By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 776 pages
of 776
Swedish and Danish
"Thor's temple; Thor's strength"
Greek, feminization of Fotis or Fotios
"light"
Toula came to light as the name of the heroine of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," short for Fotoula, a variant of Fortini, a feminine version of Fotis or Fotios, meaning "light". Toula is cute and…
Spanish place name
Triana is a Top 50 girls' name in Spain largely unknown and unused in the US: Only 10 baby girls in the US were given the name in 2017. Also a surname, Triana is the name of a distinctive…
Scandinavian
"will, determination"
Ulla, the beautiful Swedish secretary in The Producers (played by Uma Thurman in the movie) who purrs, "Ven you got it, flaunt it," has changed the image of this name forever. Ulla may stand on its…
Sanskrit
"knowledge, science, learning"
Looking for a strong girls' name that is based on brains rather than looks? Consider Vidya, a name popular throughout Asia, which is connected to the Hindu goddess Sarasvati, who is thought to…
Variation of Wallace, English, Scottish, Norman
"a Welshman, Celt"
Strong but breezy with the unisex charm of Ellis and Hollis, this name was famously borne by Wallis Simpson (born Bessie), the woman for whom English king Edward VIII abdicated his throne in the 20th…
English
"wooded meadow"
An English surname originally denoting someone living near a farmstead in the forest. Makes a sweet and unusual addition to the -ley name family.
Modern Invented
Wren is one of the trendiest girl names in recent years, and the longer forms Wrenley and now Wrenlee are firmly in the Top 1000 as well. This leads to Wrenlyn, which combines the popular wren prefix…
Galician variation of Jane, English
"God is gracious"
Juana with an X factor. Xoana is a Jane variant hailing from Galicia, an autonomous community in Spain.
Yaren is a modern unisex name with Turkish origins, though it appears here as feminine. In Turkish, it carries meanings of "friend," "companion," or "loved one." The name has risen in popularity in…
Yasna is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins and rich spiritual significance. In Zoroastrianism, one of the world's oldest continuously practiced religions, 'Yasna' refers to primary…
Diminutive of Zelda, Yiddish, English
"gray fighting maid"
Cute and quirky Zeldy adds some extra zip to Zelda — which is making its way back up the charts after decades out of the Top 1000.
Modern invented name
The advent of Zemi is likely due to the ultra-stylish name Remi, which has been picking up steam for girls and boys. Zemi debuted in 2020, when it was given to six baby girls. In the Taíno culture of…
Zenya is a contemporary feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant of Xenia, which derives from Greek meaning "hospitality" or "foreign," or it could be related to the Russian…
Abbi is a feminine name that serves as a diminutive form of Abigail, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'my father's joy' or 'source of joy.' This shorter variant offers a contemporary, friendly feel…
Abria is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variation of Aubrey (meaning 'elf ruler' from Germanic origins), a feminine form of Abri (Hebrew for 'father of multitudes'), or…
Acey is a rare feminine name with several possible origins. It may have developed as a diminutive of names containing the 'ace' sound, such as Asenath or Acacia, or as a nickname for names beginning…
Akan, Ghanaian
"born on Monday"
Adwoa is a given name used for women born on Monday in Western Africa, particularly Ghana and some parts of Togo and Ivory Coast. The male equivalent is Kwadwo. The most famous people with this name…
Aerial is a feminine name with English origins, drawing inspiration from the word 'aerial' meaning 'of the air' or 'lofty.' This ethereal name evokes images of lightness, freedom, and…
Allene is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive as a variation of Aileen or Eileen (from the Gaelic 'Eibhlín,' meaning 'bright, shining one'), or it could be a feminized form…
