Animal Names for Girls

For those who are trying to nudge Abeleen, the Texas place-name, toward Adeline, the stylish girls' name. Unfortunately, you arrive somewhere short of a happy medium.

Blær is a rare Icelandic name meaning "light gust or breeze" that made headlines due to one family's battle to be allowed to use it for their daughter. Iceland has strict name laws and it is not permitted to use a traditionally male name for a girl. The name was finally allowed when she was 15 years old. Blær is also a (female) character in a novel by the famous Icelandic writer Halldór Laxness.

Too ripe for teasing for an English speaker, but Brá is heard on occasion in Scandinavia.

Currently considered a grandma name in Catalonia, but fresh and unusual (though easily confused with Karma) elsewhere.

An invented name inspired by the Irish/Scottish May Day festival of Beltane. And perhaps a modern way to honor a Tania?

A charming Yoruba name that could easily cross cultures. In Yoruba, the word adùn also means "flavor" and aadun is a popular street food.

Though some sources list this as a Greek variation of Emily, it is in fact used there only as a male name.

Bözsi is a derivative of Erzsébet, the Hungarian variation of Elizabeth.

A lot to handle, but it does give a sense of openness, joy, and awe.