portuguese girls

Jacinta

Spanish for Greek flower name

"hyacinth"

Jacinta, the Spanish word for hyacinth, is a lot softer and sweeter than the English version. The correct Spanish pronunciation is ha-SEEN-ta, though many English speakers would say ja-SIN-ta.…

Filomena

Greek

"lover of singing"

See PHILOMENA.

Filipa

Portuguese

"lover of horses"

Portuguese form of Philippa

Rafaela

Spanish and Portuguese version of Hebrew Raphaela

"God has healed"

This euphonious and lovely name is an internationally appealing choice, that, like Gabriela and Isabela before it, is beginning to be drawn into the American mainstream. Also spelled Raffaella…

Antonia

Latin

"from Antium"

Antonia is stronger than most feminized boys’ names , reflecting the pioneer spirit of Willa Cather's classic novel My Antonia . Antonia is hovering near the bottom of the US popularity list, which…

Rosaria

Rosaria is a feminine name with Latin and Italian roots, derived from 'rosa' meaning 'rose.' It carries religious significance in Catholicism, often associated with the rosary prayer beads and…

Telma

Portuguese version of Thelma

"will"

Sometimes used in the Hispanic community, along with the male TELMO. Has been associated with Telma Hopkins, singer with Tony Orlando & Dawn and onetime TV sitcom star.

Genoveva

Variation of Genevieve or Geneva, French

"tribe woman or juniper"

The rare name Genoveva might be thought of as a variation of the French names Genevieve or Geneva, which have different roots and meanings. An unusual, pretty choice.

Susana

Susana is a feminine name with Hebrew and Spanish origins, being a Latin variant of Susannah, derived from the Hebrew name Shoshana meaning "lily" or "rose." This elegant name appears in biblical…

Margarida

Portuguese

"daisy; pearl"

This Portuguese version of Marguerite, Margherita, or Margaret has a distinctive yet familiar sound and could get you to nicknames Maggie, Daisy, Margo, Ida, and Edie.

Eugenia

Feminine variation of Eugene, Greek

"wellborn, noble"

Eugenia, a name scarcely used at all since the 1980's, is another that flourished a century ago and could be due for a revival. Eugenia has some interesting literary references, including the…

Lidia

Portuguese, Spanish, Polish, Romanian, from Greek

"woman from Lydia"

A spelling variant of Lydia used in parts of Southern & Eastern Europe.

Isadora

Greek

"gift of Isis"

For a long time, Isadora has been overlooked in favor of Isabella, owing perhaps to its association with the tragic modern dancer, Isadora Duncan, or because parents would rather their daughter be a…

Chuva

Chuva is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. In Portuguese, 'chuva' means 'rain,' giving the name a beautiful natural significance. It may also have roots in various African languages or…

Amada

Feminine variation of Amado, Spanish

"loved"

Amada is an unusual Spanish name that's becoming more famous thanks to Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes, who named their second daughter Amada Lee and their first Esmeralda Amada. Amada was also the name…

Claudia

Feminine variation of Claude

"lame; enclosure"

Claudia is a classic name with ancient Roman roots. Never truly in or truly out, Claudia feels like a strong, modern choice that hits the sweet spot between too popular and too unusual.. Claudia was…

Finola

Irish

"white shoulders"

Finola, the readily accessible version of some of the more problematic Gaelic versions of the name, would make a welcome addition to the stockpot of Irish girls' names.

Accalia

Latin, mythological name

Accalia was the human foster-mother of twins Romulus and Remus. Her name is even more obscure than theirs.

Madrigal

Latin

"song for unaccompanied voices"

Madrigal might be a pretty and highly distinctive choice for a child of a musical family--or for the parent looking for a less conventional path to the nickname Maddie than Madeline or Madison .…