Latin Names for Girls

With the rise of many once-dated leonine names, from Leona to Lionel to Leonora, Leandra is an unusual choice that might be looking at a comeback..

Name that's virtually unknown here but has a lovely meaning and a simple sound and spelling.

A Shakespearean invention for an abandoned baby in The Winter's Tale, Perdita's sense of loss has always been off-putting to parents. But her image was somewhat resuscitated by its association with the appealing canine character in Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmations.

Palma is an appealing Latin name that's both geographical and botanical, referring to the sunny and culturally rich capital of Majorca and to the foliage of a palm tree. As the word for "palm" in Spanish, Italian, and Croatian, it is occasionally given to girls born on Palm Sunday, and with its similarity to the likes of Alma, Thelma, Velma, and Wilma, it appeared in the US Top 1000 in the early 20th century.

Florence is back, and the adorable short form Florie (or Flory) is too. Or you could just name her Flora and be done with it.

This intriguing name of an ancient Etruscan queen renowned for her prophetic powers was long associated with the prima ballerina Tanaquil LeClerq.

Short and slight, with great potential now that names like Ava, Ida and Orla are popular. Ora Beach is a tourist destination on Seram Island, Indonesia.

With male version Leon taking off all over Europe, the female variations, from Leona to Leonie to Leone, are coming back into style too.

Avis is a bird name that's been in hibernation for awhile, possibly due to the car rental association, but it could make a return on the wings of Ava. Baldwin brother Daniel chose it for his daughter.

Projects the calm and pristine image of the picturesque Swiss lake and mountain town.

This variation on the Julia theme has stayed in play due to the popularity of Julianne Moore, though it now sits at the bottom of the US Top 1000.

Has a decidedly middle-aged image.

Sleek, woodsy European choice.

Doting parents have begun to use names like Precious and Treasure, which are sweet for a baby, but might not hold up over the years. Treasure was used for nearly 300 baby girls in one recent year.

An unusual flower name deriving from the Latin word for lily (lilium), this variant has always been popular in Scotland.

This name of the Roman goddess of fruit trees is also associated with a suburban town in Southern California.

Adventurous parents are venturing deeper into the garden in search of fresh names, but remember that this also makes for an alcoholic brunch.

Marine was trending for a long time in France, but the far right politician Marine (born Marion) LePen has dampened the mood.

Very rarely used, could provide a distinctive alternative to Lydia.

Faustine has a positive meaning, although the association with the character who sold his soul to the devil may be off-putting. This name is among the Top 100 girls' names in France, but was given to fewer than five baby girls in the US last year.