A name is the first gift you give your daughter. Many parents want that gift to carry a meaning. Love, grace, light and joy are four of the most popular ones.
This guide shares 80 feminine baby girl names, grouped by meaning. Each name has its origin and a nickname idea. You will also find pronunciation notes for names that are easy to mispronounce.
Direct answer: Baby girl names that mean love include Amy, Esme, Mabel, Priya and Suki. Names meaning grace include Hannah, Anna and Charis. Lucy, Clara and Noor mean light, while Felicity, Beatrice and Allegra mean joy. Each name below is grouped by meaning, with its origin and nicknames.
Can you trust a name’s meaning?
Many name meanings are debated, so check more than one source. Names change as they move between languages. A name can also have two or three accepted meanings.
Cordelia is a good example. Many lists say it means “heart.” Behind the Name, however, lists its etymology as uncertain. The name first appears in a 12th-century chronicle.
In this guide, “often linked to” signals a debated meaning. Treat each meaning as a pleasant idea, not a fixed rule.
20 baby girl names that mean love
These names mean “love,” “beloved” or “heart.” They come from many languages.
- Amy (Aimee, Ames): Old French, meaning “beloved.”
- Amanda (Mandy, Manda): Latin, meaning “worthy of love.”
- Esme (Essie): Old French, meaning “loved.”
- Mabel (Mae, Mabs): Latin, meaning “lovable.”
- Cordelia (Delia, Cora): Latin, often linked to “heart.” The origin is uncertain.
- Priya (Pri): Sanskrit, meaning “beloved.”
- Suki (Su): Japanese, meaning “loved one.”
- Cerys (Cez): Welsh, meaning “love.” Say it KEH-ris.
- Milena (Mila, Lena): Slavic, often given as “love and grace.”
- Kalila (Lila): Arabic, meaning “dearly loved.”
- Kerensa (Kerry): Cornish, meaning “love.”
- Nayeli (Nay): Zapotec, meaning “I love you.” Say it nah-YEH-lee.
- Carina (Rina): Italian, meaning “dear little one.”
- Amara (Mara): Latin for “beloved.” In Igbo it is often given as “grace.”
- Dua (Dewa): Albanian, meaning “love” and “prayer.”
- Gráinne: Irish, meaning “love” or “sun.” Say it GRAWN-yuh.
- Amorette (Etta): Latin and French, meaning “little love.”
- Vida (Vee): Hebrew for “dearly loved.” Scottish use means “beloved.”
- Davina (Vina): Scottish, meaning “beloved.”
- Aimee (Aimes): French, meaning “beloved.”
For more unusual picks, see our list of rare baby girl names with beautiful meanings.
20 baby girl names that mean grace, mercy and gentleness
These names mean “grace” or “God is gracious.” Others mean “mercy,” “peace” or “calm.”
- Grace (Gracie, Gigi): Latin, meaning “grace.”
- Gracia (Gracie): Spanish, meaning “grace.”
- Hannah (Hanni, Annie): Hebrew, meaning “grace” or “favor.”
- Anna (Annie, Anya): Hebrew, meaning “grace.”
- Joanna (Jo, Joey): Hebrew, meaning “God is gracious.”
- Gianna (Gia): Italian, meaning “God is gracious.”
- Jane (Janie): English, meaning “God is gracious.”
- Charis (Chari): Greek, meaning “grace.”
- Charissa (Rissa, Cari): Greek, meaning “grace” and “kindness.”
- Graziella (Ella): Italian, meaning “grace.” Say it grah-tsee-EL-uh.
- Annika (Anni): Swedish and Dutch pet form of Anna, meaning “grace.”
- Anita (Nita): Spanish pet form of Ana, meaning “grace.”
- Siobhan (Shiv): Irish form of Joan, meaning “God is gracious.” Say it shi-VAWN.
- Clementine (Clem, Tina): Latin, meaning “merciful.”
- Clemence (Clem): French, meaning “mercy” and “mildness.”
- Mercy (Merci): English, meaning “compassion.”
- Serena (Rena): Latin, meaning “calm” and “serene.”
- Mildred (Millie): Old English, meaning “gentle strength.”
- Irene (Rena, Reenie): Greek, meaning “peace.”
- Harmony (Harmie): Greek by way of English, meaning “agreement” and “unity.”
If you like names with faith roots, see our guide to biblical baby girl names.
20 baby girl names that mean light, stars and dawn
These names mean “light,” “bright” or “radiant.” Some mean “star,” “moon” or “dawn.”
- Lucy (Lu, Lulu): Latin, meaning “light.”
- Lucia (Lulu): Italian and Spanish form of Lucy, meaning “light.”
- Luz (Lulu): Spanish, meaning “light.”
- Liora (Lia): Hebrew, meaning “I have light.” Say it lee-OR-uh.
- Aurora (Rory, Aura): Latin, meaning “dawn.”
- Clara (Clary): Latin, meaning “clear” and “bright.”
- Claire: French form of Clara, meaning “clear” and “bright.”
- Kiran (Kiri): Sanskrit, meaning “ray of light.”
- Phoebe (Pheebs): Greek, meaning “bright” and “radiant.”
- Zahra (Zari): Arabic, meaning “radiant.” Say it ZAH-ruh.
- Noor: Arabic, meaning “light.”
- Alba (Albie): Latin for “white.” In Spanish it also means “dawn.”
- Aurelia (Aurie): Latin, meaning “golden.”
- Stella (Stel): Latin, meaning “star.”
- Estelle (Elle): French, meaning “star.”
- Selene (Lena): Greek, meaning “moon.”
- Helena (Lena, Nell): Greek, often linked to “torch” or “light.” The origin is debated.
- Orli: Hebrew, meaning “light for me.”
- Dawn: English, meaning “daybreak.”
- Ayla (Aya): Turkish, linked to moonlight.
20 baby girl names that mean joy and cheer
These names mean “joy,” “happiness” or “cheerful.” Several come from Latin and Hebrew.
- Joy (Jojo): English, meaning “joy.”
- Felicity (Fliss, Lissy): Latin, meaning “happiness” and “good fortune.”
- Hana (Hanni): Arabic, meaning “happiness.”
- Beatrice (Bea, Trixie): Latin, often given as “she who brings joy.”
- Hilary (Hilly): Latin, meaning “cheerful.”
- Letitia (Tish, Letty): Latin, meaning “joy” and “gladness.”
- Alegria (Ali): Spanish, meaning “joy.”
- Farah (Fari): Arabic, meaning “joy” and “happiness.”
- Gili (Gee): Hebrew, meaning “my joy.”
- Aliza (Liza, Ali): Hebrew, meaning “joyful.”
- Allegra (Allie): Italian, meaning “cheerful” and “lively.”
- Bliss: English, meaning “great happiness.”
- Edna (Eddie): Hebrew, meaning “pleasure.”
- Eden: Hebrew, meaning “delight.”
- Naomi (Nomi): Hebrew, meaning “pleasantness.”
- Merry (Mer): English, meaning “cheerful.”
- Ilaria (Lari): Italian, meaning “cheerful.”
- Jovie (Jo): A modern name from Latin, meaning “joyful.”
- Gioia: Italian, meaning “joy.” Say it JOY-uh.
- Saida: Arabic, meaning “happy.”
For more Italian choices, see our list of Italian baby girl names.
How to choose a name by meaning
A meaning should add to a name you already like. It should not be the only reason to pick it. These steps keep the choice balanced.
- Start with the sound. Say the name aloud with your last name. A good meaning cannot fix an awkward rhythm.
- Verify the meaning. Check two sources, such as Behind the Name and a second reference. Note if the origin is debated.
- Check the pronunciation. Names like Gráinne, Siobhan and Cerys may need a quick guide for teachers and family.
- Pair two meanings. A first and middle name can carry two ideas. Esme Aurora, for example, pairs “loved” with “dawn.”
- Test the nickname. Pick a name whose short form you also like.
- Look at popularity. Use the SSA lists to see how common the name is.
- Think about the culture. If a name comes from a language or faith that is not yours, learn what it means to that community.
Common mistakes when choosing a name by meaning
Relying on a single source for a meaning is the most common mistake. One baby-name site may state a meaning as fact when it is debated. Compare at least two sources.
Another mistake is ignoring pronunciation. A beautiful name loses charm if people say it wrongly every day. Test it with friends and family first.
Parents also mix up similar names. Eden and Edna share a Hebrew root, and Lucy, Lucia and Luz all mean “light.” Pick the one that suits your family best.
Finally, avoid picking a name only for the meaning. A name is used every day. It needs to sound right too.
How to check popularity and pronunciation
The Social Security Administration lists the top 1000 names by birth year. It reports that the top 1000 names covered about 72 percent of 2025 births. A name outside the list is less common.
The SSA also publishes its yearly findings in a press release. You can look up any name from this guide on the SSA site and see how it has moved.
For pronunciation, say the name aloud and ask a native speaker if the name comes from another language. A short audio clip online can help.