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Girls Dearest Designations and Adored Appellations

kala_way
By kala_way
Updated Wed Mar 15 2023
  1. Alice

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "noble"

    • Description:

      Alice is a classic literary name that's both strong and sweet, ranking in the US Top 100 and popular throughout the Western world. Alice is derived from the Old French name Aalis, a diminutive of Adelais that itself came from the Germanic name Adalhaidis, which is composed of the Proto-Germanic elements aþala, meaning "noble," and haidu, "kind, appearance, type."
  2. Beatrix

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "she who brings happiness; blessed"

    • Description:

      Beatrix has a solid history of its own apart from Beatrice, with that final x adding a playful, animated note to the name's imposing history and stately vibe.
  3. Bianca

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "white"

    • Description:

      Bianca, the livelier Italian and Shakespearean version of Blanche, has been chosen by many American parents since the 1990s, just as Blanca is a favorite in the Spanish-speaking community. Its meaning of white relates to snow, making it one of the prime names for winter babies.
  4. Clara

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "bright, clear"

    • Description:

      Clara is a strong, lovely girls' name that's always ranked among the US Top 1000 girl names but has been climbing since the turn of this century. It now ranks right at Number 78, making it a modern classic that's neither too popular nor unfamiliar.
  5. Coralie

    • Origin:

      French from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "coral"

    • Description:

      Coralie is a French name not often heard here, though she's gaining some recognition via Neil Gaiman's similar sounding spooky and lovely children's book, Coraline. Other literary appearances: Coralie is the stage name of an actress in Balzac's Lost Illusions, and a French girl in an 1850 Thackeray novel.

      Coralie is currently very popular in French-speaking Quebec, and there is a contemporary French singer named Coralie Clement.

  6. DARAH
    • Dawn

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "dawn, sunrise"

      • Description:

        Dawn's heyday in the US, Canada and the UK came in the 1960s and 70s. It peaked at #14 in the US in 1971, but has since sunk from sight to be eclipsed by other names with the same meaning, such as Aurora, Roxana or Zariah.
    • Elizabeth

      • Origin:

        Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "pledged to God"

      • Description:

        Elizabeth is one of the most popular girls' names of all time, the female equivalent of James or William. Yet Elizabeth has so much going for it—rich history, broad appeal, and timeless style—that no matter how many little girls are named Lizzie, Eliza, and Beth, you can still make Elizabeth your own.
    • Eve

      • Origin:

        Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "life"

      • Description:

        Eve, the oldest name in the Book, is now coming back into style, having the virtues of simplicity and purity, yet with more strength and resonance than other single-syllable names like Ann. British actor Clive Owen chose Eve for his daughter, as did Jessica Capshaw.
    • Fern

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "plant name"

      • Description:

        Of all the botanicals, Fern has been one of the slowest to move back from the front parlor into the nursery, despite the appealing girl character in the children's classic Charlotte's Web. Fern was most popular from the turn of the last century through the 1940s, reaching a high of #152 in 1916. We can certainly see her rejoining the long list of popular greenery names.
    • 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.
    • Geneva

      • Origin:

        Swiss place-name or French

      • Meaning:

        "juniper tree"

      • Description:

        Unlike its somewhat formal Swiss city namesake, this is a lively and appealing place-name that also has a real history as a female name.
    • Gwen

      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Gwendolen or Gwendolyn, Welsh

      • Meaning:

        "white circle"

      • Description:

        While Gwen may have originated as a short form of Gwendolen and Gwendolyn, these days it frequently stands on its own. Rocker Gwen Stefani has given it a shot of cool, and parents are choosing it as a standalone more and more often—Gwen hopped back onto the US Top 1000 in 2013 after an absence of over 30 years. Gwen could also be short for Guinevere.
    • Holly

      • Origin:

        English nature name

      • Description:

        Holly ranks just in British Top 50, but it's been out of favor here since the 1970s Era of Nickname Names. Still, the name may be on her way back as a rejuvenated nature pick.
    • Jane

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "God is gracious"

      • Description:

        No, we don't consider Jane too plain. In fact, for a venerable and short one-syllable name, we think it packs a surprising amount of punch, as compared to the related Jean and Joan.
    • Juniper

      • Origin:

        Latin tree name

      • Meaning:

        "young"

      • Description:

        Juniper is a fresh-feeling nature name -- it's a small evergreen shrub -- with lots of energy. A new favorite of fashionable parents, Juniper joins such other tree and shrub names as Hazel, Acacia, and Willow.
    • Lark

      • Origin:

        English bird name

      • Description:

        Lark is getting some new and well-deserved attention as a post-Robin and Raven bird name. Although it was first recorded as a name in the 1830's, it has never appeared on the Social Security list.
    • Livy

      • Description:

        Livy is a feminine name of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name 'Livius,' which is associated with the ancient Roman historian Titus Livius. The name carries a sense of scholarly prestige and classical heritage. As a given name, Livy works beautifully as a modern, concise alternative to more traditional names like Olivia or Lavinia. It has gained modest popularity in recent years as parents seek short, distinctive names with historical roots. Livy combines intellectual associations with a light, appealing sound. The name's brevity gives it a contemporary feel while maintaining its connection to classical antiquity, making it appealing to parents who appreciate names with substance and style.
    • Meribel

      • Description:

        Meribel is a delicate feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be derived from Latin "mirabilis" meaning "wonderful" or "miraculous," or could be connected to the Hebrew name Merav meaning "abundance." The name gained some recognition from Méribel, a popular ski resort in the French Alps, giving it associations with beauty and natural splendor. With its soft, flowing sound and melodic three syllables, Meribel has an inherently feminine quality while remaining uncommon enough to be distinctive. The name carries a romantic, slightly exotic flair that appeals to parents seeking something unique yet accessible. Those named Meribel might appreciate the name's gentle sophistication and its positive connotations of wonder and abundance, though they may occasionally need to correct pronunciation or spelling.

    • Molly

      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Mary, Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "bitter"

      • Description:

        Molly is one of the original nickname names, ALWAYS ranking among the US Top 500 girl names since statistics began, in 1880. Molly peaked in 1991 only to rise just as high again in 2011, and though softening retains a good measure of popularity and charm.