Girly Girl Names
- Pomeline
Origin:
French, related to "apple"Meaning:
"apple"Description:
A rarely heard--even in France--name, most prominent as the third name of Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi, the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco and granddaughter of Grace Kelly.
- Christabel
Origin:
Latin and FrenchMeaning:
"fair Christian"Description:
Though Isabel is a smash hit, Christabel still hasn't been fully embraced. It was originally popularized in England via the Coleridge poem Christabel ("whom her father loves so well") and was given to the poet's granddaughter. Christabel Pankhurst was a famous U.K. suffragist.
- Bellerose
Origin:
French and EnglishMeaning:
"beautiful rose"Description:
A felicitous combo of two sweet names; also a Queens, New York neighborhood.
- Mariposa
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"butterfly"Description:
Mariposa is a rare, romantic choice with an intriguing meaning.
- Melisande
Origin:
French form of Millicent, GermanMeaning:
"strong in work"Description:
This old-time fairy tale name is rarely heard in the modern English-speaking world, but it's so, well, mellifluous, that it would make a lovely choice for a twenty-first century girl--a romanticized tribute to an Aunt Melissa or Melanie.
- Raphaela
Origin:
Hebrew, feminine variation of RaphaelMeaning:
"God has healed"Description:
A euphonious and lovely name with a dark-eyed, long-flowing-haired image, Raphaela is, like Gabriella and Isabella, beginning to be drawn into the American mainstream.
- 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.
- Shoshana
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"lily"Description:
This is a rare and lovely form of Susannah commonly heard in Israel. Shoshana Shapiro — nicknamed Shosh — is the character played by Zosia Mamet on the hit HBO series Girls — a fact that could give the name an upward thrust.
- Arrietty
Origin:
Literary name, variation of HarrietDescription:
A pretty, dainty name for one of the little characters in the children's book series The Borrowers. It was the basis for a later Studio Ghible animated film, The Secret World of Arrietty. While the connection to Harriet is tenuous, you might want to consider Arrietty as an honorific for an ancestral Harriet, Harry, or even Henry or Henrietta.
- Emiliana
Origin:
Italian variation of EmilyMeaning:
"rival"Description:
The enormous popularity of Emily and Emma means that parents will be looking further afield for substitutes -- and this is one of the prettiest.
- Rosabel
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"beautiful rose"Description:
Rosabel, a vintage smoosh name created in the 18th century, feels slightly less frilly than her cousins Rosabelle and Rosabella. It could make for a more distinctive alternative to Isabel, or an unusual name that gets you to sweet nicknames Rosie or Belle.
- Lillia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lilies"Description:
More than Lily yet less than Lillian, Lillia is a fresh and undeniably pretty member of the stylish genus of double (or in this case triple) l names. You can also spell it Lilia.
- Delphina
Origin:
French from GreekMeaning:
"of Delphi; womb"Description:
Delphina is another form of the sleek French Delphine, rising in popularity. The Blessed Delphina was a Provencal nun.
- Silvana
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"of the forest"Description:
Variant of Sylvana
- Elsinore
Origin:
Danish fictional place name, literaryDescription:
The famous home of Hamlet in Shakespeare's great play is based on Kronborg Castle in eastern Denmark, which guarded the narrow entryway to the Baltic Sea for centuries. (The Danish word for it is Helsingør.) Elsinore may claim a rightful place among the Danish names for girls, vaguely akin to Eleanor, with Elsie a natural nickname, though some may find it a little pretentious. But as a middle name for the lover of Shakespeare or Denmark? Golden.
- Jacinda
Origin:
Variation of JacintaMeaning:
"hyacinth"Description:
Jacinda, a form of the lovely and unusual Spanish and Portuguese flower name Jacinta (for Hyacinth), was first popularized by the Australian actress Jacinda Barrett. Today, the girls' name Jacinda is most notable as the name of New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, one of the first world leaders to give birth in office, widely credited with her strong and compassionate leadership during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Christiana
Origin:
Feminine variation of ChristianMeaning:
"follower of Christ"Description:
Not cutting edge, but still graceful and feminine.
- Elisabetta
Origin:
Italian variation of ElizabethMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
This version softens, feminizes, and glamorizes the long-time favorite. A fresh way to honor Grandma Betty. Elizabetta is a variation.
- Stellaluna
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"Star and moon"Description:
Stella and Luna are stylish night sky name for girls, from the Latin words for star and moon.
- Fiametta
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"little flame"Description:
Fiametta is the pseudonym Italian Renaissance writer Bocaccio gave to his muse in his writing; her real name was most likely Maria d'Aquino. It was also the title of a ballet in the 19th century. This is one of the unusual but not inaccessible Italian names for girls; you can make it even more user-friendly with the cute nicknames Fia or Etta.