Behind the Name: English Feminine Names

MILDRED f English
From the Old English name Mildþryð meaning "gentle strength", derived from the elements milde "gentle" and þryð "strength"... [more]

MILEY f English (Modern)
In the case of child actress and singer Miley Cyrus (1992-), it is a shortened form of the nickname Smiley, given to her by her father because she often smiled.

MILLICENT f English
From the Germanic name Amalaswinth, composed of the elements amal "work, labour" and swinþ "strength"... [more]

MILLIE f English
Diminutive of MILLICENT or CAMILLA

MINA (1) f English, Italian
Short form of WILHELMINA and other names ending in mina... [more]

MINDY f English
Diminutive of MELINDA

MINERVA f Roman Mythology, English
Possibly derived from Latin mens meaning "intellect", but more likely of Etruscan origin... [more]

MINNIE f English
Diminutive of WILHELMINA

MINTA f English
Short form of ARAMINTA

MINTY f English
Diminutive of ARAMINTA

MIRABELLE f French (Rare), English (Rare)
Derived from Latin mirabilis "wonderful"... [more]

MIRACLE f English (Modern)
From the English word miracle for an extraordinary event, ultimately deriving from Latin miraculum "wonder, marvel".

MIRANDA f English
Derived from Latin mirandus meaning "admirable, wonderful"... [more]

MIRIAM f Jewish, English, German, Biblical
Original Hebrew form of MARY... [more]

MISSIE f English
Diminutive of MELISSA

MISSY f English
Diminutive of MELISSA

MISTI f English
Variant of MISTY

MISTY f English
From the English word misty, ultimately derived from Old English... [more]

MO f & m English
Short form of MAUREEN, MAURICE, MORRIS, and other names beginning with a similar sound.

MODESTY f English (Rare)
From the English word modesty, ultimately from Latin modestus "moderate", a derivative of modus "measure".

MOLLIE f English
Variant of MOLLY

MOLLY f English
Diminutive of MARY... [more]

MONA (1) f Irish, English
Anglicized form of MUADHNAIT... [more]

MONDAY f English (Rare)
From the English word for the day of the week, which was derived from Old English mona "moon" and dæg "day"... [more]

MONICA f English, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian
Meaning unknown, most likely of North African or Phoenician origin... [more]

MONNA f English
Variant of MONA (1)

MONTANA f & m English (Modern)
From the name of the American state, which is derived from Latin montanus "mountainous".

MORA f English (Rare)
Variant of MAURA (2)

MOREEN f Irish, English
Anglicized form of Móirín, a diminutive of MÓR... [more]

MORGAN m & f Welsh, English
From the Old Welsh masculine name Morcant, which was possibly derived from Welsh mor "sea" and cant "circle"... [more]

MORGANA f English (Rare)
Feminine form of MORGAN

MORGEN m & f English (Rare)
Variant of MORGAN

MORIAH f Biblical, English (Modern)
Possibly means "seen by YAHWEH" in Hebrew... [more]

MURIEL f English, French, Irish
Anglicized form of MUIRGHEAL or its Breton cognate... [more]

MURPHY m & f Irish, English
From an Irish surname which was derived from Ó Murchadha meaning "descendent of MURCHADH".

MYA f English (Modern)
Variant of MAIA (1)

MYRA f English
Created by the 17th-century poet Fulke Greville... [more]

MYRANDA f English (Modern)
Variant of MIRANDA

MYRTIE f English
Diminutive of MYRTLE

MYRTLE f English
Simply from the English word myrtle for the evergreen shrub, ultimately from Greek μυρτος (myrtos)... [more]

NADIA (1) f French, English, Italian
Variant of NADYA (1) used in the Western world... [more]

NAN f English
Diminutive of ANNE (1) and a short form of NANCY.

NANCY f English
Previously a medieval diminutive of ANNIS, though since the 18th century it has been a diminutive of ANNE (1)... [more]

NANETTE f English
Diminutive of ANNE (1)

NANNIE f English
Diminutive of ANNE (1)

NANNY f English
Diminutive of ANNE (1)

NAOMI (1) f English, Jewish, Biblical
From the Hebrew name נָעֳמִי (Na'omiy) meaning "pleasantness"... [more]

NARELLE f English (Australia and New Zealand)
Meaning unknown... [more]

NATALEE f English (Modern)
Variant of NATALIE

NATALIE f French, English, German
From the Late Latin name Natalia, which meant "Christmas Day" from Latin natale domini... [more]

NATASHA f Russian, English
Russian diminutive of NATALYA... [more]

NATILLE f English (Rare)
Variant of NATALIE

NATISHA f English (African American, Rare)
Variant of NATASHA, probably modeled on LATISHA.

NELDA f English
Possibly an elaboration of NELL using the popular name suffix da.

NELL f English
Medieval diminutive of ELEANOR, ELLEN (1) or HELEN... [more]

NELLA f English
Elaborated form of NELL

NELLE f English
Variant of NELL

NELLIE f English
Diminutive of NELL

NELLY f English
Diminutive of NELL

NENA f English
Variant of NINA (1)

NESSA (1) f English
Short form of VANESSA and other names ending in nessa.

NETTA f English
Short form of names ending in netta.

NETTIE f English
Diminutive of names ending in nette, such as ANNETTE and JEANETTE.

NEVA f English
Short form of GENEVA

NEVADA f English
From the name of the American state, which means "snow-capped" in Spanish.

NEVAEH f English (Modern)
The word heaven spelled backwards... [more]

NICHOLA f English (British)
Feminine form of NICHOLAS

NICHOLE f English
Variant of NICOLE

NICKY m & f English
Diminutive of NICHOLAS or NICOLE

NICOLA (2) f English (British)
Latinate feminine form of NICHOLAS

NICOLE f French, English, Dutch
French feminine form of NICHOLAS, commonly used in the English-speaking world since the middle of the 20th century.

NIDIA f English (Rare), Spanish
Variant of NYDIA

NIGELLA f English (Rare)
Feminine form of NIGEL

NIKEISHA f English (African American, Rare)
Combination of the name prefix Ni and the name KEISHA.

NIKKI f English
Diminutive of NICOLE

NIKKOLE f English (Rare)
Variant of NICOLE

NIKOLE f English
Variant of NICOLE

NINA (1) f Russian, Italian, English, German, French, Polish, Slovene
Short form of names that end in nina, such as ANTONINA and GIANNINA... [more]

NITA (1) f English
Short form of ANITA and other names ending in nita.

NOELENE f English (Rare)
Feminine diminutive of NOEL

NOELLE f English
English form of NOËLLE

NOLA f English, Irish
Diminutive of MAGNOLIA, FINOLA or other names containing a similar sound.

NOLENE f English (Rare)
Elaborated form of NOLA

NONA (2) f English
Derived from Latin nonus meaning "ninth"... [more]

NONIE f English
Diminutive of IONE or NORA

NORA f Irish, English, Scandinavian, German
Diminutive of HONORA or ELEANOR... [more]

NORAH f Irish, English
Variant of NORA

NOREEN f Irish, English
Diminutive of NORA

NORENE f Irish, English
Diminutive of NORA

NORMA f English, Italian
Created by Felice Romani for the main character in his opera 'Norma' (1831)... [more]

NORMINA f English (Rare)
Elaborated form of NORMA

NOVA f English
Derived from Latin novus meaning "new"... [more]

NYDIA f English (Rare), Spanish
Used by British author Edward Bulwer-Lytton for a blind flower-seller in his novel 'The Last Days of Pompeii' (1834)... [more]

NYREE f English (Australia and New Zealand)
Anglicized form of NGAIRE... [more]

OCEAN m & f English (Rare)
Simply from the English word ocean for a large body of water... [more]

OCTAVIA f English, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of OCTAVIUS... [more]

ODELIA f English
Form of ODILIA

ODELL m & f English
From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "woad hill" in Old English... [more]

ODETTA f English (Rare)
Latinate form of ODETTE

OLIVE f English
From the English word for the type of tree, ultimately derived from Latin oliva.

OLIVIA f English, Italian, Spanish, German, Finnish
This name was first used in this spelling by William Shakespeare for a character in his comedy 'Twelfth Night' (1602)... [more]

OLLIE m & f English
Diminutive of OLIVER, OLIVE or OLIVIA

OLYVIA f English (Rare)
Variant of OLIVIA

ONEIDA f English
From the name of a Native American tribe, perhaps meaning "standing rock".

OPAL f English
From the English word opal for the iridescent gemstone, the birthstone of October... [more]

OPALINE f English (Rare)
Elaborated form of OPAL

OPHELIA f English
Derived from Greek οφελος (ophelos) meaning "help"... [more]

ORA (1) f & m English
Perhaps based on Latin oro "to pray"... [more]

ORALEE f English (Rare)
Possibly a variant of AURÉLIE

ORALIE f English (Rare)
Possibly a variant of AURÉLIE

ORINDA f English (Rare)
Probably an elaboration of Spanish oro "gold"... [more]

ORPHA f Biblical (Variant), English
Variant of ORPAH used in some translations of the Bible.

OTTOLINE f English (Rare)
Diminutive of OTTILIE... [more]

PAGET f English (Rare)
From a surname which meant "little page" (see PAIGE).

PAIGE f English
From an English surname meaning "servant, page" in Middle English... [more]

PAISLEY f English (Modern)
From a Scottish surname, originally from the name of a town, which may ultimately be derived from Latin basilica "church".

PAM f English
Short form of PAMELA

PAMELA f English
This name was invented in the late 16th century by the poet Sir Philip Sidney for use in his poem 'Arcadia'... [more]

PAMELIA f English
Elaborated form of PAMELA

PAMELLA f English
Variant of PAMELA

PAMILA f English (Rare)
Variant of PAMELA

PANDA f English (Rare)
From the name of the bamboo-eating mammal that lives in China.

PANSY f English
From the English word for a type of flower, ultimately deriving from Old French pensee "thought".

PARKER m & f English
From an English occupational surname which meant "keeper of the park".

PARNEL f English (Archaic)
Contracted form of PETRONEL... [more]

PARRIS m & f English (Rare)
From an English surname which originally denoted a person who came from the French city of Paris (see PARIS (2)).

PAT m & f English
Short form of PATRICK or PATRICIA... [more]

PATIENCE f English
From the English word patience, ultimately from Latin patientia, a derivative of pati "to suffer"... [more]

PATRICIA f English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Patricius (see PATRICK)... [more]

PATSY f & m Irish, English
Variant of PATTY, also used as a diminutive of PATRICK.

PATTI f English
Variant of PATTY

PATTIE f English
Variant of PATTY

PATTY f English
Originally a variant of Matty, a 17th-century diminutive of MARTHA... [more]

PAULA f German, English, Finnish, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Hungarian, Polish, Dutch, Scandinavian, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Paulus (see PAUL)... [more]

PAULEEN f English (Rare)
Variant of PAULINE

PAULENE f English (Rare)
Variant of PAULINE

PAULETTA f English
Latinate feminine diminutive of PAUL

PAULINA f Spanish, Polish, Swedish, English, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Paulinus (see PAULINO).

PAULINE f French, English, German, Scandinavian
French feminine form of Paulinus (see PAULINO).

PAYTON f & m English (Modern)
Variant of PEYTON

PEACE f English (Rare)
From the English word peace, ultimately derived from Latin pax.

PEARL f & m English
From the English word pearl for the concretions formed in the shells of some mollusks... [more]

PEARLE f English
Variant of PEARL

PEARLIE f English
Diminutive of PEARL

PEG f English
Short form of PEGGY

PEGGIE f English
Variant of PEGGY

PEGGY f English
Medieval variant of Meggie, a diminutive of MARGARET... [more]

PEN f English
Short form of PENELOPE

PENE f English (Rare)
Diminutive of PENELOPE

PENELOPE f Greek Mythology, English
Possibly derived from Greek πηνελοψ (penelops), a type of duck... [more]

PENNY f English
Diminutive of PENELOPE

PEONY f English (Rare)
From the English word for the type of flower... [more]

PERLIE m & f English (Rare)
From an occupational surname derived from Middle English perle "pearl", originally given to a person who traded in pearls.

PERMELIA f English (Archaic)
Meaning unknown, possibly an early American alteration of PAMELA.

PERNEL f English (Archaic)
Variant of PARNEL

PERONEL f English (Archaic)
Contracted form of PETRONEL

PETA f English (Australia and New Zealand)
Feminine form of PETER

PETRA f Greek, German, Scandinavian, Finnish, Dutch, Czech, Slovene, Hungarian, English
Feminine form of PETER... [more]

PETRINA f English (Rare)
Diminutive of PETRA

PETRONEL f English (Archaic)
Medieval English form of PETRONILLA

PETULA f English (Rare)
Meaning unknown, created in the 20th century... [more]

PETUNIA f English (Rare)
From the name of the flower, derived ultimately from a Tupi (South American) word.

PEYTON m & f English
From a English surname, originally a place name meaning "Pœga's town"... [more]

PHEBE f English, Biblical (Variant)
Variant of PHOEBE used in some translations of the New Testament.

PHEMIE f English
Diminutive of EUPHEMIA

PHEOBE f English
Variant of PHOEBE

PHILIPA f English (Rare)
Feminine form of PHILIP

PHILIPPA f English (British), German
Latiniate feminine form of PHILIP

PHILIS f English (Rare)
Variant of PHYLLIS

PHILLIDA f English (Rare)
Variant of PHYLLIDA

PHILLIPA f English (Rare)
Feminine variant of PHILIP

PHILLIS f English
Variant of PHYLLIS

PHILOMENA f English, German
Means "friend of strength" from Greek φιλος (philos) "friend" and μενος (menos) "strength"... [more]

PHOEBE f English, Greek Mythology (Latinized), Biblical
Latinized form of the Greek name Φοιβη (Phoibe), which meant "bright, pure" from Greek φοιβος (phoibos)... [more]

PHOENIX m & f English (Modern)
From the name of a beautiful immortal bird which appears in Egyptian and Greek mythology... [more]

PHYLISS f English
Variant of PHYLLIS

PHYLLIDA f English (Rare)
From Φυλλιδος (Phyllidos), the genitive form of PHYLLIS... [more]

PHYLLIS f Greek Mythology, English, German
Means "foliage" in Greek... [more]

PIETY f English (Rare)
From the English word meaning "piety, devoutness"... [more]

PIPER f English (Modern)
From a surname which was originally given to a person who played on a pipe (a flute)... [more]

PIPPA f English
Diminutive of PHILIPPA

PLEASANCE f English (Archaic)
From the medieval name Plaisance which meant "pleasant" in Old French.

POLLIE f English
Variant of POLLY

POLLY f English
Medieval variant of MOLLY... [more]

POPPY f English (British)
From the word for the red flower, derived from Old English popæg.

PORSCHE f English (Modern)
From the name of the German car company, which was founded by Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951)... [more]

PORTIA f English
Feminine form of the Roman family name Porcius, meaning "pig", used by William Shakespeare for the heroine of his play 'The Merchant of Venice' (1596)... [more]

POSIE f English
Variant of POSY

POSY f English
Diminutive of JOSEPHINE... [more]

PRAISE f English (Rare)
From the English word praise, which is ultimately derived (via Old French) from Late Latin preciare, a derivative of Latin pretium "price, worth".

PRECIOUS f English (Modern)
From the English word precious, ultimately derived from Latin pretiosus, a derivative of Latin pretium "price, worth".

PRESLEY f & m English
From an English surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "priest clearing" (Old English preost and leah)... [more]

PRIMROSE f English (Rare)
From the English word for the flower, ultimately deriving from Latin prima rosa "first rose".

PRIMULA f English (Rare)
From the English word for the flower, another name for the primrose, which is derived from the Latin word primulus meaning "very first".

PRINCESS f English (Modern)
Feminine equivalent of PRINCE

PRIS f English
Short form of PRISCILLA

PRISCILLA f English, Ancient Roman, Biblical
Roman name, a diminutive of PRISCA... [more]

PRISSY f English
Diminutive of PRISCILLA

PRU f English
Short form of PRUDENCE

PRUDENCE f English
Medieval form of Prudentia, a feminine form of PRUDENTIUS... [more]

PRUE f English
Short form of PRUDENCE

PRUNELLA f English (Rare)
From the English word for the type of flower, also called self-heal, ultimately a derivative of the Latin word pruna "plum".

PURDIE m & f English (Rare)
From an English surname which was derived from the Norman French expression pur die "by God"... [more]

QIANA f English (African American, Modern)
From the word for the silk-like material, introduced by DuPont in 1968 and popular in the fashions of the 1970s.

QUANNA f English (African American, Rare)
Combination of the popular name prefix Qua and ANNA.

QUEEN f English
From an old nickname which was derived from the English word, ultimately from Old English cwen meaning "woman, wife".

QUEENIE f English
Diminutive of QUEEN

QUIANA f English (African American, Modern)
Variant of QIANA

QUIANNA f English (African American, Rare)
Variant of QIANA

QUINN m & f Irish, English
From an Irish surname which was derived from Ó Cuinn meaning "descendent of Cuinn"... [more]

RACHAEL f English
Variant of RACHEL, the spelling probably influenced by that of Michael.

RACHEAL f English
Variant of RACHEL

RACHEL f English, Jewish, French, German, Biblical
Means "ewe" in Hebrew... [more]

RACHELLE f English
Variant of RACHEL influenced by the spelling of ROCHELLE.

RACHYL f English (Rare)
Variant of RACHEL

RACQUEL f English
Variant of RAQUEL

RAE f English
Short form of RACHEL... [more]

RAELENE f English (Rare)
Combination of RAE and the popular name suffix lene.

RAELYN f English (Rare)
Combination of RAE and the popular name suffix lyn.

RAIN f & m English (Rare)
Simply from the English word rain, derived from Old English regn.

RAINBOW f English (Rare)
From the English word for the arc of multicoloured light that can appear in a misty sky.

RAINE f English (Rare)
Possibly a variant of REINE... [more]

RAMONA f Spanish, Romanian, English
Feminine form of RAMÓN... [more]

RANDI f English
Feminine form of RANDY, also used as a diminutive of MIRANDA.

RASCHELLE f English (Rare)
Variant of RACHELLE

RAVEN f & m English
From the name of the bird, ultimately from Old English hræfn... [more]

RAVENNA f English (Rare)
Either an elaboration of RAVEN, or else from the name of the city of Ravenna in Italy.

RAYLENE f English (Rare)
Combination of RAY and the popular name suffix lene.

REAGAN f & m English, Irish
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Ríagáin meaning "descendent of Riagán"... [more]

REANNA f English (Modern)
Variant of RHIANNA

REANNON f English (Rare)
Variant of RHIANNON

REBA f English
Short form of REBECCA

REBECCA f English, Italian, Swedish, Biblical
From the Hebrew name רִבְקָה (Rivqah), possibly meaning "a snare" in Hebrew, or perhaps derived from an Aramaic name... [more]

REBECCAH f English (Rare)
Variant of REBECCA

REBECCANNE f English (Rare)
Combination of REBECCA and ANNE (1)

REBECKAH f English (Rare)
Variant of REBECCA

REBEKAH f Biblical (Variant), English
Form of REBECCA used in some versions of the Bible.

REENE f English (Rare)
Variant of RENÉE

REENIE f English (Rare)
Either a variant of RENÉE or a diminutive of names ending in reen.

REGAN f English
Meaning unknown, probably of Celtic origin... [more]

REGANA f English (Rare)
Elaboration of REGAN, influenced by REGINA.

REGENA f English
Variant of REGINA

REGINA f English, Italian, Polish, German, Scandinavian, Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "queen"... [more]

REILLY m & f English (Modern)
From an Irish surname which is derived from the given name Raghailleach, meaning unknown.

RENA f English
Latinate feminine form of RENÉ

RENAE f English
English variant of RENÉE

RENEE f English
English form of RENÉE

RENIE f English (Rare)
Possibly a diminutive of RENEE

RENITA f English
Probably a feminine form of RENATUS... [more]

RETHA f English
Short form of MARGARETHA

REXANA f English (Rare)
Variant of REXANNE

REXANNE f English (Rare)
Variant of of ROXANE influenced by REX.

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