Doll names

Mina

Hindu equivalent of Pisces or diminutive of Wilhelmina, German

"resolute protection"

Most famous as a Dracula victim (where Mina is short for Wilhelmina), Mina is a name that can stand on its own or be a diminutive of any name ending in -mina, most usually Wilhelmina. This Old World…

Marina

Latin

"from the sea"

This pretty sea-born name was used to dramatic effect by Shakespeare in his play Pericles for the virtuous princess who says she is "Call'd Marina, for I was born at sea." Marina was an epithet of…

Brinley

English, combination of Brynn + Lee "burnt clearing; hill + meadow"

"burnt clearing; hill + meadow"

Brinley was a surprise entrant to the US Top 1000 in 2009, however, in 2023, it doesn't feel surprising at all. In fact, alternative spellings Brynleigh and Brynlee also rank in the Top 1000, with…

Aya

Japanese, Hebrew, Danish, Arabic

"colorful, design; honey buzzard, bird; rock, lull, happiness; sign, verse"

Aya, barely more than a breath, is an international favorite, with origins in several languages and cultures. Popular throughout Europe, it ranks in the US Top 1000 and was chosen for nearly 470…

Ila

Scottish, Hindi, Hungarian, Finnish

"from the island; earth, sacred speech; shining light; joy"

A simple name that's rising fast in the US, likely inspired by the popularity of Isla and Ayla. This streamlined form might appeal to those who like Ana, Ivy, and Ada, and it brings a multicultural…

Soleil

French

"sun"

An attractive French word name known here via former child TV star Soleil Moon Frye, aka Punky Brewster. It started to be lightly used in the U.S. in the 1920s and is now attracting some attention as…

Paloma

Spanish

"dove"

Paloma is vibrant and ruby-lipped a la jewelry designer Paloma Picasso, but it also suggests peace, as symbolized by the dove. Paloma is a highly recommended striking but soft name, one of the best…

Promise

English word name

"a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified"

Promise is one of those word names with an uplifting meaning that is making inroads as a girls' name , like sisters Dream and Serenity. How promising is Promise as a first name? Our try at cleverness…

Aviana

Variation of Avis, Latin

"bird"

Aviana is a name that's like the megapopular Ava and Ariana, but not quite as popular as either. It entered into the mainstream back in 2010 however, after actress Amy Adams chose it for her…

Anika

Dutch, German, Slovene, and Polish diminutive of Anne, Hindi, Sanskrit

"grace; army, splendour"

Sweet but spiky, Anika is a multicultural choice with broad appeal. Familiar in the UK, Czechia, Poland, and the US, it is in the Top 100 in Slovenia. It is additionally popular in Bangladesh, India,…

Agate

French, a semiprecious stone, or variation of Agatha

Though it's French, most Americans would pronounce it as the stone.

Aiko

Japanese

"beloved child"

Aiko is a very common Japanese name with a lovely meaning that is rarely heard outside the Asian community.

Alette

Alette is a feminine name of French and Scandinavian origin, functioning as a diminutive of Aletta or a variant of Charlotte. In French, it carries the charming meaning of 'little winged one' or…

Alya

Arabic

"heavens, highborn, exalted"

Alya is most familiar in the US in its much-more-complicated form Aaliyah, the spelling used by the later singer. The traditional name of the star system Theta Serpentis, Alya is also an established…

Aneira

Welsh

"much snow"

This airy Welsh name , which has only been in use since the early 20th century, is formed of the intensifying prefix an- plus eira ("snow"), making it a wintry nature name.

Ani

Hawaiian; Igbo

"beautiful"

Folk singer DiFranco popularized this simple, appealing form. In Igbo mythology, Ani is one of the names of the goddess of the earth, fertility, creativity, and morality.