Invented Girl Names

Gracyn is a modern feminine name that has gained popularity in the United States since the early 2000s. It represents a contemporary variation of Grace, derived from the Latin 'gratia' meaning elegance or goodwill. The distinctive spelling with the 'y' gives the classic name a fresh, contemporary feel while maintaining its elegant associations. Gracyn embodies qualities of beauty, poise, and divine blessing. This name has particularly resonated with parents seeking names that sound traditional yet feel unique. Its rise coincides with the trend toward names ending with the '-yn' sound. Gracyn offers the perfect balance of familiarity and distinction, making it increasingly popular for baby girls.

Menna is used regularly in Wales in modern times. Its origins are uncertain: perhaps created by a poet, or possibly connected with the Menai Strait that separates the island of Anglesey from mainland Wales. Either way, it's pretty, straightforward, and honor Welsh heritage without screaming it.

A poetic name first used in Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" in 1596, it had a literary vogue in the 18th century, especially favored by Robert Burns. "inda" names--Melinda, Belinda, Linda" are not particularly in right now.

The Estonian equivalent of Annelise, combining Ene (an Estonian form of Anna or Hendrika) with Eliisabet.

Another side of Paradise.

A trendy choice that takes a little from Riley and a little from Kayleigh, to create the rather appealing meaning, "beam of light in the meadow".

Sweet but sleek, Ivalene can be considered an elaboration of the international Iva, or a compound name, blending Iva with Arlene, Darlene, Abilene, or similar. Quietly used in the first half of the 20th century, it was also chosen in 2024 but a a Nameberry user.

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la... Shalonde, Shalondie, Shalondra, Shalondria.

A variation of Riley with an added -lynn suffix, this girl name is bubbling right underneath the Top 1000.

The name Dasani was created by the Coca-Cola Company in 1999 for its bottled water product. Like other brands at the time, Coca-Cola tested various invented names and ultimately settled on Dasani because focus group data told them "the name is relaxing and suggests pureness and replenishment."

This Latin-sounding place-name, created by C. S. Lewis for his Chronicles, will undoubtedly be adopted by a few admiring parents.

Torquano Tasso likely invented this name for the magical enchantress who beguiles the crusaders in his celebrated poem Jerusalem Delivered. Armida is also the eponymous heroine of a Handel opera.

A feminine spin on the surname name Copeland.

All baby names can be made more "creative" by putting a Z at the beginning instead of what's conventionally there: B or C or H, for instance. Zaley is an adorable entry in this group, also spelled Zailey or Zayley or Zalee. The Zaley spelling attains a measure of authenticity when seen as a feminine form of Zale, a Greek name with an ocean-related meaning.

A mysterious name found in fantasy fiction and climbing in popularity as a kind of combo of Jamie and Tanya.

Clia could be seen as a variation of Clea (probably another invented literary name), or the creation of L. Frank Baum for a mermaid Princess character in one of his Oz books. Offers a similar choice to Cleo vs Clio.

A modern creation, blending unisex Blake with that popular suffix, -lynn, Blakelyn was given to more than 100 girls in a recent year. Sister spelling Blakelynn however, was slightly preferred, given to 150 babies.

Is it related to Angela? Or Tangelo? One invention that doesn't improve on any original.

While this spelling is running a close second on the popularity charts to the original Briana, it feels more invented — probably because it is. Some parents may want to move further away from Brian, the root name for all the feminine variations, and so prefer the e versions. But we like the older, more authentic Briana best. Another spelling way: Breanna.

Rylen, an invented name related to Rylan, Ryland, and more distantly to Riley, is now in the girls' column thanks to its choice for their first daughter by football great Drew Brees and wife.