Girl Names

Felicity is as accessible a virtue name as Hope and Faith, but much more feminine -- and dare we say, happier. The hit TV show did a lot to soften and modernize the once buttoned-up image of Felicity, and it got further notice as the red-haired Colonial doll, Felicity Merriman, in the American Girl series. A current bearer is actress Felicity Huffman.

Helena is one of those classic names that just misses making the US Top 1000 girl names for its entire history, falling off for a single year in 1992. Since then it's been drifting lazily up the charts, and makes a perfect choice if you want a name that both fits in and stands out.

Francesca is a lighter and much more feminine choice than the classic Frances, and one that is increasingly popular with upscale parents.

Melodic and beautiful but with a touch of sass, Calliope is the name of the muse of epic poetry — and perhaps less glamorously, the musical instrument on the merry-go-round. Bold and creative, it debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2016, and in more recent year, IT appeared in the Top 500.

Also spelled as Kalliope — the more traditional Greek transliteration — Calliope means "beautiful voice", making this a musical and poetic choice. It was rarely heard in the US until the 2000s when Calliope "Callie" Torres from the show Grey's Anatomy helped introduce it to a wider audience.

Bianca, the livelier Italian and Shakespearean version of Blanche, has been chosen by many American parents since the 1990s, just as Blanca is a favorite in the Spanish-speaking community. Its meaning of white relates to snow, making it one of the prime names for winter babies.

Serafina is a name so lovely it's worthy of an angel. But the more stylish spelling today is Seraphina.

Edwina may still be taking tea in the parlor, but we can see her joining friends like Matilda and Josephine for a comeback, especially if pronounced like Edwin rather than Edween.

There's only one Evita.

Beata, a Latinate saint's name, has been widely used primarily by Roman Catholics in several European countries, but is rarely heard in English-speaking countries. Playground alert: could be mispronounced Beeta.

Gwendolin is a feminine name of Welsh origin, representing a variant spelling of Gwendolyn. It derives from Welsh elements 'gwen' meaning 'white, fair, blessed' and 'dolen' meaning 'ring, bow.' This elegant name carries Celtic heritage and literary associations, notably through Gwendolen, a character in George Eliot's novel 'Daniel Deronda.' The slight spelling variation gives the name a distinctive quality while maintaining its classic sound. Though less common than Gwendolyn, Gwendolin shares its vintage charm and graceful rhythm. The name experienced modest popularity during the early 20th century and has seen occasional revivals among parents appreciating traditional Welsh names. Gwendolin offers potential nicknames including Gwen, Wendy, or Dolly.