning “hope.”
- Imani: A gorgeous Swahili name with the hopeful meaning of “faith.”
- Jesse: As a Hebrew name, this familiar option means “a gift of hope.”
- Kibou: A cute-sounding unisex Japanese name meaning “hope.”
- Nozomi: A delicate Japanese name written 希 or 望, meaning “hope” or “wish.”
- Omid: The everyday Persian word for “hope,” a popular unisex name in Iran.
- Tumaini: An East African unisex name meaning “wish, hope.”
- Umut: An unusual Turkish pick meaning “hope.”
- Usko: With the heartwarming meaning of “faith,” this Finnish name is a hopeful choice.
- Von: As a Norse name, Von means “hope, expectation.”
- Yuki: An easy, trendy, sweet unisex Japanese name meaning “gentle hope.”