Girl Names Ending with INE: Clementine and Josephine

Girl names ending with INE share a few qualities. They’re always two syllables or more. They almost always sound feminine, but tailored.

And yet, the differences between them are vast, too. For every Katherine, there’s a Tourmaline. Some belong to an earlier generation – think Geraldine and Janine – while others feel like choices we’re not quite ready for yet. Zephyrine, anyone?

While it looks like a single category of names, ranging from the familiar to the obscure, girl names ending in ine differ in pronunciation. 

The options for ends in -ine names include:

• Rhymes with Lynn and gin, as in Katherine.
• Sounds like pine, as in Coraline – and sometimes Caroline, Evangeline, and others.
• Or rhymes with queen, as in Josephine, Celine, and more.

The really complicated part? The same name might use any or all three of these, depending on the decade, region, language, and parents’ preference.

Plus, a handful of these ine ending girl names really end with aine. Think of Elaine and Lorraine. So that’s yet another possible sound to consider.

Even though it’s a broad category, there are some reasons to consider them as a group.

They make great tailored middle names, from the classic Caroline to the out-there Seraphine. Many of them feel vintage and lean slightly French – an appealing combination that could work for many families.

Let’s take a look at more than 100 girl names ending with ine.

POPULAR GIRL NAMES ENDING WITH INE

These are among the most popular girl names ending with ine, with several ranking in the current US Top 100. That’s always been true, even though the names change over time. These are some of the most popular choices in the 2020s.

ADELINE, ADALINE

Sweet Adeline is part of a family of names, ranging to Adelaide to Heidi. Several -lyn and -lynn spellings rank in the current Top 1000, too, making this name more popular than it seems. (Think Adalynn.) While the name means nobility, it’s accessbile and down-to-earth, thanks to adorable nickname Addie.

CAROLINE

Despite a solid and steady Top 100 ranking and a built-in song, classic Caroline never seems quite as common as the numbers suggest. Princess Caroline of Monaco is one internationally-known bearer of the name. Like Charles, Carl, and Charlotte, it means free man.

CELINE

Singer Celine Dion comes immediately to mind. It’s a sleek, French possibility with a strong, but delicate image and a lovely meaning: heaven.

CHRISTINE, KRISTINE

A Top 100 choice into the early 1990s, this feminine form of Christopher is widely known. Christine is the most enduring spelling, but many others caught on, too. Trends favored an entire category of Chris names at one point in the late 20th century: Crystal and Kristen and Christa and Kirsten, too. 

CLEMENTINE

A vintage name with an appealing meaning: gentle. This name has made a major comeback in the last decade, and is now more popular than ever.

CORALINE

While this Cora- name was heard before Neil Gaiman’s book-turned-movie, the author discovered it by transposing the letters in Caroline. The number of baby girls named Coraline skyrocketed in the years following the movie’s release.

ELAINE

An older French form of Helen, Elaine appeared in Arthurian legend as the mother of Galahad. Elaine peaked in the middle of the twentieth century, putting Elaine squarely in grandmother territory for now. Except with nicknames Ellie and Lainey built right in, Elaine seems ready for an early revival. 

EMMELINE, EMMALINE

It looks like an elaboration of Emma, but Emmeline actually claims slightly different Germanic roots. Still, our appreciation for Emma and Emily paved the way for this vintage name’s rediscovery. As of 2024, Emmeline ranks in the Top 1000 popularity list in the US, while Emmaline does not. Variations like Emmalyn and Emeline are seen, too. 

EVANGELINE

Longfellow’s epic 1847 poem put Evangeline on parents’ lists forevermore. Variants of Evangeline like Evangelia and Evangelina are sometimes seen, too. It means “bearer of good news” from Greek roots. Actress Evangeline Lilly rocketed to fame as star of the TV megahit Lost in 2004.

JACQUELINE

We mistake it for a feminine form of Jack, but Jacqueline is actually a feminine form of Jacques, which is the French variation of James. (And Jacob, a Hebrew name meaning supplanter.) It brings to mind the Jackie Kennedy Camelot years in the US, slightly dated but with a certain enduring glam too. 

JASMINE, JAZMINE

Lovely nature name, boosted by a Disney princess and that scissory ‘z’ sound in the middle.

JOSEPHINE

A fast-rising favorite, classic Josephine is elegant and spirited at once. It brings to mind Jo March from Little Women. The French feminine variation of Joseph also comes with nicknames galore, including Josie, Posy, and even Fifi. 

KATHERINE, CATHERINE

An enduring classic regardless of spelling, Katherine’s ine ending puts it on this list, though it may have more in common with Mary or Alice than Ombeline or Eglantine. While the dominant spelling changes across decades, it’s part of a very small, elite group of girls names used century after century. Katheirne is a regal, saintly name that endures. 

MADELINE, MADELEINE

Madeline has become one of the most popular -ine ending girl names of our time. But it’s actually the non -ine spelling Madelyn that ranks highest in the US right now. It comes from Mary Magdalene in the Bible; her name, in turn refers to her village, Magdala. And Magdala means high tower. Nickname Maddie is widely used for all the Madeline spellings, but also for popular surname name Madison. While we’ve heard Madeline non-stop over the last few decades, it remains a classic and lovely name ending with ine.

MARCELINE

An elaborated feminine form of Marcus, Marceline is famous as the Montana hometown of Walt Disney. Strictly speaking, it’s a feminization of Marcel, a classic French masculine choice. From 2010-2018 animated tv series Adventure Time gave this name to a vampire queen. That’s probably why, after a 100-year hiatus, Marceline is back in the US Top 1000 as of 2020. Nicknames Marcie and Marcy could be delightfully retro.

MAXINE

A sparky vintage name on the rebound, following so many boy Max names up the popularity charts.

UNCOMMON, RARE & DOWNRIGHT SURPRISING INE NAMES FOR GIRLS

Some of these have previously been Top 1000 names – even Top 100 favorites. But many of the rare girl names ending with ine are a little on the wilder side. This part of the list mixes imports with noun names with borrowings from literature and myth, too.

ADAMINE

A feminine form of Adam.

ALBERTINE

Made familiar to some thanks to a haunting song from Brooke Fraser, Albertine reads like a romantic old name, mostly forgotten, but rich with potential. 

ALCINE

The masculine Alcinous appears in Greek myth. This may be a feminine form.

ALEXANDRINE

An elaboration of Alexandra, this name has appeared in use across the centuries.

ALEXINE

Yet another of the feminine Alex names.

AMANDINE

It looks like Amanda-plus-ine – and it is – though Amandine can also refer to a dish garnished with sliced almonds.

ANGELINE

A French take on Angela, slightly less dramatic than Angelique.

APOLLINE, APPOLINE 

forms of this ancient Apollo; Appolonia

ARLINE

Like other -een and -ene endign names big in the 20th century, Arline had a moment while Arlene, Darlene, and Maureen were racing up the charts. If Maxine is back, why not Arline?

AVELINE

A Norman French name, Aveline has plenty of history. Today, though, we know it best as a name meaning hazelnut.

BENJAMINE

A feminine form of Top Ten favorite Benjamin.

CAPUCINE

You wouldn’t name your baby nasturtium, but possibly the French name for the flower would appeal. There’s also the model-turned-actor Capucine, known for 1960s movies like The Pink Panther. 

CATHELINE

A rare French take on Catherine, and cousin to Kathleen.

CARINE

It could come from cara – beloved.

CELANDINE

The name of a flower, borrowed from the Greek name for a bird – the swallow. That makes it a double nature name, plus a yellow-green color name, too.

CELESTINE

A longer form of Celine and Celeste, with the same celestial meaning: heaven.

CENDRINE

In French, Cinderella is Cendrillon, from the French word for ash – cendre. Cendrine is a sleek, slightly more name-like take. 

CLARINE

An elaborated form of Clare, rare but lovely.

CLAUDINE

Ancient and proud Claudia is rare; Claudine, even rarer.

CORINE, CORINNE

From the Greek word kore, meaning maiden.

DAUPHINE

When France still had kings, the Dauphin was the equivalent of the crown prince, next in line for the throne. Dauphine was the title for his wife, the future queen. It’s a little more subtle than naming your daughter Princess.

DELPHINE

Delphine can refer to dolphins or a pretty bluebell-like flower, the delphinium. Both take their name form the ancient city of Delphi. The given name is French, sophisticated, and quite lovely and rare, too. 

DULCINE

Cervantes invented Dulcinea for Don Quixote, based on the Latin dulcis – sweet. Dulcie is a short form, and Dulcine lands somewhere in between.

EDWINE

Traditional Edwin is relatively rare. Feminine form Edwina is rarer still, and Edwine? Nearly unknown. But it might be the perfect choice for the right family. It’s sometimes listed as a feminine diminutive of Edwardine, but somehow that feels like an even less likely name.

EGLANTINE

Straight out of Chaucer, Eglantine is another name for sweetbrier. It feels rather Middle Ages, though Eglantine is also the name of the witch at the heart of Disney classic Bedknobs and Broomsticks. 

ERNESTINE

In the 1920s, this feminine form of Ernest ranked just inside the US Top 200. It’s nearly extinct today, but maybe it’s not gone forever. In 21st century name, femininity is often expressed with elaborate, flowing names like Ariana or Melody. Ernestine offers a sharp, refreshing contrast.

ETHELINE

It sounds a tiny bit chem lab, but Etheline is an elaboration of Ethel heard a century ago.

EVALINE and EVELINE

Two obvious Ev- names, cousins to Evelyn. Eva’s popularity continues to hold steady, suggesting that Ev- names aren’t going anywhere, either.

FANTINE

Cosette’s beleaguered mother in Les Misérables. Anne Hathaway won an Oscar for playing the beautiful and selfless Fantine in the 2012 movie adaptation.

FAUSTINE

The Roman name Faustus means lucky. While it’s not often heard in English, it’s preserved in other romance languages as Fausto, Faustino, Faustin, and the feminine Faustine.

FLORENTINE

Maybe it sounds a little like a delicious quiche, but Florentine is the French feminine form of Florentinus – flourishing. That suggets plenty of nature associations, particularly in the garden.

FRANCINE

A lovely Frances name for a daughter, big in the 1940s and delightfully retro today. The advent of Pope Francis’ tenure increased interest in lots of related names. If Frances has a classic pedigree, Francine might’ve felt more liek a dated midcentury Mad Men pick. (In the early seasons, she’s Betty Draper’s neighbor and confidante.) More recently, modern glamour couple Casey Neistat and Candice Pool showcase their lives on YouTube, including daughters Georgie and Francine. 

GEORGINE

Georgia is popular. Georgina and Georgette have their fans. So why not Georgine, too? Cute nickname option is a bonus.

GERALDINE

Coined for a sixteenth century sonnet, this feminine form of Gerald was a Top 100 favorite back in the early twentieth century. If we love Genevieve, maybe Geraldine offers some of that vintage charm.

GWENDOLINE

The spelling Gwendolyn is far more popular, but Gwendoline fits with girl names ending with ine. Actress Gwendoline Christie makes it familiar. There’s a gently offbeat quality to Gwendolyn, no matter the spelling. 

HELAINE

A Helen-Elaine variant that’s just different enough to feel fresh and surprising.

HONORINE

Virtue name Honor is a straight-up word choice. But Honora and Honorine are elaborations that make it just a little more name-like. 

ISABELLINE

A pretty shade of white-yellow-gray, often used to describe horses, Isabelline works for a daughter given our love of Isabella and so many girl names ending with ine.

ISALINE and YSALINE

This might be an Isabelle spin-off, or perhaps a rarity based on stylish sounds.

JACOBINE

A feminine form of Jacob – or James – Jacobine is far rarer than cousin Jacqueline. The story of Jacob and his twin brother Esau is broadly familiar, and Jacob ranked #1 in the US for boys from 1999 through 2012. 

JANINE, JEANINE, and JEANNINE

Popular midcentury names, Jeannine caught on first, followed by Jeanine and Janine, slimming down the French original as time passed. Some spellings seem more like the French or English variation, though it probably comes down to personal preference more than anything. 

JESSAMINE

Medieval Jessamine – or Jessamy – was a form of Jasmine once used as a given name, but seldom heard today. Call it a sister name to Jessica, too, thanks to the first syllable.

JOSELINE, YOSELINE

At first glance, it looks a bit like a feminine form of José – Joseph. But it’s actually another spelling for Jocelyn, a name with roots in the Middle Ages and Anglo-Norman English. 

JUSTINE

Virtue name Justine long ranked in the US Top 1000, reaching peak popularity in the 1980s – though it always lagged behind the masculine gender equivalent, Justin. Today it feels under-the-radar, a name that is surprisingly rare today. 

LAINE

This single-syllable name isn’t quite an -ine ender, but it seems like a stylish possibility for parents seeking something tailored and just a little different.

LAURENTINE

Lawrence is a perennial classic, sometimes spelled Laurence. In French, Laurence is feminine, as is the more elaborate Laurentine.

LEONTINE

A Leo name for a daughter that roars.

LEOPOLDINE

We love Leo names, so why not the quirky and distinctive Leopold? And if Leopold works, perhaps this feminine form isn’t so out-there after all.

LORRAINE

A French place name sometimes found on a menu, Lorraine’s heyday was around the same time as Laura and Lori. But it works now, today, thanks to our love of names borrowed from the map.

LUDIVINE

Germanic and Slavic names used the element leut or leud – the people. Ludivine comes from those nearly extinct names.

LURLINE

A take on Lorelei, sometimes used in English in the 19th century. William Vincent Wallace’s 1860 opera about the Rhine River mermaid was titled Lurline.

MARTINE

A sleek and chic French name for a daughter. 

MAURINE

Maureen and other names ending with sounds like -een might also become names ending in -ine, some of the time. 

MAZARINE

This elaborate French name comes from a historic public library. First used in 1974 by former president of France, François Mitterand, for his daughter, it’s perfect for parents after a literary rarity.

MELUSINE

A mermaid-like creature from European folklore, and potentially a daughter’s name, too.

NADINE

The Slavic Nadia means hope; Nadine is a longer version of the name.

NERINE

Borrowed from a family of flowering plants.

NICOLINE

An elaboration of traditional Nicole, and another French diminutive pet form, like Nicolette.

NILSINE

In Scandinavian languages, Nicolas is contracted to Nils. That makes Nilsine a feminine form. 

NOELINE

There’s Noelle and Noelia, and this Christmas-inspired Noel name, too.

OLIVINE

An olive green gemstone, Olivine strikes a balance between elaborate Olivia and spare Olive.

OMBELINE

Perhaps the rarest of the girl names ending with ine, Ombeline comes from the Germanic Humbert.

ONDINE and UNDINE

A name meaning wave, and long associated with mermaids.

OTTOLINE

A feminine take on Otto.

PASCALINE

Pascal comes from the Latin Pascha, meaning Easter. Pascal and Paschal have been used as given names, typically masculine. Pascale and Pascaline are feminine forms. 

PAULINE

While Paula feels a little midcentury, Pauline might almost be a vintage revival possibility.

PEARLINE

Pearl + ine for a name that’s just a little more shimmery.

POMELINE

From a Roman goddess name, Pomeline refers to apples. It’s famous thanks to the Grimaldi royal family of Monaco.

ROSALINE

A rare but very wearable Rose name. Like many an old-fashioned favorite, it feels surprising in the 21st century. In Romeo and Juliet, Rosaline is the un-seen ex of Romeo. In 2022, Kaitlyn Dever starred in Rosaline, a movie that re-told the famous story from her point-of-view.

SABINE

You might see this name described as the German form of Sabina, a name borrowed from an ancient tribe and used widely across Europe. But in Germany, it’s spelled Sabine but the pronunication remains closer to Sabina. In other languages, including English, it fits better with girl names ending in ine. The name carries a sophisticated, European vibe, as in socialite and jewelrey designer Sabine Getty.

SANDRINE

Alexandra reduces to Sandra, and Sandra is elaborated to Sandrine. 

SEBASTINE

The French feminine version might be Sebastiane, Sebastienne, or Sebastine. 

SEVERINE

A Roman family name by way of French, equal parts serious and elegant.

SERAPHINE

A rarer take on fiery Seraphina. The names are fiery but also carry religious overtones, since the seraphim are angels.

SUNSHINE

A word name with a hippie, summery vibe.

THOMASINE

Add an -ine to classic Thomas.

TOURMALINE

A gemstone name far less expected than Ruby or Pearl.

URSULINE

An extended form of Ursula, from the Latin ursus, meaning bear. 

VALENTINE

Valentina is a Top 100 favorite, but Valentine works, too – and takes gives the name a fresh look, and a more obviously hearts-and-flowers vibe.

VICTORINE

A French take on regal Victoria.

VIOLAINE

A French cousin to Yolanda, perfect for parents who love Violet but want something far less popular.

WILHELMINE

Willow and Willa are more accessible spins on William for a daughter in the United States, but Wilhelmine is a more dramatic option.

YGRAINE

A name straight out of Arthurian legend, the mother of the king himself as well as Morgan le Fay, Ygraine’s meaning is obscure. But the sound is compelling.

YVELINE

One of many medieval names related to the Germanic element iv – referring to a yew tree.

ZEPHYRINE

Zephyr is the West Wind in Greek mythology, and it could be a name for a son or a daughter. Zephyrine seems more clearly feminine.

Are there more girl names ending with ine that you’d add to this list? First published on April 15, 2021, this post was updated on September 13, 2022; October 4, 2023; October 25, 2025; and February 28, 2026.