My Favorite Baby (Girl) Names

IOkay, so this post has nothing to do with books or movies. Though names are actually important to both, so I suppose it sort of relates. I always pay attention to characters' names when I'm watching a movie or reading a book, because it's cool to pick up my baby name book and find out what it means later. Or save it for when I have kids (or cats, because I wouldn't call my daughter Katniss or Daenerys). It's also helpful when I'm naming characters, because I ALWAYS get stuck when I'm trying to name them. I always read these books or see these movies where the characters have totally awesome names, so I try to come up with an equally awesome name. If you're a writer, you've probably been there, and can probably agree with me when I say that it is really hard to come up with cool names. Especially when writing a fantasy.

So, below is a list of my FAVORITE baby names (be warned, this list is going to be super-long) and their meanings.

Girls:

Arya-- You probably recognize this one if you've watched or read Game of Thrones. I fell in love with this name the first time I heard it, and I love the spelling. Of course, it's a form of Aria, which in turn is a form of Ariel, which means "Lion of God" in Hebrew. Fitting, right?

Aaliyah/Aliyah/Aliya--So many different spellings, but either way the name is beautiful. It means "ascender" in Hebrew.

Alyssia/Elyssia-- So I'm not too sure on the pronunciation of this one. AL-E-SEE-A? Is that right? I think this name is beautiful, though. It means "Sweet, blissful' in Greek. It is derived from 'Elysium', which in Greek mythology was the dwelling place of happy souls.

Annika-- I'm actually using this name for one of my characters. I've always really loved this name. It's a form of Ann, which means gracious in English.

Ariane/Arianna-- I think there are a few different spellings of this name. It is a form of Ariana, which means 'Holy' in Greek. Beautiful.

Aridane-- I first heard this name in the book Wolfsbane, the Sequel to Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, and I really liked it. It also means 'holy' in Greek. In mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos of Crete.

Alisa/Alyssa/Ally-- Okay, I'll admit that I'm not too crazy about the name Alisa, maybe because it's really common, but it is really pretty. It is a form of Alice, which means 'truthful' in Greek, and noble in German. Either meaning is good.

Alessandra/Aleksandra/Alexandra-- Okay, so this is a name that has a lot of different spellings. Personally I like "Aleksandra" and "Alessandra", rather than "Alexandra". It's a form of Alexander, which means defender of humankind in Greek.

Anastasia-- Yes, I know this is the name of Cinderella's nicer stepsister. I like the name Anastasia, though. I always thought I'd name my cat this. It means Resurrection in Greek. (Another Greek name, I know. The Greeks seem to have all the prettiest names.)

Annabel-- Now, I would not name my child this in a million years, nor would I name a character this. I had a doll named Annabel when I was a little girl, though, so that's why it's on my list. According to my baby name book, it is a combination of Anna+Bel, and doesn't appear to have an actual meaning. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Annalise-- Like Annabel, this is combination of Anna+Lisa, and again doesn't appear to have a meaning. Again, correct me.

Athena-- It means wise in Greek. Obviously, since Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom. Also, Annabeth Chase's mother.

Alina/Alena/Elena-- Alina means 'bright' (Slavic) or fair (Scottish). Alena is a form of Helen, which means 'light' in Greek. Elena is a form of Eleanor, which means 'light' also in Greek.

Alana/Alaina-- Alana means 'offering' in Hawaiian. Alaina is a form of Alana.

Aurora-- Another Disney Princess name, I know, though some people forget that this is actually Sleeping Beauty's name. Aurora means 'dawn' in Latin. In mythology, Aurora was the goddess of dawn.

Avalon/Aveline/Ava-- Avalon means 'Island'. It is a legendary island featured in Arthurian legend, where Excalibur was forged and where Arthur was taken to recover from his wounds after the Battle of Camlann (otherwise known as Camelot). Aveline is, I think, a form of Avelina which, in Latin, means "she who was born in Avella." Ava is a form of Eva, which is a form of Evangelina, which means "bearer of good news" in Greek.

Aspen-- Aspen tree (English).

Azalea-- desert flower (Latin)

Brynn/Bree-- (Brynn; Latin) from the boundary line; (Welsh) mound. (Bree; English) broth.

Callie/Calea/Kalea/Chloe-- Callie is a familiar form of Cala, Calista. Calista means "most beautiful" in Greek. Calea/Kalea means "bright, clear" in Hawaiian. Chloe means "blooming, verdant" in Greek. In mythology, Chloe was another name for Demeter, the goddess of agriculture.

Clarissa/Claire/Clara-- Clarissa means "brilliant" in Greek. Claire is a form of Clara, which means "clear, bright" in Latin.

Charity/Chastity/Cassidy/-- Charity (Latin): charity, kindness. Chastity (Latin): pure. Cassidy (Irish): clever.

Catherine/Katherine/Katrina/Katerina/Kaitlyn/Caitlyn-- Catherine/Katherine (Greek): Pure. Katrina/Katerina: A form of Katheirne. Kaitlyn/Caitlyn (Irish): Pure.

Danica-- (Slavic) Morning star

Diana-- (Latin) divine. Mythology: the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and fertility.

Eden-- (Babylonian) a plain (Hebrew) delightful. Bible: the Earthly paradise

Emily-- (Latin) flatterer (German) industrious

Esme-- (French) a form of Esmeralda. A form of Amy. Amy (Latin) beloved. Esmeralda (Latiin) shining, standing out. radiates purity and hope.

Faith-- (English) faithful; fidelity.

Genesis-- (Latin) origin; birth

Gaea-- (Greek) planet earth. Mythology: the Greek goddess of Earth.

Gemma-- (Latin, Italian) jewel, precious stone

Grace-- (Latin) graceful

Hannah-- (Hebrew) gracious. Bible: the mother of Samuel.

Hermione-- (Greek) earthy.

Hope-- (English) hope

Isabel/Isabelle/Isabella-- (Spanish) consecrated to God.

Iris-- (Greek) rainbow. Mythology: the godess of the rainbow and messenger of the Gods.

Ivy-- (English) ivy tree

Jaya-- (Hindi) victory

Jalisa--(American) a combination of Jae+Lisa.

Julie/Julia/Juliet-- (Latin) youthful.

Jessamine/Jessica/Janessa-- (
Kylie/Kylee/Kyla-- (West Australian Aboriginal) curled stick; boomerang. Kyra (Greek) ladylike.

Kaia-- (Greek) Earth

Lalita-- (Greek) talkative. (Sanskrit) charming; candid

Liana-- (Latin) youth. (French) boun, rapped up; tree covered with vines. English (meadow).

Leah-- (Hebrew) weary. Bible: the first wife of Jacob.

Leila-- (Hebrew) dark beauty; night (Arabic) born at night.

Lena-- (Hebrew) dwelling or lodging.(Latin) temptress. (Norwegian) illustrious

Lucy/Lucinda/Luciana/Luna-- (Latin), light; bringer of light. Luna (Latin) moon.

Lily-- (Latin, Arabic) a familiar form of Lilith, Lillian, Lillyann

Mackenzie-- (Irish) child of the wise leader

Maia/Maya-- (Greek) mother; nurse (English) kinswoman, maiden.

Mia-- (Italian) mine.

Myla/Myra-- (Latin) fragrant ointment (Myla; English) merciful

Melanie/Melody-- (Greek) dark skinned (Melody; Greek) melody

Meghan/Megan-- (Greek) pearl; great

Morgan-- (Welsh) seashore. Literature: Morgan le Fay was the half sister of King Arthur

Malia-- (Hawaiian, Zuni) a form of Mary (Hebrew); bitter; sea of bitterness. Bible: the mother of Jesus

Nikita-- (Russian) victorious people

Nia-- (Irish) a familiar form of Neila (Spanish) yellow.

Nita-- (Hebrew) planter (Choctaw) bear

Natalie/Nathalie-- (Latin) born on Christmas.

Nora/Nova (Greek) light. (Nova; Latin) new.

Noelle-- (French) Christmas

Naomi-- (Hebrew) pleasant; beautiful. Bible: Ruth's mother in law

Olivia-- (Latin) a form of Olive (Latin) olive tree

Pia-- (Latin, Italian) devout

Priya-- (Hindi) beloved; sweet natured

Penelope-- (Greek) weaver. Mythology: the clever and loyal wife of Odysseus, a Greek hero

Peyton/Payton-- (Irish) a form of Patricia (Latin) noblewoman

Raisa-- (Russian) a form of Rose

Rose-- (Latin) rose

Renee-- (French) born again

Rea/Rhea-- (Greek) brook, stream. Mythology: the mother of Zeus

Shiloh-- (Hebrew) Gods gift. Bible: a sanctuary for the Israelites where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.

Zara/Sarah-- (Hebrew) Princess. Bible: the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac

Sophie/Sophia-- (Greek) wise

Skyler-- (Dutch) sheltering

Tameka-- (Aramaic) twin

Taliyah-- (Greek) a form of Talia (Greek) blooming. (Hebrew) dew from heaven. (Latin, French) birthday

Talisa-- (English) a form of Tallis. (French, English) forest

Tiana-- (Greek) Princess

Victoire/Victoria-- (Latin) victorious

Willow-- (English) willow tree

Zona-- (Latin) belt, sash

Zinnia-- (Latin) botany: a plant with beautiful, rayed colourful flowers.

Zoey-- (Greek) life

Okay, so that's all for now. I'll be making another post later this week featuring boy's names! It took me a while to write this post because my list is all sort of jumbled, and I wrote it A-Z on here, then I had my baby name book on my lap and I was constantly flipping through the pages, so it was actually pretty difficult to write it A-Z. The boys' names probably won't be as hard since there aren't nearly as many boy names as there are girl names. I definitely like the girl names more!! 

So, what do you think? Are there any names on this (huge!) list that you'd use for pets, babies or characters? Let me know! I know I didn't include all the possible baby girl names, just my favorites! But go ahead and tell me what YOUR favorites are, even if it's not mentioned on this list. Thanks for reading!

-Crysta

PS. I used 'The Very Best Baby Name Book' by Bruce Lansky to find the names.