Girls Names Beginning With F

Faith

Virtue name

Faith is one of the most straightforward of the virtue names popularized by the Puritans in the seventeenth century, many parents still choosing it as an indicator of their religious conviction.…

Frances

English from Latin

"from France; free man"

Frances, a soft and gentle classic last popular a hundred years ago, is trending again. The cool nickname Frankie is one reason for the revival of Frances, adding lightness and sass to a serious…

Florence

Latin

"flourishing, prosperous"

Florence is back, returning to the US Top 1000 girl names in 2017 after a nearly 40 year absence. Other English-speaking countries have been quicker to welcome Florence back into fashion. The name…

Felicity

Latin

"good fortune, happy"

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…

Faye

English

"fairy"

Soft and simple, but no less magical, Faye is enjoying a quiet spell of popularity in the US. It broke the Top 1000 in 2014, and by 2023, was one of the fastest rising names on the charts. Faye is a…

Fernanda

Feminine variation of Fernando, Spanish and Portuguese version of German Ferdinand

"bold voyager"

Fernanda is very popular in the Latino community, with a lot more charm than its male counterpart. The standard nickname is Nanda, and variations include Ferdinanda and Fernandina. Oscar-nominated…

Flora

Latin

"flower"

Flora, the name of the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, who enjoyed eternal youth, is one of the gently old-fashioned girls' flower names that's making a big comeback. Short and sweet, it joins…

Fern

English

"plant name"

Of all the botanicals, Fern has been one of the slowest to move back from the front parlor into the nursery, despite the appealing girl character in the children's classic Charlotte's Web . Fern was…

Faigy

Feminine variation of Faigel, Yiddish

"bird"

Faigy is notable as New York State's quirkiest favorite name, widely-used in the Hasidic community.

Francis

Latin

"Frenchman or free man"

While Francis in this spelling is more commonly used for boys in English-speaking countries, it has a long tradition as a feminine name as well, especially in Catholic families. About ten percent of…

Fia

Irish, Portuguese, Italian

"wild, weaver"

Fia may be most notable at this moment as the Anglicized version of the Irish Fiadh, one of the fastest-rising names in the Republic of Ireland. The meaning of Fia or Fiadh is sometimes given as…

Francine

French diminutive pet form of Francoise

"from France or free man"

With the advent of Pope Francis, all forms of this ancient and saintly name came up for a fresh look. Along with most other -een and -ine (when pronounced like -een) names for girls, Francine has a…

Faiga

Faiga is a feminine name with Yiddish origins, traditionally used in Jewish communities. The name derives from the Yiddish word for 'bird' or 'little bird,' conveying imagery of freedom, grace, and…

Fabiola

French, Spanish, Italian, and German variation of Fabia

"bean grower"

Fabiola was the romantically elaborate name of a saint who organized the first hospice. Neither Fabiola nor Fabia appear on the most recent US extended list of names given to five or more babies,…

Fable

English word name

"a legendary story of supernatural happenings"

Fable, like Story, is a word name with real potential, combining enchanted tale-telling with a moral edge. And soundwise, it would fit right in with the likes of Abel and Mabel.

Fae

Spelling variation of Faye, English

"fairy"

Now that Faye is back on the Top 1000 after a decades-long absence, its spelling variations are being revived as well. Fae was given to nearly as many baby girls last year as Fay and may be…

Fay

English

"fairy"

Fay, also spelled Faye, who had been napping quietly since the 1930's, has, like cousins May/Mae and Ray/Rae, sat up and started rubbing her eyes, ready for a mini-comeback, especially as a middle…

Forever

Word name

"always, eternal, continually"

A bold choice, encompassing ideas of eternal love between parents and children, of promises kept, and infinite time, Forever may also have spiritual or religious ties for some. Grounded by its…

Favor

English

"kindness, benefit; approval, support"

A warm-sounding word and virtue name used by the Puritans and still popular in parts of Africa, especially with the Favour spelling. It might be used as a nickname for the longer, perhaps even bolder…

Favour

English

"kindness, benefit; support, approval"

Sometimes used as a short form of the bold Godfavour, this warm-sounding virtue name is popular in parts of Africa, where there is a strong tradition among Christian parents especially to choose…