By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Greek
"good woman"
Agatha until recently summoned up visions of martyred saints, mauve silk dresses, and high lace collars, but now that some dauntless excavators have begun to resurrect it, we're sure more will follow…
Diminutive of Judith, Hebrew
"He will be praised or woman from Judea"
Judy was the nickname of choice for almost all the Judiths born in the 1940s and 50s; today's little Judiths are much more likely to be called Judith -- or, possibly, Jude.
English diminutive of Cynthia, Greek, or Lucinda, Spanish and Portuguese
"moon goddess, woman from Kynthos; "
Cindy as a name in its own right made it into the Top 20 in 1957 and remained a Top 200 girls' name until the end of the 20th century. Although it's fallen precipitously since then and left the Top…
West African variation of Fatima, Arabic
"captivating, a woman who abstains"
Fatima, a popular Muslim name, was a daughter of Muhammad and one of the four perfect women of the Quran. Fatoumata and its short form Fatou are West African variations.
Kurdish, Kazakh
"morning; woman"
A rare but rising unisex name — used more often on baby girls.
Fatou and its long form Fatoumata are variations of the popular Muslim name Fatima, who was one of four perfect women cited by the Quran.
German
"battle woman"
Short for Brunhilda, the operatic Valkyrie of Teutonic legend, Hilda still has not quite shaken off that image that image. Though with the resurgence of Matilda, she might just have a bit of a…
Word Name
"a woman who will inherit property, a position, or a legacy"
In this era of Royalty, Reign, and Chosen, Heiress isn't as shocking as it once might has been. A direct and declarative choice for those who want their daughter to carry on their legacy, Heiress…
English diminutive of Barbara, Greek
"foreign woman"
Despite the voluptuous doll's various career choices, from astronaut to doctor, her name still remains a euphemism for "bimbo".
Mande from Arabic
A West African version of the Arabic name Fatima, also used by diaspora communities, e.g. in France. The name of the fruit soda brand was created by the German branch of Coca-Cola in 1940. It derives…
Spelling variation of Madelyn, English
"woman from Magdala or high tower"
A spin on the French form of Magdalene, Madelynne is another, llower ranking way to Maddy. Still, when you put Madelynne together with her more popular sisters -- Madelyn, Madeline, Madeleine, and…
Portuguese
"woman from Magdala"
Portuguese form of Magdalena or Madeleine
Scandinavian diminutive of Magdalene
"high tower or woman of Magdela"
The sleek Malin is a contracted form of Magdalene or Madeleine, used in Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland. A popular choice back in the 2000s, it has declined in popularity in recent years, but it…
Latin
"woman of honor"
Honora and Honoria are two ways of softening the severity of Honor, while retaining its righteous meaning. They were predominant until the Reformation, when the Puritans adopted the abstract virtue…
English
Biblical name long associated with the fallen-yet-redeemed Mary Magdalen, now rising improbably into the ranks of the fashionable among parents hungry for classic yet distinctive girls' names. The…
Pakistani, Bengali, Persian
"a woman of whom you can be proud; sweet, coy"
Nazia is a name seen in both Pakistan and India, which derives from the word naaz, meaning pride, or from the Persian nāz meaning "coy, sweet". It may be difficult to introduce this name into the…
Arabic
"thankful, woman of grace"
The mononymous Colombian-born singer inspired a popularity blip in the 90s and early 00s.
Russian diminutive of Lidia; Scandinavian diminutive of Alida; variation of Leda, Greek
"woman from Lydia; noble; happy"
Multicultural mini name with an intuitive pronunciation — it's a recipe for success, yet Lida remains under the radar.
English word name, diminutive of Barbara, Latin
Baby is rarely seen as a given name — or even nickname — these days, although it did rank in the Top 1000 from 1989 to 2003. These instances can be accounted for in two ways. Firstly, infants whose…
West African variation of Fatima
"a woman who abstains"
Fatima, a popular Muslim name, was a daughter of Muhammad and one of the four perfect women of the Quran. Fatumata (also spelled Fatoumata) and its short form Fatou are West African variations.
