Girl Names I Love

Aravis was the name of a female character in C.S. Lewis's A Horse and His Boy, and is also the name of a mountain range in southern France. With the rise of Ava, Avery, and indeed seemingly all names that start with A, Aravis may finally reach a wider audience.

New Testament, Texas, and Kansas place-name more fitting for a girl.

A rarely heard name that might appeal to parents looking for an unusual name starting with "Z".

Tied to the bluesy southern city and to the world heritage cite in Egypt after which it was named, Memphis is a modern choice with ancient history. Currently significantly more popular for boys in the US, as a place name with sounds reminiscent of Paris, Meredith and Emma, it has plenty of potential as a unisex choice.

So sweet it makes our teeth hurt. It has appeared in the US Top 1000 every year since 2006, though it dropped a significant 136 places from 2014 to 2015, and kept dropping to Number 974 in 2016.

This is an attractive Celtic mythological name, popular in Wales and a cousin of the better known Bronwyn. In Welsh mythology, Branwen was turned into a bird.

November is one of a growing list of month names that can work for a baby boy, and is also one of the ideal names for November babies.

Antha is a rare feminine name with Greek origins, possibly derived from 'anthos' meaning 'flower.' It may also be considered a variant of the name Anthea, which refers to the Greek goddess of flowers and gardens. Antha carries a delicate, vintage quality that appeals to parents seeking something uncommon yet accessible. While never achieving widespread popularity in the United States or other English-speaking countries, it has maintained a quiet presence throughout the decades. The name conveys a sense of natural beauty and grace, with its soft sounds and floral associations making it an elegant choice for a daughter.

This French name meaning goddess is a possible Gallic import in the Celine mode.

Brighid is the original Gaelic form of the name of the mythological goddess of fire, poetry, and wisdom. More commonly found these days in any number of different guises: Bridget, Brigid, Brigitte et al. Whatever form it takes, Brighid is one of the most classic and enduring Irish names for girls.

A slow and sultry southern choice that's definitely cool for babies of either gender. While the word feels French and has its roots in 18th century French Louisiana, it derives from the Choctaw word bayuk, which means "small stream."

A dramatic and adorable name with a lot of sweep and swoosh. Also spelled Anush.

This fabric word name would be a one-of-a-kind.

Pretty and distinctive choice for poetry lovers.

The name of a sixth century Welsh saint who founded abbeys in Brittany, reconstituted for a modern girl.

An unusual floral -wen name which was the name of an 1878 opera by Welsh composer Joseph Parry.

This feminine form of the Hebrew unisex name Erel, possibly a form of Ariel, is used in modern Israel. Also found as Erella and Erelah.

This name of a supermodel from Ukraine is not one of those Eastern European choices that translate easily or attractively.