Girl Names Lists · Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
Literary Names for Girls
Across 9 pages
of 9
Cressida
Greek
"gold"
Cressida is a golden, mythological, and Shakespearean name, much better known in Britain than it is in the US. Given to just 11 American girls in a recent year — though still the highest number on…
Dabney
English surname
"from Aubigny"
A unisex surname familiarized by male actor Dabney Coleman, but with potential to carry over to the girl's side as well. Dabney feels in line with the Irish Darcy and Darby.
Desdemona
Greek
"ill-starred"
Desdemona is as Shakespearean as a name can be, but because the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello came to such a tragic end, her name has been avoided for centuries. But at this point in time,…
Dioneta
Arthurian legend, meaning unknown
A minor but intriguing name from Arthurian legend: in the Welsh 14th century work The Birth of Arthur, Dioneta is the name used for the character better known as Morgan le Fay. It's an attractive…
Domenica
Italian feminine form of Dominic
"belonging to the Lord"
Much fresher and more energetic than Dominique.
Etelka
Hungarian
"little father"
This Hungarian name was created by the author András Dugonics for the central character of his 1788 novel of the same name. It is likely an elaboration on Etele, a Hungarian feminine form of Atilla.…
Fancy
Diminutive of Frances
"free man"
Old fashioned nickname that some girls just might be able to pull off. You'd just have to be sure your little Fancy was one of them.
Faunia
Latin feminine variation of Faunus
"to befriend"
Faunia is more often rendered as Fauna, who was a Roman goddess of fertility, women and healing. Faunia was the downtrodden yet loving heroine of Philip Roth's Human Stain . Faunia and Fauna have…
Feather
Word name
Feather, though it was used for a character in a Walter Mosley novel, seems too light and fluttery for a real-life girl.