Smart Baby Name Ideas That Mean Wise or Intelligent

Choose a smart-sounding name for your thoughtful & clever child

Co-authored by Jennifer Ficarra and Devin McSween

Last Updated: December 11, 2025 Fact Checked

For Boys

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For Girls

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Gender-Neutral

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More Name Ideas

Looking for a name for your little one that means “wise,” “wisdom,” or “intelligent,” or is associated with cleverness? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve compiled a list of the best names for boys and girls that mean “wise” from around the world, as well as gender-neutral options. Keep reading to find the perfect name for your brilliant baby!

Best Baby Names That Symbolize Wisdom

For boys: Alvis, Conrad, Hugo, Kenzo, Raymond, Vivek
For girls: Akilah, Minerva, Phoebe, Ramona, Sophia, Veda
Gender-neutral: Akira, Dana, Ray, Sage, Shannon, Uche

Section 1 of 4:

Boy Names That Mean “Wise”

There are plenty of boy names that mean “wise,” making them wonderful options for your little one who’s sure to grow up smart and sensible. Or, choose a name that’s related to wisdom, like names that mean “counsel” or “thought,” or a name that’s linked to a deity of wisdom. For instance:
- Aatos: “Thought” or “idea,” Finnish origin.
- Aldo: “Old and wise” or “noble,” German origin.
- Alfred: “Elf counsel,” German and English origins.^{[1]
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- Alvis: “All wise,” Norse origin.
- Apollo: After the Greek god of knowledge, oracles, healing, and art.
- Bodhi: “Enlightenment” or “awakening,” Sanskrit origin.^{[2]
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- Conrad: “Brave counsel,” German origin.
- Eldridge: “Sage ruler,” German and English origins.^{[3]
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- Hakeem: “Wise,” Arabic origin.
- Hugh: “Bright mind” or “thought,” German and English origins.
- Hugo: “Bright mind” or “thought,” German origin.
- Ji-ho: “Wisdom,” Korean origin.
- Kenzo: “Wise” or “healthy,” Japanese origin.
- Manish: “Intelligent” or “The God of the mind,” Sanskrit origin.
- Odin: After the Norse god of war, wisdom, poetry, and magic.
- Rafe: “Wise wolf” or “counsel of the wolf,” Scandinavian origin.
- Ralph: “Wolf counsel,” Scandinavian origin.^{[4]
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- Raymond: “Wise protector,” French origin.
- Redmond: “Wise protector,” Irish origin.
- Vivek: “Wisdom,” Sanskrit origin.

Section 2 of 4:

Girl Names That Mean “Wise”

There are so many girl names that mean “wise” or “knowledge,” so choose one of these beautiful options for your clever and insightful child. Alternatively, select a name that’s associated with a powerful deity of wisdom. For example:
- Akilah: “Wise” or “intelligent,” Arabic origin.^{[5]
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- Anahita: After the Iranian goddess of wisdom, healing, and fertility.
- Athena: After the Greek goddess of wisdom.^{[6]
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- Michiko: “Beautiful wise child,” Japanese origin.
- Minerva: “Wisdom” or “intellect,” Latin origin. Also the Roman goddess of wisdom.
- Phoebe: After the Greek Titaness of knowledge.
- Prudence: “Wise,” “intelligent,” or “good judgment,” Latin origin.^{[7]
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- Ramona: “Wise protector,” Spanish and German origins.^{[8]
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- Reina: “Wise,” Japanese origin.
- Satomi: “Wise beauty,” Japanese origin.
- Sonya: “Wisdom,” Ukrainian and Russian origins.
- Sophia: “Wisdom,” Greek origin.^{[9]
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- Sunita: “Wise” and “well-behaved,” Sanskrit origin.
- Tomoko: “Wise child,” Japanese origin.
- Veda: “Wisdom” or “knowledge,” Sanskrit origin.^{[10]
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- Vidya: “Knowledge” or “scholarship,” Sanskrit origin.
- Zosia: “Wisdom,” Polish origin.

Section 3 of 4:

Gender-Neutral Names That Mean “Wise”

Looking for a smart-sounding name that’s not traditionally masculine or feminine? Consider one of these timeless gender-neutral names that mean “wise” or “counsel,” or are related to a deity of wisdom:
- Akira: “Intelligent,” Japanese origin.
- Beren: “Smart” or “strong,” Turkish origin.
- Cato: “Wise,” Latin origin.
- Dana: “Wise,” Persian origin.^{[11]
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- Hui: “Wise” or “intelligent,” Chinese origin.
- Ray: “Counsel” or “advice,” German origin.
- Sage: “Wise” or “prophet,” Latin origin.^{[12]
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- Schuyler: “Scholar,” Dutch origin.
- Shannon: “Possessor of wisdom” or “wise river,” Irish origin.
- Sia: After the Egyptian god of knowledge and perception.
- Uche: “Wisdom,” “mind,” or “sense,” Nigerian origin.
- Wisdom: “Wisdom,” British origin.