Names That Mean Feminine

  1. Shauna
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      More modern options: Shaw, Shay, or even Sean.
  2. Galina
    • Origin:

      Russian and Slavic feminine form of Galen, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "calm, healer"
    • Description:

      Commonly used in Russia, has an Old World Slavic feel. The original Galen can be used for girls as well as boys.
  3. Fabiana
    • Origin:

      Italian and Spanish feminine variation of Fabian
    • Meaning:

      "bean grower"
    • Description:

      The fashion for elaborate girly-girl names, especially those that end with -ella or -ana, has put this distinctive Latin favorite into play.
  4. Axelle
    • Origin:

      French feminine form of Axel
    • Meaning:

      "father of peace"
    • Description:

      Putting the emphasis on the "elle" softens a name that seems at once futuristic and medieval.
  5. Julienne
    • Origin:

      French from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "youthful or sky father"
    • Description:

      Fine in France, but here it means vegetables sliced into thin strips.
  6. Cai
    • Origin:

      Vietnamese
    • Meaning:

      "feminine"
    • Description:

      Cai, as distinguished from the boys' name Kai, is international, simple, unusual.
  7. Clemency
    • Origin:

      English feminine variation of Clement, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "mild, merciful"
    • Description:

      One of the rarest of virtue names, Clemency could come back along with the more familiar Puritan virtue names such as Hope and Faith. It has a rhythmic three-syllable sound, and offers a more virtuous alternative to the more popular Clementine.
  8. Severina
    • Origin:

      Latin, feminine variation of Severino
    • Meaning:

      "stern, serious"
    • Description:

      Not only stern and serious, but a little too severe.
  9. Maxima
    • Origin:

      Latin, feminine variation of Maximus
    • Description:

      Max names were one of the hottest trends for boys in the mid-2010s, and are still very popular. The girl versions haven't seen so much love, unfortunately. (Or fortunately, if you love them and want them to stay rare!) Maxima got some attention in 2015 when Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan used it for their daughter, but few parents have copied them.

  10. Polina
    • Origin:

      Russian and Basque, feminine variation of Paul
    • Description:

      This version of the more familiar Paulina is occasionally used in the US, though some may see it as relating more to the word pole than to the classic Paul.
  11. Malika
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "master"
    • Description:

      Malika is an attractive multi-cultural name--it is also a pet form of Amalia in Hungary.
  12. Amata
    • Origin:

      Italian feminine variant of the Latin Amatus
    • Meaning:

      "beloved"
    • Description:

      Name that's virtually unknown here but has a lovely meaning and a simple sound and spelling.
  13. Senta
    • Origin:

      German feminine diminutive of Roman name Crescens
    • Meaning:

      "to grow"
    • Description:

      Senta is a lovely name, but if you name your daughter Senta, will the kids call her Santa? Maybe, but this obscure yet simple German name for girls.may appeal to parents searching the untraveled name routes.
  14. Joëlle
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "the Lord is God"
    • Description:

      A French name that's lost its chic.
  15. Claudie
    • Origin:

      French feminine variation of Claude
    • Description:

      Attractive form still très Parisienne.
  16. Federica
    • Origin:

      Italian, feminine variation of Frederick
    • Meaning:

      "peaceful ruler"
    • Description:

      Federica is the Latin version of Frederica, one of those formerly stuffy female names -- think Josephine and Eleanor -- that feels fresh and elegant again. And Federica has more energy without that first r.
  17. Abriana
    • Origin:

      Italian feminine variation of Abraham
    • Meaning:

      "father of multitudes"
    • Description:

      This lovely name is all but unknown outside Italy but fits perfectly in with the fashions for vowel-starting names that are elaborately feminine. Might make a distinctive alternative to Angelina or Arianna. Downside: People will inevitably mistake it for Adriana.
  18. Juanita
    • Origin:

      Spanish, feminine variation of Juan
    • Description:

      Pervasive in all Spanish-speaking cultures, Juanita, like Juana, has not emigrated.
  19. Tavora
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, feminine variation of Tavor
    • Meaning:

      "break, fracture"
    • Description:

      Tavora is an attractive option, based on the name of a mountain in northern Israel. But the meaning of Tavora and brother name Tavor is less than optimal.
  20. Basilia
    • Origin:

      Greek, feminine variation of Basil
    • Description:

      Rare but attractive female form of Basil.