Badass Girl Names

  1. Tzipporah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "bird"
    • Description:

      Spelling variation of Tziporah.
  2. Justina
    • Origin:

      Latin, feminine variation of Justin
    • Description:

      Justina was the pre-Justine feminization of Justin, now a possible alternative to Christina. Oddly, while Justine feels like a name unto itself, Justina feels like a pinned-together feminization in the mold of Richarda or Benjamina. Still, it may appeal as one of the unusual-yet-familiar girl names starting with J.
  3. Legacy
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Legacy is proof that any attractive-sounding word can be turned into a name, and this one has the added attractions of an inspirational meaning and a cool creative namesake -- hot young artist Legacy Russell.
  4. Eureka
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "I have found [it]"
    • Description:

      For most, Eureka will be tied up with the bathtub myth of Archimedes' discovery of volumetric displacement, making it linked to the idea of invention, discovery and innovation. Some Australians might more closely link it to the Eureka stockade, a 19th Century rebellion of miners and workers against the colonial British government. Amanda Knox named her baby girl Eureka in 2021.
  5. Alabama
    • Origin:

      Place-name; Choctaw
    • Meaning:

      "vegetation gatherers"
    • Description:

      Alabama is a hot southern place-name, picking up from Georgia and Savannah. This is not a geographical name come lately, though--there have been girls named Alabama dating back well over a century.
  6. Santana
    • Origin:

      Spanish, condensed form of Santa Ana
    • Description:

      Santana is a saintly name...or Latin rock band. While traditionally masculine, character Santana Lopez on the show Glee showed the name's potential for a girl as well. Sound-wise, it feels like Savannah with a twist.
  7. Milagros
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "miracles"
    • Description:

      Even in the Hispanic community, very religious and old-fashioned.
  8. Hurricane
    • Origin:

      Spanish from Native American word name
    • Meaning:

      "hurricane"
    • Description:

      Hurricane is a storm, but it's also an American name, thanks to rising tennis star Hurricane Black -- whose sister's name is Tornado. There's no reason this tempestuous choice can't work for boys too, inasfar as the name can work for any child. As a name, Hurricane is definitely original and attention-getting, but is it a name you'd want to carry around for life?
  9. Taraji
    • Origin:

      Swahili
    • Meaning:

      "hope"
    • Description:

      This name gained widespread attention via the actress Taraji P. Henson, who was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. A variant is Taraja.
  10. Jenica
    • Origin:

      Romanian variation of Jane
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Jenica might work if you can't decide between Jennifer and Jessica. It's certainly a more distinctive option.
  11. Aviatrix
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "female aviator"
    • Description:

      Aviator is equally appropriate for a girl, of course, but lovers of Beatrix and Bellatrix might appreciate the spiky sound of this unique occupational name.
  12. Lozen
    • Origin:

      Apache, Native American
    • Meaning:

      "one who steals horses"
    • Description:

      Lozen is the name of a female Apache warrior and medicine woman who fought with Geronimo in the 19th century. The sister of the warrior called Victorio, Lozen was the name chosen by soccer star Hope Solo and football player Jerramy Stevens for their daughter, Lozen Orianna Judith, twin of Vittorio Genghis.
  13. Casimira
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Casimir, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish
    • Meaning:

      "destroyer of peace"
    • Description:

      Bold and strong, Casimira is a feminine form of Casimir, which ultimately derives from the Slavic elements kaziti and mirŭ meaning "to destroy" and "peace, world". A notable bearer is Casimira Rodríguez who was Bolivia's first indigenous Quechua woman to serve as a government minister.
  14. Libertad
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "liberty"
    • Description:

      Libertad is the forceful name recently given to his daughter by Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal. English equivalent Liberty has been in use for girls for some time. Libertad might be considered a Spanish virtue name or word name. See our list of other Spanish word names.
  15. Zamora
    • Origin:

      Spanish place- and surname
    • Description:

      Heard in Spain more as a last name, but would work here as an alluring first.
  16. Denali
    • Origin:

      Place-name and Native American
    • Meaning:

      "the great one"
    • Description:

      Alaska's Denali National Park is the home of the highest mountain in the US, officially renamed Denali in 2014, endowing the name with a lofty feel. Twice as many girls as boys were given the name in 2021, but the gender gap is closing.