Gorgeous Girl Names Starting with E
If you’re looking for a popular, well-liked girl names that start with E, no problem. An E name—Emily or Emma—has held the top spot for 18 of the past 22 years. And right now, there are 5 girls in the Top 15—in addition to the two Ems, there are Evelyn, Elizabeth and Ella.
But it’s very possible—if not probable—that you’d like your E-initialed daughter to not share her name with so many other girls. Well, you’re in luck, because there are so many great choices—classics on the cusp of revival, a variety of international picks, cute nicknames, even a nouveau arrival. Here are some of the best.
BEST CLASSIC GIRL NAMES STARTING WITH E
EDITH—Thanks in part to Downton Abbey, the soft and gentle, historic and literary Edith is now at #518 and 101 on NB. Nickname Edie is sometimes used on its own, a la Ellie and Evie.
EDWINA—Waiting to be rediscovered—especially when pronounced ed-WIN-a, Edwina has the choice of nicknames Winnie, Teddy and Eddie (possibly the next Frankie or Freddie).
ELIZA—One of the most winning of the Elizabeth nicknames, both stylish and spunky. Featured in, among others, Pride and Prejudice as Elizabeth Bennett‘s short form, My Fair Lady and Hamilton, Eliza is now zooming up the lists, #41 in the UK, and 131 in the US—yet doesn’t have an overused feel.
EMMELINE—A charming Em name still in the sweet spot, Emmeline entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2014. Christian Bale chose it for his daughter in 2005; Brits associate it with famous suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.
ETTA—A possible successor to Emma and Ella, Etta has a jazzy feel via great soul singer Etta James, who was an inspiration behind Carson Daly’s choice for his baby girl in 2012.
EULALIA—A lilting double-L saint’s name with the lovely meaning of “sweetly speaking,” Eulalia was used by Faulkner in Absalom, Absalom” and more recently dby Marcia Gay Hardin for her daughter. Also up fior consideration: Eudora and Eugenie.
BEST INTERNATIONAL GIRL NAMES THAT START WITH E
EBBA–This, the second most popular name in Sweden, is virtually unknown here and one of the prime international baby girl names. We can see it as another possible successor to Emma and Ella, with the cute nickname Ebbie.
EILIS(H)—This Irish form of Elizabeth or Alice, pronounced AY-lish or EYE-lish, as we learned via the Saoirse Ronan character in Brooklyn, is now tied to hot young singer Billie Eilish who took her middle birth name as her last.
ELODIE—Melodious and lyrical Elodie, though it hasn’t yet ranked nationally, is a solid hit on Nameberry, where’ it’s now #17. Elodie is the name of a young character in The Walking Dead series. Other enchanting French girl names starting with E: Edwige and Esmé.
ELSPETH—Another Elizabethan relative—this time from Scotland—with a sweet, almost childlike charm. You could also consider cousins Elsbeth or Embeth.
ESMERALDA—This lovely Spanish classic meaning ‘emerald’ starred in Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and was the pick of Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling for their first daughter; it currently ranks at #377, #31 in Mexico.
MORE GREAT GIRL NAMES STARTING WITH E
EFFIE –This vintage nickname for the old-fangled Euphemia reentered the contemporary world via the Elizabeth Banks character of Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games. It has an appealingly quirky, offbeat charm.
ELSIE—After a decades-long hiatus, Elsie is making a surprise comeback, now at #280 in the US, 22 in England and 72 in Scotland. Zooey Deschanel was in the vanguard of the revival when she named her daughter Elsie Otter in 2015.
EMBER –A surprisingly hot new entry that seemed to come out of nowhere, replacing the fading Amber. Ember came onto the Top 1000 in 2009 and quickly zoomed up to its present #209 after appearing in some animated series and video games.
ELLIS—This Welsh surname name is now being shared by the girls, debuting in the Top 1000 in 2015. Ellis Bell is remembered as Emily Bronte’s male pseudonym, and Ellis Grey was the mother of Dr. Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy.
EVEREST—When George and Mellody Hobson Lucas chose this aspirational name of the world’s highest mountain for their daughter—a lofty twist on Everett—they created an engaging unisex option that other parents are already picking up on.