Lopes da Silva (female names, Part 2 of 12)
- Faith
Origin:
Virtue nameDescription:
Faith is one of the most straightforward of the virtue names popularized by the Puritans in the seventeenth century, many parents still choosing it as an indicator of their religious conviction. Faith peaked in 2002 at Number 48.
- Yara
Origin:
Arabic, Persian, Brazilian, HebrewMeaning:
"friend, helper; strength; water nymph; honeycomb"Description:
The multicultural Yara is a sweet but substantial choice that could make a more unusual take on Sara and also work in multiple languages. Popular in Portugal, The Netherlands, and Switzerland, familiar in the UK and France, it entered the US Top 1000 in 2017 and has been climbing the charts ever since.
- Maia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"mother"Description:
Maia was derived from the Greek word maia, meaning "mother." In Greek legend, she was the fair-haired daughter of Atlas who mothered Zeus's favorite illegitimate son, Hermes. To the Romans, Maia was the incarnation of the earth mother and goddess of spring, after whom they named the month of May. Maya is the more common spelling.
- Sena
Origin:
Korean; Hindi; Turkish; Arabic; EweMeaning:
"this world's beauty or grace; army; to praise; bringing heaven to earth"Description:
Sena is one of those names that is as obscure in the Western World as it is simple and straightforward. Sena exists as a name in a range of languages and cultures and may be pronounced like Senna (with a soft e) or Sienna.
- Emerald
Origin:
Gem name; PersianMeaning:
"green"Description:
Emerald is the intriguing color and jewel name of the deep green stone treasured as far back as ancient Egypt — it's supposed to open one's heart to wisdom and to love and be good for strengthening relationships — which could make for an interesting, unusual name, particularly with the popularity of so many Em-starting names.
- Elia
Origin:
Spanish feminization of Elio, Italian and SpanishMeaning:
"sun"Description:
Though the most famous Elia, screenwriter Kazan, was male, this name sounds like a spin on many popular girls' names, from Ella to Ellie to Isla and Leah. While the Italian pronunciation has the middle syllable as LEE, making it closer to the original Elijah would give the middle syllable a long I sound — eh-LYE-ah.
- Madelyn
Origin:
Variation of Madeline, EnglishMeaning:
"woman from Magdala or high tower"Description:
Capturing some of the playful elegance of Madeleine, while avoiding any confusion over the end sound, Madelyn is now an established spelling variation of the French classic. Sweet but strong, Madelyn is a versatile choice that lends itself to the almost inevitable nickname Maddy.
- Ebony
Origin:
EnglishDescription:
An attractive and now underused nature name belonging to a tree whose wood is prized for its dark color and dense texture, which shines when polished. Ebony joined the most popular girl names list in the US in the early 1970s, peaked in 1982 at #132, and dropped back below the Top 1000 in 2006.
- Amanda
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"she must be loved"Description:
Amanda may no longer be the most popular girls' name in her class, but it still holds appeal with its pleasing meaning and solid yet romantic sound. Its heyday however was back in the eighties when it skyrocketed alongside Samantha, Vanessa, Melissa, and co.
- Gillian
Origin:
Feminine variation of JulianMeaning:
"youthful"Description:
Gillian is a name that was in common usage in Great Britain until the 1970s, when it dropped out of the Top 100 and is yet to return. Until recently, it had not crossed the Atlantic in significant numbers, except in the short form Jill.
- Fay
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"fairy"Description:
Fay, also spelled Faye, who had been napping quietly since the 1930's, has, like cousins May/Mae and Ray/Rae, sat up and started rubbing her eyes, ready for a mini-comeback, especially as a middle name. In 2014, Faye hopped back onto the US Top 1000, though Fay is used much more quietly as a first name.
- Catalina
Origin:
Spanish variation of CatherineMeaning:
"pure"Description:
This name of a touristed island in sight of Los Angeles makes an attractive and newly stylish variation on the classic Catherine or overused Caitlin.
- Clarice
Origin:
Medieval form of Clarita, a derivative of ClaraMeaning:
"bright, clear"Description:
If you’re a fan of the annual animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, you’ll recognize the name of Rudolph’s beautiful doe sweetheart, pronounced cla-REES—uncomfortably close to the Silence of the Lambs pronunciation. Clarice was the name of the wife of Lorenzo de' Medici, and Clarice Cliff was a famed British ceramics artist. Though a Top 300 name from 1906 to 1934, modern parents might prefer the more delicate Clarissa.
- Dora
Origin:
Diminutive of Theodora and Isidora, GreekMeaning:
"gift"Description:
Dora is poised for a comeback, right behind Laura, Nora, Cora, and Flora. First-time parents who haven't watched cartoons in a couple of decades should be aware of the Dora the Explorer connection, which has its pluses and minuses.
- Linda
Origin:
Spanish, Portuguese and ItalianMeaning:
"pretty"Description:
Linda will live forever in baby name history for toppling Mary from its four hundred year reign as Number 1. Queen of Names in 1947, Linda has fallen even further in favor than Mary today.
- Lynette
Origin:
French elaboration of Lynn or WelshMeaning:
"idol"Description:
Linda begat Lynn which gave way to Lynette, which peaked in the late 1960s. Lynette has been off the Top 1000 for a couple decades now, and the Lynn variations finding the most favor are those that put the "lyn" part at the end: Evelyn, Madelyn, Brooklyn.
- Doreen
Origin:
Variation of Dora; also Anglicized variation of Irish DoireannMeaning:
"sullen"Description:
Much fresher Irish imports available for colleens now.
- Terra
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"earth"Description:
A video-game import (Final Fantasy VI) for a character with green hair and a name that brings the outmoded Terry and Tara into the postmodern age.
- Sharon
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"a plain"Description:
This Old Testament place name was in the Top 10 fifty years ago, but now Sharon, along with sound-alike Karen, have fallen out of favor.
- Jerica
Description:
Jerica is a feminine name that serves as a variant of Jericha or a feminine form of Jeric, ultimately connected to the biblical city of Jericho. The name has Hebrew origins, loosely associated with meanings like 'city of the moon' or 'fragrant place.' Emerging in popularity during the latter part of the 20th century, Jerica offers a modern update to the more traditional Jessica or Erica. The name possesses a melodic quality with its three syllables and soft ending. While never reaching mainstream popularity, Jerica appeals to parents seeking a name that sounds familiar yet remains relatively uncommon. In the United States, its peak usage occurred in the 1980s and 1990s, though it maintains a modest presence today.
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