Game of Names - Girls

Willow

English nature name

"willow tree"

An ancient tree that figures in literature from Shakespeare to Harry Potter and is believed to possess magical powers, Willow is a lovely name, as graceful as its inspiration. Willow's use as a given…

Bella

Diminutive of Isabella, Italian

"beautiful"

Everything ella, from Ella to Bella to Arabella, is red hot right now. Bella is one of the most, well, beautiful girl names starting with B . It carried a hint of a nice Old World grandmotherly…

Arya

Sanskrit; Modern variation of Aria

"noble; air/song"

Arya was derived from an Indo-Iranian word meaning "Aryan" or "noble." It is a masculine given name in Iran, Indonesia, Bali, and Sanskrit-speaking regions of India. In Hindu- and English-speaking…

Rowan

Scottish and Irish

"rowan tree; little redhead"

Stylish, gentle, and rustic at the same time, Rowan is a name that falls into various categories. Unisex and cool, mystical and woodsy, with the feel of both Rose and Riley, Rowan is a fresh but…

Joanna

Variation of Johanna

"God is gracious"

Joanna derives from the Greek name Ioanna, which in turn came from the Hebrew name Yohannah. It is featured in the New Testament as a woman who accompanied Jesus on his travels and eventually reached…

Anya

Russian diminutive of Anna

"grace"

Traditionally used as a Russian diminutive of Anna, Anya now has a life of its own outside its native country. A Top 400 choice in the US and France, and in the Top 300 in England and Wales, it may…

Holly

English nature name

Holly ranks just in British Top 50, but it's been out of favor here since the 1970s Era of Nickname Names. Still, the name may be on her way back as a rejuvenated nature pick. Jolly Holly has always…

Leona

Latin

"lioness"

A strong, grounded choice that still has plenty of energy and charm, Leona is the feminine form of Leon, itself derived from the Greek word for "lion". Associated with courage, leadership, and…

Lyra

Greek

"lyre"

Lyra is a name with ancient and celestial roots that's found new popularity thanks to its starring role in Philip Pullman's book series, His Dark Materials and its subsequent movie and TV adaptions.…

Mya

Variation of Maia, Maya, or Mia, Greek, Scandinavian, Hebrew, Burmese

"mother; larger, greater; bitter, beloved; emerald"

This distinctive spelling was popularized by the R&B singer Mya (Harrison) and entered the US Top 100 in 2009 after the singer appeared on Dancing with the Stars . While it has since declined in the…

Penny

English, diminutive of Penelope, Greek

"weaver"

Like Peggy and Patsy, Penny is a peppy vintage nickname that fell out of favor (and the Top 1000) for a while, but has recently rebounded by reentering the charts in 2013. Expect it to continue…

Elia

Spanish feminization of Elio, Italian and Spanish

"sun"

Though the most famous Elia, screenwriter Kazan, was male, this name sounds like a spin on many popular girls' names, from Ella to Ellie to Isla and Leah. While the Italian pronunciation has the…

Meera

Hindi, Sanskrit

"light, saintly woman; prosperous"

Meera Bai, also spelled Mirabai, was a great female Hindu mystical poet whose works are popular throughout India. She was a fifteenth-sixteenth century Indian princess who devoted her life to writing…

Asha

Sanskrit; Swahili

"hope; life"

Asha is an Indian name that comes from the Sanskrit word for hope or desire, but it is also a Swahili name derived from Aisha, meaning life. Since the ascendance of Ashley through the 1980s and 90s,…

Elinor

Spelling variation of Eleanor, English, French

A sleek, literary alternative to Eleanor, this stripped back form of Eleanor is a well-established spelling. It notably appears in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility , borne by Elinor Dashwood,…

Daenerys

Literary name

Daenerys is yet another girls' name invented by "Game of Thrones" author George R. R. Martin that is beginning to gain some traction in real life. Daenerys was used for 67 baby girls in 2013 while…

Shae

Variation of Shay, Irish

"the stately, dauntless one"

The third-most-popular spelling of this name, after Shea and Shay, is notable mostly for its connection to Game of Thrones . Shae is a "camp follower" -- AKA prostitute -- who becomes the loyal…

Beth

English diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew

"pledged to God"

The sweetest and most sensitive of the pet names for Elizabeth, now also one of the most dated.

Alyce

Spelling variation of Alice, German

"noble"

Alyce is an aceepted enough variation that there were more than 50 baby girls given the name with this spelling in the US last year. Of course, there were more than 3600 baby girls named Alice,…

Arianne

French, from Latin Ariadne

"very holy one"

Soft and delicate French name rarely heard here.