Lopes da Silva (female names, Part 11 of 12)

  1. Delia
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "born on the island of Delos"
    • Description:

      Delia is a somewhat neglected southern charmer that stands on its own but also might be short for Adelia or Cordelia.
  2. Bianca
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "white"
    • Description:

      Bianca, the livelier Italian and Shakespearean version of Blanche, has been chosen by many American parents since the 1990s, just as Blanca is a favorite in the Spanish-speaking community. Its meaning of white relates to snow, making it one of the prime names for winter babies.
  3. Francine
    • Origin:

      French diminutive pet form of Francoise
    • Meaning:

      "from France or free man"
    • Description:

      With the advent of Pope Francis, all forms of this ancient and saintly name came up for a fresh look. Along with most other -een and -ine (when pronounced like -een) names for girls, Francine has a dated midcentury Mad Men feel. But its choice for their daughter by modern glamour couple Casey Neistat and Candice Pool, respectively a video star and a jewelry designer, has made Francine chic again.
  4. May
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Margaret and Mary; month name
    • Description:

      May is a sweet old-fashioned name that hasn't been on the national charts in several decades, but is definitely sounding fresh and springlike. Parents are beginning to see it once more as one of the prettiest middle name options. May was as high on the list as Number 57 in the 1880s; it's now 228 on Nameberry.
  5. Clea
    • Origin:

      Latinate variation of Cleo, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "glory"
    • Description:

      An attractive and unusual name that may be a variation of Cleo, Clea was possibly invented by Lawrence Durrell for a character in his Alexandria Quartet.
  6. Raina
    • Origin:

      Slavic and German variation of Regina
    • Meaning:

      "queen"
    • Description:

      Strong and solid, with a touch of foreign intrigue, it's the most popular of the rain-related names, with a variety of pronunciations—RAY-na, rah-EE-na, or RY-na. Alternate spellings Reyna and Rayna currently rank higher in the US.
  7. Lilly
    • Origin:

      English flower name
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      Lilly may contain one L too many for some people, though this secondary spelling of a name that's become wildly popular is still a popular choice. And the Lilly spelling does feel a bit less wispy, a bit more like a name as opposed to a mere flower, than the slender and delicate Lily. Lilly suggests the long-form Lillian, but it doesn't need to be an abbreviation for anything; Lilly can stand on its own.
  8. Carol
    • Origin:

      English, feminine variation of Charles
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      A Caroline abbreviation that was wildly popular with Mom's generation...or Grandma's. At one time it was a name for baby girls born at Christmas. because of its association with Christmas carols.
  9. Crystal
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "crystal, clear, ice"
    • Description:

      Peaking at #9 in 1982, Crystal's popularity in the 70s and 80s stems from its sparkling natural namesake and several notable bearers, like country music singer Crystal Gayle and Dynasty character Krystle Carrington. But it has since lost some of its luster for American parents, now ranking in the mid-600s. Ruby, Gemma and Pearl are fashionable alternatives, but nowadays Crystal could actually be a more unexpected choice for your little gem.
  10. Caitlin
    • Origin:

      Irish variation of Catherine
    • Meaning:

      "pure"
    • Description:

      An Irish and Welsh form of Catherine, Caitlin was a boom name of the eighties, rocketing from obscurity (Americans first heard it via the wife of doomed poet Dylan Thomas) to the height of popularity in the space of a decade. The original name was gradually eclipsed by its myriad spelling variations -- Katelyn and Kaitlyn both soon topping it on the popularity lists.
  11. Kyra
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Cyrus, Persian
    • Meaning:

      "throne"
    • Description:

      The girls' name Kyra sounds like the also popular Keira/Kiera, but has a different root. There are twice as many baby girls named Keira as Kyra, with Kiera in third place. Kyra now ranks at #590 and is most familiar via actress Kyra Sedgwick.
  12. Yasmin
    • Origin:

      Persian
    • Meaning:

      "jasmine flower"
    • Description:

      This name, whose sweet and fragrant floral essence has always been widespread across the Near Eastern world, has now landed on US popularity lists in a variety of spellings. It's been dropping precipitously over the past few years, though, perhaps due to a combination of tensions in the Middle East and the fading fashion status of Jasmine itself.
  13. Briana
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Brian
    • Meaning:

      "strong, virtuous, honorable"
    • Description:

      Spelled this way, Briana was coined by Edmund Spenser for his great literary work, The Faerie Queene, which gives the now-overexposed name a far classier pedigree than it's usually credited with.
  14. Samira
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "companion in evening conversation"
    • Description:

      Shiny cousin of Samara with an intriguing meaning. Increasingly associated with the charming Samira Wiley, a perennial scene-stealer on "Orange is the New Black" and "The Handmaid's Tale."
  15. Rina
    • Origin:

      European diminutive of Catherine, Hebrew, Sanskrit, Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "pure; joy, singing; melted; white jasmine"
    • Description:

      One of those short, punchy names with its roots in a variety of different cultures and languages, Rina is sister to names like Mina, Mira, Lina, and Nina. Retro in feel, but never overused in the US, it peaked in 1980 when it was given to 90 girls.
  16. Arina
    • Origin:

      Variation of Irina, Russian from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "peace"
    • Description:

      This form of Irina supersedes the original in its native country.
  17. Kia
    • Origin:

      African
    • Meaning:

      "season's beginning"
    • Description:

      Kia is a sweet, simple name that is now, unfortunately, associated with a Korean car label. Better today: Nia, Thea, or Keira.
  18. Carolina
    • Origin:

      Variation of Caroline; also place-name
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Romantic, and classy, this variation heats up Caroline and modernizes Carol, adding a southern accent. A popular choice in Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and Italy, it recently entered the US Top 500.
  19. Liberty
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Less common than other virtue names, Liberty is nonetheless a name with a long American heritage.
  20. 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.