Names That Mean Woman

This name made famous in the New Testament has gone from crusty grandma to sleek and chic in recent years, or is it months? The name's image is perhaps helped by the fact that Mary Magdalene was one of the most intriguing women inthe Bible, both a saint and a sinner.

Spelling variant of Arianwen. Note that in Welsh, the -wyn suffix is usually masculine.

Agathe is a hugely popular name in contemporary France, even if it's English-speaking counterparts have not yet warmed to the usual English version, Agatha. The French pronunciation is sure to trip up non-French speakers.

Nazia is a name seen in both Pakistan and India, which derives from the word naaz, meaning pride. It may be difficult to introduce this name into the West, given the first four letters, which is unfortunate given its lovely meaning. Nazia Hassan (a singer, lawyer and social activist) was probably the most famous woman with this name.

This name has it all - looks, brains, charms and an international sound that can go anywhere.

This is an eighteenth century elaboration of Honor found in Charles Dickens (Bleak House) but rarely heard here and now.

The mononymous Colombian-born singer inspired a popularity blip in the 90s and early 00s.

Fatou and its long form Fatoumata are variations of the popular Muslim name Fatima, who was one of four perfect women cited by the Quran.

Babs is an old-fashioned nickname for Barbara, itself an old-fashioned name that was hugely popular in the 20th century but that's not (yet) on its way back in. If you really want a vintage-y nickname name with a lot of attitude that bucks the current friends, go for Babs instead of Betty or Bea.

The Italian form of Hilda is rarer but sweeter than its mother name, which still isn't ready for revival in the US.

Fatima, a popular Muslim name, was a daughter of Muhammad and one of the four perfect women of the Quran. Fatoumata and its short form Fatou are West African variations.

As elaborate O names such as Olympia and Ophelia gain popularity, Orithyia seems more and more usable. It's the name of several women in Greek mythology, including Orithyia, Queen of the Amazon, who co-ruled with her sister Antiope.

A beautiful Greek name that kicks now-dated Corinne up a notch.

Multicultural mini name with an intuitive pronunciation — it's a recipe for success, yet Lida remains under the radar.

This name of a beautiful Moorish woman character in Don Quixote is rarely heard.

Basha bears a family resemblance to other newly popular Slavic names Sasha and Mischa, all of them hearty, warm and welcoming.

A more unique take on Lydia — both names refer to Lydia, the area of Asia Minor recognized in the Bible. Lydian has an added musical connection, thanks to the Lydian mode — a chord progression often heard in jazz.

Zdenka is a feminine name that is far more popular that the original male name (Zdenko), in both its homeland and abroad. Its meaning, woman from Sidon, makes it the Czech version of English name Sidony. The distinctive "Zd" beginning makes this one of the most intriguing Czech names for girls.

While cute in sound, the connotations of the word "minx" make it an inappropriate choice for a baby name.