Tested October 25, 2026 · 36 live lookups

Behindthename Review: The Free Etymology Site, Tested

30,549 names, a free API and a 30-year track record. Here is where it holds up and where it quietly fails.

· · Baby Names
Summary

Behindthename is a free etymology reference with 30,549 names in its browse list, about 360 usage tags and a free API. In my 36-lookup test, 21 of 24 name searches landed on a full entry, and pages loaded in 0.40 seconds at the median. It beats most baby name sites on sourcing, but it is weak on style-based discovery, accent-tolerant search and entry depth. Use it to verify names, not to find them.

8.2 /10

Behindthename is the most trustworthy free name etymology site I tested, scoring 8.2/10. Of 24 name lookups, 21 returned a full entry in a median 0.40 seconds, and the main index lists 30,549 names. It is built for verifying meaning and origin, not for brainstorming: spelling without accents fails, and style filters are thin.

Etymology depth
9/10
Coverage
9/10
Speed
9/10
Name discovery
6/10
Interface
6/10
Price
10/10
  • Sourced etymologies that flag disputed origins instead of guessing
  • 30,549 names browsable, plus a reverse meaning dictionary
  • Free API and CC BY-SA name data downloads
  • Searching Siobhan or Bjorn without accents returned no definition
  • Entry depth swings from a 6-word history to 159 words
  • No style or vibe filters, so shortlisting is slow

Free to use · No account needed to browse

Methodology

How I tested it

Tested for
1 day
Plan paid
None (free site, no paid tier, logged out)
Version tested
Live site on October 25, 2026 (footer 1996-2026, jQuery 1.9.1 front end)
Prompts run
36
Test period
2026-10-25 → 2026-10-25
Test categories: Name lookups (24) • Meaning searches (6) • Anagram queries (4) • Name translation (1) • Random namer (1)

This is a one-day audit, not a 30-day diary, and I will not pretend otherwise. On October 25, 2026 I ran 36 standardised queries from a logged-out browser: 24 name lookups chosen to stress the database (Irish, Nigerian, Nahuatl, Japanese, Biblical, brand-new coinages like Nevaeh and Khaleesi, plus names that need accents), 6 searches in the reverse meaning dictionary, 4 anagram queries, 1 translation and 1 random draw. I timed every request, counted results, and read the pages the way a parent would. I also checked the footer, the front-end scripts, the API terms and the 30-year milestone page for the site's own numbers. Screenshots are mine. I could not test the logged-in features (saved lists, ratings, comments) or any mobile app, since I found none.

Should you use Behind the Name?

YES if you...

  • Parents who want the real origin of a name before they commit
  • Writers checking whether a character name fits a culture and period
  • Genealogy hobbyists tracing name variants across languages
  • Developers who need free name data under a clear license

NO if you...

  • Anyone who wants a ready-made shortlist by style or vibe
  • People who type names without accents and expect forgiveness
  • Brand founders hunting for a company name, since this is a given-name database
Pricing

What it costs: nothing, with conditions

There is no paid plan. The limits are on API use and data reuse.

Browsing

$0 forever

No account needed

  • All name entries and popularity tables
  • Meaning search, anagrams, translation and random namer
  • Baby Name Expert quiz
Most useful

Free account

$0 forever

Register to take part

  • Save names to personal lists
  • Rate names and comment
  • Request an API key

API and data

$0 with limits

For developers

  • 2 requests per second
  • 400 per hour and 4,000 per day
  • 400,000 per year
  • Name lists under CC BY-SA 4.0

ROI breakdown: The cost is your time. In my test a typical lookup took under half a second to load, so verifying ten shortlisted names takes a few minutes, not an evening.

Hidden costs & gotchas
  • Data downloads require attribution under CC BY-SA 4.0
  • API capped at 400 requests per hour, which blocks bulk jobs
  • The site loads an ad-management script, so ad units can appear for some visitors

What real users say, by platform

No platform exposes a verified aggregate rating for Behind the Name, so no stars are shown here. These cards report what each source actually contains.

Reddit (r/namenerds)

Qualitative

5 threads read in search excerpts. Repeated theme: the most reliable etymology source, links to its sources.

SmartCustomer

2.5 / 5

1 review (2016). Praised for name information, criticised for biased user comments.

Trustpilot

No profile

The review page for behindthename.com returned a 404 on October 25, 2026.

G2, Capterra, app stores

No listing found

Not a SaaS product and no official app surfaced in search.

Inside the product

A name page built around sources

Each entry stacks gender, usage, pronunciation, a meaning and history paragraph, related names across about 40 languages and popularity charts for 37 regions. Liam shows all of that on one scroll. The design is plain, but nothing is hidden behind a signup.

  • Usage tags and IPA pronunciation per language
  • Family tree of variants and cognates
  • Rank history by country, from national statistics
Behind the Name entry page for Liam showing meaning, usage, pronunciation and related names
Inside the product

The reverse dictionary is the hidden gem

Type a meaning, get names. The Name Meanings page offers shortcuts like strong, moon or beautiful plus flower, and every result is tagged by gender. It is the closest thing the site has to discovery, and it works better than most keyword filters.

  • Close and loose match lists
  • Combined meanings such as brave plus ruler
  • Ambiguous words ask which sense you mean
Behind the Name Name Meanings reverse dictionary page with themed meaning shortcuts
Testing

What I measured

All figures come from live requests on October 25, 2026.

Names in the browse index
30,549 results Source: the All Names page, October 25, 2026
Name lookups landing on a full entry
21 / 24 Siobhan and Bjorn returned no definition; Kai split into 4 entries
Median page load, name pages
0.40 s 24 requests, fastest 0.22 s, slowest 0.93 s
Full entries with pronunciation
18 / 21 Missing on Oluwaseun, Khaleesi and Elon
Median length of the history paragraph
44 words Range 6 words (Oluwaseun) to 159 (Matilda), 20 entries parsed
Meaning search: moon
44 close matches Plus 1,262 loose matches; flower returned 276 close
Site's own database size
41,000 given names, surnames and place names Source: the site's 30-year page, January 2026
Look up Liam, a name with a 2025 US number one ranking.
Full entry: Irish short form of William, IPA in four languages, 66 percent rating, related names in about 40 languages, rank history for 37 regions.
Liam entry on Behind the Name
Open the US popularity table for 2025.
Liam leads boys at 1.13 percent and Olivia leads girls at 0.77 percent, with year-over-year change shown. The page warns that different spellings are not combined.
US popular names 2025 table on Behind the Name
Open the random name generator and read the options.
Choose gender, up to 3 middle names, a surname and about 70 culture or fantasy categories. Rare names are included unless you tick avoid rare.
Random name generator options on Behind the Name
Balance sheet

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Etymologies cite sources and flag disputes Most entries link to references and say when an origin is uncertain, which is rare among baby name sites.
  • Huge cultural reach About 360 usage tags cover everything from Akan to Zulu, plus mythology and fiction.
  • Generous free data A free API with published limits and downloadable name lists under CC BY-SA 4.0.
  • Fast, light pages Median 0.40 seconds across 24 name requests, with no paywall interrupting a lookup.

Cons

  • Accent-sensitive search misses common spellings Siobhan and Bjorn returned 'no name definition found' and pointed to Siobhán and Björn. A parent typing quickly will hit this.
  • Entry quality is uneven between names Oluwaseun has a 6-word history and Saoirse 17, while Matilda has 159. Rarer names get thinner write-ups.
  • No style, vibe or sibling-match filters You can filter by usage, length and syllables, but not by feel. Nameberry-style lists are not what this site does.
  • Dated interface and front-end stack The pages load jQuery 1.9.1 from 2013. It works, but it looks and feels like 2008 next to modern apps.
  • Popularity data skips spelling variants The site states that different spellings are not combined, so Sophia and Sofia are ranked separately.
Verdict

Final verdict

8.2 /10

Behindthename earns its reputation, and the numbers back it up. In 24 name lookups, 21 gave me a full, sourced entry in under half a second at the median, and the reverse meaning dictionary found 44 close matches for moon in one click. That is a reference tool, and a good one.

Where it falls short is where a generator would help. It does not suggest names by style, it punishes missing accents, and the shortest entries read like stubs. If you arrive with a blank page, you will leave with a long list of usage tags and no direction.

My recommendation is to use it as the second step. Build a shortlist somewhere that filters by feel, then bring every candidate here and read the history paragraph and the related names. If the meaning matters to you, this is the check that stops you from naming a child after a made-up etymology. Score: 8.2 out of 10. Lose a point for discovery, a point for interface, and a few tenths for uneven entries.

Etymology depthCoverageSpeedName discoveryInterfacePrice
  • Etymology depth 9/10 Sourced, flags disputed origins
  • Coverage 9/10 30,549 names, about 360 usage tags
  • Speed 9/10 0.40 s median
  • Name discovery 6/10 Meaning search only, no vibe filters
  • Interface 6/10 Functional, dated
  • Price 10/10 Free, with API limits
See alternatives

Common questions

Is Behind the Name accurate?
In my test it was the most carefully sourced name site I opened, and Reddit's r/namenerds threads repeatedly call it the reliable one. The main collection is edited by one person, Mike Campbell, while the 385,000 user-submitted names are checked by volunteers, so treat those as less certain.
Is Behind the Name free?
Yes. There is no paid plan. Browsing needs no account, and a free account adds saved lists, ratings and API access with limits of 400 requests per hour and 4,000 per day.
Why does Behind the Name say no definition found?
The search is spelling-sensitive. Siobhan and Bjorn returned no definition in my test, while Siobhán and Björn exist as entries. Retype the name with its original accents.
How many names does Behind the Name have?
The browse index showed 30,549 results on October 25, 2026. The site's own page counts about 41,000 given names, surnames and place names in its main collection, plus 385,000 user submissions, some since deleted.
Does Behind the Name have an app?
I found no official app. The site is built for the browser, and its dark and light mode switch sits in the footer.
Can I use Behind the Name data in my own project?
Yes, within limits. The name lists are offered under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0, so you must credit the site and share derivatives alike. The API needs a free key.
Is Behind the Name good for choosing a baby name?
It is good for checking a name, weaker for finding one. The Baby Name Expert asks two questions, gender and region, and then learns from your feedback. For style-led browsing you will want another tool alongside it.
What is the best alternative to Behind the Name?
Nameberry is stronger on style lists and community, and Nameling suggests similar names from real usage patterns. Neither matches Behind the Name on sourced etymology, so many parents use two tools.

Update log

  1. Initial publication after a 36-lookup audit of the live site.
Last updated · 3 changes
Changelog · 3
  • seo_changed SEO fields updated
  • body_edited Body content edited
  • excerpt_changed Excerpt updated
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