150 Baby Girl and Boy Names That Mean Sacrifice

Behind many of the world’s strongest stories is one powerful idea: giving up something valuable for someone else. That same emotion exists in names tied to sacrifice. They carry meanings linked to honor, selflessness, resilience, and deep commitment, giving them a sense of purpose that feels far more powerful than ordinary baby names.

Key Takeaways

• Names meaning sacrifice exist in Arabic, Sanskrit, Hebrew, Japanese, Greek, Latin, Norse, Celtic, Welsh, Tamil, and more.
• Many of these names carry secondary meanings like devotion, offering, redemption, or selflessness.
• Greek and Arabic origins dominate this category but rare finds exist in Nahuatl, Turkmen, Germanic, and Polynesian languages.
• Several names have both sacrificial meaning and beautiful sound, making them practical for everyday use.
• Biblical names in this list are especially popular in Christian and Muslim households for their spiritual significance.

Girl Names That Mean Sacrifice

Name	Origin	Meaning
Ijya	Sanskrit	Sacrifice; offering to the divine
Moriah	Hebrew	Chosen by God; the mountain of sacrifice
Gilda	Italian	Sacrifice; golden offering
Andromeda	Greek	Princess offered as sacrifice; rescued by Perseus
Naseeka	Arabic	Sacrifice; ritual offering
Ashwathi	Sanskrit	The offering of a white horse in sacrifice to God
Fatwah	Arabic	Derived from the concept of self-sacrifice
Havana	Sanskrit	The sacrifice; one who performs sacred offerings
Selah	Hebrew	To pause and reflect; spiritual act of surrender
Agape	Greek	Selfless love; the love that sacrifices without return
Eurydice	Greek	Wide justice; associated with Orpheus’ ultimate sacrifice
Dakshina	Sanskrit	Offering; selfless giving for the greater good
Sachi	Japanese	Blessed child; one who sacrifices for loved ones’ happiness
Geldau	Welsh	Sacrifice; devoted to faith and purpose
Alcestis	Greek	She who willingly died in place of her husband
Mowriyah	Hebrew	Chosen by God; variant of Moriah
Amala	Sanskrit	Hope; sacrifice for a brighter future
Selma	Arabic/Celtic	Self-sacrifice; also means peaceful and beautiful
Zaina	Arabic	Beautiful and graceful; one who gives beauty as a gift
Nia	Welsh	Purpose; sacrifice of personal desires for a meaningful life
Faye	Middle English	Fairy; sacrifice of the ordinary for something magical
Sarai	Hebrew	Princess; sacrifice for a regal and noble purpose
Elara	Greek	Bright, shining one; sacrifice for illumination
Anya	Russian	Grace; sacrifice of comfort for elegance
Cora	Greek	Maiden; sacrifice of desires for purity of character
Livia	Latin	Life; sacrifice of personal ease for the essence of living
Gemma	Latin	Precious stone; sacrifice of comfort for enduring value
Mira	Sanskrit	Wonderful; sacrifice for a marvelous purpose
Andromache	Greek	Battle maid; her son was taken as a sacrifice after Troy’s fall
Iphigenia	Greek	Strong-born; daughter offered as sacrifice by Agamemnon
Polyxena	Greek	Very hospitable; sacrificed at the tomb of Achilles
Macaria	Greek	Blessed; she willingly sacrificed herself to save Athens
Charity	Latin	Benevolence; the act of sacrificing time and resources for others
Fidaa	Arabic/Muslim	Ransom; sacrifice; redemption
Gurbansoltan	Turkmen	Sacrifice combined with “ruler”; noble sacrificial offering
Gulfido	Uzbek	Rose of sacrifice; from gul (flower) and fido (sacrifice)
Veda	Sanskrit	Sacred knowledge; connected to ritual Vedic sacrifices
Yajnaseni	Sanskrit	Born of the sacred fire of sacrifice; another name for Draupadi
Arya	Sanskrit	Noble one; associated with Vedic sacrifice rituals
Izanami	Japanese	She who invites; gave her life in the act of creation
Senri	Japanese	A thousand ri; associated with devoted offering and long journeys
Naomi	Hebrew	Pleasantness; gave up her homeland for selfless devotion
Protea	Greek	First offering; the flower associated with sacred sacrifice
Isadora	Greek	Gift of Isis; connected to divine offerings and sacrifice
Adaeze	Igbo	Daughter of a king; associated with sacrificial honor
Nkechi	Igbo	What God has given; a life offered back in gratitude
Aminta	Greek	Strong protector; selfless defender of others
Erminild	Germanic	From ermin (whole) and gild (sacrifice, tribute)
Harigilda	Germanic	Army combined with sacrifice; rare Old High German name
Devanshi	Sanskrit	Divine fraction; part of God offered as sacred gift
Yajnika	Sanskrit	Related to yajna (sacred fire sacrifice)
Agnieszka	Polish/Latin	Pure; associated with saints who sacrificed for faith
Oisín (f. variant)	Irish	Little deer; tied to legend of sacrifice and eternal love
Briseis	Greek	She was taken as a war sacrifice and prize in the Iliad
Cassandra	Greek	She who entangles men; sacrificed her happiness for prophecy
Niobe	Greek	Her pride led to a divine sacrifice of all she loved
Tsukiko	Japanese	Moon child; offerings to the moon were sacred night sacrifices
Mikoto	Japanese	Noble; used in Shinto ritual names tied to sacred offerings
Tama	Japanese	Jewel; a precious thing offered up as tribute to the gods
Nori	Japanese	Doctrine; one who follows the path of devoted giving
Reiko	Japanese	Grateful child; giving back in gratitude for life received
Tamaki	Japanese	Jewel tree; something precious devoted to the divine
Etsuko	Japanese	Joyful child; one whose very existence is a pure offering
Sachiko	Japanese	Happiness child; one who sacrifices her own comfort for family joy
Yoshiko	Japanese	Good, righteous child; one who gives without expectation
Fumiko	Japanese	Child of literature and devotion; one who dedicates her life to a higher art
Haruko	Japanese	Spring child; a life that blooms as a gift offered to the world
Mizuki	Japanese	Beautiful moon; a name tied to sacred lunar offerings in Shinto
Himari	Japanese	Sunflower; something radiant offered up freely to the light
Kanon	Japanese	Flower sound; connected to Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassionate sacrifice

Boy Names That Mean Sacrifice

Name	Origin	Meaning
Qurban	Arabic/Muslim	Martyr; sacrificed; one given in the way of God
Fidyan	Arabic	Person who makes sacrifice; gives himself for others
Nisar	Arabic	To strew; to sacrifice; to give oneself freely
Nithar	Urdu	Sacrifice; a person who gives everything
Issar	Urdu	Sacrifice; selflessness
Yagya	Sanskrit	Sacrifice; sacred fire ritual
Tyag	Sanskrit	Sacrifice; renunciation for a higher cause
Thiyagu	Tamil	Sacrifice; one who gives up all for others
Havish	Sanskrit	Lord Shiva; sacrifice; one who offers to God
Adhvara	Sanskrit	A sacrifice; one who cannot cause injury
Adisisira	Sanskrit	The primal head of religious sacrifice
Yaj	Sanskrit	Worshipper; sacrifice; another name for Shiva
Yajnaraj	Sanskrit	The moon; a king of sacrifice
Sunvat	Sanskrit	Offered of the Soma sacrifice
Hotri	Sanskrit	One who sacrifices; recites hymns of the Rigveda
Manyu	Sanskrit	Passion; sacrifice; courage; epithet of Lord Shiva
Parityaj	Sanskrit	To sacrifice; to give up for a greater cause
Prayaag	Sanskrit	Place of sacrifice; ancient name of Allahabad
Muqarrib	Arabic	One who offers a sacrifice to draw closer to God
Tasadiq	Arabic	Sacrifice; to give in the path of truth
Tasuq	Arabic	Giving alms; charity; sacrifice
Nisaar	Arabic	Sacrifice; one who scatters himself for others
Qateel	Arabic	Become a sacrifice for welfare; give oneself in God’s path
Fadi	Arabic	Sacrificer; redeemer; one who gives himself to save others
Aberthol	Welsh	Sacrifice; one who offers himself completely
Protesilaus	Greek	Offered himself as the first Greek sacrifice upon arrival at Troy
Vegeir	Italian/Norse	Great sacrificer; one known for supreme offerings
Illanko	Tamil	He who sacrificed the throne for the Tamil people
Adhiyaman	Tamil	Great king who sacrificed his life for poets
Harigild	Germanic	Army combined with sacrifice; Old High German name
Gildo	Germanic	From the Gothic element gild meaning sacrifice tribute
Ermingild	Germanic	Whole sacrifice; Teutonic name of complete devotion
Aza’zel	Hebrew	Entire removal; the goat sacrificed for the sins of the people
Gurkurbaan	Punjabi/Sikh	One who is a sacrifice unto the Guru
Habeel	Arabic/Islamic	Son of Adam whose sacrifice was accepted by Allah
Ieethaar	Urdu	Sacrifice; selflessness; one who places others first
Huetl	Nahuatl	Possibly related to huentli meaning sacrifice or offering
Gurbanguly	Turkmen	From qurban (sacrifice) and gul (servant); servant of sacrifice
Gurbanmyrat	Turkmen	Sacrifice combined with a given name meaning wish or desire
Petalesharo	Pawnee	Man chief who sacrificed tradition by stopping the Morning Star ritual
Ahda	Arabic	Festival of the sacrifice; Eid al-Adha
Arpun	Sanskrit	Sacrifice; dedicated offering
Darbhi	Sanskrit	One who makes sacrifice
Dvaraka	Sanskrit	A sacrifice made in the name of Lord Krishna
Balhar	Punjabi	Sacrifice; devotion; worship
Nishad	Sanskrit	Consecration for a sacrifice
Pareshti	Sanskrit	One who performs the highest sacrifice or worship
Adhvaryu	Sanskrit	The chief priest who performs Hindu rituals of sacrifice
Quillon	Latin	Sacrificial offering; act of pure selflessness
Eamon	Irish	Guardian; one who sacrifices for protection of others
Evander	Greek	Good man; one who sacrifices for the good of all
Thane	Scottish	Noble; one who sacrifices for honor and distinction
Alden	Old English	Old friend; sacrifice of self for loyal companionship
Rohan	Sanskrit	Ascending; one who sacrifices for growth and progress
Cedric	Celtic	Kind and loved; sacrifice rooted in warmth and compassion
Odin	Norse	Fury and inspiration; hung himself on Yggdrasil as a sacrifice for wisdom
Leonidas	Greek	Lion-like; the Spartan king whose sacrifice at Thermopylae defined heroism
Hector	Greek	Steadfast; Trojan hero who sacrificed his life defending his city
Samson	Hebrew	Sun; biblical figure who sacrificed himself to destroy his enemies
Moses	Hebrew	Drawn from water; sacrificed a life of Egyptian royalty to free his people
Alistair	Scottish	Defender of men; one who sacrifices for the safety of others
Benedict	Latin	Blessed; one blessed through sacrificial service to others
Kasimir	Slavic	Destroyer of peace; one willing to sacrifice tranquility for something greater
Everard	Old English	Brave boar; shows sacrificial strength on the battlefield
Zion	Hebrew	Highest point; place of spiritual sacrifice in religious tradition
Ethan	Hebrew	Strong and firm; one who stands firm even while making difficult sacrifices
Isidore	Greek	Gift of Isis; related to offerings and sacrifices made to the gods
Shahid	Arabic	Witness; martyr; one who sacrifices his life for a higher cause
Caius	Latin	Rejoice; one who sacrifices for joy and the happiness of others
Ivor	Scandinavian	Archer; one who sacrifices precision and skill in service to others
Ezio	Italian	Eagle; one who sacrifices for vision and foresight
Leif	Scandinavian	Descendant; sacrifice for heritage and legacy
Omar	Arabic	Flourishing; a name evoking sacrifice tied to growth and prosperity
Gilmar	Germanic	Famous hostage; famous sacrifice; one given as a pledge of peace
Savan	Sanskrit	Monsoon; one who offers a sacrifice to God
Doron	Greek	Sacrifice; a gift or offering presented to the divine
Jelle	Germanic	Payment; tribute; one who gives what is owed as an offering
Kenshin	Japanese	From ken (devotion) and shin (heart); devoted self-sacrifice
Kenzo	Japanese	Strong and healthy; one who offers strength in service
Takeru	Japanese	Brave; one who gives bravery as a sacrifice for others
Haruto	Japanese	Sun and person; one who offers himself like sunlight freely
Naoki	Japanese	Honest and upright tree; steadfast in sacrificial devotion
Ryota	Japanese	Clear and thick; one whose sacrifice is pure and complete
Souta	Japanese	Thick and swift; one who gives without hesitation
Kazuki	Japanese	Harmony and radiance; one whose sacrifice brings light
Daiki	Japanese	Great radiance; one who shines by giving himself wholly
Kenji	Japanese	Strong and vigorous second son; one who sacrifices for family honor

Unisex Names That Mean Sacrifice

Name	Origin	Meaning
Medhas	Sanskrit	Sacrifice; rare unisex name with deep religious roots
Yajin	Sanskrit	Sacrifice; a worshipper who performs sacred rituals
Fidwi	Arabic	Sacrifice; devotion and ransom
Havishan	Tamil	Sacrifice; one who makes sacred offerings
Ieether	Arabic	Sacrifice; one who puts others completely first
Athyajat	Hindi	Sacrifice; one who gives beyond all limits

Biblical Names That Carry the Spirit of Sacrifice

Name	Origin	Meaning / Sacrifice Connection
Moriah	Hebrew	Mountain where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac; chosen by God
Isaac	Hebrew	He laughs; his life was placed on the altar by his own father
Ruth	Hebrew	Compassionate friend; gave up her homeland and people out of loyal devotion
Naomi	Hebrew	Pleasantness; sacrificed everything familiar and started over in a foreign land
Samson	Hebrew	Sun; destroyed his enemies at the cost of his own life
Moses	Hebrew	Drawn from water; gave up Egyptian royalty to lead his people through the wilderness
Abel	Hebrew	Breath; his sacrifice was accepted by God, which led to his death at his brother’s hands
Stephen	Greek	Crown; the first Christian martyr who gave his life rather than deny his faith
Elijah	Hebrew	My God is Yahweh; offered himself and his reputation in confronting false prophets
Esther	Persian/Hebrew	Star; risked her life to save her people by approaching the king uninvited
Rahab	Hebrew	Broad; risked her life to protect the Israelite spies in Jericho
Gideon	Hebrew	Mighty warrior; sacrificed security and anonymity when called to lead Israel
Caleb	Hebrew	Faithful; the only one of his generation willing to sacrifice the comfort of familiar Egypt

Greek Names Tied to Sacrifice in Mythology

Name	Origin	Meaning / Sacrifice Story
Iphigenia	Greek	Strong-born; brought to the altar by her own father Agamemnon so the Greek fleet could sail to Troy
Polyxena	Greek	Very hospitable; sacrificed at the tomb of Achilles after the fall of Troy
Macaria	Greek	Blessed; stepped forward willingly and gave her life so Athens would be saved
Protesilaus	Greek	First of the people; leaped first off the ships at Troy knowing the first man to touch soil would die
Andromeda	Greek	Ruler of men; chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster before Perseus arrived
Alcestis	Greek	Mighty home; willingly died in place of her husband Admetus and was later retrieved from death
Menoikeus	Greek	Strength of the house; sacrificed himself on the walls of Thebes because an oracle demanded it
Codrus	Greek	Last king of Athens; gave his life in disguise after an oracle said Athens would win only if its king died
Doron	Greek	Sacrifice; a gift or offering presented to the divine
Isidore	Greek	Gift of Isis; name tied to offerings and sacrifices made to the gods

Japanese Names Connected to Sacrifice and Devotion

Name	Origin	Meaning / Devotion Connection
Kenshin	Japanese	From ken (devotion) and shin (heart); captures the spirit of self-sacrifice directly
Sachi	Japanese	Blessed child; carries the value of sacrificing personal comfort for a family’s happiness
Sachiko	Japanese	Happiness child; one who gives up her own ease so others around her can flourish
Yoshiko	Japanese	Good and righteous child; one who gives without expectation or return
Fumiko	Japanese	Child of literature and devotion; dedicates her life to a higher purpose
Kanon	Japanese	Flower sound; connected to Kannon, the bodhisattva who sacrificed personal enlightenment to help suffering beings
Mikoto	Japanese	Noble; used in Shinto ritual names tied to sacred offerings to the kami
Tama	Japanese	Jewel; a precious thing offered up as tribute to the gods in ancient Shinto rites
Reiko	Japanese	Grateful child; a life given back in thanks for being received
Haruto	Japanese	Sun and person; offers himself like sunlight, freely and without keeping anything back
Naoki	Japanese	Honest and upright tree; steadfast in sacrificial devotion to family and duty
Kazuki	Japanese	Harmony and radiance; one whose sacrifice brings light to those around him

Arabic and Urdu Names That Mean Sacrifice

Name	Origin	Meaning
Fadi	Arabic	Sacrificer; redeemer; one who gives himself to save others
Nisar	Arabic	To strew; to sacrifice; to give oneself freely for others
Shahid	Arabic	Witness; martyr; one who sacrifices his life for a higher cause
Fidaa	Arabic/Muslim	Ransom; sacrifice; redemption; short and striking for girls
Muqarrib	Arabic	One who draws closer to God through offering a sacrifice
Qurban	Arabic/Muslim	Martyr; sacrificed; one given in the way of God; connected to Eid al-Adha
Nisaar	Arabic	Sacrifice; one who scatters himself for the sake of others
Tasadiq	Arabic	Sacrifice; to give in the path of truth
Tasuq	Arabic	Giving alms; charity; sacrifice; generosity as a form of offering
Nithar	Urdu	Sacrifice; a person who gives everything without holding back
Issar	Urdu	Sacrifice; selflessness; placing others before oneself
Ieethaar	Urdu	Sacrifice; selflessness; one who puts others completely first
Fidayan	Urdu	The sacrificed; one who has given himself entirely
Fidwi	Arabic	Sacrifice; devotion and ransom combined in one name

Last Names and Surnames With Sacrifice Meanings

Some parents prefer to draw inspiration from surnames when naming a child, giving the name an old-world or literary feel.

Surname	Origin	Meaning
Gilmar	Germanic	Famous sacrifice; used as both first and last name
Gildo	Germanic	Sacrifice tribute; from the Gothic gild element
Fidayan	Urdu	The sacrificed; used as a family name in South Asian cultures
Thiyagu	Tamil	Sacrifice; functions as both a first name and a family name in Tamil Nadu
Naseeri	Arabic	Sacrifice; used as a last name across the Arab world
Adhiyaman	Tamil	Great king of sacrifice; a historical Tamil royal surname
Harigild	Germanic	Army and sacrifice; rare Germanic surname with ancient roots
Vegeir	Norse/Italian	Great sacrificer; used as a family name in parts of northern Italy

Rare and Unique Names Meaning Sacrifice

These names are the ones you will almost certainly never hear at a playground. They come from smaller language families and ancient cultures, and each one is genuinely rare.

Name	Origin	Meaning
Aberthol	Welsh	Sacrifice; one of the oldest Welsh names with this meaning
Guldau	Welsh	Sacrifice tied to faith and service
Kahaiaokaponia	Hawaiian	Follower of the anointed one; composed of elements meaning sacrifice and devotion
Petalesharo	Pawnee	Chief who sacrificed tradition to save a human life
Huetl	Nahuatl	Possibly related to huentli, the Aztec word for ritual sacrifice or offering
Gurbanguly	Turkmen	Servant of sacrifice; name of former Turkmen president
Gurbanmyrat	Turkmen	Sacrifice combined with wish; rare Central Asian name
Ermingild	Germanic/Teutonic	Whole sacrifice; among the oldest Germanic names on this list
Vegeir	Norse/Italian	Great sacrificer; a name found in old Northern Italian and Norse records
Fdaa	Arabic	Sacrifice; one of the oldest and most direct Arabic names with this meaning
Illanko	Tamil	He who sacrificed a throne; name from classic Tamil literature
Adisisira	Sanskrit	The primal head of religious sacrifice; rare Vedic name

How to Choose a Name That Means Sacrifice?

The meaning of a name shapes how a child understands their own identity as they grow. A name rooted in sacrifice does not suggest hardship. It suggests courage, love, and the willingness to give without counting the cost. These are qualities most parents hope to see in their children.

Think about sound first. A name might have a beautiful meaning but if it is difficult to pronounce or spell, it creates friction in daily life. Nisar, Fadi, Gilda, Sachi, and Moriah are all easy to say and remember. If you love a longer name like Iphigenia or Petalesharo, consider how it will be shortened in everyday use.

Think about cultural connection second. If you have Arabic heritage, a name like Qurban or Fadi will carry meaning beyond its dictionary definition. If your family is Hindu, Yagya or Havish connects the child to a living tradition of sacred fire rituals. Choosing across cultural lines is completely valid, but knowing the cultural weight of a name enriches the choice.

Think about the story third. Many names on this list come from specific myths or scriptures. Knowing the story behind Andromeda or Leonidas or Moses gives you something to tell your child when they are old enough to ask what their name means.

FAQs

What is the most popular name that means sacrifice?

Qurban is widely recognized as the most well-known name meaning sacrifice, particularly in Muslim communities due to its connection with Eid al-Adha.

Are there any short names meaning sacrifice?

Yes. Fadi (Arabic), Yaj (Sanskrit), Nia (Welsh), and Gilda (Italian) are all short, easy-to-use names with sacrifice-related meanings.

Which Japanese name means sacrifice?

Kenshin is the most direct Japanese name connected to self-sacrifice, combining the kanji for devotion and heart. Sachi and Kanon also carry connected meanings of blessed giving and compassionate self-offering.

Is Moriah a good baby name?

Moriah is a soft, beautiful Hebrew name with very deep biblical roots. It is the mountain where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac and remains a meaningful choice for religious families. It works well for both girls and boys.

Do any Greek names literally mean sacrifice?

Doron means sacrifice or offering in Old Greek. Isidore relates to gifts offered to the gods. Andromeda, Iphigenia, and Polyxena are Greek names whose mythological stories are centered entirely on sacrifice.

Can a name meaning sacrifice be positive?

Absolutely. Sacrifice in most cultures represents the highest form of love, not suffering. Names like Agape, Selah, Evander, and Sachi all carry the idea of selfless giving in a warm and positive light.

Are there any Celtic or Welsh names that mean sacrifice?

Yes. Aberthol is a Welsh name that directly means sacrifice. Geldau is another Welsh option. Celtic tradition also produces names like Eamon, which means guardian and carries the spirit of sacrificing oneself for others.

What is a good rare name meaning sacrifice for a girl?

Ijya (Sanskrit), Naseeka (Arabic), Gulfido (Uzbek), Erminild (Germanic), and Yajnaseni (Sanskrit) are all genuinely rare girl names with sacrifice meanings that almost no other child will share.