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Safe girl names and guilty pleasures

  1. Calico

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "cotton cloth imported from India; a blotched or spotted animal"

    • Description:

      A word name with fashionable o-ending that has associations with both the homespun fabric and the mottled cat. Alice Cooper named his daughter Calico decades ago.
  2. Solenne

    • Description:

      Solenne is a feminine French name derived from the Latin word 'sollemnis,' meaning 'solemn' or 'ceremonial.' In French culture, it carries connotations of dignity, grace, and reflection. The name has been consistently used in France for generations but remains relatively uncommon elsewhere. Solenne gained some international recognition in the late 20th century as cultural barriers diminished, though it retains its distinctly French character. Those named Solenne are often perceived as thoughtful, dignified, and possessing inner strength. The name's beautiful sound combined with its meaningful etymology makes it an elegant choice for parents seeking something traditional yet distinctive.

  3. Fifi

    • Origin:

      French diminutive of Josephine, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"

    • Description:

      Fifi is a perfect name -- for a French poodle. But Fifi may seem more child-friendly as names like Coco and Lulu rise. Fifi in its fluffiness also balances the seriousness of such full names as Josephine or Federica.
  4. Arizona

    • Origin:

      Place-name from Papago Indian

    • Meaning:

      "little springs"

    • Description:

      We usually think of place-names as a modern invention, but in fact Arizona ranked on the US Top 1000 from its inception in 1880 until 1911, when it vanished below the surface. It peaked at Number 510 in 1882, before Arizona became a state. One notorious vintage bearer: criminal "Ma" Barker, born Arizona Clark.
  5. Boheme

    • Origin:

      French word name

    • Description:

      "Girls Gone Child" blogger Rebecca Woolf made Boheme a first name when she gave it to one of her twin daughters (the other one's name is Reverie). La Boheme -- "The Bohemian" -- is a Puccini opera that was transmogrified into the modern play Rent. Boheme means a literary or artistic person who lives outside conventional society.
  6. Savita

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "sun, rouser, stimulator"

    • Description:

      Lively and bright, Savita is among the most popular Hindi names for girls, and one that could easily immigrate.
  7. Queenie

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "queen"

    • Description:

      Wisecracking waitress name stuck in the luncheonette. Started as nickname for girls named Regina -- queen in Latin -- now mostly a canine choice.
  8. Raphaela

    • Origin:

      Hebrew, feminine variation of Raphael

    • Meaning:

      "God has healed"

    • Description:

      A euphonious and lovely name with a dark-eyed, long-flowing-haired image, Raphaela is, like Gabriella and Isabella, beginning to be drawn into the American mainstream.
  9. Vala

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "singled out"

    • Description:

      Mystical overtones.
  10. Suvi

    • Origin:

      Finnish

    • Meaning:

      "summer"

    • Description:

      To the non-Scandinavian ear, a cute and unusual nickname name, used by Finnish supermodel Suvi Koponen. It has a zippy, yet sunny feel to it, and could make an interesting alternative to Susie.
  11. Osanna

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "praise the Lord; deliver us"

    • Description:

      An Italian form of expressive Hosanna, this spiritual name might appeal to those who enjoy nicknames Ozzy or Anna. Borne by a number of saints, including a 15th century Italian mystic, Osanna also appears as Ozana and Osanne in Romania and France respectively. The traditional Hosanna may work better however in English speaking countries if you want the religious expression to be obvious.
  12. Saffira

    • Origin:

      Variation of Sapphire

    • Description:

      Saffira is the softer, Latin variation of the English name Sapphire. In sound it is reminiscent of Zephyra.
  13. Filomena

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "lover of singing"

    • Description:

      See PHILOMENA.
  14. Safia

    • Description:

      Safia is a feminine name with Arabic origins, meaning 'pure' or 'clear.' It's a variant of the name Safiya (or Safiyyah), which has significant historical importance in Islamic tradition as it was the name of one of Prophet Muhammad's wives, known for her wisdom and purity of heart. Safia is used across diverse cultures including Arabic, Persian, Swahili, and various European communities. The name has a flowing, melodic quality that has contributed to its global appeal. While maintaining its cultural roots, it has gained popularity in Western countries for its elegant simplicity and beautiful meaning. The name conveys qualities of clarity, wisdom, and moral purity, making it a meaningful choice for parents from various cultural backgrounds.
  15. Ireland

    • Origin:

      Place name

    • Description:

      Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin put Ireland on the map when they chose it as a first for their daughter, saying that geographic names were a family tradition. And it seems they were a bit ahead of the curve (or trendsetting)—Ireland has been among the fastest-rising names of recent years. Other Irish place names include Shannon, Kerry, Galway, and Dublin.
  16. Sicily

    • Origin:

      Place-name

    • Description:

      Sicily is a lilting Italian place-name that sounds like the elegant British Cicely -- which you might consider a plus or a minus.
  17. Merry

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "lighthearted, happy"

    • Description:

      She'd better be. Merry is one of the classic names for Christmas babies.
  18. Felina

    • Description:

      Felina is a feminine name with Latin and Spanish origins, derived from 'felinus' meaning 'cat-like.' This evocative name suggests grace, independence, and mystery—qualities often associated with felines. While never extremely common in English-speaking countries, Felina gained some recognition through the Marty Robbins country song 'El Paso,' which features a character with this name. The name carries an exotic, romantic quality with its flowing sound and distinctive ending. Felina appeals to parents drawn to nature-inspired names with a touch of uniqueness and Latin flair. Its relative rarity makes it stand out while still being intuitive to pronounce and spell for most English speakers.

  19. Solina

    • Description:

      Solina is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may derive from Latin "sol" meaning "sun," suggesting brightness and warmth. In Slavic languages, particularly Polish, it could relate to salt (sól) or be a diminutive of names containing "sol." Solina is also the name of a village and reservoir in Poland. Alternatively, it might be a variation of Selina or Celina. The name has a melodic quality with its soft consonants and flowing vowels. While not widely common in any single culture, Solina has appeal across different regions for its pleasant sound and positive associations with light and warmth. Its international versatility makes it accessible while remaining distinctive and uncommon.
  20. Exa

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Achsah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "adorned"

    • Description:

      In the 21st century, Exa is best known as the given name of Grimes and Elon Musk's daughter Y, a sibling for X Æ A-XII. The celebrity parents were inspired by the supercomputer terms exaFLOPS, which is the "ability for a supercomputer to perform 1 quintillion floating-point operations per second."