It’s been a rough year, but you have cause to celebrate with a little baby girl on the way! After parents have endured the strangeness of living through a pandemic, the prospect of an uplifting baby girl name has clearly become attractive as baby names with positive meanings are trending right now with new parents leaning into inspiring and bright appellations.
We decided to take a deep dive into the world of uplifting baby names to discover which names offer beauty in their aesthetic and meaning. These cheerful baby names bring inspiration and promise for the brighter days ahead of us all. Who could be mad at that? Naming your baby a meaningful appellation is like gifting them an uplifting life driven by the ideals you value as a parent. If you are searching for a meaningful, uplifting baby name for girls, you have come to the right place! Check out these uplifting baby girl names and consider blessing your child with one of them!
25. Paloma
Paloma is a vibrant uplifting baby girl name that strikes a balance between vibrancy and peacefulness. Paloma has Spanish origins and the name means “dove,” a classic symbol of peace. Paloma debuted on the US top 1000 most popular baby names for girls in 1993 and it has stayed there ever since. We hope more and more parents flock to this hopeful baby name.
24. Iris
Of course, Iris is a flower baby name, but if you look a little deeper, you will discover even more inspiration in this uplifting baby girl name. Iris has Greek origins and actually means “rainbow.” In Greek mythology, Iris is the goddess of the rainbow, a courier for Zeus and Hera who rode the rainbow like a bridge from heaven to earth. Iris is a top 200 baby name today, expect it to only improve its favor in coming years.
23. Chiara
A popular uplifting baby girl name in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, Chiara has yet to make major waves in the US. We foresee this changing as more and more new parents discover this Italian baby name for girls. Chiara means “light” and “clear,” making it a bright possibility for many parents.
22. Celeste
A light and lovely option, Celeste has been a popular uplifting baby name in the US since record-keeping began in 1880. Celeste enjoys Latin origins that mean “heavenly.” Celeste is completely perfect as-is but you might also want to consider its cousins, Celestine, Celestina, or even Celestial. All sound divine and starry to us.
21. Nessa
You will find the uplifting baby girl Nessa in a number of naming traditions including Russian, Scandinavian, and Scottish practice. Nessa is considered a diminutive of Vanessa or Agnes, meaning “promontory.” A topographical name, Nessa represents the promise of safety and the certainty in standing on firm ground once more.
20. Priya
Priya originated in India as a name descended from the Sanskrit word for “beloved.” We absolutely adore Sanskrit baby names for girls as they always seem to deliver in the meaning department. Outside of India, Priya is also popular in England and we expect it to land in the US top 1000 very soon. We can think of no better uplifting baby girl name than Priya and its lovely meaning.
19. Alaia
Pronounced ah-LYE-ah, Alaia has skyrocketed in favor in the US recently. The name debuted in the US top 1000 in 2015 and now, it is in the top 200! Alaia enjoys Basque roots which mean “joyful.” Who can argue with more joy? No one! That makes this uplifting baby name one that will continue to see popularity in the US.
18. Valentina
Mexican-born actor Salma Hayek and husband Francois-Henri Pinault named their baby girl Valentina Paloma, two names that mysteriously landed on this uplifting baby girl name list. Valentina sounds distinguished and that’s no coincidence, this Latin baby name means “strength” and “health.” The name is trending up in the US, currently in the top 100.
17. Esme
Esme has long been popular in France, as the name enjoys French and Persian origins meaning “esteemed” and “beloved.” This uplifting baby girl name is pronounced EZ-may. Finally, Esme landed in the top 1000 in the US in 2010 and it is now in the top 500. It took Americans a touch longer to adopt this name than our friends over in the UK, but we’re just thrilled it is finally getting the usage it deserves.
16. Evangeline
Evangeline is an uplifting baby girl name of Greek origin meaning “bearer of good news.” We’ll take it! Evangeline took 40 years off of the top 1000 list from 1966 until it returned in 2016. We’re so glad she’s back! If you’re looking for a vehicle to get you to Eva, this baby name could be perfect for you.
15. Phoebe
In classical mythology, Phoebe is the alternative appellation of Artemis, goddess of the moon and of hunting. Phoebe is the Latin form of a Greek name that means “radiant” and “shining one.” If you are looking for a bright, uplifting baby girl name, this one just might be the shiniest. Phoebe has been on and off the top 1000 list since 1880 and today, she’s in the top 500 and trending up.
14. Hope
The Puritans adopted the virtue name Hope and it has stuck for the eventual Americans who would receive it. Hope is an uplifting baby girl name that has been growing in favor, ever so slowly, since 1880. Today, the promising name rests just outside the top 200. After the year we have all just experienced, we wish for Hope to spring eternal.
13. Beatrix
Beatrix entered the the US top 1000 for the first time since 1883 last year. Thankfully, this uplifting baby name has made a return to favor after spending over 100 years out of play. Beatrix has Latin origins and means “blessed” and “bringer of happiness.” The X-ending really does add a lot of flare to this moniker and it give you the marvelous nickname Trixie.
12. Keilani
One of the fastest-rising baby names in the US today is Keilani. This uplifting baby girl name appeared on the list in 2018 and it has been gaining steam ever since! Keilani has Hawaiin origins and means “heaven.” We hope that more and more American parents adopt this splendid baby name as its rhythmic quality can’t be denied!
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11. Athena
Athena is a Greek baby name for girls that’s meaning is debatable. It was not until recently that scholars agreed that the Greek city of Athens gave Athena her name and not the other way around. The name is thought to mean “ethereal” or “mind.” Athena first entered the US top 1000 in 1955 and then, it exploded in the 1990s propelling the appellation to the top 100 today.
10. Faith
Like Hope, Faith is another virtue name and you will see a couple more of them before this uplifting baby girl name list concludes! Traditionally, Faith and Hope have been given to twin girls in the US. Faith hit its highest height in 2002, ranking in the top 50 for the first time. It’s on the rise! You gotta have Faith, Faith, Faith!
9. Constance
As promised, here’s another virtue name that is actually rather subtle in comparison to Faith and Hope which carry religious overtones. Constance was extremely popular until the 1980s when it took a nosedive as parents strayed from the charms of the nickname Connie. Constance is on the rise again, one trending, uplifting baby girl name that we are so surprised to see return. Believe it or not, Constance has been a popular name in France for the last two decades.
8. Abrial
Abrial is a rare French name that parents in the US have begun to discover. The name is related to April and Avril, meanings include “open,” “secure,” and “protected.” This distinct variant could prove a winner for parents wanting an uplifting baby girl name!
7. Dalia
Dalia is a cross-cultural hit that spans from Hebrew to Swahili. Dalia is an uplifting baby girl name that can mean “gentle” and “branch.” You might love it for its subtle nod to nature or be attracted to the gentleness and care the name connotes. Dalia last made the top 1000 in 2014, but we expect it to return very soon.
6. Nava
A popular uplifting baby girl name in Israel, Nava is seldom heard in the US. We think that is about to change! Nava is a wonderful name with Hebrew origins that means “pleasant.” Nava Macmel-Atir is a famous novelist helping spread this name today.
5. Joy
Joy is an English word name that was adopted by the Puritans as a way to describe “joy in the lord.” Joy dipped in popularity in the early aughts, but she’s making a comeback and we are not mad about it! If you love this happy, uplifting baby girl name but find it ubiquitous, consider giving it as a middle name. Joy plays very well with others.
4. Felicity
In a way, Felicity feels the most feminine of all the virtue names for girls. Felicity is also one of the most historically overlooked. Thankfully, parents in the 1990s helped bring this uplifting baby girl name to the top 1000 where it has only increased in favor in recent years. Felicity means “happiness” and “good fortune.” We urge you to also consider the nicknames associated with Felicity, Flick and Fee!
3. Esperanza
If you love the idea of the name Hope but crave something with more nuance, Esperanza could be the perfect option for you! Esperanza is a baby name with Spanish origins meaning “hope.” Esperanza is the main character in the novel The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, about a young Latina growing up in Chicago. The appellation has been popular in the US since 2013 and it is on the upward swing today!
2. Fortune
Fortune was a popular name in Ancient Roman times and it is finally taking hold in the US today. Fortune is based on the mythic goddess of good luck and fertility. Fortune, of course, means “luck.” An uplifting baby girl name with a winning meaning and distinguished sound, Fortune will land in the top 1000 very soon.
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1. Farah
Farah is an Arabic baby name for girls that had a moment in the US in the 1970s when it landed in the top 1000. We likely have Farrah Fawcett to thank for that brief time in the sun. We want Farah to come back! Farah means “happiness.” The appellation has a soft, gentle, almost weightless sound. However you choose to spell it, this uplifting baby girl name will serve your daughter well.
There you go! We hope you feel inspired by these uplifting baby girl names from a variety of naming traditions. These trending baby names are sure to delight and appeal to numerous new parents today. After the pandemic year we have all survived, an uplifting baby name might be the perfect antidote for trying times. Happy baby name hunting!
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