Bibbidi bobbidi boo: if a Disney film has ever played on a loop in your living room, you already know how many of its heroines carry a name worth borrowing. This list gathers 100 of them, from princesses and sidekicks to the villains with the best entrances.
Every entry gives you the origin, the meaning, a pronunciation you can say out loud, and a plain read on how common the name actually is here. Those rankings come from the Social Security Administration, which counts card applications filed at birth (1).
Some of these names are everywhere. Olivia has been the most popular U.S. girl name for seven years running, with Charlotte at #2, Amelia at #4 and Sofia at #9 in 2025 (2). Others, like Faline and Shenzi, barely register. Both kinds are below.
Popularity at a Glance
The most popular names on this list in the United States, 1965 to 2025: Olivia, Charlotte, Amelia, Mia and Sofia.
100 Cool Female Disney Names
Here are 100 Disney girl names in alphabetical order, each with its origin, meaning, pronunciation and where it stands in the latest U.S. rankings.
Abigail
In the Bible, Abigail is the wife of King David, remembered for talking her way out of a war with nothing but good sense. Disney fans know a softer one: Abigail is one of the two chatty geese in The Aristocats. That mix of scripture and slapstick suits parents who want a name with weight and a wink; Abby handles the everyday, and Abs is there for the sporty years.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: My Father’s joy
- Pronunciation: AH-bih-gayl
- Variations: Abigayl, Abbiegail
- Namesakes: Abigail Breslin, an American actress known for her role in Little Miss Sunshine.
- Popularity: Abigail ranked #41 among U.S. girls in 2025, off the #4 peak it hit in 2005.
Alice
Queens and princesses have worn Alice for centuries, which is part of why it still sounds formal without sounding fussy. Lewis Carroll gave it a second life in Alice in Wonderland. Disney’s animated version put the blue dress and the white rabbit into every childhood since. The name is short, plain and impossible to mispronounce, which is rarer than it sounds in a vintage revival. It is back in fashion and takes a long middle name beautifully.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Noble
- Pronunciation: AL-iss
- Namesakes: Alice Hoffman, an American novelist specializing in magical realism.
- Popularity: American parents placed Alice at #65 in 2025; its best year was 1913 at #11.
Amelia
Amelia is the rare vintage name that never needed rescuing; it simply kept climbing. Disney gave it a spine in Treasure Planet, where Captain Amelia runs the ship and takes no advice. Off screen it belongs to Amelia Earhart, and to Amelia Bloomer, the American activist who made trousers acceptable for women. Alternate meanings include brave, which suits a little feminist in the making. Amy, Mia and Millie are all waiting in the wings.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Diligent
- Pronunciation: uh-MEEL-ee-uh
- Variations: Emelia
- Namesakes: Amelia Earhart, an American aviator.
- Popularity: Amelia held #4 in 2025 after topping out at #3 back in 2024.
Anastasia
Girls born around Easter were traditionally given Anastasia. It carries a spring feeling that has nothing to do with the movies. The animated Anastasia drew on Anna Anderson, the woman who claimed to be Russian royalty. Disney used the name a second time, far less kindly, for one of Cinderella’s stepsisters. Stacy still works as the everyday short form, though the full four syllables are the whole point.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Resurrection
- Pronunciation: an-uh-STAY-zha, an-uh-STAY-zee-uh
- Namesakes: Anastasia Bachynska, a Ukrainian Olympic gymnast.
- Popularity: Anastasia came in at #163 in U.S. births for 2025, short of its 2018 high of #147.
Angel
Angels turn up in scripture as messengers and protectors, and the name carries all of that without feeling heavy. In American use it leans male, which is exactly why it lands fresh on a daughter. Disney’s Lilo and Stitch gave it a pink, mischievous turn with Angel, Stitch’s match in every sense; it suits a girl who follows the rules right up until she thinks of something better.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Messenger
- Pronunciation: AYN-gehl
- Namesakes: Angel Tompkins, an American actress known for her role in The Teacher.
- Popularity: Angel has charted in the U.S. since 1888 and reached #31 in 2006; it stood at #67 in 2025.
Anita
In 101 Dalmatians, Anita Radcliffe is the calm center of a very loud house, a woman who loves animals and keeps her head while Cruella does not. The name had its American moment in the 1960s and has ticked along quietly ever since. That is what makes it feel like a find rather than a trend. Alternate meanings include unguided, fitting for a girl who does what she wants. It needs no nickname at all, though Nita is there if you want one.
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Graceful, merciful
- Pronunciation: uh-NEE-tah
- Namesakes: Anita Baker, an American singer, and songwriter.
- Popularity: Anita landed at #1,342 in 2025, a long way down from #77 in 1963.
Anna
Anna sat near the top of the American charts through the early 1900s and has never really left them. In the Bible she is a prophetess who spends her days in the temple, which gives the name a quiet devotional streak. Frozen handed it to the sister who does the running, the talking and most of the rescuing, and a whole generation met it that way. Ana and Onna give you the same name with a different accent. Short, symmetrical and easy in almost any language, Anna is ready for anything.
- Origin: Hebrew, Latin, Greek
- Meaning: Grace
- Pronunciation: AH-nuh, AN-nuh
- Variations: Ana, Onna
- Namesakes: Anna Wintour, a British journalist, and editor of Vogue.
- Popularity: Anna ranked #107 among U.S. girls in 2025, off the #6 peak it hit in 1914.
Ariel
The Little Mermaid arrived in 1989 and Ariel hit its American high two years later. That is about as clean a cause and effect as baby names get. The meaning, lion of God, is far tougher than the red hair and the seashells suggest. American parents read it as a girl’s name while Israel treats it as a boy’s. It travels as a genuinely unisex pick. Decades on, it still sounds like someone with a plan.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Lion of God
- Pronunciation: AIR-ee-ehl
- Namesakes: Ariel Winter, an American actress known for her role in Modern Family.
- Popularity: American parents placed Ariel at #356 in 2025; its best year was 1991 at #66.
Audrey
Audrey Hepburn gave this name its polish and the association has not dimmed in seventy years. Shakespeare used it in As You Like It, and Disney’s Descendants handed it to a princess with opinions. There is a Saint Audrey too, a princess who took a holy vow, so the name has been carrying royalty and restraint for a very long time; keep the classic spelling for the full effect, or try Audree or Audreigh for a modern flourish.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Noble strength
- Pronunciation: AH-dree
- Variations: Audreigh, Audree
- Namesakes: Audrey Marnay, a French model.
- Popularity: Audrey held #86 in 2025 after topping out at #33 back in 2013.
Aurora
Sleeping Beauty made Aurora famous, though Roman mythology got there first: Aurora is the goddess who paints the sunrise. That image does a lot of work, and it helps explain why American parents keep reaching for the name. It is long enough to feel formal and soft enough to sing. Rory waits underneath for the days she wants something blunter. For a baby born before the sun is up, it is almost too neat.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Dawn
- Pronunciation: ah-ROR-ah
- Namesakes: Aurora Flores, a Mexican painter, and writer.
- Popularity: Aurora reached #15 in the U.S. in 2025, its strongest showing on record.
Bailey
Pixar fans meet Bailey as the beluga in Finding Dory, whose echolocation works far better than he believes. The spelling does most of the signalling here: Bailee and Baileigh read soft and feminine, while plain Bailey stays neutral. Alternate meanings include berry wood, which gives an otherwise sturdy word a woodland edge.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Fortification
- Pronunciation: BAY-lee
- Variations: Bailee, Baylee, Baileigh
- Popularity: Bailey has charted in the U.S. since 1916 and reached #60 in 1998; it stood at #209 in 2025.
Belle
Belle began as a short form of Isabelle and stopped needing the rest of the name generations ago. Beauty and the Beast gave it a heroine who reads through breakfast and is thoroughly unimpressed by the town heartthrob, still the best advertisement the name has. The French meaning is simply beautiful. It sounds like it. As a middle name it is one perfect syllable of storybook.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Beautiful
- Pronunciation: BELL
- Namesakes: Belle Reynolds, an American nurse and Civil War heroine.
- Popularity: Belle landed at #1,013 in 2025, a long way down from #276 in 1914.
Bianca
The Rescuers built a whole character around Bianca, a mouse in a fur coat who turns out braver than anyone expects. The name has charted in America since 1905 and has kept a faintly bohemian air ever since. Its meaning, white, points at fresh snow rather than anything plain, which suits a winter baby; Bee is the obvious nickname, and it is a good one.
- Origin: Italian
- Meaning: White
- Pronunciation: bee-AHN-kuh
- Namesakes: Bianca Knight, an American Olympic runner.
- Popularity: Bianca ranked #500 among U.S. girls in 2025, off the #84 peak it hit in 1990.
Bonnie
In Scotland, calling a girl bonnie is a compliment long before it is a name. The word never quite loses that warmth. Disney kept it current through Toy Story 3 and 4, where Bonnie inherits Woody and immediately reinvents him. Alternate meanings include cheerful, which is a great deal to ask of anyone before breakfast. Bonnie Parker, of Bonnie and Clyde, gives this sweet name an outlaw streak that keeps it from turning saccharine.
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: Cheerful, beautiful
- Pronunciation: BAH-nee
- Variations: Bonny
- Namesakes: Bonnie Dobson, a Canadian folk singer.
- Popularity: American parents placed Bonnie at #396 in 2025; its best year was 1941 at #33.
Briar
Briar Rose is the name Sleeping Beauty lives under while she is hidden in the woods, a nod to the Little Briar Rose of the original tale. On its own, Briar is thorns and hedgerows: pretty, with something sharp underneath. Rachel Bilson picked it for her daughter. American parents have been warming to it ever since. It fits a sweet girl who can be prickly when the situation calls for it.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Thorny patch
- Pronunciation: BRYE-er
- Namesakes: Briar Nolet, a Canadian dancer, and actress.
- Popularity: American parents pushed Briar to #400 in 2025, higher than in any year before it.
Calliope
In Greek mythology Calliope is the muse of epic poetry, the one the other muses answer to. Disney’s Hercules put her on screen, and there is a Calliope in Tangled as well. The meaning, beautiful voice, is a lot of name to grow into and a wonderful one to have; Calli keeps it manageable at the playground.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Beautiful voice
- Pronunciation: kal-EYE-oh-pee, kal-ee-OH-pee
- Namesakes: Calliope Thorne, an American actress known for her role in Necessary Roughness.
- Popularity: Calliope charted at #451 in 2025, a record best for the name in U.S. births.
Charlotte
Prince William and Kate chose Charlotte for their daughter in 2015. The name has been sitting at the sharp end of the American charts ever since. Disney offers a different reading in The Princess and the Frog, where Charlotte La Bouff is loud, spoiled and, when it counts, the most loyal friend Tiana has. As the feminine form of Charles it honors a grandfather without sounding borrowed. Lottie, Charlie and Carly all come free with it.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Free man
- Pronunciation: CHAR-leht
- Namesakes: Charlotte Brontë, an English writer.
- Popularity: Charlotte sits at #2 among U.S. girl names in 2025, the best rank it has ever held.
Cinderella
Cinderella is one of the oldest stories we have, written down in the 1600s and told aloud long before that. Disney’s version is the one everyone pictures, glass slipper and all. As an actual first name it stays extraordinarily rare. That is either the drawback or the entire appeal. Give it to a girl who breaks ceilings rather than slippers. Keep Ella in your back pocket for the days she wants something shorter.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Little ashes
- Pronunciation: SIN-der-EL-ah
- Popularity: Cinderella slipped out of the U.S. rankings after 2024, when it sat at #15,783.
Clara
Clara was everywhere in the early 1900s and is enjoying a proper second run now. The namesake most parents reach for is Clara Barton, one of the first American nurses. Disney’s contribution is Clara Cluck, an operatic hen from the Mickey Mouse cartoons, proof that not every namesake has to be dignified. Clara is also the girl at the center of The Nutcracker, so the name arrives with a ballet and a Christmas tradition attached. The meaning, bright, is the plainest thing about it.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Bright, clear
- Pronunciation: KLAIR-uh
- Variations: Klara
- Namesakes: Clara Alonso, an Argentine actress known for her role in Violetta.
- Popularity: Clara came in at #63 in 2025, below the #36 high point from 1913.
Cleo
Cleo drifts through Pinocchio as Geppetto’s goldfish, a small part for a name with this much history behind it. It doubles as the short form of Cleopatra, and a little of that authority carries over. Alternate meanings include famous, and the whole thing takes four letters; if you want a Disney name that fits on a keychain, this is your girl.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Glory
- Pronunciation: KLEE-oh
- Variations: Kleo
- Namesakes: Cleo Madison, an American actress known for her work in silent films.
- Popularity: Cleo sat at #577 in 2025 U.S. births, well off the #180 peak logged in 1916.
Coco
Coco began life as a nickname and has been stealing the spotlight from longer names ever since. Pixar’s Coco built an entire film around remembering the people you came from, which gave the name unexpected depth. David Arquette and Courteney Cox chose it for their daughter, and the association stuck. It stays rare on American birth certificates, so yours will very likely be the only one in her class. Do not be surprised if she also has a sweet tooth.
- Origin: French, Spanish
- Meaning: Cocoa
- Pronunciation: KOH-KOH
- Variations: Koko
- Namesakes: Coco Chanel, a French fashion designer.
- Popularity: Coco held #2,334 in 2025 after topping out at #1,851 back in 2020.
Colette
Colette brings a little of Paris with it and does not have to try very hard. Ratatouille gave the name to Colette Tatou, the only woman in that kitchen and comfortably the toughest cook in it. There is a Saint Colette as well, the patron saint of expecting mothers. That is a fitting patron for a baby name list. Letty and Coco both work as short forms.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: People of victory
- Pronunciation: KOHL-eht
- Namesakes: Colette Melot, a French senator.
- Popularity: Colette reached #316 in the U.S. in 2025, its strongest showing on record.
Daisy
Daisy Duck arrived in 1940 and has been out-dressing Donald ever since. The flower does the rest of the work: daisies stand for innocence and new beginnings. That is why they end up in so many new baby bouquets. Literary parents get Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby, glamorous and a little careless. Cheerful without being childish, the name holds up perfectly well on an adult.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Day’s eye
- Pronunciation: DAY-zee
- Namesakes: Daisy Bates, an American civil rights activist.
- Popularity: American parents pushed Daisy to #75 in 2025, higher than in any year before it.
Destiny
Destiny had an enormous run in the early 2000s and has fallen sharply since, which is what happens when a word becomes a moment. Pixar kept it in circulation with a cute namesake in Finding Dory. The name has a spiritual slant that appeals to parents who like a touch of mysticism; right now it is unusual enough to read as a choice rather than a default.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Destiny, fate
- Pronunciation: DES-tih-nee
- Variations: Destinee
- Namesakes: Destiny Hope Cyrus, an American actress, and singer.
- Popularity: Destiny landed at #635 in 2025, a long way down from #22 in 2001.
Dinah
Dinah is one of the most famous cats in animation, the pet Alice misses while she is falling down the rabbit hole. In the Bible, Dinah is Jacob’s only daughter, and her story is a hard one that ends in retribution rather than silence. The name has drifted a long way down the American charts. That leaves it wide open for anyone who wants a vintage biblical pick. Deena is the softer spelling if the classic looks too severe.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God will judge
- Pronunciation: DEE-nuh
- Variations: Deena
- Namesakes: Dinah Manoff, an American actress known for her role in Grease.
- Popularity: Dinah ranked #4,198 among U.S. girls in 2025, off the #488 peak it hit in 1955.
Dory
Dory started out as a short form of Dorothy and has stayed unusual ever since. Pixar changed its life twice, first with Finding Nemo and then with a film of her own. The forgetful blue tang became one of the most quoted characters the studio has. It sits at #12,248 among current American births in 2025, a rare name by any measure. The meaning, gift of God, is a surprise on a name most people file under comic relief.
- Origin: French, Greek
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Pronunciation: DOR-ee
- Variations: Dori
- Popularity: American parents placed Dory at #12,248 in 2025; its best year was 1964 at #2,045.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth held a place in America’s top ten for most of the early twentieth century and has never dropped far since. The back story is unmatched: Queen Elizabeth I alone would carry the name, and she is one of many. Disney’s contribution is Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean, who spends the films outgrowing everyone’s expectations; almost every nickname you could want already exists, from Eliza and Beth to Libby and Bess.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Pledged to God
- Pronunciation: ee-LIZ-uh-beth
- Variations: Elisabeth
- Namesakes: Elizabeth Hurley, a British actress known for her role in Austin Powers.
- Popularity: Elizabeth held #17 in 2025 after topping out at #8 back in 1913.
Ella
In 2015 Disney retold Cinderella in live action and called its heroine Ella, a plainer, more modern take on the same girl. Alternate meanings include goddess, which adds to the fairy-tale pull. The name is two syllables, three if you are being formal. It hides inside Isabella, Gabriella and Eleanor if you want the long version on the birth certificate. It has been a solidly popular American choice for two decades now.
- Origin: German, English, Hebrew
- Meaning: Fairy maiden
- Pronunciation: EL-ah
- Namesakes: Ella Fitzgerald, an American jazz singer known for her impeccable pitch.
- Popularity: Ella came in at #29 in U.S. births for 2025, short of its 2011 high of #12.
Ellie
A nickname for Eleanor or Ellen, Ellie joins the long list of short forms that outgrew their originals. Pixar’s Up gave it to an old woman with a scrapbook full of adventures she never got to take. That is one of the more moving namesakes on this list. Alternate meanings include light, fitting for a future starlet. It is warm, easy to say and impossible to be intimidated by.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Bright shining one
- Pronunciation: EL-ee
- Namesakes: Ellie Goulding, an English singer with multiple singles.
- Popularity: Ellie has charted in the U.S. since 1880 and reached #21 in 2024; it stood at #24 in 2025.
Elsa
Frozen arrived in 2013 with a heroine who freezes a fjord and then apologizes for it, and Elsa climbed more than two hundred spots on the American charts within a year. The surge did not last, and the name now sits well outside the everyday range, which is good news if you loved it and dreaded a classroom full of them. Alternate meanings include God is abundance, a generous sentiment for a small believer; it is short, Germanic and unfussy, and it ages well.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Pledged to God
- Pronunciation: EL-sah
- Namesakes: Elsa Peretti, an Italian jewelry designer.
- Popularity: Elsa landed at #1,104 in 2025, a long way down from #286 in 2014.
Esmerelda
The Hunchback of Notre Dame gave Esmerelda a sharp tongue and a kind heart. Disney took the story from Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris. The name means emerald, which makes it a natural for a green-eyed girl. Emeralds are May’s birthstone, so it is an especially good fit for a spring baby. Esme and Elle both work when the full five syllables are more than the moment needs.
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese
- Meaning: Emerald
- Pronunciation: EHZ-mer-EL-dah
- Namesakes: Esmerelda Santiago, a Puerto-Rican author known for her coming-of-age stories.
- Popularity: Esmerelda ranked #5,017 among U.S. girls in 2025, off the #3,825 peak it hit in 2021.
Evangeline
Henry Longfellow wrote a poem called Evangeline in 1847 and set the name on its way. It turns up in Uncle Tom’s Cabin and again in The Princess and the Frog, where Evangeline is the star Ray sings to. The meaning, bearer of good news, is about as warm as onomastics gets. Alternate meanings include gospel. Vange, said VANJ, is the short form nobody sees coming.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Bearer of good news
- Pronunciation: eh-VAN-jeh-leen
- Namesakes: Evangeline Lilly, a Canadian actress known for her role in Lost.
- Popularity: Evangeline charted at #147 in 2025, a record best for the name in U.S. births.
Eve
Eve is the first woman in the Bible and the mother of everyone who followed, which is a great deal of history in three letters. Disney sent the name to space in WALL-E, where EVE is the sleek probe the little robot falls for. Jessica Capshaw is among the celebrity parents who have picked it; the meaning is simply life, and the name is short enough to sit beside almost any surname.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Life
- Pronunciation: EEV
- Namesakes: Eve Torres, an American pro wrestler.
- Popularity: Eve ranked #519 among U.S. girls in 2025, not far from the #436 peak it reached in 2017.
Faline
Faline means catlike, which is a strange fit for the doe Bambi grows up beside. Yet the name has been hers since 1942. It sits so close to feline that most people hear a cat anyway. The Egyptians treated cats as lucky and a little divine, so the association is not the worst inheritance. If you want a Disney name almost nobody else will use, this is one of the last truly quiet ones.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Catlike
- Pronunciation: fuh-LEEN
- Popularity: Faline came in at #8,528 in U.S. births for 2025, short of its 1943 high of #4,895.
Flora
In Roman mythology Flora is the goddess of flowers, fertility and spring. The name arrives with a whole season attached. Sleeping Beauty made her a fairy in red who argues about dress colors and wins. Walt Disney’s own mother was named Flora. That may be exactly why the character exists. As a name it is soft, botanical and very easy to say.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Flowers
- Pronunciation: FLOR-ah
- Namesakes: Flora Reid, a British-Scottish painter specializing in spiritual scenes.
- Popularity: Flora first appeared in U.S. data in 1880, peaked at #131 in 1914, and stood at #607 in 2025.
Georgette
The feminine form of George, Georgette brings a little European polish to a very ordinary root. Disney used it in Oliver and Company for the pampered poodle who eventually decides to be helpful. The name is uncommon enough in America that your daughter will almost certainly have the playground to herself; George and Georgie both work as nicknames, whatever her style turns out to be.
- Origin: French, Latin
- Meaning: Farmer
- Pronunciation: JORJ-eht
- Namesakes: Georgette Heyer, an English novelist specializing in romances and mysteries.
- Popularity: Georgette sits at #3,857 in 2025 U.S. births, well below the #455 it held in 1948.
Giselle
A French ballet called Giselle debuted in the 1800s and the name has carried that stage lighting ever since. Disney’s Enchanted and Disenchanted gave it to Amy Adams. She plays a storybook princess dropped into modern New York. That Giselle is a deliberate blend of the classic heroines, part Snow White, part Cinderella. It is a fitting name for a girl with more than one ambition at a time.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Pledge
- Pronunciation: JIZ-ehl, GEE-zah-lah
- Variations: Gisele
- Namesakes: Giselle Loren, an American voice actress known for her role in Happy Feet.
- Popularity: As of 2025, Giselle sits at #382, shy of the #134 peak it reached in 2007.
Grace
Like most virtue names, Grace owes its start to the Puritans, who preferred qualities to saints. It is also one of the most reliable trendy middle names in America. That is a job it does beautifully. Grace Kelly lends it old Hollywood. Disney’s Home on the Range lends it a snarky cow, so the range here is wide. One syllable, no ambiguity, and it never looks dated on a resume.
- Origin: Latin, English
- Meaning: Grace
- Pronunciation: GRAYS
- Namesakes: Grace Min, an American tennis player.
- Popularity: In 2025, Grace ranked #38 among American girls; 2003 was its high point at #13.
Hazel
Hazel was an early-1900s staple, nearly vanished by the 1980s, and has since climbed back to #21 among 2025 U.S. births, just three spots off its 2023 high of #18. Disney’s Witch Hazel is a cheerfully awful cartoon villain, and hazelwood has a long folk reputation for second sight, so the spooky side is well earned. Hazel Grace from The Fault in Our Stars gives it a literary anchor for older readers; it is a botanical name that also happens to be an eye color, which is a lovely thing to grow into.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Hazelnut tree
- Pronunciation: HAY-zuhl
- Namesakes: Hazel Dickens, an American bluegrass singer.
- Popularity: Hazel sits at #21 in 2025 U.S. births, close to the #18 high it hit in 2023.
Helen
Helen of Troy is the namesake everyone reaches for, said to be the most beautiful woman in mythology and the cause of a great deal of trouble. Disney’s Hercules brought her to a younger audience. Helen Keller gives the name a different and steelier kind of fame. Alternate meanings include torch. That suits a girl who carries something forward for her family.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Shining light
- Pronunciation: HEL-ehn
- Namesakes: Helen Keller, a deaf and blind American author, and activist.
- Popularity: Helen came in at #462 in U.S. births for 2025, short of its 1913 high of #2.
Hera
Hera is the Greek goddess of family and marriage, protector of women in labor. She is also the sister and wife of Zeus, which explains her temper. Disney’s Hercules cast her as the hero’s beautiful mother and left the mythology’s sharper edges alone. For all her standing among the gods, the name never really transferred to mortals. That makes it a quietly bold choice for parents who want strength and compassion in four letters.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Protectress
- Pronunciation: HAIR-uh
- Namesakes: Hera Bird, a New Zealand poet.
- Popularity: Hera sits at #2,730 among U.S. girl names in 2025, the best rank it has ever held.
Iris
Iris appears in Fantasia after Zeus has finished throwing lightning, arriving with the rainbow that clears the sky. In mythology she uses those rainbows as a bridge between heaven and earth, which is a beautiful job description. Iris is also a flower standing for hope, royalty and wisdom, and it is the colored part of the eye; few short names carry that much imagery so lightly.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Rainbow
- Pronunciation: EYE-riss
- Namesakes: Iris Adrian, an American actress known for her role in Career Girl.
- Popularity: Iris reached #61 in the U.S. in 2025, its strongest showing on record.
Isabel
Disney’s television side has quietly produced some of the best names on this list. Isabel is one of them: she is Elena’s inventive younger sister in Elena of Avalor. The name works as a warmer, less formal route to Elizabeth without losing any of the elegance. Bella and Izzy are the nicknames, and they could not be more different from each other. Isabelle is there too if you prefer the French spelling.
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Pledged to God
- Pronunciation: IZ-ah-bel
- Variations: Isabelle
- Namesakes: Isabel Bishop, an American painter who specialized in urban landscapes.
- Popularity: Isabel placed #177 in 2025 U.S. births, down from a #83 peak in 2003.
Jane
Jane has been worn by matriarchs. Jane Grey, for one, was Queen of England for all of nine days. Fiction has been even more generous: Jane Eyre alone would keep the name in circulation. Disney’s Tarzan made it unexpectedly adventurous, trading the drawing room for the jungle canopy. Jayne is the spelling for parents who want the classic with one extra flourish.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Pronunciation: JAYN
- Variations: Jayne
- Namesakes: Jane Austen, an English novelist known with six bestsellers.
- Popularity: Jane’s 2025 rank was #221, compared with the #35 peak set back in 1946.
Jasmine
Jasmine is a botanical name first, borrowed from the small white flower that opens after dark and perfumes an entire garden. Those blooms stand for love and purity, which is a gentle set of associations for a name most people now hear as a princess. Aladdin is responsible for that, and for the fact that a good half of America can sing about a whole new world on request; Jazmine is the spelling that gives it a little more edge.
- Origin: Persian
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Pronunciation: JAZ-mihn
- Variations: Jazmine
- Namesakes: Jasmine Guy, an American actress known for her role in Harlem Nights.
- Popularity: In 2025, Jasmine stood at #206, far below the #23 peak set in 1993.
Jessie
Jessie was fashionable in the early 1900s, when plain and practical names were the fashion. Plenty of people use it as a short form of Jessica, but it stands on its own perfectly well. It works for a girl or a boy. Toy Story built the best-known version: a cowgirl with a temper, a backstory and better rodeo skills than anyone else in the toy box. The meaning, wealthy, is an odd fit for a character who mostly wants to be kept.
- Origin: Hebrew, Scottish
- Meaning: Wealthy
- Pronunciation: JESS-ee
- Variations: Jessy
- Namesakes: Jessie J, an English singer nominated for a Grammy award.
- Popularity: Jessie landed #824 among U.S. girls in 2025, well below its 1913 peak of #61.
Joy
In the Bible, Joy is among the fruits of the spirit. That makes it a natural pick for Christian families. Several traditions treat it as something deeper and steadier than happiness, a distinction worth passing on. Pixar’s Inside Out turned the idea into a character who is relentlessly, exhaustingly upbeat and slowly learns why sadness matters. Three letters, no nickname needed. Nobody will ever ask how to spell it.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Intense happiness
- Pronunciation: JOY
- Namesakes: Joy Williams, an American singer, and member of The Civil Wars.
- Popularity: On the books since 1885, Joy hit #109 in 1974 and now sits at #419 as of 2025.
Judy
Judy is the feminine form of Judah and usually a short form of Judith, though it left home a long time ago. Judy Garland is the namesake most people hear first. Zootopia added a very different one in Judy Hopps, the small-town rabbit who talks her way into the police force and refuses to be sent home; alternate meanings include she will be praised, which fits a charismatic girl beautifully.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Woman from Judea
- Pronunciation: JOO-dee
- Variations: Judi
- Namesakes: Judy Garland, an American actress known for her role in The Wizard of Oz.
- Popularity: By 2025, Judy had slipped to #1,874, down sharply from #11 in 1946.
June
June is the warm month named for the goddess Juno, so the name comes with sunshine built in. Daisy Duck’s three nieces are April, May and June. That is the tidiest naming scheme in the whole Disney catalog. There is another June on Disney Junior’s Little Einsteins, dancing her way through the orchestra. It is a lovely pick for a summer baby and a good one for a winter baby who could use the warmth.
- Origin: Latin, Roman
- Meaning: Young
- Pronunciation: JOON
- Namesakes: June Carter Cash, an American country singer and wife to Johnny Cash.
- Popularity: June came in at #150 in 2025, below the #39 high point from 1925.
Kamala
Kamala is another name for Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity. It means garden. Kamala Harris, who served as vice president of the United States, is the namesake most Americans know. Marvel added another with Kamala Khan, whose series streams on Disney+. The name stays genuinely rare in American births. It reads as deliberate rather than borrowed.
- Origin: Hindi, Hawaiian
- Meaning: Garden
- Pronunciation: kuh-MAH-lah, KAM-uh-lah
- Namesakes: Kamala Das, an Indian poet.
- Popularity: American parents placed Kamala at #9,767 in 2025; its best year was 1964 at #1,063.
Kiara
Kiara reads differently depending on where the family is from: in Italy it points to light, while the Irish reading is closer to dark. The Lion King sequel gave it a lioness, Simba’s daughter, and a considerable boost in the 1990s. Chiara is the older Italian spelling if you want the version with more history behind it; KiKi is the nickname, and it is adorable.
- Origin: Italian, Irish, Korean, Swahili
- Meaning: Light, clear, dark, princess
- Pronunciation: kee-AR-uh
- Variations: Chiara
- Namesakes: Kiara Bosio, an American soccer player.
- Popularity: Kiara ranked #229 among U.S. girls in 2025, well below the #78 peak it reached in 1999.
Kida
For rare Japanese names with a Disney thread, Kida is the one to look at. Atlantis: The Lost Empire built its story around Kida Nedakh, princess of a lost city and the opposite of a damsel. She fights, she navigates and she saves the expedition more than once. The name stays genuinely rare in American births. That is part of the appeal.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Rice paddy near a tree.
- Pronunciation: KEE-dah
- Popularity: Kida came in at #9,183 in U.S. births for 2025, short of its 2020 high of #6,787.
Kit
Kit earns its unisex status honestly. It works as a short form of both Katherine and Christopher. It has also picked up again lately, standing at #1,103 among 2025 American births after decades of being rare enough to fall off the chart. Disney’s Tinker Bell films gave it to a tomboy fairy who is more interested in the workshop than the wings. Kitty is the softer version for anyone who wants one.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Pure
- Pronunciation: KIHT
- Namesakes: Kit Hoover, an American sportscaster, and journalist.
- Popularity: Kit has charted in the U.S. since 1880 and reached #787 in 1955; it stood at #1,103 in 2025.
Lana
The Princess Diaries handed Lana to the school villain, which did nothing to slow it down. The name shifts meaning with geography: in Hawaii it points to calm ocean water, while the Irish reading is little rock. Slavic and Greek readings add blessed and pure to the pile; if you like a name that can be whichever thing your daughter needs it to be, Lana is unusually flexible.
- Origin: Irish, Hawaiian, Greek, Slavic
- Meaning: Little rock, calm, pure, blessed
- Pronunciation: LAN-ah, LAW-nuh
- Namesakes: Lana Del Ray, an American singer, and songwriter.
- Popularity: Lana landed at #406 in 2025, a long way down from #188 in 1948.
Laurel
The laurel tree crowned victors in ancient Greece and has stood for peace almost as long. The name arrives already decorated. Disney’s Onward gave it to Laurel Lightfoot, an elf mother who is far more capable than her sons realize. It is a botanical name that sounds grown up rather than sweet, which is a rare combination. Laurie is the natural nickname for a small sapling.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Laurel tree
- Pronunciation: LOR-ehl
- Namesakes: Laurel Goodwin, an American actress known for her role in The Glory Guys.
- Popularity: As of 2025, Laurel sits at #734, shy of the #241 peak it reached in 1956.
Laverne
Laverne will bring the television duo Laverne and Shirley to mind for anyone who remembers them. In The Hunchback of Notre Dame she is one of the three gargoyles. She is comfortably the driest of them. Roman mythology cast Laverne as the goddess of thieves. That is a wonderfully odd fit for a girl who steals hearts. Vintage names keep coming back in waves; this one is still waiting for its turn.
- Origin: Latin, Roman
- Meaning: Of spring, the alder tree
- Pronunciation: luh-VERN
- Namesakes: Laverne Harding, an American cartoonist and one of the first female animators.
- Popularity: Laverne slipped out of the U.S. rankings after 2024, when it sat at #8,706.
Leila
Al Roker is among the parents who have picked Leila, and the name has stayed fashionable without turning common. It means night, which makes it a natural for a baby born after dark or a toddler who refuses to sleep before midnight. Queen Leila appears briefly in Maleficent, adding a Disney thread to a name that mostly stands on its own; between Layla, Leila and Lila you can choose the spelling and the pronunciation you want.
- Origin: Arabic, Persian
- Meaning: Night
- Pronunciation: LAY-lah, LYE-lah
- Variations: Layla, Lila
- Namesakes: Leila Tong, a Hong Kong actress known for her role in Twin of Brothers.
- Popularity: Leila sits at #259 in 2025 U.S. births, close to the #205 high it hit in 2010.
Lilo
Lilo and Stitch is where almost everyone meets this name, attached to a Hawaiian girl who adopts an alien and calls it a dog. The film keeps ohana at its center. The name carries a real idea about family rather than just a beach setting. Lilo also has German roots, which surprises people. It means generous one, and it suits a girl who puts other people first.
- Origin: German, Hawaiian
- Meaning: Generous one
- Pronunciation: LEE-loh
- Namesakes: Lilo, a French singer, and actress.
- Popularity: Lilo reached #3,231 in the U.S. in 2025, its strongest showing on record.
Lily
Lily is the flower you see everywhere at Easter. That is why Christian families often read it as a symbol of resurrection. Disney’s Peter Pan gave it to Tiger Lily. Plenty of families shorten that to just Lily. It has been a top American choice for two decades and shows no sign of tiring. Lillie is the vintage spelling if you want the same name with a little dust on it.
- Origin: Latin, English
- Meaning: Lily flower
- Pronunciation: LILL-ee
- Variations: Lillie, Lille
- Namesakes: Lily Tomlin, an American actress, and comedian known for her role in Grace and Frankie.
- Popularity: Lily has been charted since 1880; its best year was 2011 at #15, and 2025 puts it at #18.
Mae
Mae is a variation of Maia, the Roman goddess who gave her name to the month of May. Maia looked after mothers, which makes Mae a thoughtful pick for a baby due around Mother’s Day. Disney and Pixar have used it more than once, including Ellie Mae in The Rescuers. Three letters, one syllable, and it works as a middle name for almost anything.
- Origin: English, Roman
- Meaning: Bitter, pearl
- Pronunciation: MAY
- Variations: May, Mai
- Namesakes: Mae West, an American actress known for her role in I’m No Angel.
- Popularity: Mae landed at #501 in 2025, a long way down from #79 in 1913.
Marian
Marian was open to either gender for the first decades of the last century and settled on girls afterward. Disney’s Robin Hood gave it Maid Marian, a fox in a wimple who is braver than the plot admits. Alternate meanings include drop of the sea, lovely for a baby born near the water. Mari, said MAIR-ee, is the short form.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Beloved
- Pronunciation: MAIR-ee-uhn, mair-ee-AN
- Namesakes: Marian Edelman, an American rights activist.
- Popularity: Marian ranked #1,103 among U.S. girls in 2025, off the #64 peak it hit in 1924.
Marie
If you want a French version of Mary, Marie is the obvious answer and the prettiest one. It was hugely fashionable in America in the early 1900s, both as a first name and as the middle name half the country seemed to share. The Aristocats gave it to Marie, the white kitten with the pink bow and firm opinions about her brothers. Marie Antoinette and Marie Curie sit at opposite ends of the same name, which is quite a range.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Bitter, beloved
- Pronunciation: muh-REE
- Namesakes: Marie Curie, a Polish-French physicist who specialized in radioactivity.
- Popularity: Marie sat at #618 in 2025 U.S. births, well off the #10 peak logged in 1913.
Mary
Mary reached the very top of the American charts in the early 1900s and stayed near it for decades, which few names ever manage. The mother of Jesus is the reason, and the reverence attached to her carries into the name itself. Disney added a gentler kind of authority with Mary Poppins, who is practically perfect and knows it. Mari, Meri and Merry are all there if the classic feels too plain.
- Origin: Hebrew, Egyptian
- Meaning: Wished for child
- Pronunciation: MAIR-ee
- Variations: Mari, Meri, Merry
- Namesakes: Mary Stuart, former Queen of Scotland.
- Popularity: In 2025, Mary stood at #125, far below the #1 peak set in 1913.
Merida
Brave gave us Merida, a Scottish princess with a bow, a temper and hair that needed its own animation team. She is also the reason the name reads as independent rather than decorative. Merida is a city in Mexico as well, so the name travels further than the film suggests. Call her Meri for short, especially if the red hair turns out to be real.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: One who has achieved a high place of honor
- Pronunciation: MAIR-ih-duh
- Popularity: Merida came in at #2,677 in U.S. births for 2025, short of its 2017 high of #1,796.
Mia
Millennials will always hear Mia Thermopolis from The Princess Diaries, the girl who finds out she is royalty and would rather not be. The name began as a short form of Maria and has long since stopped needing it. It means mine, which is either sweet or possessive depending on the day. Between athletes, actors and singers, your daughter will have no shortage of namesakes.
- Origin: Italian, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Mine
- Pronunciation: MEE-uh
- Namesakes: Mia Hamm, an American soccer player.
- Popularity: Mia first appeared in U.S. data in 1933, peaked at #5 in 2024, and stood at #6 in 2025.
Mindy
Mindy is a short form of Melinda that most people now use on its own. Disney’s Bolt kept it on screen with a fictional namesake. Alternate meanings include sweetened with honey, which is a lot of sugar for two syllables. It peaked around 1980 and has been quiet since, so it currently sits in that pleasant zone where a name feels familiar and unused at the same time.
- Origin: Greek, Latin
- Meaning: Sweet
- Pronunciation: MIHN-dee
- Variations: Mindie, Mindi
- Namesakes: Mindy Kaling, an Indian-American actress known for her role in The Office.
- Popularity: Mindy sits at #2,401 in 2025 U.S. births, well below the #81 it held in 1979.
Minnie
Minnie made her debut in 1928 and has appeared in more Mickey Mouse cartoons and holiday specials than anyone could count. She is one of the most recognizable characters in the world, and yet the name almost never reaches a birth certificate. It usually turns up as a nickname for Minerva or Wilhelmina instead. The meaning points to the mind, so a bright little one could make a good case for reviving it.
- Origin: Hebrew, Egyptian, Latin
- Meaning: Of the mind, intellect
- Pronunciation: MIHN-ee
- Variations: Minny
- Namesakes: Minnie Driver, an American actress known for her role in Tarzan.
- Popularity: Minnie ranked #3,060 among U.S. girls in 2025, off the #63 peak it hit in 1913.
Mira
Preschoolers know Mira from Mira, Royal Detective, where she solves cases for the queen and never doubts herself for a second. The name reaches across several languages at once, pointing to a female ruler, the ocean, or peace, depending on which root you follow. It is also close to myrrh, one of the gifts brought to the infant Jesus. Short, warm and hard to box in, Mira suits a girl who will not be boxed in either.
- Origin: Spanish, Arabic, Indian
- Meaning: Female ruler, ocean, peace
- Pronunciation: MEER-uh
- Popularity: Mira charted at #335 in 2025, a record best for the name in U.S. births.
Moana
Make way for Moana. Disney’s film put this oceanic name in front of a generation of children, attached to a wayfinder who talks back to a demigod. Like many Hawaiian names, Moana points to the sea, which suits a girl with sand permanently between her toes. Call your little surfer Ana, said AH-nuh, for short.
- Origin: Hawaiian
- Meaning: Deep ocean, sea
- Pronunciation: moh-AHN-ah
- Namesakes: Moana Maniapoto, a New Zealand singer.
- Popularity: Moana held #4,141 in 2025 after topping out at #1,559 back in 2017.
Molly
Disney and Pixar clearly like this one, since Molly turns up in Toy Story, Zootopia and Annie. Ireland gave it the ballad of Molly Malone, whose ghost is said to still wheel her barrow through Dublin. Alternate meanings include miracle, which describes plenty of daughters exactly. It is friendly, unpretentious and never tries too hard.
- Origin: Irish, Hebrew
- Meaning: Star of the sea, bitter
- Pronunciation: MALL-ee
- Variations: Mollie
- Namesakes: Molly Ringwald, an American actress known for her role in Sixteen Candles.
- Popularity: 2025 put Molly at #196, a step down from the #74 it reached in 1991.
Mulan
Mulan comes from Hua Mulan, the legendary Chinese warrior who took her father’s place in the army. Disney animated the story in 1998 and gave the name to one of its most admired heroines. It also points to the magnolia flower, a symbol of luck and peace, which balances the armor nicely. As an American first name it remains genuinely uncommon, so it stays a statement rather than a trend.
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Magnolia
- Pronunciation: MOO-lahn
- Popularity: Mulan has charted in the U.S. since 1998 and reached #2,464 in 2020; it stood at #2,475 in 2025.
Nala
Nala is one of Disney’s animal princesses, the lioness who grows up alongside Simba and ends up dragging him back to face his own kingdom. Their friendship turning into something more is half the plot. Alternate meanings include queen and honey bee, which is a charming pair. It is a strong option for parents after exotic girl names starting with N.
- Origin: African, Arabic
- Meaning: Lion, beloved
- Pronunciation: NAH-lah
- Variations: Nahla
- Popularity: Nala has slid to #856 as of 2025, far off the #679 it held in 2019.
Narissa
If you are hunting for Disney names with a little menace, Narissa is the one. In Enchanted she is the shape-shifting queen who sends her stepdaughter to modern New York and then follows her there. Greek mythology reads the name as a sea nymph, which softens it a little without spoiling the edge. It suits a girl who is sweet right up until she is not.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Sea nymph
- Pronunciation: nuh-RISS-ah, NAIR-iss-ah
- Popularity: Narissa last appeared in the U.S. data in 2022 at #13,188 and did not chart in 2025.
Nora
Nora has been on American charts since the 1880s and sounds entirely current anyway, which is the mark of a good short classic. Disney’s Pete’s Dragon gave it a warm supporting role and a good deal of nostalgia. Comic book families will know Nora from the DC universe as well. Between honor and shining light, the meanings are as bright as the sound.
- Origin: Irish, Greek
- Meaning: Honor, shining light
- Pronunciation: NOR-uh
- Namesakes: Nora Ephron, an American journalist, and filmmaker.
- Popularity: In 2025, Nora climbed to #20 in the U.S., its best rank ever.
Olivia
Olivia has been the most popular girl name in the United States for years running, and it earned the place honestly. It points to the olive tree, the oldest symbol of peace we have, and it is the feminine form of Oliver. Disney was ahead of everyone here, casting an Olivia in The Great Mouse Detective long before the name took off. Liv and Livvy give her an escape route if the classroom fills up.
- Origin: Latin, Roman
- Meaning: Olive tree, peace
- Pronunciation: oh-LIHV-ee-ah, uh-LIHV-ee-ah
- Namesakes: Olivia Rodrigo, an American singer, and songwriter.
- Popularity: Olivia has held #1 since 2019, including 2025.
Pearl
Gem names are having a long moment, and Pearl usually gets passed over for Ruby, which is exactly why it is worth a second look. White pearls stand for new beginnings, a fitting symbol for a first baby. The pearl is also one of June’s birthstones, so it suits a summer arrival. Disney has used it more than once, including in Home on the Range, and it wears its vintage lightly.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Pearl
- Pronunciation: PERL
- Namesakes: Pearl Bailey, an American actress, and author.
- Popularity: Pearl ranks #777 as of 2025, still short of the #55 high from 1913.
Penny
Penny began as a short form of Penelope and now stands perfectly well on its own. The coin it borrows from is the least valuable one in the drawer and was once genuinely treasured, which is a nice thing to tell a daughter. One of the puppies in 101 Dalmatians is a Penny, adding a bit of whimsy. The meaning, weaver, will delight anyone with a crafty streak.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Weaver
- Pronunciation: PEHN-ee
- Variations: Pennie
- Popularity: On the books since 1882, Penny hit #86 in 1963 and now sits at #740 as of 2025.
Rachel
In the Bible, Rachel is Jacob’s favorite wife and the mother of Joseph, and the story around her is one of the longest romances in scripture. Modern parents are just as likely to think of Ms. Rachel, whose songs have colonized a great many living rooms. Disney used the name in Fantasia 2000 for a small girl in one of the segments. Rae is the short form, and it has quietly become a name in its own right.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Ewe
- Pronunciation: RAY-chel, RAH-kel
- Variations: Rachael
- Namesakes: Rachel Bilson, an American actress known for her role in Hart of Dixie.
- Popularity: 2025 finds Rachel at #250, a steep drop from #9 in 1996.
Remy
Ratatouille introduced most of us to Remy, the rat with a better palate than any chef in Paris. The name works for a girl or a boy and has been picked up by American parents on both sides. Remi is the spelling that reads a little softer if you want it. The meaning, oarsman, is unglamorous in the best possible way.
- Origin: French, Latin
- Meaning: Oarsmen
- Pronunciation: REH-me
- Variations: Remi
- Popularity: Remy placed #408 in 2025 U.S. births, down from a #356 peak in 2020.
Riley
Riley started life as a place name describing a rye clearing, which is about as humble an origin as a trendy name can have. It spent decades on boys before American parents began giving it to daughters around 1990, and it has been comfortably unisex since. Inside Out put it front and center, using Riley as the eleven-year-old whose head we spend the film inside. Rylee, Ryleigh and Rilee all exist if the plain spelling feels too tidy.
- Origin: English, Irish
- Meaning: Courageous
- Pronunciation: RYE-lee
- Variations: Rylee, Rilee, Ryleigh
- Namesakes: Riley Weston, an American actress known for her role in Black Widow.
- Popularity: In 2025, Riley ranked #48 among American girls; 2016 was its high point at #22.
Robin
Bird names are having a good run, and yet Robin stays unusual for both girls and boys. Disney has a few, from the lead role in Robin Hood to a small bird in Sofia the First. Robins turn up first thing in spring, which is lovely for a girl born as everything starts over. Robin Roberts, the American news anchor, is the namesake most people picture now.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Bright fame
- Pronunciation: RAH-bihn
- Variations: Robbin
- Namesakes: Robin Wright, an American actress known for her role in Forrest Gump.
- Popularity: Robin ranked #704 among U.S. girls in 2025, far below the #25 peak it reached in 1962.
Rose
Disney’s most famous Rose is Briar Rose, the name Aurora lives under in Sleeping Beauty. The flower carries everything from friendship to declared love depending on the color, so the symbolism is unusually flexible. Rose peaked in America in the early 1900s and has never really gone away, partly because it is the most reliable middle name in the language. Alternate meanings include famous type, which suits a girl who takes the room.
- Origin: Latin, Roman
- Meaning: Flower, rose
- Pronunciation: ROHS
- Namesakes: Rose Wilder Lane, an American author, and daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
- Popularity: Rose landed #114 among U.S. girls in 2025, well below its 1913 peak of #14.
Ruby
Ruby is the gemstone name that always sounds cheerful, whatever else it is doing. The stone is July’s birthstone, so it makes a natural pick for a summer baby. Lady and the Tramp II gave it to one of the junkyard dogs, a bluesy singer with real presence. Tobey Maguire made headlines by naming his daughter Ruby Sweetheart, which is a lot of name and somehow works.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Red precious stone
- Pronunciation: ROO-bee
- Namesakes: Ruby Rose, an Australian model, and DJ.
- Popularity: Ruby has been charted since 1880; its best year was 1913 at #23, and 2025 puts it at #64.
Sarafina
Sarafina comes from seraphim, the highest order of angels, so the name arrives with wings attached. Anyone after a rare spiritual title should stop here. The Lion King gives it a small but memorable role as Nala’s mother. Sara is the everyday short form for your own little angel, and Fina works if you want something less expected.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Burning ones
- Pronunciation: SAIR-uh-fee-nah
- Variations: Sarefina, Seraphina
- Popularity: Sarafina landed at #6,078 in 2025, a long way down from #2,759 in 1993.
Shenzi
Shenzi leads the hyenas in The Lion King, and she is by some distance the sharpest of the three. The meaning, savage, was an insult in its original Swahili and reads far more like a compliment now. Parents drawn to villain names starting with S will find this the boldest one on the list. Zi, said ZEE, is the nickname for a girl with that much nerve.
- Origin: African, Swahili
- Meaning: Savage
- Pronunciation: SHEN-zee
- Popularity: Shenzi has never reached the five births in a year the SSA needs to publish a name, so it stays off the U.S. charts entirely.
Sofia
Sofia is the spelling for parents who like Sophia but want the softer, more international look. The Greek root means wisdom, which is a fine thing to hand a daughter. Disney Junior fans know Sofia the First, a village girl who becomes a princess and keeps her manners about it. It has been a top American choice for well over a decade and still sounds elegant rather than overused.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Wisdom
- Pronunciation: soh-FEE-uh
- Variations: Sophia
- Namesakes: Sofia Vergara, a Colombian actress known for her role in Modern Family.
- Popularity: Sofia hit a record #9 in 2025, the strongest showing it has had.
Stella
Stella first appeared in the 1500s when Sir Philip Sidney used it in his poetry, giving it real literary roots. It means star, plainly and without decoration. Disney gave it a small role in The Princess and the Frog, where Stella is the family dog who briefly gets to speak. It has been comfortably popular in America for years and still sounds like a name someone chose rather than inherited.
- Origin: Latin, Greek
- Meaning: Star
- Pronunciation: STELL-ah
- Namesakes: Stella McCartney, an English fashion designer.
- Popularity: Stella sits at #52 in 2025 U.S. births, close to the #38 high it hit in 2018.
Suri
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes chose Suri for their daughter in 2007 and set off a good deal of speculation about it. Unlike most celebrity names, it never caught on, so it remains genuinely uncommon. Disney’s Dinosaur has a Suri among the lemurs, which is the only screen credit the name really has. It means princess, and it makes a lovely alternative to Sarah.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Princess
- Pronunciation: SER-ee
- Popularity: Suri ranked #1,940 in 2025, still below the #1,029 peak it reached in 2012.
Sylvia
Sylvia had its American peak in the 1930s and has the elegance of that era baked in. Disney’s An Extremely Goofy Movie gave it to Sylvia Marpole, a librarian who roller skates, which is a better character than the film deserved. Alternate meanings include spirit of the wood, ideal for a girl who is happiest outdoors. Silvia is the Italian spelling if you want it a shade lighter.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: From the forest
- Pronunciation: SILL-vee-ah
- Variations: Silvia
- Namesakes: Sylvia Plath, an American author and poet.
- Popularity: Sylvia first appeared in U.S. data in 1880, peaked at #50 in 1937, and stood at #300 in 2025.
Thalia
In Greek mythology, Thalia is the muse of comedy and pastoral poetry, so the name comes with a sense of humor already installed. Pixar’s Monsters University gave it to Thalia Flint, a supporting character with a great deal of energy. The meaning is to flourish, which is what you want for any child. Lia is the ready-made short form.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: To flourish
- Pronunciation: TAL-ee-ah, tal-EE-ah
- Variations: Talia
- Namesakes: Thalia Munro, an American water polo champion.
- Popularity: Thalia has slid to #648 as of 2025, far off the #363 it held in 1993.
Tiana
Tiana is one of Disney’s newer princesses, and she spends The Princess and the Frog working two jobs to open her own restaurant, which is not how these stories usually go. She is also Disney’s first African-American princess, a milestone that mattered to a great many families. Alternate meanings include princess, in case the film left any doubt. For a memorable T name, it is hard to beat.
- Origin: Slavic
- Meaning: Fairy queen
- Pronunciation: tee-AHN-ah
- Namesakes: Tiana Tolstoi, a French model.
- Popularity: Tiana came in at #598 in 2025, below the #268 high point from 1995.
Tillie
Tillie is the vintage short form of Matilda, a name that means battle mighty and does not sound it. Disney’s short film Elmer Elephant featured Tillie Tiger, a small sweetheart at a birthday party. Alternate meanings include wealth, which is a promising start for a future heiress. It sits far enough down the American charts to feel like an antique nobody else has bought.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Battle mighty
- Pronunciation: TILL-ee
- Variations: Tilly
- Namesakes: Tillie Pine, an American children’s author.
- Popularity: American parents placed Tillie at #1,269 in 2025; its best year was 1914 at #256.
Ursula
Ursula has a reputation problem thanks to The Little Mermaid, where she is the sea witch with the contract and the excellent entrance. Your daughter will certainly turn heads with it. There is a Saint Ursula too, the patron saint of female scholars, which pulls the name in a completely different direction. The meaning, little female bear, is far sweeter than the villain suggests.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Little female bear
- Pronunciation: ER-suh-lah
- Namesakes: Ursula Goodenough, an American biologist and author.
- Popularity: Ursula held #4,747 in 2025 after topping out at #474 back in 1967.
Vanessa
Disney Channel kept Vanessa in circulation through Phineas and Ferb, where Vanessa is the teenage daughter of the villain and thoroughly unimpressed by his schemes. The name was invented in the 1700s by a poet who spliced together his companion’s first name and surname, which makes it one of the few names on this list with a known author. It later became the name of a butterfly genus, so it carries a whole idea about change. Nessa is the short form doing the rounds now.
- Origin: British
- Meaning: Butterfly
- Pronunciation: vah-NES-sah
- Popularity: 2025 put Vanessa at #377, a step down from the #41 it reached in 1988.
Violet
Violet is the deep purple that was once reserved for royalty, which gives an otherwise gentle name a little authority. DuckTales gave it to a clever hummingbird, and the flower has its own history: violets were traditionally given to newlyweds. As a color name it sits alongside Scarlett and Hazel, and as a flower name it sits alongside Lily and Daisy. Very few names get to be in two clubs at once.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Purple
- Pronunciation: VYE-leht
- Namesakes: Violet Martin, an Irish novelist.
- Popularity: American parents pushed Violet to #13 in 2025, higher than in any year before it.
Wendy
Wendy was more or less invented by the author of Peter Pan, which makes it one of the youngest names on this list. Disney’s version is the big sister who tells the stories and mothers the whole crew, so the name has always carried a caretaking air. Alternate meanings include friend, which fits. It has slipped a long way from its 1970s heyday, so it is now unusual enough for a fresh start.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: White shadow
- Pronunciation: WEN-dee
- Variations: Wendi
- Popularity: By 2025, Wendy had slipped to #1,347, down sharply from #28 in 1970.
Willow
Willow sits at #44 in 2025 and is one of the few tree names that sounds effortless. Anyone who grew up in the 1990s will hear Grandmother Willow, the talking tree who dispenses advice in Pocahontas. Disney+ later added a series called Willow to the pile. The tree itself stands for flexibility, bending in weather that snaps other branches, which is a good thing to wish on a daughter.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Willow tree
- Pronunciation: WILL-oh
- Namesakes: Willow Smith, an American singer and actress.
- Popularity: As of 2025, Willow sits at #44, shy of the #37 peak it reached in 2022.
Winnie
Winnie will always bring Winnie the Pooh to mind, and there are far worse associations to carry through life. It began as a short form of Winifred and now runs perfectly well on its own. Jimmy Fallon picked it for his daughter, which nudged it back into view. Alternate meanings include gentle friend, a good description of a calm baby and a hopeful one for a loud baby.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Holy, peacemaker
- Pronunciation: WIH-nee
- Popularity: Winnie’s 2025 rank was #475, compared with the #255 peak set back in 1913.
Xyla
Xyla belongs to an animated toy on Doc McStuffins, which airs on Disney Junior. X names attract a lot of interest, and yet X names like this one stay far off the radar. The word once described someone who lived among the trees. Perhaps your girl will turn out to love the outdoors too.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Wood-dweller
- Pronunciation: ZYE-lah
- Popularity: Xyla climbed to #763 in 2025 U.S. births, its highest rank yet.
Zelda
Zelda is best known now for the video games, where the princess is considerably more capable than the marketing ever admitted. Disney used it in The Fox and the Hound 2, giving the name a small nudge. It means strong woman, which the games and the vintage both support. It is unusual in America without being unheard of, which is a difficult balance for any name to strike.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Strong woman
- Pronunciation: ZELL-dah
- Popularity: Zelda ranks #832 as of 2025, still short of the #389 high from 1916.
