Some of My Favorite Girl Names

I have a thing for names. Seriously. I love the meaning of names, how they can shape someone’s world, and how one can identify with their culture. Granted not all names have positive meanings, there’s nothing to say that you can’t change a negative into a positive. But, yes, I have a tendency to put names into sentences, which could be a long, long name. There are some names with very deep meanings that I have fallen in love with, from all kinds of cultures. I guess that’s part of why I love names: some cultures have such a connection to them. Having a list of names from other cultures helps me feel connected to them, you know? Like, seriously, I will have a “DUDE!” moment behind reading someone’s name. An “A-HA!” moment.

At any rate, I hope you enjoy this list of names. :D I have other names, but I figured it’d be easier to list by category. :D

“It’s not what you are called, it is what you answer to.” Answer to hope, love, faith, purpose, positivity, creativity, healing. “Let the weak say I am strong.” :)

Names are/were taken from:

55,000+ Baby Names by Bruce Lansky, 2005, Meadowbrook Press

The Best Baby Names in the World by JM Congemy, 2007, Harper

GIRLS:

Eshe: Life (Swahili) (Eh-shay) (g)

Ashe: life (Swahili) (g)

Aisha: life (Swahili) (g)

Ashia: life; woman (g)

Yiesha: life (yee-AY-shah) (g)

Esha: life (g)

Dunia: life (Hebrew) (g)

Eve: life (Hebrew) (g)

Chai: life (Hebrew) (g)

Chaya: life, living (Hebrew) (g)

Essence: life, existence (Latin) (g)

Viva: live (Spanish) (g)

Namazzi: water (Uganda) (nah-MAH-see) (g)

Lluvia: rain (Spanish) (g)

Nomuula: rain (South Africa) (no-moo-OO-lah) (g)

Ifetayo: love brings happiness (Nigeria) (ee-fay-tah-yo) (g)

Ife: love (Nigeria) (ee-fay) (g)

Bautista: baptizer (g)

Baptista: baptizer (g)

Baptiste: baptizer (g)

Battista: baptizer (g)

Batista: baptizer (g)

Batiste: baptizer (g)

Evangel: bearer of good news (g)

Evangelene: bearer of good news (g)

Chriki: blessing (African) (CHREE-kee) (g)

Malaika: angel (African) (mah-lah-ee-kah) (g)

Jolene: God will add, God will increase (g)

Tedra: gift of God (Greek) (g)

Basia: daughter of God (Hebrew) (g)

Noni: gift of God (African) (NO-nee) (g)

Sharik: a child of God (shah-reek) (g)

Mawusi: in the hands of God (Ghana) (ma-woo-see) (g)

Theophila: loved by God (Greek) (g)

Theophania: God’s appearance (Greek) (g)

Nanyamka: God’s gift (Ghana) (Nahn-yahm-kah) (g)

Tulinagwe: God is with us (too-lee-nag-way) (g)

Olufemi: God loves me (Nigeria) (o-lah-feh-mee) (g)

Ayofemi: joy likes me (Nigeria) (ah-yo-feh-mee) (g)

Femi: love me (Nigeria) (feh-mee) (g)

Folami: respect and honor me (Nigeria) (fo-lah-mi) (g)

Fola: honor (Nigeria) (fo-kah) (g)

Folade: honor arrives (Nigeria) (fo-lah-day) (g)

Ayobami: I am blessed with joy (Nigeria) (ah-yo-BAH-me) (g)

Uchefuna: I have my wits about me (Nigeria) (oo-chay-foo-na) (g)

Fayola: good fortune walks with honor (Nigeria) (fah-yo-la) (g)

Africah: sunny, not cold (Latin, Greek) (g)

Africa: sunny; not cold (Latin; Greek) (g)

Afrika: sunny; not cold (g)

Afrikah: sunny; not cold (g)

Afiya: health (African) ah-FEE-yah) (g)

Afi: born on Friday (African) (g)

Koffi: born on Friday (g)

Ama: born on Saturday (African) (g)

Jumapili: Sunday (Kenya) (joo-ma-pee-lee) (g)

Chausiku: born at night (African) (cha-oo-SEE-ku) (g)

Nomalanga: sunny (African) (no-ma-lahng-ah) (g)

Aviva: spring time (Hebrew) (g)

Zahra: blossom (African) (zah-rah) (g)

Dagny: day (Scandinavian) (g)

Brisa: breeze (Spanish) (g)

Tuwalole: exemplary (Tanzania) (too-wah-loh-leh) (g)

Shafira: defined (African) (sha-FEE-rah) (g)

Sharifa: distinguished one (Swahili) (shah-REE-fah) (g)

Sarafina: burning passion (South Africa) (say-rah-FEE-nah) (g)

Mandisa: sweet (South Africa) (man-dee-sah) (g)

Dulce: sweet (Latin) (g)

Thandiwe: beloved (South Africa) (tan-dee-way) (g)

Amada: beloved (Spanish) (g)

Querida: dear (Spanish) (g)

Morowa: queen (Ghana) (mor-o-wa) (g)

Kanika: advice giver; easy-going spirit (Kenya) (g)

Bupe: hospitality (Tanzania) (BOO-pay) (g)

Salma: safe (SAHL-ma) (g)

Hazika: intelligent one (Nigeria) (hah-zee-kah) (g)

Akilah: intelligent (Arabic) (g)

Akeelah: intelligent (g)

Sanura: quick, intelligent, very creative (g)

Mumbi: creative, mother of the people (Kenya) (moh-bee) (g)

Shukura: I am grateful (shoo-koo-roo) (g)

Goma: joyful dance (Africa) (go-ma) (g)

Dembe: peace, peaceful (Uganda) (DHEM-bay) (b) (g)

Corliss: cheerful; good-hearted (g)

Korliss: cheerful; good-hearted (g)

Corly: cheerful; good-hearted (g)

Faraa: cheerful one (Nigeria) (fah-rah) (g)

Allegra: cheerful (g)

Amadi: general rejoicing (Nigeria) (ah-mah-dee) (g)

Bayo: joy is found (Nigeria) (BAH-yo) (g)

Nayo: we have great joy (Nigeria) (NAH-yo) (g)

Olabisi: joy is multiplied (Nigeria) (o-lah-bee-see) (g)

Makena: the happy one (Ghana) (mah-kay-na) (g)

Thana: happy occasion (Arabic) (g)

Desta: happy (Ethiopian); fate (French) (g)

Dessa: wanderer (Greek); desired, longed for (French) (g)

Sade: sweetly singing (Nigeria) (sha-day); princess (g)

Aduke: much loved (Nigeria) (ah-doo-kay) (g)

Cassia: a cinnamon-like spice (g)

Kezia: cinnamon-like spice (Hebrew) (g)

Keziah: cinnamon-like spice (Hebrew) (g)

Dagmar: glorious (German) (g)

Dagmara: sublime soul (Lithuania) (dag-ma-rah) (g)

Dorrit: dwelling (Greek); generation (Hebrew) (g)

Tetsu: strong as iron (Japanese) (g)

Bara: chosen (Hebrew) (g)

Waseme: let them talk (African) (wah-say-may) (g)

Ventana: window (Spanish) (g)

Aluna: come here (Kenya) (ah-loo-na) (g)

Moraa: fun loving (Kenya) (moh-rah) (g)

Lulu: precious pearl; calm, peaceful protected (Tanzania) (loo-loo) (g)

Ahadi: with much promise (ah-HAH-dee) (g)

Kia: season’s beginning (Arica) (kee-ah) (g)

Winna: friend (wih-nah) (g)

Siti: respected woman (see-tee) (g)

Nombeko: respect (South Africa) (no-m-BEH-ko) (g)

Baderinwa: worthy of respect (Nigeria) (ban-deh-reen-way) (g)

Gloria: glory (Latin) (g)

Gladys: small sword (Latin); princess (Irish); lame (Welsh; a form of Claudia – lame) (g)

Tertia: third (Latin) (g)

Wanda: wanderer (g)

Thelma: willful (Greek) (g)

Thuy: gentle (Vietnamese) (g)

Tamiko: child of the people (Japanese) (g)

Dinka: people (Swahili) (g)

Tamara: palm tree (Hebrew) (g)

Tamar: palm tree (g)

Amorie: industrious leader (German) (g)

Barbara: stranger, foreigner (Latin) (g)

Babette: strange, foreigner (French) (g)

Lakkia: found treasure (Arabic) (g)

Lakia: found treasure (Arabic) (g)

Lilac: lilac; blue purple (Sanskrit) (g)

Mahalia: fat, marrow, tender (Arabic); powerful woman (Native American) (g)

Salud: health (Spanish) (g)

Akina: spring flower (Japanese) (g)

Chiku: chatterer (Swahili) (g)

Charo: rose (Spanish) (g)

Carmela: garden, vineyard (Hebrew) (g)

Carmelit: garden, vineyard (g)

Cielo: she who is celestial (g)

Collette: victory of the people (Greek, French) (g)

Dahlia: valley (Scandinavian); a perennial flower (g)

Esther: star (g)

Desiree: desired, longed for (French); wanderer (Greek) (g)

Dessa: wanderer (Greek); desired, longed for (French) (g)

Destiny: fate (French) (g/b)

Dashiki: loose-fitting shirt worn in Africa (Swahili) (g)

Hachi: eight, good luck (Japanese) (g)

Irma: noble (Latin); soldier (German) (g)

Irma de la Paz: peaceful Irma (Spanish) (g)

Thema: queen (Ghana) (tay-ma) (g)

Serwa: noble one (Ghana) (SIR-wah) (g)

Kokumo: this one will not die (Nigeria) (Ko-koo-mo) (g)

Bolade: honor arrives (Nigeria) (bo-lah-day) (g)

Akili: wisdom (Tanzania (g)

Amaziah: extraordinary (Uganda) (ah-mah-zee-ah) (g)

Martha: lady; sorrowful (Aramaic) (g)

Magdalen: high tower (Greek) (g)

Magdala: high tower (Greek) (g)

Magda: high tower (Polish, Hebrew) (MAG-da) (g)

Magnolia: flowering tree (Latin) (g)

Nala: queen (Tanzania) (NAH-lah) (g)

Bahati: my luck is good (African) (ba-HAH-tee) (g)

Batini: inner thoughts (African) (bah-tee-nee) (g)

Chinira: one who receives God (African) (chee-NEE-rah) (g)

Faizah: victorious (Africa) (fah-YEE-zah) (g)

Habibah: beloved (African) (hah-bee-bah) (g)

Halima: gentle (African) (g)

Karimu: generous (African) (kah-ree-moo) (g)

Taura: bull (Latin) (g)

Cerise: cherry, cherry red (French) (g)

Shannon: small and wise; old one (g)

Cassidy: clever (g)

Beverly: beaver meadow (g)

Theresa: reaper (g)

Elva: elfin (English) (g)

Acacia: thorny (Greek) (g)

Sierra: black (g)

Mahogany: rich, strong (Spanish) (g)

Daisy: day’s eye (English); a white and yellow flower (g)

Nafula: rainy season (Kenya) (nah-foo-lah) (g)

Adeola: a crown has honor (Nigeria) (ah-day-o-lah) (g)

Asabi: she is of choice birth (Nigeria) (ah-SAH-bee) (g)

Aiyetoro: peace on Earth (Nigeria) (ah-ee-yay-to-ro) (g)

Ethel: noble (English) (g)

Eudora: honored gift (Greek) (g)

Philomena: love of song (g)

Evelyn: hazelnut (g)

Mehira: speedy, energetic (Hebrew) (g)

Meira: light (Hebrew) (g)

Kitra: crowned (Hebrew) (g)

Jemima: dove (Hebrew) (g)

Fadilah: virtuous, cultured (Arabic) (g)

Janan: heart and soul (Arabic) (g)

Florence: flowering (g)

Florentyna: flowering (Polish) (flo-ren-TEE-na) (g)

Florida: blooming, flowery, prosperous (Spanish) (g)

Florie: blooming, flowery, prosperous (English) (g)

Flori: in bloom; blooming, flowery, prosperous (Romanian) (FLOR-ee) (g)

Florinia: blooming or flowery (Latin) (g)

Florinda: blooming flower; blooming, flowery, prosperous (Spanish) (g)

Floris: blooming, flowery, prosperous (English) (g)

Florisel: blooming, flowery, prosperous (Spanish) (g)

Flossy: blooming, flowery, prosperous (g)

Flossi: blooming, flowery, prosperous (g)

Flossie: flowering (g)

Flora: blooming, flowery, prosperous (g)

Shamira: precious stone (Hebrew) (g)

Samantha: listener (g)