Personal favorite girl names

Maybelle

Variation of Mabel; combination of May and Belle; "loveable"

"loveable"

This spelling variation of Mabel clears up the pronunciation — "may-belle", as opposed to "may-bull". Maybelle is packed with Southern charm, and like sister name Mabel is on the rise, but still on a…

Mika

Japanese, Slovene, Hebrew, English, Greek

"beautiful fragrance; who is like God?; follower of Demeter"

Mika is a sparky and stylish Japanese girls' name that translates easily to English. Also used as a Slovene and Hebrew diminutive for Mihaela and Michaela, as an alternative spelling to the Biblical…

Mireya

Spanish from Latin

"admired"

A pretty and unusual path to the nickname Mira. Mira is the main character in Nobel Prize-winner Federico Mistral's poem of the same name. Mireya Moscoso was Panama's first female president.

Mirin

Irish and Scottish, meaning unknown

The 6th century Irish saint Mirin emigrated to Scotland and now is the patron saint of both the Glasgow suburb of Paisley and the game of football. Mirren is one modern spelling; the Cornish Merryn,…

Morning

Word name

There are many lovely day/month/seasonal names -- and this is one of the most intriguing.

Nakotah

Sioux

"friend to all"

This name of one of the three tribes in the Great Sioux Nation could provide an interesting alternative to Dakota.

Nerida

Greek; Aboriginial

"sea nymph, mermaid; red waterlily"

This is one of the more unusual examples of a group of Greek names connected to the sea, which makes sense for a nation of coastline and islands. The Nereids or water nymphs were the daughters of sea…

Nessa

Scandinavian

"headlands, promontory"

Like its cousin Tessa, Nessa -- a shortening of Vanessa or Agnes or Anastasia among other possibilities -- is an attractive nickname that can stand on its own.

Ninette

French diminutive of Ann

"grace"

Not quite Nanette and not quite Ninon, this is one of the more unusual 'ette' options. There was an eponymous Spanish film, starring Elsa Pataky, based on a novel.

Niomi

Niomi is an alternative spelling of Naomi, a Hebrew name meaning "pleasantness" or "delightfulness." This variation with an 'i' instead of 'a' offers a subtle modernization while maintaining the…

Noelia

Spanish, feminine variation of Noel

This name of an admired Puerto Rican pop singer has been picked up by hundreds of Hispanic parents.

Oceana

Greek

"ocean"

If you're a lover of the beach and sea, and want a name that relates to the largest body of water, there are several variations you could consider. Oceana is the female form of Oceanus, the god of…

Orchid

From Greek

"orchid flower"

Orchid is a hothouse bloom that has not been plucked by many modern baby namers — yet. In the language of flowers, orchids symbolize love, beauty, and sophistication. In a 1926 silent comedy, femme…