feminine names beginning with e
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a cute list of feminine names beginning with e!
from the mega popular like Emily, all the way to lesser known like Elda.
- Ebony
Origin:
EnglishDescription:
An attractive and now underused nature name belonging to a tree whose wood is prized for its dark color and dense texture, which shines when polished. Ebony joined the most popular girl names list in the US in the early 1970s, peaked in 1982 at #132, and dropped back below the Top 1000 in 2006.
- Echo
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"echo or sound"Description:
Echo, the pretty, resonant name of a legendary nymph, was the heroine of Joss Whedon's sci-fi series Dollhouse. Nick Hexum, of the band 311, named his daughter Echo Love.
- Eda
Origin:
English, TurkishMeaning:
"wealthy, well-mannered"Description:
An medieval English diminutive of Edith, which could make an unusual addition to simple vintage revivals like Eva, Ada and Ida. In Turkish, it means "well mannered".
- Eden
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"place of pleasure, delight"Description:
Eden is an attractive, serene name with obvious intimations of Paradise, one of several place names drawn from the Bible by the Puritans in the seventeenth century.
- Edie
Origin:
English, diminutive of EdithMeaning:
"prosperous in war"Description:
Edie is part of the Evie-Ellie et al family of cute and friendly short forms that sometimes stand on its own. Briefly popular in the 1960s, it could well be due for rediscovery. It's already a fashionable choice in the UK, where it has ranked just outside the Top 100 for several years.
- Edin
- Edwinna
- Edyn
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"place of pleasure, delight"Description:
This spelling variation of the Biblical place name Eden is beginning to rise as well. While Eden ranks for both girls and boys, the Edyn spelling is strictly feminine.
- Effie
Origin:
English diminutive of Euphemia, GreekMeaning:
"pleasant speech"Description:
Effie is the old-fashioned short form for Euphemia. It shares a vintage charm with Hattie and Letty although is much rarer than either. Effie is a character in The Hunger Games and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
- Eilidh
Origin:
Gaelic form of EleanorDescription:
Long popular in Scotland, this attractive name is strictly-speaking the Gaelic version of Eleanor, but is also often considered part of the Helen family of names. After the Normans introduced it into the British Isles, it was transformed into Aileen or Evelyn. It has rarely been heard in the US, but it is slowly starting to be used here too.
- Eilish
Origin:
Anglicized variation of Eilis, Irish form of Hebrew ElizabethMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
Eilish is one of those Irish names that, thanks to a celebrity, has suddenly become much more familiar to English speakers. Irish-American singer Billie Eilish (Eilish is actually one of her middle names) introduced the wider world to this Irish name as actress Saoirse Ronan did with hers.
- Eithne
Origin:
GaelicMeaning:
"nut kernel"Description:
Pretty and soulful name of a goddess from Irish mythology and several Irish saints. Singer Enya, born Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, has made the Anglicized spelling familiar. Eithne comes from the vocabulary word "kernel", which was used as a term of praise in old bardic poetry.
- Elaine
Origin:
French and ScottishMeaning:
"bright, shining light"Description:
This old Scottish form of Helen has had quite a history, going from appearing as one of the shining heroines of the Arthurian legends, the princess who fell in love with Sir Lancelot and became the mother of Sir Galahad, referred to as 'Elaine the fair' and 'Elaine the lovable', to being the name of the most famous of New York's celebrity restaurants, to being the archetypal New York neurotic on Seinfeld.
- Elane
- Elda
Origin:
Italian variation of HildaDescription:
While we still can't see Hilda coming back any time soon, it's conceivable that this Italian version could ride the coattails of Ella, Elena and Ellery to broader popularity.
- Eleanor
Origin:
English variation of French Provencal Alienor, meaning unknownDescription:
Eleanor's straightforward feminine image combined with its royal medieval history is striking just the right note for parents in search of a girls' name that combines substance and style.
- Eleanora
Origin:
Latinate form of Eleanor, meaning unknownDescription:
Eleanor is back, Nora is back, and, as predicted, Eleanora is back too, as of 2023.
- Electra
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"shining, bright"Description:
Though the tragedies of the Greeks and Eugene O'Neill that used this name are filled with incest and murder, Electra is still a brilliant choice. Isabella Rossellini chose the gentler Italian verson, Elettra, for her now grown daughter.
- Elektra
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"shining, bright"Description:
This spelling of Electra makes this vibrant name less electric and more kinetic.
- Elena
Origin:
Spanish, Italian, German, Greek variation of HelenMeaning:
"bright, shining light"Description:
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.