Female Names and Meanings 

This is a collection of the most popular female names from 2001-2012 and their meanings. (no guarantee on how accurate the meanings are since many conflicted!)

Aaliyah - rising, ascending

Abby - father of exaltation

Abigail - father of exaltation

Addison - son of Adam

Adele - nobel

Adeline - nobel

Adrianna - from Hadria

Ainsley - only hermitage wood or clearing

Alana - precious, awakening

Alexa - man’s defender, nobel

Alexis - defender

Alice - nobel, exalted

Alissa/Alyssa - nobel, exalted

Allison - nobel, exalted

Amber - ambergris

Amelia/Emlila - amiable

Amy - beloved

Angelina - messenger; messenger of God

Anna - He (God) has favored me

Annabelle - He (God) has favored me

Annalise - graced with God’s bounty

Aria - lioness

Arianna - most holy; silver

Ashley - ash meadow

Ashlyn - dream

Aubrey - elf or magical being, power

Audrey - nobel strength

Aurora - dawn

Autumn - season of harvest

Ava - life or serpent

Avery - counselor; sage; wise

Bailey - berry clearing; bailiff; city fortification

Bianca - white, pure

Brianna - high, noble, exalted

Brooke - water, small stream

Brooklyn - water, small stream

Cade - pure

Cadence - with rhythm

Cailyn/Kailyn - girl; pure

Callie - beautiful, lovely

Catherine - pure

Chloe - green shoot

Charlotte - free man

Claire - bright, famous

Clara - clear; bright; famous

Cora - maiden

Dakota - friend, ally

Delilah - delicate, weak, languishing

Eden - place of pleasure

Elise - consecrated to God

Elizabeth - God’s promise; God is my oath

Ella - other, foreign

Eloise - famous warrior

Emily - rival; laborious; eager

Emma - entire, universal

Erin - Ireland

Eva - life, animal

Evelyn - from “avis” meaning bird

Faith - loyalty; belief

Fiona - white, fair

Gabrielle - heroine of God

Gemma - jewel

Grace - favor, blessing

Hadley - field of heather

Hannah - He (God) has favored me

Harper - harpist, minstrel

Hayley - hay meadow

Hazel - commander

Isabella - God’s promise; God is my oath

Isabelle/Isabel - God’s promise; God is my oath

Isla - Scottish river

Ivy - from the ivy plant

Jade - precious stone

Jasmine - the jasmine plant

Jayden/Jaden - precious stone

Jessica - He sees

Jocelyn - a member of the German tribe, the Gauts

Josephine - may Jehovah add

Julia - youthful

Julianna - youthful; Jove’s child

Juliet - youthful; Jove’s child

Kayla - slim and fair

Kaylee - slender

Keira - black; lord

Kylie - graceful

Lauren - the bay, or laurel plant

Layla - night beauty

Leah - delicate; weary

Lily - innocence and purity

Lorelei - murmuring rock

Lucy - light

Luna - moon

Mackenzie - fire-born, son of the wise ruler

Madeline - woman from Magdala

Madison - son of the mighty warrior

Makayla - who resembles God?

Maya - dream, illusion

Megan - pearl

Mia - who resembles God?

Mila - emulating

Naomi - beautiful, pleasant, delightful

Natalie - birthday

Nicole - people of victory

Nora - light

Oliva - olive tree

Paige - young servant

Payton - noble

Quinn - counsel

Rachel - ewe, female sheep

Reagan/Regan - regal

Reese - enthusiasm

Riley - courageous

Sabrina - a Welsh river name

Sadie - princess

Samantha - God heard, flower

Sarah - princess

Savannah - treeless plain

Scarlett - red

Sienna - reddish orange-brown

Skylar - fugitive

Sophia/Sofia - wisdom

Stella - star

Sydney - wise island

Taylor - tailor, to cut

Victoria - victory

Violet - purple

Willow - slender; graceful

Zoe - life