11 beautiful baby names that mean thankful

Deciding on a baby name is a tough decision but, when your baby is born on or around a major holiday then the inspiration is all around. Considering baby names that mean love for a February baby or Irish baby names for a St. Patrick’s Day makes the whole decision making process that much easier.

But, the thing about welcoming a new bundle of joy is that whether your baby is expected during the Thanksgiving season or not, it’s always important to practice gratitude and take stock of our blessings. And maybe consider some baby names that reflect the meaning of gratitude and thanks.

These baby names that mean thankful come from many different cultures—from Jewish to Welsh to Zimbabwean—but they all embrace the universal warmth of gratitude we feel for the blessings that are our babies.

Here are 11 baby boy and baby girl names that mean “thankful,” “grateful” and “blessed”

1. Aeronwen

A pretty Welsh name with blessed in its meaning. The poet Dylan Thomas named his daughter Aeronwy Bryn.

2. Asher

The Hebrew name meaning happy and blessed was worn by a son of Jacob in the Old Testament and is very much on the rise at the moment, ranking in the Top 75 and at Number 5 on Nameberry, and loved for its handsome nickname Ash. Used by several celebs, Ashers have also appeared on “Gossip Girl” and “Gilmore Girls.”

3. Baruch

A Hebrew name meaning blessed (as does the related Barack), Baruch has been largely associated in the past with the eminent Dutch philosopher of Portuguese origin Baruch Spinoza, and as the surname of eminent one-time presidential advisor Bernard Baruch. It is rarely heard outside the Jewish community.

Related: 75+ gender-neutral baby names

4. Benedict

Another name meaning blessed is the newly fashionable Benedict, given a big boost from Mr. Cumberbatch. It is saintly, papal and Shakespearean (“Much Ado About Nothing”).

5. Graziella, Grazia

In addition to meaning Grace, these names also connect to the word thanks and would make a lovely choice for a late November baby.

6. Gwendolen, Gwendolyn

This old Welsh favorite was used by George Eliot and Oscar Wilde.

7. Macarius

A rarely heard Latinate name, meaning supremely blessed, makes an interesting addition to the category of other Roman names. There was an early Egyptian saint known as Macarius the Great and the name has many other religious connections. International variations include Makarios (Greek), Macario (Italian and Portuguese), Makar (Russian) and Kari/Karri (Finnish).

Related: Popular boy names & their meanings

8. Shakir, Shakira, Shaquira

All these names stem from the Arabic word shukran meaning grateful, thankful to God. Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, known as Shakira, has brought her name into the spotlight.

9. Tatenda

This is a Zimbabwean name meaning “with gratitude,” very fitting for a Thanksgiving baby. The name became internationally known via cricketer Tatebda Taibu (nicknamed Tibbly), who retired at the age of 29 in 2012.

10. Zelig

With his 1983 film Zelig, Woody Allen made this Yiddish name meaning “blessed” symbolic of a person who seems to transcend time. Selig is the German version.

Related: 31 popular girl names & their meanings

11. Zendaya

Zendaya means “to give thanks” in Shona, the language of the people of Zimbabwe. Zendaya is the single name used by the Emmy award-winning actress and singer. Another version is the appealingly lovely Jendayi.

A version of this post originally appeared on Nameberry. It has been updated.