Three Syllable Girl Names

Finnish variation of Helena

Ameyo is a common name in West Africa, where it is traditional to give a child a name that reflects their time of birth. Ameyo means "born on Saturday" and is derived from the word mene. Kwame is the masculine counterpart.

Tanith is the Phoenician moon goddess and a fertility figure. The names Tanitha and Tanis are both thought to be derivatives of Tanith.

Karena modernizes middle-aged Karen but also creates pronunciation confusion. Is it ka-REN-a, ka-REEN-a, or just plain Karen with an a at the end? Spelled Karenna as in Gore goes partway toward clarifying things.

Zabelle and Zabel are fresh (to us) and ancient forms of Isabel, making zippy variations for modern lovers of that ancient name who feel the original is overexposed.

Tarabai is an Indian name with a lot of feminist clout. Tarabai Bhosale was a 17th century Maratha queen who was a skilled military leader in her own right and successfully resisted the Mughal empire on behalf of her people. More recently Tarabai Shinde is often regarded as the author of India’s first feminist text - in which she rails against both the patriarchy and the caste system. Meaning feminine star, Tarabai is a perfect name for your budding feminist.

Traditional Cherokee choice that could work for a daughter born on a rainy day.

Asella is ultimately derived from the Latin word asinus, meaning "donkey." As a word, asella would have been used to refer to a small female donkey.

Another name to add to the lineup of lanis, but the unfortunate first syllable will likely keep this one rare.

The name of one of the three Graces or Charites in Greek mythology, sometimes spelt Aglaea. The anglicized pronunciation would be "ah-GLY-ah", while the traditional Greek would "ah-glah-EE-uh".

Serafine is a variation of the stylish Seraphina. It was given to no baby girls In the US last year, though Serafina and Seraphine were both well-represented.

As far-flung as the outback.

An icy name with an operatic namesake in late 19th - early 20th century singer Lillian Allen Norton, better known by her stage name Nordica.

Maraca sounds more like a name than Banjo, so why not? It's rhythmic and, well, musical, so might make an adventurous choice.