E - Girls' Names

A word that's been used, very infrequently, as a name for hundreds of years. Interesting sound and meaning.

This international variation was publicized by Olympic skater Ekaterina Gordeeva.

The site of Napoleon's exile became the great-great-aunt in the purple hat.

This spelling of the classic name is found in France, Germany, Greece, and other cultures, and is worn by such notables as Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth Shue, Elisabeth Moss, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. The name's pronunciation is usually just like the Z version, but some parents choose this because they want to discourage the Liz or Lizzie short forms and so pronounce it as if it has Lisa in the middle.

A beautiful modern Cornish nature name that is rapidly picking up steam in the States: even spawning variant spellings like Elowyn and Elowynn. In its native region, it wasn't widely used as a name before the twentieth century, when the Cornish language was revived. A (currently) unique member of the fashionble El- family of names, it has a pleasant, evocative sound.

Elspet is a traditional Scottish feminine name, representing an old Scots variant of Elizabeth. Deriving from the Hebrew Elisheba, meaning 'God is my oath' or 'God's promise', Elspet emerged in medieval Scotland as a distinctive local form. This name reached its peak popularity in Scotland during the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in the Highlands and northeastern regions. While less common today, Elspet carries historical significance and cultural heritage, offering a unique alternative to the more widely used Elizabeth or its other derivatives. The name evokes images of Scottish highlands and carries a certain rustic charm and historical gravitas.

Endellion is the name of an early saint who was a daughter of King Brychan and goddaughter of King Arthur whose life is commemorated by the Cornish village of St. Endellion. This intriguing ancient name was brought into modern usage by British Prime Minister David Cameron, who used it as one of the middle names for his fourth child, a baby girl.

Eponine is attracting new notice via the movie of Les Miserables, based on the book by Victor Hugo. Eponine is the spoiled daughter of Cosette's foster parents whose name, according to the story, was lifted by her mother from a romance novel. As in a romance, Eponine redeems herself by becoming a martyr to love.

Esmé comes from the past participle of the Old French verb esmer, meaing "to esteem" or "to love." It can also be considered a derivative of the Spanish name Esmeralda, which means "emerald".

Ethelinda is a feminine name that combines the elements "ethel" meaning "noble" or "of noble birth" and "linda" meaning "pretty." The name was used in medieval England but became less common after the Norman Conquest and is virtually extinct today, given to no baby girls in the US at the most recent count.

Thanks to the surprise hit revival of Etta James' song At Last and because of recent interest in vintage style nicknames, Etta has established herself as a possible successor to Emma and Ella. Back in the US Top 1000 as of 2023 and rising rapidly up the UK charts, where it sits in the Top 200, Etta is a snappy, smart and sparky choice.

Eulalia is a melodious name with a southern drawl, thanks to those lilting double Ls.