1798 Four Letter Girl Names

  1. Peri
    • Origin:

      Greek; Hebrew; Persian
    • Meaning:

      "mountain dweller; fruit; fairy"
    • Description:

      This name used for both sexes in several cultures is quite well used in Israel.
  2. Liya
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "I am with God"
    • Description:

      The first name of Ethiopian supermodel Liya (pronounced like Leah) Kebede is also a Russian variation of Lia and Lily. Rather than using Liya, English speakers will do better to call a child Leah or Lia.
  3. John
    • Zion
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "highest point"
      • Description:

        A Biblical place name that's one of the rising unisex baby names for both girls and boys. It's got an uplifting feel and that zippy Z beginning. Zion is an alternate name for Jerusalem and is used as a nationalistic pro-Israel movement known as Zionism. The name has gained popularity after being used by celebrities including Lauryn Hill and Fantasia Barrino.
    • Éala
      • Origin:

        Irish, modern invented name
      • Description:

        This name, which is rising for baby girls in Ireland, looks very like the Irish word for swan, eala ("AL-la"), but the accent on the É changes the pronunciation to "EH-la". Instead, it's likely to be a gaelicized spelling of Ayla, which is popular internationally.
    • Cody
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "helpful, pillow"
      • Description:

        Cody is a once-trendy boys' name occasionally used for girls. The Cody trend has now given way to other nickname-y names such as Rory and Ruby.
    • Sean
      • Origin:

        Irish variation of John
      • Meaning:

        "God is gracious"
      • Description:

        Sean may be off its peak for boys, but there were still 1300 baby boys named Sean in the US in the most recent year counted, versus only five baby girls. In fact, there were fewer than 30 baby girls given the spellings Sean, Shaun, and Shawn combined. So while this name has been long used for girls, it remains in only occasional use as a feminine name and is not truly unisex in the way that names such as Rory and River are.
    • Roan
      • Origin:

        Variation of Rowan, Irish and Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "little redhead"
      • Description:

        This variation of Rowan, which is also a color name rhyming with Joan, is more popular for boys than girls, as are the other variations of the name. Rowan is the most popular spelling of the name for both genders, followed by Rowen, and then there's Rohan, Rohen, and so on.
    • Jada
      • Origin:

        Spanish
      • Meaning:

        "jade"
      • Description:

        Long used in Spanish-speaking countries, this strong but feminine name was jump-started here by the rise of actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The Italian Giada is a popular variation. In the Bible, the name Jada was borne by a man and has a different root and meaning: It's Hebrew and means "he knows".
    • Nava
      • Origin:

        Hebrew, Spanish
      • Meaning:

        "beautiful; from Navarre or Nava"
      • Description:

        Short, sweet, and sparky, Nava has been slowly climbing up the US popularity charts in recent years, owing perhaps to its similarity to Nova, Ava, Navy, and Nevaeh. Used quietly but consistently from the 80s onwards, Nava was given to nearly 80 girls in 2023.
    • Asia
      • Origin:

        Place-name
      • Description:

        This still attractive place name was one of the first to gain popularity, though it now probably owes some of its favor to the similar Aisha. Asia ranked as high as Number 195 on the US baby names popularity list in 1997.
    • Evan
      • Origin:

        Welsh variation of John
      • Meaning:

        "God is gracious"
      • Description:

        Evan is a boys' favorite that has been given the feminine touch by talented actress Evan Rachel Wood. If you want to move beyond Eva and Evelyn and like unisex names, this may be a good bet for you (though like Evan Rachel Wood, you may want a feminine name in the middle name position to clarify matters). Evanna is also another alternative.
    • Nico
      • Origin:

        Italian, diminutive of Nicola
      • Meaning:

        "people of victory"
      • Description:

        A much more dynamic nickname than Nicky for any of the Nic-names. Part of a growing trend of boyish nicknames for girls - alongside Stevie and Lou - Nico has cheerful, snappy sounds, and a fresh, sassy image.
    • Andi
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Andrea or Anderson, Greek or English from Scandinavian
      • Meaning:

        "strong and manly, son of Anders"
      • Description:

        Boyish nickname name that first heard in the Ricki/Terri era but finding new favor among parents who love names like Billie and Frankie, Scottie and Stevie. It was among the fastest-rising names in the US on the 2023 names chart.
    • Xena
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "guest"
      • Description:

        Still projects the potent allure of television's warrior princess.
    • Puck
      • Origin:

        Literary name
      • Description:

        Puck, the mischievous sprite of Shakespeare, is a unisex name given more often to girls in The Netherlands and is also the name of one of the moons of Uranus, discovered in 1985 and named Puck for the Shakespearean figure.
    • Irma
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "universal, whole, great"
      • Description:

        A Top 200 choice in the US from the late 1880s to the early 1930s, Irma has nevertheless fallen out of favor with modern parents, and doesn't look set for the sort of comeback that some of her vintage sisters have enjoyed in recent years. The devastating hurricane which hit the Caribbean Islands and the south-east coast of the US in 2017 has no doubt dealt its chances of revival a further blow.
    • Sana
      • Origin:

        Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "mountaintop, splendid, brilliant"
      • Description:

        One of the most easily imported Arabic names.
    • Issa
      • Origin:

        Variation of Isa, German
      • Meaning:

        "strong-willed"
      • Description:

        Issa might make more sense if you're using it as a nickname for any one of the various names ending in -issa, but this spelling is also an Arabic and Hebrew boy name. The Isa spelling is almost exclusively feminine.
    • Hali
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "the sea"
      • Description:

        Another culture's take on the Hailey/Halle phenomenon.