Ancient Girl Names
- Persis
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"Persian woman"Description:
Parents seeking a distinctive New Testament name might consider this one. Adopted by some Puritans in the seventeenth century, Persis was used in the William Dean Howells novel The Rise of Silas Lapham for the wife of the protagonist.
- Florentina
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"blooming"Description:
The Latin names for girls Florentina may be the most feminissima and flowery of the 'Flor" names. Another option would be Fiorentina, though you can also downshift to Flora or Florence.
- Perpetua
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"perpetual"Description:
A 3rd century saint's name sometimes used in Catholic communities, and in Western European countries like Portugal and Italy.
- Beata
Origin:
Swedish, German, Italian, from LatinMeaning:
"blessed"Description:
Beata, a Latinate saint's name, has been widely used primarily by Roman Catholics in several European countries, but is rarely heard in English-speaking countries. Playground alert: could be mispronounced Beeta.
- Amica
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"female friend"Description:
Amica is a word meaning girlfriend that is not often used as a name in Italy, but it would sound pretty and name-like elsewhere.
- Dominica
Origin:
Italian, feminine variation of DominicMeaning:
"belonging to the Lord"Description:
Fashionably Continental and much fresher than Dominique, though it's been used since the Middle Ages. Dominica can be spelled any number of ways, from Dominika to Domenica, but we prefer this version.
- Lucilla
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"light"Description:
A delicate name with an ancient pedigree, more appealing to some than Lucille. It elaborates on Lucy and even Lucia and feels more distinctive than Lucinda.
- Tullia
Origin:
Feminine form of Roman family name Tullius, meaning unknownDescription:
The unusual and intriguing Tullia has been used since Roman times as a feminine of the illustrious family name Tullius, as in philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero. Modern parents who like Tallulah or Lillia but want something even more unusual would do well to consider the nearly-unknown Tullia, which may also be varied to Tulia, rhyming with Julia.
- Akasha
Origin:
HindiMeaning:
"ether"Description:
This Hindi name for the fifth element, related to the male Akash which means "open sky," was used by Anne Rice in her Vampire Chronicles.
- Verina
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"true"Description:
More often spelled VERENA, this name is attached to a third century Swiss saint. But the "virtue" name VERITY, is more appealing and comes more directly to the point.
- Honoria
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"woman of honor"Description:
This is an eighteenth century elaboration of Honor found in Charles Dickens (Bleak House) but rarely heard here and now.
- Aquilia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"eagle"Description:
This and two other female forms -- AQUILA and AQUILINA -- of the Roman family name Aquilius might live on in modern times.
- Severina
Origin:
Latin, feminine variation of SeverinoMeaning:
"stern, serious"Description:
Not only stern and serious, but a little too severe.
- Pema
Origin:
TibetanMeaning:
"lotus flower"Description:
Pema is related to the more familiar Hindu name Padma and means lotus flower. This delightful name was given to only 14 girls in the USA last year, so it's guaranteed to be a unique choice. Pema is probably most familiar to Westerners through Buddhist nun Pema Chodron and through Jetsun Pema, the Dalai Lama's sister.
- Gwenore
Origin:
Variation of GuinevereMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
An offbeat way to get to Gwen.
- 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.
- Parisa
Origin:
Iranian/PersianMeaning:
"like a fairy"Description:
Funny how one letter can turn a name from ordinary to special. Parisa is so much more distinctive than either Marisa or Paris.
- Decima
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"tenth"Description:
In the days of huge families, this name of the Roman goddess of prophecy and childbirth, and one of the Fates, would be saved for bambina number ten. Now it might be used for a girl born in October, the tenth month.
- Nahara
Origin:
Aramaic and HebrewMeaning:
"light"Description:
Beguiling cousin of Sahara.
- Nicasia
Origin:
Latin, female variation of NicasioMeaning:
"victorious"Description:
An interesting and unusual member of the "Nic" family--far more distinctive than NICOLE or NICOLA.