Saint Names for Girls

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.

Though often heard in the Hispanic and Italian communities, it hasn't made an impact here, perhaps because of the connection to the character of Faust and his pact with the devil. Variations: FAUSTINA, FAUSTIA, FAUSTIANA

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.

Vincenza makes romance of Vincent. Vincenza Gerosa was one of the founders of the Sisters of Charity of Lovere and was later made a saint.

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

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

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.

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

A lot of parents claim to want a name that's different, but if you really do, Aquilina, modern-feeling but based on an ancient favorite, would be one good choice.

Dymphna, also spelled Dympna, is the name of an Irish virgin martyr. The story goes that she was a Celtic princess who fled to Belgium to escape the abusive attentions of her father, and his mad actions led to her becoming the patron saint of the insane.

Michelina Matelli was a wealthy Italian woman who became a nun. She was made Saint Michelina in the 1700s.

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

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.

Domitilla is the name of the wife of the Roman emperor Vespasianus and the mother of the emperors Titus and Domitianus. There is a Santa Domitilla with catacombs in Rome named after her.

St Quiteria was a second-century virgin martyr who was killed after refusing to renounce her Christian faith in order to marry.

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.

As Joaquin enters the American mainstream, his sister might just follow.

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