As we Americans prepare for the day-long marathon of food, friends, family, and football that we call Thanksgiving, we are reminded of all that we are thankful for. For this list, we gathered up some of our favorite baby names with meanings related to this gratitude-filled holiday. Whether or not you’re expecting a Thanksgiving baby, these names can show your thankfulness for your precious new addition any time of year.
Asher
Asher may seem like a modern invention, but it’s actually an old Hebrew name that means “blessed.” Though its roots are ancient, Asher has such a fresh sound. And we love the nickname Ash, which sounds both cool and inspired by nature.
Beatrix
This spelling brings to mind instant literary associations to the one and only Beatrix Potter, author of Peter Rabbit. A vintage name meaning “blessed,” it is more often spelled “Beatrice.” But we love the -ix ending for its potential for the nickname Trix or Trixie along with lovely Bea.
Benedict
The name of a recent pope and a deep-voiced British actor who brought both Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Strange to life, Benedict has climbed its way back into our collective consciousness again. Making its way back into the SSA top 1000 at #981 in 2018, this “thankful” name has immense gravitas but also a sweetness in its possible nicknames, Ben or Benny.
Boone
With both a Southern and Western flavor, Boone has a very American feel, even though its roots are French. A surname first name, Boone may conjure up images of cowboys and the Wild West, but its meaning, “blessing,” brings to mind its homonym, boon.
Dorothea
An underrated vintage name, Dorothea manages to sidestep the association of its similar sounding sister, Dorothy (we’re not in Kansas anymore). When we hear this name, we think of American photojournalist Dorothea Lange and her evocative Depression-era photos. We’re also thankful for Dorothea’s amazing versatility. Dot, Dora, and Thea are all dreamy short-form options.
Grace
Classic Grace is almost guaranteed to never go out of style. Nor should it. Meaning eloquence, kindness, mercy, and of course, thanks, it’s been well-loved since the Puritans took the Spanish Gracia and made it Grace. Now, it is the 24th most popular name in the SSA’s female baby name rankings.
Gwyneth
A graceful Welsh name meaning “blessed,” Gwyneth could belong to a beautiful baby whose last name isn’t Paltrow. Though the award-winning actor is its most obvious association, we think its similarity in sound to noble Guinevere gives it an air of Arthurian romance. It’s a name that really does balance seriousness and style.
Hamida
Hamida is a name of Arabic origin derived from the word hamida, meaning “to thank.” Used mostly in Arabic speaking countries, this gorgeous name is uncommon in the US. Hamida Banu Begum, wife of the second Mughal emperor Humayun and mother of the famous Emperor Akbar, is the name’s most famous bearer.
Jadon
Yes, the Jayden/Jaiden/Jaden/Jaydon/Jaidon/Jaydin phase of the mid 2000s is solidly behind us. But not everyone realizes that Jadon, a Hebrew name pronounced yah-DON, is actually biblical and means “thankful.”
Judah
A biblical name, Judah is a shortened form of Yehudah. Yehudah likely derives from the Hebrew yadah, which means to give thanks, or praise. Judah is one of our favorites of the “new biblicals,” and we adore English version Jude just as much.
Nathaniel
Underrated Nathaniel is a strong and dignified name meaning “gift of God.” Similar to its more popular cousin Nathan, this Hebrew name is given a lyrical quality by its added syllable that is music to our ears.
Shakir
Though Shakir sounds regal and imposing, it has a more humble meaning. An Arabic name, it means thankful and grateful. The name sounds familiar to our ears thanks to Colombian pop star Shakira, whose name is the traditionally-female version of Shakir and shares its meaning.
Thaddeus
Old-fashioned Thaddeus is primed for a vintage comeback along with already-popular cohorts Theodore and Eleanor, which are burning up the charts. Distinguished without being austere, Thaddeus (meaning “God’s gift”) could be well-loved by parents seeking names with religious ties or those who love the sound of antique names that are new again.
Zendaya
We can be thankful to actress and singer Zendaya that this stunning name is in our ears. Her influence helped the name crack the top 1000 baby names for the first time in 2014. A Shona name from Zimbabwe and Southern Zambia, its meaning is “to give thanks.”
Those are our favorite Thanksgiving baby names. Enjoy the holiday! And a big THANK YOU to you, friends.