Iambic Girl Names

Colleen

Irish

"girl"

Midcentury Irish-American favorite, never used in Ireland itself, being the generic word for "girl"; rarely given today.

Evaine

Evaine is a feminine name with medieval and Celtic undertones. It may be a variant of Yvaine, which appears in Arthurian legends, or related to names like Evan or Eve. The name carries an ethereal,…

Evonne

French variation of Yvonne

A variation made famous by Australian Aboriginal tennis champ Evonne Goolagong.

Eylem

Turkish

"action"

A unisex Turkish name from the word eylem, meaning "action". Reminiscent of trendy names like Ayla and Isla, it would be an especially fashionable choice for a baby girl born outside of Türkiye, and…

Boheme

French word name

"Girls Gone Child" blogger Rebecca Woolf made Boheme a first name when she gave it to one of her twin daughters (the other one's name is Reverie). La Boheme -- "The Bohemian" -- is a Puccini opera…

Fantine

Latin

"infant"

Fantine is a rarely heard French name except as a character in the Victor Hugo novel Les Misérables .

Clotilde

Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese

"famous in battle"

A romantic rarity, derived from the Old German name Chlotichilda, meaning "famous in battle." Saint Clotilde was a Frankish queen, wife of Clovis I, who played a role in the spread of Christianity.

Felice

Italian

"lucky"

Felix is rising in the chart for boys, and its feminine variations are sure to follow. The best knows these days, thanks to the TV character, is Felicity, but there's also Felicia and Felice. Like…

Fleurette

Fleurette is a delicate feminine name of French origin, derived from 'fleur' meaning 'flower,' with the diminutive suffix '-ette' adding a sense of daintiness—essentially meaning 'little flower.'…

Florelle

Florelle is a delicate feminine name with French and Latin influences, derived from 'flor' meaning 'flower.' This charming diminutive form creates the meaning 'little flower' or 'flowering.' The name…

Bisan

Arabic or Palestinian place name

Notably borne by Palestinian journalist, activist, and filmmaker Bisan Owda, Bisan is a name of Arabic origin, with a concise look and bright sound. The exact meaning of the name is unknown, however…

Francine

French diminutive pet form of Francoise

"from France or free man"

With the advent of Pope Francis, all forms of this ancient and saintly name came up for a fresh look. Along with most other -een and -ine (when pronounced like -een) names for girls, Francine has a…

Franette

Franette is a delicate feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Frances or Francine, both deriving from Latin roots meaning 'from France' or 'free one.' This elaborated variant emerged…

Frostine

French

"freezing"

Frostine, best known in the U.S. as the name of the Candyland queen, is newly fashionable in France and is certainly a choice that any little girl the world over would love. Fanciful, if…

Gaelle

French

"from Gaul"

Garcelle

Modern invented name

It sounds like a genuine French name, but it's an invention, made famous by actress Garcelle Beauvais.

Gazelle

Gazelle is a feminine name derived directly from the animal name, referring to the swift, graceful antelope known for its elegance and speed. The word itself traces back through French and Arabic…

Geneve

French variation of Geneva

"juniper tree; river bend"

Written as Genève, it's the authentic name of Switzerland's capital. The English version, Geneva, is more common as a baby name in the US. Geneva and Geneva are connected to the juniper berry, but…

Georgette

French, feminine variation of George

Has a musty 1940s feel. Try Georgia -- or Georgiana.

Andrine

Andrine is a feminine name of Norwegian and Scandinavian origin, derived from the Greek name Andreas, meaning "manly" or "brave." It is a feminine form of André or Andrew. In Norway, the name has…