Names That Mean Female

Aviatrix

Latin

"female aviator"

Aviator is equally appropriate for a girl, of course, but lovers of Beatrix and Bellatrix might appreciate the spiky sound of this unique occupational name.

Vindemiatrix

Latin

"female wine harvester"

Vindemiatrix is the third-brightest star in Virgo. Located 110 lightyears away, it marks the eastern lip of the large semi-circular pattern known as the "Bowl of Virgo", which is visible in spring.…

Sister

English

"a female who has one or both parents in common with another"

Sister is an old-timey nickname-name for girls, ranking in the Top 1000 as a proper name for girls until the beginning of the 20th century. But more often, Sister was used as a nickname in the truest…

Alumna

Latin word name

"female graduate of an institution"

Born by Elisabeth Moss in Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch . Like many things in the Wes Anderson universe, this name just transcends reality.

Asella

Latin

"small female donkey"

Asella is ultimately derived from the Latin word asinus , meaning "donkey." As a word, asella would have been used to refer to a small female donkey. Though both Latin in origin, with similar…

Shepardess

English occupational name

"female shepherd, sheep herder"

You're probably better off using Shepherd or Shepard on a daughter rather than trying to feminize it.

Urszula

Polish variation of Ursula, Latin

"little female bear"

Alda

Feminine variation of Aldo, German, or Old Norse

"old or wave"

Alda's brother name Aldo has been a mainstay of the U.S. popularity chart for decades now, and the related Alden is soaring up as well. This version has never really caught on. (Maybe it's the…

Amica

Latin

"female friend"

Amica is a word meaning girlfriend that is not often used as a name in Italy, but it would sound pretty and name-like elsewhere.

Doe

English

"a female deer"

Doe is a soft and gentle-eyed middle name possibility and, like Fawn, one of the few animal names open to girls. The Ballad of Baby Doe is a modern American opera based on the story of Elizabeth…

Hermia

Greek, female form of Hermes

"cairn, pile of stones, boundary marker"

Though we've gotten used to Hermione via Harry Potter , and even Hermes with its godlike and fashion associations, most people would still have a problem with Hermia (too close to hernia?) and…

Fabia

Latin female variation of Fabian

"bean grower"

Fabia is one of several pleasant international-accented female versions of Fabian.

Leontyne

English female form of Leontios, Greek

"lion"

Almost exclusively associated with opera diva Leontyne Price. If you want to use the suddenly-stylish Leontyne, we'd recommend the French Leontine spelling.

Leontine

French female form of Leontios, Greek

"lion"

Leontine is the French form of a name that's more familiar by its spelling variation Leontyne, the name made famous by opera diva Price. An obscure choice, Leontine nevertheless feels right for our…

Orsa

Italian variation of Ursula

"little female bear"

The advantage of Orsa over the arguably-more-attractive Ursula is that it breaks the tie to the hideous she-witch of The Little Mermaid. Orsa definitely feels more ready for modern life now that…

Orsola

Italian variation of Ursula

"little female bear"

Orsola is chic in Italy in a way that Ursula is not in the U.S. And English speakers will inevitably hear this chic, sleek name as Ursula, condemned to purgatory as the name of the hideous sea-witch…