Jewel And Gemstone Names For Girls

  1. Agate
    • Origin:

      French, a semiprecious stone, or variation of Agatha
    • Description:

      Though it's French, most Americans would pronounce it as the stone.
  2. Amber
    • Origin:

      Word name, English
    • Description:

      Though perhaps not as currently stylish as Ruby, Jade, or Pearl, Amber has a colorful history (remember the notorious Forever Amber heroine?). Unfortunately, it does come with the "Amber Alert" connotation for modern parents (and their children).
  3. Amethyst
    • Origin:

      Gem and Color name
    • Description:

      As flower names become more unique, so can gem names move beyond Ruby and Pearl to names like Topaz, Sapphire, and Peridot. Amethyst, the purple birthstone for February, has never been in the Top 1000, but could have some appeal, joining similarly-hued Violet and Lilac, all of which make great names for Aquarius babies or names for February babies.
  4. Aquamarine
    • Origin:

      French from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "sea water; color between green and blue"
    • Description:

      A fresh and summery — if rather long — color that sounds namelike, but is extremely rarely used.
  5. Alexandrite
    • Beryl
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "sea-green jewel"
      • Description:

        Dated British favorite that never caught on in this country, where Jade remains the green gem of choice. Interesting namesakes: British writer Beryl Bainbridge and British aviatrix Beryl Markham.
    • Crystal
      • Origin:

        Gem name
      • Description:

        Peaking at #9 in 1982, Crystal's popularity in the 70s and 80s stems from its sparkling natural namesake and several notable bearers, like country music singer Crystal Gayle and Dynasty character Krystle Carrington. But it has since lost some of its luster for American parents, now ranking in the mid-600s. Ruby, Gemma and Pearl are fashionable alternatives, but nowadays Crystal could actually be a more unexpected choice for your little gem.
    • Diamond
      • Origin:

        Gem name
      • Description:

        Diamond sparkled all through the nineties--reaching as high as Number 150 in 1999. Although its shine has diminished quite a bit, it remains in use.
    • Ebony
      • Origin:

        English
      • Description:

        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.
    • Emerald
      • Origin:

        Gem name; Persian
      • Meaning:

        "green"
      • Description:

        Emerald is the intriguing color and jewel name of the deep green stone treasured as far back as ancient Egypt — it's supposed to open one's heart to wisdom and to love and be good for strengthening relationships — which could make for an interesting, unusual name, particularly with the popularity of so many Em-starting names.
    • Garnet
      • Origin:

        Jewel name, from the French
      • Meaning:

        "pomegranate"
      • Description:

        One of the jewel names in use a hundred years ago, due for revival along with sisters Ruby and Pearl.
    • Gem
      • Ivory
        • Origin:

          Word name
        • Meaning:

          "hard, white material from the tusks and teeth of animals; pale, white"
        • Description:

          Ivory was last popular a hundred years ago. In 2013, it finally began to regain some momentum in the female rankings, reentering the Top 1000.
      • Jade
        • Origin:

          Spanish
        • Meaning:

          "stone of the side"
        • Description:

          As a precious stone, Jade is known for its cool green hues, its importance in Chinese art, and its ability to transmit wisdom, confidence, and clarity. As a name however, Jade is a 90’s throwback in the UK, a Number 1 choice in France, and a returning gem in the US right now.
      • Jewel
        • Origin:

          Word name
        • Description:

          Just like Flora is for botanicals, Jewel is the generic gemstone name, not used much since the early twentieth century, when it was seen as a symbol of how precious a daughter could be. The French version, Bijou, feels more modern, as do Pearl and Ruby.
      • Moonstone
        • Onyx
          • Origin:

            Word name
          • Meaning:

            "gem stone; claw, nail"
          • Description:

            Onyx is a fresh and trending gemstone name for boys, currently in the US Top 500, having climbed the charts rapidly since 2018. Now, an increasing number of girls are receiving the name, with a recent count revealing nearly 200 baby girls were called Onyx in 2023.
        • Opal
          • Origin:

            Sanskrit
          • Meaning:

            "gem"
          • Description:

            Opal is on the verge of a repolishing, following other jewel names like Ruby and Pearl. A Top 100 name during the first two decades of the twentieth century, the opalescent Opal has a good chance of coming back as another O-initial option.
        • Pearl
          • Origin:

            Latin gem name
          • Meaning:

            "pearl"
          • Description:

            Pearl, like Ruby, has begun to be polished up for a new generation of fashionable children after a century of jewelry box storage. The birthstone for the month of June, Pearl could also make a fresher middle name alternative to the overused Rose. Cool couple Maya Rudolph and Paul Thomas Anderson named their daughter Pearl Minnie, followed by Jack Osbourne, and several celebs have put it in the middle spot, as in Busy Philipps's Cricket Pearl, Jake Owen's Olive Pearl and Caleb Followill's Dixie Pearl .
        • Peridot
          • Origin:

            Arabic
          • Meaning:

            "a green gemstone"
          • Description:

            Peridot is the gem of the month of August, a vibrant green mineral, said to be good for helping people put the past behind them, and an interesting, undiscovered jewel name. It was regarded in ancient times as the symbol of the sun.