Girls
- Alethea
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"truth"Description:
Alethea, the name of the Greek goddess of truth, came into fashion in England in the 16th century, in tandem with the virtue names. Alethea may find new favor now as one of the goddess names stylish for baby girls.
- Amabel
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lovable"Description:
Amabel is an older name than Annabel and a lot more distinctive. Amabel was a very common name in the twelfth and thirteen centuries, then was revived during the nineteenth century British fad for medieval names.
- Adelia
Origin:
Variation of Adela, GermanMeaning:
"noble, nobility"Description:
The super-success of Adele, both the singer and the name, has brought attention to all her cousins — Adela, Adeline, Adelina — and the lovely Adelia. An undiscovered gem just waiting to be discovered.
- Arianna
Origin:
Italian form of Ariadne, GreekMeaning:
"most holy"Description:
A smooth, attractive choice, Arianna's on the rise with both single and double 'r's and 'n's. Single 'r' double 'n' Arianna — the second most popular version of the name — is these days associated with Greek-born blog queen Arianna Huffington.
- Adela
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"noble"Description:
A vibrant variation of Adele, with a bit of extra flair from that "-a" ending. It could join the army of popular A girls' names, especially with its tie to the success of singer Adele.
- Jessamine
Origin:
English from PersianMeaning:
"jasmine"Description:
Jessamine, a charming name occasionally heard in England, is just beginning to be appreciated in the U.S. as a possible successor to all the Jess names of the past. It's also spelled Jessamyn, as in Quaker novelist Jessamyn West, author of Friendly Persuasion--who started life with Jessamyn as her middle name.
- Zephyrine
Origin:
Feminine variation of Zephyr, GreekMeaning:
"west wind"Description:
Zephyr may not be a name often heard in the U.S., but its variations are used throughout Europe. Zephyrine, a cousin in sound and feel if not in fact to such lovely names as Severine and Seraphina, has distinctive possibilities.
- Sarai
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"princess"Description:
Sharp but sweet, ancient but with a contemporary sound, Sarai has been rising steadily up the US charts since the 90s and now sits comfortably in the Top 1000. In the Old Testament, God changed Sarai's name to Sara, so this would make a clever and legitimate honor name for an ancestral Sarah.
- Elisa
Origin:
Spanish and Italian, diminutive of ElizabethDescription:
Elisa is one of the most appealing of this contingent of Elizabeth-related names. In the US, Eliza is much more stylish these days, but Elisa is very popular internationally — especially in Europe and Latin America.
- Abilene
Origin:
English from HebrewMeaning:
"grass"Description:
Abilene is a rarely used place name, mentioned as such in the New Testament, that combines the cowboy spunk of the Texas city with the midwestern morality of the Kansas town where Dwight D. Eisenhower spent his boyhood. Abilene is a much more untrodden path to the nickname Abbie/Abbie than the Top 10 Abigail.
- Daniella
Origin:
Italian, Polish, Czech, feminine variation of DanielDescription:
Daniella, Daniela, and Danielle were among the hottest names for twenty years, but now, though still popular, they can no longer be considered stylish options, lagging behind the newer Ella, Stella, Bella, Gabriella, and Isabella.
- Yasmine
Origin:
Arabic variation of JasmineMeaning:
"jasmine flower"Description:
Any of the Y forms, which also include Yasmeen, Yasmin, and Yasmina, make this name more unusual and distinctive.
- Adalia
Origin:
Hebrew, German, "God is my refuge; noble one"Meaning:
"God is my refuge; noble one"Description:
Distinctive, elegant, and luxurious, Adalia can be a variation of Adele, or a Hebrew name with a Biblical background. Although it is given exclusively to girls in the US, in the Bible it is masculine. The similar Adlai might be easier to wear for boys in English speaking countries, while Adalia fits in with Adeline, Amelia, and Dahlia.
- Alexia
Origin:
Diminutive of Alexandria, GreekMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
This diminutive, similar to Alex or Alexis, has been yo-yoing in popularity since the turn of the 21st century.
- Arietta
Origin:
Compound name, variation of HarrietMeaning:
"little song; little lion; home ruler"Description:
A name that is either inspired by the classic Harriet (and by the character Arrietty in The Borrowers), or, a compound name, merging Aria and Ari with Etta, to generate the meanings "little song" or "little lion"
- Katia
Origin:
Russian diminutive of EkaterinaMeaning:
"pure"Description:
One of the warm and earthy Russian nickname names now coming into style. Denzel Washington is the father of a Katia.
- Roselyn
Origin:
Combination name of Rose and LynnDescription:
Roselyn was a frequent member of the US Top 1000 in the early twentieth century until it dropped off the charts in 1954. It didn't return until 2003.
- Annabella
Origin:
Variation of Annabel or English compound name, Anna + BellaMeaning:
"loving or grace + beautiful"Description:
Annabella is one of a constellation of names that include Anabella, Annabelle, Annabel, Anabel, Annabelle, and Annabell -- all lovely names that have suffered from their association with the eponymous horror movie. Annabella fell off the US Top 1000 in 2021, and ironically, the only version of the name that hangs on in the Top 1000 is Annabelle, the spelling used in the movie.
- Sabella
Description:
Sabella is a feminine name with Italian and Latin origins, most commonly considered a shortened form of Isabella or a variant of Sabina. Isabella derives from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning 'God is my oath,' while Sabina comes from Latin, referring to the ancient Sabine people of Italy. Sabella combines melodic quality with historical depth, featuring the soft 's' sound and flowing 'bella' ending (meaning 'beautiful' in Italian). Though less common than Isabella, Sabella has experienced modest usage in the United States and other English-speaking countries. The name carries an elegant, romantic quality with its Italian flair while remaining accessible and easily pronounced. Its connection to both beauty and ancient heritage gives it substance beyond its pretty sound.
- Alena
Origin:
Variation of HelenDescription:
Alena is a modern variant of Helen. Alena might also be a spelling twist on the Slavic Alina or a long form of Lena.
