Three Syllable Names for Girls

The queen of the Amazons in Greek legend, daughter of Ares. Hippolyte was killed by Herakles in order to obtain her magic girdle. In a confusing twist, Hippolyte is also the name of her son.

Hippolyte

Nick Cannon use this, well, powerful name for his daughter, born in 2020. It joins the ranks of other strong adjective baby names, such as Noble, Epic, Sovereign, and Brave.

Powerful

The Modern Greek form of Elpis. A lovely meaning with a sound reminiscent of vintage names like Elmira and Elvira, this name could nod to Greek heritage... or simply to hope.

Elpida

The name of a male lunar deity in Maori mythology, Marama is nevertheless now used as a female name in New Zealand – no doubt because its warm sound lends itself to contemporary feminine trends. In Tahitian, it means "bright, clear".

 Notable bearers include politician Marama Davidson, broadcaster Marama Martin and actress Marama Corlett.

Marama

Names ending in -ari are some of the top picks among unisex names, as they are largely genderless and infinitely customizable. Some parents likely use Jahari as a variation of the traditional name Johari, but many others come by the name as their own creation.

Jahari

Not a traditional name for a person, but this Slavic word has a lyrical, namelike sound. Koliada was an ancient festival that was incorporated into Christmas, and the word lives on in several Slavic languages to denote festive traditions. It possibly derives from a god or goddess of the returning sun, so it could be a name for a midwinter or new year baby.

Koliada

Onnolee is a name immortalized in American legend. She was the last surviving member of the Munsee tribe of Native Americans, native to the Finger Lakes region of New York. In the 14th century, Onnolee was captured by Mickinac, the leader of the Mengnee tribe who slaughtered the Munsees. She stole an unsuspecting Mickinac's knife from his sheath and stabbed him in the heart before fleeing and jumping to her death. Onnolee's ghost is said to haunt the region.
 
Her legend was well known throughout New York state, where the name has been used sparingly — particularly in the 1910s and '20s.
 
Onnolee resembles more common names like Annalee and Annalie but is etymologically unrelated. It is likely an Anglicization of a Native American name, although its origins are unknown.
 
It's a beautiful historic name with ties to a badass heroine. Onnolee could be a particularly meaningful choice if you have connections to upstate New York.

Onnolee

Acâhkosak

Elizabeth Holmes named the baby daughter she had during her trial for the Theranos fraud Invicta, perhaps symbolizing that her conviction does not mean defeat. Her Invicta goes by Ivy.
 
Invicta has been used in mottoes since ancient Roman times, including Roma Invicta, which means Rome Undefeated, and the motto of contemporary Kent, in England. Invicta combines two trends, for word names and Ancient Roman names, in one original name.

Invicta

Fleetwood Mac introduced the world to Rhiannon, but Arianrhod is a lesser-known woman of Welsh legend. Strap in, this is a name story! 

In the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, a medieval tale, she gives birth to the protagonist Lleu Llaw Gyffes and places a curse on him that he will never have a name or weapons unless she himself gives them to him. Later she is tricked into doing so. 

The meaning of her name has led some to speculate that she may have a connection to the moon in the distant past, though there is no firm evidence.
Her home in the tale, Caer Aranrhod (showing an alternative spelling), is nowadays a rock off the coast of north-west Wales that is visible at low tide.

Arianrhod

Real name of American rapper Cardi B, born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar. It is possibly inspired by the Latin American name Belkis, derived from Bilqis, the name of the Queen of Sheba in Islamic tradition.

Belcalis

The exact meaning of Castania is unknown, but it is likely related to the Italian word castana, meaning "brown". Some sources connect this name to the Spanish castaña, "chestnut", but there is no evidence behind that meaning.

Castania

Svanhild

Diminutive of Mairead, the Irish form of Margaret.

Réidín

Gasira is a journeyed name with an ancient history. It started as the Arabic word gezira (also commonly transliterated as jazira and jazeera), meaning "island," and sometimes "peninsula."
 
Somalia and the Arabian Peninsula (jazīratu l-ʿarab) have long been connected — first via the Silk Road in the 2nd century BCE. The cultural exchange between the regions included language, of course, and gezira became a familiar term on Africa's eastern coastlines.
 
The name of the island nation Madagascar is derived from the Greek Madai Gesira, later Madai Gasira, ultimately from the Arabic gesira al malai, meaning "island of the Malagasy."
 
It is unclear exactly when Gasira evolved into a name. It may be influenced by the Swahili word jasiri, meaning "brave." Today, Gasira is a rare but familiar name among Somali speakers, typically used in Somalia and Kenya.

Gasira

Attractive elaboration of Gaia, the Greek mother goddess.

Gaiana

A dashing French surname name most famously borne by Henry David Thoreau, an American naturalist, writer and philosopher who influenced such notable figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. The most common modern American pronunciation is "thor-OH", with emphasis on the final syllable, although Thoreau himself pronounced it "THOR-oh".

 The origins of the surname are not entirely clear, although one possibility is that it derives from a diminutive form of the Old French tor, meaning "bull" (the root of the modern French word taureau). A fitting choice for a Taurus baby!

 Thoreau may also be related to the Norse name Thor "thunder", or to the Germanic name Theodoric and its French form Thierry "ruler of the people".

 With its on-trend sound and literary pedigree, Thoreau certainly makes for a rare but appealing choice. Zac and Kate Hanson used it as a middle name for their fifth child, born in 2021.

Thoreau

The last month of the Aztec calendar, with nickname options including Calli and Izzy.

Izcalli

Myla Rose combines the contemporary first name Myla with the classic middle name Rose. Myla likely evolved as a variant of Mila or possibly as a shortened form of names like Mikayla. It has gained modest popularity in the 21st century as parents sought fresh alternatives to more common names. Rose, with its floral connection and timeless appeal, has been a popular middle name for generations, offering a traditional balance to the more modern Myla. As a combination, Myla Rose achieves a pleasing rhythm and blend of new and traditional elements. The pairing creates a feminine, graceful impression while maintaining contemporary appeal, ideal for parents seeking a name that's distinctive yet accessible and anchored in tradition.

Myla-rose

Djilyna

 abound on Nameberry, with over 10,000 names on this list containing three syllables.

That's an overwhelming number of choices of names for baby girls with three syllables, which provide a good balance for shorter surnames.

To help narrow down your choice, see our list of The Best 

The full list of over 10,000 three syllable names for baby girls, with meanings, origins, and popularity, including top 3 syllable girl names and unique girl names with three syllables. (Page 1330)

Three Syllable Girl Names