Though never as popular as the name of her Bewitched mother, Samantha, Tabitha has its own quirky, magical charm. The name of a charitable woman who was restored to life by Saint Peter in the Bible, it was a popular Puritan choice. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick chose it for one of their twin daughters, which gave it a slight boost. Nonetheless, Tabitha remains in decline.
 One of Beatrix Potter's storybook characters is a cat called Tabitha Twitchet, and indeed the nickname Tabby is decidedly feline; other old nicknames are Tibby and Tabea.
 A contemporary bearer is author Tabitha King, AKA Mrs. Stephen, and Tabitha Soren was an MTV news reporter. In The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, one of the quartet of friends is Tabitha Rollins, whose nickname is Tibby. Tabitha Smith is a comic book super hero in the Marvel Universe.

Tabitha

A few boys have adopted fabrics like Denim and Suede; here's a singular one for the girls, with a distinctively silky sheen. 

Taffeta

Tahira is a pretty Arabic virtue name, unusual yet accessible. 

Tahira

Taj is a cool new name with ancient Eastern roots. While Taj can work for either sex, Taja might be a feminine alternative.

Taja

Tala is a super multicultural name with roots in many diverse languages and cultures. In Northern Europe, especially in Scandinavia, it is a diminutive derived from Adelheid "noble", long used as a standalone name.

 In Tagalog mythology, Tala is the goddess of the morning and evening star, the eldest child of the sun god Arao and the moon goddess Buan. According to legend, Arao decided to destroy their star children, but Buan hid them behind clouds. Arao discovered Buan’s deception and has been trying to take revenge ever since, which explains the phenomenon of solar eclipses.

 In Polynesian languages, including Samoan and Hawaiian, Tala means "story, tale" – and it is also the name of the Samoan currency, a corruption of the word "dollar".

 In Persian and Farsi, the name Tala means "gold", and it is also the name of the turmeric tree or spice in Arabic.

Tala

Talia is derived from the Hebrew elements tal, meaning "dew," and yah, in reference to God. In the mythology of one ancient sect, Talia was one of ten angels who attended the sun on its daily course. The occasionally homophonous name Thalia has unrelated Greek origins.
 
In tandem with the longer-form Natalia, this pretty Russian-flavored girls’ name has been rising in the popularity charts in the US.
 
A prominent bearer is Talia Shire, doomed to go down in cinema history as Rocky's mousy girlfriend Adrienne, along with actress Talia Balsam, aka the former Mrs. George Clooney. Most recently, Talia was attributed to YouTube star Talia Joy Castellano, a young girl battling cancer who passed away at age 13.
 
Talia is also an Australian Aboriginal name meaning "near water".

Talia

Taliesin is a name an architecture-minded parent could love, because of its close association with Frank Lloyd Wright. 

Taliesin

Talitha appears in the Bible as words Jesus says to awaken a young girl whose parents feared she was dead. It has been used in the US since colonial times.  Talitha is also the name of two stars in Ursa Major, where it's related to the Arabic word for "third." Talitha definitely makes a fresh spin on Tabitha or Talisa.

Talitha

This hauntingly euphonious Choctaw name has re-entered the public domain, as memories of the outrageous actress Tallulah Bankhead have faded. For years, Tallulah was a name associated only with Bankhead, named for her paternal grandmother who was named after the Georgia town of Tallulah Falls.
 A modern hipster favorite, Tallulah had been chosen for their daughters by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Patrick Dempsey, Damian Dash, Rachel Roy and Sara Rue. The name was trail-blazed by Demi Moore and Bruce Willis for their now grown daughter. 
 When spelled Talulla or Talullah, it is also a traditional Irish name that was borne by two saints.

Tallulah is among the Feminine Feminist names is one of our hottest <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/baby-name-trends-2024">baby name trends</a> of 2024.

Tallulah

Talya

Two similarly delicate names, Tamako and Tamaki, can be found in the Japanese community. 

Tamako

Adding a final a to Tamar lends it a more sensual Slavic tone, making it a more popular choice than the original. 

Tamara

A hardwood tree native to Africa, India and other tropical regions, which bears sweet pod-shaped fruits which are used as a flavoring in many world cuisines, including Indian and Filipino. A rare and intriguing nature name which could honor an ancestral Tammy or Tamar.

Tamarind

Tamarinda

Tamatha

Tambra

Tamela

Although Tamerlaine, especially with the addition of an i, feels more feminine than masculine these days and is occasionally used for girls, the original Tamerlane was a fierce Mongol warrior.

Tamerlaine

Tamika

Made famous in fifties movies as a wholesome backwoods gal, Tammy was a Top 10 choice from the mid-60s to early-70s, but is now given to fewer than 100 babies per year in the US.

Tammy

Tamsin is an offbeat name occasionally heard in Britain and just waiting to be discovered here. U.K. actress Tamsin Greig is a star of the show Episodes, Tamsin Olivier is the daughter of Joan Plowright and Sir Laurence Olivier..
 Tamsyn is the alternative medieval Cornish spelling. Other spellings are represented by actresses Tamzin Outhwaite and Tamzin Merchant, and by writer Tamasin Day-Lewis, sister of Daniel.
 Tamsin is a 1999 fantasy novel by Peter Beagle.

Tamsin

This intriguing name of an ancient Etruscan queen renowned for her prophetic powers was long associated with the prima ballerina Tanaquil LeClerq. 

Tanaquil

Tanazia

Fresher sounding than Mandy or Brandy, but Thandie might be a more original way to go. 

Tandy

Is it related to Angela?  Or Tangelo?  One invention that doesn't improve on any original.

Tangela

We've had Apples, Plums, Peaches, Cherries, and Berries added to the fruit basket: you could be the first to pick a Tangerine. 

Tangerine

This obscure name found in Sinclair Lewis's 1923 novel Babbitt is a bit hipper than most other is-ending names like Janis and Doris. Some sources consider it a variation of Tanith, who is a Phoenician moon goddess and fertility figure, while others say it is a North American indigenous name from the Cree culture, meaning daughter. It may in fact have two separate derivations and meanings, but in any case is a lovely and unusual name.

Tanis

Tansy is a flower name rarer than Rose, livelier than Lily and a lot less teasable than Pansy. 
 Tansy is a perennial herbaceous plant of the aster family that has clusters of small bright yellow blossoms. It was cultivated by the ancients for medicinal purposes, and has found a variety of other uses over the ages, associated with health and immortality.
 There have been a couple of eponymous novels titled Tansy, and it was the name of a character on Hart of Dixie,

Tansy

Tanwen is a far more singular and colorful alternative to Bronwen. 

Tanwen

A unique New Age possibility with a pleasing sound. 

Tarot

Tarragon

Tasha

Probably better to stick with Jasmine -- this one's a little too Tasmanian devil.  Or Tasmine might be better scrambled to the lovely Cornish Tamsin.

Tasmine

Tasoula

Taura is a possibility for a girl born between mid-April and mid-May, but, if a name is destiny, its meaning does suggest stubbornness. Consider Laura, Flora, or Honora instead. 

Taura

Tavora is an attractive option, based on the name of a mountain in northern Israel. But the meaning of Tavora and brother name Tavor is less than optimal.

Tavora

Y-ending color adjectives like Tawny and Rusty are nowhere near as stylish as the more sophisticated Lilacs and Violets. 

Tawny

Not too long ago, Temperance was found only on lists of Puritan <a href="https://nameberry.com">baby names</a>.
 
With increased increase in virtue names, and Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan on long-running television series Bones, this name has experienced a surprising revival.

Temperance

Young rocker Tennessee Thomas has brought this former one-person name over to the girls' side -- though the census roles of North Carolina in 1850 included a female named Tennessee and called Tincy. 
 
Reese Witherspoon's using it for her baby son brought it back for the boys, though (male) playwright Tennessee Williams is arguably the most famous bearer. Tennessee is an intriguing place name for a person of any gender.

Tennessee

Texana

If you like your place names bold and undiscovered.

Texas

A paramour of Alexander the Great and the heroine of a Jules Massenet opera based on the life of a fourth century Egyptian saint, this name is nothing if not dramatic. Often spelled with a diaeresis or umlaut -- aka two dots -- over the letter i, Thais is a Top 100 girls' name in France and is also popular in Spain.


Thais

A pretty, rarely used Greek name, Thalassa is the ancient personification of the sea, particularly the Mediterranean, who is sometimes considered the mother of Aphrodite.
In 1991, a newly discovered moon of Neptune was dubbed Thalassa.
 This name would make a highly original, yet accessible and delicate choice.

Thalassa

Thalia was one of the Three Graces in Greek mythology, and also the Muse of comedy and pastoral poetry, making this a Hellenic choice worthy of consideration. 
 In the Rick Riordan series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Thalia Grace is the demigod daughter of Zeus. Thalia was also a character on Everwood.
 The single-named Mexican singer Thalia was born Ariadne Thalia Sodi Miranda.
 Thalia had a one-off appearance on the list in 1932 and then reentered the US Top 1000 in 1992, reaching its height of Number 363 in 1993.

Thalia

Though the Greek meaning sounds ominous, the mythological god Thanatos was actually a jolly winged creature living in the underworld, so it shouldn't deter you. 

Thana

A captivating and sprightly name brought into the limelight by actress Thandiwe Newton. 

Thandie

Themis was the Titan -- one of the Elder Gods (or in this case Goddesses) -- of Justice and Order, usually depicted blindfolded and holding the scales of justice. Themis was the mother of the Fates and the seasons.  While her name has fallen from mortal use, Themis might rise again along with such rediscovered goddess names as Aurora and Juno.

Themis

This feminine form of Theodosius has long been buried deep in the attic, but might be a good discovery for the parent who wants to move beyond Theodora. Vice President Aaron Burr named a daughter Theodosia ("Dear Theodosia" is a song in the smash musical Hamilton), and it was the birth name of silent screen vamp Theda Bara. Theodosia actually appeared on the US popularity lists in the 1880s and 90s.

Theodosia

Theophaneia

The popular appeal of the strong, intelligent Saint Teresa of Avila, combined with the selfless compassion of the more recent Mother Teresa, have fused to give this second-tier classic a somewhat noble, religious image. Although the origins of the name are uncertain, it has been prevalent particularly in forms Theresa, Teresa, and Therese throughout Europe for centuries. 
 Mother Teresa was born Anjeze/Agnese Gonxhe; when taking her vows, she chose to be named after Thérèse de Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries, but because another nun in the convent had already chosen that name, she opted for the Spanish spelling Teresa.
 A Top 100 name until the 1960s, reaching Number 32 in 1956, Theresa fell off the list completely in 2011, while the sleeker Teresa still holds at Number 719; it was as high as Number 18 from 1961 to 1963.
 Currently, a leading character on The Mentalist is Teresa Lisbon.
 Short forms Tess,Tessa, Tressa, or Tea are more popular now than the old Terry or Tracy. An interesting variation is Tereza, as in Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Mia Farrow's sister Theresa is known as Tisa.

Theresa

Theta is the name of the eighth letter of the ancient Greek alphabet, which is also the symbol of death. As such, it has rarely been used as a baby name.

Theta

Thisbe, the name of a beautiful but tragic lover in mythology, is lively and cute -- in a slightly thistly, prickly way. Ovid retold the story of Thisbe and Pyramus, young lovers in ancient Babylon kept apart by family rivalry, which was the inspiration for Romeo and Juliet. A modern bearer of the name is writer Thisbe Nissen.
In Sarah Dessen's novel Along for the Ride, the baby daughter is named Thisby, nn Isby.

Thisbe

Though rarely used now that many parents would rather appropriate men's names than sweeten them with feminine endings, Thomasina does have some vintage appeal. 
 Thomasina Coverly plays a large part in the Tom Stoppard play Arcadia. And Thomasina also has some critter cred--Thomasina Tittlemouse is a Beatirx Potter character, there's a Disney movie called The Three lives of Thomasina, about an enchanted cat, and a Paul Gallico novel titled Thomasina, the Cat Who Thought She was God.
 Another version is Thomasin, newly visible via the 2016 horror movie The Witch and also used for a major character in Thomas Hardy's novel The Return of the Native. Hardy's heroine is commonly called Tamsin, the more popular short form.

Thomasina

Thora, related to Thor, is the ancient Norse thunder goddess name that's much softer and gentler than its meaning suggests. A noted bearer is actress Thora Birch. 

Thora

A short, bright name which originates as a short form of names including Tiana, and Tatiana. Not as popular as Mia – a plus if you're seeking a short and pretty but less common name. In Spanish and Portuguese tía/tia is a word meaning "aunt". In Haida culture in indigenous Canada, Tia is a goddess of peaceful death.

Appreciated by religious Jews for its connection to "Hatikva," the Israeli national anthem. 

Tikvah

Timber as a name is given to slightly more girls than boys each year.  It's actually got a cute sound, ala Kimber(ly) and may be an original tree choice for a girl.  Timberly and Timberlee are also found (but not encouraged).

Timber

Tina, despite its petite and tinkly image, is apt these days to be replaced by the more elegant originals, Christina and Martina.It does have some strong namesakes, though, in Tina Turner (born Anna Mae), Tina Brown (born Christina), Tina Fey (born Elizabeth), and photographer Tina Barney (born Tina). 
 Tina was a Top 100 name from 1956 to 1982, peaking at Number 18 in 1968.

Tina

Tindra is a new name in Sweden, used only since the 1980s, that has become enormously popular: It's in the Top 60 there.  And while unknown in the US, Tindra certainly has possibilities as a substitute for the flagging Kendra.

Tindra

A fairly common Hebrew name without much crossover potential. 

Tirzah

Toshiko

Trilby was used first for a character by French novelist Charles Nodier (1822) and made more famous by writer George du Maurier in an 1894 work.  A Trilby hat, which Du Maurier's character wore, is a short-brimmed fedora of the kind recently revived by hipsters.  Du Maurier's character Trilby fell under the hypnotic power of Svengali: not the best choice for an independent and self-determining daughter. Still, if you want a unisex name that moves far beyond the usual Taylor and Morgan and has energy and feminine verve, Trilby might well be your girl. 

Trilby

Douglas Adams invented this name for a character (aka Tricia) in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It has a nice, trilly sound, and is accessible via its kinship with Gillian/Jillian.

Trillian

A would-be up-and-comer if it wasn't for the spiked seltzer brand.

Truly

With the first name True receiving a Kardashian dose of popularity for girls, Truth is gaining in visibility too. Though its still more popular for boys two to one, the truth is that the name works equally well for both genders -- but may inspire a lot of puns.

Truth

When actress Susan Ker Weld changed her name to Tuesday, she opened up a whole calendar of possibilities. This was decades before the arrival of Sunday Rose Urban.

Tuesday

Original Gaelic form of Talulla, often connected with the Choctaw name Tallulah due to the similar sound and spelling.

Tuilelaith

One of the most unusual flower names, Tulip is cute but tough to pull off as a first. It has some celebrity cred via Charlie Tamara Tulip, twin daughter of Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell. It derives from Persian dulband "turban", due to the distinctive shape of the flowers.

Tulip

With geographical features like Savannah and Sierra and increasingly getting the baby-name treatment, could icy Tundra also see some use? It's only appeared six times on the Social Security rankings, all in the 1960s and 70s.

Tundra

Turquoise is similar in hue to Aqua, which is one of the cool new color names on the palette. Other blue-hued options: Cerulean, Cyan, Indigo, or Blue itself.

Turquoise

ScarlettRobin's list "Terrific T names [girls]" of 71 great name ideas: Tabitha - Turquoise!