Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Unusual/strong/pretty names for girls?

62 replies

missmaybe · 12/04/2013 12:15

Any suggestions on pretty but 'strong' names for girls? The ones I really like so far are:

Maya
Isis
Beatrice
Eve
Veda
Merle
Lena
Gabrielle

... but I'm not sure I've found 'the' name yet. I quite like the idea of a name with a Hebrew root but as you can see my list is wide-ranging in terms of origin! Inspiration would be much appreciated!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
missmaybe · 27/04/2013 08:40

Thank you all so much! These are just fabulous suggestions and really add to the list of names I love. I still can't really decide, but I've got until July and I might come back on here with a final shortlist for your honest opinions Grin

Chayah, what a beautiful name you have!

The ones I love best right now are... and this is a looooonnnng list still...

Maya
Isis
Eve
Chaya
Beatrice
Callista
Marianne
Marina
Lena
Gabrielle
Calliope
Anouk
Cassandra
Tess
Nadia
Talya
Kismet
Ariel
Damaris
Phaedra
Nina
Joy
Jaya
Veda
Merle
Molly
Tamar
Miranda
Catherine
Leila
Miriam
Wren
Linnea
Delilah
Saskia
Helena

OP posts:
RnB · 26/04/2013 13:11

If I had another girl she would be Juno

night1971 · 26/04/2013 13:07

Araminta is of Hebrew origin, or for a simpler Latin version, Aminta.

thistooshallpasswontit · 24/04/2013 23:27

Morven
Mirren

TwinkleSparkleBling · 24/04/2013 23:23

Cordelia

Miranda & Vivienne but these have been mentioned

jellybeans · 22/04/2013 23:27

Gabriella and Lena are lovely

Also how about

Leona or Leoni
Lucinda
Briony
Tabitha
Matilda
Natalia
Francesca
Imogen
Fiona
Tia
Joelle
Noelle
Nicole
Georgina
Zoe

BoyMeetsWorld · 22/04/2013 22:31

Great thread. Some of my favourites in this vein have already been said. Love...

Isolde
Petra
Phaedra
Eliana
Sorrel
Agatha (Taggy)
Lara
Stella
Briar
Ember
Nerys

BanjoPlayingTiger · 15/04/2013 15:58

Petra
Petrina
Eva
Galatea

BlueChampagne · 15/04/2013 15:55

Vashti

Thirstysomething · 15/04/2013 14:48

Merry is often short for Merryn, Cornish name. Thinking of it if we have a girl...
Interesting to see Christobel/Christabel mentioned so many times, I know two grown up Christabels and they had each never heard if another one, but it seems to suddenly getting really popular?!

InkleWinkle · 14/04/2013 18:54

Alexa

jkklpu · 14/04/2013 18:52

Christabel
Rowan

chayahivory · 14/04/2013 14:41

My name (Chayah) is of hebrew origin. It is a derivative of Chavvah which is another form of Eve. It means 'Breath of Life'. My mother decided to have it prounounced Shay-ah (like Charlotte) but it can also be pronounced Chay-ah. I'm always being complimented on it. :) I've even known two people who decided to use it for their children.

dementedma · 13/04/2013 22:46

Merryn, not merry

dementedma · 13/04/2013 22:46

Merry is nice.
Maya is becoming quite common now - I know 3, all under the age of two

MERLYPUSS · 13/04/2013 14:10

Helen (nn Nelly)

Delilahahaha · 13/04/2013 00:06

Love Isis and Maya. Greta and Miriam are lovely sggestions above.

Phaedra
Allegra
Grainne
Maeve
Nina
Felicity
Carmen
Anais
Zora
Petra
Xanthe
Etta
Athena
Ines

CruCru · 12/04/2013 21:10

Miriam was the sister of Moses.

blue22 · 12/04/2013 20:58

Christiana, Allegra and Ariadne are all strong, pretty names I think

Coconutty · 12/04/2013 19:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Varya · 12/04/2013 19:43

Jezamy (Cornish) has different spellings
Elena

UnderwaterBasketWeaving · 12/04/2013 19:41

Holly (I teach secondary, and every Holly I've taught has been amazing)
Cedar (I taught one once, I still love the name!)
I like Merryn, suggested above.
Joy
Verity (which I love even more since the statue in devon!)

KittenOfDoom · 12/04/2013 19:36

Three from the New Testament

Tryphena
Tryphosa
Persis

Exhaustipated · 12/04/2013 19:00

Ramona
Naomi
Esther
Penelope
Roberta
Constance
Francesca
Cora
Rosa
Juno
Bethan
Viola

AnathemaDevice · 12/04/2013 18:48

How about Anna?