The name of a beautiful water fairy in Turkish mythology, who has the power to grant wishes and mend broken hearts. Alara is also a popular name in Armenia.

Alara

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.
 
While there are many girls' names that contain Ama as an element and might use it as a short form — from Amalia to Amaryllis to Samara — there were only a handful of girls named Ama in the US in a recent year.

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.
 
Anahita was derived from the Old Iranian elements an and āhita, meaning "not" and "dirty, unclean" respectively.

Anahita

A fresh and summery — if rather long — color that sounds namelike, but is extremely rarely used.

Aquamarine

Araluen is a beautiful Aboriginal Australian place name, used in several sites, always connected to the dainty water lily. 
In terms of sound Araluen offers it all - the "Ara" beginning made popular by Arabella, the spunky "Lu" sound in the middle, giving rise to great nicknames like "Lulu," and the final "en" sound which makes it fit right in with all those Viviens and Adriennes in the school yard.
Araluen is a great choice for parents looking for a fresh sounding nature-based girls name that isn't too frilly or too masculine.

Araluen

Ava is one of the prime examples of a modern classic name, rising thought the course of a generation into the Top 10, where it has lingered for nearly 20 years.
 
In medieval times, Ava was a diminutive of Germanic names beginning in Av-, in particular Aveline, from which the name Evelyn would eventually arise. It may derive from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "island" or "water". However, the medieval name eventually fell out of use entirely, only to resurface in contemporary times. 
 
This suggests that today’s Ava may be a modern variation of Eva. Alternatively, Ava could also derive from the Latin avis, meaning "bird." Ava has separate Persian roots as a name meaning "voice" or "sound."
 
Ava was given a huge popularity boost—Ava's currently among the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/nameberry/girls">top girl names</a> and the top <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/a">girls' name starting with A</a>—when dozens of high-profile stars such as Reese Witherspoon and Hugh Jackman chose Ava for their daughters. Another reason for its appeal: It's one of the elite group of <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/607/girl-names-that-mean-life">girl names that mean life</a>. This Glamour Girl name via Hollywood beauty Ava Gardner is attractive but epidemically popular! 
 
Some parents who love Ava's simplicity and style have looked on to other choices that might take her place: Eva, Avery, Ada, Aveline and so on. The result, as with other popular names such as Hailey and Aiden that have spawned a raft of imitators, is that Ava is beginning to feel even more ubiquitous than it might otherwise based on its Top 5 standing. 
 
Ava seemed to be headed towards Number 1—it's no accident we titled one of our books on baby name style Beyond Ava & Aiden—but, though it seems to have been somewhat side-swiped by the Olivia-Isabella-Sophia group, it will still certainly stay in the Top 10 for years to come. It's a lovely name on many levels, but if you want something that will stand out, keep looking. 
 
One of the most fascinating things about Ava is that it's a much more ancient name than its modern-feeling sleekness would suggest. St. Ava was the daughter of King Pepin and was cured of blindness and became a nun. 
 
While Ava Gardner represents the Golden Age of Hollywood image of the name, director Ava DuVernay updates it to new Hollywood, together showcasing the name's attractive mix of glamor and strength.

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.

 Although Aveline is a cognate of the French word for "hazlenut", the name actually derives from an obscure Germanic root, the meaning of which is not clear. Theories include "desired, wished for" and "water, island".
 
Aveline is different enough to sound distinct, but be warned: You will forever be explaining that no, it's not Adeline, not Evelyn, and so on.

Aveline

An unusual and appealing name that is the origin of Evelyn, via the Norman French name Aveline. It derives from an obscure Germanic root, the meaning of which is not clear. Theories include "desired, wished for" and "water, island". 

 The name Avila and may also be connected to the Spanish town Avila, birthplace of St. Teresa. It is used within Catholic communities as an honor name for the saint.

Avila

One art name that sounds distinctly more masculine.  Unless you're a big mobile fan, keep thinking.

Calder

An incredibly poetic name that could be worn well in many cultures.

Chantara

Damla

Now a mostly-male name, in its earliest incarnation Douglas was used equally for girls and boys and could certainly make a comeback as one of the new <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/79/boy-names-for-girls">boy names for girls"</a>.

Douglas

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.

Eileen

Euna

Evelin

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.

Evelina

Eveline

Evelyn derives from the French feminine given name Aveline, which is from an obscure Germanic root which may mean "desired, wished for" or "water, island". The name Aveline was brought over to England by the Normans, but it first became popular as a masculine name – a transferred use of the surname Evelyn, which comes from the same source. Variations include Evaline, Evalyn, Evelin, and Eveline.
 
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. All this despite having returned to the Top 40 for the first time since 1939 less than a decade ago.
 
Formerly a predominantly masculine name, its most famous bearer is writer Evelyn (EEV-lin) Waugh. (Trivia note: Evelyn Waugh was married to a woman named Evelyn, and they were known as 'He-velyn" and "She-velyn'.) Its quiet persona was reversed with the character Evelyn Salt, played by Angelina Jolie. Bruce Willis chose it for his fifth daughter and Carey Mulligan used it for hers.

Evelyn

Evelyne

The extra N gives a trendy feel to the classic name Evelyn – part of a surge in names with -lynn suffixes.

With Evelyn now a Top 10 name, spelling variations are sure to rise too. Some parents may prefer the lynn ending because it clarifies pronunciation, distinguishing the name from Eveline, which rhymes with wine.

In fact, varying the ending of girls' names from -line to -lyn or -lynn has become standard practice in the US to differentiate Caroline from Carolyn, Adeline from Adelyn. Of course, many people pronounce both names as if they ended in -lynn anyway, but with the -lynn ending, there usually isn't any confusion.

Evelynn

Evelynne

Everlyn is one of the countless new spin on Evelyn and sisters, this generation's answer to Caitlin and Michaela. Evelyn, recently in the US Top 10, has been around as a name for a long time, once used for boys too. Ever and Everly are newer inventions, and Everlyn borrows something from them all. Nearly 70 baby girls were named Everlyn in the most recent year counted.

Everlyn

Everlynn combines two of the hottest baby names of the moment — Evelyn and Everly — but can't claim either of their histories. Although if you can't decide between the two, Everlynn is the logical compromise.

Everlynn

Ewelina

More modern than Helen or Helena, and an interesting alternative to Hayley and Hallie. By coincidence, heli also means "saltwater" in Welsh.

Heli

Maori nature name with a lovely flowing sound and meaning.

Horowai

Hydra is the largest of the 88 constellations, whose name was inspired by Hydra of Lerna, a serpentine, multi-headed monster of Greek mythology who resided in Lake Lerna.

Hydra

Prettier than the other name the plant goes by, Hortensia.

Hydrangea

Iara rhymes with Yara, an Arabic name of which it can be a variation. More commonly it's associated with Iara of Brazilian myth — a water nymph, sometimes mermaid, of Tupi and Guaraní legend. In the legends, Iara seduces men to the river to accompany her in her immortal life.

Iara

A rhythmic and attractive Cherokee girl name. Immokalee is also the name of a community in Florida.

Immokalee

Māori form of India, also found as a male name: the Māori form of Aeneas.

Inia

Jara is a name with roots in several different cultures and languages, with different meanings and associations. She's the Hindu goddess of the household, happiness, and prosperity. In Spanish, where the name is pronounced with an H sound at the beginning ala Jose, Jara is a flower name meaning "rock-rose". In Arabic, the meaning of "earthen water jug" relates it to both the earth and to water.

Jara

Move over Brandy and Sherry, Julep is an alcohol-inspired name that certainly feels unique today, despite sharing similar sounds to popular Juliet and Juliana.

Julep

In Basque mythology, Lamina are mermaid-like creatures (they can also have duck tails) who grant wishes.

Lamina

Many Americans will misunderstand it as Maya, but Maayan (also stylized as Ma'ayan) is a popular Israeli name used for both sexes.

Maayan

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.
 
In addition to being the name of a Central American culture, Maya was the legendary Greek mother of Hermes by Zeus, and means "illusion" in Sanskrit and Eastern Pantheism. It can also be spelled Maia, though both names have so many possible origins and meanings that not all of them are related. 
 </brTo the Romans, Maia/Maya was the incarnation of the earth mother and goddess of spring, after whom they named the month of May.
 Famed author Maya Angelou was born Marguerite; Maya was coined by her brother saying "mya sister." Its best known current bearers include performer Maya Rudolph and architect Maya Lin. 
Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke's actress daughter is Maya Ray. British designer Phoebe Philo also has a Maya, named for Angelou, as does Israeli actress Gal Gadot.

Maya

Unless you're making an intentional homage to the Maya civilization, the traditional spelling Maayan will prove less confusing.

Mayan

This Hebrew water name has two main popular associations: Mayim Bialik, who played the title role in the early 90s TV series "Blossom," and the popular Israeli folk dance, "Mayim, Mayim."

Mayim

Moonglade

Feminine spin on Moses and European river name that's also the name of a wine. 

Moselle

Moses haas been a boys' name since the Biblical baby Moses was born in the bull rushes, but actress Moses Ingram put it in the lexicon for girls. Emmy-nominated for The Queen's Gambit, Ingram changed her name to Moses when she got to Yale Drama School. In 2020 there were nearly 600 baby boys named Moses and fewer than five baby girls in the US, but that can change as Ingram's profile rises. Soon Moses may feel as much a girls' name as Glenn, Cameron, and Drew mean now.

Moses

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

Nahla

Possibility for a girl born under one of the water signs -- Cancer, Pisces, or Scorpio. 

Naida

New Zealand writer Ngaio (born Edith Ngaio) Marsh is the best-known bearer of this Maori nature name, properly pronounced ng (like the end of sing) -EYE-oh. It is the name of a tree indigenous to New Zealand, also called the Mousehole Tree.

Ngaio

This delightful, lovable Persian name is typically reserved as a nickname for Niloufar. It rhymes with Lilou, the utterly charming French nickname.
 
A notable bearer is Iranian-American magazine editor Nilou Motamed, formerly the Editor-in-Chief at Food & Wine.

Nilou

Niloufar is a gorgeous Persian name used in Iran, Turkey (as Nilüfer), and Azerbaijan. It has many alternate spellings including Nilofar, which is used by Urdu speakers.

Niloufar

If you love Dixie, Trixie and Pixie, this name of a mermaid-like sprite in German folklore may be for you.  It might also make an update for Nicki.

Nixie

Nyxie

A name from the Yoruba language that happens to have a similar ending to the Hawaiian -lani names. <a href="https://www.yorubaname.com/entries/Omilani%CC%81">Source</a>

Omilaní

A sweet and clear Hopi name with a lovely natural meaning to match.

Pavati

Olympic skier Picabo Street was allowed to choose her name at the age of three, and picked it possibly (a) after a nearby Idaho town or (b) because she loved to play peekaboo. No longer a single-person name, it is now worn by a number of satisfied bearers.

Picabo

Prideaux is a Cornish place name and surname that is occasionally attested as a girls' first name. It likely stems from the French phrase "pré de eaux", meaning meadow of waters. For fans of Margaux, Prideaux might be a less-common and very pretty alternative.

Prideaux

This unisex Arabic name is most frequently used for baby boys in the US, although a significant number of girls are named Rayan each year as well. The emphasis belongs on the second syllable.

Rayan

In Japan the lotus is the Buddhist symbol of purity and perfection. In the US, Ren can also be short for Lauren or Renee, but it could be misspelt as the more popular Wren.

Reyyan

Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, learning, music, and the arts. She is also a river goddess, associated with the mythical Saraswati river, which played an important part in the Vedic texts.

Saraswati

Shizuku

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.
 
In tandem with the longer-form Natalia, this pretty Russian-flavored girls’ name has been rising in the popularity charts in the US.
 
A prominent bearer is Talia Shire, doomed to go down in cinema history as Rocky's mousy girlfriend Adrienne, along with actress Talia Balsam, aka the former Mrs. George Clooney. Most recently, Talia was attributed to YouTube star Talia Joy Castellano, a young girl battling cancer who passed away at age 13.
 
Talia is also an Australian Aboriginal name meaning "near water".

Talia

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.
 A modern hipster favorite, Tallulah had been chosen for their daughters by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Patrick Dempsey, Damian Dash, Rachel Roy and Sara Rue. The name was trail-blazed by Demi Moore and Bruce Willis for their now grown daughter. 
 When spelled Talulla or Talullah, it is also a traditional Irish name that was borne by two saints.

Tallulah is among the Feminine Feminist names is one of our hottest <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/baby-name-trends-2024">baby name trends</a> of 2024.

Tallulah

Talulah

Thara

Ushio

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.

Yareli

Yarelis

Rare but beautiful variant of the rising name Yareli, which itself derives from Yara — one of the fastest rising names right now.

Yareliz

lina.111's list "girl names that mean WATER" of 65 great name ideas: Alara - Yareliz!