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Lopes da Silva (female names, Part 2 of 12)

  1. Minerva

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "of the mind, intellect"

    • Description:

      Minerva is the long-neglected name of the Roman goddess of wisdom and invention, the arts and martial strength, one of the mythology names for girls that might appeal to adventurous feminist parents. With Juno and Jupiter, she made the Capitoline triad, whose worship was at the very center of Roman religion.
  2. Faith

    • Origin:

      Virtue name

    • Description:

      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.
  3. Catalina

    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Catherine

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  4. Hailey

    • Origin:

      English and Scottish clan name

    • Meaning:

      "Hay's meadow"

    • Description:

      There are no less than ten different variations of Hailey on the current Most Popular list, but this is the spelling that brought it into the Top 10 of 2010, although it has quickly fallen in popularity. So, although Hailey has a shiny, unpretentious charm, its mass popularity makes it very much of the moment.
  5. Elia

    • Origin:

      Spanish feminization of Elio, Italian and Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  6. Madelyn

    • Origin:

      Variation of Madeline, English

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  7. Linda

    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese and Italian

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  8. Jill

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Gillian or Juliana

    • Meaning:

      "youthful"

    • Description:

      Probably due to its nursery rhyme association, Jill has the perpetual air of a rosy-cheeked tot -- even though it is one of the oldest names on the roster, a medieval variation on the Roman Julia. The pairing of Jack and Jill to connote a generic boy and girl goes back at least to the fifteenth century. But can knowing Jill's history keep it from sounding like a cute mid-twentieth century invention? There may be some possibility of Jill making it back up the hill.
  9. Sena

    • Origin:

      Korean; Hindi; Turkish; Arabic; Ewe

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  10. Ebony

    • Origin:

      English

    • Description:

      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.
  11. Dora

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Theodora and Isidora, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  12. Gillian

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Julian

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  13. Clarice

    • Origin:

      Medieval form of Clarita, a derivative of Clara

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  14. Emerald

    • Origin:

      Gem name; Persian

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  15. Sharon

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  16. Atara

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "crown"

    • Description:

      Also written as Atarah, this regal name appears in the Old Testament, borne by the wife of Jerahmeel. With its confident air and concise appearance, it was given to just under 50 girls in the US in a recent year, while Atarah was chosen for 60.
  17. Lynette

    • Origin:

      French elaboration of Lynn or Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  18. Fay

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  19. Felia

    • Description:

      Felia is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variation of Felia, derived from Latin 'felix' meaning 'happy' or 'fortunate.' Alternatively, it could be related to the Greek name Ophelia or serve as a shortened form of names like Ofelia or Felicia. In some cultures, particularly in parts of Europe, Felia exists as a distinct traditional name. The name has a delicate, melodic quality with its soft consonants and flowing vowels. While relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, Felia offers an elegant, somewhat exotic choice with classical roots. Its association with happiness and good fortune gives it a positive connotation and uplifting meaning.

  20. Savanna

    • Origin:

      Variation of Savannah

    • Description:

      Savanna has lost ground in recent years. It remains eclipsed by its more traditionally spelled cousin Savannah.