Girls Names A Through E

Aoife

Irish Gaelic

"beautiful, radiant"

Aoife, pronounced EE-fa, is derived from the Irish word aoibh , meaning "beauty." Aoife was borne by several different heroines of ancient Irish legend. In one tale, she was the fiercest woman…

Aphra

Hebrew, variation of Aphrah

"dust"

Aphra would make an interesting choice-- especially since it's the name of the first professional female writer in English, the seventeenth century's Aphra Behn. Born in 1640, she was a prolific…

Aphrodite

Greek mythology name

"foam or born from the sea"

The name of the Greek goddess of love has rarely descended to mortal use, though the Roman equivalent Venus, thanks to tennis star Williams, now seems completely possible. But with the new fashion…

Apolline

French form of Apollonia, feminine variation of Apollo, Greek mythology name

"destroyer"

Apolline is a luscious French name chic in Paris -- it's a Top 100 name for baby girls in France -- and ripe for the plucking in the English-speaking world. Derived from the mythological name Apollo,…

Apollonia

Feminine variation of Apollo, Greek mythology name

"destroyer, strength; father's light"

This name of a third-century Christian martyr has an romantic, appealing feel in the modern world. It first came to American attention via Prince's love interest in the film Purple Rain . It could…

Apolonia

Spelling variation of Apollonia, feminine form of Apollo, Greek mythology name

"destroyer"

Apolonia is a feminine name of Greek origin, derived from Apollo, the Greek god of sun, light, music, and poetry. It can be considered a variant of Apollonia, which gained recognition through Saint…

Appia

Feminine form of Appius, Latin, meaning unknown

A name from ancient Roman, now rare.

Apple

English nature name

"apple"

When people talk about unique baby names, Apple is often one of the first examples they mention. Apple made international headlines when Gwyneth Paltrow chose this wholesome fruit name for her…

Apricity

Latin

"the warmth of the sun in winter"

Part-April, part-Felicity, but with the wonderfully whimsical feel of Serendipity. Apricity debuted in the US charts for the first time in 2022.

Aprilette

Aprilette is a feminine name that serves as a diminutive or elaboration of April. While April derives from the Latin 'aperire' meaning "to open," referring to the opening or blossoming of flowers in…

Aqua

Color name

One of the new color names that is catching on, invoking a calm, blue-green-sea feeling.

Aquamarine

French from Latin

"sea water; color between green and blue"

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

Aquila

Latin

"eagle"

An evocative ancient word that's used as a first name in the New Testament, among other places. It's also the name of an eagle-shaped constellation. That said, contemporary interest in the name…

Aquilia

Latin

"eagle"

This and two other female forms -- AQUILA and AQUILINA -- of the Roman family name Aquilius might live on in modern times.

Aquitaine

French place name

If you're looking for a really untouristed place name, Aquitaine could be it. Aquitaine is a region of France that includes both Bordeaux and Biarritz and is famous for such food and drink as its…

Ara

Armenian

"king"

Simple and yet distinctive, Ara is a mythological name of a famously handsome king. Although it originated as a boys' name, in the contemporary US, it's now much more commonly used for girls. Ara was…

Arabel

English variation of Arabella, Latin; Scottish

"yielding to prayer; lovable"

There were only SIX baby girls named Arabel in the US last year, astonishing when you consider the popularity of Arabella, used for over 1300 baby girls, and Arabelle, given to over 100. As isabel is…

Arabelle

Variation of Arabella, Latin, Scottish

"yielding to prayer; lovable"

This more succinct form of the elegant Arabella might appeal to those who are looking for a less popular spin on Annabel or those who like the sounds of Arabella but want something with fewer frills.…

Arabesque

French word name

"ballet position; ornate design"

Fanciful, edging toward bizarre.

Arachne

Greek

"spider"

In Greek mythology, Arachne was a woman who bested Athena in a weaving competition. She later killed herself from the shame, but Athena reincarnated Arachne as a spider.