Srinagar, Sep 10: What’s in a name?
A great deal, if you ask parents across the world.
A new international study by NameKun.com has revealed that despite cultural differences and borders, certain names carry a universal appeal, dominating baby naming charts in dozens of countries simultaneously.
According to the research, which examined the top 100 baby names in 139 countries, two timeless classics emerged as the world’s most popular names in 2025: Maria for girls and David for boys.
Maria is the undisputed queen of girl names, appearing in 114 countries and ranking in the top 10 in 36 of them.
“It’s a name that transcends language barriers and faith traditions,” said baby naming experts at NameKun.com.
From Europe to Latin America, and even parts of Asia, Maria has become a universal choice.
For boys, David takes the crown, appearing in 113 countries and holding a top-10 spot in 59.
With biblical roots and global recognition, David has proven both traditional and adaptable, finding fans from Mexico to Morocco.
The study also highlights a contrast in name lengths.
The shortest girl’s name in the top 100 is Ana, just three letters but steeped in elegance.
On the other end is Stephanie, a name of nine letters that still manages to make the global cut.
For boys, Ali takes the spot as the briefest international name, while Christian stretches out as the longest.
Beyond the champions, the study revealed a fascinating spread of names that have crossed oceans and languages:
Experts point to globalisation, pop culture, and even professional advantages as drivers behind this trend.
“International names benefit children socially and professionally,” said researchers at NameKun.com. “They are relevant across cultures, easy to pronounce in multiple languages, and even reduce bias in hiring processes.”
The study cites earlier research by the National Bureau of Economic Research (2003), which found that job applicants with widely recognised or international names received significantly more callbacks than those with unusual or culturally specific names.
With more than 8336 distinct names gathered from almost 27,600 entries, the research establishes that though parents tend to search for uniqueness, they also tend to choose those names which link children to the global community.
Perhaps William Shakespeare’s famous question from the play Romeo and Juliet, “What’s in a name?” now has an answer.
In 2025, everything is about identity, opportunity, and belonging to the world.
