Meanings of Ancient Names for New Baby Girls

Today, many names given to new babies might come from male, or female points of view, whereas their orgins may have been just one-sided monikers. Ashley, for instance, is as popular a female name as it is a male name today, but its origin tends to be male. However, the ancient Germanic meaning of Ashley -- a surname meaning dweller among ash trees -- is gender friendly, suitable for either new male, or female babies.

Names for Gender Counterparts
Georgia is commonly known as the feminine counterpart namesake to the exclusively male, George. There are many other such ancient-oriented names, including: Adrienne (from male Adrian); Alberta (Albert); Alexandra (Alexander); Alexis (Alex); Alfreda (Alfred); Alphonsine (Alphonso); Andrea (Andrew); Antonia (Anthony); Augusta, or Augustina (Augustine), just to name a few from the "A" listing.

Abigail is much more permanently feminine. It's meaning, "father's joy", suggests the softer side of ancient Dad, one who is awed and humbled by his new baby girl. Had he just heard news of a new baby boy, ancient Dad would be thinking in bolder terms, as Gerald, meaning "spear ruler", or Herbert, "glory of the army".

Some Ancient Names and Their Meanings
If looking for new baby girl names from ancient cultures, consider names listed A through Z here.

Of Beauty of Birth:
Some ancient names for baby girls reflected the joys of new birth, as the following:

Ada = joyful, flourishing; Adah = beauty; Alison = of sacred memory; Annabel = gracefully fair; Ariadne = most pure; Bathsheba = daughter of the promise; Candida = white, pure; Celeste = heavenly; Charissa = love, grace; Claribel = brightly fair; Dorinda = gift; Enid = chastity, purity; Fiona = fair, white; Guinevere = white lady, or white wave; Gweneth = fair, or blessed; Hephzibah = she who is my delight; Irene = peace; Iris = rainbow; Letitia = joy; Morna = beloved; Natalie = Christmas child; Olga = holy; Roxana = dawn of day; Thalia = flourishing, blooming; Vera = faith; Zenobia = she who is given life; Zoe = life.

Of Personality, Nature, and Occupation:
The following ancient baby girl names were inspired by nature, known personality traits, and normal occupations of females:

Allegra = spirited.....Lavinia = purified.....Alma = providing, gracious.....Leah = gazelle.....Althea = healer.....Leila = dark night, or dark beauty.....Amabel = lovable.....Linda = pretty.....April = from the name of the month.....Lois = desirable.....Astrid = God's power.....Mavis = from the name of the bird, or Irish fairy queen.....Beatrice = she who makes happy.....Megan = strange.....Belle = beautiful.....Melanie = black.....Bertha = bright, famous.....MIgnon = dainty.....Candice = radiant.....Mildred = moderate power.....Clara = bright, illustrious.....Millicent = power to work.....Constance = constant, firm.....Minnie = memory, or love.....Consuelo = consolation.....Myrtle = from the plant name.....Estelle = star.....Norma = pattern.....Eulalia = fair speech.....Olivia = she of the olive tree.....Flavia = blonde.....Opal = from the name of the gem.....Evelyn = hazelnut.....Ophelia = help.....Fidelia = faithful.....Pearl = from the name of the jewel.....Ginger = from the name of the plant.....Phyllis = green bough or leaf.....Grace = grace, favor.....Rachel = ewe or lamb.....Gisele = pledge, or hostage.....Robin = from the name of the bird.....Griselda = stony or unbeatable heroine.....Rochelle = stone or small rock.....Heather = from the plant name.....Naomi = pleasant.....Ilona = radiantly beautiful.....Ruby = name of the jewel.....Ivy = from the plant name.....Ruth = companion.....Jocelyn = playful, merry.....Serena = serene.....Joyce = joyful.....Sibyl = prophetess.....Judith = praised.....Theresa = she who reaps.

Names of Flowers for Baby Girl
Nature and its beauty were much aligned in the naming of ancient baby girls. Names of flowers were at once flowing, beautiful, and reflective of a feminine side:

Daisy, Lily, Marigold, Pansy, Poppy, Rosabel (beautiful rose), Rosalie (little rose), Rosalind (fair rose), Rose, and Violet are all easily understood, bringing wind-swept, picturesque nature itself to mind.

Anthea (flowery), Carmel (garden), Chloe (bud, sprout), Flora (flower), Hazel (plant), Holly (plant), and the beautiful Vanessa (butterfly) also instantly fit the picture of nature flowing to the whim of the wind.

Of The War-like Touch
Ancient female names were not without ancient Dad's masculine, or warlike touch, however, as ascertained by these non-so-girly-in-meaning names:

Adelaide = nobility; Adeline = of noble birth; Almira = lofty, princess; Amarantha = immortal; Athena = from the name of the Greek goddess of wisdom; Belinda = serpent; Brenda = sword or torch; Cassandra = from the name of the Trojan prophetess in the Iliad; Christabel = the fair anointed; Clotilda = famous in war; Drusilla = she who strengthens;Edith = prosperous in war; Ermengarde = great guardian; Hilda = battle maiden; Huldah = weasel, industrious; Matilda = mighty battle maiden; Monica = adviser; Rhea = from the name of the Greek goddess; Rosamond = famous protector; Rowena = from the name of an ancient Celtic goddess; Ursula = little she-bear.

The Most Ancient Priscilla

Two of the most feminine names of all are Angelica, meaning angelic, and Dulcie, which translates to "sweet".

There cannot be, however, a female name more ancient-like than Priscilla, for that is what the name means -- ancient.

(Resources for ancient baby girl names: The Reader's Digest Great Encyclopedia Dictionary (with special supplements), 1966, Funk and Wagnalls, The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.)

Many modern popular baby names and their rankings in popularity by gender, by year, and by state may be found at the Social Security Administration website developed originally by Michael W. Shackleford in 1997.