Choosing the perfect name for baby girl is an exciting part of pregnancy. Along with preparing the nursery and stocking up on diapers, expectant parents start brainstorming a list of potential girl names that will capture their daughter's personality. The name sets the tone for who she will become. An impactful girl's name carries family meaning or reflects admirable virtues you hope your little one embraces.
While browsing the Social Security Administration's list of popular baby girl names, you may notice familiar choices topping the charts years over year. But if you seek something special, consider names from mythology, history, nature, literature or your ancestry. Classic options exude timeless grace, yet fresh finds promise to make your child stand out in a crowd.
Below is a list of potential names for girls to welcome your precious daughter into the world.
Amelia – This energetic name comes from the German “Amalia” meaning "work." Aviator Amelia Earhart personified the ambitious spirit.
Charlotte – A feminine form of Charles, meaning "free man" in French. Author Charlotte Brontë wrote classic novels like Jane Eyre.
Eleanor - From the German “adal” and “heid” meaning "noble." Influential historical women include First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and powerful royal Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Emma – Of German origin meaning "whole" or “universal,” made famous by Jane Austen’s matchmaking protagonist in the novel Emma.
Grace – From Latin “gratia” conveying “blessing, God’s favor." Iconic actress and princess Grace Kelly embodied elegance and class.
Ivy – An English name for the resilient climbing plant with vines that tenaciously grasp brick walls.
Lillian – Latin in origin, meaning “lily flower," symbolizing purity found in nature.
Nora – Pet form of Honora from Latin “honor,” embodied by prolific romance novelist Nora Roberts renowned for themes of resilience.
Sophia – Greek name meaning “wisdom,” embodied majestically by the Hagia Sophia architectural wonder in Istanbul.
Olivia – Latin origin meaning “olive tree,” known for rich oil and twisted branches, associated with peace and fertility like actress Olivia de Havilland’s screen resilience.
Victoria – Latin for “victory,” hearkening back to the prosperous Victorian Era under Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Victoria.
Elizabeth – Hebrew name meaning “my God is bountiful,” embodied by the steadfast faith of Queen Elizabeth I during a turbulent age.
Penelope – In Homer’s epic, loyal wife Penelope waits 20 years for husband Odysseus to return from Troy, tricking aggressive suitors.
Scarlett – Linked to the rich red cloth trade in medieval Bruges and the iconic character Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind who discovers her strength.
Violet – Latin name of the flower, embodied by trailblazer Violet Oakley, the first American woman to receive a public mural commission.
Willa – Feminine of William, meaning “resolute protector” in German, shown by Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Willa Cather’s resilient prairie women.
Phoebe – In Greek myth, associated with the moon goddess Artemis, known for her fierce hunting skills and determination.
Calliope – In legends, Calliope is the muse of epic poetry and eloquence, inspiring great writers with rich stories.
Cordelia – In Shakespeare’s King Lear, honest Cordelia stays true to her values, unlike her manipulative sisters who pretend to flatter their father.
Fiona – Gaelic name evoking the fair-haired princess warrior in Scottish lore who becomes an ogress after sunrise, representing the light and dark sides in nature.
Isabel – Spanish form of Elizabeth, meaning “devoted to God,” shown by celebrated author Isabel Allende who incorporates spiritual themes.
Juliet – Immortalized as the tragic lover in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, her name comes from Jupiter, king of the Roman gods.
Luna – Personification of the divine moon in ancient mythologies, worshipped for its cyclical power and radiant glow lighting up the darkness.
Maeve – Celtic legend tells of the strong-willed Queen Maeve who went to war over a prized bull, embodying female authority.
Phoenix – Mythical firebird rising renewed from ashes, an apt metaphor for the resilience of the human spirit overcoming life’s challenges.
Rose – Sweet flower whose thorns symbolize defense, immortalized in literature from mystic rose poems to Titanic’s promise “I’ll never let go, Rose!”
Stella – From Latin meaning “star,” made famous as the focal point of Tennessee Williams’ play “A Streetcar Named Desire” shouting “Stella!”
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