103 Traditional English Girl Names Making A Strong Comeback

Traditional English girl names are treasured for their timeless elegance and have rich histories and meanings that make them a popular choice for new parents. These names taken from the Old English are graceful and powerful and carry both beauty and depth. Their origins are rooted in history. Although a few of these names are rare, their alternative versions still prevail. Also, a few of the names are making a comeback. Names play a big role in your child’s life, so you should choose a name that is as special as your baby girl. If you’d like to go classic, these names on our list would inspire you.

In This Article

Traditional English Girl Names For Your Baby

1. Anne

It means the one who is of a favored grace.

2. Agnes

It means the one who is pure and holy.

3. Agatha

It means the one who is honorable and good.

4. Alexandra

Alexandra is a traditional English girl name meaning a fearless warrior

Image: IStock

It means the one who is as brave and fearless as a warrior.

protip_icon Trivia
Alexandra is derived from the name Alexander. The name has Greek roots as it is an amalgamation of the words ‘alexein,’ which means to defend, and ‘anēr,’ which means man.

5. Amanda

Amanda is an English name for a girl that means the lovable one.

6. Angela

It means the one who is like an angel.

7. Audrey

It means the one who is of noble strength.

8. Beatrix

It means the one who is a voyager and is blessed.

9. Bertha

It means the one who is famous and bright.

10. Bess

It is a shortened version of the popular name Elizabeth, a favorite among royal girl names for its elegance and timeless appeal.

11. Brenda

It means the one who is as bright as a flaming sword.

12. Brittany

It means the one who is from Britain.

13. Carissa

It means the one who is a beloved.

14. Carmel

It means the one who is of Christian origin.

15. Chelsea

It means the one who is from Harbour, which is the name of a place in London.

16. Clara

It means the one who is famous and brilliant.

17. Eleanor

It means the one who is as bright as the rays of the sun.

18. Elena

It is another form of the name Eleanor and also means the one who is like a shining light or is as bright as the rays of the sun.

19. Emma

It means the one who is eternal and is as ever present as the universe.

20. Faye

It means the one who is loyal.

21. Hannah

It means the one who is ladylike and is of a favored grace.

22. Hazel

It originates from the tree of the same name.

23. Harriet

It means the one who is a ruler in the house.

24. Jane

It is a feminine version of the name John and means the lord is gracious.

Beth Grace Moore, a mother of two and a fashion, lifestyle, motherhood, and faith vlogger, talks about baby girl names that she loves but won’t be using for her little one in her video. Jane is one of these names, and she says, “I may still use this one as a middle name at some point with our girls if we have more. I really do think it’s beautiful.” The name reminds Moore of Tarzan and Jane, and she shares, “She is just this woman I think little girls have looked up to and I’ve always thought that it is such a beautiful and classic name (i).”

25. Lucy

It means the one who is full of light.

26. Lorene

It is another form of the name Laura and also means the laurel plant.

27. Miriam

It is another form of the name Mary which refers to Mother Mary.

28. Darlene

It means the one who is loved and is a darling.

29. Dawn

Dawn is a traditional English girl name

Image: Shutterstock

It means the one who was born at dawn.

30. Dora

It means the one who is a gift.

31. Edith

It means the one who is full of riches and fortune.

32. Estelle

It means the one who shines as bright as a star.

33. Eunice

It means the one who has a good victory.

34. Evie

Another variation of the name Eve.

35. Faith

It means the one who believes in God.

36. Felicity

It means the one who is full of good luck.

protip_icon Quick fact
Felicity Rose Hadley Jones is a British actress and producer known for her several award-winning performances in cinema.

37. Fern

It refers to the fern plant.

38. Gertrude

It means the one who is as strong and as brave as a spear.

39. Gloria

It means the one who is glorious.

40. Irene

It means the one who believes in peace.

41. Iris

It means the one who is as bright and colorful as a rainbow.

42. Katherine

It is a name that is derived from the popular Saint Katherine.

43. Kayley

It means the one who is slender.

44. Mabel

It means the one who is lovely and beautiful.

45. Melody

It means the one who is as melodious as a song.

45. Mildred

It means the one who is gentle but strong at the same moment.

46. Mercy

It means the one who is gentle and forgiving.

47. Philomena

It comes from the name of Saint Philomena.

48. Phoebe

It refers to the moon goddess of the same name. One of the well-loved vintage girl names that often carry a timeless, classic feel.

49. Primrose

Primrose is an English name representing the flower

Image: IStock

It is derived from the name of the flower.

50. Rhoda

It is another variation of the name Rose.

51. Rosalind

It means the one who is like a tender horse.

52. Rosemary

It is derived from the herb of the same name.

53. Scarlett

It refers to the color red.

54. Tara

It means the one who lives on or near a hill.

55. Thelma

It means the one who is like a special wish.

56. Tiffany

It means the one who is like an epiphany.

57. Valerie

It means the one who is strong and in good health.

58. Velma

It is another variation of the name Thelma.

59. Victoria

It means the one who is victorious.

60. Viola

It is another variation of the name Violet which is based on the flower of the same name.

61. Vivian

It means the one who is full of life.

protip_icon Trivia
Vivian is a unisex name, and its alternate spellings are Vivien and Vivienne.

62. Whitney

It is named after a place in England of the same name.

63. Yasmin

It is another variation of the name Jasmine which is based on the flower of the same name.

64. Winifred

It means the one who is full of joy and peace.

65. Zoe

It means the one who is full of life.

66. Zera

It means seeds

67. Jaina

It means God is gracious.

68. Aldora

It means the one who is born of a noble birth.

69. Althia

It means the one who has the powers of a healer.

70. Jemma

Jemma refers to a precious jewel

Image: Shutterstock

It means the one who is as precious as a jewel.

71. Ardel

It means the one who is eager and industrious.

72. Barbara

It means the one who has traveled from a foreign land.

73. Becca

It means the one who is captivating.

74. Beth

It means my god is bountiful and my god is the god of plenty.

75. Brienne

It means the one who is strong.

76. Brook

It refers to the one who lives near a brook.

77. Calynda

It refers to the one who is beautiful and is full of fun.

78. Camelia

It refers to the name of a flower.

79. Caryl

It refers to the one who is full of joy.

80. Audrey

It means the one who is born of noble strength.

81. Carey

It means the one who is strong.

82. Charlotte

It means the one who is petite and very feminine.

Moore also has the name Charlotte on her list. She says, “I think Charlotte is such a cute name. It is one of those that are just so classic…I feel like the nickname you use for Charlotte is oftentimes Charlie. I know you can call them Char or Lottie.”

83. Clarice

It means the one who is gentle, bright, shining like a light and very feminine.

84. Corey

It refers to the one who is extremely courteous.

85. Danita

It means God will judge.

86. Darla

It is a variation of the word darling, which means the one who is beloved.

87. Dawna

It means the one who is as sweet as the light of the dawn or the one who is born at the time of daybreak.

88. Earline

It means the one who is a noblewoman.

89. Ebba

Ebba is a traditional English girl name representing tides

Image: IStock

It means the one who is as beautiful as the flowing tide.

protip_icon Trivia
In German, Ebba means strength. while the name means strong in Swedish.

90. Enid

It means the one who is fair.

91. Emma

It means the one who is complete or whole in herself.

92. Gabriell

It means the one who has been made able-bodied by God.

93. Gemma

It means the one who is as precious and as beautiful as a jewel.

94. Gloriana

It means the one who is born of glorious grace.

95. Helena

It means the one who is bright and is the most beautiful amongst all women.

96. Hilda

It means the battle maid.

97. Isabel

It means that my God is bountiful and the god of plenty.

98. Teri

It refers to the name of a Saint.

99. Tiffanie

It means the appearance of a god.

100. Sylvie

It means the maid of the woodland.

101. Rebecca

It means the one who is captivating.

102. Orelia

It means the golden girl.

103. Marlyn

It means the one who is like the waterfall.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you suggest some English girl names with nature or flower meanings?

Ideas for nature- and flower-inspired English names for girls include Willo, Holly, Iris, Sage, and Heather.

2. What English girl names have literary or historical references?

Charlotte, Elizabeth, Virginia, and Juliet are classic examples of historical girl names that draw inspiration from both literature and history.

3. What are some English girl names that have religious or biblical origins?

English names for girls that have religious or Biblical origins are Leah, Mary, and Ruth.

4. Why do parents choose traditional English girl names for their babies?

Choosing a traditional English name for your baby girl can give her a sense of identity and continuity. These names, often passed down through generations, are rich in meaning and significance and are often associated with qualities like strength, grace, and timeless beauty.

5. Are traditional English girl names gaining in popularity?

Yes, many traditional English names are making a strong comeback as parents seek classic and unique names. Sophisticated names like Emma, Charlotte, Beatrice, Florence, Ivy, and Harriet are popular choices, and others such as Eleanor, Alice, and Matilda are also gaining favor (1).

Parents often name their children based on their personality or the kind of trends they like. So, if you are fascinated with cultures, traditions, and history, you may want your child to have a traditional name. Here is a list of traditional English girl names that are classy and elegant and blend well in the modern world. Since these names have been inspired by Old English, they also sound unique and refreshing. So, explore names such as Helena, Darla, and Beth and see what suits your baby girl the best.

Infographic: Traditional English Girl Names For Your Baby

In case you are searching for the right name for your baby and would like to look at some traditional names that hold deep meanings, we have the right list for you. In the following infographic, we have put together a few English names for your baby girl that might interest you. So, read on.

english names for your baby girl (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Key Pointers

  • English girl names are often derived from Latin.
  • They may also have Anglo-Saxon and Germanic roots.
  • Many English names are taken from the Bible or inspired by the names of saints.
  • Some traditional English girl names that are trending include Anne, Emma, Jane, and Rebecca.

Illustration: Traditional English Girl Names Making A Strong Comeback

Traditional English Girl Names_illustration

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team


Check out this video to learn the 100 most popular English girls’ names and how to pronounce them correctly! Get ready to learn some new names!

Personal Experience: Source

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Popular Baby Names.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
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Arshi Ahmed
Arshi AhmedMA (English)
Arshi Ahmed did her graduation from Shri Shikshayatan College, Kolkata, and post graduation in English from Lovely Professional University. With nearly four years of experience, she specializes in writing baby names articles as she loves to help new parents find a name for their child.

Read full bio of Arshi Ahmed
Srija holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Calcutta and a PG Diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her interest in editing ranges across niches, including academics, human psychology, and child development.

Read full bio of Srija Chanda Burman
Angela is an honors student with a master's degree in Linguistics from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. Her combined interest in history and the science of language has taught her the skills to understand how language and its use have changed over time.

Read full bio of Angela Alex