Names That Mean Feminine

As Joaquin enters the American mainstream, his sister might just follow.

Now that Jacob has been the top boys' name for several years, this may come to the fore, the way Michaela did after Michael's long reign at Number One. For now, it's one of the more unusual girl names starting with J.

Light and cheerful, Gal·la is used for girls in its native Catalonia. The Spanish form Gala is even more popular both there and throughout Spain, and this spelling travels more easily around the world.

Olde World Latin.

Tarabai is an Indian name with a lot of feminist clout. Tarabai Bhosale was a 17th century Maratha queen who was a skilled military leader in her own right and successfully resisted the Mughal empire on behalf of her people. More recently Tarabai Shinde is often regarded as the author of India’s first feminist text - in which she rails against both the patriarchy and the caste system. Meaning feminine star, Tarabai is a perfect name for your budding feminist.

If you live in the city, you might call your urban baby Urbana; if you live in the suburbs--don't even think of Surbana.

Donia is a name with many possible origins. Besides a short female form of Donald, it may also be a form of the Italian Donna meaning lady, a variation on the Arabic Donya meaning world, or a Celtic name of the Don family, which all have meanings related to dark or darkness.

This Slavic variation would make a pleasant and slightly more unusual alternative to Johanna or Giovanna.

Edmee is an antiquated name easily mistaken for the more popular Esme, but it is in fact a separate name, related to Edmé, a French diminutive of Edmund. In the classic French novel by Colette,Cheri, Edmee is the name of the young women Cheri (who is a male) marries. In French, it would typically be spelled Edmée and was popular in the early 20th century.

Ulrica has an Old World sound that may not be user-friendly in the modern US.

Distinctive Slavic choice.

Balletic, à la pirouette.

Josephe is much less well-known in the English-speaking world than Josephine or Joanna.

Makes Geraldine seem positively groovy.

Pedra has never caught on with anything like the popularity of its male counterpart, Pedro. The Greek Petra sounds a lot cleaner and more refined.

One of those feminizations that came over shortly after the Mayflower but has been lost at sea ever since.

Also a town in Italy, this name could find use as a feminine tribute to an Alphonso in the family.

Rare and ethereal.