Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Acacia

Thorny tree

Greek

Ada

Noble one

German

Agnes

Pure, holy

Greek

Alice

Of nobility

German

Amaryllis

Fresh, sparkling

Greek

Andromeda

Leader of men

Greek

Antlia

Pump

Greek, Latin

Aquila

Eagle

Latin

Astin

Starlike

French

Astra

Star

Latin

Astrea

Star

Latin

Astrid

Fair, beautiful goddess

Scandinavian

Aurelia

Golden

Latin

Aurora

Goddess of dawn

Latin

Badr

Full moon

Arabic

Barbara

Foreign woman

Latin

Bessie

House; God's promise; God is my oath

Hebrew

Bette

God's promise; God is my oath

Hebrew

Beulah

Bride

Hebrew

Caleena

The moon

Greek

Calla

Beautiful

Greek

Cambria

The people

Welsh

Caresse

Tender touch

French

Carina

Beloved

Latin

Chandra

Moon shining

Indian (Sanskrit)

Chiaki

Gathered wisdom

Japanese

Chofa

Wisdom

Spanish

Christa

Follower of Christ

Latin

Dahlia

Dahlia flower

Scandinavian

Daisy

Daisy flower

English

Dara

Nugget of wisdom

Hebrew

Eileen

“The brightly shining one,” from the Greek lielene, something shining, as a torch.

Gaelic

Elara

Shining light

Greek

Ellen

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Erna

Capable

Scandinavian

Estelle

Star

Latin

Esther

Star

Persian

Fauna

Animals of an area

Fleur

Flower

French

Flora

Flower

Latin

Florence

Flowering, in bloom

Latin

Galaxy

Star system

American

Gemini

Twin

Greek

Gertrude

Strong spear

German

Harriet

Home ruler

German

Hedy

Delightful, sweet; my echo

Hebrew

Helen

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Helia

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Henrietta

Home ruler

German

Hertha

Earth

English

Hydra

Water serpent

Greek

Ida

Hardworking

Greek

Iris

Rainbow

Greek

Jane

God is gracious

Hebrew

Janice

“The gracious gift of God.” A variant form of Joanna, a feminine form of John.

English

Jasmine

Jasmine flower

Persian

Josephine

God will increase

Hebrew

Joy

Happiness

Latin

Kalpana

Fantasy

Indian (Sanskrit)

Kamari

Moon

Arabic

Karasi

Life and Wisdom

African

Katharine

Pure

Greek

Kayla

Pure

English

Lacerta

Lizard

Greek

Lavender

Lavender flower

English

Leda

Woman

Greek

Letitia

Joy

Latin

Libra

The Scales, Equality

Latin

Lillian

Lily flower

English

Lily

Lily flower

English

Linnea

Lime or linden tree

Scandinavian

Lizzie

God's promise; God is my oath

Hebrew

Lotus

Lotus flower

Greek

Lua

Moon

Portuguese

Lumen

Measure of Light

Latin

Luna

The moon

Latin

Lyra

Lyre

Greek

Mae

The fifth month

English

Magnolia

Magnolia flower

English

Mahsa

Like the moon

Persian

Margaret

Pearl

English

Maria

Of the sea

Latin

Marie

A French form of Mary.

French

Marion

A variant form, through the French, of Mary.

French

Marjorie

Pearl

English

Martha

Lady; mistress of the house

Aramaic

Mary

Of the sea

Latin

Melitta

Bee; honey; honey-sweet

Greek

Mina

Love

German

Nancy

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

Hebrew

Naoko

Obedient child

Japanese

Nebula

Mist

Latin

Nioma

New moon

Greek

Norma

The standard or norm

Latin

Nova

New

Latin

Orchid

Flowering plant

Latin

Orion

Dweller on the mountain

Greek

Paladia

Wisdom

Greek

Patricia

Noble; patrician

Latin

Patsy

Noble; patrician

Latin

Phoenix

Dark red

Greek

Rachel

Ewe

Hebrew

Rhea

Flowing

Greek

Rosalind

Gentle horse

German

Ruth

Friend

Hebrew

Saffi

Wisdom

Greek

Sagitta

Arrow

Greek, Latin

Sally

“The princess,” a diminutive form of Sarah.

Hebrew

Sarah

Princess

Hebrew

Selene

The moon

Greek

Sequoia

Sparrow

Native American

Sophia

Wisdom

Greek

Stella

Celestial star

Latin

Stephanie

Crown

Greek

Tabitha

Gazelle

Aramaic

Temple

A sanctuary

English

Tesla

Of the ax

Slavic

Thuraya

Stars and the planets

Arabic

Ursa

Little she-bear

Scandinavian

Veda

Knowledge, wisdom

Indian (Sanskrit)

Vega

Falling vulture

Arabic

Vela

Vigilant, Watchful

Spanish

Venus

Love

Latin

Wilhelmina

Will helmet, protection

German

Zena

Guest, stranger; life of Zeus; belonging to Zeus

Russian

Zofia

Wisdom

Greek

With beauty and brains, nerdy girl names are one of our favorite categories. From those worn by the world’s brightest minds to others connected to stars light years away, these monikers are as diverse as they are beautiful. Meet some of these with us to see what the fuss is about.

Our first group of nerdy names for girls is those linked to real-life scientists. Jane is a short and sweet pick connected to primatologist Jane Goodall. This feminine form of John has Hebrew roots and means “God is gracious.” Anothfantasticing option is Ada, as in mathematician Ada Lovelace. This short form of Adelaide is a German gem meaning “noble one.” There’s also Alice, as in chemist Alice Ball, who was a pioneer in the treatment of leprosy. More names linked to real scientists include Mina and Rosalind.

Female inventors are another good source of nerdy girl names. These bright minds created ways to improve life for those around them, making them both smart and caring. Hedy is one of our top picks here, as this unique name is associated with Hedy Lamarr, the famed Hollywood actress and the inventor of a communication system that later led to the creation of Wi-Fi. Melitta is another standout, as Melitta Bentz was the inventor of the paper coffee filter brewing system. A Greek name, she means “bee” or “honey.” Check out Beulah, Marion, and Margaret for more nerdy words with roots in inventing.

A way to find out-of-this-world nerdy girl names is to research astronauts. Valentina, for instance, is connected to the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova. Meaning “strong and healthy,” this delicate-sounding Latin lady is surprisingly powerful. Sally is another awesome option, as she’s connected to the first U.S. woman in space, Sally Ride. This retro pick is a diminutive of Sarah. There’s also Mae, as in the first black woman in space, Mae Jemison. See Christa, Kalpana, and Eileen for more nerdy girl names with astronaut ties.

Other names are tied to words or names used in sciences, such as Lyra. Connected to the small constellation in the northern sky, she means “lyre.” You might like Nova, too, a name tied to a supernova or the expulsion of a star in space. Don’t forget about botany babes, including Orchid, Dahlia, and Lavender.

Browse more nerdy girl names on our full list.