Animal Names for Girls

Cooper is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/519/american-baby-names">American names</a> used for both genders, but much more often for boys.
 
More than 140 American parents chose it for their baby girls in the most recent year counted....compared with over 5500 baby boys. That puts it far below our usual 10 percent cutoff for considering a name truly gender-neutral, though it wouldn't be unusual to meet a female Cooper.

Cooper

Eliette is a delicate feminine name of French origin, functioning as a diminutive form of names like Elie (the French version of Elijah) or Elizabeth. The name carries the meaning 'the Lord is my God' through its connection to these Hebrew-origin names. With its distinctly French flair, Eliette combines elegance with a gentle, sophisticated sound. Though relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, it has maintained modest usage in France and French-speaking regions. The name offers a refined alternative to more common El- names, appealing to parents seeking something melodic with European charm. Eliette's soft syllables and graceful ending create a name that sounds both classic and somewhat unexpected, conveying femininity with subtle strength.

Eliette

Name of an Old Testament soldier that's been also used as a girls' name in modern Israel. An alternate spelling is Adinah. Some mistake Adina and Adinah to be the root of Dinah, but the Biblical name Dinah is borne by a different figure and has a different meaning. You can consider the modern short forms Dena and Dina as stemming from either Adina or Dinah.

Adina

Arya has become a popular name thanks to the young heroine of Game of Thrones and because of the rise of similar Aria too. Variation Aarya has also seen increased use in English speaking countries, ranking in the Top 1000 in the UK in recent years.
 
Aarya made a brief appearance in the US charts too, and while 2023 saw it drop just below the Top 1000, it is still given to nearly 200 girls, along with a small handful of boys, due to its use as an exclusively masculine name in Iran and as a unisex name in India.
 
While the double-A beginning might seem unusual to some English speakers, the popularity of Aaliyah and Aaron mean it shouldn't feel too confusing . Well used in Indian, it appeared on the titular character in the Indian crime-thriller TV show Aarya, another notable namesake is actor and singer Aarya Ambekar.

Aarya

Bright, lively, and multicultural, Alba has the vintage mellowness of Alma but spirited feel of Ebba, Phoebe, and Pippa too. Derived from multiple different sources, a recent year saw it appear as a Top 10 name in France and Sweden, and a Top 100 choice in Belgium, England and Wales, Italy. Spain, Scotland, and Switzerland, though it has yet to reappear in the US charts
 af meaning "elf", in turn making it a relative of Elva, Alfred, and Albert. Additionally, it is the Spanish, Italian, and Catalan word for "dawn", associating it with new beginning, and was is to refer to Scotland in Scottish Gaelic. 
 
Notably appearing in the novel, The Time Traveler's Wife by the character Alba DeTamble, it is also borne by actress Jessica Alba as a surname.

Alba

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

Old-fashioned nickname with sweet turn-of-the-last-century charm that's become a favorite among the popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/a">girl names starting with A</a> of today. In fact, with all spellings of Adeline/Adalynn taken together firmly in the Top 10, and Adelaide and Addison also high in the charts, Addie is one of the most frequently-heard short forms around. But no matter how popular (or pandemic) it gets, Addie is undeniably one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/508/cute-baby-names-for-girls">cutest names for baby girls</a>. Little girls might like the fact that it's the name, though spelled Addy, of an American Girl series doll.

Addie

Ashly

Christine was the dominant feminine variation of Christopher forty or fifty years ago, when French E-endings were preferred over As; it was a Top 20 name for several years, from 1966 to 1974. But though it still hangs in on the popularity list, today most any other version would be considered more stylish, from Kristen to Kirsten to Christina herself.
 Christine is the heroine of the 1910 novel and hit musical Phantom of the Opera and the automotive protagonist of Stephen King's 1983 horror novel. Christine has been serenaded in song by everyone from Elton John to Kiss to Motorhead.

Christine

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

Though not much in use, still retains a cozy Little House on the Prairie-type pioneer feel. 

Cassie

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

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

Devyn

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

Now that parents have picked virtually every name in the garden, from the common Rose to the captivating Zinnia, some are reconsidering the old, more generic names like Flora and Posy and Blossom — which was last in favor in the 1920s and still has a Floradora showgirl aura.
 The most well-remembered recent representative is the eponymous character in the early nineties sitcom Blossom. Blossom was also one of the Powderpuff Girls and appeared on Dawson's Creek.
 A real-life namesake is jazz singer Blossom Dearie.

Blossom

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

Part Ashley, part Ainsley, part Annie, Ansley featured in the US Top 1000 from the late '90s until 2020. It peaked in 2011 when it nearly reached the Top 600, but has declined in recent years.
 
An English place name, its meaning could come from the Old English ansetleah, meaning "isolated hermitage in the woodland clearing", or from ãnstiga meaning "one path". While Ainsley is now the more popular form, Ansley is believed to have developed first.
 
Notable bearers include actress and writer Ansley Gordon, singer Ansley Burns, and social media influencer, Ansley Spinks. 
 
Given to around 210 girls in a recent year, the name is less than half as popular than it was at its peak. It continues to prove a favorite in Georgia, however, possibly owing to the neighborhood of the same name in Atlanta.

Ansley

Aylah is a spelling variant of the on trend Ayla, sharing that -ah ending with other current favorites like Delilah, Savannah, and Norah. Currently in the UK Top 800 and given to almost 200 girls in the US each year, it is becoming increasingly familiar.
 
Australian model Aylah Peterson is one notable bearer, who <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Crv0t1_A-55/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">spoke of her own name</a> after she featured in a celestial-themed photoshoot for Vogue: My name Ayla...means halo of light around the moon. My mother added the H to the end when I was born, because I come from a family of women who love a bit of extra flair...So it feels fitting for this to be my first cover.
 
It may well set her apart from the other Aylas (and Islas), however it is unlikely to be someone's intuitive guess at the spelling just yet.