My Girls Names Master List

Bae is a succinct, modern feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Korean, it means 'inspiration' or can relate to the surname meaning 'pear.' However, its recent popularity stems largely from its use as an acronym for 'before anyone else' in English-language social media and youth culture, where it became a term of endearment for a romantic partner. This contemporary usage has influenced its adoption as a given name in Western contexts. In Danish and Norwegian, Bae relates to the word for 'dwelling' or 'home.' The name's brevity gives it a modern, minimalist appeal, while its cross-cultural connections offer depth of meaning. Despite its trendy associations, Bae remains relatively uncommon as a formal given name, appealing to parents seeking distinctive, contemporary options with international flair.

Beatrice is back. Stored in the attic for almost a century, the lovely Beatrice with its long literary (Shakespeare, Dante) and royal history is being looked at with fresh eyes by parents seeking a classic name with character and lots of upbeat nicknames, like Bea and Bee.

Beatrix has a solid history of its own apart from Beatrice, with that final x adding a playful, animated note to the name's imposing history and stately vibe.

J.K. Rowling is a modern master of naming who brought a whole constellation of ancient and celestial names to modern parents. Bellatrix, of one of the stars of Orion, combines fashionable names Bella and Beatrix to make a convivial and original name. The down side: the Harry Potter character Bellatrix, played by Helena Bonham Carter, is a character so evil she's called a Death Eater, killing one beloved character and being murdered by another. And the name Bellatrix is so closely associated with that character that it might be challenging to sidestep the association.

There are several fine Ben-beginning boy's names, such as BENJAMIN and BENEDICT, but girls names like this and BENJAMINA don't fare as well.