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girl names that mean WATER

  1. Evelyn
    • Origin:

      English from French and German
    • Meaning:

      "desired; or water, island"
    • Description:

      After decades of disuse, soft and feminine Evelyn has returned to the baby name stage in a huge way. It reached the Top 10 for the first time in 2017. Evelyn has now surpassed its former heights, joining a legion of contemporary little Evas, Avas, Eves, Evies, and Evelines.
  2. Ava
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Latin or Germanic
    • Meaning:

      "life; bird; water, island"
    • Description:

      Ava is one of the prime examples of a modern classic name, ranking in the Top 10 for 20 years, from 2005 through 2024, only falling out in 2025.
  3. Maya
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit, English, Hebrew, Estonian
    • Meaning:

      "illusion, magic; mother; water; beloved, bitter, drop of the sea"
    • Description:

      Maya, which has an almost mystical image, has been steadily climbing in popularity in the US and the English-speaking world, along with a range of other countries, including France, Germany, Israel, and Brazil. It's ranked in the US Top 100 since the turn of this century, but has never risen to the top of the list, which you may consider a good thing.
  4. Talia
    • Origin:

      Hebrew; Australian Aboriginal
    • Meaning:

      "gentle dew from heaven; by the water"
    • Description:

      Talia is derived from the Hebrew elements tal, meaning "dew," and yah, in reference to God. In the mythology of one ancient sect, Talia was one of ten angels who attended the sun on its daily course. The occasionally homophonous name Thalia has unrelated Greek origins.
  5. Evelynn
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "desired; or water, island"
    • Description:

      This spelling variation of the classic Evelyn gives it a trendy makeover to fit in with the surge of names ending with -lynn suffixes. Recent counts have seen it given to around 1000 girls each year and it sits with the Top 400.
  6. Alara
    • Origin:

      Armenian, Turkish, Persian, Breton
    • Meaning:

      "water fairy; all-powerful ruler; the chosen"
    • Description:

      The name of a beautiful water fairy in Turkish mythology, who has the power to grant wishes and mend broken hearts. Also used in Armenia, it is currently a fast rising choice in England and Wales where it sits in the Top 300. Some of its popularity may be down to how easily it crosses languages, though it may also be because of its similarity to the likes of Elara, Lara, Laura, and Alexandra.
  7. Eileen
    • Origin:

      Scottish variation of Evelyn
    • Meaning:

      "desired; or water, island"
    • Description:

      The Scottish Eileen was a midcentury darling that was on a long downward slide for decades. And then, in 2012, it took an unexpected pivot and has been inching upward in the US. The unrelated but similar-sounding Isla may have revived the taste for Eileen. Isla along with Lee and Lena might be nicknames for Eileen. Eileen is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Eibhlin or Aibhilin, which is technically a form of to Evelyn/Aveline, but is also sometimes considered part of the Helen family of names. Aileen is the Irish version, less popular now than Eileen.
  8. Evelina
    • Origin:

      English from French
    • Meaning:

      "desired; or water, island"
    • Description:

      A popular name in the Middle Ages, Evelina was eclipsed by Evelyn in the last century, but has a chance at a well-deserved comeback now, fitting right in with the other Ev-names. Like Evelyn, it derives from the Norman name Aveline.
  9. Yareli
    • Origin:

      Native American, Spanish variation of Yara, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "water lady; small butterfly"
    • Description:

      Possibly a derivative variation of Yara, a popular name in Spanish-speaking countries meaning butterfly, Yareli was given to more than 400 baby girls in the US last year.
  10. Ama
    • Origin:

      Ewe, Akan, Ghanaian, Cherokee
    • Meaning:

      "born on Saturday; water"
    • Description:

      Ama is a day name used by the Akan people of Ghana for girls born on Saturday. Names that reference a baby's birth by day of the week, time of day, or season of the year are common in many African cultures. Ama is one that can be used happily by parents who live in English-speaking countries.
  11. Eveline
    • Origin:

      English or French
    • Meaning:

      "desired; or water, island"
    • Description:

      Variant of Evelyn or Aveline
  12. Evelyne
    • Origin:

      Variation of Evelyn, English from French and German,"desired; or water, island"
    • Meaning:

      "desired; or water, island"
    • Description:

      Evelyn is becoming so popular that many variations are sure to become more widely used too. But in this case, the third E doesn't add anything and only confuses pronunciation: Is it Eveline?
  13. Tallulah
    • Origin:

      Choctaw, Irish
    • Meaning:

      "leaping water, lady of abundance"
    • Description:

      This hauntingly euphonious Choctaw name has re-entered the public domain, as memories of the outrageous actress Tallulah Bankhead have faded. For years, Tallulah was a name associated only with Bankhead, named for her paternal grandmother who was named after the Georgia town of Tallulah Falls.
  14. Nahla
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "a drink of water"
    • Description:

      Nahla is a lovely name chosen by Halle Berry for her daughter. Not to be confused with the Disneyfied Nala.
  15. Euna
    • Origin:

      Cherokee
    • Meaning:

      "waterfall"
  16. Evelin
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "desired; or water, island"
    • Description:

      Variant of Evelyn
  17. Anahita
    • Origin:

      Persian
    • Meaning:

      "immaculate"
    • Description:

      Anahita is the name of the water goddess who rules, among other things, fertility and wisdom. Associated with Venue, Anahita is a stylish Iranian name for girls.
  18. 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.
  19. Araluen
    • Origin:

      Aboriginal Australian
    • Meaning:

      "water lilies; place of the water lilies"
    • Description:

      Araluen is a beautiful Aboriginal Australian place name, used in several sites, always connected to the dainty water lily.
  20. Aveline
    • Origin:

      French from German
    • Meaning:

      "desired; or island, water"
    • Description:

      Aveline is a name that's long been an obscure cousin of more widely-used choices, but may come into its own riding the tail of the megapopular Ava, which may derive from the same root.

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