By Jackie Frere, Woman's Day
Picking out baby names is hard! With thousands to choose from and trends ever changing, it's difficult to know where to start. Do you go more traditional or more unique? Is your favorite name cool, or will it get your kid mocked on the playground?
While you can never know where your child's life is going to take them (does this name sound presidential?!), a safe bet is a name that has special meaning to you, whether it's historical, biblical, or just personal to you and your family. We chose 20 of some of the most meaningful baby girl names out there to get you started. Take a look through and see if any resonate with you.
Divya
Sanskrit for "divine or heavenly," Divya is a appropriate name for your little angel.
Violet
If you have a love for beautiful flowers or colors, then consider taking inspiration from nature! Violet, Rose, and Lily are three great flowery options.
Clara
Do you see a bright future for your little one? Consider Clara, which is the feminine form of the Latin name Clarus, meaning "clear, bright, or famous."
Faye
The storybook-inspired name Faye, which is a variation of Fay, is derived from the Old English meaning of "fairy."
Gwyneth
Gwyneth comes from the Welsh word for "blessed," which is definitely how you'll be feeling every single day after your little girl joins the family!
Stella
If mom and dad are already thinking about what they want their kid to grow up to be, Stella might give them some inspiration. The name means "star" in Latin!
Esperanza
The elegant name Esperanza is derived from the Latin name Speranita, which comes from the Spanish verb "to hope."
Sadie
A diminutive of the name Sarah, Sadie means "princess or noblewoman" in Hebrew. This moniker is sure to fit the new lady of the house.
Beatrice
Does your family have a love of exploring the world? Consider naming your daughter Beatrice, which is derived from the Latin form of Beatrix. The name is the feminine form of Viator, which means "voyager or traveler."
Abigail
We see a daddy's girl in your future! Abigail means "my father is joy," which is the perfect name for any girl who's about to have a strong bond with her dad.
Brooklyn
Although this might not have a deeper meaning than being a borough of New York, consider naming your daughter after a place that is most meaningful to your family. She'll love hearing about the significance of her name as she grows older.
Celia
Celia, which is used as a shorter form of the name Cecilia, means "heaven" in Latin. If you believe she was truly sent from above, this moniker is the perfect fit!
Felicity
If your little bundle of joy couldn't make your family smile bigger every single day, try out Felicity, which means "happiness" in Old English.
Gabriella
The feminine form of Gabriel, Gabriella is a religious name that means "God is my strong man." He'll always be watching over your little one.
Naomi
A Hebrew name for "pleasantness," Naomi is often commonly used as a Jewish name, according to Behind the Name.
Miranda
Is there any other word to describe your new baby than wonderful? Probably not, so stick with Miranda, because the name means just that in Latin.
Alina
Are you prepared for a strong, powerful woman to enter your home? Alina means "noble" in German, so get ready, world!
Amanda
Amanda comes from the feminine form of Amandus, which means "lovable and worthy of love." That seems about right, don't you think?
Mildred
Before you turn away from the old-fashioned name, think of the cute nicknames Mildred has: Millie, Mil, Drew, and so on. The name means "gentle strength" in Old English, a nice aspiration for the little one!
Bernadette
Bernadette has one of the coolest, unique meanings out there. The moniker means "as brave as a bear" in German, and there is a saint by the name in Christianity.
