This post contains affiliate links.
There is something quietly radical about naming a child Peace. Not loudly, not as a statement — just as a wish, settled into syllables and carried for life. Every major language tradition has built names around this concept. Hebrew has shalom, Arabic has salam, Greek has eirene, Sanskrit has shanti, and Old High German wove frid into hundreds of names that survive today as Frederick, Winifred, and Wilfred. The Slavic languages built entire naming dynasties around the root mir, which means both peace and world — as if to say: when you have peace, you have everything.
🔍 Curious how popular a name is?
Check any name's popularity trend since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
When referencing popularity, I am referring to baby name data from Social Security Administration database in the United States for 2025, which is the most current year of data available.
Here’s what’s in store –
Ancient Greek and Latin Names That Mean Peace
Germanic and Nordic Peace Names: The “Frid” Family
The Slavic “Mir” Names: Peace Woven Into Every Syllable
Hebrew Peace Names: The Shalom Family
Arabic and East African Peace Names: The Salam Family
Japanese Names for Peace and Calm
This collection brings together more than 200 baby names that mean peace, calm, serenity, or tranquility, organized by language family so you can find what resonates — whether you’re drawn to a classical Greek name with deep mythological weight, a Japanese name for its spare and contemplative sound, or a modern English nature name that just feels peaceful when you say it aloud. Some here are familiar favorites (Serena, Frederick, Solomon). Many are hidden gems you probably haven’t seen on a top-1000 list (Tihomir, Galene, Nodoka, Dragomira).
A word on scope: this list includes names that directly translate to peace or calm, names meaning safety and serenity (which overlap significantly across Arabic, Hebrew, and Sanskrit traditions), and a handful of nature names where tranquility is genuinely embedded in the etymology — still water, a gentle wind, a quiet valley. You won’t find names that are merely associated with peace through symbolism without that meaning living in the roots of the word.
Whatever draws you here — an intention you want to set, a hope you want to name, or simply the discovery that a name you’ve always loved means exactly what you hoped — you’ll find something in this list.
Ancient Greek and Latin Names That Mean Peace
Greek and Roman civilization gave the Western world some of its oldest peace names. Eirene was one of the Horae in Greek mythology — goddesses of the seasons and of social order — and her domain was the peace that made civilization possible. In Rome, Pax held her own temple on the Campus Martius. These names carry centuries of meaning without being heavy about it.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #638
The anglicized form of Eirene; quietly having a comeback after decades of being cast as a grandmother’s name.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #9063
The original goddess spelling — mythologically rich and more distinctive than Irene with the same essential sound.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: Rare
A soft variant of Eirene used in modern Greek; common in Greek diaspora communities.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: Rare
The 2nd-century church father’s name; rare and striking, especially for a boy who’ll grow into it beautifully.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Calm, serene
- Popularity: #332
From *serenus* — clear skies, still water; Serena Williams gave it athletic power without diminishing its quiet grace.
- Origin: English from Latin
- Meaning: Peacefulness, tranquility
- Popularity: #117
A virtue name that found mainstream traction in the early 2000s and has held steady.
- Origin: English from Latin
- Meaning: Calm, clear
- Popularity: #1708
The adjective used directly as a name — simpler and more focused than Serenity.
- Origin: Italian/Spanish
- Meaning: Clear, calm
- Popularity: Rare
The masculine form of Serena; rare in English-speaking homes but entirely wearable.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #1976
The Roman goddess of peace in three letters; Angelina Jolie’s son put this one on American parents’ radar for good reason.
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #6084
The Spanish *pax* — minimal, striking, barely used in English-speaking contexts despite being exactly what it looks like.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Peaceful
- Popularity: Rare
Oceanic, calm, and vast; the name of the Pacific Ocean itself pressed into service as a given name.
- Origin: Latin/Spanish
- Meaning: Peaceful
- Popularity: Rare
A Spanish masculine form; Saint Pacianus of Barcelona is the historical bearer.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Harmony, concord
- Popularity: Rare
The Roman goddess of harmony and agreement; bold as a first name and unforgettable as a middle name.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Calm seas
- Popularity: Rare
A sea goddess who personified still water; almost no one uses this name, which makes it all the more appealing.
- Origin: Greek-rooted
- Meaning: Calm
- Popularity: #16041
The mineral name borrowed from the Greek for calm seas — earthy, unusual, and quietly beautiful.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Calm, gentle
- Popularity: Rare
Saint Placida’s name gives it early church history; two soft syllables that mean precisely what they sound like.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Calm, gentle
- Popularity: Rare
The masculine form; Saint Placid of Messina is the most famous bearer — quiet gravitas in two syllables.
- Origin: Spanish/Latin
- Meaning: Tranquil, calm
- Popularity: Rare
Used in Spanish-speaking communities; a name that does exactly what it says.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Calm, tranquil
- Popularity: Rare
A 3rd-century Roman empress’s name; elaborate but historically authentic.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Rest, repose
- Popularity: Rare
The Roman goddess of quiet repose; exceedingly rare as a given name but ancient and authentic.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Stillness, inner quiet
- Popularity: Rare
The term used in Christian mysticism for contemplative silence — an unusual choice with a profound meaning.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Tranquility, freedom from disturbance
- Popularity: Rare
The Epicurean concept of peace of mind; almost never used as a given name, but entirely possible.
- Origin: Hebrew/Aramaic, from *shalom*
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #952
The meaning is entirely peaceful; the biblical drama attached to it is unfair to a genuinely beautiful name.
- Origin: Spanish/Italian
- Meaning: Calm
- Popularity: Rare
Rare as a given name but found in Spanish and Italian-speaking regions; does exactly what a name can do.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Quiet, still
- Popularity: Rare
The direct Latin word for quietude used as a name — almost never given today but phonetically lovely.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Of the sea
- Popularity: #640
The calm sea implied rather than named — one of the most enduring Latin names for girls.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Calm waters, white as milk
- Popularity: Rare
The sea nymph of Greco-Roman myth; Gal or Gala as modern nicknames.
- Origin: Greek-rooted
- Meaning: Peace bringer
- Popularity: Rare
A rare variant found in early Christian communities.
Germanic and Nordic Peace Names: The “Frid” Family
Old High German had a word for peace that got woven into dozens of names still in use today: frid (appearing as fred, frith, or friede depending on language and era). When you spot that syllable — Frederick, Winifred, Wilfred, Godfrey — you’re reading a peace name that’s been passed down since the early medieval period. This whole family, including its Old Norse cousins, forms one of the richest clusters of peace names in Western tradition.
- Origin: Old High German: *frid* = peace + *ric* = ruler
- Meaning: Peaceful ruler
- Popularity: #423
One of the most enduring classic names; Freddie as a nickname remains genuinely charming.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Peaceful ruler
- Popularity: #4921
The German form of Frederick; used in German-speaking families and internationally.
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: Peaceful ruler
- Popularity: #5721
The Swedish and Norwegian spelling — clean, minimal, and Scandinavian-cool.
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: Peaceful ruler
- Popularity: #15968
The feminine Frederick; underused in English-speaking circles, which makes it feel fresh and deliberate.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Peaceful ruler
- Popularity: Rare
The German feminine form; Rike or Rica as nicknames.
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #3983
The peace name standing alone, without the ruler compound; Frida Kahlo turned it into something artistic and indelible.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #6000
The English spelling; vintage in a good way, and short enough to work on its own.
- Origin: Old High German
- Meaning: Little peace
- Popularity: Rare
A Swiss and Alsatian saint’s name; Fridl as a diminutive nickname.
- Origin: Old High German: *alb* = elf + *frid* = peace
- Meaning: Elf + peace
- Popularity: Rare
The elf element here likely meant something closer to “wise counsel” — a peace name with fairy-tale depth.
- Origin: Old English form
- Meaning: Elf + peace
- Popularity: Rare
The anglicized version of Elfriede; slightly softer, equally unusual.
- Origin: Old English: *wil* = desire + *frith* = peace
- Meaning: Desire for peace
- Popularity: #5038
Poet Wilfred Owen brought this into literary consciousness; Will or Fred as nicknames.
- Origin: Welsh/Old English: *gwen* = fair + *frith* = peace
- Meaning: Peace, reconciliation
- Popularity: #1031
Win for short — a name that’s both practical and quietly powerful.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Friend of peace
- Popularity: Rare
The birth name of Saint Boniface, apostle to the Germans; rare and historically grounded.
- Origin: Germanic, from *gawia* + *frith*
- Meaning: Peaceful pledge or peaceful territory
- Popularity: #520
A peace name hiding in a very ordinary American name — most Jeffreys have no idea.
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: Peaceful territory
- Popularity: #3056
More literary than it gets credit for; Geoff as a nickname keeps it wearable.
- Origin: Old High German: *god* + *frid*
- Meaning: God’s peace
- Popularity: #10205
Medieval and solid; sounds like someone who makes good decisions.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: God’s peace
- Popularity: Rare
The German form of Godfrey; used in German-speaking families through the generations.
- Origin: Old High German: *man* + *frid*
- Meaning: Man of peace
- Popularity: #11764
Slightly brooding but deeply rooted; famous from Lord Byron and the medieval German tradition.
- Origin: Old High German: *hun* = bear cub/warrior + *frid* = peace
- Meaning: Peaceful warrior
- Popularity: #9298
Humphrey Bogart gave this undeniable cool; it’s long overdue for another turn.
- Origin: Old High German: *sieg* = victory + *frid* = peace
- Meaning: Victory and peace
- Popularity: #8842
Germanic legend names are cycling back; Freddie softens the operatic weight.
- Origin: Old Norse
- Meaning: Victory and peace
- Popularity: Rare
The Scandinavian form of Siegfried; cleaner and slightly less theatrical.
- Origin: Old Norse: *sigr* + *fríðr*
- Meaning: Victory and peace/beauty
- Popularity: #3866
Popular across Scandinavia; the two meanings — victory and peace — make a compelling pairing.
- Origin: Scandinavian, from Hebrew *Avshalom* = Absalom
- Meaning: Father of peace
- Popularity: #78
Old Norse sound shifts turned the biblical Absalom into Axel; a peace name hiding in rock-and-roll clothing.
- Origin: Old English: *paec* = peace + *tun* = settlement
- Meaning: Peaceful settlement
- Popularity: #288
A surname turned first name that actually means exactly this — a peaceful town.
- Origin: Old Welsh: *cyn* = royal/chief + *frith* = peace
- Meaning: Royal peace
- Popularity: Rare
Rare and ancient; a name for families with Welsh roots looking for something genuinely meaningful.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Noble peace
- Popularity: Rare
An Anglo-Saxon compound; rare and medieval, but real.
- Origin: German diminutive
- Meaning: Little peace, peaceful ruler
- Popularity: #11767
Used as a standalone name in German-speaking families, especially for girls.
- Origin: Old Norse: *friðr* = peace + *leifr* = heir/descendant
- Meaning: Peace heir
- Popularity: Rare
A Norse name for a child who will inherit peace and carry it forward.
The Slavic “Mir” Names: Peace Woven Into Every Syllable
In Slavic languages, the root mir carries a double meaning: peace and world. This isn’t a coincidence — the Slavic worldview embedded in the naming tradition suggests that peace is the world, and the world is peace. The result is an enormous family of names, many still in common use across Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic, the Balkans, and their diasporas. Most of these names are compounds — peace paired with glory, love, joy, God, quiet, or gold — and they all carry the same peaceful heart.
- Origin: Slavic
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #380
Also means ocean or sea in Sanskrit — a name that manages to be both calm and deep.
- Origin: Slavic, with soft feminine suffix
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #16851
Lyrical and rarely heard in English-speaking countries.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: Rare
A soft Romanian feminine form; used widely in Romania and among the diaspora.
- Origin: Slavic
- Meaning: Peace and glory
- Popularity: #6299
The feminine form of Miroslav; carrying the same big combination.
- Origin: Slavic
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #4501
The short masculine form — punchy, minimal, and very wearable.
- Origin: South Slavic diminutive
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #11825
A diminutive of the peace root; widely used in Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
- Origin: Slavic: *mir* + *slava*
- Meaning: Peace and glory
- Popularity: #7550
A name that asks why not have both; Miro as a nickname.
- Origin: Slavic: *drago* = dear/precious + *mir*
- Meaning: Dear and peace
- Popularity: Rare
The beloved peace; warm and Balkan.
- Origin: Slavic, feminine
- Meaning: Dear and peace
- Popularity: Rare
The feminine form; rare outside Slavic-speaking communities, which is a genuine loss.
- Origin: Slavic: *rado* = glad + *mir*
- Meaning: Glad and peace
- Popularity: Rare
Peace that comes with joy — an optimistic compound.
- Origin: Slavic, feminine
- Meaning: Glad and peace
- Popularity: Rare
The feminine counterpart; equally joyful.
- Origin: South Slavic: *tiho* = quiet + *mir*
- Meaning: Quiet and peace
- Popularity: Rare
A name that layers two kinds of calm on top of each other.
- Origin: South Slavic, feminine
- Meaning: Quiet and peace
- Popularity: Rare
The feminine form; deeply serene in meaning.
- Origin: Slavic: *vlad* = rule + *mir* = peace/world
- Meaning: Great ruler and peace/world
- Popularity: #1947
One of the most recognized Slavic names; the peaceful world element is often overlooked.
- Origin: Slavic, feminine
- Meaning: Great ruler and peace/world
- Popularity: Rare
The less-heard feminine form; distinctive and strong.
- Origin: Slavic: *kazi* = to proclaim + *mir* = peace
- Meaning: Proclaimer of peace
- Popularity: #2393
Saint Casimir is the patron of Poland; Cas or Caz as modern nicknames.
- Origin: Slavic, Polish feminine
- Meaning: Proclaimer of peace
- Popularity: Rare
The Polish feminine form of Casimir; Kazia as a nickname.
- Origin: Slavic: *brani* = defend + *mir*
- Meaning: Defend and peace
- Popularity: Rare
A protector-of-peace name with quietly heroic energy.
- Origin: Slavic, feminine
- Meaning: Defend and peace
- Popularity: Rare
The feminine form of Branimir.
- Origin: Slavic: *blago* = good/blessed + *mir*
- Meaning: Good, blessed, and peace
- Popularity: Rare
Peace rooted in goodness.
- Origin: Slavic, feminine
- Meaning: Good and peace
- Popularity: Rare
A warm compound; *dobro* is the Slavic word for goodness.
- Origin: Slavic, masculine
- Meaning: Good and peace
- Popularity: Rare
The masculine form of Dobromira.
- Origin: Czech/Slovak: *boh* = God + *mir*
- Meaning: God and peace
- Popularity: Rare
A Bohemian name with deep spiritual meaning.
- Origin: Slavic, feminine: *liubo* = love + *mir*
- Meaning: Love and peace
- Popularity: Rare
Love and peace in one name — hard to improve on that.
- Origin: Slavic, masculine
- Meaning: Love and peace
- Popularity: Rare
The masculine form.
- Origin: Slavic: *sveto* = bright/holy + *mir*
- Meaning: Bright and peace
- Popularity: Rare
A luminous peace name.
- Origin: Slavic, feminine
- Meaning: Bright and peace
- Popularity: Rare
The feminine form of Svetomir.
- Origin: Slavic: *slavo* = glory + *mir*
- Meaning: Glory and peace
- Popularity: Rare
Peace paired with renown; common in Czech and Slovak naming.
- Origin: Slavic: *stan* = steadfast + *mir*
- Meaning: Steadfast and peace
- Popularity: Rare
Peace that holds; a grounded compound name.
- Origin: Slavic: *zlato* = gold + *mir*
- Meaning: Gold and peace
- Popularity: Rare
Rare and luminous; peace worth its weight in gold.
Hebrew Peace Names: The Shalom Family
The Hebrew word shalom (שָׁלוֹם) means peace, wholeness, completeness — a concept that encompasses not just the absence of conflict but a state of being fully intact. It’s one of the oldest named concepts of peace in the world, and it seeded an enormous family of names that spread across Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions. Shalam, Salem, Salome, Solomon, Absalom, Axel — they all trace back here.
- Origin: Hebrew, from *shalom*
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #417
The biblical king whose name still carries wisdom and weight three thousand years later.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #977
The direct Hebrew form of Solomon; used in Israeli and Jewish communities as a given name.
- Origin: Hebrew: *av* = father + *shalom* = peace
- Meaning: Father of peace
- Popularity: #7735
Dramatic history aside, it’s a striking Old Testament name ready for revival.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Father of peace
- Popularity: Rare
The modern Israeli form of Absalom; used in Israel as a first name.
- Origin: Hebrew/Aramaic, from *shalom*
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #952
Overshadowed by one famous bearer; the name itself is beautiful and the meaning is purely peaceful.
- Origin: Hebrew, feminine
- Meaning: My peace
- Popularity: Rare
A softer, more intimate feminine form of shalom used in Israeli tradition.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #1722
Used directly as a first name in Israel; a profound choice for families with Hebrew roots.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #430
The ancient name of Jerusalem; understated and slightly mysterious, meaning is unambiguously good.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Peaceful, complete
- Popularity: Rare
A masculine name meaning wholeness and peace together.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Peace, tranquility
- Popularity: #260
Shiloh has shed its exclusively religious associations; it now reads modern, open, and thoughtfully chosen.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Rest, comfort
- Popularity: #2
Not quite “peace” but from *nuach* — rest, repose — making it the closest male Hebrew name to peace in spirit.
- Origin: Arabic form of Solomon, from *shalom* via *salim*
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #1785
The Arabic equivalent of Solomon; widely used across the Islamic world.
Arabic and East African Peace Names: The Salam Family
Arabic and Hebrew share ancient Semitic roots, which is why salam and shalom look and sound so similar — they come from the same ancestral word. The Arabic salam carries an almost identical range of meanings: peace, health, wholeness, safety. It seeded dozens of names across the Arab world and East Africa, many of which are used freely across Muslim and non-Muslim communities alike.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #10689
The word itself used as a name; clean and direct.
- Origin: Arabic, masculine
- Meaning: Safe, peaceful
- Popularity: #2654
One of the most widely used Arabic masculine names across the Arab world and East Africa.
- Origin: Arabic, feminine
- Meaning: Safe, peaceful
- Popularity: #6335
The feminine form of Salim; used across North Africa and the Middle East.
- Origin: Arabic, feminine
- Meaning: Peaceful, safe
- Popularity: #870
A lovely Arabic feminine name; actress Salma Hayek is its most visible international bearer.
- Origin: Arabic and Hebrew
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #430
Serves both traditions; slightly dark-edged in sound but the meaning is entirely good.
- Origin: Turkish/Arabic, masculine
- Meaning: Peaceful, unharmed
- Popularity: #2252
Ottoman sultans carried this name for centuries; dignified and globally known.
- Origin: Turkish/Arabic, feminine
- Meaning: Peaceful, unharmed
- Popularity: Rare
The feminine form of Selim; used in Turkish, Arabic, and Persian communities.
- Origin: Arabic, feminine
- Meaning: Safe, trustworthy, peaceful
- Popularity: #307
One of the most widely used Arabic girls’ names globally; the mother of the Prophet Muhammad bore this name.
- Origin: Arabic, masculine
- Meaning: Trustworthy, faithful, peaceful
- Popularity: #1637
Carried across the Arab world and West Africa; concise and deeply meaningful.
- Origin: Arabic, masculine
- Meaning: Gentle, peaceful, comfortable
- Popularity: #1581
A soft masculine name with a quiet, unassuming presence.
- Origin: Arabic, feminine
- Meaning: Peaceful, comfortable, graceful
- Popularity: #2203
The feminine form of Naim; musical and graceful.
- Origin: Arabic, feminine
- Meaning: Comfort, ease
- Popularity: #2257
Closely related to peace — the state of rest and ease that comes after conflict ends.
- Origin: Arabic, feminine
- Meaning: Tranquility, calmness
- Popularity: #2872
Used widely in Muslim communities for its deeply spiritual meaning of divine calm.
- Origin: Arabic, masculine
- Meaning: Blessed, peaceful, right-handed
- Popularity: #1180
The combination of blessedness and peace makes this a beloved name across the Arab world.
- Origin: Arabic form of Solomon
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #1785
Already listed above in the Hebrew section — mentioned here to show the cross-tradition bridge.
- Origin: Arabic, feminine
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: Rare
The feminine form of Suleiman; rare but beautiful.
- Origin: Swahili/Arabic, feminine
- Meaning: Peace, aspirations
- Popularity: #634
Musical, cross-cultural, and widely used across East Africa.
- Origin: Amharic/Ge’ez, unisex
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #17234
A deeply meaningful name in Ethiopian and Eritrean tradition; the everyday greeting in Ethiopia.
- Origin: Arabic, feminine
- Meaning: Peace, safety
- Popularity: Rare
An elaborated feminine form; rare but historically attested.
- Origin: Arabic, masculine
- Meaning: Trustworthy and peaceful
- Popularity: Rare
A longer compound name used in some Arab communities.
Japanese Names for Peace and Calm
Japanese naming tradition pays particular attention to characters that carry meanings of peace, harmony, quietude, and stillness. The kanji 平 (hei/taira = peace/flat), 和 (wa/kazu = harmony/peace), 静 (shizuka = quiet), 穏 (nodoka = calm), and 凪 (nagi = calm sea) all appear in given names, often combined with other meaningful characters. These names range from classical to contemporary, but all share a quality of intentional tranquility.
- Origin: Japanese: 凪
- Meaning: Calm, still
- Popularity: #8110
Primarily used for girls in modern Japan; also the name of the Shinto goddess of calm seas.
- Origin: Japanese: 和み, unisex
- Meaning: Harmony, peaceful feeling
- Popularity: Rare
The noun form of becoming calm; soft and contemplative.
- Origin: Japanese: 静香 or 静花, feminine
- Meaning: Quiet, calm
- Popularity: Rare
One of Japan’s most beloved feminine names for its quality of stillness.
- Origin: Japanese: 静葉, feminine
- Meaning: Quiet leaves, calm
- Popularity: Rare
A gentle variant of Shizuka; the image of still leaves on water.
- Origin: Japanese: 和やか/のどか, feminine
- Meaning: Peaceful, calm, gentle
- Popularity: Rare
*Nodoka* also describes a serene, unhurried landscape.
- Origin: Japanese: 靖, 安, masculine
- Meaning: Peaceful
- Popularity: Rare
A traditional masculine name meaning peace and security; well-regarded in Japan.
- Origin: Japanese: 安子 or 靖子, feminine
- Meaning: Peaceful child
- Popularity: #11949
A classic Japanese girls’ name; *-ko* means child.
- Origin: Japanese: 安美 or 休, unisex
- Meaning: Peaceful beauty or peaceful rest
- Popularity: Rare
Used as both masculine and feminine, depending on the character.
- Origin: Japanese: 安弘 or 靖弘, masculine
- Meaning: Peaceful abundance
- Popularity: Rare
A compound name pairing peace with generosity.
- Origin: Japanese: 安 or 靖, unisex
- Meaning: Peaceful
- Popularity: Rare
The peaceful root used as a standalone name.
- Origin: Japanese: 和輝 or 一輝, masculine
- Meaning: Peace and radiance or peace and hope
- Popularity: #13240
The *kazu* element means peace/harmony; the second element varies by characters chosen.
- Origin: Japanese: 和葉, feminine
- Meaning: Peace and leaf/harmony
- Popularity: Rare
Delicate and calm; the leaf imagery adds a natural stillness.
- Origin: Japanese: 和代, feminine
- Meaning: Peace and generation
- Popularity: Rare
A classic feminine name; peace passed down through time.
- Origin: Japanese: 和美, feminine
- Meaning: Peace and beauty
- Popularity: #16312
One of the most commonly used *kazu* compounds for girls.
- Origin: Japanese: 天音 or 雨音, unisex
- Meaning: Peaceful sound, sound of rain
- Popularity: Rare
The gentle sound of rain as a name — perfect for a parent who finds peace in rain.
- Origin: Japanese: 睦, unisex
- Meaning: Harmony, friendship
- Popularity: Rare
The quality of harmonious closeness; a warm and gentle name.
- Origin: Japanese: 平, masculine
- Meaning: Peace, level
- Popularity: #10972
An ancient clan name used as a given name; carries the weight of samurai history.
- Origin: Japanese: 平和
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: Rare
Used occasionally as a given name; it’s the standard Japanese word for peace.
- Origin: Japanese: 直 or 奈央, unisex
- Meaning: Honest, calm, straight
- Popularity: #10457
A minimal, clean name with a quality of composed steadiness.
- Origin: Japanese: 紫苑 or 詩音, feminine
- Meaning: Peaceful sound or purple aster
- Popularity: #12094
Soft and slightly floral; widely used for girls.
- Origin: Japanese: 友和, masculine
- Meaning: Friend and peace
- Popularity: Rare
A gentle compound name; friendship as a form of peace.
- Origin: Japanese: 令和
- Meaning: Beautiful harmony
- Popularity: Rare
The name of Japan’s current imperial era, begun in 2019; occasionally chosen as a given name for children born in this era.
Sanskrit and East Asian Peace Names
Sanskrit wove peace into names through several roots — shanti (peace, quiet), prashant (composed), saumya (gentle, lunar) — and the tradition spread across South Asia and beyond. Meanwhile, the Chinese character 平 (flat, peaceful), 安 (peaceful, safe), 和 (harmonious), and 靜 (quiet, still) appear in given names across China, Vietnam, and Korea. These names tend to be short, clean, and powerful.
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #6339
One of the most recognized Sanskrit names globally; used as a given name across South Asia and in Western yoga communities.
- Origin: Sanskrit: *prashánt* + feminine suffix
- Meaning: Peace, serenity
- Popularity: Rare
Used in South Indian naming tradition; Prasanthi Nilayam is a famous ashram dedicated to this concept.
- Origin: Sanskrit, masculine
- Meaning: Calm, composed, serene
- Popularity: #11787
Widely used across India and the South Asian diaspora; a name for someone with a quietly steady presence.
- Origin: Sanskrit, unisex
- Meaning: Gentle, calm, lunar
- Popularity: #12258
Meaning “belonging to the moon” — gentle and softly glowing; used for both boys and girls.
- Origin: Sanskrit, feminine
- Meaning: Calm, serene, peaceful
- Popularity: #5400
From the Sanskrit *shánta* = pacified, tranquil; used in Indian and Balinese naming traditions.
- Origin: Sanskrit, unisex
- Meaning: Pure, clean, calm
- Popularity: Rare
From *nir* = without + *mala* = impurity; peaceful in its clarity.
- Origin: Hindi/Urdu from Arabic, masculine
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #2206
The Arabic *amán* (safety, peace) naturalized into South Asian naming tradition; widely used across India and Pakistan.
- Origin: Swahili/Arabic, unisex
- Meaning: Peace, aspirations
- Popularity: #634
Already listed in the Arabic section — worth noting here as it’s also used across South Asian communities.
- Origin: Sanskrit compound, feminine
- Meaning: Lover of peace
- Popularity: Rare
A devotional name; *priya* = beloved or dear.
- Origin: Arabic/Sanskrit, masculine
- Meaning: Entertaining companion, but also linked to peace and the gentle evening breeze
- Popularity: #590
The Arabic *samīr* refers to someone who keeps company at night; in Sanskrit contexts the meaning shifts toward calm.
- Origin: Chinese: 平, unisex
- Meaning: Peaceful, level
- Popularity: Rare
One of the most widely given Chinese characters for peaceful names; minimal and strong.
- Origin: Chinese/Vietnamese: 安, unisex
- Meaning: Peaceful, safe
- Popularity: #4313
The same character used across Chinese and Vietnamese naming traditions; profound in its simplicity.
- Origin: Chinese: 和, unisex
- Meaning: Harmonious, peaceful
- Popularity: Rare
The character for harmony — also one of the elements of *heiwa* (Japanese peace) and *hehe* (Chinese harmony).
- Origin: Chinese: 靜, feminine
- Meaning: Quiet, still, calm
- Popularity: #11538
A classic Chinese girls’ name; the character depicts stillness perfectly.
- Origin: Chinese: 寧, unisex
- Meaning: Peaceful, tranquil
- Popularity: Rare
Widely used as a standalone name or as part of compound names.
- Origin: Vietnamese: Bình, masculine
- Meaning: Peaceful, level
- Popularity: #12392
The Vietnamese pronunciation of the same character as Chinese *Ping*; common in Vietnam.
- Origin: Vietnamese: Hoà Bình
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: Rare
The Vietnamese word for peace used as a given name; *hoa* = harmony, *binh* = level.
- Origin: Malagasy, feminine
- Meaning: Peaceful
- Popularity: Rare
From the Malagasy naming tradition; *soa* means “good, peaceful.”
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: The peace of extinction, enlightenment
- Popularity: #2204
The Buddhist concept of ultimate peace; used occasionally as a given name in South Asian and Western contexts.
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Mental calm, deep meditation
- Popularity: #1216
The state of peaceful absorption; used as a name in some Hindu traditions.
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Calm, pleased, bright
- Popularity: Rare
A South Indian name meaning the state of peaceful contentment.
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Steadfast, immovable
- Popularity: #1088
Not strictly “peace” but conveys the unmoved calm that peace produces; extremely popular in India.
Modern, English, and Celtic Names That Mean Peace or Calm
English has its own direct tradition of peace names, running from Old English virtue concepts through modern nature naming. Celtic traditions contributed names where freedom and serenity interweave. And some names simply arrived at peaceful meanings through routes that don’t fit elsewhere. These names tend to feel contemporary and accessible without losing the intentionality that makes peace names special.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Peace
- Popularity: #3857
The English word itself used as a given name; rare but not unheard of, and unmistakably intentional.
- Origin: Unknown
- Meaning: Already in the Latin section — mentioned here because it belongs equally to the English virtue-name tradition
- Popularity: #117
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Place of safety and shelter
- Popularity: #201
A place name turned given name that means what it says; protection and peace in one syllable.
- Origin: Old English from Latin *solacium*
- Meaning: Comfort, relief from sorrow
- Popularity: #6399
A name that means the peace that comes after hard times.
- Origin: Old English *dufe*
- Meaning: The universal symbol of peace
- Popularity: #1625
Direct and beautiful; rarely given despite being perfectly suited as a name.
- Origin: from Greek *harmonia*
- Meaning: Agreement, concord
- Popularity: #264
A virtue name that overlaps with peace concepts; musical without being literal.
- Origin: Greek *zephyros*
- Meaning: West wind, the gentlest wind
- Popularity: #1133
Not quite peace but the gentle breath of it — a nature name with softness built in.
- Origin: Scottish Gaelic *gleann*
- Meaning: Valley
- Popularity: #2315
A geographical name that carries the quiet of a sheltered mountain valley.
- Origin: Old English *broc*
- Meaning: Small stream
- Popularity: #5634
Running water names carry peaceful imagery; this one has done so for a century.
- Origin: Unknown
- Meaning: already listed above
- Popularity: #201
- Origin: Old English *cofa*
- Meaning: Sheltered bay
- Popularity: #1207
Uncommon as a given name but striking; calm water is the whole of its imagery.
- Origin: Welsh/Old English
- Meaning: Waterfall or pool
- Popularity: #17275
Short, deeply rooted, and water-quiet.
- Origin: Basque/Greek
- Meaning: Water nymph, wave
- Popularity: #1855
A Basque name for the spirit of flowing water; gentle and rarely heard.
- Origin: Greek/Latin *aura*
- Meaning: Gentle breeze
- Popularity: #872
From the Greek for a light, soft wind; air that doesn’t disturb.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Tall water grass
- Popularity: #421
A nature name for calm water’s edge; minimal and understated.
- Origin: Old English *maeðwe*
- Meaning: Open field
- Popularity: #327
One of the more genuinely pastoral nature names; unhurried and quiet.
- Origin: Old English *fearn*
- Meaning: Woodland plant
- Popularity: #1261
Still, green, and quietly ancient.
- Origin: English compound
- Meaning: Still body of water
- Popularity: Rare
Used occasionally as a given name or surname; the image is the definition of peace.
- Origin: Middle English from Latin *calma*
- Meaning: Stillness
- Popularity: Rare
Used in some Scandinavian-influenced contexts as a given name; a bold, minimal choice.
- Origin: Irish: Saoirse
- Meaning: Freedom
- Popularity: #1036
Irish and meaning freedom rather than peace, but freedom and peace are inseparable ideas; Saoirse Ronan gave it international recognition.
- Origin: Irish: *caomh* = gentle, precious
- Meaning: Gentle, dear
- Popularity: #8519
Not strictly peace but the quality of gentleness that makes peace possible; pronounced “Kee-va” or “Kwee-va.”
- Origin: Irish: *niamh*
- Meaning: Bright
- Popularity: #3148
The goddess of Tír na nÓg, the Celtic land of eternal peace and youth; Neev in anglicized pronunciation.
- Origin: Welsh *gwyn*
- Meaning: White, fair, blessed
- Popularity: #4866
Often paired with peace-root names historically; clean and minimal as a standalone.
How to Choose a Name From This List
With 200-plus names across eight language families, narrowing down takes some criteria beyond just the meaning. Start with sound: say each name aloud ten times. Say it tired, say it in a crowd, say it with your last name. A name you love visually might not survive contact with your surname — and a name you overlooked on a list might sound exactly right when spoken.
Consider your family’s heritage and how the name will land in your specific context. A name from your own linguistic background will be easy to explain, easy to spell, and full of meaning within your community. A name from outside your heritage can still be a genuine choice, but be ready for the question “how did you arrive at that?” — and make sure your answer is one you’re glad to give.
Pay attention to what the pairing within a compound name means to you. The Slavic names in this list are almost all pairs: Tihomir means quiet peace, Branimir means defending peace, Dragomir means dear peace, Radomira means joyful peace. The difference between those isn’t just etymology — it’s a different flavor of the same wish.
Don’t dismiss a name just because it’s long or unfamiliar. Many of the most beautiful names here (Concordia, Branimira, Tranquillina) feel unusual in English-speaking contexts simply because they haven’t been used recently — not because they’re unusable. A name that takes people a beat to learn is not the same as a name that doesn’t work.
Finally: trust the one that makes you stop scrolling. Names that mean peace tend to have that effect anyway — there’s something in the sound of shanti, galene, nodoka, frieda that slows the breath. That involuntary pause is useful information.
Name Art for Your Favorite
Love a name from this list? MinimalistMama offers custom Name Art prints — personalized, minimalist nursery art with the name you choose, designed to match your aesthetic. A perfect gift for baby showers or to hang above the crib.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular baby name meaning peace?
Irene is historically the most widely used name meaning peace in Western naming traditions — it’s been in continuous use since ancient Greece, where Eirene was the goddess of peace. In modern English-speaking countries, Serena and Serenity are the most actively popular, consistently ranking in the top 200 to 500 in the US. Among boys, Frederick (peaceful ruler) has been one of the most enduring Germanic peace names for centuries, while Solomon and Noah have strong biblical presence.
Are there any short, one-syllable names meaning peace?
Yes, several. Pax (Latin, peace) is probably the most recognized — three letters, one syllable, unmistakable. Paz (Spanish) is equally minimal. An (Chinese/Vietnamese, peaceful) is two letters and one syllable. Shalom (Hebrew, peace) is two syllables but feels short in practice. For boys, Miro (Slavic, peace) is two syllables but very clipped. Among longer names, many in this list have strong short forms: Frederick becomes Fred, Wilfred becomes Wil, Concordia becomes Cori or Connie.
What does the name Shiloh mean — is it really a peace name?
The Hebrew root of Shiloh is genuinely linked to peace and tranquility — the word appears in Genesis 49:10 and is associated with a coming era of rest and wholeness. The precise etymology is debated; some scholars read it as “he who is sent” or “he to whom it belongs,” while others connect it directly to *shalom* (peace). In practice, Shiloh carries peaceful and restful associations in the Hebrew tradition, which is why it belongs on this list even with that nuance noted.
What are the best gender-neutral names meaning peace?
Pax (Latin) is now used for both boys and girls. Shiloh leans slightly feminine in current American use but has no inherent gender. Nagi (Japanese, calm sea) is used for both. An (Chinese/Vietnamese, peaceful) is gender-neutral. Amani (Swahili/Arabic) is used for boys and girls across East Africa. Salam (Arabic, peace) is used for both. In the Slavic family, the *-mir* compounds have fairly clear feminine (*-mira*) and masculine forms, but Miro and Mirko are often heard on both.
Are there any royal or historically notable names meaning peace on this list?
Quite a few. Irene was borne by Irene of Athens, the first woman to rule the Byzantine Empire as sole empress (797–802 AD). Frederick has been the name of kings, emperors, and Holy Roman Emperors across centuries. Solomon is one of the most celebrated names in the Hebrew Bible. Salome was a royal name in the Hasmonean dynasty. Tranquillina was a Roman empress in the 3rd century AD. Selim was carried by three Ottoman sultans. Casimir is the name of the patron saint of Poland, himself a member of the Jagiellonian royal family.
Is Frederick really a peace name?
Yes — genuinely. Frederick comes from the Old High German *Friderich*: *frid* (peace) + *ric* (ruler/power). The *frid* root is unmistakably the same as in Wilfred, Winifred, Godfrey, and Frieda — a well-documented Old High German word for peace. The same root appears in the English word “friend” via Old English *frēond*, related to *frēo* (free) and ultimately to the same ancestral peace-concept. So Frederick doesn’t just carry the meaning — it carries the entire Germanic peace-name tradition in its first syllable.
What is a good middle name to pair with a peace-meaning first name?
Peace-meaning names tend to pair well with grounded, substantive middle names rather than additional virtue names — stacking Serenity Hope or Pax Harmony can tip into abstraction. Better pairings often use a family surname, a nature name with weight (Serena Oak, Pax River), or a classical name with a different meaning entirely (Irene Louise, Solomon James). If you’re using a longer peace name like Concordia or Frederica, a one-syllable middle name creates good rhythm. If the first name is short like Paz or Miro, a two- or three-syllable middle name adds balance.
📊 Curious how popular a name actually is? Look it up in our Baby Name Popularity Checker — pulls live SSA data to show ranking trends.
Final Thoughts
Every name on this list carries the same root wish: that this child will know peace, bring peace, and be a still point in the world’s turning. Some of these names are 3,000 years old. Some were coined last century. Some come from languages you may have never spoken. But they all arrive at the same place — that ancient, universal hope that the person you’re naming will live in some meaningful measure of calm.
Whatever name you choose, the meaning you give it through the life you build around it will matter as much as the etymology. Still, it doesn’t hurt to start with a good one.
Read next;
🌷 85 Cute Unisex Baby Names Going *Viral* in 2026
🌷 115+ Baby Names That Mean Gift From God
🌷 100+ Baby Names That Mean Miracle or Blessing
✨ Love these names? Create free printable nursery art for any name →
