feminine names beginning with e

Erika

English and Scandinavian variation of Erica, Norse feminization of Eric or Italian word name

"eternal ruler; heather"

This is a more spunky and Nordic looking variant of Erica, but the k also makes the connection to the beautiful flower less apparent.

Ericka

Ericka is a feminine variation of the name Eric, which has Norse origins meaning "eternal ruler" or "ever powerful." This spelling with a 'k' and ending with an 'a' gives the traditionally male name…

Elane

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…

Ellen

English variation of Helen

"torch; shining light"

An medieval English form of Helen, the sensitive but clear-eyed Ellen has swung in and out of style for centuries, often alternating with the parent name. Ellen was the more common in medieval…

Elize

Elize is a feminine name that is a variant of Elizabeth, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'God is my oath' or 'pledged to God.' This simplified form offers a modern, streamlined alternative to the…

Elsa

German diminutive of Elisabeth

"pledged to God"

Lost in limbo for decades and decades, Elsa now stands a good chance of following along in the progression from Emma to Ella to Etta, thanks to the ice queen heroine who "Let It Go" in the wildly…

Effie

English diminutive of Euphemia, Greek

"pleasant speech"

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…

Essie

English diminutive of Esther, Persian, or Estelle, French

"star"

Cute short form of Esther, now associated with the iconic nail polish brand.

Evita

Spanish, diminutive of Eva

There's only one Evita.

Evette

French, spelling variation of Yvette or diminutive of Eve, Hebrew

"yew tree or life"

Evette could be considered a spelling variation of the French Yvette, a feminization of Yves, which has a botanical meaning, or a pet form of Eve, meaning life. About 50 baby girls were named Evette…

Elda

Italian variation of Hilda

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.

Ebony

English

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…

Eda

English, Turkish

"wealthy, well-mannered"

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".

Echo

Greek mythology name

"echo or sound"

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. In the Greek myth, Echo was…

Edyn

English variation of Eden, Hebrew

"place of pleasure, delight"

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.

Edin

Edin is a versatile name with multiple origins that can be used for girls, though it's traditionally more common for boys in some cultures. In Bosnian, it derives from Arabic meaning 'paradise' or…

Edwinna

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.'…

Eilish

Anglicized variation of Eilis, Irish form of Hebrew Elizabeth

"pledged to God"

Eilish is one of those Irish names that, thanks to a celebrity, has suddenly become much more familiar outside of Ireland. Irish-American singer Billie Eilish (Eilish is actually one of her middle…

Eilidh

Gaelic form of Eleanor

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…

Eithne

Gaelic

"nut kernel"

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…