Middle Names for Girls (with Meanings & Popularity)

Warm and open, but way too much teasing potential.

An unusual kind of place-name, going beyond a country, state, or city, it was used by actress Elisabeth Shue as a middle name for her daughter Stella.

Concord, Massachusetts is home to tranquil Walden Pond, and as a word name, concord has a harmonious meaning, making this a modern virtue name. It may also be associated with Concorde, the now retired supersonic airliner.

An admirable quality to impart; Pleasant was used by Charles Dickens in Our Mutual Friend and in modern times is known via American Girl dolls creator Pleasant Rowland.

Illumination is a many-syllabled entrant in the new-fashioned virtue name group, but doesn't stand much chance of rivaling shorter choices like Hope and Faith.

Full-hearted new virtue choice, though five syllables is a lot to handle.

This abbreviated form chosen by tennis greats Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi couldn't be jazzier.

Your daughter will like this better at twenty than she will at fifty.

Moroccan might be thought of as a boys' name purely by virtue of its having been used for their newborn son by Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, who transformed this nationality into a first name. But given that they named Moroccan's sister Monroe, conventional gender identity is off the table, and Moroccan might just as easily be used for a girl, along with Morocco or Maraca.

A (male) character in Toni Morrison's great Song of Solomon, but also plays for a girl.

Perhaps too spicy for some, but this is a popular Gaelic surname that might appeal for those looking to honor a family branch or to fans of legendary British comedian Tim Curry.

Elan is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. From Hebrew, it means 'tree' or can be related to enthusiasm and spirit. In Celtic languages, particularly Irish, Elan connects to names meaning 'bright' or 'shining one.' As a French word, élan conveys vigor, style, and panache. Though used for both genders, Elan has a delicate quality that works beautifully as a feminine name. Its brevity and melodic quality give it a contemporary feel despite its ancient roots. While never tremendously common in English-speaking countries, Elan has maintained steady usage, appealing to parents seeking a cross-cultural name that combines simplicity with depth. The name's multiple positive associations with nature, light, and vivacity make it richly meaningful.

Intriguing, when seen as a water name a la River and Ocean; less appropriate if used as a reference to the Creek tribe of Native Americans. Other downsides are its resemblance to creak, as in creaky bones or floorboards, and to unappealing words like creep and reak.

An offbeat word name referring to the speed of a piece of music.

While Hill reads as a nickname for Hillary, adding an S puts it in the same category as plural nature names like Rivers and Brooks. It also softens the name's image: one hill is an obstacle, but many together form a lovely landscape. Hills are also a recurring image and metaphor in both the New and Old Testament.

Painter is among the most creative choices in this very fashionable category of names, with a particularly pleasant sound. Whereas most occupational names conjure up physical labor, this one feels like a gateway to the arts. Actor Chad Lowe used it as the middle name of his daughter Mabel.

Often used in connection with poetry, Imagery has potential as an unusual name. Perhaps you'll get a daydreamer with this one.

Inspiration might inspire some as a middle name choice.

Cool, musical modern choice, especially as a middle name.