My top Portuguese girl names

Adelaide is now heading straight uphill on the coattails of such newly popular sisters as Ava, Ada, and Audrey, and in the company of Adeline and Amelia. It was chosen by actress Katherine Heigl for the name of her second daughter.

Amelia is one of the hottest girls' names, a successor to the megapopular Emma and Emily. Amelia, which spent several years at Number 1 in England, is now comfortably ensconced in the US Top 10.

Anais is an unusual, alluring name forever attached to the daring French-born American novelist and diarist Anais Nin (born Angela, with Anais as one of her middle names), who became the inspiration for the naming of the daughter of musician Noel Gallagher. Anais is also the name of a popular perfume.

Antonia is stronger than most feminized boys’ names, reflecting the pioneer spirit of Willa Cather's classic novel My Antonia. Antonia is hovering near the bottom of the US popularity list, which may be an excellent reason for you to use it.

Augusta is a dignified name reminiscent of wealthy great-aunts, but with the fashion for both August and Gus for boys, Augusta could get some fresh energy.

Attractive translation of Beatrice, popular with Hispanic parents. Beatriz is currently a Top 10 girl name in Portugal.

Betina is a feminine name with multiple cultural connections, primarily functioning as a variant of Bettina, which itself developed as a diminutive of Elizabeth. The name has gained particular popularity in Croatia, Brazil, and other Latin American countries. Derived ultimately from Hebrew, the name carries the meaning "pledged to God" through its connection to Elizabeth. Betina offers a softer, more flowing alternative to Bettina, with the single 't' giving it a distinct character. The name blends a classic heritage with a modern, international feel. While never reaching top-tier popularity in English-speaking countries, Betina has maintained steady usage in South America and parts of Europe, appealing to parents seeking a name that works well across different languages and cultural contexts.

A bright and bouncy micro name, far rarer than Mia or Gia.

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.

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.

One of the most popular names of all time in Portugal and Brazil, with a romantic, lively sound. The main risk is confusion with other names that sound similar: Catalina, Katrina, and so forth. Caterina, with an "e," is more common in Italy.

Cleo, one of the few girls' names to boast the cool-yet-lively o ending, is of course short for Cleopatra, the name of one of the most powerful women in history.

Cora is a lovely, old-fashioned girls' that has been recently rejuvenated by its contemporary-feeling simplicity. In fact, Cora seemed headed straight for the top of the popularity list when the coronavirus pandemic somewhat weakened its appeal.

Cordelia is exactly the kind of old-fashioned, grown-up name for girls that many parents are seeking for their daughters today. The name of King Lear's one sympathetic daughter, Cordelia has both style and substance along with its Shakespearean pedigree.

This royal Danish name has long been used across Scandinavia, Germany and Slavic countries and somewhat in the US around the turn of the last century --it was #622 in 1888. There were two notable silent screen stars named Dagmar, one with Polish, the other with Danish roots.

Names that sound and/or are spelled like Dalila exist in several languages, from the Swahili Dalili to the Arabic Dalil to the Hebrew Delilah. A beautiful cross-cultural choice.

Eduarda is a feminine name of Portuguese and Spanish origin, representing the female form of Eduardo (Edward). Derived from Old English elements 'ead' (wealth, prosperity) and 'weard' (guardian), it carries the noble meaning of 'prosperous guardian' or 'wealthy protector.' The name enjoys significant popularity in Brazil, Portugal, and Spanish-speaking countries, though it remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking regions. Eduarda combines feminine elegance with strength, featuring the fashionable '-a' ending while maintaining the distinguished history of the Edward name family. The nickname 'Duda' is affectionately used in Portuguese contexts. With four melodious syllables, Eduarda offers sophistication and international flair, appealing to parents seeking a name with cultural richness, historical depth, and a balance of strength and grace.

Elena is at its most popular point ever in the US, thanks to its cross-cultural appeal and the overall popularity of El- names. It's more international than Ellen or Eleanor, but still accessible.

Eugenia, a name scarcely used at all since the 1980's, is another that flourished a century ago and could be due for a revival.

Portuguese form of Philippa

Attractive Spanish name heard in the movie Spanglish. Roll that final r. Or say it the French way: Fleur.

Flora, the name of the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, who enjoyed eternal youth, is one of the gently old-fashioned girls' flower names we think is due for a comeback— alongside cousins Cora and Dora. Florence, Fiorella, Fleur, and Flower are translations, but we like Flora best of all.

Frederica is an interesting possibility for the parent unintimidated by its old-fashioned formality, and who can appreciate the vintage charm and verve lurking beneath its stuffiness.

Floral, bright, and subtly powerful, Gaia is a name with two separate origins. In Greek mythology, it is the name of the earth goddess and the universal mother, who takes her epithet from the Ancient Greek word for land or ground. It was this ecological element that led actress Emma Thompson to choose it for her daughter back in 1999, and it could hold similar appeal to green minded parents today.

Isabel derived from Elizabeth in southwest Europe during the Middle Ages. It was originally written as Elisabel, but the first syllable was dropped as it spread across the continent. In Spain and Portugal, Isabel and Elizabeth are considered to be variations of the same name, but they are treated as separate names in other European countries and the US.

A variant of Johanna.

This streamlined variation of Eleanor is common in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, particularly Portugal itself, where it has ranked among the Top 3 baby girl names for over a decade.

Though it sounds like a chopped-off variation of Olivia, which means olive, the distinctively attractive Livia has been an independent name since the days of the ancient Romans, when it belonged to Livia Drusilla—the powerful wife of the Emperor Augustus—and is still commonly heard in modern Italy.

A feminine name heard most often in the Hispanic community. Surprisingly, Lorena was on the US Top 1000 list of girls' names for an impressive 130 years, from 1880 until falling off in 2011. We do not predict an imminent return.

Luiza livens up Louisa. The insertion of the letter "Z" adds a lot more pizzazz. Luiza Perote is a Brazilian model.

Magnolia, a sweet-smelling Southern belle of a name made famous via the iconic Edna Ferber novel and musical Showboat, is one of the latest wave of botanical names, along with unexpected blossoms Azalea and Zinnia. It is named for French botanist Pierre Magnol.

A truly international name with a multitude of origins.

A top ten choice in Chile and a popular name throughout the Spanish-speaking world, Maite is a mighty-sounding name with a soft and sweet meaning. It is also found as a contracted form of María Teresa or María Esther.

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."

Nina is as multiethnic as you can get: Nina is a common nickname name in Spain and Russia, a Babylonian goddess of the oceans, and an Incan goddess of fire. Here and now, it's a stylish possibility that's been underused. "Weird Al" Yankovic chose this decidedly nonweird name for his daughter.

Pietra is a feminine name of Italian origin, meaning "rock" or "stone." It's the female form of Pietro (the Italian version of Peter), which ultimately derives from the Greek "petros" meaning "stone." In Portuguese-speaking countries, the name is also used with the same stone-related meaning. Pietra combines strength and elegance with its flowing two-syllable structure and graceful ending. The name has gained moderate popularity in Italy and Brazil, though it remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries. Pietra appeals to parents drawn to Italian names with clear meanings and cultural connections, offering a sophisticated European alternative to more common names like Petra or Piper.

Sofia is a variation of the Greek name Sophia, which was derived directly from sophia, the Greek word for wisdom. It was the name of a Roman saint—the mother of Faith, Hope, and Charity—and queens of Russia and Spain.

Tatiana was derived from Tatius, a Sabine-Latin family name of unknown origin. Titus Tatius was the name of an ancient king who ruled over the Sabines, an ancient Italic tribe who lived near Rome. The Romans used the name Tatius even after the Sabines died out and created the derivative forms Tatianus and Tatiana. The names were eventually disseminated throughout the Orthodox Christian world, including Russia.

The name Veronica projects a triple-threat image: at once saintly, sensuous, and strong. The name derives from Berenice, the Latin form of the Greek name Berenike "she who brings victory", with the spelling influenced by the Latin phrase vera icon "true image". Veronica was the name of the compassionate woman who wiped Jesus's face when he was on his way to Calvary and whose cloth was miraculously imprinted with his image: she is now the patron saint of photographers.

Vitoria is a feminine name of Latin and Portuguese origin, being the Portuguese and Galician spelling of Victoria. Derived from the Latin 'victoria' meaning 'victory' or 'conqueror,' it carries strong connotations of triumph and success. This spelling variant is particularly common in Portugal, Brazil, and Spain (especially in the Basque Country, where Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital city). While less familiar than Victoria in English-speaking countries, Vitoria offers a slightly exotic alternative that maintains the name's regal and powerful associations. The name has a melodic quality with its flowing vowels, and despite its foreign spelling, remains relatively intuitive to pronounce for English speakers. Potential nicknames include Viti, Tori, or Vita.