By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
Choctaw, Native American, meaning unknown
A traditional female name in the Choctaw tradition.
Choctaw, Native American
"believes"
A cute, upbeat name with a covetable meaning.
Cherokee
"attractive"
An attractive Cherokee name — literally — with a bouncy rhythm.
"squirrel"
This traditional Cherokee name could easily be borne by a modern baby girl with connections to the tribe.
Greek mythology name
Remember, the Muse is passive: someone else's inspiration.
Greek
"purple flower"
Like Violet, Lavender and Lilac, Ianthe is a purple flower name. Chosen by the poet Shelley for his daughter, Ianthe has a poetic, romantic, almost ethereal quality. In the ancient myth, she was the…
Irish
"white shoulders"
Finola, the readily accessible version of some of the more problematic Gaelic versions of the name, would make a welcome addition to the stockpot of Irish girls' names.
"youth, young woman"
An overlooked name from Greek mythology, Pallas is both an epithet for the goddess of wisdom and a name in its own right, borne by a daughter of the sea god Triton who was raised alongside the…
Czech, feminine variation of Pavel
Distinctive Slavic choice.
Dutch
"love"
This Dutch name stems from the Greek root word "philos" meaning "love". It is relatively common in the Netherlands.
Welsh
"idol, image"
Romantic and mysterious, Eluned's beauty and intelligence were legendary in Welsh legend; she was the handmaiden of the Lady of the Fountain in a Welsh Arthurian romance, who had a magic ring that…
African
"mercy, kindness"
Igbo name made more familiar by its relationship to the popular Belle and Bella.
Latin, Italian variation of Romulus, one of he founders of Rome
Romola is a literary name most notably used by George Eliot for her eponymous 1862 novel set in fifteenth-century Florence. It just may appeal to the parent looking for a name that embodies the ideal…
Diminutive of Dwynwen
"wave"
Short, but still kind of a mouthful.
French place-name
Louisiana is a geographic spin on the Louise theme. Pretty, if a bit of a syllable overload. Short form Lou or Lulu lightens it.
Hebrew
"graceful"
Feminine but strong name heard in Israel.
Astronomy, Arabic
"tail"
A rare, astronomical choice, Deneb is a blue supergiant star in the "tail" of the Cygnus constellation. Derived from the Arabic dhanab , it is borne by Deneb Karentz, a Biology professor in the US.
French from German
"famous in battle"
Pronounced klo-TEELD, this name is well used in France, but rarely heard here; it has a chic and sophisticated air.
Native American place-name
While some sources assign the place-name the romantic meaning "beautiful daughter of the stars," the Virginia region itself says the name is of uncertain Native American origin with many possible but…
Celtic
"white-shouldered one"
More unusual than Fiona and more user-friendly than Fionnuala, the engaging Scottish Fenella, has been scarcely heard in this country. Fenella first became known outside of Ireland when Sir Walter…
