Names for Girls
- Annah
Description:
Annah is a feminine name that serves as a variant spelling of Anna or Ana. It has Hebrew origins from the name Hannah, meaning "grace" or "favor." The additional 'h' at the end gives the traditional name a slightly distinctive appearance while maintaining its classic pronunciation. Annah appears in the Bible as a prophetess mentioned in the New Testament. While less common than Anna, this spelling variation has seen periodic usage throughout history. The name carries the same timeless elegance of Anna but with a subtle uniqueness. Its biblical connections give it spiritual significance for some families, while its simplicity and melodic quality make it broadly appealing. Annah balances traditional roots with a mildly uncommon spelling, offering a slight twist on a classic name.
- Beatrice
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"she who brings happiness; blessed"Description:
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.
- Carolyn
Origin:
Variation of CarolineMeaning:
"free man"Description:
The phonetic Carolyn spelling, which was very popular from the 1920s to the '60s, has been steadily on the wane while Caroline herself has stayed strong.
- Erin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"from the island to the west"Description:
First-wave Irish name and place name—the poetic name for Ireland—now supplanted by newer alternatives such as Maeve and Delaney.
- Freya
- Liliane
Origin:
French variation of LilianMeaning:
"lily, a flower"Description:
Now that Lily has become hugely popular, parents in love with this flower name are looking further afield for substitutes such as Liliane and Liliana.
- Melanie
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"black, dark"Description:
Gone with the Wind inspired a generation of girls named Melanie, though it looks as though Scarlett will triumph in the end.
- Shannon
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"old and wise"Description:
Irish place-name -- it's a river, a town, and an airport -- once popular but now supplanted by such newer immigrants as Saoirse and Seanan.
- Sharon
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"a plain"Description:
This Old Testament place name was in the Top 10 fifty years ago, but now Sharon, along with sound-alike Karen, have fallen out of favor.
- Suzannah
Description:
Suzannah is a feminine name that represents an elegant variation of Susanna, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'lily' or 'rose.' This spelling adds a touch of sophistication to the traditional form. Though less common than Susan or Susanna, Suzannah maintains the same melodic quality with its three-syllable structure. The name experienced modest popularity in the early 20th century but remains relatively uncommon in contemporary usage, making it a distinctive choice. Its biblical roots connect to the story of Susanna in the Book of Daniel's apocryphal sections. Suzannah offers the friendly nicknames Suzie, Zannah, or Anna, providing versatility for different stages of life.
- Violet
Origin:
English from LatinMeaning:
"purple"Description:
Violet is soft and sweet, yet with a vivacious edge. Today, Violet is the top flower name for girls, outranking Lily and Iris in the Top 100, and the second most popular color name for girls after Scarlett.
- Zadie
Origin:
English variation of SadieMeaning:
"princess"Description:
When aspiring British writer Sadie Smith decided to change her name to the more distinctive and zippy Zadie at the age of fourteen, this attention-magnet name was born. But though it might sound like a modern initial-switch, Zadie was actually Number 539 in 1881, remaining in the Top 1000 for almost thirty years.
- Zuzu
Origin:
Czech diminutive of SusanMeaning:
"lily"Description:
This sizzling nickname Zuzu is heard every Christmas as the name of Jimmy Stewart's little girl in "It's a Wonderful Life," but we love it all year round as a lively alternative to double names like Gigi and Bibi.