User-created list
By alyshadragonfriend · Updated July 2023
Across 45 pages
of 45
Danish, Norwegian, German, Dutch
"grace"
This spin on the popular Hannah is widely-used in Europe and pronounced similarly to Hannah. It may also be a short form of Johanne, from John/Joan.
English
"hollow valley"
Literary hero Holden Caulfield of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is now inspiring the names of baby girls. His sister Phoebe’s name would be the more conventional pick, but if girls are being…
Welsh
"lord"
Usually seen as a masculine name (deriving from both Welsh and Arabic), in its feminine usage it is from the Welsh alone. Idris has been used as a feminine name twice in popular culture: first by…
English word name
"relating to Ireland"
As Ireland becomes fashionable as a place name, bouncing on and off of the US girls charts thanks to Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin choosing it for their daughter, some parents may start to consider…
French variation of Isabel
"pledged to God"
With Isabel getting so popular, parents are searching for new varieties of the name, and Isabeau is one that makes a lovely French twist. Isabeau of Bavaria was the wife of King Charles VI of…
Another version of Jelena, both Eastern European relatives of Helen.
Josanna is a feminine name that combines elements of Joanna (Hebrew for 'God is gracious') with the melodic ending of names like Susanna or Anna. This hybrid creation maintains biblical connections…
Russian from Greek
"shining"
This appealing Russian/Nordic name has been used a handful of times since Eowyn Ivey's novel The Snow Child was published in 2012. There, Faina is a mysterious girl who loves the cold Alaskan woods.
Chinese
"to dance in the air"
Fei would make a great way to honor Chinese roots in the US, thanks to its similarity to the fast-rising Faye.
Italian
"little fiery one"
Fiammetta, from the Italian word for flame, has both femininity and fire. Fiammetta could make a good alternative to more conventional Italian girls' names like Giovanna. Fiammetta has some romantic,…
Latin
"flower"
"earth"
An alternative spelling of Gia, or of Gaea, which is a form of Gaia – the Earth goddess in Greek mythology. In Dutch, it can also be a short form of names like Margaretha or Gesina.
"twins"
Astrological sign with enough rhythm to make a plausible astral name.
Georgetta is a feminine diminutive form of George, ultimately derived from the Greek name Georgios, meaning "farmer" or "earth-worker." This elaborated feminine version adds the Romance language…
Nature name, French
"ice"
Nature names are often associated with Spring and Summer, but Glacier is ideal for a winter baby.
Israeli place name or Hebrew
"fruit or glory"
Also a city near Tel Aviv, Hadar is a name found primarily in Israel. There is also a citrus fruit associated with the holiday of Sukkat the Torah calls the "hadar fruit".
Hatti is a charming feminine name with multiple origins. It can be a diminutive form of Harriet (derived from the Germanic name meaning 'home ruler') or a variation of Hattie (traditionally a…
"heart"
A love-filled word name most notably borne by Heart Phoenix, mother of River, Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer. She legally changed her name from Arlyn in 1988. Homophonous Hart, typically a male…
Greek
"demi-god"
Despite the possibility of gender confusion, the Hero in Greek myth was a woman. Myleene Klass got that when she chose Hero for her daughter, and Sam Taylor-Wood and Aaron Johnson used it as their…
Medieval variation of Esther, Persian
"star"
The disgraced heroine of The Scarlet Letter 's name, after long neglect, just might have a chance at revival, following in the wake of sister-name Esther. We've characterized her elsewhere as an…
