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Girl Names That Start With a Vowel

  1. Undine

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "little wave"

    • Description:

      Mythological water spirit with the more common spelling of Ondine, heroine of an Edith Wharton novel.
  2. Ilana

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "oak tree"

    • Description:

      Ilana is a name with seemingly endless variations, well used in Israel, sometimes chosen for little girls born on the holiday of TuB'Shevat, the New Year of the Trees.
  3. Imara

    • Origin:

      Kiswahili

    • Meaning:

      "firm"

    • Description:

      This could make a hauntingly evocative name for an American child, striking the perfect balance of the unusual and the familiar. Imara's meaning adds further appeal placing it among the special class of girl names that mean strong, brave, or powerful.
  4. Africa

    • Origin:

      Place name, various meanings

    • Description:

      Most Africas today would be named for the continent, but the name actually existed in Scotland in medieval times, where there was a Celtic queen named Affrica. Africa has also been a Spanish name for girls since 1421. The church of the Virgin "Nuestra Senora de Africa" is in Ceuta, the Spanish city she is Patron of, in North Africa.
  5. Atlanta

    • Origin:

      American place name from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "Atlantic Ocean"

    • Description:

      The capital of Georgia is far from the ocean, but got its name from the Western and Atlantic Railroad which ran through the city. Best known as a hub of industry and transport, and for its roles in the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement, it has never been popular as a baby name despite sounding like one. Its peak popularity was in 1995, the year before Atlanta hosted the Olympic Games.

  6. Iman

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "faith"

    • Description:

      One of the best-known African names in the Western World because of the Somali-born model and wife of the late David Bowie.
  7. Oceane

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "ocean"

    • Description:

      Oceane (oh-see-EN) has been one of the chicest names in France for several years, ranking in the French Top 50. This is a sophisticated name that could easily cross the ocean, and is much more stylish than the English Ocean or Oceana.
  8. Unity

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "oneness"

    • Description:

      Like Verity and Amity, this inclusive virtue name used by the colorful British literary Mitford family is ready to join its more popular peers Hope, Faith, and Grace.
  9. Amedea

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "lover of God"

    • Description:

      Feminine form of Amadeus popular now in Italy and ripe for export. Might also be spelled Amadea. The preferred pronunciation is AHM-a-DAY-a but it may also be pronounced ah-MED-ee-a.
  10. Adair

    • Origin:

      English and Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "shallow place in a river near oaks"

    • Description:

      This undiscovered unisex name has lots of flair. It was first noticed as a girl's name, starting in the 1980's, on the long-running daytime drama Search for Tomorrow, with the character Adair McCleary, who had ahead-of-their-time brothers named brothers Hogan, Cagney and Quinn. But since Adair has yet to find many takers, it would make a fresh and appealing choice.
  11. Oleander

    • Origin:

      Botanical Name

    • Description:

      The name of this pretty Mediterranean shrub is reminiscent of vintage Olive, and interestingly its etymology appears to overlap too: oleander most likely derives from Greek rhododendron "rose tree", with its form successively influenced by laurea "laurel" and olea "olive tree".
  12. Amory

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "industrious"

    • Description:

      Amory is best known for the hero of Fitzgerald's 1920 This Side of Paradise, Princeton student Amory Blaine. Amory is in some danger of being borrowed by the girls, a la Avery. Alternate spellings Amori or Amorie also relate to the Latin word for love.
  13. Isabetta

    • Origin:

      Short form of Elisabetta, Italian variation of Elizabeth

    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"

    • Description:

      Isabetta is a charming spin on both the Elizabeth and Isabella families and a new way to go if you love the originals but want something more, well, original. Isabetta Rose is the name chosen by Amber and Rob Mariano for their daughter. If you're searching for Italian names for girls that make an easy transition to the English-speaking world, this should be high on your list.
  14. Ash

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Ashley, English

    • Meaning:

      "ash tree"

    • Description:

      Ash is a gender-neutral choice that calls to mind the '80s favorite: Ashley. But view it as a nature name -- as in the tree, not the charred bit of soot in the fireplace -- and it makes a cool choice that fits with today's trends.
  15. Aniceta

    • Origin:

      Latinized feminine form of Ancient Greek

    • Meaning:

      "unconquerable"

    • Description:

      A delicate name with strong roots, Aniceta is most often used in contemporary Spain. Saint Anicetus was an ancient pope and martyr.
  16. Engracia

    • Origin:

      Spanish from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "endowed with God's grace"

    • Description:

      Charming alternative to the overused Grace.
  17. Alcott

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "dweller at the old cottage"

    • Description:

      Intriguing alternative that goes beyond Louisa and May, for Little Women fans.
  18. Annik

    • Origin:

      Russian diminutive of Annika or Ann

    • Meaning:

      "grace"

    • Description:

      Annik is a pleasing combination of unusual and familiar. As first Ann and now Anna become overused, you might want to explore its wilder variations such as this Eastern European short form.
  19. Aloisa

    • Origin:

      German variation of Louisa

    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"

    • Description:

      Obscure form of an old-fashioned favorite that's poised to make a comeback. This version, which owes as much to Alison as to Louisa, has a stylish A beginning and a multi-syllabic feminine grace.
  20. Amoris

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "love"

    • Description:

      This Latin word for love is not traditionally used as a name, but why not? It's got a pretty sound and some distinctive flair. Variants Amori or Amorie can also be thought of as different spellings of Amory, which has a very different meaning and roots. Only downside: Sounds almost exactly like "amorous," meaning in the mood for love, which could provoke some adolescent teasing.