feminine names beginning with e

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, 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.

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 is an attractive, serene name with obvious intimations of Paradise, one of several place names drawn from the Bible by the Puritans in the 17th century.

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.

Edwinna is a feminine variation of Edwin, an ancient Anglo-Saxon name combining the elements 'ead' (prosperity, fortune) and 'wine' (friend), thus meaning 'prosperous friend' or 'wealthy friend.' This feminine adaptation maintains the historical dignity of its root while adding a traditionally feminine ending. Edwinna remains quite rare in usage, never having achieved widespread popularity in English-speaking countries. The name carries a somewhat formal, vintage quality reminiscent of the Victorian era when elaborated feminine forms of masculine names were fashionable. It offers the friendly nicknames Eddie, Winnie, or Ina. Parents might choose Edwinna seeking a name with historical depth, distinctive character, and traditional femininity that stands apart from contemporary trends.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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 is a feminine name with multiple possible origins, appearing as a variant of Helen (meaning 'bright, shining one' in Greek), Elaine (the French form of Helen), or Ellen (derived from Greek via medieval English). This understated, elegant name combines simplicity with a touch of vintage charm. Elane peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1950s but has remained relatively uncommon throughout recent decades. The name's brief, two-syllable structure makes it accessible across cultures while its slightly unusual spelling distinguishes it from more common variants. Elane carries an air of gentle sophistication without being overly elaborate, appealing to parents who appreciate classic names with subtle uniqueness.

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'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.

Eleanor is back, Nora is back, and, as predicted, Eleanora is back too, as of 2023.

Though the plays by Sophocles and Eugene O'Neill and via the "Electra Complex" proposed by psychoanalyst Carl Jung, this name has, unfortunately, become associated with incest and murder.

This spelling of Electra makes this vibrant name less electric and more kinetic.

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.