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.
I love Georgiana, thanks to Mr. Darcy’s little sister.
Is Giovana not 3 syllables? I thought it was “Jo-vah-nah”.
Wow, Maristela sounds so much more beautiful to my ears than Stellamaris does, probably because it sounds more Spanish? So many beauties on this list, I adore your site. I have to jot down my faves so as not to forget!
I’ve heard Gentiana and Evyenia.
Apollonia! Still bummed I could never convince my partner to go for it.
3 syllable names in my opinion roll off the tongue a bit better like Carolyn, Kassandra, Samantha, Maria or Natasha
My favourite 4s, mentioned: Araminta, Cordelia, Esmeralda, Isidora, Liliana, Theodora, & Veronica.
My favourite 4s, unmentioned: Andromeda, Ariadne, Ezriela, Ilaria, Iliana, Luscinia, Mariamne, Melusina, Raziela, Rosario, Remedios, Valeriya, Viviana, Xaviera.
My favourite 5s, mentioned: Alexandrina & Leocadia
My favourite 5s, unmentioned: Emmanuela/Immanuela, Iphigenia, Valeriana, Yekaterina
I like Elizabeth but not as much as Eliza, and Katarina but not as much as Yekaterina, Katharine, or Katia, so I bumped them.
I like short names as much as long names. They flatter each other, too. I don’t really want ten syllables before I get to the last name.
I have recently felt that Jaquenetta and Jacobina would make perfect Twin names. They are both 4 syllables, both are button-up-stately classics, frilly, and romantic in look and feel without being obvisously matchy. Jaquenetta could go by Netta/Netty and Jacobina could go by Bina. Adorable!
That’s quite the duo – love it, Winter!
Oooh I forgot Jacobina. Noew,There a rare 4 syllable name.
Pompeianna is another rare 4 syllable
Gregoria is a neglected 4 syllable name that didn’t even make your list. Even the literary Bradamante, but that one is to be expected.
I once knew a spunky little girl by the name of Zahara! I also knew a girl in college named Shoshona.
I love
Amaryllis
Antonia
Arabella
Berengaria (guilty pleasure)
Carolina (nn Caro)
Catalina
Clovelly – (guilty pleasure:name of a village in Devon)
Cordelia
Isabella
Lavinia
Hilaria (woefully neglected)
Jacaranda (guilty pleasure)
Margarita
Natalia
Oriana
Polperro (guilty pleasure: name of a village in Cornwall)
Rafaela
Theophania
Viviana
plus the combo Lydia Frederica that I saw in a birth announcement about a year ago
Other optional long forms, that I am biased toward, that may interest you:
Ottavianna,
Corinthianna (6th century Roman noblewomen wore this name)
Maximilienne
Leopoldine
Ursulina
Zephyrine
Ernestina
Lucrezia
Armandine
Albertina
Gundeline/Gundelina
Gunnilda
Marcovefa (f-makes a v sound)
Clariandra
Albinia
Almeria
Venetia
Amoretta
Aphelinia
Amphelisia
Lisianthus
Berengaria
Scholastica
Thalassa
Lionella
Adelrune
Hippolyta
Everalda
Thomasina
Weluela
Euphrosyn
Audefleda (if you pronounce the e, its 4 syllables)
Eustchia (ch-makes a kee-uh sound)
Bodicea
Jaquenetta
Adolphina
Perpetua
Eustachia*edite
I’d never come across Adamaris as a name before, but I suspect the origin is from Latin adamaris “You are loved”.
I really enjoyed this list! One of my favorite long names is is Avhiendha. She is a character in an amazing fantasy book series (Wheel of Time). I love the look and sound of the name, but I also love the character herself.
My daughter has one of these long names and does not use the “standard” nickname for it. A risk I know, since both my mother and my best friend are Elizabeths with undesired forced “Liz” shorteners. She got in trouble at a tiny gym once because they kept calling her by the “standard” nickname for her name and she didn’t even hear them. Why people assume you will be called by a given nickname bugs me.
Oh I hate that tooo! Everyone assumed that I would go by Winnie or Winner. I just ignored them!
When we were trying to conceive our oldest, I was mildly obsessed with finding 3-syllable names with six or fewer letters. I thought three syllables flowed best with our 2-syllable last name but didn’t want to burden a child with a long name to write and spell: Lydia, Cecily, etc. ironically, when it came time to actually name kids, we ended up with one kid with a 2-syllable name and one with a 3-syllable name with 10 letters!
Oh gosh, I love them all!
Gah, I love almost every single one of the names on this list! I adore long names, especially on girls. Some of my favorites that you didn’t mention are:
Ophelia (my daughter’s middle name)
Theophania
Artemisia
Felicity
Cecilia
Christiana
Christabella
Scholastica
Hermione
Ariadne
Magdalena
Emmanuelle
Esperanza
Ottilia
Tatiana
Wisteria
Gabriella
Asteria
Salomea
Oh how is love to name a little one Stella Maris! Sadly hubby doesn’t like Stella. It hasn’t occured to me that I could smush it. I’m going to see if it Stellamaris could work as a middle name.
I’ve seen Maristel(l)a too, so pretty!
A lot of my long-time faves are on here! Alethea, Amaryllis, Arabella(also love Ariadne)
Donatella, Demetria, Evangeline, Fiorella, Liliana, Persephone, Raphaela, Valentina.
I prefer Ariane to Ariana, but Oriana is a favourite too.