By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 119 pages
of 119
Welsh
"life, spirit"
This Celtic goddess and Arthurian name may sound terminally old-ladyish to many ears--but so did names like Ella and Etta not so long ago. So Enid is yet another forgotten four-letter E-possibility:…
Levy as a feminine name represents a fresh, contemporary choice that's gaining attention in recent years. Originally a Jewish surname derived from the Hebrew tribe of Levi, whose members were…
Lyza is a feminine name that serves as a modern, streamlined variant of Elizabeth, Eliza, or Lisa. With its crisp, contemporary spelling, Lyza offers a fresh take on these traditional names while…
Italian, diminutive of Nicola
"people of victory"
A much more dynamic nickname than Nicky for any of the Nic-names. Part of a growing trend of boyish nicknames for girls - alongside Stevie and Lou - Nico has cheerful, snappy sounds, and a fresh,…
Anai is a feminine name with diverse origins and interpretations. In Japanese, it can be derived from elements meaning 'hollyhock' and 'indigo,' while in Hawaiian, it's associated with 'to look at'…
Greek, Catalan
"ruin, bane; Mother of the God of the Ares"
Traditionally, Ares was the blood-thirsty god of war and son to Zeus and Hera in Greek mythology, and it has been rising up the US charts for boys since 2013, in tune with other mythological names…
Color name
Blue suddenly came into the spotlight, as the unusual color name chosen by Beyonce and Jay-Z for their baby girl Blue Ivy. Blue is also a starbaby middle name du jour, used for both sexes in…
Hebrew
"light for me"
A sweet and simple Hebrew name, also written as Orli, this name blends the elements or meaning "light" and li meaning "to me, for me". As such, it has a shiny, cheerful meaning, connected to…
Irish
"little king"
As Ryan quickly becomes a plausible option for a girl, some parents may be interested in the spelling Rian — the more authentic and original form of the name.
English word name
"secret"
Runes are symbols in ancient Germanic alphabets. They are often viewed as mysterious and therefore as a name, Rune imparts a feeling of folkloric mystery. As intriguing as that might be, the homonym…
"rock"
Sela is a Biblical place name, the original term for the city of Petra, which is finding new life through actress Sela Ward, star of several TV series. The young daughter of singer Lauryn Hill is…
Sanskrit
"eloquent in words"
Vani is an alternative name for the Hindu goddess Saraswati.
Arabic
"fortunate, prosperous"
Popular girls' name in Syria. In Yiddish, pronounced ZAE-dah, this is a term for grandfather.
French
"sky"
This simple yet evocative French word name was chosen for her daughter by model Niki Taylor. While Ciel may be pronounced in French with two syllables, many will pronounce it as "seal" and there may…
Japanese
Looks like jury but rhymes with Julie.
Lexa is a feminine name with multiple origin possibilities. Most commonly, it's considered a shortened form of Alexandra, which derives from Greek elements meaning 'defender of mankind.' It also…
Irish diminutive of William
"resolute protection"
A tiny percentage -- a tenth of one percent -- of babies named Liam in the US are girls. But Liam has been so popular for baby boys for so long, not only in the US but around the western world, that…
Rahi, also known as Radhika or Rahimai, is a regional form of the Hindu goddess Radha.
Renn is a concise, gender-neutral name that has been increasingly used for girls. With Celtic and Old Norse origins, it carries meanings associated with 'swift' or 'running water' in various European…
Welsh form of Alice, German
"noble"
Popular in Wales, familiar across the UK, and ultimately derived from the Germanic Adalheidis, this isn't a creative respelling of a classic, but the Welsh variant of it.
