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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
Nadia
From a Slavic word for hope, Nadia also carries all the spirit of Olympic record-setter Nadia Comaneci.
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!
Re: Rose rising from the hardships reminds me of a section of the bible: Isa. 35, but only KJV (the rest translates to crocus). The first four verses are why Rose is my top girl name as even before 2020 our family was going through quite a trial.
Leticia (= joy), Celeste (= heaven, sky), Anastasia (= resurection), Jubilee (= celebration).
Rose can also be for the meaning “has risen from the the hardships”.
I love Nadia. Beautiful sound and meaning.