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
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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.