Alternatives to Nevaeh

A name bestowed in honor of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Nieves, referring to a miracle she performed with unmelted snow in the August heat of Rome.

An ancient city in Assyria, where Jonah was sent to spread the word of God. Also spelt Nineveh.

An ancient city in Assyria, where Jonah was sent to spread the word of God.

One of the many variations of the name of the Lady of the Lake, best known as Nimue.

Shot to fame as the middle name of Brangelina's daughter Shiloh Nouvel, after French architect Jean Nouvel.

Nova has the feel of both newness, from its meaning, and great energy as an astronomical term for a star that increases suddenly in brightness before fading.

Can be shortened to Nova. Appeared on the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2016.

A literary twist on rising star Nova, derived from the same Latin word.

Novella is a feminine name with Latin and Italian roots, derived from 'novus' meaning 'new' or 'young.' Beyond its literal meaning, Novella carries literary associations as it refers to a short prose narrative in Italian literature – longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. This connection gives the name intellectual and artistic connotations. While not among the most common names, Novella has maintained a steady presence in Italian communities and has seen occasional usage internationally. The name carries a romantic, melodic quality typical of Italian feminine names, with its soft consonants and vowel ending. Novella offers a beautiful option for parents seeking a name with literary flair and a touch of European elegance.

The menu of usable month names seems to expand every, well, month, with such choices as November, October, and January joining more established names like April, May, June and August. Logical November nicknames include Nova, Novi, or Ember, making this a natural (if adventurous) choice for a baby girl. November is also, obviously, one of the perfect names for November babies.

Sweet and sassy Novie is an, ahem, novel shortening of the Latin name Nova, both of which appropriately mean "new". Novi is typically the go-to spelling of this diminutive — thanks to the recent trend of girl names that end in I — but that may change now that influencer couple Zoe Sugg and Alfie Deyes used Novie for their baby girl.

Octavia began as the Latin, then Victorian name for an eighth child. While there aren't many eighth children anymore, this ancient Roman name has real possibilities as a substitute for the overused Olivia; recommended for its combination of classical and musical overtones. It was chosen for his daughter by Kevin Sorbo.

Promise is one of those word names with an uplifting meaning that is making inroads as a girls' name, like sisters Dream and Serenity. How promising is Promise as a first name? Our try at cleverness illustrates perhaps the biggest problem with naming your baby girl Promise: It will be difficult for people to resist making bad puns on the name. We promise (argh) you'll be tired of hearing them well before your baby Promise's first birthday.

Ravena is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may be derived from the Italian city of Ravenna, known for its beautiful Byzantine architecture and rich history. Alternatively, it could be a variation of Raven, referring to the intelligent black bird associated with mystery and wisdom in many cultures. The name has a melodic, romantic quality with its flowing syllables and elegant ending. While not widely used, Ravena offers an intriguing alternative to more common names like Raven or Ravenna. It carries an air of sophistication and slight mystique, appealing to parents seeking a name that is distinctive yet accessible and pleasant to pronounce.

Peaceful, calm, and untroubled: these are qualities parents may be hoping for, either on their parenting journey or in their child’s life. The name Serenity encapsulates these hopes, conjuring up a sense of balance, composure, and ease.

A name that feels both spiritual and trendy, Trinity surged up the charts in the early 2000s, following the release of The Matrix. In just two years, it made an impressive jump from the latter end of the charts to the US Top 100, where it remained for more than a decade.

That difficult Ur- sound cancels out the feminine appeal of the rest of the name.

If you love Puritan virtue names and want to move beyond Hope and Faith and Grace, this is a wonderful choice, both for its meaning and its sound. A rare find here, though occasionally heard in England. It was used in Winston Graham's Poldark novels, was Madonna's name as James Bond's fencing instructor in Die Another Day, and made a brief appearance in Harry Potter. Not to mention being a fixture on British and Australian soaps. Verity also appears in one of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple mysteries.