Girl Names with Great Meanings: Adelaide to Zuri

Optimistic girl names might be what we all need right now.

Their meanings range from sunny to joyful, noble to strong. They’re light and bright, loving and hopeful. Some signal spring; others, faith.

It’s a long list, ranging from traditional choices to modern ones. No matter your style, odds are that some of these optimistic girl names will appeal.

NAMES MEANING BEAUTY AND SPLENDOR

Aoife

The name of a warrior princess from Irish legend, Aoife means beauty. It’s often Anglicized as the similar-sounding Eva, another name on this list.

Calista

In Greek myth, Callisto and her son Arcas became Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. The name means “most beautiful,” but the association with a mama bear makes it fierce, too.

Calla

From the Greek kallos – beauty – just like Calista.

Zuri

A Swahili name, Zuri means beautiful.

NAMES MEANING BLESSED AND LUCKY

Beata

From the Latin beatus – blessed. Pronounce it bay ah tah.

Beatrix

A mix of beatus and viatrix – voyager.

Clover

Good fortune follows this nature name.

NAMES MEANING BRIGHT AND LIGHT

Brighton

An English – and New York – place name that shines.

Claire

From the Latin clarus – clear or bright.

Clara

Claire’s cousin, along with plenty of other names.

Clarity

A modern virtue name take on classic Clara and Claire.

Elanor

Invented by JRR Tolkien, Elanor means “star sun” in Sindarin.

Elena

One of many forms of Helen, sharing the name’s hopeful meaning.

Helen

Storied Helen likely means torch.

Lucia

A Latin name meaning light.

Lux

The word light, in Latin.

Oriana

Golden Oriana shines.

Orli

From the Hebrew phrase “light for me,” Orli fits right in with optimistic girl names.

Phaedra

A rarity from Greek myth, meaning bright.

Phoebe

Long associated with the moon, Phoebe means bright.

Zahara

Several origins attach to Zahara, but in this case it’s the Hebrew meaning “to shine” that puts the name on our list of optimistic girl names.

NAMES MEANING DAWN

Aurora

The Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora signals the start of a new day.

Daisy

The flower takes it’s name from the Old English word daegeseage – day’s eye. The flowers open at dawn and follow the sun across the sky, making this an optimistic name perfect for new beginnings.

Danica

The morning star in Slavic languages, Danica refers to Venus, which appears in the east just before sunrise.

Roxana

Ultimately a Persian name meaning dawn, Roxana came to the English-speaking world in an eighteenth century Daniel Defoe novel.

Zora

Another Slavic name, Zora means dawn. It fits right in with Nora, Cora, and Aurora, too.

NAMES MEANING FAITHFUL AND LOYAL

Constance

An old-school name that signals a steadfast heart.

Faith

An obvious virtue name choice for our times.

Vera

This one double dips. It comes from the Russian word for faith, but it sounds just like Latin verus – truth.

NAMES MEANING FRIENDSHIP

Amice

A medieval favorite, now near extinction, Amice came from the Latin amicus – friend.

Amity

Another name in the key of Felicity and Clarity, Amity shares Amice’s roots.

Bellamy

This French surname comes from the phrase belle ami – beautiful friend.

Kalila

Ultimately a feminine form of Khalil, an Arabic name meaning friend.

Philomena

Philo means friend, and mena, strength.

Ruth

An Old Testament name that carries the meaning, as well as an Old Testament character who exhibited loyalty.

NAMES MEANING GIFT

Dora

Long before we automatically added “the Explorer” to Dora, this name came from the Greek doron – gift.

Dorothy

Another Dora name; the second syllable refers to God.

Isadora

Isadora is just like Dorothy, except it means “gift of Isis.”

Jesse, Jessie

Strictly speaking, Jesse is a boy’s name from the Old Testament that means gift. Jessie originated as a nickname for Jeanne, making it yet another feminine form of John. But it feels like enough to consider Jesse/Jessie a baby girl name with an auspicious meaning.

Sunniva

A Norse name meaning “sun gift.”

Theodora

Yet another twist of Dorothy.

NAMES MEANING GOODNESS

Agatha

A long-neglected vintage gem, Agatha means good.

Daria

This name’s roots go all the way back to ancient Persia. It means “possessing goodness.”

Euphraisie

Eu/Ev is a Greek element meaning good; Euphraisie means “good cheer.”

Evadne

Evadne combines good and holy.

Evangeline

This name might feel specifically Christian, but the meaning – good news – is not originally spiritual.

Sushila

Originally from Sanskrit, Sushila means “good tempered.”

Tova

A Hebrew name meaning good.

NAMES MEANING HAPPY AND JOYFUL

Alaia

A Basque name, Alaia means joyful.

Allegra

Long before the allergy medication, Italian Allegra was a musical term meaning cheerful.

Bliss

Directly from the word meaning happy.

Blythe

An archaic English word, but with a modern meaning: happy.

Corliss

Cheerful – and rare.

Felicity

A rising favorite, Felicity also shares this upbeat meaning.

Gioia

Joy’s Italian cousin.

Hana

Old Testament Hannah has different roots, but Arabic Hana means happiness.

Joy

The word name, short and complete.

Leta

A Latin name meaning glad.

Raya

An international name with multiple meanings, one of them is happy, via the Slavic rad. It also sounds like ray, as in a ray of hope or ray of light.

Zelda

A Yiddish name, Zelda also means happy or blessed.

NAMES MEANING HEAVEN OR SKY

Celia

A brief, complete name, Celia comes from the Latin caelum – heaven.

Ciel, Ciela, Cielle, and Cielo

In French and Spanish, the word ciel or cielo means heaven and sky. Ciela and Cielle might make the word just a little more name-like.

Kalani

Like Ciel and company, the Hawaiian name Kalani also means heaven and sky.

Marisol

This Spanish smoosh name almost certainly comes from Maria de Soledad. But it sounds like the Spanish phrase mar y sol – sea and sun.

Sky and Skye

An upward-looking, blue sky name that defines optimistic girl names.

NAMES MEANING HOPE

Amal

An Arabic name meaning hope.

Asha

From a Sanskrit element, Asha also means hope.

Esperanza

Translate hope into other languages, and you’ll find some lovely optimistic girl names, including this Spanish name.

Hope

Possibly the most 2021 name ever, Hope is an enduring virtue.

Kibo, Kibou

This is almost always listed as a gender-neutral Japanese name meaning hope. It doesn’t seem to be used as a first name in Japan – at least not often – but the meaning is accurate.

Nadia

From a Slavic word for hope, Nadia also carries all the spirit of Olympic record-setter Nadia Comaneci.

Tikva, Tikvah

A Hebrew name meaning hope.

NAMES MEANING LIFE AND SOUL

Alma

Multiple meanings attach, but the Spanish one matters here: soul.

Enid

A name from Arthurina legend, Enid means soul in Welsh.

Eve

The name of the first woman in the Old Testament, Eve literally means “to live.”

Liv

A Norse name, Liv share’s Eve’s meaning.

Vida and Vita

The Latin vita means life; Vida and Vita both have history as girls’ names.

Vivian

Vivacious Vivian means alive, also from the Latin.

Zoe

Among the most familiar girl names meaning life, though Zoe is now also spelled Zoey.

NAMES MEANING LOVE

Amoret

A literary name created by Edmund Spenser, Amoret means “little love.”

Cara and Carina

Both names come from Italian and mean beloved.

Carys

A modern Welsh name, Carys also means love.

Davina

A feminine form of David, Davina shares the meaning beloved.

Esme

A literary rarity turned rising favorite, Esme means esteemed.

Kerensa

Cornish Kerensa also means beloved.

Priya

Another name meaning beloved, Priya comes from Sanskrit.

NAMES MEANING SPRING AND BLOOMING

Blossom

Literally a word meaning “to bloom.”

Chloe

Chloe means “green shoot” in Greek.

Flora

Flowery Flora was the Roman goddess of spring.

Persephone

In Greek myth, Persephone’s annual return to the land of the living brought forth springtime.

Thalia

A familiar name in Greek myth, Thalia means “to blossom.”

NAMES MEANING STRONG AND BRAVE

Adelaide

All of the Adele names share a meaning: noble. Adelaide’s long A sound feels especially bold.

Adira

From a Hebrew word meaning mighty.

Bernadette

A French feminine form of Bernard, meaning brave as a bear.

Leonie

One of several Leo names for girls, Leonie roars with all the strength of a lion.

Matilda

A Germanic name meaning strength in battle.

Valencia

This Spanish place name comes from the Latin valentia – vigor.

Valentina

No surprise – Valentina is Valencia’s far more famous cousin.

Valerie

Another name from the same Latin root, Valerie is a long-time go-to for our daughters.

NAMES MEANING VICTORY AND GLORY

Cleo

From the Greek kleos, Cleo means glory.

Colette

From Nicolette, Colette shares Nicole’s meaning: victory of the people.

Gloria

A name that sounds like rejoicing.

Nicola

Another Nicole name with a victorious meaning.

Victoria

Regal and triumphant, Victoria is also a Top 100 favorite in the US.

NAMES MEANING PEACE AND TRANQUILITY

Irene

From the Greek goddess of peace.

Paloma

This name literally means dove, a symbol of peace.

Pax

The Latin word for peace, and once the Roman goddess of the same.

Mira

From mir, the Slavic word for peace.

Sakina

An Arabic name meaning calm.

Salome

A New Testament name, Salome shares roots with the Hebrew shalom – peace.

Serena

From the word serene, meaning tranquil.

Winifred

Vintage Winifred comes with a great meaning: fair and peaceful.

EVEN MORE OPTIMISTIC GIRL NAMES

Goldie

Something about gold names suggests peace and prosperity, suggesting a Golden Age.

Grace

Whether you’re spiritual or not, Grace suggests a better future.

Iris

The goddess of the rainbow, Iris serves as a powerful symbol of hope.

Mirabel and Mirabelle

The Latin mirabilis means wonderful, making Mirabel/le a natural fit for optimistic girl names.

Muriel

An Irish name meaning “bright sea,” there’s something upbeat and forward-looking about Muriel.

Nova

The Latin word for new, rich with possibilities and yes, optimism.

Promise

Virtue name Promise suggests better days ahead.

Rose

As in rose-colored glasses, everything is rosy, and coming up roses, too!

What would you add to this list of optimistic girl names?

This post was first published on November 18, 2020. It was expanded and re-posted on November 5, 2024.