My Favorite Girl Names

Strong and Beautiful Names for Girls
  1. Bianca
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "white"
    • Description:

      Bianca, the livelier Italian and Shakespearean version of Blanche, has been chosen by many American parents since the 1990s, just as Blanca is a favorite in the Spanish-speaking community. Its meaning of white relates to snow, making it one of the prime names for winter babies.
  2. Chava
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "life"
    • Description:

      The Hebrew, Biblical form of Eve. While English speakers will likely find the forms Ava or Eve easier in everyday life, Chava is a lovely variation for a family that speaks Hebrew or Yiddish - plus, English speakers could always learn.
  3. Cora
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "maiden"
    • Description:

      Cora is a lovely, old-fashioned girls' that has been recently rejuvenated by its contemporary-feeling simplicity. In fact, Cora seemed headed straight for the top of the popularity list when the coronavirus pandemic somewhat weakened its appeal.
  4. Cora Elisabeth
    • Elisabeth
      • Origin:

        German, Dutch, Danish and English variation of Elizabeth, Hebrew, "pledged to God"
      • Meaning:

        "pledged to God"
      • Description:

        This spelling of the classic name is found in France, Germany, Greece, and other cultures, and is worn by such notables as Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth Shue, Elisabeth Moss, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. The name's pronunciation is usually just like the Z version, but some parents choose this because they want to discourage the Liz or Lizzie short forms and so pronounce it as if it has Lisa in the middle.
    • FAIRLIGHT
      • Freya
        • Origin:

          Norse
        • Meaning:

          "a noble woman"
        • Description:

          Freya has long been popular in the U.K. but has only taken off in the US in the last decade, along with the entire category of mythological names. Derived from the Old Norse name Freyja, meaning "Lady, noble woman", Freya is the name of the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.
      • Ivy
        • Origin:

          Botanical name
        • Description:

          The quirky, offbeat and energetic botanical name Ivy is enjoying a deserved revival, propelled even higher by its choice by high-profile parents Beyonce and Jay-Z for daughter Blue Ivy. Ivy is also traditionally used at Christmas, make this one of the perfect names for December babies.
      • Ivy Fairlight
        • Leila
          • Origin:

            Arabic
          • Meaning:

            "night"
          • Description:

            Leila was popularized in the West by the poet Byron, who used it in his poem Don Juan for a ten-year-old Turkish girl. Leila also appears as a fairy in the Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera Iolanthe.
        • Mae
          • Origin:

            Diminutive of Mary or Margaret, Hebrew, Latin
          • Meaning:

            "beloved, bitter, drop of the sea; pearl"
          • Description:

            Mae, a sweet and springlike old-fashioned name, hadn't been on the national charts in forty years, but finally made it back in 2010. Mae is derived from May, the month name that was chosen for its connection to Maia, the Roman goddess of growth and motherhood.
        • Nanette
          • Origin:

            French diminutive of Anne
          • Meaning:

            "grace"
          • Description:

            There was a time when French names like Annette, Paulette – and Nanette – were chic, but now, we'd have to say "No, no, Nanette".
        • Priyanka
          • Savannah
            • Origin:

              Spanish
            • Meaning:

              "flat tropical grassland"
            • Description:

              A place name with a deep Southern accent, the once-obscure Savannah shot to fame, with others of its genre, on the heels of the best seller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which was set in the mossy Georgia city of Savannah. Originally a substitute for the overused Samantha, Savannah is now popular itself, long among the top girls' names starting with S.
          • Savannah Ivy
            • Vianne
              • Origin:

                French, blend of Vivian and Anne
              • Description:

                A smooth and velvety Gallic choice first heard here as the heroine of the movie "Chocolat."