User-created list
Short-ish Names for Girls
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Mauve
French
"violet-colored"
Mauve is an offbeat color name whose soft and sentimental Victorian spirit is conveyed by the name. One of the newer color names like Blue, Gray and Plum that are increasingly being used as novel…
May
Diminutive of Margaret and Mary; month name
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…
Merla
Merla is a feminine name with varied origins and meanings across cultures. In Spanish, it derives from "merlo" meaning "blackbird," symbolizing beauty and grace. It can also be considered a variation…
Minnie
Diminutive of Wilhelmina, German
"resolute protection"
Minnie was wildly popular at the turn of the last century — it was the fifth or sixth most popular name throughout the 1880s — but is completely obscure in the US today. Blame Mickey's girlfriend.…
Mireya
Spanish from Latin
"admired"
A pretty and unusual path to the nickname Mira. Mira is the main character in Nobel Prize-winner Federico Mistral's poem of the same name. Mireya Moscoso was Panama's first female president.
Mitzi
German, diminutive of Maria
"beloved; drop of the sea, bitter"
Mitzi is a sparky German nickname name that might appeal to parents drawn to the genre of lively vintage girl names that proliferated in 1930's musicals. Actress and entertainer Mitzi Gaynor (born…
Moxie
English slang
"aggressive energy, know-how"
Like Penn Jillette, you can have your own little brash babe.
Nixie
German
"water nymph"
If you love Dixie, Trixie and Pixie, this name of a mermaid-like sprite in German folklore may be for you. It might also make an update for Nicki.
Pari
Iranian/Persian
"fairy"
Simple yet meaningful Iranian name that would make an excellent import to the English-speaking world.
Perla
Spanish variation of Pearl
Consistently popular Latina gem name; good choice for those who can't shake Pearl's grandmotherly vibe.
Polly
English variation of Molly, diminutive of Mary, Hebrew
"bitter"
An alternative to the no-longer-fresh Molly, the initial 'P' gives Polly a peppier sound, combining the cozy virtues of an old-timey name with the bounce of a barmaid. Associated with Tom Sawyer's…
Ragna
Ragna is a feminine name with deep Norse roots, derived from the Old Norse elements "regin" meaning "advice, counsel, or divine powers" and "ar" meaning "warrior." It can be interpreted as "warrior…
Raquel
Spanish variation of Rachel
"ewe"
Attractive name popular in the Latino community, long identified with half-Bolivian actress Raquel Welch. Similarly to the Hebrew form Rachel, Raquel is past its peak. Nonetheless, it retains a…
Rica
Scandinavian, diminutive of Federica or Erica
Pretty but slight.
Riza
Hungarian short form of Rozalia or Terezia, Filipino diminutives of Clarissa or Rizal, Urdu, Arabic
"rose flower; to harvest; clear, bright; rice field; satisfaction, contentment"
As a diminutive name, Riza is used predominantly in the Philippines, though it also has its roots in Hungarian, and in Arabic. Spirited yet familiar, Riza could be related to the surname Rizal…
Roxy
Diminutive of Roxanne, Persian
"dawn"
Roxy, also spelled Roxie, is one of those high-stepping showgal names with plenty of moxie, among the many sassy nickname names on the U.K. popularity list--currently Number 398. The fictional…
Rue
Botanical names or word name
"herb; regret"
Rue has gone from Golden Girls actress to Hunger Games heroine to a fresh alternative to beloved middle name Rose. This botanical name is also a coincidental double word name, meaning "regret" in…
Sabre
Sabre is a feminine name derived from the word for a type of curved sword, originating from the French "sabre," which came from the Hungarian "szablya." As a name, Sabre projects strength, sharpness,…
Sabrine
French form of Sabrina, British river name
Sabrina is the Latin name for the Severn, Britain's longest river. Drop the final syllable and you get a streamlined, French-esque name that's just as elegant, but without the Teenage Witch…
Sanna
Swedish, Finnish, Inuktitut
"lily"
If you're ready to move beyond Anna and Hannah, consider this traditional Scandinavian short form of Susanna, historically very popular in its native lands. Sanna is also a modern Inuktitut form of…
