Three Syllable Girl Names

A dramatic nature-inspired possibility for either sex.

We've long been a fan of spice and herb names -- Saffron, Sage, Juniper -- and Spanish word names are starting to feel very right, so Canela has legs. It has a long history as a Latina first name, and Nell would be a great -- and easy -- nickname.

As a Japanese name, Umina derives from umi, meaning "sea", combined with a range of other kanji characters.

Pleasingly quaint and dainty New Testament possibility; the nickname Dru modernizes it.

A water nymph in Greek mythology, for which the Greek village of Lilaia is named.

With the still popular Allison ranking at Number 60 in the United States, and variant Alison sitting at Number 343—not to mention Allyson (Number 490 and Alyson (Number 835)—it makes sense that Alisson is still getting some attention from parents today, although it may unfortunately seem more like a spelling error than a legitimate name to some.

This obscure Margaret variation was a popular name in medieval Scotland and could make a truly distinctive, feminine choice today.

Light, bright unisex name. Hikari is more popular for girls in Japan these days.

The attractive actress Vivica A. Fox has done a lot to add this version of the name into the mix.

A genus of birds in the flycatcher family, Elaenia is one of the many unique baby names in the Elena family. But that spelling is sure to trip up some people.

The Greek and Bulgarian form of Eugenia, or an alternate transcription of the Russian Yevgeniya.

Although Ashala is steadily yet quietly used as a name in its own right, it seems to be an invention derived from either Asha, a Sanskrit word and name meaning "hope" and also sometimes a variant of the Arabic Aisha, or the 1990s megapopular Ashley, an English name meaning "dweller near the ash tree mountain." Ashala has a rhythmic, euphonic sound but not much authentic heft. There was a minor character in Star Wars named Ashala.

Dimity is fairly common in Australia, but unheard of outside of it, which is surprising given its similarity to names like Amity, Verity, and Cassidy.

A little-known Callie name, belonging to a naiad in Greek mythology – a daughter of the god of the Nile. She was one of the wives of Aegyptus.

The eponymous character in an Edgar Allan Poe ghost story, gothic Morella was likely based on Latin mors ("death") or Greek mauros ("black"). It’s also a subtle nature name, being an alternative name for the poisonous black nightshade plant.

A slimmed down spelling of the more traditional Aiobheann. It's a beautiful name, but the spelling might throw some non-Irish natives off.