Animal Names for Girls

Too much teasing potential for an English speaker.

Though the traditional spelling of this name is quite male, the Y makes it more unisex.

A jaunty English surname which may derive from "betony", the name of a pretty purple-flowering shrub. A famous bearer is British historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes.

The chickadee gets its distinctive name from its distinctive call: chick-a-dee-dee-dee!

We all know that Chaka really means disco.

This variation of Chandra — a Hindi moon goddess — is primarily used in South Africa.

Allena may feel like a somewhat antiquated feminization, though Allen itself is a tad old-fashioned. In many ways, Allena -- pronounced ah-LEN-ah -- feels more appealing that Alana or ah-LAH-ah.

This short form is used by supermodel Ekat Kiseleva.

Deriving from the name of an Australian butterfly, Eliena is also a name seen in the Bible.

Unusual yet accessible name with the fashionable double-L sound. Lilting and lovely.

Aniko has the feel and rhythm of a Japanese name but in fact it's an Eastern European spin on Anna.

Fashion designer Liz Claiborne (born Anne Elizabeth Jane Claiborne) make this name a feminist option for girls. She was a pioneer in her field — Liz Claiborne was the first woman-owned company to make the Fortune 500 list. However, the company that shares her name no longer has the same panache it once did, which may deter some parents from using this otherwise inspiring name.

French version of the mythological name Cassandra.

Once exclusively male name, Daryl Hannah made the Darrell spelling just as appropriate for girls -- and maybe even more feminine than masculine these days.