Names That Mean Beautiful

This ancient Egyptian queen's name would be best saved for a cat.

Maylin is following in the footsteps of Maelynn and Maelyn — two modern invented Mae and Lynn compounds that are on the rise.

Alika is a multicultural choice that's far off the beaten track.

Blended name sometimes heard in the early decades of the twentieth century.

An eider is a sea duck with extra soft feathers as well as a Basque name with a lovely meaning. Eider is one of the fastest-rising boys' names below the Top 1000. Though theoretically unisex, no baby girls were given the name in 2023.

Related to Frida but with a softer sound, this name is Old Norse for "fair, beautiful"

Aoibhinn and its twin name Aoibheann may be popular in Ireland but most English-speakers would find the spelling baffling and the pronunciation impossible to divine. It's ee-van, or se-vin, fitting with the Irish popularity of many names -- Aoife, Eabha, Ava -- with this similar sound.

The name of the character in Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" whom the poet intended as a representation of Queen Elizabeth I. While it will no doubt thrill your daughter's English professor, the addition of the "Bel" to already great Phoebe is on the fussy side.

Despite its Irish sound, this commonly used word name has usually been confined to Jewish families.

Tied to the bluesy southern city and to the world heritage cite in Egypt after which it was named, Memphis is a modern choice with ancient history. Currently significantly more popular for boys in the US, as a place name with sounds reminiscent of Paris, Meredith and Emma, it has plenty of potential as a unisex choice.

A common Indonesian name that is sometimes (as with Mary here) joined with another, as in 'Ayu' and 'Tyas,' which becomes 'Ayuningtyas' and means beautiful heart.

Lacks the vintage charm of the original Arabella, but with the love for all names Bella, it might appeal to some.

Especially used in Bengal and Bangladesh, Sonali is nowadays considered to mean "golden". Bengali actress Sonali Chowdhury is a notable bearer of this name.

Bonnie meets Annabel (or Belle, or any other name ending in this sound) in this jaunty modern compound.

A mashup of two of the most popular baby names today, Rose and Bella, that's still comparatively undiscovered in the US. Just 69 American baby girls were named Rosabella in 2016. It feels more Italianate and vivacious than Rosalind or Rosamund -- if also less refined.

This beautiful and fresh name has a timeless meaning. Its popular -eth ending ensures it sits well with traditional names like Judith and Elizabeth, while its uncommon Y beginning makes it a good choice for parents looking for unique baby names. We think this name is a pretty alternative to the tired Yasmin/Yasmeen and the minimalist Yara.

Sweet and springy Japanese name.

Sultry name given added interest by that double 'a'.

Kinda is a rare and pretty name with Swahili and Arabic roots. It rhymes with Linda rather than the colloquial combination of the words "kind of" — although many people will mispronounce it as such.

Has a decidedly middle-aged image.