rippiling_mirror's list "My Girls" of 4 great name ideas: Eliana - Aerinn!

My Girls

Eliana is a lilting, rhythmic choice, which has caught on in the US and other English-speaking countries. Currently popular in the UK, The Netherlands, Canada, and Brazil, it made the US Top 10 for the first time in 2025. 
 
The name has two separate origins and when derived from Hebrew, it is made up from the elements el, meaning "God" and ana, meaning "answered." This could make Eliana a fitting choice for a prayed-for baby. 
 
Eliana also has its roots in Latin, as a variation of the name Aeliana, derived from the Roman family name Aelius. Aelius is related to the Greek word helios, which refers to the Sun, giving it a summery and secular meaning too. 
 A widely multicultural choice, Eliana is heard in Israel, Spain, Portugal, Russia and Italy. More recently, it has replaced the French variation Eliane as the more popular option in France itself - where Eliana now ranks at #322.
 
In the US, Eliana has quadrupled in popularity since 2010 and in a recent year, it was given to 8191 girls. A stylish choice, many parents share a love the name in all its various spellings. As such, when you combine all the Elianas, Eliannas, Ellianas, and Elyannas etc. together, and then consider all the Ellies, Ellas, Eleanors, Eloises, and Elenas too, it may feel even more popular than it is. 
 
Pronunciation of the name varies depending on where you are, and on preference. In Spanish and Italian, it would typically be eh-LYA-na, while in English is may be said as ehl-lee-AN-uh or as ehl-lee-AHN-uh. In France, it would be EH-LEE-A-NUH, while in Brazil, eh-lee-AH-nu can be heard. These differences may be slight, however, but worth knowing about. 
 
Love Eliana but want something a bit more unexpected? You could consider a different route to Ellie, such as Eliora, Elodie, Elspeth or Eleni, or, you could go for something with a similar sound like Emiliana, Evelina, Ilaria, Odelia, Linnea, or Oriana.

Eliana

Blending classic with contemporary elements, Alayna is considered a spin on the name Alana, which also draws inspiration from Elaine and Elena. An obscure choice until the 80s, it began to climb the charts after fencer Alayna Snell took part in the 1984 Olympics. 
 While Elaine means "shining light", Alana is a name with numerous meanings including "oak tree", "child" and "cheerful." As Alayna is inspired by both, it could share any of these meanings or blend them together, to make "cheerful shining light" or "bright, shining child". 
 
For nearly 20 years, Alayna ranked in the US Top 300, peaking in 2012 at #202. As of 2024, however, it has fallen down the charts slightly, with Elena and Alana far outranking it and Elaine coming back into style. 
 
Alayna is now more popular in the UK than it is in the US, and 2022 saw it jump nearly 100 places up the charts. Now almost as popular as Elena, it outranks Alana - and Elaine isn't even in the running.
 
With its phonetic spelling, familiar sounds, and nickname potential, Alayna is given to nearly 1000 babies every year. A sweet, solid choice in its own right it might also be appealing to anyone trying to honor an Elaine or an Alan.

Alayna

Bekkah is a feminine name that represents a modern spelling variation of Rebecca, a biblical name with Hebrew origins meaning 'to bind' or 'to tie.' This contemporary spelling offers a fresh take on the traditional name while maintaining its essential character and history. The double 'k' gives Bekkah a distinctive look that sets it apart from more common spellings. While Rebecca has ancient roots as the wife of Isaac in the Bible, Bekkah emerged as parents sought ways to personalize traditional names. The name has a friendly, approachable quality and provides the same nickname options as Rebecca, including Bek or Bekky. Though less common than the traditional spelling, Bekkah appeals to parents who appreciate biblical names but desire a touch of uniqueness.

My Girls

The names

Eliana

Alayna

Bekkah

Aerinn