Girly Girl Names
- Marguerite
Origin:
French variation of Margaret; also a flower nameMeaning:
"pearl; daisy"Description:
Marguerite is a classic French name with a remnant of old-fashioned Gallic charm; and is also a variety of daisy. Chic again in Paris, it's definitely ripe for revival here.
- Ginevra
Origin:
Italian variation of Guinevere or JenniferMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
Arty and elegant, Ginevra is one of the most popular girls' names in Italy at the moment, ranking at #3 in a recent year. Ultimately from the Arthurian Guinevere, it's a relative of Jennifer, meaning "white wave, white shadow" or "white phantom".
- Coraline
Origin:
Variation of Coralie, French from LatinMeaning:
"coral"Description:
Coraline may not be original to Neil Gaiman's wonderful book of the same name, but it might as well be. Gaiman's young heroine Coraline Jones is constantly called Caroline but as a name Coraline is more distinctive and has a more mysterious feel. The 2002 novel Coraline was made into a 2009 animated film voiced by Dakota Fanning and nominated for an Academy Award.
- Rosalia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"rose"Description:
Elegant and bright with plenty of flair, Rosalia is widely-used in Spain and Italy, where there is a Sicilian Saint Rosalia. The name Rosalia refers back to the annual Roman ceremony of hanging garlands of roses on tombs, which could make it work as a commemorative name, though today it would most likely be used in honor of the uni-named Spanish pop star Rosalía.
- Catalina
Origin:
Spanish variation of CatherineMeaning:
"pure"Description:
This name of a touristed island in sight of Los Angeles makes an attractive and newly stylish variation on the classic Catherine or overused Caitlin.
- Carolina
Origin:
Variation of Caroline; also place-nameMeaning:
"free man"Description:
Romantic, and classy, this variation heats up Caroline and modernizes Carol, adding a southern accent. A popular choice in Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and Italy, it recently entered the US Top 500.
- Eleonora
Origin:
Italian, German, Dutch, and Polish variation of EleanorDescription:
Makes a serious name frilly and feminine, which, depending on your viewpoint, might be a good or a bad thing. In this case, we vote good.
- Corisande
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"chorus-singer"Description:
Corisande is a very unusual, haunting choice, with the aura of medieval romance--it is found in early Spanish romantic tales, arriving in the English-speaking world in the nineteenth century.
- Christabel
Origin:
Latin and FrenchMeaning:
"fair Christian"Description:
Though Isabel is a smash hit, Christabel still hasn't been fully embraced. It was originally popularized in England via the Coleridge poem Christabel ("whom her father loves so well") and was given to the poet's granddaughter. Christabel Pankhurst was a famous U.K. suffragist.
- Celestine
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"heavenly"Description:
Celestine is a pretty, crystalline extension (actually a diminutive) of Celeste that would make a choice that is both delicate and strong. It is also a popular name in France.
- Amandine
Origin:
French, diminutive of AmandaMeaning:
"much-loved"Description:
This fragrant, almond-scented name has hardly been heard in this country, which is a pity--we've loved it since John Malkovich used it for his now grown daughter.
- Mariposa
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"butterfly"Description:
Mariposa is a rare, romantic choice with an intriguing meaning.
- Arrietty
Origin:
Literary name, variation of HarrietDescription:
A pretty, dainty name for one of the little characters in the children's book series The Borrowers. It was the basis for a later Studio Ghible animated film, The Secret World of Arrietty. While the connection to Harriet is tenuous, you might want to consider Arrietty as an honorific for an ancestral Harriet, Harry, or even Henry or Henrietta.
- Ambrosia
Origin:
Latin, feminine form of AmbroseMeaning:
"Immortal"Description:
Ambrosia combines some of the more whimsical qualities of more popular Aurora and Isabella, with a heavenly meaning.
- Pomeline
Origin:
French, related to "apple"Meaning:
"apple"Description:
A rarely heard--even in France--name, most prominent as the third name of Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi, the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco and granddaughter of Grace Kelly.
- Arianwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"silver, white, fair, blessed"Description:
Rarely heard outside of Wales, Arianwen combines the pretty Welsh element gwen with the silvery arian, giving it a metallic and shining meaning. The name is sometimes listed as one of the daughters of the legendary fifth-century king and saint, Brychan Brycheiniog.
- Amethyst
Origin:
Gem and Color nameDescription:
As flower names become more unique, so can gem names move beyond Ruby and Pearl to names like Topaz, Sapphire, and Peridot. Amethyst, the purple birthstone for February, has never been in the Top 1000, but could have some appeal, joining similarly-hued Violet and Lilac, all of which make great names for Aquarius babies or names for February babies.
- Arianna
Origin:
Italian form of Ariadne, GreekMeaning:
"most holy"Description:
A smooth, attractive choice, Arianna's on the rise with both single and double 'r's and 'n's. Single 'r' double 'n' Arianna — the second most popular version of the name — is these days associated with Greek-born blog queen Arianna Huffington.
- Melisande
Origin:
French form of Millicent, GermanMeaning:
"strong in work"Description:
This old-time fairy tale name is rarely heard in the modern English-speaking world, but it's so, well, mellifluous, that it would make a lovely choice for a twenty-first century girl--a romanticized tribute to an Aunt Melissa or Melanie.
- Jacinda
Origin:
Variation of Jacinta, Spanish and PortugueseMeaning:
"hyacinth"Description:
Jacinda, a form of the lovely and unusual Spanish and Portuguese flower name Jacinta (for Hyacinth), was first popularized by the Australian actress Jacinda Barrett. Today, the girls' name Jacinda is most notable as the name of former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, one of the first world leaders to give birth in office, widely credited with her strong and compassionate leadership during the coronavirus pandemic.
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