Stylish Girl Names That End in Consonants

Fleur

French

"flower"

Fleur is a generic, delicate flower name that emigrated into the English-speaking world when John Galsworthy bestowed it on one of the Forsytes in his celebrated saga. More recently, there was Fleur…

Sinead

Irish form of Janet

"God is gracious"

One of the best known of the Irish girls' names , thanks to singer Sinead O'Connor. Though it's still in the Irish Top 100, it's no longer quite as fashionable in Ireland as Aoife or Aisling. But by…

Manon

French, diminutive of Marie

"bitter"

Manon is an endearing French pet name for Marie or Marianne; it has the international yet straightforward feel that makes it a viable import. Manon of the Spring was a gorgeous French film, Manon…

Myrtle

Greek botanical name

Long in our category of so-far-out-it-will-always-be-out category, once seen as a gum-cracking 1940's telephone operator, we think it's time to reassess Myrtle, and look at is as a nature name, a…

Wallis

Variation of Wallace, English, Scottish, Norman

"a Welshman, Celt"

Strong but breezy with the unisex charm of Ellis and Hollis, this name was famously borne by Wallis Simpson (born Bessie), the woman for whom English king Edward VIII abdicated his throne in the 20th…

Raphaelle

French feminine variation of Raphael, Hebrew

"God has healed"

American baby girls are usually given an a-ending version of this name -- Rafaela, Raffaella, Raphaella and so forth. But the sleek, sophisticated Raphaelle? Not a single baby girl received that name…

Sian

Welsh variation of Jane

"God is gracious"

Simple and pretty and user-friendly, the Welsh Sian was used by U2's Dave "the Edge" Evans for his daughter. In Welsh, it is also spelled Siân.

Sojourner

French, English

"to stay a while"

African-American and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth was born as Isabelle into enslavement. She adopted her new name when she began traveling and preaching abolition in 1843. Sojourner is a…

Melisande

French form of Millicent, German

"strong in work"

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…

Beneste

Jèrriais

"goodness"

The name was used in the Channel Island, Jersey. It is believed to be derived from the Latin root word "Bene" meaning good.

Madelief

Dutch

"daisy"

Madelief is an uncommon name but not unheard of in the Netherlands, where 123 girls were called Madelief in one recent year. With its soft sounds and similarities to all those "Madeleine" type names…

Mab

Irish, English

"intoxicating"

An Anglicized form of Medb borrowed by both Shakespeare and Percy Bysshe Shelley for the of queen of the fairies. Perfect if you want something both adventurous and simple - though you could use it…

Lettice

English variation of Letitia

"joy, gladness"

Lettice is still occasionally heard in upper-class British families, but we fear it would cause too much salad-green teasing to be considered in the U.S. Calling your little Lettice Lettie could help…

Ursuline

Diminutive of Ursula

"little bear"

Ursula, while beautiful, still carries a whiff of the Disney sea witch. Perhaps Ursuline smells a bit sweeter?

Ceridwen

Welsh

"beautiful as a poem; crooked women"

A mythological Welsh name with an intriguing sound, Ceridwen appears in several Welsh legends, in which she is an an enchantress and the owner of the cauldron of poetic inspiration. She is also…

Viridis

Latin

"green"

Viridis is a medieval Italian name which is also the Latin word for green. This name is a beautiful option for parents looking for an unusual name that conveys freshness, youth, springtime and…

Dorrit

Danish diminutive of Dorothea, Greek

"gift of God"

The "Little Dorrit" title character of Charles Dickens' novel was actually named Amy; Dorrit was her last name. The Dorit spelling is a short form of Dorothea in Danish and Dorrit has been used as a…

Endellion

Cornish place and saint's name

"fire soul"

Endellion is the name of an early saint who was a daughter of King Brychan and goddaughter of King Arthur whose life is commemorated by the Cornish village of St. Endellion. This intriguing ancient…

Winsome

English

"agreeable, lighthearted"

A sweet, modern descriptive name, with a wholesome and winning feel, Winsome means "appealing, fresh, simple, innocent" or "cheerful and lighthearted." Some may find it a little too cutesy, but with…

Esclarmonde

Occitan

"Light of the World"

Esclarmonde de Foix was an Occitan countess and an important figure in Catharism, a medieval Christian movement, which allowed women and men to both hold church offices. Her tale inspired an opera by…