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Elvish names

elliottphoenix
By elliottphoenix
Updated Thu May 25 2023
Names inspired by elves from the fantasy genre, Tolkien’s work especially. Names of elegance, beauty and otherworldly serenity. Most come from Tolkien’s elvish languages; Quenya and Sindarin.
  1. Arwen

    • Origin:

      Literature, Sindarin, Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "noble maiden; fair, blessed"

    • Description:

      Best known as the princess of the Elves in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Arwen is a fantasy-inspired choice that feels perfectly down to earth. In 2022, it entered the UK Top 400, making it one of the fastest rising names, more than doubling in use from the previous year.
  2. Lydia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "woman from Lydia"

    • Description:

      Lydia is one of the first place names, after an area of Asia Minor whose inhabitants are credited with strong musical talent great wealth. Always among the US Top 1000 girl names, Lydia is a quietly fashionable classic.
  3. Ayla

    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Turkish

    • Meaning:

      "oak tree; halo, moonlight"

    • Description:

      Bright, fresh, and sunny, Ayla is a fashionable and exciting international choice for girls. Reminiscent of other trending names such as Layla, Isla, and Ava, Ayla has recently found its place in the Top 100.
  4. Nathaniel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"

    • Description:

      Nathaniel was derived from the Hebrew name Netan’el, meaning "gift of God," composed of the elements natan, meaning "to give," and ’el, in reference to God. The name is featured several times in the Old and New Testaments, typically spelled Nathanael. In the New Testament, Nathanael is also known by his other name, Bartholomew.
  5. Alma

    • Origin:

      Latin, Hebrew, Kazakh

    • Meaning:

      "nurturing, soul; young woman; apple"

    • Description:

      Alma is a solemn, soulful, yet gentle sounding name that became fashionable in England following the Battle of Alma during the 19th century Crimean War. A name with multiple origins, Alma has subtle, international flair and plenty of vintage charm.
  6. Estelle

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "star"

    • Description:

      Maybe it's because she shares that winning -elle sound with Isabel and Bella, but Estelle is no longer seen as a muumuu-wearing canasta player of a certain age (think George Costanza's mother on Seinfeld or Joey Tribbiani's talent agent in Friends). This could be in part thanks to the young Royal Couple of Sweden, who chose it for their firstborn daughter, or the single-named British R&B singer. It reentered the US Top 1000 in 2012 after a nearly fifty-year absence.
  7. Aria

    • Origin:

      Italian and Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "air; song or melody; lion"

    • Description:

      Aria is a multi-cultural name with two extremely popular versions: this more word-like one along with Arya, the spelling used for the feisty young heroine of Game of Thrones. There were about 6400 baby girls named Aria in the US last year alog with 2400 named Arya, which counted together places the name in the Top 10.
  8. Apollo

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "destroyer; strength; father's light"

    • Description:

      With mythological names rising, the handsome son of Zeus and god of medicine, music, and poetry among many other things might offer an interesting, and melodic option. Similar in style to Atlas and Atticus and similar in sound to Arlo, Paolo, Paul, and Ollie, Apollo entered the US Top 1000 back in 2012, and was propelled upwards after it was chosen by Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale in 2014.
  9. Lia

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of names ending in -lia or Italian, Portuguese and Greek variation of Leah

    • Meaning:

      "weary"

    • Description:

      Short, sweet, and clear, Lia is used throughout Europe, across America, and in some areas of Asia and Africa, making it a truly international and versatile choice.
  10. Elowyn

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Elowen, Cornish

    • Meaning:

      "elm"

    • Description:

      The -en ending is the authentically female one and the traditional Cornish spelling, but more and more Americans are turning to the y as a feminizing element in the final syllable of this name. As such, the name begins to feel more in tune with the likes of Brooklyn or Evelyn while still maintaining its more magical qualities.
  11. Lilia

    • Origin:

      Spanish, Italian and Russian

    • Meaning:

      "lily"

    • Description:

      Lilia is pretty double L name that makes for sparkly, floral choice with plenty of international flair. More distinctive that Lily, less popular than Liliana, Lia, and Lilian, Lilia was a new entry to the US Top 1000 in 2023.
  12. Ariel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "lion of God"

    • Description:

      Despite its distinguished pedigree and popularity in Israel, Disney's Little Mermaid cartoonized Ariel in the US, at least in some people's minds. But it was used for a male character in Shakespeare's The Tempest centuries ago.
  13. Enya

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "fire"

    • Description:

      This phonetic Anglicization of the Irish name Eithne was made familiar by the single-named Irish singer and composer. St. Eithne was the daughter of a king and an early Irish convert to Christianity.
  14. Albion

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "white, bright"

    • Description:

      Albion is an ancient, poetic, and literary name for Great Britain. As a name, Albion is a variation of Albus -- and Dumbledore fans might find it a congenial update. Attractive short forms include Al and Albie.
  15. Elvira

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "white, fair"

    • Description:

      Before there was the campy TV Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Elvira was the long-suffering wife of Don Juan, and remnants of those negative, gothic images still cling to it, though they are fading.

      Other references include the romantic film Elvira Madigan, based on a real person, and the main ghostly character in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, as well as appearances in several operas.

  16. Alya

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "heavens, highborn, exalted"

    • Description:

      Alya is most familiar in the US in its much-more-complicated form Aaliyah, the spelling used by the later singer. The traditional name of the star system Theta Serpentis, Alya is also an established Muslim first name and a Turkish place-name. It may also be a Russian short form for Alexandra or any other Al- name.
  17. Nessa

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "headlands, promontory"

    • Description:

      Like its cousin Tessa, Nessa -- a shortening of Vanessa or Agnes or Anastasia among other possibilities -- is an attractive nickname that can stand on its own.
  18. Naira

    • Origin:

      Aymara

    • Meaning:

      "beauty of Saraswati"

    • Description:

      Naira has several possible origins. It could be an alternative spelling of the Indian name Nyra, or from nayra, meaning "early" or "eye" in the Aymara language of South America. It can also be short for names like Aneria and Zunairah — or an invention by parents looking for a fresh twist on Nora and Lyra. In any case, it's a breezy, modern-sounding name with lots of potential.

  19. Aila

    • Origin:

      Finnish variation of Helga or Scottish Gaelic

    • Meaning:

      "from the strong place"

    • Description:

      Now that Isla Fisher has pushed her once-obscure name into the Top 150, some parents are looking for similar-sounding Scottish names for girls that are further off the beaten path. This one is especially promising, with its cross-cultural appeal. Ayla, a common name in Turkey, is also worth considering.
  20. Vanya

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Ivana, Russian, Bulgarian, Indian

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious; deity of the forest and the wild"

    • Description:

      Used as both a diminutive for Ivana, and as a given name in Bulgaria, Vanya has a cool sharp sound that could work internationally. It has been used from a character in the TV show and comic book The Umbrella Academy and is borne by singer and writer Vanya Shtereva and poet Vanya Petkova.