“My life has always been a combination of different chapters and different seasons.”
Most of us already have so much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.
But having a baby on or around Thanksgiving certainly takes the cake — or in this case, pie.
And it also gives you the perfect excuse to bring out that old, dusty book of Thanksgiving names that most expecting parents don’t get the chance to use or never even consider due to how unique they are.
If that’s what brought you here today, then you’ve come to the right place.
The list of baby names below will include everything from names that mean “thankful” to names meaning “blessing” or “blessed,” names related to the annual harvest and names inspired by Thanksgiving food.
We’ll even carve out some names directly from the Mayflower passenger list.
READ MORE: Fall names for boys inspired by the colors and traditions that make autumn so unforgettable
So, grab a slice of pumpkin pie and prepare to discover 50 of the most unique (yet recognizable) Thanksgiving-inspired baby names that celebrate gratitude, harvest and the season of giving thanks.
Thanksgiving names that mean thankful
When it comes to Thanksgiving, few things embody the spirit of the holiday more than gratitude itself.
And what better way to honor that than through your baby’s name?
Sure, you could go with a direct reference with a name like Thankful, but we completely understand if that’s a little too unique for your taste. It would, however, be the epitome of a one-of-a-kind name.
READ MORE: Fall-inspired baby girl names that feel as warm and cozy as your favorite autumn sweater
After all, Thankful was given to less than five babies in 2024, per the Social Security Administration.
Whether you want to express thankfulness for your growing family or simply love the meaning behind names that reflect appreciation, this next batch will warm your heart like a cozy fall evening by the fire.
Odelia
Origin: Hebrew; Old German
Meaning: I will thank Yahweh; Heritage
Odelia, pronounced oh-DEL-ee-uh, is a Hebrew name meaning “I will thank Yahweh.” It’s believed to be inspired by the Germanic name Odilia, which comes from the Old German word uodil meaning “heritage.”
Jadon
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Thankful; He will judge
Jadon, pronounced JAY-din, comes from the Hebrew name Yadon and is believed to derive from the root yada, meaning “thankful,” or din, meaning “he will judge.” Variants include Jayden, Jadyn and Jaden.
Shakir
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Thankful; To thank
Shakir, pronounced shuh-KEER, comes from the Arabic root shakara, meaning “thankful” and “to thank.” It reflects the practice of recognizing and expressing appreciation for life's blessings, both large and small.
Shakira
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Grateful; Thankful
Shakira, pronounced shuh-KEER-uh, is another name closely related to the idea of giving thanks during the holiday season. It’s believed to derive from the Arabic word shakara, meaning "grateful" or "thankful."
Odeya
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: I will thank God; I will praise God
Odeya, pronounced oh-DAY-uh, comes from a Hebrew phrase meaning “I will thank God.” It’s believed to derive from the Hebrew word ode, meaning “I will thank” or “praise,” and yah, another word for God.
Merci
Origin: French
Meaning: Thanks; Gratitude
Merci, pronounced MAIR-see or mur-SEE, comes directly from the French word merci, meaning “thanks” or “gratitude.” Believe it or not, it was given to 32 baby girls and 12 baby boys in 2024, per the SSA.
Ahmad
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Most commendable; Most praiseworthy
Ahmad, pronounced ah-MAHD or ock-MAHD, is a superlative of Hamid, which comes from the Arabic root hamida, meaning “to praise.” In Islamic tradition, al-Hamid is one of the 99 names of Allah.
Ashanti
Origin: Swahili
Meaning: Thank you; Warlike
Ashanti, pronounced uh-SHAHN-tee, is believed to come from the Swahili word asante, meaning “thank you,” but other theories suggest it means “warlike.” Ashanti is the name of an African people from Ghana.
Asante
Origin: Swahili
Meaning: Thank you
Asante, pronounced uh-SAHN-tee, comes directly from the Swahili word asante, meaning “thank you.” Both Ashanti and Asante are gender-neutral names, but Asante is more common among baby boys.
Zendaya
Origin: Shona
Meaning: To be thankful; To thank
Zendaya, pronounced zen-DAY-uh or zen-DYE-uh, comes from the Shona name Tendai, which derives from the Shona word tenda, meaning “to be thankful” or “thank.” It was popularized by actress Zendaya.
Thanksgiving names that mean blessing
If Thankful was a little too unique for you, then maybe you’ll be a little more open to Blessing.
According to the SSA, Blessing was the 955th most popular girl’s name in 2023 and was given to 219 baby girls and 59 baby boys in 2024 — while the name Blessings was given to 18 baby girls in 2024.
But don’t worry if that’s still a little too unique for you or if you’re not a fan of word names.
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There are plenty of other beautiful options that carry the same heartfelt meaning and express the joy, gratitude and abundance that come with welcoming a new life without being quite so on-the-nose.
If that’s what you’re looking for, then you’ll love these baby names that mean “blessed” or “blessing.”
Barack
Origin: Swahili; Arabic
Meaning: Blessing
Barack, pronounced buh-ROK, comes from the Swahili name Baraka and Arabic word baraka, meaning “blessing.” It embodies the spirit of gratitude and recognition of life's blessings that help define the holiday.
Asher
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Happy; Blessed
Asher, pronounced ASH-er, derives from the Hebrew word ashar, meaning “to be happy” or “to be blessed.” In the Bible, Asher is the eighth son of Jacob and second son of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant.
Gwyneth
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Blessed; Happy
Gwyneth, pronounced GWIN-ith, has multiple origins, but the one that makes the most sense (especially from a Thanksgiving perspective) is that it comes from the Welsh word gwyn, meaning “blessed.”
Benedict
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Blessed; Well-spoken
Benedict, pronounced BEN-uh-dict, comes from the Latin benedictus meaning "blessed" or "well-spoken." It embodies the traditional Thanksgiving practice of offering blessings and saying a prayer before eating.
Bennett
Origin: Latin; English
Meaning: Blessed; Well-spoken
Bennett, pronounced BEN-it, is the medieval form of Benedict, which comes from the Latin Benedictus, meaning “blessed” or “well-spoken.” It originated as a surname before being used as a given name.
Mila
Origin: Slavic
Meaning: Gracious; Dear
Mila, pronounced MEE-uh or MEE-luh, comes from the Slavic element milŭ, meaning “gracious” or “dear.” It’s commonly used as a nickname for names that end with -mila, such as Camila, Yamila or Ludmila.
Evan
Origin: English; Welsh; Hebrew
Meaning: God is gracious
Evan, pronounced EH-vin, is the Anglicized form of Ifan, the Welsh form of John, which ultimately derives from the Hebrew name Yohanan and is composed of the Hebrew elements yo, meaning “God,” and hanan, meaning “gracioius.”
Finn
Origin: Old Irish
Meaning: White; Blessed
Finn, pronounced FIN, is the Old Irish form of Fionn, which comes from the Old Irish word finn, meaning “white” or “blessed.” Fionn (Finn) mac Cumhaill is one of the most legendary heroes in Irish mythology.
Gwyn
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: White; Blessed
Gwyn, pronounced GWIN, comes directly from the Welsh root gwyn, meaning “white” or “blessed.” In Welsh legend, Gwyn is a king of the Underworld and leader of the Wild Hunt for a monstrous boar.
Grace
Origin: English; Latin
Meaning: Blessing; Favor
Grace, pronounced GRAYS, comes from the Latin word gratia, meaning "favor" or "blessing.” It resonates with Thanksgiving's theme of recognizing good things in life — and many people say grace before eating.
Thanksgiving names that mean harvest
The harvest season is at the very heart of Thanksgiving's origin story.
Long before it became synonymous with turkey and football, Thanksgiving was a celebration of the year's bountiful harvest — a time when communities came together to give thanks for the food they accrued.
READ MORE: 50+ Flower Girl Names That Are Blooming in Popularity
Today, that harvest spirit lives on, making it the perfect inspiration for your little one's name.
Whether you're drawn to names with agricultural roots, mythological connections to abundance or simply love the symbolism of growth and prosperity, these harvest names capture the essence of the season.
Demetria
Origin:
Meaning:
Demetria, pronounced duh-MEE-tree-uh, comes from the Greek name Demeter, which derives from the Greek words da, meaning “earth,” and meter, meaning “mother.” In Greek mythology, Demeter was the goddess of agriculture.
Demetrius
Origin:
Meaning:
Demetrius, pronounced duh-MEE-tree-us, is the masculine form of Demetria, which also derives from the Greek words da, meaning “earth,” and meter, meaning “mother,” referring to the Greek goddess of agriculture.
Demi
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Earth mother; Goddess of the harvest
Demi, pronounced DEH-mee, is often used as a nickname for the Greek names Demetria and Demeter, meaning “earth mother.” In Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of agriculture, harvest and grain.
Theresa
Origin: Greek
Meaning: To harvest; To reap; Summer
Theresa, pronounced tuh-REE-suh, is believed to derive from the Greek word therizo, meaning "to harvest" or "to reap” — perfect for a Thanksgiving baby name, though it also translates to “summer.”
Tess
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Summer harvest
Tess, pronounced TESS, originated as a diminutive of Teresa or Theresa, ultimately from the Greek word theros, meaning “summer,” or therizo, meaning “to harvest.” It can also be linked to the Greek island of Therasia.
Ekin
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Harvest; Culture
Ekin, pronounced EH-kin, comes directly from the Turkish word meaning “harvest” and “culture.” It perfectly captures the essence of the harvest season that inspired the first Thanksgiving celebrations.
Meleah
Origin: Hebrew; Greek
Meaning: Harvest; Fullness; Full produce; Honey
Meleah, pronounced muh-LEE-uh or MEL-ee-uh, comes from the Hebrew phrase mele’ah, meaning “fullness,” “full produce” or “harvest.” It’s also a variant of Melia and derivative of Greek meli, meaning “honey.”
Harvey
Origin: Breton; English
Meaning: Battle worthy; Harvest
Harvey, pronounced HAR-vee, comes from the Breton name Haerviu and is composed of the words haer, meaning “battle,” and viu, meaning “worthy.” In this case, it’s a play on the Thanksgiving word harvest.
Ceres
Origin: Latin; Roman
Meaning: Of grain; Relating to agriculture; Goddess of agriculture
Ceres, pronounced SEER-eez, is believed to come from the Latin word cerealis, meaning “of grain” or “relating to agriculture.” In Roman mythology, Ceres is the goddess of agriculture, grain crops and fertility.
Chloe
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Young green shoot; Blooming; Harvest goddess
Chloe, pronounced KLOH-ee, comes from the Greek word khloe, meaning "young green shoot" or "blooming." In Greek mythology, it was an epithet of Demeter, the goddess of the harvest and agriculture.
Thanksgiving names inspired by food
What’s Thanksgiving without a massive, seasoned, fresh turkey to stuff and cut?
While turkey wasn’t the main source of protein in 1621 when the Wampanoag and English settlers joined for the first ever Thanksgiving feast, it’s a family-favorite this time of year because it’s big, easy, and tasty!
And we can’t talk about turkey without mentioning the many side dishes that come with it.
READ MORE: 60+ Nature Inspired Boy Names for Your Future Son
Mashed potatoes, stuffing (or dressing), cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, roasted vegetables, gravy, cornbread, dinner rolls, macaroni and cheese, glazed carrots, deviled eggs…
Are you hungry yet?
Food-related names might seem like a stretch to some parents, but maybe you just haven’t found the right food name for your baby yet. If not, then hopefully these Thanksgiving names will open your mind!
Maize
Origin: Taino
Meaning: Corn
Maize, pronounced MAYZ or MAY-zee, comes from the Taino word mahiz, which referred to the corn plant. The term was adopted by the Spanish during their exploration of the Americas in the 15th century.
Eaton
Origin: English
Meaning: River town; Eating
Eaton, pronounced EET-ihn, comes from the Old English ēa meaning "river" or "stream," and tūn meaning "town" or "settlement." In this case, it’s a play on the word “eating,” a staple during the holiday season.
Jacob
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Supplanter; Holder of the heel; Male turkey (Jake)
Jacob, pronounced JAY-kub, comes from the Hebrew name Ya’aqov, meaning “supplanter” or “holder of the heel.” One of the most common nicknames is Jake, which is the name for a juvenile male turkey.
Brian
Origin: Celtic
Meaning: Hill’ Power; Cooking technique (brine)
Brian, pronounced BRY-ihn, is believed to mean “hill” or “power” via the Celtic roots brixs and briga, respectively. In this case, we’re using it as a play on the word brine, a cooking technique used on turkey.
Jennifer
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: White phantom; Young female turkey (Jenny)
Jennifer, pronounced JEN-ih-fur, comes from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), meaning “white phantom.” One of the most common nicknames is Jenny, which is the name for a young female turkey.
Yuki
Origin: Japanese; English
Meaning: Happiness; Snow; Potato (Yukon)
Yuki, pronounced YOO-kee, is believed to derive from the Japanese word yuki, meaning “happiness” or “snow.” In this case, it’s a nickname for Yukon, referring to a potato commonly used for mashed potatoes.
Jonathan
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Yahweh has given; Jonathan apple (apple pie)
Jonathan, pronounced JAHN-uh-thin, comes from the Hebrew name Yehonatan, meaning “Yahweh has given.” In this case, it refers to the Jonathan apple, which many people prefer to use for apple pie.
Rosemary
Origin: English
Meaning: Red flower; Wished for Child; Turkey seasoning
Rosemary, pronounced ROHZ-mair-ee, is a combination of the names Rose, referring to the red flower, and Mary, meaning “wished for child.” In this case, it refers to the fragrant herb used to season turkey.
Thomas
Origin: Greek; Aramaic
Meaning: Twin; Adult male turkey
Thomas, pronounced TOM-miss or TOM-us, is the Greek form of Teʾoma, which means “twin” in Aramaic. In this case, it refers to an adult male turkey, which is called a Tom — a common nickname for Thomas.
Gala
Origin: English
Meaning: Festive celebration; Gala apple (apple pie)
Gala, pronounced GAL-uh, comes from the English word gala, meaning “festive celebration.” In this case, it refers to the Gala apple, which is another popular apple used for apple pie during the holiday season.
Baby names inspired by Mayflower passengers
If you really want to pay homage to Thanksgiving's historical roots, why not look to the brave souls who made the journey across the Atlantic on the Mayflower in 1620?
After all, they were the ones who celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Wampanoag people in 1621.
Now, we know what you're thinking: "Aren't Mayflower names going to be a little too old-fashioned or Puritan for modern tastes?" And honestly? Some of them definitely are.
READ MORE: These banned baby names and wild baby-naming laws will leave you speechless!
We're looking at you, Resolved, Humility, and Wrestling.
The good news is not all names on the list are that unique — and some of them are quite common today.
Samuel
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Name of God; God hears
Samuel, pronounced SAM-yew-uhl and SAM-yew-el, comes from the Hebrew name Shemuʾel and the Hebrew elements shem, meaning “name,” or shama, meaning “to hear,” and el, meaning “God.”
There were three Samuels on the Mayflower, including Samuel Fuller, the son of Francis and Sarah Eaton, and the son of Edward and Mrs. Fuller.
Love
Origin: English
Meaning: Intense feeling of deep affection
Love, pronounced LUV, comes directly from the English word love, meaning “an intense feeling of deep affection.” Other names that mean Love include Jaime, Amanda, Philomena, Amora, Priya and Esme.
As far as the Mayflower goes, Love refers to the son of William and Mary Brewster.
Constance
Origin: Late Latin
Meaning: Constant; Steadfast
Constance, pronounced CON-stints, is the Medieval form of Constantia, which comes from the Late Latin name Constans meaning “constant” or “steadfast.” It was given to the son of Constantine the Great.
Constance was also one of four children who traveled on the Mayflower with their parents Stephen and Elizabeth Hopkins.
Oceanus
Origin: Greek; Latin
Meaning: Ocean; Large body of water
Oceanus, pronounced OH-shee-an-us, is the Latinized form of the Greek name Okeanos, which comes from the name of the river thought to surround the Earth. It was also the name of a mythological Titan.
Oceanus was another child of Stephen and Elizabeth Hopkins who was born aboard the Mayflower.
Giles
Origin: Late Latin; Greek
Meaning: Young goat
Giles, pronounced GYLES, comes from the Late Latin name Aegidius and derives from the Greek word aigidion, meaning “young goat.” Saint Giles was an 8th century miracle worker and patron saint of the crippled.
Giles was another child of Stephen and Elizabeth Hopkins who came to America on the Mayflower.
Damaris
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Calf; Girl
Damaris, pronounced duh-MAIR-us, is believed to derive from the Greek word damalis, meaning “calf” or “girl.” In the Bible, Damaris is the name of a woman who converted to Christianity.
It’s also the name of the fourth child of Stephen and Elizabeth Hopkins who traveled on the Mayflower.
Elias
Origin: Greek; Hebrew
Meaning: My God is Yahweh
Elias, pronounced ih-LIE-us or eh-LEE-us, is the Greek form of Elijah, which comes from the Hebrew name ʾEliyyahu and is composed of the Hebrew elements el and yah, both of which refer to the Hebrew God.
In this case, it refers to Elias Story, who traveled on the Mayflower under the care of Edward Winslow.
Desire
Origin: English
Meaning: Desire; Wish for
Desire, pronounced duh-ZYRE, comes from the English word desire (derived from Old French desirrer and Latin desiderare), meaning “to wish for.” Other variants include Desiree, Desirae and Deziree.
Desire Minter came on the Mayflower under the care of the John Carver household, but later returned to England.
Eleanor
Origin: French; Occitan
Meaning: The other Aenor
Eleanor, pronounced EL-uh-nor, comes from the French name Alienòr and, ultimately, the Occitan phrase alia Aenor, meaning “the other Aenor.” Eleanor of Aquitaine used it to distinguish herself from her mother, Aenor.
Eleanor Billington traveled to America on the Mayflower with her husband, John, and two sons, John and Francis.
Dorothy
Origin: English; Greek
Meaning: Gift of God; God’s gift
Dorothy, pronounced DOHR-uh-thee or DOHR-thee, is a variant of Dorothea, which comes from the Greek name Dorotheos and is composed of the Greek elements doron, meaning “gift,” and theos, meaning “god.”
Dorothy can either refer to John Carver’s maidservant or the wife of William Bradford, both of whom were on the Mayflower.
Thanksgiving names are a popular choice for fall babies
A recent poll surveyed 400 mothers and soon-to-be mothers to find out the least-preferred dates to have a child. Christmas, Halloween, Leap Day, and New Year’s were the four most commonly avoided dates.
But Thanksgiving Day was one date surprisingly not included in that list.
And if your baby is lucky enough to be born on Thanksgiving Day, just know that they’ll be joining quite a legendary list of people to do the same.
A list that includes the likes of Scarlett Johansson (Nov. 22, 1984), Christina Applegate (Nov. 25, 1971), Donovan McNabb (Nov. 25, 1976), Richard Kind (Nov. 22, 1956), and Chuck Schumer (Nov. 23, 1950).
While you can certainly name your child after one of them, you’re probably looking for something a little more Thanksgiving-ish, such as Macy, after the Macy’s Day Parade, or Thursday, for obvious reasons.
ALSO ON MOD MOMS CLUB: The Ultimate List of 4 Letter Names for Girls
And if you need some extra inspiration this holiday season, don’t forget to check out our other themed baby name lists or give our baby name generator a try for other popular baby names in use today.
