Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Ada

Noble one

German

Adele

Noble; noble kind; noble, soft, tender

German

Adriana

From Hadria

Latin

Agatha

Good, honorable

Greek

Agnes

Pure, holy

Greek

Alice

Of nobility

German

Amy

Beloved one

English

Angelica

Angelic

Latin

Annabella

He (God) has favored me

Hebrew

Arabella

Answered prayer

Latin

Ariel

Lion of God

Hebrew

Arya

Faithful friend

Persian

Aurora

Goddess of dawn

Latin

Austen

Variant of Augustine.

English

Barbara

Foreign woman

Latin

Beatrice

Voyager (through life); blessed

Latin

Belinda

“The beautiful river,” from the Latin bella (beautiful) and Indus (a river in Asia).

German

Bella

Beautiful one

Italian

Belladonna

Beautiful lady

Italian

Belle

Beautiful

French

Bess

A diminutive form of Elizabeth, “to the Lord I consecrate thee.”

English

Beth

House

Hebrew

Betsy

A diminutive form of Elizabeth.

Hebrew

Beverly

Beaver stream or meadow

English

Bianca

White

Italian

Blanche

White, pure

German

Briar

Thorny bush of wild roses, brambles

English

Brienne

High, noble, exalted

Irish

Brit

Spotted, freckled

Celtic

Caelia

Feminine form of Caelius

Latin

Camilla

Young religious servant

Latin

Caroline

Free woman

French

Cassandra

Man's defender, warrior

Greek

Catherine

Pure

Greek

Celia

Heaven

Latin

Cersei

Bird

Greek

Charity

Dear, beloved

Latin

Charlotte

Free man

French

Christie

Follower of Christ

Latin

Claire

Clear and bright

French

Clara

Bright and clear

Latin

Clarissa

Bright, famous

Latin

Cordelia

Heart

Latin

Cressida

Gold

Greek

Daenerys

Created name

American

Daisy

Daisy flower

English

Daphne

Laurel

Greek

Delilah

Delicate

Hebrew

Dora

Gift

Greek

Dorothy

Gift of God

Greek

Drew

Manly and strong

Greek

Edith

Strife for wealth

English

Elaine

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Eleanor

Of unknown meaning

English

Elinor

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Eliza

God is my oath

English

Elizabeth

God is my oath

Hebrew

Ellery

Form of Hilary

English

Ellis

The Lord is My God

English

Eloise

Healthy one

English

Emilia

To rival

Latin

Emily

To excel

Latin

Emma

Whole or universal

German

Esme

To love

French

Estella

Star-like; love

Spanish

Esther

Star

Persian

Ethel

Noble

English

Eudora

Good gift

Greek

Eulalie

Well-spoken

Greek

Evangeline

Good news

English

Evelyn

Desired one

English

Flora

Flower

Latin

Florence

Flowering, in bloom

Latin

Francesca

From France

Latin

Georgiana

A feminine form of George, which means “earthworker.”

Latin

Gertrude

Strong spear

German

Ginevra

Fair one

Italian

Guinevere

Fair one; white, smooth, soft

Welsh

Gwendolen

Fair bow; blessed ring

Welsh

Harper

Harp Player

English

Harriet

Home ruler

German

Hazel

Hazelnut tree

English

Helena

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Henrietta

Home ruler

German

Hermione

Messenger; earthly

Greek

Honoria

Woman of honor

Latin

Hyacinth

A variant spelling of Hyacintha.

Greek

Isabella

Devoted to God

Italian

Isadora

Gift of Isis

Latin

Isolde

“Queen of the ice,” from the Germanic is (ice) and waltan (to rule).

Welsh

Jacqueline

Supplanter

French

Jane

God is gracious

Hebrew

Jasmine

Jasmine flower

Persian

Jennifer

Fair magical being

English

Jessica

To see

English

Jo

A diminutive form of Josephine.

American

Josephine

God will increase

Hebrew

Julia

Youthful and downy

Latin

Juliet

Youthful and downy

English

Junie

Form of June

English

Juno

Queen of heaven

Latin

Katniss

Plant Name, Sagittaria Genus

American

Kennedy

Helmeted head

Irish

Khaleesi

Warrior

American

Lavinia

“The purest maiden,” from the Latin lavi, to cleanse.

Latin

Lee

Meadow or pasture

English

Lily

Lily flower

English

Louisa

Famous warrior

German

Louise

Famous warrior

German

Luciana

Light

Italian

Lucretia

Succeed

Latin

Lucy

Of the light

English

Luna

The moon

Latin

Lydia

From Lydia

Greek

Lynette

Nymph; idol

Welsh

Lyra

Lyre

Greek

Lysandra

Liberator

Greek

Madeline

Woman from Magdala

English

Maisy

Pearl

Greek

Margaret

Pearl

English

Maria

Of the sea

Latin

Mariana

Of the sea

Spanish

Marianne

A combined form of Mary and Anne, Anne here representing, it is believed, the mother of the Virgin Mary.

French

Matilda

Mighty in battle

German

May

The fifth month

English

Meg

“The little pearl.” A diminutive form, through the Scottish, of Margaret.

Greek

Mercy

Compassion, forebearance

English

Millicent

Brave strength

French

Minette

Star of the sea; love; will helmet, protection

Latin

Minnie

A variant form of Mary.

English

Nancy

A diminutive-variant of Anna or Anne, from the Hebrew hannah, grace.

Hebrew

Nerissa

Black-haired

Italian

Nessa

Pure, holy; butterfly

Greek

Octavia

Eighth

Latin

Olenna

Torch

Slavic

Ophelia

Help

Greek

Pamela

Honey; all sweetness

Greek

Paulina

Small

Latin

Pearl

Pearl

Latin

Perdita

Lost

Latin

Philippa

Horse lover

Greek

Portia

The symbol of a beautiful, wealthy, and brilliant woman, in allusion to the heroine of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice.

Latin

Primrose

First rose

English

Ramona

Protecting hands

Spanish

Renesmee

Reborn and Loved

American

Rhiannon

Great queen, or goddess

Welsh

Rosa

Rose

Latin

Rosalie

Rose flower

French

Rosalind

Gentle horse

German

Rosaline

Gentle horse; rose

Latin

Rosamund

Horse protector

German

Rose

Rose flower

English

Rosemary

Dew of the sea

Latin

Roxane

Dawn

Persian

Rue

Regret

English

Sansa

Praise

Indian (Sanskrit)

Scarlett

Shade of red

English

Serafina

Burning ones

Hebrew

Shelly

Ewe, female sheep; little rock; rest; sloped meadow

Hebrew

Shirley

Bright meadow

English

Sylvia

Woods, forest

Latin

Sylvie

Woods, forest

Latin

Tamora

Date palm

Hebrew

Thea

Gift of God

Greek

Titania

Giant

Greek

Ursula

Little she-bear

Scandinavian

Valentine

Strong, healthy

Latin

Valeria

Strength and vigor

Italian

Vanessa

Created name

English

Veruca

Wart

Latin

Victoria

Victory

Latin

Viola

Purple

Latin

Violet

Violet flower

English

Virginia

Maiden

Latin

Yara

Water lady; small butterfly

Arabic

Zadie

Prosperous, fortunate

Arabic

Zillah

Shadow

Hebrew

Zora

Dawn

Slavic

If your name list needs a little more wonder, look no further than literary names for girls. These bookworm beauties will speak to your heart through their storytelling magic.

The first stop for most with literary girl names is childhood classics, where you’ll find Alice of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland fame. Meaning “of nobility,” this German classic has a soft spot in almost everyone’s heart. You might recognize Madeline, too, of the Madeline] series by Ludwig Bemelmans. Or how about the similar-sounding Matilda from Roald Dahl’s Matilda? You don’t have to look hard at the top of the charts to find another, either, as Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web has been a much-loved favorite in recent years. If you’d like something a little rarer, see Dorothy from L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She’s not as common today, but she’s an endless source of nicknames and has the stunning meaning “gift of God.”

For a more grown-up bookish connection, see Jane Austen and her collection of books. Lydia is a stunning choice from Pride and Prejudice, while Catherine is an enduring favorite from Northanger Abbey. You could also check out Elinor from Sense and Sensibility. Daisy is a floral fashionista from The Great Gatsby who we can picture on a stylish little girl. For something uncommon, see Sylvie from Charlotte Brontë’s The Professor, A Tale. A variant of Sylvia, she’s an excellent choice for an outdoorsy family with her meaning of “forest.”

Another great source of literary names for girls is author names themselves. Zora Neale Hurston’s name is a favorite here with her gorgeous sound and styling. We also love Agatha, whose ties to mystery author Agatha Christie are more than lovely. As vintage names continue to rise, we see plenty of room for her to thrive. There’s also Barbara from the name of Junie B. Jones’ series author Barbara Park.

Dive into the wonderful world of literary names for girls with our list and see what names speak to your heart.