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Women in Science

tatdaisie
By tatdaisie
Updated Tue Apr 25 2023
Women throughout history who have contributed to the fields of science, mathematics and medicine.
  1. Caroline

    • Origin:

      French, feminine variation of Charles

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Caroline is a perennial classic, one of the elite group of girls' names that's ALWAYS ranked among the Top 1000 and that's been in the Top 100 since 1994. Elegant yet strong, Caroline calls to mind the Kennedy Camelot years and Princess Caroline of Monaco.
  2. Ada

    • Origin:

      German or Turkish

    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility, or island"

    • Description:

      Ada is one of the classic baby names for girls that is suddenly super stylish again. A favorite at the end of the nineteenth century, Ada is an alternative to the over-popular Ava. Ada is also part of the trend toward simple, old-fashioned names beginning with a vowel, like Ivy and Ella.
  3. Florence

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "flourishing, prosperous"

    • Description:

      Florence is back, returning to the US Top 1000 girl names in 2017 after a nearly 40 year absence. Other English-speaking countries have been quicker to welcome Florence back into fashion.
  4. Margaret

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pearl"

    • Description:

      Margaret is derived from the French Marguerite, which in turn came from Margarita, the Latin form of the Greek Margarites. Margarites was based on the Old Persian word margārīta, meaning "pearl."
  5. Marie

    • Origin:

      French variation of Mary

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

    • Description:

      The ubiquitous French version of Mary came into the English-speaking world in the nineteenth century. In the United States, Marie was a huge hit at the turn of the last century and for the ensuing fifty years, becoming the seventh most popular name in the country for three years, from 1901 to 1904.
  6. Sofia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "wisdom"

    • Description:

      Sofia is a refined variation of the Greek name Sophia, which was derived directly from sophia, the Greek word for wisdom. It was the name of a Roman saint—the mother of Faith, Hope, and Charity—and queens of Russia and Spain.
  7. Beatrix

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "she who brings happiness; blessed"

    • Description:

      Beatrix has a solid history of its own apart from Beatrice, with that final x adding a playful, animated note to the name's imposing history and stately vibe.
  8. Laura

    • Origin:

      English from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentum or bay laurel"

    • Description:

      Laura is a hauntingly evocative perennial, never trendy, never dated, feminine without being fussy, with long-standing literary links. All this makes Laura a more solid choice than any of its more decorative counterparts and one of the most classic girl names starting with L.
  9. Jacqueline

    • Origin:

      French, feminine diminutive of Jacques

    • Meaning:

      "supplanter"

    • Description:

      Jacqueline originated as a feminine form of Jacques, the French variation of James, and therefore Jacob. Jacob was ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Ya’aqov, and gets its meaning, "supplanter" from the story of Jacob supplanting his brother Esau as the first-born son in the Bible. Jacqueline was first used in France in the Middle Ages.
  10. Rebecca

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "to tie, bind"

    • Description:

      Rebecca is a name representing beauty in the Bible, an Old Testament classic that reached the heights of revived popularity in the seventies but is still a well-used choice. It derives from the Hebrew name Rivkah, from the verb ribbqah, meaning "noose." The biblical Rebecca was the wife of Isaac and the mother of Esau and Jacob. Rebekah was a common spelling of the name in the Bible.
  11. Maria

    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

    • Description:

      As a highly popular girls' name in all Spanish-speaking countries, this saintly Latin variation of Mary retains a timeless beauty. Through the centuries, Maria remains one of the most widely-used girl names starting with M.
  12. Alessandra

    • Origin:

      Italian and Portuguese variation of Alexandra

    • Meaning:

      "defending men"

    • Description:

      This Italian and Portuguese variant of the classic Alexandra softens the classic name, while still maintaining its strength and dignity. Currently in the US Top 500, it also ranks in Brazil and Italy. Instead of Lexi, this form could get you to nicknames Essie or Alessa.
  13. Hildegard

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "comrade in arms"

    • Description:

      Hildegard is an ancient name that sounds it, but it does have sweet short forms Hildie and Hilda to recommend it, as well as several illustrious historical bearers.
  14. Amalie

    • Origin:

      Danish, Norwegian, and German form of Amalia or Amelia

    • Meaning:

      "work"

    • Description:

      In European countries where it's regularly used as a form of the Amelia family of names, the pronunciation is very similar to the a-ending form, Amalia.
  15. Artemesia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "gift from Artemis"

    • Description:

      Derived from Artemis, the name of the Greek mythological goddess of the moon and hunting, Artemesia has a couple of notable associations, among them a fourth century Queen of Caria who was responsible for the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World..
  16. Hypatia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "highest, supreme"

    • Description:

      Hypatia, an ancient Greek name, has a distinguished namesake: Hypatia of Alexandria was an early philosopher and scholar of mathematics and astronomy--as well as inventor of several scientific instruments.
  17. Aemilia

    • Origin:

      Roman

    • Meaning:

      "rival"

    • Description:

      Aemilia is the Ancient Roman spelling of the popular Emilia and family. With Emilia and Amelia so popular, this version, while authentic and attractive, will only create confusion without adding real distinction.
  18. Sibylla

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "seer, oracle"

    • Description:

      This elongated form of Sibyl is dainty and delicate -- dare we even say demure? It's got deep history, a powerful namesake, and it's extremely rare -- zero baby girls were named Sibylla or Sybilla in the US last year.
  19. Abella

    • Origin:

      French, meaning 'breath'

    • Description:

      A pretty name heard in the Louisiana Cajun community, Abella would fit right in with all the other, more familiar, bella names.
  20. Dorotea

    • Description:

      Dorotea is a feminine name of Greek origin, representing the Spanish, Italian, and Eastern European form of Dorothy. It derives from the Greek elements 'doron' meaning 'gift' and 'theos' meaning 'God,' thus translating to 'gift of God.' This beautiful name has been used since early Christian times, with Saint Dorothea of Caesarea being a 4th-century martyr. While Dorothy became enormously popular in English-speaking countries, particularly in the early 20th century, Dorotea maintained a more consistent, moderate usage in Southern and Eastern European countries. The name carries an elegant, classical quality with its flowing four syllables and offers a more distinctive alternative to the more familiar Dorothy, while still allowing for the cute nickname Dora.