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Girls Names

  1. Jolie

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "pretty"

    • Description:

      Jolie is as pretty as its literal meaning; nowadays it is also seen as a girls’ name, via Angelina for whom Jolie was originally her middle name.
  2. Helene

    • Origin:

      French variation of Helen

    • Meaning:

      "bright, shining one"

    • Description:

      Whether it's pronounced with an "een" or an "aine" or an "enn" sound at the end, Helene doesn't feel as current the more forthright Helen or the airier Helena. Helene reached a high of Number 228 in the US in 1916, when ene, ine and een names were all the fashion, and stayed in the Top 500 until 1962, making a final exit in 1970. It still ranks well in its native France, and even more in Norway (#70). Model Heidi Klum's daughter 'Leni' has Helene on her birth certificate.
  3. Tamara

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "date palm tree"

    • Description:

      Adding a final a to Tamar lends it a more sensual Slavic tone, making it a more popular choice than the original.
  4. Tova

    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Swedish

    • Meaning:

      "good, pleasing; beautiful, beloved"

    • Description:

      A lively feeling choice with multicultural origins, Tova is both a Hebrew name with a positive meaning and a Swedish variant of Tove, a modern Old Norse name meaning "beautiful, beloved". In Hebrew, it would be pronounced as TOH-VAH, while in Swedish, it would be said as TOO-vuh.
  5. Ginny

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Virginia, Ginevra, Genevieve, or Imogen

    • Meaning:

      "virgin, pure; white wave; maiden"

    • Description:

      A nickname to Latin Virginia, French Genevieve, Italian Ginevra, English Imogen, and any other name with the 'gin' sound in there, Ginny ranked in the latter end of the US charts in the mid 20th century. Made familiar again in the contemporary world by the show Ginny & Georgia, along with the Harry Potter character, Ginny has seen a small amount of attention in recent years, given to around 50 babies in the latest stats.
  6. Bryn

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "hill"

    • Description:

      Bryn is an up-and-coming gentle, yet substantial, Welsh name that would also be effective in the middle spot. In Wales it's a traditional boys' name, but it's far more popular for girls now in the US.
  7. Navy

    • Origin:

      English, word name

    • Meaning:

      "fleet of ships; sea-based branch of the armed forces; dark blue"

    • Description:

      When R & B singer Nivea made this highly original choice for her daughter's name back in 2005, she claimed to have thought of it in terms of the color and not the seagoing armed service. As a word with multiple meanings, however, it could easily work as a nod to a naval officer in the family or to someone who enjoys sailing.
  8. Zuri

    • Origin:

      Kiswahili

    • Meaning:

      "good, beautiful"

    • Description:

      Zuri migrated, at least to American sensibilities, to the feminine side when an Ohio zoo used it for a female giraffe. For either gender, Zuri is an attractive name with the usual Z-initial zest.
  9. Judy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Judith, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "He will be praised or woman from Judea"

    • Description:

      Judy was the nickname of choice for almost all the Judiths born in the 1940s and 50s; today's little Judiths are much more likely to be called Judith -- or, possibly, Jude.
  10. Ginevra

    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Guinevere or Jennifer

    • Meaning:

      "white shadow, white wave"

    • Description:

      This lovely alternative for the Jennifer-lover ranks among the most popular girls' names in Italy. At this point in the US, the legions of Jennifers born in the 1970s are starting to become grandmas, so Ginevra might make an apt honor name for granny Jen.
  11. Enaya

    • Description:

      Enaya is a feminine name of Arabic origin meaning 'care,' 'concern,' or 'providence.' The name embodies the concepts of attentiveness and nurturing, making it a meaningful choice for parents seeking a name with compassionate undertones. While relatively uncommon in Western countries, Enaya has been growing in popularity within Muslim communities worldwide and among parents drawn to its melodic sound and positive meaning. The name's elegant simplicity, combined with its depth of meaning, contributes to its appeal in multicultural settings. Enaya flows naturally in pronunciation across different languages while retaining its distinctive character and cultural significance.

  12. Cambria

    • Origin:

      Place name, Latin from Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "Wales"

    • Description:

      Most names that start with Cam- are on the upswing, so why not this obscure term for Wales as well as for a prehistoric time period.
  13. Arrietty

    • Origin:

      Literary name, variation of Harriet

    • Description:

      A pretty, dainty name for one of the little characters in the children's book series The Borrowers. It was the basis for a later Studio Ghible animated film, The Secret World of Arrietty. While the connection to Harriet is tenuous, you might want to consider Arrietty as an honorific for an ancestral Harriet, Harry, or even Henry or Henrietta.
  14. Milla

    • Origin:

      Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Hungarian

    • Meaning:

      "young ceremonial attendant, gracious people"

    • Description:

      Milla originated as a diminutive of names like Camilla and Ludmilla, but has since become well established as a name in its own right in several European countries. Milla Jovovich is a Ukrainian-born actress and supermodel, while Milla is also used for a character in the novel and musical adaptation, Wicked.
  15. Keely

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "slender"

    • Description:

      Keely is well-used in modern Ireland, also found as Keeley and Keela. The boys' form is Keelan. Largely unknown in the US, this could make an interesting update for Kelly or Kaylie or Kylie -- though it might ultimately prove to close to one of those trendy names.
  16. Maddie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Madeline or Madison, English

    • Meaning:

      "woman from Magdala or son of Matthew"

    • Description:

      Britney Spears' little sister Jamie Lynn was one of the first to put this nickname on the birth certificate. Cute for a child, but we recommend giving her the option of the full name for later use.
  17. Merrin

    • Origin:

      Variation of Merryn or Mirren, Cornish or Irish, meaning unknown

    • Description:

      Is Merrin a real name or a melodic invention? Singer Bo Bice brought this merry name to the public's attention when he chose it for his daughter, but most reliable baby name sources don't list it. But there is a Cornish saint's name Merryn, thought to be a variation of the Irish names for girls Mirin and Mirren, and so we're going to call Merrin another twist on that ancient group of names.
  18. Adhara

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "virgins"

    • Description:

      Adhara is the name of one of the brightest stars in the sky. Also known as Adara, this name is perfectly suitable for a child.
  19. Leontine

    • Origin:

      French female form of Leontios, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "lion"

    • Description:

      Leontine is the French form of a name that's more familiar by its spelling variation Leontyne, the name made famous by opera diva Price. An obscure choice, Leontine nevertheless feels right for our lion-name-crazed moment.
  20. Keeley

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "slender"

    • Description:

      Keeley is well-used in modern Ireland, also found as Keely and Keela. The boys' form is Keelan. Largely unknown in the US, this could make an interesting update for Kelly or Kaylie or Kylie. A famous bearer is actress Keeley Hawes.