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Alternoots

merrybells
By merrybells
Updated Mon Jul 26 2021
  1. 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.
  2. Addie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Adelaide or Adeline

    • Description:

      Old-fashioned nickname with sweet turn-of-the-last-century charm that's become a favorite among the popular girl names starting with A of today. In fact, with all spellings of Adeline/Adalynn taken together firmly in the Top 10, and Adelaide and Addison also high in the charts, Addie is one of the most frequently-heard short forms around. But no matter how popular (or pandemic) it gets, Addie is undeniably one of the cutest names for baby girls. Little girls might like the fact that it's the name, though spelled Addy, of an American Girl series doll.
  3. Adie

    • Description:

      Adie is a versatile name with multiple origins that can be used for girls, though occasionally appears as a masculine name too. Most commonly, it's considered a diminutive of names like Adelaide, Adrienne, or Adeline, all stemming from Germanic roots relating to nobility. In Scottish tradition, Adie can derive from Adam, meaning "of the earth." The name has a bright, friendly quality with its short, approachable sound. While never reaching mainstream popularity, Adie has maintained consistent use as both a nickname and standalone name, especially appealing to parents seeking something simple yet somewhat uncommon. In recent years, it has benefited from the trend toward shorter names and vintage diminutives being used independently. Adie strikes a balance between familiar and distinctive, offering a friendly unpretentiousness with historic roots.

  4. Andie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Andrea, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"

    • Description:

      Boyish nicknames for girls are all the rage — just look at the success of Charlie, Frankie, Stevie, Billie, and Scottie in recent years. Andie has history as a nickname for Andrea, popularized by actress Andie Macdowell. This name has major cool girl appeal through Kate Hudson's portrayal of Andie Anderson in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Molly Ringwald's of Andie Walsh in Pretty in Pink.
  5. Anne

    • Origin:

      French variation of English Ann and Hebrew Hannah

    • Meaning:

      "grace"

    • Description:

      The name of the sainted mother of the Virgin Mary was among the top girls’ names for centuries, in both the original English Ann spelling and the French Anne. Both left the Top 100 around 1970 but Anne is still among the most classic names for girls, although others are more likely to choose the original Hannah, the Anna variation, or even Annabel or Annabella.
  6. Ardi

    • Description:

      Ardi is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Indonesian, it means 'perfect' or 'flawless,' while in Albanian it can mean 'golden day.' The name gained international recognition after the 2009 discovery of an important early hominid fossil nicknamed 'Ardi' (short for Ardipithecus ramidus). As a personal name, Ardi is appreciated for its brevity and melodic quality. It can also function as a diminutive for longer names like Ardith or Ardella. While not among the most common names in Western countries, Ardi has seen modest usage in parts of Europe, Indonesia, and among families seeking distinctive yet accessible names for their daughters.
  7. Di

    • Origin:

      Short form of Diana, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "divine"

    • Description:

      Fans of the late Princess Diana might remember an early nickname, Shy Di. Di was more commonly heard in the middle of the last century, when Diane and sisters were in top vogue. Today, people may take Di as a very dark word name.
  8. Dian

    • Description:

      Dian is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. Most commonly, it's considered a variant of Diana, the Roman goddess of the moon and hunting, derived from an Indo-European root meaning 'divine' or 'heavenly.' In Chinese contexts, Dian (点) can mean 'spot' or 'dot,' though with different pronunciation. The name gained modest popularity in the mid-20th century in English-speaking countries, appearing both as a standalone name and as a shortened form of Diana. Notable bearers include anthropologist Dian Fossey, known for her work with mountain gorillas. Dian offers a concise, strong alternative to longer feminine names, combining brevity with classical heritage. Its simplicity and cross-cultural potential make it appealing to parents seeking a straightforward yet meaningful name.
  9. Dina

    • Origin:

      Hebrew variation of Dinah or Adinah

    • Meaning:

      "judged or delicate"

    • Description:

      Dina is a 20th century version of either Dinah or Adinah, two Old Testament names not related to each other. Dinah was the beautiful daughter of Jacob and Leah, while Adinah or Adina was a male soldier, though the name is also used for girls in modern Israel.
  10. Dan
    • Maggie

      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Margaret

      • Meaning:

        "pearl"

      • Description:

        Maggie is a cute, earthy short form that has been in style for several decades now, still sometimes used as an independent name by such parents as Jon Stewart. First used in Scotland, it got a large bump in popularity via the 1971 Rod Stewart hit song "Maggie May." Today's Maggie might just as well be short for a more adventurous name such as Magdalena or Magnolia as for the classic Margaret.

        Maggie Gyllenhaal was born Margaret.

    • Nia

      • Origin:

        Swahili; Welsh form of the Irish Niamh

      • Meaning:

        "resolve; brilliance"

      • Description:

        Short but energetic and substantial, Nia has special meaning for African-American parents, as it's one of the days of Kwanza. Nia also benefits by its similarity to (yet differentness from) the megapopular Mia.