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Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

kphillipschaplin
By kphillipschaplin
Updated Mon Dec 19 2022
Girl names for consideration
  1. Adelaide

    • Origin:

      Variant of Adelheidis, German

    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility"

    • Description:

      Adelaide is now heading straight uphill on the coattails of such newly popular sisters as Ava, Ada, and Audrey, and in the company of Adeline and Amelia. It was chosen by actress Katherine Heigl for the name of her second daughter.
  2. Ainsley

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "one's own meadow"

    • Description:

      While theoretically unisex, this surname name has been edging up the girls’ names list, perhaps originally as an Ashley substitute. One quality in Ainsley's favor: It's remained steadily popular -- but not TOO popular -- for more than 20 years now, ranking consistently around Number 400. That makes it stylish and familiar without showing up everywhere.
  3. Analis

    • Description:

      Analis is a feminine name with possible roots in several language traditions. It may be considered a variation of Annalise or Analise, combining elements of 'Anna' (grace) and 'Lisa' (consecrated to God). In some contexts, it could relate to the Spanish term 'análisis' (analysis), suggesting thoughtfulness or careful consideration. The name has a delicate, flowing quality with its soft consonants and melodic structure. While not among the most common given names, Analis offers an intriguing alternative to more familiar Anna derivatives, with a distinctive sound and international appeal. Its usage spans multiple cultural contexts, particularly in Hispanic communities, though it remains relatively uncommon in mainstream English-speaking regions.
  4. Camellia

    • Origin:

      Flower name, from Czech surname

    • Meaning:

      "Kamel's flower"

    • Description:

      Camellia is a rare flower name with distinct roots related to the Camille/Camila group and has varied associations to the moon, water, wealth, and perfection. It could be thought of as a floral replacement for Amelia.
  5. Carolina

    • Origin:

      Variation of Caroline; also place-name

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Romantic, and classy, this variation heats up Caroline and modernizes Carol, adding a southern accent. A popular choice in Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and Italy, it recently entered the US Top 500.
  6. Clementine

    • Origin:

      French feminine version of Clement, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "mild, merciful"

    • Description:

      Clementine is a Nameberry favorite that broke back into the US Top 1000 in 2014 after more than half a century off the list.
  7. 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.

  8. Coraline

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Coralie and Caroline, English

    • Meaning:

      "coral; man; army"

    • Description:

      Coraline may not be original to Neil Gaiman's wonderful book of the same name, but it might as well be. Gaiman's young heroine Coraline Jones is constantly called Caroline but as a name Coraline is more distinctive and has a more mysterious feel. The 2002 novel Coraline was made into a 2009 animated film voiced by Dakota Fanning and nominated for an Academy Award.
  9. Delaney

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "dark challenger; dark river"

    • Description:

      Delaney has been a popular surname-style choice since 90s, when it joined other Irish surnames such as Cassidy, Kennedy, and Mallory on the US Charts. Buoyant, bright, and cheerful, it ranks in the US Top 250 and is given to nearly 1300 babies every year.
  10. Dixie

    • Origin:

      Latin, French

    • Meaning:

      "I have spoken; tenth"

    • Description:

      A sassy, spunky, punchy kind of name, Dixie can also be considered a place name, one that has become problematic because of its association with the antebellum South. The Dixie Chicks recently dropped Dixie from their band name because of its association with slavery and white privilege.
  11. Edna

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "rejuvenation, delight"

    • Description:

      Edna is one of those names that, until what it seemed like a few minutes ago, felt so terminally frumpy that no one could imagine a parent choosing it for an innocent modern baby girl. But with the great upswing in names honoring ancestral family members, several of them being other four-letter, e-ending names, we wouldn't be so sure.
  12. Emmalin

    • Description:

      Emmalin is a charming feminine name that combines elements of the classic Emma with the lilting suffix -lin. This melodic name can be considered a variant of Emmaline or Emmeline, which themselves derive from Germanic roots meaning 'work' or 'universal.' The softer ending gives Emmalin a delicate, romantic quality while maintaining connections to the immensely popular Emma. This balance of familiarity and uniqueness makes it appealing to parents who appreciate traditional names but desire something slightly less common. Emmalin has gained modest popularity in recent decades as parents seek variations on classic names. The name carries a vintage charm with contemporary appeal, evoking images of both timeless elegance and youthful grace. Its intuitive spelling and pronunciation also add to its practical appeal.
  13. Eugenia

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Eugene, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "wellborn, noble"

    • Description:

      Eugenia, a name scarcely used at all since the 1980's, is another that flourished a century ago and could be due for a revival.
  14. Francis

    • Description:

      Francis as a feminine name has Latin origins, derived from the Latin 'Franciscus' meaning 'French' or 'free one.' While Francis is more commonly used for boys in English-speaking countries, it has a long tradition as a feminine name as well, especially in Catholic families. The feminine version is sometimes distinguished by pronunciation (FRAN-sis for females versus FRAN-sis or FRAN-siss for males). Many women named Francis opt to use nicknames like Fran, Frannie, or Francie. The name gained popularity for girls in the early 20th century but declined after the 1950s. With its classic religious associations, particularly to St. Francis of Assisi, the name carries connotations of humility, generosity, and connection to nature.

  15. Gemma

    • Origin:

      Italian, Catalonian, Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "precious stone"

    • Description:

      Gemma is a jewel of a name, an Italian classic that was very popular in 1980s England, but has only recently been started to be used here; it entered the list in 2008.
  16. Greer

    • Origin:

      Scottish, contraction of surname Gregor; Latin

    • Meaning:

      "alert, watchful"

    • Description:

      This attractive Scottish surname choice, has a certain amount of glamour thanks to feisty British-born red-haired forties Academy Award winner Greer Garson, who was born Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson--Greer was her Irish mother's maiden name). Greer was chosen much more recently by Kelsey Grammer for his daughter and by Brooke Shields in the Grier form. As a surname, it's associated with feminist writer/activist Germaine Greer.
  17. Guinevere

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "white shadow, white wave"

    • Description:

      Guinevere was the name of the beautiful but ill-fated queen of Camelot, for so many years eclipsed by its modern Cornish form Jennifer. Today, Guinevere could be a cool possibility for adventurous parents intrigued by this richly evocative and romantic choice.
  18. Hadley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "heather field"

    • Description:

      Hadley, most famous as the name of Ernest Hemingway's first wife, is more sophisticated, professional, and modern than cousins Harley, Haley, or Hayden. The hit book The Paris Wife, a novel by Paula McLain told from the point of view of Hadley Hemingway (born Elizabeth Hadley Richardson), has helped popularize the name, which also appears on the vampire show True Blood. Hadley could become this generation's Hailey. Adley, a mashup of Hadley and Addie, has also appeared on the scene.
  19. Hallie

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "dweller at the meadow by the manor"

    • Description:

      Hallie -- it rhymes with alley and is not to be confused with Halle or Hailey or Holly -- is one of those comfy nicknamish names that are in favor in these complicated times.
  20. Harper

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "harp player"

    • Description:

      You might think of Harper as the hottest name of the last decade, jumping from obscurity to the Top 10, where it remained until last year.