Three Syllable Names for Girls

Biblical name long associated with the fallen-yet-redeemed Mary Magdalen, now rising improbably into the ranks of the fashionable among parents hungry for classic yet distinctive girls' names. The Magdalene and Magdalena versions are perhaps even more stylish. Can be shortened to Maggie or Magda but the full version is prettiest. One of our new favorites!
Madeleine and its variations is a form of Magdalen. The meaning of both names sometimes varies as place name Magdala is Aramaic for "high tower," so that may be considered an alternate meaning.

Magdalen

An interesting and rhythmic name often heard in the Native American community; in fact,in the Gold Rush era in California and Nevada, it was so common that it became a generic English term for a Native American woman.
 The great gospel singer Mahalia Jackson's birth name was actually Mahala, though she grew up being called by her nickname, Halie.

Mahala

Mahani

The name of a wise and beautiful 10th century BC Ethiopian queen, probably the same person as the Queen of Sheba, who visited Solomon in the Old Testament.

Makeda

Malayiah is a modern feminine name that has emerged in recent decades, likely as a creative variation combining elements of names like Malaya, Malia, or Isaiah with a unique spelling. The name has a melodious quality with its flowing syllables and may appeal to parents seeking a distinctive yet musical-sounding name. While not among the most common names, Malayiah has seen limited usage in the United States as part of the trend toward invented names with appealing sounds. The name might evoke associations with freedom (via connection to Malaya, meaning "free") or could be appreciated simply for its rhythmic, contemporary feel and distinctive character.

Malayiah

Malerie is a feminine name representing a modern variant of Valerie or Mallory. With French and Latin influences, it likely derives from either the Latin "valere" meaning "to be strong" or possibly relates to "mal" meaning "bad" in French, though used in a playfully ironic way. The spelling with "ie" instead of "y" gives the name a softer, more contemporary feel. Though less common than similar names like Mallory or Valerie, Malerie gained modest popularity in the United States during the 1990s and early 2000s. The name carries a gentle yet distinctive quality that balances familiarity with uniqueness, making it appealing to parents seeking something recognizable but not overly common.

Malerie

Maleya

Manaia is one of the most popular gender-neutral names in New Zealand, on that country's Maori Top 10 for boys but used nearly equally for girls.

Manaia

Maryclaire is a feminine compound name combining the traditional Mary with Claire. Mary derives from Hebrew origins meaning 'bitter' or 'beloved,' while Claire comes from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear' or 'bright.' This combination emerged as parents sought to honor the classic name Mary while giving it a distinctive twist. Maryclaire gained modest usage in the mid-20th century, particularly in Catholic families where it honored the Virgin Mary while adding individuality. The name creates a bridge between generations—respectful of tradition yet slightly updated. It offers versatility with potential nicknames including Mary, Claire, MC, or Mari. Though never reaching high popularity rankings, Maryclaire maintains an elegant, timeless quality with religious associations balanced by its fresh compound nature.

Maryclaire

Mattilyn is a contemporary feminine name that blends elements of traditional names with modern styling. It appears to be a creative variation combining Matilda (meaning 'strength in battle') with the popular '-lyn' suffix seen in names like Madelyn and Brooklyn. This construction gives the name both familiarity and uniqueness. The double 't' spelling adds a distinctive visual element. Mattilyn emerged primarily in the 2000s as parents increasingly sought personalized variations of classic names. While not among the most common names, it fits well with current naming trends favoring elaborate feminine names with familiar sounds but unique spellings. The name projects a sweet yet substantial quality with its melodic three-syllable rhythm.

Mattilyn

Maylea

This melodic name of East African origin appears in Mufasa: The Lion King, the prequel (and sequel) to the Disney animated classic. In the film, it is the title of a song which describes a promised paradise where everything is bountiful. 
 
Occasionally used as a unisex name in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Papua New Guinea, and Tanzania, it comes from a Swahili word meaning "forever, constantly" or "eternity, infinity".

Milele

Miori

Myleah

Myomi may be viewed in several ways: a spin on the Japanese names Miyomi (meaning "beautiful, era or generation (of) fruit and abundance) or Mayomi (meaning "absolute + generation + beautiful") or as a twist on Nyomi or Naomi, perhaps blended with Mya or Miar (giving the meaning "my pleasantness" or "my beloved pleasantness"). 
 
First appearing in the US stats in 2019, a recent year saw it given to 15 girls (the highest number yet).

Myomi

A beautiful name with a meaning befitting a treasured baby, Nadira is a feminine form of Nadir. Also spelled as Nadirah and appearing as Nadire in Albanian and Turkish, it means "precious, rare", though is sometimes listed as meaning "treasured" and "unique" too. 
 
Similar in sound or appearance to other international choices like Mira and Nadia, Nadira could work in multiple languages. 
 
It has been notably borne by actresses Nadira Babbar and Nadira (Florence Ezekiel) and by singer and TV host Nina Nadira. There are characters called Nadira in the novel Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel, and in the Islamic legends of Hatra, in which Al-Nadirah is a princess who falls in love with the king besieging her city.

Nadira

Naeli could be a variation of the Zapotec Nayeli, with its endearing meaning of "I love you", or it could be a spin on the recently popular Nael ("blessed, generous"), or even of Nailea ("attainer"). The name has been predominantly used in Brazil, though a recent year saw it given to 15 American girls (three times the number it ever has been before). 

Naeli

Nakiya

Nasiyah

Neomi is one of many forms of the classic Biblical name Naomi, the Old Testament mother of Ruth. With Naomi now ranking among the Top 50 girl names in the US and -omi names on trend, variations such as Neomi are sure to become more popular.
 
Neomi also doubles up as a Japanese name, meaning "sound, thread and good result" or "beautiful sound" depending on the kanji elements used.
 
As a variation of Naomi, it could be said as nee-O-mee or nay-O-mee, while as a Japanese name, it would be NEH-O-MEE.

Neomi

 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 163)

Three Syllable Girl Names