Hello! I am looking for a name with a meaning my baby girl can be proud of- wise, gentle, graceful, hardworking, etc.
For instance: I love the name Isla, but it means “island.” Not really something to hang your hat on.
I want a name that will be apropriate for an adult…nothing too girlie or cutesy. I love names that end in “a” but I am open to others. Middle name will be “Jean.”
Any ideas??? Thank you!!
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] means Happiness, which I think is lovely.
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] means wished for child, which I also think is gorgeous.
A meaningful meaning … could you perhaps be more specific? It’s surely a false sentiment to arbitrarily pick a name for its meaningfulness if it otherwise isn’t meaningful. Haha sorry. I’m confusing myself. Anyway.
No matter what you name your daughter it will be meaningful - it will be her lifelong label / sound you chose to refer to her by. Assuming you’re talking about pre-established meanings, like origins and history… every name has one and for the most part they’re positive (common meanings like beautiful, meadow, gods gift etc)… what exactly do you think you’d like?
[name_f]Adira[/name_f]
[name_f]Cosima[/name_f]
[name_f]Calla[/name_f]
[name_f]Callista[/name_f]
[name_f]Naomi[/name_f]
[name_f]Serenity[/name_f]
[name_f]Katherine[/name_f]
[name_f]Nadia[/name_f]
[name_f]Arcadia[/name_f]
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
[name_f]Miriam[/name_f]
[name_f]Amanda[/name_f]
[name_f]Amy[/name_f]
[name_f]Carys[/name_f]
[name_f]Esme[/name_f]
[name_f]Philomena[/name_f]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
[name_f]Asha[/name_f]
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]
[name_u]Sky[/name_u]
[name_f]Amity[/name_f]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f]
[name_f]Chiara[/name_f]
[name_u]Meredith[/name_u] ([name_f]Merry[/name_f])
[name_f]Blythe[/name_f]
[name_u]Sage[/name_u]
[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f]
[name_f]Gabriella[/name_f]
[name_f]Honora[/name_f]
[name_f]Althea[/name_f]
[name_f]Reyna[/name_f]
[name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Bernadette[/name_f]
[name_f]Britta[/name_f]
[name_u]Haven[/name_u]
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Desiree[/name_f]
[name_f]Maria[/name_f]
[name_f]Bria[/name_f]
[name_f]Via[/name_f]
What are qualities you admire? Or what are sounds/styles you like?
[name_m]Just[/name_m] a couple I thought of:
[name_f]Amity[/name_f]
[name_f]Wendy[/name_f] - “friend”
[name_f]Irene[/name_f] - “light, flame”
[name_f]Amina[/name_f] - “faithful, trustworthy”
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] - “gentle, merciful”
[name_f]Adira[/name_f] - strong
[name_f]Amabel[/name_f]/[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] – lovable
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f] - loving
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f] – divinely beautiful
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] - she who brings happiness
[name_f]Callista[/name_f] – most beautiful
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]/[name_f]Aveline[/name_f]– wished for child
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] – good fortune; happy
[name_f]Gwyneth[/name_f] - blessed, happy
[name_f]Ilaria[/name_f] – cheerful, happy
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] – beloved child
[name_f]Kerensa[/name_f]/[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] - love
[name_f]Leda[/name_f] – happy
[name_f]Minerva[/name_f] - of the mind, intellect
[name_f]Mira[/name_f] – admirable
[name_f]Mirabel[/name_f] – wonderful
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] – dove (symbol of peace)
[name_f]Sophie[/name_f] - wisdom
[name_f]Valencia[/name_f] – brave, strong
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] - peacemaking
(these are all NB meanings)
In addition to many of the great ones already mentioned (like [name_f]Minerva[/name_f]!!), I have always been fond of [name_f]Millicent[/name_f], for its meaning, “strong in work.” The virtue of striving to be a strong worker who is diligent and ambitious is definitely something I aspire to instill in my children.
Here are some with nice meanings that strike a nice balance between overly feminine/cute and wearable/practical for a woman of any age. I’ve leaned more towards names ending with an “a,” but included some others as well.
Grouped by similar meanings…
[name_u]Freedom[/name_u] and peace: [name_f]Camilla[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Francesca[/name_f], [name_f]Ingrid[/name_f], [name_f]Serena[/name_f]
[name_f]Grace[/name_f] and beauty: [name_f]Alanna[/name_f], [name_f]Carissa[/name_f], [name_f]Celia[/name_f], [name_f]Fiona[/name_f], [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Greta[/name_f], [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f], [name_f]Layla[/name_f], [name_f]Leila[/name_f], [name_f]Lila[/name_f], [name_f]Margo[/name_f], [name_f]Roslyn[/name_f], [name_f]Rowena[/name_f]
Graced by God, gift of God, heavenly: [name_f]Alanna[/name_f], [name_f]Analisa[/name_f], [name_f]Celia[/name_f], [name_f]Dora[/name_f], [name_f]Elise[/name_f]/[name_f]Elisa[/name_f], [name_f]Elsa[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]/[name_f]Liza[/name_f], [name_f]Selah[/name_f]
Happiness, hope and joy: [name_f]Abigail[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], [name_f]Hope[/name_f], [name_f]Nadia[/name_f], [name_f]Rowena[/name_f]
Innocence, youth: [name_f]Alanna[/name_f], [name_f]Aviva[/name_f], [name_f]Julia[/name_f], [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], [name_f]Raquel[/name_f]
Life: [name_f]Eva[/name_f], [name_u]Vivian[/name_u]
[name_m]Light[/name_m], bright, stars: [name_f]Clarissa[/name_f]/[name_f]Clarice[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]/[name_f]Elena[/name_f], [name_f]Estella[/name_f], [name_f]Helena[/name_f], [name_f]Muriel[/name_f], [name_f]Nella[/name_f], [name_f]Nora[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]
[name_m]Noble[/name_m]/kind: [name_f]Adela[/name_f]/[name_f]Adele[/name_f], [name_f]Alice[/name_f], [name_f]Alma[/name_f], [name_f]Audra[/name_f], [name_f]Camilla[/name_f], [name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
[name_f]Queen[/name_f]/princess: [name_f]Rayna[/name_f], [name_f]Regina[/name_f], [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], [name_f]Zara[/name_f]
Strength: [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], [name_f]Audra[/name_f], [name_f]Brianna[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], [name_f]Louisa[/name_f], [name_f]Valerie[/name_f]
[name_u]Truth[/name_u], faith: [name_f]Vera[/name_f], [name_f]Verity[/name_f]
[name_f]Victory[/name_f]: [name_f]Laurel[/name_f], [name_f]Lorena[/name_f], [name_f]Victoria[/name_f]
Misc.:
[name_f]Leah[/name_f]/[name_f]Lia[/name_f] – “bearer of good news”
[name_f]Lina[/name_f] – “tender”
[name_f]Maya[/name_f] – “great; water”
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f] – “wonderful, worthy of admiration”
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] – “an offering”
[name_f]Rebecca[/name_f] – “connection; to join”
[name_f]Renata[/name_f]/[name_f]Renee[/name_f] – “born again”
[name_f]Selena[/name_f] – “moon goddess”
[name_f]Sonia[/name_f] – “wisdom”
[name_f]Carys[/name_f] means “love”, and [name_f]Amabel[/name_f], [name_f]Amy[/name_f] and [name_f]Amanda[/name_f] all have meanings relating to being loved. [name_f]Nadia[/name_f] and [name_f]Nadine[/name_f] mean “hope”. [name_f]Celine[/name_f] and [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] mean “heavenly”. [name_f]Selene[/name_f] and variants mean “moon goddess”, and [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f] and [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] are goddess names.
love these! thank you!
Depends on what type of meanings are most “meaningful” to you. What sort of values and characteristics do you value most? What values do you aspire for your daughter to have?
Here are some names I think are beautiful and have good meanings as well:
[name_f]Emma[/name_f]: universal
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]: light
[name_f]Sophia[/name_f]: wisdom
[name_f]Aria[/name_f]: air, lioness
[name_f]Raina[/name_f]: queen
[name_f]Nadia[/name_f]/[name_f]Nadine[/name_f]: hope
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]/[name_f]Claire[/name_f]: bright, clear
[name_f]Tana[/name_f]: fire or star goddess
[name_u]Vivian[/name_u]: life
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]: noble
[name_f]Nia[/name_f]: brilliance
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]: she who brings happiness
[name_u]Kalani[/name_u]: the heavens
[name_f]Vera[/name_f]: faith
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f]: olive branch (symbol of peace)
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f]: victory
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f]: happy
[name_f]Belle[/name_f]: beautiful
Since you liked the name [name_f]Isla[/name_f] but not the meaning, here are some names that are similar to [name_f]Isla[/name_f] but have more significant meanings:
[name_u]Eden[/name_u]: place of pleasure, delight (plus a reference to the Garden of [name_u]Eden[/name_u])
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]: battle-mighty
[name_f]Esme[/name_f]: beloved
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]: protection
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]: noble strength
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]: star
Hopefully this helped!
I would suggest looking at the behindthename.com for your meanings. A lot of them on this website are not 100% correct.
My first thought was [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] (hardworking)! [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] sounds nice 
[name_f]Orla[/name_f]: golden princess
[name_f]Calliope[/name_f]: beautiful voice
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f]: youthful
[name_f]Jolie[/name_f]: pretty
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]: radiant
[name_f]Aoife[/name_f]: radiant, beautiful
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]: life
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]: bright, clear
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]: “she who brings happiness”
[name_f]Blythe[/name_f]: happy, carefree
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f]: pure
[name_f]Anna[/name_f]: grace
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f]: free man
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]: noble
[name_f]Celia[/name_f]: heavenly
My personal favorites are:
[name_f]Orla[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u]
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u]
[name_f]Celia[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u]
Really liked this thread so I came back to it with some more ideas, hope you like them!
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]: divinely beautiful
[name_f]Maren[/name_f]/[name_f]Marin[/name_f]: sea
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f]: maiden
[name_f]Anouk[/name_f]: grace
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]: lovable
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]: rainbow
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]: tranquil, serene
[name_f]Ava[/name_f]: life
[name_f]Valerie[/name_f]: strength, health
[name_f]Alyssa[/name_f]: noble
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]: goddess
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]: pearl
[name_f]Luna[/name_f]: moon
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f]: light
[name_f]Athena[/name_f]: goddess of wisdom
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]: flower
[name_f]Florence[/name_f]: prospering, flourishing
[name_u]Meredith[/name_u]: ruler
[name_f]Gemma[/name_f]: precious stone
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]: noble, nobility
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]/[name_f]Eva[/name_f]: life
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f]: youthful
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]: battle-mighty
[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f]: fiery
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]: bright shining light
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]: radiant, shining one
[name_f]Brianna[/name_f]: strong, virtuous, honorable