Strong Girl Names

Akshara is a unisex name taken from one of the names of Lord Vishnu.

Feeney is an Irish surname found mostly in northwest Ireland. It may rise in the US as a first name for girls along with such Irish surnames as Riley and Kennedy. Feeney might also be considered an out-of-the-box short form of Josephine.

Distinctive Native-American choice with forceful meaning.

This unique one-syllable name was added to the mix by Mariel Hemingway for her now grown model/actress daughter; it could make a distinctive middle name or Bree substitute.

Slightly awkward girl's version of a straightforward male name.

A sophisticated girls' name for those attracted to Leona, Leonie and Leonore.

Romy lovers, here's a new one for you! Romary is a surname with French and Scottish roots and has historically been a masculine given name in France. It would be a great choice on either sex, but feels slightly more feminine with the -mary ending and Romy nickname.

If you want a pan-Scandinavian name with energy and style that could have been a winner, if not for the sound-alike water filtration company Brita.

Conceivable middle name choice for admirers of flyer Amelia.

Beren is a gender-neutral name that's rare in the US, given last year to 20 baby boys and only five baby girls. But it's simple, distinctive, and yes, strong, plus it comes with an amazing nickname -- Berry.

Bridget variation that's the root of the unattractive nickname Biddy. Bedelia is another spelling.

An ancient saint's name belonging to an 8th century English missionary. Variants include Walpurga and Walpurgis.

Familiar in Brazil, Tamires is a Portuguese variation of the strong Tomyris, a name borne by an ancient warrior queen of Massagetae (modern-day Turkmenistan) who defeated Cyrus the Great when he tried to invade her country. Also spelled as Thamyres, Thamyris, Tamyris, and Tamiris to list a few, it is a no-frills yet regal choice.

In the Bible, Elim is an oasis where the Israelites stopped during their Exodus from Egypt. It is a place of plenty representing the natural blessings of God, with twelve springs of fresh water and seventy date palm trees to provide food and shade.

Predominantly used in Nepal and India, Srishti, also spelled Sristi, is a name of Sanskrit origin that relates to creation of different kinds. As a Hindu concept, it refers to the work of creating the world.

Israeli-born singer Keren Ann introduced this traditional Hebrew name to the US, where it could well be mistaken for Karen. Nevertheless, 100 girls were given the name in a recent year.

Uncommon choice too reminiscent of "bidet". Try Bridie instead.

Mystical and romantic with a charmingly Old Norse feel, Solveiga is the variant of Solveig that is found in Latvia and Lithuania.

Evokes picture-postcard image of colorful Indonesia. Bali Barret is a Paris fashion insider who oversees women's style for Hermes. Bali rhymes with tally or galley.

With a meaning like "elf power," Alfreda could find some appeal among fantasy enthusiasts. "Freda" makes for a pleasant nickname.