My Favorite Female Fictional Character Names

Though Loretta has long ago lost its Latin flair, fashionable Sarah Jessica Parker's choice of it as the middle name of one of her twin daughters freshens it up a bit. It's one of several such names, like Anita and Rita that we can envision making a comeback.

Christina, a pretty and feminine, crystal clear classic, may be trending downward, but it's never out of style. Christina's short forms Chris, Christie, and Tina all seem dated—making the royal Christina best used in its full glory.

The quality of mercy makes this lovely Puritan virtue name a quiet favorite today. Although it was most popular in the late nineteenth century, Mercy is on its way to a comeback -- it rose 143 spots between 2012 and 2013, making it one of the year's fastest-rising names. Right now, it's still stylish and distinctive, a rare and wonderful combination.

A more modern nickname for Victoria than Vicky, Tori is used fairly frequently on its own, kept in the public eye by singer Tori Amos and actress Tori Spelling. Still, it's far from fashionable, sinking in the polls significantly since reaching a peak of Number 142 in 1994. It dropped out of the US popularity charts in 2021, and even earlier in the UK, perhaps owing to the sound-alike political party nickname.

Most familiar in the English speaking world as the Star Wars princess, Jedi, and leader, Leia can be considered a pop culture choice, created by George Lucas who in turn likely based it on the Biblical Leah. It has been in the US Top 1000 since the mid-2000s and is also a popular choice in the UK and Sweden.

This is a long-recognized smoosh name merging Anna with the short form of Elizabeth, and is one of the prettiest combo names, a possible alternative to Annabel.

Rey, a Ray-soundalike that has ranked on the boys' side for the past 15 years, is about to get more popular for girls too, now that it's the name of the new heroine of the latest Star Wars movie. While the sound of the name is nothing new, the royal connection is, joining names such as Reign (Kardashian) and Charlotte (the new Princess) in an expansive definition of royal baby names.

Sky may be a bit hippie-ish, but it's bright and sunny nonetheless. Sky rejoined the Top 1000 in 2013 after spending many years off the list. Sky was the choice of magician David Copperfield for his daughter, born in 2010.

"Help Me, Rhonda. sang the Beach Boys -- help me convince my parents not to give me this sixties name.

Simple but substantial, Lani is surprisingly underused considering the popularity of Lainey, Leilani, Lana, and Kehlani. A multi-cultural choice with both Hawaiian and English origins, it is also used in the Philippines, possibly as a variation of the modern Laarni, or as a twist on the word langit meaning "skies, heaven", which aligns with the Hawaiian meaning too.

Satine, the name of the Nicole Kidman character in Moulin Rouge,, is, by definition satiny smooth. Jacinda Barrett named her daughter Satine Anais.

An attractive enough name, but for die-hard Star Wars fans only.

Amy and all her sisters and cousins was such a popular name that this version was among the Top 1000 girl names in the US until the mid-90s. Last year only 32 baby girls were names Amie.

Adelice is a delicate feminine name with French and Germanic roots. It likely derives from the Germanic elements 'adal' meaning 'noble' and 'ice' serving as a feminine suffix. It can be viewed as a variant of Adelaide or Adelais, with a softer, more flowing quality. The name has a vintage charm combined with a modern feel in its streamlined form. Though uncommon in usage statistics, Adelice offers an elegant alternative to more popular choices like Alice or Adeline. Its melodic three-syllable pronunciation gives it a graceful rhythm, while its rarity makes it distinctive. The name suggests refinement and gentility while remaining accessible in pronunciation.

Ellington's popularity may be inspired by jazz great Duke, but the name is used slightly more often for girls today, perhaps because of its trendy El- beginning. Like a host of other El- names, from the familiar Ella to Eleanor to the more niche Elodie and Elula, Ellington carries the popular Ellie nickname.

Aleda is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be derived from the German name Adelaide, meaning 'noble kind' or 'noble type,' offering a more streamlined variation. Alternatively, it could be connected to Alida, with Germanic roots meaning 'small winged one,' or to the Latin word 'alae' meaning 'wings.' In some contexts, it's considered a variation of Aleida or Alyda. Aleda has a delicate, flowing quality that combines vintage charm with contemporary appeal. The name enjoys occasional use across several European countries and in North America but remains uncommon enough to be distinctive. Its brief three-syllable structure gives it a melodious sound that's easy to pronounce across various languages. Aleda might appeal to parents seeking a name with classical roots that isn't frequently used.