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
chica123 · 12/04/2013 13:40

Lara and Matilda?

WotSoFunee · 12/04/2013 13:40

Heidi
Verity
Helena
Genevieve

Serafinaaa · 12/04/2013 13:41

I was going to say Miriam too for a girl's name with a Hebrew root. It can be shortened to 'Mimi'.

Offcolour · 12/04/2013 13:44

Esther
Abigail
Ruth

SmellieWellies · 12/04/2013 13:45

Oh, I would have loved to have used Isis.

fussychica · 12/04/2013 14:07

Laurel
Freya
Pernill
Inez

MyNameIsSuz · 12/04/2013 14:09

I like Octavia, it's pretty and girly but shortened to Tavi sounds quite strong too.

JennyPiccolo · 12/04/2013 14:12

I can't see Octavia without thinking skoda.

fanjodisfunction · 12/04/2013 16:47

Gabriella
Clarissa
Alexa
Matilda
Althea

Willow36 · 12/04/2013 16:49

Meredith
Isobel
Emilia
Alexandra
Elizabeth
Catherine
Layla
Karina
Felicity
Natasha

WyrdMother · 12/04/2013 16:56

Carola or Caro
Thea
Venitia
Annis
(You can blame the last two on a fondness for Georgette Heyer)

baskingseals · 12/04/2013 18:13

Marianne

Christobel

Annaliese

Lois

Stella

Katya

AnathemaDevice · 12/04/2013 18:48

How about Anna?

Exhaustipated · 12/04/2013 19:00

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

KittenOfDoom · 12/04/2013 19:36

Three from the New Testament

Tryphena
Tryphosa
Persis

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!)

Varya · 12/04/2013 19:43

Jezamy (Cornish) has different spellings
Elena

Coconutty · 12/04/2013 19:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blue22 · 12/04/2013 20:58

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

CruCru · 12/04/2013 21:10

Miriam was the sister of Moses.

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

MERLYPUSS · 13/04/2013 14:10

Helen (nn Nelly)

dementedma · 13/04/2013 22:46

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

dementedma · 13/04/2013 22:46

Merryn, not merry

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.