Do you have English heritage? If so, your grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and beyond might have English names. Popular English girl names come from a variety of sources. Whether you are learning about these names to connect with your ancestors or to find names for your future children, knowing where the names come from can help you connect with your family—past, present, and future.
Check out the list of popular English girl names below! You can also learn about English boy names and English surnames.
45 Popular and Unique
English Girl Names
English girl names are some of the most elegant
of English names. Think of class and beauty as you read them.
Ada (ā-də)
- Origin: German or Hebrew
- Meaning: Noble and happy or beautiful
Alberta (al-ˈbər-tə)
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Noble and bright
Alexis (ə-ˈlek-səs)
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Defender, protector, or helper
Alecia (ə-ˈlī-shə)
- Origin: French or German
- Meaning: Noble
Amelia (ə-ˈmēl-yə)
- Origin: Latin or Germanic
- Meaning: Hardworking
Andrea (än-drā-ə)
- Origin: Italian or Greek
- Meaning: Manly and strong
Anne (an)
- Origin: Hebrew or Greek
- Meaning: Gracious and merciful
Averill (ā-və-ril)
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Boar battle
Blakesley (blāks-lē)
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Black wolf’s meadow
Brenda (bren-dä)
- Origin: Gaelic
- Meaning: Sword
Celestia (sə-lest-ē-ə)
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Heavenly
Charlotte (shär-lət)
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Free man
Clara (kler-ə)
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Clear and bright
Cleo (klē-o)
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: To praise or glory
Darcie (därsē)
- Origin: English or Irish
- Meaning: Dark
Edith (ē-dəth)
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Prosperous war
Eleanor (e-lə-nər)
- Origin: French, Greek
- Meaning: Famous wealth, bright shining one
Elizabeth (i-ˈli-zə-bəth)
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Oath to God
Elmira (el-ˈmī-rə)
- Origin: English, Arabic
- Meaning: Noble, princess
Emma (e-mə)
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Complete or universal
Erin (er-ən)
- Origin: Gaelic
- Meaning: Ireland
Eve (ēv)
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Life
Freya (frā-ə)
- Origin: Scandinavian or Norse
- Meaning: Lady or goddess of love, fertility, and beauty
Georgianna (jȯr-jan-ə)
- Origin: English or Greek
- Meaning: Farmer
Gertrude (gər-trüd)
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Strong spear
Isabella (iz-ə-belə)
- Origin: Italian
- Meaning: God is my oath
Joanna (jōˈ[h]anə̇)
- Origin: English, Polish, Greek, or Hebrew
- Meaning: God is gracious
Katherine (ka-th(ə-)rən)
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Pure
Kelsey (kelsē)
- Origin: English
- Meaning: From the island
Leanne (lē-an)
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Clearing or gracious
Lily (li-lē)
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Lily flower, a symbol of purity
Louisa (lü-ē-zə)
- Origin: English or German
- Meaning: Famous warrior
Matilda (məˈtildə)
- Origin: English or German
- Meaning: Strong in battle
Myrtle (mər-tᵊl)
- Origin: English, Greek
- Meaning: Myrtle bush
Olivia (o-ˈli-vē-ə)
- Origin: English, French, Latin, or Norse
- Meaning: Descendant, olive tree, peaceful, affectionate, or warrior
Penelope (pə-ˈne-lə-pē)
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Weaver
Pippa (pipə)
- Origin: English or Greek
- Meaning: Horse lover
Queenie (kwē-nī)
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Queen
Rosemary (rōz-mer-ē)
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Rosemary herb
Ruth (rüth)
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Compassionate friend
Tate (tāt)
- Origin: English, Norse
- Meaning: Pleasant and cheerful
Tamsin (tam-zin)
- Origin: English or Greek
- Meaning: Twin
Tara (ter-ə)
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: A reference to the Hill of Tara, the legendary seat for the High King of Ireland
Whitney (hwit-nē)
- Origin: English
- Meaning: From the white island
Did any of these names stick out to you? Did we miss one of your favorites? Now that you have learned about English girl names, try searching your tree to see which ones are in your family. You might learn something new!
Alison Ensign and Laurie Bradshaw contributed to this post.
Source: Family Search