Three Syllable Names for Girls

In Hebrew, Areli is a masculine name borne by a minor character in the Bible, and combining the appealing sounds of Ari and Eli and giving it the meaning "lion of God". In this case, it would be pronounced as uh-REE-lye.
 
As a Spanish name, it may well be a variation of the Hebrew name, however, it could equally be a contracted form of Araceli. Pronounced slightly differently and with the softer ah-REH-lee sound, it's likely that it was this celestial Spanish influence that pushed Areli into the US popularity charts in the 2000s. Alternative spelling Arely has made the Top 1000 in recent years.

Areli

Ariela is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'lioness of God' or 'lion of God.' It is a feminine variant of Ariel, combining 'ari' (lion) with 'el' (God). The name appears in various cultures including Jewish, Spanish, and Italian communities. Ariela offers a more distinctly feminine form than the unisex Ariel, which has been used for both genders. The name has maintained modest but steady popularity in Israel and has gained some traction in the United States and Spanish-speaking countries. Parents might be drawn to Ariela for its melodic quality, biblical connections, and beautiful meaning. The name conveys strength and spiritual significance while maintaining a gentle, feminine sound.

Ariela

The Selina spelling swims below the Top 1000, which it fell off more than 15 years ago. Still, more than 160 baby girls were named Selina in 2023, compared with over 1300 named Selena and more than 1000 called the fashion-friendly Celine. 

The Selina spelling was used for the Julia Louis-Dreyfus character on Veep and is also the spelling used by Catwoman alter-ego Selina Kaye. 

While Selina looks as if it might be pronounced sel-eye-na and undoubtedly is by some bearers, its proper pronunciation is sel-ee-na.

Selina

Antonia is stronger than most feminized <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys’ names</a>, reflecting the pioneer spirit of Willa Cather's classic novel My Antonia. Antonia is hovering near the bottom of the US popularity list, which may be an excellent reason for you to use it.
 Antonia was borne by several prominent women in ancient Rome, including the mother of the Emperor Claudius. A recent distinguished namesake is British historian/biographer Lady Antonia Fraser. It is also the full name of actress Nia Vardalos.

Antonia

Deriving from the names Sania, meaning "second" or Saniyya meaning "brilliant", it is the single Y spelling that has been preferred in the US, probably owing to its similarity to popular Aaliyah. The name entered the Top 1000 in 2004 but has been out of favor since 2019 when it disappeared from the charts. Still given to 150 girls each year however, it easily crosses cultures and gets you to the possible nickname Sunny. 


Saniyah

Most familiar as the name of Tony Soprano's wife, but she spelled it Carmela. In the contemporary US, both Carmella and Carmela are used in near-equal numbers, given to a total of about 300 baby girls last year.

These Latinate versions are used much more frequently in the US than Carmel.

Carmella

The original versions of Micaela have morphed into all manner of "inventive" spellings -- Makayla, McKalla et al -- but we prefer the genuine international versions, like this one.

Micaela

Zahara, a delicate but strong multicultural name, came into the spotlight when Angelina Jolie bestowed it on her Ethiopian-born daughter, and we predict other parents will adopt it as well. If you want something simpler than Zahara, consider Zara, a royal name in England--but also the name of a Spanish-based clothing store chain.


Zahara

Eliyanah is a feminine name with Hebrew origins, considered a variant of Eliana, meaning "God has answered" or "my God has answered me." This beautiful name combines elements of the name Elijah (Eliyahu in Hebrew) with feminine endings. Eliyanah carries spiritual significance for many families, often chosen to express gratitude for a child or to reflect religious devotion. The name has gained modest recognition in recent years, particularly in Jewish communities and among parents seeking names with biblical connections but a contemporary sound. Its melodic quality with flowing syllables gives it a graceful, feminine feel while its meaning provides depth and significance beyond aesthetic appeal.

Eliyanah

A feminine name heard most often in the Hispanic community. Surprisingly, Lorena was on the US Top 1000 list of <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls' names</a> for an impressive 130 years, from 1880 until falling off in 2011. We do not predict an imminent return.

Lorena

Althea is a poetic, almost ethereal name found in Greek myth and pastoral poetry, associated in modern times with the great tennis player Althea Gibson, the first African-American to win at Wimbledon. 
 
Althea appears in Greek mythology as the mother of the hero Meleager and was revived by the seventeenth-century poet Richard Lovelace as a poetic pseudonym for his beloved.
 
These days, parents would also appreciate the short form Thea.
 
Althea is the most common girl name in the Philippines.

Althea

Elayna is a modern variant of Elena or Elaine, names with rich historical backgrounds. Elena derives from Greek origins meaning "bright, shining light," while Elaine has Celtic roots connected to Helen. This specific spelling emerged in the 20th century as parents sought familiar names with distinctive spellings. Elayna offers a slightly more phonetic approach while maintaining the melodic quality of its traditional counterparts. The name has gained moderate popularity since the 1980s, particularly in North America. With its flowing sound and familiar but uncommon spelling, Elayna strikes a balance between uniqueness and accessibility. The name often evokes images of elegance and brightness, true to its etymological origins.

Elayna

Though never as popular as the name of her Bewitched mother, Samantha, Tabitha has its own quirky, magical charm. The name of a charitable woman who was restored to life by Saint Peter in the Bible, it was a popular Puritan choice. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick chose it for one of their twin daughters, which gave it a slight boost. Nonetheless, Tabitha remains in decline.
 One of Beatrix Potter's storybook characters is a cat called Tabitha Twitchet, and indeed the nickname Tabby is decidedly feline; other old nicknames are Tibby and Tabea.
 A contemporary bearer is author Tabitha King, AKA Mrs. Stephen, and Tabitha Soren was an MTV news reporter. In The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, one of the quartet of friends is Tabitha Rollins, whose nickname is Tibby. Tabitha Smith is a comic book super hero in the Marvel Universe.

Tabitha

Unlike most creative spellings, this one isn't overly trendy or overdone—in fact, it's quite delicate and pretty. However, it is clearly suffering from the plethora of similar names that are flowing around right now (Emelie, Emilia, Emily, Emilee, Amelie, Amelia) and has fallen more than 300 spots since 2013. It might be time for Emilie and her sisters to be left alone for a while.

Emilie

Amber begot Ember expanded into Emberly, Emberlyn, and Emberlynn -- and undoubtedly many more variations. Emberlyn has a rhythmic Kimberly vibe too, so it might be an honor name for a grandma Amber, Kim, or Lynn.

Emberlyn

A lilting Japanese name that may be familiar outside of Japan, owing to the manga and anime series Miyori no Mori or "Miyori's Forest". The meaning varies depending on what Kanji combination is used, but "beautiful generation", "sincere and trustworthy" and "peace of mind, heart, and spirit" are a few possibilities.

Miyori

An elegant, powerful, and multi-cultural name with various origins. Used occasionally in the US since the 80s, the name has seen more significant use since the mid-2010s and is now given to around 130 girls each year. 
 
 In Arabic, Zamira can mean "thought and the mind" or someone who is "slender and lean" depending on which etymological root you follow, while in Hebrew, it can be a word name which translates to "nightingale" or occasionally, a feminine variation of Zimri.
 
In Albanian, it means "sweet voice" but other sources link it to the name Samira which has both Arabic and Hindi origins, and its popularity in Spanish speaking countries may be attributed to its similarity to Casimira too. 
 
 While that hardly pins it down, it does make Zamira an interesting name that travels well, and carries with it perhaps just a hint of mystique.

Zamira

Both Madisyn and Madison have lost ground in recent years.

Madisyn

The soft and pretty name of one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad.

Safiya

Patricia still sounds patrician, though its scores of nicknames definitely don't. Wildly popular from the forties (alternately Number 3 and 4 throughout the decade) to the sixties, Patricia has been fading ever since. But a comeback in its full form is definitely conceivable—just look at Penelope.
 Patricia began not in Ireland, as some may think, but evolved in Scotland, going on to become mega popular in Britain after the christening of Queen Victoria's granddaughter, Princess Patricia of Connaught, known as "Princess Pat" (though called Patsy by the family). 
 Several of Patricia's short forms took on lives of their own—first Patsy, which was replaced by Patti/Patty, followed by the more upwardly mobile Tricia, Trisha, Trish, Tisha, and Tish. Patrizia is an attractive Italian version.
 Two bestselling contemporary novelists are Patricia Highsmith and Patricia Cornwell, and Patricia is also Rooney Mara's birth name.

Patricia

 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 29)

Three Syllable Girl Names