Three Letter Girl Names

One of those names with a wide array of meanings across different cultures; it's the Lithuanian form of Anna, for instance, and William Blake used it as the name of one of his mysterious, godlike characters. But it's found major popularity in Spain, where it's just outside the Top 50. It makes the Top 10 in Catalonia, being both a diminutive of Mariona and the word for "wave".

Jia might be considered a spelling variation of Gia, an Italian feminine form of John as a shortening of Gianna or Giovanna. Jia might also be the anglicized form of many Chinese names, which have different meanings including home or family. If you're looking for girl names starting with J that sound unusual yet familiar, this might be one possibility, though many Americans will think it's spelled Gia.

Cute-as-a-button nickname traditionally derived from Philip or Philippa – but could work for Piper, Juniper or Penelope as well.

A relatively new name on the scene, increasing in popularity since 1999. It is likely a variation of Nia, a Swahili name based on the Arabic Niya meaning "tenacity, purpose, determination". Alternatively it may be based on Naia, a Basque name meaning "sea foam, wave" or it may simply be a modern creation, influenced by the popularity of Mia, Mya, Kaia, and similar.

A sweet and simple Japanese name with several possible meanings, depending on the kanji characters used.

As a nickname for one of the longer Z-starting choices, maybe, but not as a name unto itself.

Dee is a slight midcentury nickname that might be short for Deanna or Denise, but might be too slight for today's strong, independent female.

Short and feminine, Ria has a rhythmic flow.

A lovely name with many possible meanings depending on the characters used. A common feature of Chinese names for both sexes.

Rey, a Ray-soundalike that has ranked on the boys' side for the past 15 years, is about to get more popular for girls too, now that it's the name of the new heroine of the latest Star Wars movie. While the sound of the name is nothing new, the royal connection is, joining names such as Reign (Kardashian) and Charlotte (the new Princess) in an expansive definition of royal baby names.

Eos -- that's pronounced with a short e like eros without the r -- is the Greek Titan of the dawn. Any ancient name with a sleek modern feel has definite revival possibilities. Eos could be an inventive way to honor grandma Dawn.

Could be a short form of Sylvia, Olivia, or any other similar name. Or a vivid Italian word name.

Old-fangled nickname could make dot.com era short form or middle name.

Much-used midcentury diminutive, now fallen far from favor even as a middle name.

Ace is a retro nickname most often used for boys, as in Ace Ventura. While some celebrities have adopted it for their sons, there's nothing that makes this name exclusively male.

Short, sweet, and sharp, this multicultural choice is currently popular in Croatia, Czechia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. While not in the charts elsewhere, it is familiar in English speaking countries, and in the Netherlands.

The Spanish and Portuguese word for "sea" is a Top 100 name in Spain. In America, it's sometimes used as a nickname for names like Martina and Marina, but it could also plausibly stand on its own.

Zoé is a feminine name of Greek origin meaning 'life.' The accent over the 'e' (called an acute accent) gives the name its distinctive pronunciation with emphasis on the final syllable, differentiating it from the unaccented version Zoe. This name has ancient roots, appearing in early Christian contexts where it symbolized spiritual life. Zoé has maintained popularity in French-speaking regions and has gained international appeal in recent decades. The name conveys vibrancy and vitality, celebrating the essence of life itself. Its brevity, melodic sound, and meaningful etymology contribute to its enduring appeal across cultures, making it both classic and contemporary.

A bright and optimistic middle name choice.

An medieval English diminutive of Edith, which could make an unusual addition to simple vintage revivals like Eva, Ada and Ida. In Turkish, it means "well mannered".