Saint Names for Girls

Borrowed from the name of a massif (or a compact group of mountains) in Abruzzi, Italy, Maiella is used as an Italian surname, notably by the 18th century saint, Gerardo Maiella. Regarded as the patron saint of pregnancy and childbirth, the Irish form of the saint's name is Gerard Majella — although Majella might also be used in Italy to refer to the National Park in which the massif is located.

Valery was in the Top 1000 from 2005 to 2009, and reemerged in 2018. This spelling is often used among Hispanic families in the US.

This fairly obscure saint's name was chosen by Oscar-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden for one of her twins.

Fabiola was the romantically elaborate name of a saint who organized the first hospice. Neither Fabiola nor Fabia appear on the most recent US extended list of names given to five or more babies, though Fabiana and Fabianna are both used.

Attractive ancient name borne by several saints but sullied by association with yeast infection.

A rare saint name, more commonly transcribed in its French form, Maxellende, Maxellendis is associated with a 7th-century French martyr, who is invoked to cure eye diseases and is considered the patron saint of the visually impaired.

The strong and unusual name of a medieval (male) saint and a contemporary (female) novelist, Benilde Little.

Melodic and unusual, and she will outgrow any bib jokes.

Justa is an ancient saints' name. Saints Justa and Rufina were martyred sisters who are today the patron saints of Seville in Spain.

Linked to the early days of feminism via Germaine Greer, this saint's name feels neither French nor German enough -- which just might make it the perfect blend of the two cultures. All forms of Germain derive from the Latin Germanus, referring to a person from Germany.

A rare saint's name, Maxellende was a 7th-century martyr, associated with the French Catholic church. She is invoked to cure eye diseases and is more generally the patron saint of the visually impaired. Her name itself is a French form of Maxellendis, possibly linked to Maxence and Maximus meaning "greatest". Other forms of the name are Maxelende (borne by Filipino composer Maxelende Ganade) and Maxeline.

Unfortunately, everyone will hear Crispina, the feminine form of Crispin, as Christina.

Bernardine is really driving home its Bernard connection, for better or worse. Bernadine is the usual form of this name.

Although the saintly Gratia was male -- Blessed Gratia of Kotor -- this name feels quite female today.

Tekakwitha was a 17th-century Mohawk woman, who survived the smallpox epidemic that killed her family. She is known for rejecting pressures from those around her to give up her Catholic beliefs and to marry someone who they approved of instead. She later fled her village and converted to Catholicism.

A sleek, more elaborate alternative to Maxine, Maxeline is a rare name of French origin, derived from the saintly name Maxellende. St. Maxellende is the patron saint of the visually impaired and invoked to cure eye diseases.

Hilaria, the ancient Roman form of Hilary also given to joyous festivals, is still used in Spain and Poland, while the intriguing Italian version is Ilaria. A notable current bearer is fitness expert and wife of Alec, Hilaria Baldwin, who was born Hillary.

Nympha sounds like it might be a modern invented name in the trendy mythological group, but it is actually an Ancient Greek name mentioned in the Bible. And there is an obscure St. Nympha, one of the patrons of Palermo.

An ancient Germanic name that's so clunky and contrarian it's actually cool. One famous Hermelinda was a medieval queen of the Lombards; another was a Belgian saint.

Honorata is the feminine form of Honoratus, the name of several saints including the patron saint of bakers.