Long Names for Girls: Elizabella and Anastasia

Long names for girls have never been more popular. America’s favorite, Olivia, comes in at four syllables. So does long-time Top Ten Isabella, fast-rising Penelope, modern staple Ariana, classic Elizabeth, and – if you don’t rush the pronunciation – regal Victoria.

Not so long ago, every Elizabeth was a Betty or a Lizzie or a Bess. But today? There’s a good chance Elizabeth uses her name in full. The same is true for Eleanor and Valentina and Josephine. Rising choices like Ellianna and Ariella seem designed to layer on the syllables.

Which long girl names are the longest? Which seem most wearable? This list rounds up dozens and dozens of the very best.

Some longer girl names might be three or four syllables, depending on pronunciation. Think of names like Cordelia. And a few might stretch from four to five, or more.

Read on for a long list of long names for girls. Please share your favorites in the comments!

FOUR-SYLLABLE GIRL NAMES

ADALINA, ADELINA

We love sweet Adeline – and Adelyn, Adalynn, and Adalyn, too. No surprise, then, that Adelina also ranks in the current Top 1000.

ADRIANA, ADRIANNA

A feminine form of traditional Adrian, Adriana became a 90s favorite.

ALABAMA

Rare as a given name, Alabama has been worn by two memorable fictional characters: the main character from Zelda Fitzgerald’s only novel, and the heroine of cult classic True Romance.

ALETHEA

Alethea comes from a Greek word meaning truth, but it has only been in use as a given name for a few hundred years. It enjoyed just one tiny moment of popularity, back in the 1970s. Hit television series Kung Fu included a character by the name, played a young Jodi Foster. If Sophia and Athena are stylish, why not Alethea?

ALEJANDRA, ALESSANDRA, ALEXANDRA

Alexandra feels timeless and traditional, though it was especially big in the 1980s. Romance language versions Alessandra and Alejandra make for slightly different versions.

ALTAGRACIA

A Spanish name borrowed from one of the Virgin Mary’s titles, Altagracia means “high grace.”

AMARYLLIS

Count Amaryllis among the most wearable of rare flower names, even at four syllables.

AMABELLA, ANNABELLA, ARABELLA

Amabella came first, derived from the Late Latin Amabilis – lovable. Annabella and Arabella both developed from the original.

ANNALISA, ANNELIESE

Strictly speaking, the German Anneliese is pronounced just like Annalisa. But Annalisa might make more sense in the English-speaking world.

ANTONIA, ANTONINA, ANTONELLA

Many pronounce Antonia with just three syllables, but it is possible to extend it to four – and Antonina and Antonella definitely tip the syllable scale at four each.

ARACELI

Araceli means “altar of the sky,” as in Maria de Araceli, the patron saint of Lucena, Spain. It’s been used in the US since the 1960s.

ARAMINTA

Araminta feels like a Victorian concoction, but the name was coined in the late 1600s for a William Congreve play. It’s been used sparingly ever since, including a minor figure in the Harry Potter series.

ARIANA, ARIANNA, ARIADNE

Wildly popular in both spellings, this name was boosted by pop sensation Ariana Grande. The original is also a long and lovely choice for a daughter: Ariadne, who helped Theseus defeat the Minotaur in Greek myth.

ARIELLA

Shakespeare gave the name Ariel to a sprite in The Tempest. Disney chose it for The Little Mermaid in 1989. But it’s not aquatic. Instead, Ariel is a Hebrew name meaning “lion of God,” and it’s typically masculine. Ariella makes it frilly and feminine.

ANASTASIA

Anastasia might belong on the five-syllable names list. Except Americans tend to say stay szha, not stay SEE ah. The youngest of the doomed Romanov princesses, rumors that Anastasia survived her family’s grim fate – and an animated musical version of the story – have kept this name on parents’ radar.

ANDROMEDA

A princess rescued by Perseus in Greek myth, and a constellation in the night sky, Andromeda is rare, but accessible.

ANGELINA, ANGELISA

Angelina and Angelisa turn traditional Angela up to eleven.

ANNAPURNA

A Hindu goddess name, and a towering mountain in the Himalayas.

AVALINA, AVELINA, EVALINA, EVALENA

While some of these names have independent roots, they all feel like inventive spins on Ava, Eva, or Eva.

AVABELLA, CLEOBELLA, MIABELLA

Smoosh names have a long history of use, and with Isabella in favor, other ends-in-bella names feel like possibilities.

AVIANA, AVIANNA

Aviana makes the list thanks to Amy Adams’ daughter Aviana, born in 2010.

BENEDETTA, BENEDICTA

Both names are feminine forms of Benedict, as in the former pope and the Oscar-nominated actor.

CALLIOPE

Move over, Penelope! There are plenty of Greek names for girls that share the same qualities: easy nicknames, the fun ‘e’ ending, and a great story. Calliope was the Greek goddess of epic poetry.

CAROLINA

Charlotte and Caroline both rank in the US Top 100, but Carolina remains less common. It feels Southern, thanks to the US states, as well as high fashion, thanks to Venezuelan-born fashion designer Carolina Herrera.

CATALINA, CATARINA, CATERINA, KATARINA, KATERINA

Regal, saintly Katherine has an almost infinite number of variants, many of which boast four syllables. The Spanish Catalina also brings to mind the California island.

CORINTHIA

A rarity used by Faulkner, it comes from the ancient Greek city state.

DAENERYS, DEIANIRA, DAYANARA

Hercules had a wife named Deianira. Dayanara might be a modernized spelling, or it could be a creative coinage. And then there’s Game of Thrones‘ Daenerys, invented by George RR Martin, but sharing many similar sounds.

DEMETRIA

Actor Demi Moore was born Demetria. It’s a Greek name, elaborated from the goddess Demeter.

DESDEMONA

Othello’s doomed love Desdemona was given her name by Italian poet Cinzio. His 1565 work Un Capitano Moro is believed to be the basis for Shakespeare’s Othello. It fits with long names for girls, but the meaning – ill-fated – might be off-putting.

DOMENICA, DOMINICA

Domenica and Dominica serve as feminine forms of the Top 100 Dominic.

DONATELLA

As in Versace, and Donna Moss, The West Wing character. It’s derived from the Latin donatus – given. Donatello is more familiar, thanks to the Renaissance sculptor and his namesake Ninja Turtle.

DULCINEA

Don Quixote’s beloved, and the name of a Toad the Wet Sprocket album from 1994. Shortens the oh-so-sweet Dulcie. Other elaborations, like Dulcibella, have history, too.

ELISABETH, ELIZABETH

Elizabeth is a venerable classic, and Elisabeth is the just slightly different form. Both feel classic and enduring, and also belong with longer names for girls.

ENDELLION

This name made headlines when British prime minister David Cameron and wife Samantha welcomed daughter Florence Rose Endellion. It’s the name of a Cornish saint, honoring the place of the youngest Cameron’s birth.

ESMERALDA

This name peaked around the time Disney released their musical take on The Hunchback of Notre Dame around the time Disney’s musical movie was released in 1996. Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling named their daughter Esmeralda in 2014, and it remains in steady use today.

EVANGELINE

A literary, romantic Eve- name with a spiritual meaning, Evangeline has been quite popular in recent years.

FEDERICA, FREDERICA, FREDERICKA

All feminine forms of Frederick, and every bit as wearable as Alexandra. Plus, Freddie is sweet and sparky on a girl, a sister for Sadie. If Francesca and Frankie seem stylish, Frederica and Freddie could be, too.

FIORELLA

Fiery Fiorella actually comes from the Italian word flower – fiore. It’s a promising alternative to the oh-so-popular Isabella.

FLORENCIA

The elaborate Spanish form of Florence.

GALATEA

A name from Greek myth, Galatea was later given to Pygmalion’s living statue.

GALILEA

It’s an out-of-this-world rarity, a feminine form of Galileo, meaning “from Galilee.”

GRACIELA

In Spanish, Grace becomes Gracia. And Gracia can be elaborated to Graciela. One-part virtue name, one-part long names for girls.

GENOVEVA

The French Genevieve is having a good run, so why not the Spanish form?

GIOVANNA

An Italian feminine form of John, sometimes spelled Giavanna in the US.

HENRIETTA

Hattie and Hettie fit right in with Sadie, but they started out as short forms of Harriet and Henrietta – feminine forms of Henry.

ISABELLA

Wildly popular, yes. But a lovely name with a rich history, too.

ISADORA, ISIDORA

Several saints have answered to forms of this name, but it’s most famous thanks to dancer Isadora Duncan.

JULIANA, JULIANNA

Classic Julia brings to mind plenty of distinguished women, from the ancient world to more recent years. Juliana sounds more dramatic, but just as enduring.

JULIETTA, GIUILIETTA

Julianna has the feel of a classic, and Juliet is forever tied to Shakespeare’s tale of young love. But Giulietta – an Italian diminutive form of Giulia – and Julietta – are rarities in English.

KADIATOU

The Arabic Khadija became the four-syllable Kadiatou in western Africa.

LILIANA, LILLIANA, LILIANNA, LILLANNA

Choose your number of Ls and Ns, and this long name for Lily is one that will feel quite current today.

LILINOE

This Hawaiian name for heavenly mists is pronounced with four syllables, and might be among the more accessible of elaborate Hawaiian options.

LILIOSA

Another Lily name, this one borrowed from a Spanish saint.

LUCIANA

Lucy and Lucia are short and popular, but Luciana belongs with lovely, longer names for girls.

MADDALENA

Madeline – pick your spelling – maxes out at three syllables. But the elaborate Italian Maddalena turns it up to four.

MAGDALENA

The original form of Madeline, Magdalena feels more international.

MARIANA, MARIANNA

Mary Anne is simple and sweet, while the elaborate Mariana is a more romantic possibility. The Mariana Trench, located in the Pacific, is the deepest part of the worlds’ oceans.

NICOLETTA, NICOLINA

Nicole is a modern classic, slightly French and undeniably familiar. These forms aren’t rarities, but if you’re after an elaborate Nic- name, they might work.

OCTAVIA

A substitute for Olivia, Octavia refers to the number eight. Perfect for your eighth daughter – or, more practically, a daughter born in August.

OLIVIA

One of the long names for girls that proves four syllables isn’t too many. Made famous by the Australian singer who starred in Grease, it now stands at the very top of the popularity charts.

OLYMPIA

Another O name that shares sounds with powerhouse Olivia.

PENELOPE

This name was obscure back when Christina Ricci starred in the fairytale movie by the name. Today, Penelope is a favorite chosen by everyone from Tina Fey to Kourtney Kardashian.

PERSEPHONE

A lovely alternative to Penelope, rare but not unfamiliar.

PETRONELLA, PETRONILLA

Petra is a feminine form of Peter. Petronella is an even longer form. The -nilla spelling was worn by an early saint, but the -nella ending lends itself to nickname Nell.

PHILOMENA

It could mean loved, or it might mean “friend of strength.” Either way, Philomena has a great meaning. The early saint’s name is obscure in the US today, but if girls can be Francesca, why not Philomena?

RAFAELLA, RAFFAELLA, RAPHAELA

We all know the name Raphael, thanks to the archangel. The feminine forms are rare in English, but fit with longer names for girls.

SERAPHINA

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck put this unusual name on parents’ radar when they chose it for their second daughter in 2009.

SOPHRONIA

Sophronius means sensible. It was the name of a seventh century saint. It’s rare, but brings to mind chart-topper Sophia.

STELLAMARIS

In Latin, Stella Maris means “Star of the Sea.” That sounds like a nature name, but it comes from a title given to Mary. That makes it spiritual, and unexpected, too.

THEODORA

Theodora means gift of God. Like Theodore, there’s plenty of history attached to this name.

THEODOSIA

Hamilton’s “Dear Theodosia” could lead to a few more girls given the name.

VALENCIA

A Spanish place name, Valenica is associated with oranges. It’s also the name of a Decembrists’ single.

VALENTINA

A fast-rising favorite, Valentina brings valentines to mind. But it comes from the Latin valens – strong.

VERONICA

Call Veronica a quirky classic. It brings to mind Winona Ryder’s offbeat character in cult classic Heathers and Kristen Bell’s crime-solving girl detective.

VICTORIA

The name Victoria belongs to a Roman goddess and a famous queen. A Top 100 favorite, Victoria belongs with classics like Alice and Mary.

VIOLETTA

Violet ranks in the Top 100. Violetta sounds even more flowery.

WILHELMINA, WILLIAMINA

Sure, there’s Willa and Willow. But if you like longer names for girls, Wilhelmina and Williamina work.

ZENOBIA

Tina Fey named her firstborn daughter Alice Zenobia. It’s literary, too. Nathaniel Hawthorne chose it for a character in The Blithedale Romance.

FIVE-SYLLABLE GIRL NAMES

ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRINA

We love Alexandra. Alexandria is an ancient city, but also reasonably familiar as a girl’s name. Alexandrina is rare, but there’s at least one notable bearer – it’s the given name of Queen Victoria herself.

ANAMARIA, ANNAMARIA

Classic and spare Ann and Mary become a romantic, elaborate name combined.

ARIETTA, ARRIETTY

The Borrowers introduced us to Arrietty, though the name’s origins are obscure. Arietta might be a spin on Harriet.

CANDELARIA

Candelaria comes from the feast of Candelmas. It commemorates the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple.

CASSIOPEIA

Cassiopeia is a constellation in the night sky, as well as a long and elaborate name for a daughter.

ELIZABELLA, ELISABETTA, ELIZAVETA

Start with four-syllable Elizabeth or Isabella. Combine elements, borrow foreign versions, and before long, you’ve reached five syllables.

EMILIANA

Emilia is a fast-rising favorite. Emiliana extends the sound.

EVANGELINA

Evangeline already makes the list of longer girl names, but Evangelina goes a little farther.

GIOVANNELLA, GIOVANNETTA, GIOVANNINA

Giovanna feels long and lovely. Adding an extra syllable makes an even more elaborate form.

ISABELLINA

Isabelline is a pale yellow-grey color. Isabellina ups the syllable count to five.

LEOCADIA

Leocadia fits in with all those Leo names for boys. It comes from the name of a fourth-century Spanish martyr.

LOUISIANA

A five-syllable place name possibility, Louisiana seems as wearable as Georgia or Savannah.

MAXIMILIANA, MAXIMILIENNE

Max names to the max!

ROSAMARIA

Rose and Mary form Rosemary, with just three syllables. Rosamaria takes it up to five.

SERENDIPITY

A big, bold word name, Serendipity is long on sound and syllables.

How long is the longest name on your girls’ list?

First published on March 13, 2015, this post was revised and re-published on September 16, 2020.