Badass Girl Names
- Havana
Origin:
Cuban place-nameDescription:
Politics aside, the Cuban capital is one of the most rhythmic of place-names. The question is: can politics be put aside?
- Axelle
Origin:
French feminine form of AxelMeaning:
"father of peace"Description:
Putting the emphasis on the "elle" softens a name that seems at once futuristic and medieval.
- Santana
Origin:
Spanish, condensed form of Santa AnaDescription:
Santana is a saintly name...or Latin rock band. While traditionally masculine, character Santana Lopez on the show Glee showed the name's potential for a girl as well. Sound-wise, it feels like Savannah with a twist.
- Rosario
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"rosary"Description:
Anglo parents are taking note of this Hispanic classic, thanks to actress Rosario Dawson and a character on Will & Grace. Poetic and powerful, it comes from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Rosario, or "Our Lady of the Rosary", Rosary referring to vocal and mental prayer in Catholicism, that reflect on the life of Christ and his Mother.
- Karma
Origin:
HindiMeaning:
"destiny, spiritual force"Description:
Some parents, including rapper Ludacris, are literally bestowing good karma on their children; it could just join the new spiritual name congregation.
- Lupine
Origin:
Flower name from LatinMeaning:
"pertaining to the wolf"Description:
Lupine (spelled Lupin outside of North America) is a flower related to sweetpeas. It was given its wolfish meaning because the plant was said to deplete the soil. Comedian Jenny Slate used it as a middle name for her daughter Ida in 2020.
- Afton
Origin:
Place-nameDescription:
Name of a town in Scotland that has a feminine strength.
- Sixtine
Origin:
French feminine variation of SixtusMeaning:
"sixth-born"Description:
While Sixtine is a name with ancient roots that's popular in modern-day France, it's hard to imagine it gaining hold in English-speaking lands, given its similarity to the number sixteen and its even-more-problematic similarity to the word "sexting." You wouldn't do that to your daughter.
- Nakia
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"pure"Description:
Technically a boy's name, but certainly one that would work in the Western culture for a girl, especially after the release of Black Panther, in which it was the name of Lupita Nyong'o's fiery character. Nakia lies outside the Top 1000 but is among the fastest-rising names for both girls and boys.
- Zanna
Origin:
Diminutive of Susanna; Polish variation of JaneDescription:
A feminine multicultural nickname name perfectly able to stand on its own.
- Nirvana
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"place of great bliss"Description:
Well, parents are naming their children Eden and Heaven...so why not?
- Zuleika
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"fair, brilliant beauty"Description:
Zuleika is a high-wire act of a name that might appeal to the intrepid baby namer, Like most 'Z'-starting girls' names, it projects a cool, strong aura, as exemplified by the character in Max Beerbohm's satirical 1910 novel, Zuleika Dobson, a heroine so gorgeous that the entire student body of Oxford University committed collective suicide at the sight of her.
- Memphis
Origin:
Greek and Coptic place-nameMeaning:
"Enduring and beautiful"Description:
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.
- Citlali
Origin:
NahuatlMeaning:
"star"Description:
A celestial choice that's used both in Mexico and by Latinx Americans.
- Alabama
Origin:
Place-name; ChoctawMeaning:
"vegetation gatherers"Description:
Alabama is a hot southern place-name, picking up from Georgia and Savannah. This is not a geographical name come lately, though--there have been girls named Alabama dating back well over a century.
- Marvel
Origin:
English word nameDescription:
Marvel, now a character name in The Hunger Games series, was a miracle name of yesterday, on the girls' Social Security list until 1941 and reaching a high of 487 at the turn of the last century, when Marva was also in style.
- Bardot
Origin:
French surnameDescription:
Bardot joined the first and last names of other glamour girl icons such as (Jean) Harlow when David Boreanaz chose the surname of '50s French sex symbol Brigitte Bardot for his daughter. Bardot debuted in the US charts in 2022.
- Justina
Origin:
Latin, feminine variation of JustinDescription:
Justina was the pre-Justine feminization of Justin, now a possible alternative to Christina. Oddly, while Justine feels like a name unto itself, Justina feels like a pinned-together feminization in the mold of Richarda or Benjamina. Still, it may appeal as one of the unusual-yet-familiar girl names starting with J.
- Nairobi
Origin:
African place-name, MaasiMeaning:
"cold water"Description:
Kenya is fairly commonly heard as a girl's name, but its capital city makes a much more exceptional choice. The name comes from the Maasai phrase "Enkare Nairobi," which translates to "cold water." Nairobi is popularly known as the Green City.
- Maxima
Origin:
Latin, feminine variation of MaximusDescription:
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.