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Romantic novels and movies capture the tales of love, sacrifice, and intricacies of relationships. And, the female protagonists of such stories tend to have sweet, graceful names. So, if you’re searching for romantic girl names for your little one, we are here to assist you. These names are feminine and sophisticated and sound quite delicate and beautiful. From vintage and traditional to modern, unique options, various romantic names are available. So, take a look at the available names to choose the right one for your child.
Key Pointers
- Romantic names are popular for baby girls due to their association with love, sacrifice, and understanding.
- Generally, traditional romantic names like Aimee, Rose, and Honey carry the notion of love.
- Many romantic names like Anastasia and Aurora are simultaneously featured in romantic literature, mythologies, and movies.
- Some romantic names have multiple variants that parents may choose from; for example, Elizabeth offers diminutives like Liza or Beth.
50 Cute Romantic Names For Girls
Romantic names for girls have enchanting sounds and tell riveting stories of hope, love, and dreams. They have connections to romance either through literature or their linguistic origin and connotations. Choose from these delicate and sweet names that embody qualities you want your daughter to imbibe.
1. Adoria
Adoria is the moniker to consider right now. It is slightly unusual but sounds super romantic. This lovely four-syllable name, ending with an ‘a’ has a 20th-century charm to it. And the best part is that it is totally neglected. So with this name, your daughter is sure to stand out in the crowd. You can consider its variation Adora as well.
2. Aimee
French origin names are renowned for bringing out the romance and Aimee is no different. This name is derived from the word aimer, which means ‘to love’. Its namesakes include Aimee Mann, the American singer, musician, and Aimee Teegarden, the American actress.
Trivia3. Allie
This name brings to mind the bubbly and romantic girl Allie, from the book and movie “The Notebook”, which follows the lifelong story of Noah and Allie. Allie was the nickname for Allison. But Allie is a standalone name of Celtic origin, meaning ‘harmony’. This name was introduced to the UK during the Norman Conquest.
4. Amelie
“Amelie”, the French movie debuted in the US, had a playful and romantic spirit that captured the imaginations of Americans like a storm. This gave birth to hundreds of Amelies the following year. Some opine that this name was coined by author Henry Fielding in his novel, but it appears that Amelie in its several variations was already in existence in his time. Its variation, Amelia is equally romantic, but Amelie, with its French twist, sounds better.
5. Anastasia
Anastasia, the female version of Anastasius, is supremely elegant, beautiful, and romantic. It has featured in some romantic novels, like the classic “Anna Karenina” and the recently popular “50 Shades of Grey”. But the greatest claim to fame of this name is the long lost daughter of the last Czar of Russia. The meaning of Anastasia is ‘resurrection.
6. Angelica
Angelica is one of the most famous “angelic” baby names. It has deep roots in classical plays and poetry, including “Romeo and Juliet”. This poetic name sounds a lot more delicate than Angelina and much more modern than Angela. Angelica was introduced to the UK in the 17th century, which explains its usage in several plays and poetry, including “Romeo and Juliet”. Another spelling variant of Angelica is Anjelica.
7. Angelina
Angelina is no more a soft and delicate name. The stunning Angelina Jolie has promoted not just star power, but also the romantic side of this name. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have given relationship goals to many. Coming to the name, Angelina is derived from the Greek word angelos and means ‘messenger’.
8. Anna
This name honors the classic romantic novels of all time, “Anna Karenina”. Anna is basically the Latinate form of Anne, and an English equivalent to Hannah. It means ‘grace’, which is quite fitting, if you consider the story of Hannah in the Bible. This moniker got a fresh lease of life when used for a character in Disney’s “Frozen”. We feel it sounds much more stylish than the simple Ann.
9. Antoinette
Antoinette is a super romantic baby girl name that sounds as luxurious and lavish as the queen who wore it. It has a regal and aristocratic ring to it, making it suitable for your little princess. If you find Antoinette too French Revolutionary, you can pick its impish variation Antoinetta. In our opinion, both the names sound romantic. Antoinette means ‘priceless one’.
10. Arabella
Arabella, combined with its poetic sounds, makes a perfect romantic name. It was once an overused name in romance novels, but is not very common now. Arabella has begun climbing the popularity charts, and we predict it will soon feature in the Top 100 list. Hopefully! For the nickname, you can pick Belle, which is a French word for beautiful.
11. Aurora
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The poetic name Aurora has romantic imagery associated with it. It is the name of the Roman goddess whose tears turned into dew. It was also the name of the Disney princess from “Sleeping Beauty”. So it’s sure to make your baby feel like a little princess. Most importantly, Aurora is the scientific term for the Northern Lights. Is there anything more romantic than witnessing the Aurora Borealis with your partner? The meaning of Aurora is ‘dawn’.
12. Ava
Ava is a true blue global name, heard widely in Australia, Europe, and the US. It’s short, sweet, and has loads of appeal. It’s not really unique as it’s one the top 10 names in the US, but it’s definitely ‘well loved’. Several high profile parents have picked this name for their girls, including Reese Witherspoon and Hugh Jackman.
Trivia13. Brigitte
This moniker would appeal to parents who are looking for a unique name with a touch of class. Brigitte was long associated with Brigitte Bardot, the sultry French actress. Meaning ‘exalted one’, this moniker just rolls off the tongue. The only catch is that your daughter would have a hard time reminding people that the correct pronunciation of this name is ‘Brih-Zeet’.
14. Camille
“The Woman in the Green Dress” and a tear-jerking romance of the same name are reasons enough to add Camille to this list. The movie “Camille” did spark some mild interest in the name, but it’s still not much used. Among its namesakes are Camille Paglia, a feminist critic, writer, and Camille Claudel, a French sculptor. Camille means ‘young ceremonial attendant’.
15. Celestia
The name Celestia is a heavenly name dripping in femininity. We, at MomJunction, feel that it would make a distinctive pick if you like cute baby girl names like Seraphina and Angelina. Believe it or not, Celestia was very popular in the late 19th century and even made to the top six lists in the 1880s. It was also the middle name of Caroline Ingalls in “Little House on the Prairie”.
16. Cherish
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This endearing name has quadrupled in popularity in the US. It comes from an English vocabulary word, meaning ‘prize or treasure.’ As a female name, Cherish began to be used in the late 20th century and was common mainly in the US, Canada, and Australia. We think it’s sweet, celebratory and pleasing to the ears.
17. Chloe
Chloe is one of the most dynamic, romantic, literary names. This lovely springtime name signifies new growth, even though it’s not as fresh as it was a few centuries back. In Greek mythology, Chloe was the alternate name of Demeter, the goddess of fertility and agriculture. And how can we not mention the Greek romance “Daphnis and Chloe”? Khloe, its creative spelling is also moving up well.
18. Cleopatra
Cleopatra is an ethereal name with mystical overtones. This ancient name conjures up the image of one of the most famous love stories of all time- “Antony and Cleopatra”. Unfortunately, it is yet to gain the recognition it deserves, which makes it a perfect addition to the unique names category. Its nickname Cleo is widely used. But we feel that Cleola and Cleora would make original ideas for nicknames.
19. Crimson
What color comes to your mind when you think about love and romance? Red would be most of your answers. And there’s no shade better than crimson in red. It’s bold, bright, feisty, and uncommon. We predict that Crimson would be a strong competitor to Scarlett. It just needs a romantic heroine of the same name for the push.
20. Dorothea
Dorothea is a flowing and romantic name, which is on the brink of a revival. This moniker has a long literary history, including the romantic heroine in George Eliot’s “Middlemarch”. Dorothea Mackellar, the Australian poet, is a notable namesake.
21. Elizabeth
This Greek name, meaning ‘oath of God’, has a rich literary history and Biblical reference. It’s said that girls with the name Elizabeth have an innate desire for love and companionship. It gets its romantic association with the several romantic movies and screenplays it has featured in, for instance, “The Lucky One” by Nicholas Sparks and “Pride and Prejudice”. You can shorten it to Liza, Liz, or Beth for the nickname.
22. Emma
This moniker, meaning ‘universal’ is one of the most familiar names in American right now, thanks to the legion of Emmas in books and movies, the most romantic association being Emma from Jane Austen’s novel. This moniker is super famous in Hollywood as well, with three of the young stars sharing this name- Emma Stone, Emma Roberts, and Emma Watson.
An anonymous blogger and mother shares the story behind naming her daughter as Emma. She says in her blog, “When deciding the name, my husband and I agreed that if the baby was a girl I would name the baby. And if the baby was a boy, he could. For some reason I’ve always loved the name Emma. And Emma Stone was one of my favorite actresses. So I decided on her first name being Emma (i).”
23. Esmeralda
This flowing, romantic name is taken from the world ‘emerald’ and means ‘green gemstone’. This moniker came into the mainstream via Victor Hugo’s novel, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, in which Esmeralda was the name of the protagonist. Esmeralda is currently at the 369th spot on the Social Security Administration list.
24. Georgiana
Georgiana, the most elaborate feminization of George, has a romantic image. It was the name of Darcy’s younger sister in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” This moniker isn’t much heard now. In fact, it reached its highest, #256 at the turn of the last century. You can even shorten it to Georgina if you want. Georgiana means ‘farmer’.
25. Gisele
Do you wish for a romantic name that’s glamorous as well? Then look no further than Gisele. The French pronunciation of this name gives it a graceful and romantic touch. Gisele wasn’t very popular in North America, but the supermodel Gisele Bundchen gave this name a boost. If that isn’t enough, Gisele is also the name of the official Disney Princess.
26. Honey
It cannot get cuter. This affectionate and overtly sweet name was selected by Fearne Cotton for her daughter. If you think it’s too informal to be used as a first, keep it as a middle name. It will work great as a term of endearment as well.
27. Ingrid
Ingrid may not have a typical, romantic sound to it, but it has romantic roots. This moniker is known for the romantic actress Ingrid Bergman, best known for her role in “Casablanca”, a popular love story. And Ingrid Bergman further lends charisma to this name. Ingrid means ‘fair and beautiful’.
28. Isabella
Isabella is one of the most romantic and elegant baby names of all time. It’s a variation of Isabel, which itself is a variation of Isabelle. It belonged to several medieval royals, including the Queens of Portugal, France, England, and Hungary. Remember the mighty Queen Isabella of Castile? And Isabella is a timeless name. So you do not have to worry about it going out of fashion. Isabelle means ‘devoted to God’.
29. Isadora
If Isabella could be mega popular, why not Isadora? This moniker is connected to Isis, the Greek god of birth and fertility. Besides, it’s tied to the tragic dancer Isadora Duncan, who was born as Angela Isadora. It’s also the name of the central character of Erica Jong’s “Fear of Flying”.
30. Josephine
This classic name is full of romance. It shares its association with Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. History suggests that she and Bonaparte shared a passionate, but painful relationship. Their romance is preserved in Napoleon’s letters to his wife, which have some lovesick ramblings. In fact, the very last word spoken by Napoleon was Josephine.
31. Juliet
“Romeo and Juliet.” Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy put this name on the list of romantic baby names. Its original form is Julie, but the anglicized form has an unexplainable charm to it. This name has been in use in the US since the 19th century. The usage lessened by the turn of the 20th century. But it’s on the rise again. You can also consider its spelling variation Juliette, which is currently more popular.
32. Lara
This name was made romantic by “Dr. Zhivago”, the British-American and Italian romantic drama. And it is associated with the sensuous video game lead Lara Croft as well. In the mythology, Lara was a nymph, renowned for her gorgeous looks and incompetence in keeping secrets. The meaning of Lara is ‘citadel’.
33. Lavinia
This gorgeous, Victorian name screams romance. This name has featured in Roman mythology, Shakespeare’s plays, and the British television series, “Downton Abbey”. It does sound similar to Olivia, but hasn’t experienced even 10% of its popularity, which could work to your advantage. And if you think Vinnie for the nickname is too common, you can consider Linnie.
34. Layla
If you want a name with a rich poetic past, pick Layla. This romantic sounding name is derived from the Arabic word Leila, which means ‘night’. It was the name of the object of numerous romantic poetries written by Qays, the 7th century poet. The love story of Layla and Qays is a popular romance story in Arabia. Right now, this name is used widely in the UK, US, and Australia.
35. Lelia
This ancient Roman name hasn’t been discovered fully in the US. It came to the forefront in the UK in the 19th century, following the release of the novel, “Lelia” by George Sand. Its namesake would be Lelia Goldoni, the American actress.
36. Lilliana
Liliana is one of the most exotic floral monikers. It is a Spanish variation of Lily and sounds much more rhythmic and appealing than the original, because of the three ‘Ls’ in Lilliana, as opposed to two ‘Ls’ in Lily. It’s reported that Lillian is given to over 25000 girls every year. So it’s still trendy and super fashionable throughout the country.
37. Love
Sometimes, the most obvious options are the best. This moniker is simple and pretty. It originates from the Old English verb ‘lufian’ and nun ‘lufu’. Love was originally a masculine name, coined by the Puritans in the 17th century, but is used only for girls now. It isn’t used much as a first name, but looks great in the middle, a la, Jennifer Love Hewitt.
38. Maeve
This powerful name taken from Irish mythology sounds quintessentially romantic. It was once restricted to the borders of Ireland, but has now crossed the Atlantic Ocean and is enjoying success in the US. Currently, it’s in the top 500 list, but is expected to gain momentum soon. This moniker is sweet, simple and rich in both fashion and heritage.
Trivia39. Maya
Maya has several origins. Some say that it could be a spelling variation of Maya. Others believe that in Roman mythology, Maya was the goddess of spring and fertility. And in Hindu mythology, Maya means ‘illusion’. But its most famous bearer is Zeus’ mother and daughter of Atlas. And it’s from here this name gets its romantic connection. Its namesake is Maya Angelou, one of the most famous poets.
40. Mirabelle
Mirabelle is a beautiful, romantic name with French roots. We feel it’s a lovely twist on common names Annabelle and Isabelle. Even though Mirabelle is a French name, it is seldom used in France. But in the US, the meaning and sound of this name is fit for a fairytale. And its connection with the Mirabelle plum makes it even sweeter. Mira would make a cute nickname option for Mirabelle.
41. Natalie
This elegant and feminine name came to be associated with love and romance after being featured in Julio Iglesias’ song “Natalie.” This moniker originates in the Latin name Natalia and means ‘Christmas Day’. This name is very common in English and French speaking countries.
42. Olive
We’ve nothing, but romantic associations with this name. This name has been featured in romantic movies like “Easy A”, and “Little Miss Sunshine”. And how can we forget tall and lanky Olive, Popeye’s beloved. Drew Barrymore recently picked this name for her daughter. Just a fun fact. If you rearrange the words in this name, you’ll get ‘I love’. Isn’t that romantic?
43. Rose
Rose is hugely popular as the symbol of love and romance. It has several romantic references- right from the Valentine’s Day flower to Kate Winslet’s character in Titanic. The name reached its peak in the 1990s, but began sliding down soon after. Currently, this name is experiencing a resurgence, with even Scarlett Johansson picking it for her daughter. Rose is a popular middle name pick too. Actress Rachel Griffiths named her daughter Adelaide Rose. Rosie will make a cheery nickname for Rose.
44. Roxanne
This beautifully exotic and romantic name is linked with the stunning actress to whom Cyrano de Bergerac complimented “Your name is like a golden bell’. This moniker was hugely popular in the 50s and 60s. And it has returned as a pick for mommies looking for a timelessly romantic name. Shorten it to super cool Roxy for the nickname.
45. Scarlett
Pay homage to Scarlett O’ Hara from “Gone with the Wind”, the epitome of romance, by naming your daughter Scarlett. Scarlett is a variation of ‘scarlet’, derived from the Old French word ‘escalate’, a top-quality rich red cloth. It was in 2002 that the name began climbing up the charts, all thanks to American actress Scarlett Johansson.
46. Sophie
This French name has a sensuous sound and a lovely meaning. Today, it’s one of the most popular baby girl names, and for a reason. Sophie aptly reflects beauty, wisdom, and sophistication. You can also view it as the new age romantic name, considering it featured in the romantic comedy, “Letters to Juliet”, where the protagonist was named Sophie.
47. Valentina
This one’s a bit obvious, but definitely romantic. When you search for this name, you will find that most of the famous women bearing this name come from different countries, like Ukraine, Russia, Argentina, Italy and the UK. Currently this name is enjoying popularity in the US and is expected to be in the top 100-baby name list soon. Both Salma Hayek and Adriana Lima named their daughters Valentina. Robbie Williams, the British musician went a step further and picked Valentine as the middle name for his son.
48. Vida
Vida is the female, diminutive version of David and means ‘dearly loved’ in Hebrew. And in Spanish, this name means ‘life’. So both the connotations are positive. This moniker was recently chosen by Matthew McConaughey for his daughter. Vida Goldstein, the human rights campaigner is a famous bearer of this name.
49. Viola
This violet-colored flower name is filled with old-fashioned charm. It’s uncommon, despite being packed with artistic and theatrical qualities, all thanks to Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” and actress Viola Davis from “Shakespeare in Love”. This moniker was one of the top 50 names from the year 1900 to 1990, but fell off the list in 1972. But it’s still quite well used in Italy, holding the 11th spot there.
50. Vivienne
Brangelina should be credited for giving this French name a new lease of life. Until 2008, Vivienne was practically unheard, not just in American countries, but even French speaking countries. Vivienne sounds more grounded than Viviana and softer than Vivian. Vivienne is also the name of a glamorous shopping destination in Paris.
Discover More Names
When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.
Illustration: Top 50 Most Romantic Girl Names For Your Baby
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I combine romantic girl names with other cultural or traditional names?
You may combine a traditional or cultural name with a romantic baby name and use it as a given name or a middle name. However, ensure that the chosen name blends well with the other name.
2. What are some tips for choosing a romantic girl name that will stand the test of time?
When choosing a romantic baby girl name, parents must ensure that the name has a decent meaning, sounds good, has a rich history, and is reasonably popular yet unique to make it stand out. For instance, you may consider Juliet and Isabella, which are classic romantic names with connections to literature and history, and Lelia and Isadora, which are unique choices with equally romantic connotations.
3. What is the cultural significance of romantic names?
Romantic names show a deep cultural appreciation for beauty and love and have associations with history, mythology, folklore, and literature. These names also connote love and romance through their meanings. For example, Scarlett, Emma, and Esmeralda have literary roots, while Amelie, Ingrid, and Layla have romance in their meanings.
Whether you’re a fan of romantic novels, stories, and movies, or you want your baby girl’s name to reflect your epic romantic love story, choosing a name from the list of romantic girl names could be an amazing idea. So, pick a name for your baby girl from the above list, including Anna, Vivienne, Juliet, Honey, Leila, Scarlett, Sophie, Natalie, Maya, Lara, Isabella, Esmeralda, Elizabeth, Cleopatra, Celestia, Ava, and more. We presented these names with their meanings and origins for your convenience. So pick the one that appeals to you the most and also suits your little angel’s personality.
Infographic: Cute Romantic Names For Girls
Who doesn’t love the romantic lady love of Romeo? Yes, that’s Juliet. If you want to give your baby girl a name that gives the feeling of love and romance, we suggest you look at the following infographic. We bring you a list of names that will add a beautiful touch to your daughter’s personality. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Looking for the perfect name for your little girl? Check out this video for 8 romantic and feminine baby names for girls!
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. My journey so far.https://emmaandmesite.wordpress.com/
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