Girl Names I Love That Hubby Wouldn't

  1. Fiona
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "white, fair"
    • Description:

      Fiona entered the American consciousness with the opening of the 1954 Broadway musical Brigadoon, but didn't come onto the U.S. popularity list until 1990.
  2. Faya
    • Fontine
      • Genevieve
        • Origin:

          English from French
        • Meaning:

          "tribe woman"
        • Description:

          Genevieve is derived from the Germanic medieval name Genovefa, or Kenowefa, which consists of the elements kuni, meaning "kin", and wefa, meaning "woman." The medieval saint Genevieve, patroness of Paris, defended the city against Attila the Hun through her rational thinking, courage and prayer.
      • Georgiana
        • Origin:

          English, feminine variation of George
        • Meaning:

          "farmer"
        • Description:

          Long a popular upper-crust form in England, where it's pronounced George-ee-AH-na, Georgiana has been been neglected here. But with Georgia growing more popular and the general fashion for elaborate feminine names, Georgiana might have room to grow.
      • Georgianna
        • Georgina
          • Origin:

            English, feminine variation of George
          • Meaning:

            "farmer"
          • Description:

            Now more popular than Georgiana in Britain, this elegant Dickens. Jane Austen name deserves attention. Most American parents prefer Georgia to Georgina or any other feminization of George.
        • Giada
          • Origin:

            Italian
          • Meaning:

            "jade"
          • Description:

            Popular in its native Italy, Giada has been quietly and stylishly used in English-speaking countries for several years now. Television cook Giada De Laurentiis made this a possibility — then semi-subtly self-referenced when she named her daughter Jade.
        • Gianna
          • Origin:

            Italian, diminutive of Giovanna or feminization of Gianni, forms of John
          • Meaning:

            "God is gracious"
          • Description:

            The Italian Gianna undoubtedly owes much of its popularity in the US to its status as an honor name for John. Before the importation of Gianna, there was no truly workable feminine form of John, so Gianna found widespread favor among American parents with Italian roots and far beyond.
        • Haven
          • Origin:

            Word name, English
          • Meaning:

            "a place of safety"
          • Description:

            Haven is a recently invented safe-harbor name that appeals to an increasing number of parents who don't want to voyage quite as far as Heaven.
        • Helena
          • Origin:

            Latinate form of Helen, Greek
          • Meaning:

            "torch; shining light"
          • Description:

            Helena is one of those classic names that just misses making the US Top 1000 girl names for its entire history, falling off for a single year in 1992. Since then it's been drifting lazily up the charts, and makes a perfect choice if you want a name that both fits in and stands out.
        • Ireland
          • Origin:

            Place name
          • Description:

            Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin put Ireland on the map when they chose it as a first for their daughter, saying that geographic names were a family tradition. And it seems they were a bit ahead of the curve (or trendsetting)—Ireland has been among the fastest-rising names of recent years. Other Irish place names include Shannon, Kerry, Galway, and Dublin.
        • Iole (eye OH lee)
          • Jeannine
            • Origin:

              French variation of Jean
            • Meaning:

              "God is gracious"
            • Description:

              This feminine form of Jean was most popular in the 1930s in its home country, and in the 1960s in the US. It's fallen off the Top 1000 list since, but perhaps cute retro nickname Jeannie could tempt some vintage-loving parents back.
          • Jersey
            • Origin:

              English place name, Old Norse
            • Meaning:

              "Geirr's island"
            • Description:

              An established place name, associated with a sunny island in the English Channel, the Garden State in the US, knitted pullovers, reality TV, and a Broadway musical. It peaked in the late 2000s and though it is now in decline, 130 girls and nearly 50 boys received the name in 2023.

              -ey meaning "island". Alternative theories suggest it comes from jarl ,meaning "earl" or hjǫr meaning "sword".
          • Jessa
            • Origin:

              Short form of Jessica, Hebrew
            • Meaning:

              "behold or wealthy"
            • Description:

              Once rare, this streamlined form of Jessica has been boosted by two very different television figures: the Jemima Kirke character on HBO series Girls, and reality television daughter Jessa Duggar.
          • Jessamine
            • Origin:

              English from Persian
            • Meaning:

              "jasmine"
            • Description:

              Jessamine, a charming name occasionally heard in England, is just beginning to be appreciated in the U.S. as a possible successor to all the Jess names of the past. It's also spelled Jessamyn, as in Quaker novelist Jessamyn West, author of Friendly Persuasion--who started life with Jessamyn as her middle name.
          • Jessamy
            • Origin:

              English, variation of Jessamine
            • Meaning:

              "jasmine flower"
            • Description:

              Jessamy and big sister Jessamine are all but unknown in the U.S., but make distinctive alternatives to overexposed Jessica, Jessie, and Jasmine.
          • Jessamyn
            • Origin:

              Variant spelling of Jessamine
            • Meaning:

              "jasmine flower"
            • Description:

              Charming name occasionally heard in England, would be a real standout here. Jessamyn is the spelling used by writer West.
          • Jocelyn
            • Origin:

              German
            • Meaning:

              "member of the Gauts tribe"
            • Description:

              Jocelyn has gotten new life and popularity as a result of the current passion for lyn endings. Though it was a male name in medieval times, now Jocelyn couldn't sound more softly feminine.