By Pamela Redmond · Updated October 2026
Across 37 pages
of 37
Diminutive of Carmela, Italian and Spanish
"garden, garden of God"
An elaborate diminutive of Carmela or Carmel, this name has elegance and sweetness. Derived from Hebrew, it is interpreted as meaning "garden" — or sometimes "garden of God" — and is related to the…
Latin
"lucky"
A lacy, lucky name very popular in the Hispanic community a decade ago, less so now.
German variation of Elizabeth
"pledged to God"
Ilsa is remembered as the radiant but tragic heroine of "Casablanca," and it's having something of a European resurgence.
Spanish
"earth"
Earthy but ethereal Spanish word name that sounds a lot fresher than its sister Sierra.
"green"
Viridiana is a frillier version of the medieval name Viridis, meaning green. Viridiana briefly made it into the top 1000 in the US in the 1990s.
Spanish variation of Isabel, variation of Elizabeth, Hebrew
Ysabel is the original spelling of this ever-more-popular name, though to English-speakers, the initial Y may confuse pronunciation. Only 14 baby girls were given the Ysabel spelling in the US last…
Spanish variation of Claire or Clarissa
"bright, clear"
The pronunciation is different enough -- it's clar-EE-sa -- to make this feel like a distinct name. But an improvement on Claire or Clarissa? Not really.
English variation of Dolores, Spanish
"lady of sorrows"
See Dolores.
Lithuanian variation of Anna, Catalan diminutive of Mariona
"grace; wave; bitter, beloved"
A short, sweet name with plenty of substance, Ona is a multicultural choice, familiar in Spain, Lithuania, Egypt, and historically, in the US. Recent years have seen it reach the Catalonian Top 10…
"treasure chest"
Arcelia is an undiscovered Spanish treasure worth considering.
Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Slovene and Serbian form of Theodora
"gift of God"
Teodora is an extremely attractive and international choice, with several equally attractive, user-friendly nicknames. Appealing short forms might include Tea, Dora, or Dory for English speakers,…
Levina is a feminine name with several possible origins. It may be a variant of Lavinia, an ancient Roman name associated with Latin roots meaning 'woman of Rome' and featured in Virgil's 'Aeneid.'…
Spanish, diminutive of Filomena
Actress Mena Suvari (named after an Egyptian hotel) made this name seem especially appealing. Mena is also a minor Roman goddess of fertility.
Italian and Spanish diminutive of Sara, Hebrew
"princess"
Sarita is a delicately pretty name all but unknown in the US, where it can make an original honor name for an ancestral Sara....or Rita. Rita is a midcentury favorite tiptoeing back into style among…
Place name, English, Spanish, French, Latin "worth; valley"
"worth; valley"
A distinctive and unusual choice, Vail may stem from the Latin, French, and Spanish valor and valeur , denoting worth, merit, and value: a perfect meaning for a baby. There is the possibility however…
"pure, virginal"
Y is a very rare initial, and this feisty mini-name packs a double punch with its spiky final Z. Inez or Inez are the more familiar spellings of this chic name, which is related to Agnes and could be…
Angelita is a feminine Spanish name that serves as a diminutive form of Angela, meaning 'little angel' or 'little messenger.' Its roots trace back to the Greek word 'angelos,' which means…
Greek and Latinate feminzation of Emmanuel, Hebrew
"God is with us"
Emmanuela is the feminine form of Emmanuel, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'God is with us.' This elegant name carries biblical significance as Emmanuel is mentioned in the Book of Isaiah as a name…
German and Spanish diminutive of Maria
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Derived from Maria, the meaning of which is uncertain. Theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from…
Estonian and Spanish diminutive of Matilda, German
"battle mighty"
Actress Tilda Swinton injected this dated nickname name with some modern charm.
