European Girl Names

Moa was among the Top 100 Swedish baby names throughout the 2000s and 2010s, though it has since declined in use. Pronounced as MOO-ah in Sweden, it is virtually unknown in the US.

Sophisticated French choice. Or toxic petrochemical.

Iria is a diminutive version of Eirene / Irene and is therefore associated with the Greek goddess of peace.

Frostine, best known in the U.S. as the name of the Candyland queen, is newly fashionable in France and is certainly a choice that any little girl the world over would love. Fanciful, if over-the-top, but a perfect name for a winter baby girl.

Russian form of Stephanie livens up that flagging classic.

The modern Greek form of Arete, a minor Greek goddess of excellence, virtue and righteous morals. With its fun I ending and the trendy nickname Ari (or Art, for something more unisex), Areti could easily leave the Greek mythology books and be used as a rare but stylish baby girl name.

Putting the emphasis on the "elle" softens a name that seems at once futuristic and medieval.

This Dutch name derives from the old Germanic name, Farahild. It is quite common in the Netherlands.

Finja Is a Josephine nickname that ranks among the Top 100 girl names in Germany.

The exact origins of Tiril remain a mystery, but it is generally considered to be a name from Norwegian poetry. The heroine of Johan Sebastian Cammermeyer’s fantastical poem "Lokkende Toner" is Tirilil Tove.

A cute Slavic name that feels familiar because of its similarity to the more well-known Anja. Janja is the regional variant of Agnes in Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia, and it's also connected to the word janje, meaning "lamb".

A fast rising choice in the US, Belen is a name with two possible origins. On one hand, it could be a variation — or an anglicization — of Belén, the Spanish form of Bethlehem. This would make it a spiritual choice, connected to the birth place of Jesus.

Femke is a diminutive version of the Dutch or Frisian name Fem, which in turn is a feminine form of the masculine name Femme (still with us?), which is a diminutive of several Old German names names containing the syllable "frid" which means peace.

This charming feminine form of Thaddeus is based on the Slovene variant Tadej. Its melodic sound and stylish nickname Teja make it an attractive possibility, even outside of its native country.

The feminine version of the newly-stylish Roman -- and the longer form of the also-newly-stylish Romy -- would make a girls' choice that achieves that near-impossible balance of being both original and fashionable. This variation is far superior to Romaine, which is too lettuce-y.

Not-so-attractive short form of a lovely name.

Thale entered the Top 100 in Norway back in 2020, though it remains rare elsewhere. It is typically considered a short form of Adelheid, however, it could also be a variation of Tóli or Tole, diminutives for names with the Old Norse element "Thor".

Xanthipe, also spelled Xanthippe, is the name of the wife of Socrates. Challenging for English speakers, it's also dramatic and alluring.

Siv, or sometimes Sif, was the name of Thor's wife and is popular in modern Scandinavia. In Norse mythology, Siv was the goddess of fertility and agriculture.

Zsanka is a lively diminutive of either Zsanett, the Hungarian form of Jeanette, or Zsuzsanna, the Hungarian form of Susanna. Initially a nickname, it's also used on its own nowadays. The Zs beginning may take a second to get used to, but the name has a fun and bouncy sound that could work outside of Hungary.