Three Syllable Names for Girls

Mulani is a name that may come from various origin — it is a surname found throughout Indian in Muslim families, it may be a variation of the Chinese Mulan, or it may simply be an invented name following the trends of popular names such as Leilani, Kailani, and Meilani. 

Mulani

Sabina is a sleek but neglected name with the same spirited, stylish feel of Sabrina, Serena, and Selena. It ranked towards the latter end of the US charts in the early 20th century while a more recent year saw it given to 70 American girls. 
The name is derived from that of an ancient tribe, the Sabines, who lived in central Italy and went to war with the Romans. According to legend, the Sabine women were kidnapped by the Romans but later affected peace between the warring sides. The exact etymology of the name is disputed, but a one theory is that it means "of one's own".
 
Borne by two early saints, it is also a literary choice, appearing in Thornton Wilder's play The Skin of Our Teeth and Milan Kudera's novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being. British actress Sabina Franklyn is a notable real life bearer.
 
Popular in Poland and Czechia and familiar in the UK, Spain, and Slovenia where it has ranked in the past, Sabina is could make an unexpected but familiar option elsewhere. 
 
The pronunciation of the name does vary slightly depending on language and location, with sa-BEE-na or sa-BEE-nuh heard in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and English, while SA-bih-na is used in Czech. International forms include French and German Sabine, Dutch Sabien, Italian Savina, and Hungarian Szabina. 
 
Sabina (also written as Səbinə) is used in Azerbaijan and beyond, as a variation of the Arabic Sabiyya meaning "girl, young woman", adding a further international element to the name.

Sabina

Xareni is a goddess of love in the Otomi region in the central altiplano region of Mexico. The name Xareni is rising in the US — it was given to 66 baby girls in 2024.

Xareni

Aveline is a name that's long been an obscure cousin of more widely-used choices, but may come into its own riding the tail of the megapopular Ava, which may derive from the same root.

 Although Aveline is a cognate of the French word for "hazlenut", the name actually derives from an obscure Germanic root, the meaning of which is not clear. Theories include "desired, wished for" and "water, island".
 
Aveline is different enough to sound distinct, but be warned: You will forever be explaining that no, it's not Adeline, not Evelyn, and so on.

Aveline

An unusual and appealing name that is the origin of Evelyn, via the Norman French name Aveline. It derives from an obscure Germanic root, the meaning of which is not clear. Theories include "desired, wished for" and "water, island". 

 The name Avila and may also be connected to the Spanish town Avila, birthplace of St. Teresa. It is used within Catholic communities as an honor name for the saint.

Avila

Evianna is a feminine name with modern origins, likely created as a combination of Eva or Eve with the popular -anna suffix. It blends the simplicity of Eve (meaning 'life' in Hebrew) with a melodic, elongated ending that creates an elegant sound. The name may also draw connections to names like Viviana or Eviana. Though not historically traditional, Evianna has gained some traction in recent decades as parents seek names with classical roots but distinctive presentations. The name has a romantic, flowing quality with its four syllables and vowel-rich pronunciation. While still relatively uncommon, Evianna appeals to parents looking for a name that sounds established yet isn't frequently encountered, offering the balance of uniqueness and accessibility that many contemporary parents seek.

Evianna

Hillary is a lovely name that, for the moment at least, is tightly bound to an individual with a strong image: Hillary Clinton. Whatever your feelings about Mrs. Clinton, her fame now dominates the name, making it feel less baby-ready than it deserves to be. Hillary as a name has so much going for it: the popular, rhythmic three-syllable structure, the fact that it's strong but light, proper but jaunty, with an irresistible meaning -- having the same root as hilarious. The Italian Ilaria may be one way to make the name fresh. 
 Traditionally, Hilary was the form used for males and Hillary for females, but since there are so few boy Hilarys these days, that tradition has fallen by the wayside. A few other modern notables have laid claim to the name: musicians Hilary du Pre and Hilary Hahn, and actresses Hilary Swank and Hilary Duff.

Hillary

Authentic, melodic place-name for the adventurous, chosen by rapper LL Cool J for his daughter and by TV personality Jessica Graf Nickson for her daughter in 2025. Given to around 80 baby girls in the US last year, Italia is of course is what the Italians call Italy.

Like Roma, Venezia, and Milana, Italia is one of the place-names with baby name potential, especially thanks to nicknames Tali and Talia.

Italia

Unisex Swahili name rising in popularity. Musician Jelani Aryeh may be an influence, as well as American's recent love for a multitude of names ending in -lani, such as popular Leilani and Kehlani.

Jelani

Joana

Mahelet, Mahlet or Mahilet is a chant performed to praise god in the Ethiopian Orthodox church, also used as a female name. It was chosen for 80 babies in the US in 2024, though it is far better known in its native Ethiopia.

Mahelet

Maleni is a feminine name with multicultural origins. In Hawaiian, it's a variation of Malani, meaning 'buoyant' or 'heavenly,' while some sources connect it to Latin American origins as a derivative of Magdalena. The name has also been used in Indian communities. Maleni has a melodic quality with its balanced structure and flowing sound. This relatively uncommon name has experienced modest usage across different cultures but has never reached mainstream popularity. Its appeal lies in its exotic feel, gentle pronunciation, and cross-cultural versatility. The name offers parents a distinctive choice that sounds modern while potentially honoring various cultural traditions. Maleni has gained slight visibility through occasional use in entertainment and social media.

Maleni

Mallorie is a feminine name that serves as a variation of Mallory, which derives from the Norman French 'maloret,' meaning 'unfortunate' or 'unlucky.' Despite this somewhat somber etymology, the name has evolved to be associated with more positive qualities. This spelling variant with 'ie' instead of 'y' adds a softer, more feminine touch to the traditional form. Mallorie gained popularity in the mid-20th century but remains relatively uncommon, giving it a distinctive quality without being completely unfamiliar. The name carries a classic yet accessible feel, balancing tradition with contemporary style. Parents might be drawn to Mallorie for its gentle sound, slight uniqueness, and connection to medieval heritage.

Mallorie

Relatively well-used in Puerto Rico, where it resembles common Basque names like Alaia and Anaia. With the sharp rise of Alaia in the US in recent years as well as the love for "Ad-" names on girls, it makes sense that the still rare Adaia is increasing in use as well. Adaia was given to just under 100 baby girls in 2022.

Adaia

Now that all names Adel- are the height of fashion, Adella is an unusual name that nevertheless sounds very trendy. Adella is one of Ariel's sisters in The Little Mermaid.

Adella

Akshara is a unisex name taken from one of the names of Lord Vishnu.

Akshara

Annalia is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variation of Annalisa or a combination of Anna (Hebrew for "grace") and Lia (Latin form of Leah, meaning "weary" or "delicate"). Alternatively, it could derive from the Latin "annalis," relating to "yearly records" or "annals." The name has a romantic, flowing quality that appeals to parents seeking something familiar yet distinctive. While not historically common, Annalia has gained modest popularity in recent decades, particularly in Italian-speaking regions and among English speakers looking for a melodious alternative to more common Anna-derived names. The name blends classical elegance with a contemporary feel, offering the potential for the nicknames Anna, Annie, or Lia.

Annalia

Annistyn

Atalia, also appearing as Athaliah and Atalya, is a biblical name with a gory history but a bright and appealing sound. In step with the current fashion for A-starting and -a-ending names that are both distinctive and deeply rooted, Atalia may make an intriguing alternative to Natalia or Aleah. 
 
In a biblical context, it is borne by the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who went on to become the queen consort of Jehoram of Judah. After Jehoram's death (and the murders of her family and son), Athaliah took the throne by killing every other possible claimant. Known as the usruper queen, she set up a Baalist cult, but was later killed herself. 
 
Meaning "the Lord is exalted", Atalia was also the name of an ancient Assyrian queen and was chosen for 62 girls in the US in a recent year, making it a familiar but underused option. Athaliah was chosen for 65 girls in the same year, and Athalia for 86, while Ataliah and Atalya were chosen for around 10.

Atalia

Azhani

 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 56)

Three Syllable Girl Names