Saint Names for Girls

Abra is soft, sensitive feminine form of Abraham that was the name of a soft, sensitive character in the John Steinbeck book and movie, "East of Eden." In the bible, Abra was a favorite of King Solomon and it was a popular name in seventeenth century England. Abra is also a West African name used for girls born on Tuesday. The magical 'abracadabra' is thought to have originated in the Aramaic language.

How can a strong simple name like Cera remain so uncommon? Only five baby girls were named Cera in the US last year.

Attractive ancient name borne by several saints but sullied by association with yeast infection.

Though often heard in the Hispanic and Italian communities, it hasn't made an impact here, perhaps because of the connection to the character of Faust and his pact with the devil. Variations: FAUSTINA, FAUSTIA, FAUSTIANA

St Quiteria was a second-century virgin martyr who was killed after refusing to renounce her Christian faith in order to marry.

Vincenza makes romance of Vincent. Vincenza Gerosa was one of the founders of the Sisters of Charity of Lovere and was later made a saint.

Melodic and unusual, and she will outgrow any bib jokes.

Nympha sounds like it might be a modern invented name in the trendy mythological group, but it is actually an Ancient Greek name mentioned in the Bible. And there is an obscure St. Nympha, one of the patrons of Palermo.

Michelina Matelli was a wealthy Italian woman who became a nun. She was made Saint Michelina in the 1700s.

Although the saintly Gratia was male -- Blessed Gratia of Kotor -- this name feels quite female today.

The strong and unusual name of a medieval (male) saint and a contemporary (female) novelist, Benilde Little.

Unfortunately, everyone will hear Crispina, the feminine form of Crispin, as Christina.

A rare saint name, more commonly transcribed in its French form, Maxellende, Maxellendis is associated with a 7th-century French martyr, who is invoked to cure eye diseases and is considered the patron saint of the visually impaired.

Tekakwitha was a 17th-century Mohawk woman, who survived the smallpox epidemic that killed her family. She is known for rejecting pressures from those around her to give up her Catholic beliefs and to marry someone who they approved of instead. She later fled her village and converted to Catholicism.

A sleek, more elaborate alternative to Maxine, Maxeline is a rare name of French origin, derived from the saintly name Maxellende. St. Maxellende is the patron saint of the visually impaired and invoked to cure eye diseases.

Justa is an ancient saints' name. Saints Justa and Rufina were martyred sisters who are today the patron saints of Seville in Spain.

As Joaquin enters the American mainstream, his sister might just follow.

This fairly obscure saint's name was chosen by Oscar-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden for one of her twins.

Bernardine is really driving home its Bernard connection, for better or worse. Bernadine is the usual form of this name.

Domitilla is the name of the wife of the Roman emperor Vespasianus and the mother of the emperors Titus and Domitianus. There is a Santa Domitilla with catacombs in Rome named after her.