Six Letter Girl Names

The Spanish word for "shell" is a new addition to the quickly growing list of ocean-inspired nature names.

A timeless cultural crossover name, Nadiya can either be a variant spelling of Nadia, a diminutive of the Russian name Nadezhda, meaning "hope"; or derived from the Arabic word Nada, meaning "morning dew" or "to be wet with dew" — something especially precious in dry climates.

This form of Narges is popular in India, where it is commonly associated with Nargis Dutt. Dutt is considered one of the greatest Indian actresses of all time.

Juliet sound-alike Joliet actually derives from the name Jolie, and was historically a term of endearment, later a surname. It's an attractive alternative to Juliet names and could work to honor a Joe or Joseph in your life.

Boyish diminutive of Paula, Pauline, Paulette or Paulina, with new style value as part of the nicknameish Billie, Frankie, Stevie, and Scottie gang. Pauley makes it more surname-ish while Polly ties its peppy sound to mother Molly.

The name of a male lunar deity in Maori mythology, Marama is nevertheless now used as a female name in New Zealand – no doubt because its warm sound lends itself to contemporary feminine trends. In Tahitian, it means "bright, clear".

Dairin, or Dáirín, is a female version of Dáire, and the origin of Doreen. In fact, it sounds almost the same, but the spelling freshens it up for 21st-century tastes.

A goddess worshipped in Roman times by Celtic peoples on the British isles, only recently rediscovered by historians. Though little is understood about her -- most of what we know comes from a single archeological finding -- she seems to have been a virgin goddess, analogous to the Greek Athena, Roman Minerva and, distantly, the Virgin Mary. Her name was initially thought to be Senua; both are intriguing, highly unusual possibilities for a little girl today.

Possibly derived from Salome, Sulayman, and Solomon, Zulema and alternative spelling Zulima are peaceful Spanish names, with their origins in Arabic and Hebrew.