Lovely Little Girls
- Georgia
Origin:
English, feminine variation of GeorgeMeaning:
"farmer"Description:
Georgia is so rich, lush and luscious, it's almost irresistible. Georgia's now a rising star among the feminizations of George, helped by associations with the southern state (named for British King George II) and painter Georgia O'Keeffe, with the Ray Charles song "Georgia On My Mind" or maybe "Sweet Georgia Brown" playing in the background.
- Ginevra
Origin:
Italian variation of Guinevere or JenniferMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
This lovely alternative for the Jennifer-lover ranks among the most popular girls' names in Italy. At this point in the US, the legions of Jennifers born in the 1970s are starting to become grandmas, so Ginevra might make an apt honor name for granny Jen.
- Gray
Origin:
Color nameDescription:
This color name, spelled either Gray or Grey is rapidly catching on. Actress Jenny von Oy recently called her daughter Gray Audrey.
- Greta
Origin:
German, diminutive of MargaretheMeaning:
"pearl"Description:
Greta is an Old World name long tied to the iconic Garbo, but now synonymous with environmental activism.
- Guinevere
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
Guinevere was the name of the beautiful but ill-fated queen of Camelot, for so many years eclipsed by its modern Cornish form Jennifer. Today, Guinevere could be a cool possibility for adventurous parents intrigued by this richly evocative and romantic choice.
- Hadassah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"myrtle tree"Description:
This Hebrew name of Queen Esther is well used in Israel (especially for girls born around the holiday of Purim), and in the US is the name of a Zionist women's philanthropic organization. Formerly shunned as hyper-religious, this name entered the Top 1000 in 2007 and has since climbed into the Top 700. Nickname Haddie feels like a natural companion for Addie and Maddie.
- Honora
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"woman of honor"Description:
Honora and Honoria are two ways of softening the severity of Honor, while retaining its righteous meaning. They were predominant until the Reformation, when the Puritans adopted the abstract virtue names, and were introduced to Britain by the Normans.
- Huali
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"bright, polished, gleaming, unsullied"Description:
Evocative of hulas, leis, and luaus.
- Ianthe
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"purple flower"Description:
Like Violet, Lavender and Lilac, Ianthe is a purple flower name. Chosen by the poet Shelley for his daughter, Ianthe has a poetic, romantic, almost ethereal quality. In the ancient myth, she was the daughter of Oceanus, supreme ruler of the sea, and also a Cretan woman so beautiful that when she died the Gods made purple flowers grow around her grave.
- Indiana
Origin:
American place-nameMeaning:
"land of the Indians"Description:
Indiana is one of those place-names (think Camden and Trenton) that sounds cooler than the place that inspired it. Its fashionable -ana ending certainly sounds eminently name-like, and Indie/Indy/Indi is one of the hottest nickname names for girls right now.
- Isadora
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"gift of Isis"Description:
Why is Isabella megapopular while Isadora goes virtually ignored? Too close a tie with tragic modern dancer Isadora Duncan (born Angela Isadora), who was done in by her long flowing scarf, perhaps, or with fusty male version Isidore. But we think Isadora is well worth reevaluating as an Isabella alternative. Quirky couple singer Bjork and artist Matthew Barney did just that and named their daughter Isadora. Isidora would be an alternative, just as proper but not quite as charming spelling--the one used as the spelling of a fourth century saint's name.
- Iulia
Origin:
Slavic version of Latin JuliaMeaning:
"youthful"Description:
This spelling makes Julia worldly and distinctive.
- Izara
Origin:
Arabic, Basque, HausaMeaning:
"shawl; star; section of tree"Description:
Attractive, rhythmic choice with roots in several languages and cultures. It's a lesser-known a celestial name, meaning "star" in Basque and referring to a star in the constellation Boötes in Arabic.
- JAJA
- James
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
James for a girl? Believe it or not, this is one of the boy names for girls" gaining a lot of attention these days, since Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds shocked the world by choosing it for their eldest daughter in 2014 (after his late father).
- Jane
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
No, we don't consider Jane too plain. In fact, for a venerable and short one-syllable name, we think it packs a surprising amount of punch, as compared to the related Jean and Joan.
- Jessamy
Origin:
English, variation of JessamineMeaning:
"jasmine flower"Description:
Jessamy and big sister Jessamine are all but unknown in the U.S., but make distinctive alternatives to overexposed Jessica, Jessie, and Jasmine.
- Joey
Origin:
Diminutive of Joanna or JosephineDescription:
Fun, friendly and fresher than Jo or Josie as a nickname for Joanna or Josephine.
- Jules
Origin:
Latin; GreekMeaning:
"youthful; soft, downy"Description:
TV personality Jules Asner made this middle-aged male name suddenly seem young and fresh and female, after having been an off-the radar-nickname for Julia and Julie. Author and wife of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver spells her name Jools, and we've also seen Joolz.
- Julissa
Origin:
Spanish variation of JuliaMeaning:
"youthful or sky father"Description:
Julissa is a Spanish version of Julia used mostly in Latin America. It peaked in the 1990s and early 2000s and now hovers near the bottom of the Top 1000.