48 Headstrong Hungarian Baby Names
By Tassia O'Callaghan
May 11, 2023
•
7 min read
Nestled between Austria and Romania, almost smack dab in the center of Europe, is the fascinating country of Hungary. From thermal baths to goulash to the sweet, peppery taste of paprika, the culture of Hungary has enchanted many a visitor. With influences from all over Europe and its own native Magyar population, Hungarian baby names are a very interesting source of inspiration. Whether you have Hungarian heritage or are simply enchanted by the country that is home to the “city of spas,” these names offer a world of inspiration. Ready to dive in? Let’s go. And we’ll start with those that come out on top of the charts.
In this article 📝
What is the most common name in Hungary?
In 2020, the top baby names in Hungary were:- Hanna: A common name globally, sometimes spelled Hannah, it means “favor” or “grace.” According to this Statista study, over 1.5 thousand newborn Hungarian girls were named Hannah in 2020.
- Bence: From this Statista study of most popular Hungarian boys’ names for 2020, Bence came out on top. Bence is a form of Vincent and means “to conquer” or “to win.”
From our community
Hungarian girl names
Hungarian baby girl names include slightly different versions of English names, like Lilla instead of Lily or Gryta as the shortened form of Margaret. And then some names on our list are uniquely Hungarian, like Mariska or Dorina.- Aliz: The Hungarian form of “Alice” originates in the Old French language and means “noble” or “graceful.”
- Anna: Anna is another variation of Hannah that’s popular in Hungary. It means “favor” or “grace.” An alternative Hungarian version of the name is Anci.
- Anikó: This name is another interesting spin on Anna.
- Barbara: Common in many countries, including Hungary, this name has a Latin base and means “foreign woman.” The name has belonged to more than one Hungarian queen.
- Cili: The shortened version of Cecilia, Cili is more commonly used in Hungary. It means “blinded.”
- Csilla: This heavenly Hungarian name means “star.”
- Dorina: Originally of Latin and Greek origins, Dorina means “gift of God.”
- Emma: With its Germanic roots, this name continues its global popularity in Hungary. It means “universal.”
- Erzebet: A version of Elizabeth, this name means “God is my oath.”
- Gavrila: Meaning “God is my strength,” this is the feminine version of the name Gavril.
- Gryta: Meaning “a pearl,” this name is a version of Margaret.
- Ilona: There are a few theories about the meaning of this name. It could be the Hungarian version of Helena, meaning “shining light.” And it may also be connected to the Finnish word ilona, which means “as a joy to someone.” In traditional Magyar folklore, Ilona is the Queen of the Fairies.
- Ivett: The Hungarian equivalent name of French name Yvette, Ivett means “yew.”
- Julinka: The Hungarian version of Julia, Julinka means “supreme God” or “youthful.”
- Katalin: This sweet girl’s name means “pure.”
- Léna: And this is the Hungarian and French form of the English name Lena, which means “light” or “shining.”
- Lilla: This girl’s name is Latin in origin and a version of “Lily.” There are many famous Lillas in Hungary, including Lilla Barzó, a Hungarian tennis player, and Lilla Bodor, a Hungarian painter.
- Luca: While it’s often used as a boy’s name in other parts of the world, it’s common for Luca to be a girl’s name in Hungary. It’s a shortened version of the boy’s name Lucas, which means “bringer of light.”
- Magdolna: A version of Magdelena or Magdelene, the hometown of Mary Magdalene.
- Mariska: Somewhat linked to the more common name Mary, Mariska means “drop of the sea” or “beloved.”
- Mira: This name has a lot of different meanings in different languages. It’s related to the Latin words for “wonder” and “wonderful,” Sanskrit words for “ocean” and “sea,” and means “peace” in South Slavic languages.
- Nóra: A shortened version of Eleonóra, Nóra means “light.”
- Zita: A nickname for the Hungarian name Felitas (Felicity in English), Zita has become a girl’s name in its own right.
- Zoé: The Hungarian, French, and Portuguese version of this popular name of Greek origin means “life.”
- Zsófia: This popular name is a version of Sofia, which has Greek origins and means “wisdom.”
61108 women are talking about `Hungarian baby names` on Peanut. Download the app to join the conversation.
Hungarian boy names
Some of the most popular Hungarian baby boy names also have Norse and Latin influences. This leads to a great mix of options to get your creative juices flowing.- Agoston: A Hungarian version of Augustine or Augustus, which means “exalted.”
- Andras: With both Hungarian and Welsh origin, this version of the name Andrew means “strong, manly, and brave.”
- Áron: An alternative spelling of Aaron popular in Hungary, Áron means “exalted” or “strong.”
- Attila: Most often associated with the fifth-century hun, this name means “little father” or “father-like.”
- Balázs: The Hungarian equivalent of the French name Blaise, meaning “lisp” or “stutter.”
- Barnat: The Hungarian version of the Germanic Bernard. It means “strong as a bear.”
- Béla: Likely from the Old Hungarian word bél, meaning “heart” or “insides,” this name symbolizes bravery.
- Benedek: This sweet name means “blessed.”
- Bódi: Meaning “God protects the king.”
- Dominik: This is an alternative spelling for Dominic and means “our Lord” in Latin.
- Géza: This adorable name means “little prince.”
- Kristof: A version of Christopher, Kristof means “Christ-bearer.”
- Laszlo: This strong name means “glorious ruler.”
- Levente: A medieval Hungarian name that’s still incredibly popular today. It means “being.”
- Márk: The Hungarian spelling of Mark, this boy’s name means “warlike.”
- Máté: Though it originated as a nickname for the Hungarian name Mátyás, Máté has become very popular in its own right. It means “Gift of God.”
- Noel: This name is used in many countries for children born close to Christmas.
- Olivér: The Hungarian version of the English Oliver, this boy’s name comes from the Old Norse for “ancestor’s descendants” and the Latin and French words for olive tree.
- Sándor: A Hungarian variant of Alexander, Sándor name means “man’s defender.”
- Tibor: This name may be a version of the Roman Tiberius, or originate from old Slavic languages meaning “sacred place.”
- Zoltan: A very common Hungarian boy’s name, Zoltan means “life.”
We hope this deep dive into Hungarian names has given you plenty of inspiration! All the best with your choice.
👶 More baby name guides:
117 Armenian Baby Names and Their Meanings
96 Romanian Baby Names for Your Bebelus
200+ Spanish Baby Names for Your Bebé to Be
60 Magnifique French Baby Names
Irish Baby Names: Meanings, Origins
120 Polish Baby Names for Strong Boys and Girls
88 Dutch Baby Names
98 Lithuanian Baby Names
133 Swiss Baby Names
450+ Magnificent Norwegian Baby Names (With Meanings)
160+ of the Best Traditional European Baby Names
85 Beautiful Brazilian Baby Names
96 Stunning Ukrainian Baby Names
70+ Danish Baby Names and Their Meanings
Popular on the blog
68 Dreamy Baby Names That Mean Snow
By Deborah Vieyra
123 Wunderbar Old German Baby Names
By Keshia Sophia Roelofs
96 Latin Baby Boy Names and Their Meanings
By Keshia Sophia Roelofs
188 Gothic Baby Names & Their Meanings
By Keshia Sophia Roelofs
170 Powerful Sanskrit Baby Names and Their Meanings
By Keshia Sophia Roelofs
111 Celestial Baby Names & Their Meanings
By Tassia Agatowski
Trending in our community
Girl names
I already have a daughter called Mabel. We’re expecting another girl and we like older names. Any suggestions?
Carroll for a boy??
So my Dad's surname was Carroll. He and my mum were due to get married in July 2014 but unfortunately she passed away just before Christmas in 2013. As she would have taken my Dad's surname and likely double barreled mine (I was 13 at the time), he decided to change his surname to Linford which was my Mum's maiden name and is my surname. Our little boy is due in about three weeks and my partner and I cannot decide on a first name. I really would love to honour my Dad's surname as he passed away 2 years ago after a routine operation but my partner says Carroll is a girls name... I really love Carroll Alexander Linford-Green but he wants Kingston as the first name as he says its masculine. Help? Any ideas.
What should my name be as a kid’s birthday magician?
Would be great if it incorporates my name somehow(?) Just getting started but honestly, I believe this may be my calling and my bread n butter for some years to come.
What sounds better with Kali (said like Collie)
New baby girl coming feb. Her sisters name is Kali… We like the K theme in the fam (my husbands name is with a k)
Give me your best middles!!
We need middle names that sound good with Illias (ill-ee-us). We dont want your standard James, Fin(ley), George etc. Be adventurous, bold and daring! All those guilty pleasure names!
Using Dads name for baby girl
So, this is our third girl and definitely last baby. I've always wanted to honour my dad but it seems we can't produce boys lol. My dad's name is Leonard, and he doesn't have a middle name I could use but was thinking of using Lenny as a middle name. Is this a bit odd or would it work and if so which name? Already have Estarya and Alyea.