Names That Mean Sweet

Melissa

Greek

"honeybee"

Melissa derives from the Greek word mélissa , meaning "bee," which was taken from the word for honey, meli . In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who nursed the infant god Zeus with honey. Melissa…

Melina

Greek

"little honey"

This traditional Greek name has held somewhat steady in the lower half of the US Top 1000 for the past 25 years, which makes it a great option for parents looking for a name that both fits in and…

Myra

Greek

"sweet-smelling oil"

As with many grandmother-y names, this choice may be coming back into style. Myra was invented in the seventeenth century by a poet called Fulke Greville as a short form of Miranda--or perhaps an…

Angelica

Italian, Polish, Russian diminutive of Angela

"angel or angelic"

Angelica is by far the choicest form of the angelic names -- more delicate than Angelina, more feminine than Angel, more modern than Angela. But though Angelica is so lacy and poetic, it lags behind…

Honey

Word name

Honey entered the US Top 1000 for the first time ever in 2024, following the lead of parents in England, who've elevated this nickname-name to the Top 300 girls' names in the UK. Honey's popularity…

Anika

Dutch, German, Slovene, and Polish diminutive of Anne, Hindi, Sanskrit

"grace; army, splendour"

Sweet but spiky, Anika is a multicultural choice with broad appeal. Familiar in the UK, Czechia, Poland, and the US, it is in the Top 100 in Slovenia. It is additionally popular in Bangladesh, India,…

Maple

English tree name from Latin

"maple tree; tree of the Acer genus"

Maple is one of those sweet-spot word names that sounds so almost name-like that it doesn't feel outlandish or strange, despite its relative newness as a given name. Just as Juniper is adjacent to…

Rihanna

Arabic

"sweet basil"

Many will associate Rihanna with the Barbados-born singer, known mononymously by her middle name. During her early years of fame, when "Umbrella" was on the radio and "Take a Bow" was playing through…

Laia

Catalan diminutive of Eulalia

"sweet-speaking"

Saint Eulalia was born in Spain and is the patron saint of Barcelona, so her name and its derivatives are popular throughout the land — especially in her native Catalonia.

Pamela

English

"all honey"

Pam was a somewhat pampered prom queen of the sixties who was never called by her full name, which is a pity because Pamela is so mellifluous and rich in literary history. A Top 25 name from the late…

Eulalia

Greek

"sweetly speaking"

Eulalia is a melodious name with a southern drawl, thanks to those lilting double L s and similarity to similar Eudora and Eula. Familiar in the US in the early 20th century, it was also a popular…

Candy

English word name or diminutive of Candace, Latin

"white, pure, sincere"

Too sugary sweet and inconsequential for a modern girl.

Habiba

Arabic

"beloved, sweetheart"

A name whose sweet sound matches with its meaning, Habiba is popular in Somalia and North Africa. It comes from the Arabic habib meaning "dear, beloved", making it a bright and endearing choice.

Nazanin

Persian

"sweetheart"

This sweet-sounding and sweet meaning name is popular across the Middle East and Central Asia. Notable bearers include actress Nazanin Boniadi and British-Iranian citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe,…

Amel

French and Maghrebi transcription of Amal, Arabic, Albanian

"hope, aspirations; sweet"

Familiar in France, Tunisia, and Algeria, Amel is a variation of the hopeful Amal. From its Albanian roots however, it is related to the word e ëmbël meaning "sweet". Notably borne by singer Amel…

Shirin

Persian

"charming, sweet"

An attractive unisex choice heard in several countries, including Armenia. Can be pronounced sheer-IN or sheer-EEN.

Sundae

Word name

I'm sure the parents of the six little girls named Sundae in the US last year were thinking, "well, if Nicole Kidman can use Sunday..." In this case, we think the day of the week spelling is…