Are you looking for a fun baby name that holds a touch of mystery? Well, not mystery but instead meanings, other names, and words when you read the name in reverse. These baby names for girls are genuine, established names that you know and love and that you might not have thought to read backwards. Because, why would you? When you look at them in reverse they can reveal all sorts of things and help add an extra layer of meaning to a baby name.
We decided to start reading names backwards to discover which ones spelled the most exciting things in reverse. Baby name experts at Nameberry point out that the most successful name in this class is Nevaeh, a name that musician Sonny Sandoval seemingly launched in 2000 on MTV. He explained that he gave the name to his daughter because it is “heaven spelled backwards.” Following this, the name exploded and is now in the top 100 baby names for girls in the US. Let’s take a look at some other examples, shall we? Here are 35 backwards baby names for girls contain something special in reverse.
Tessa
Tessa is a name you have probably looked at your entire life without realizing it reads “asset” in reverse. Tessa is a diminutive of Theresa, a Greek name that means “to reap.” It’s in the top 500 most popular names in the US and we are curious to know how many people are parents to little assets and do not even know it.
Lexa
Lexa is a shortened form of the many Alex names like Alexandra, Alexandria, Alexa, etc. This Greek name comes from Alexander and means “defender of men.” Lexa is soft and sweet but it contains a rather metal name when you read it backwards: “Axel.” Axel is a gender-neutral name that is a Scandinavian form of Absalom. Thus, the name means “father of peace.”
Ria
Ria is a Spanish name that is much more popular outside of the US in England as well as any majority Spanish-speaking country. Ria means “small river.” Flip the name and you get “air.” This name is a dream no matter how you look at it.
Traeh
Lifestyle vlogger Traeh Nykia is beloved by fans and she has a most unusual and lovely name. Traeh, while not conventional, is most like likely a variation of Trea, the female form of popular name Trey. With the Traeh spelling this name gives us “heart” in reverse.
Leda
In classical Greek myth, Leda was a great beauty who mothered another great beauty, Helen of Troy. Leda was a popular name in the US until the 1920’s. The name means “happy!” Now, let’s flip it. Leda spells another name, Adel. Adel is a short form of Adelaide, which is all the rage right now. It means “noble.”
Avon
Avon is a unisex name that’s traditionally been given to boys but we see plenty of potential for this name to go either way. This Celtic name means “river.” While beautiful, if you read the name backwards you will find Nova. Nova is a name that’s more popular than ever before. It’s a beautiful, Latin name that means “new.” Fresh, right?
Nacirema
Believe it or not, Nacirema has been used as a name for baby girls since 2009 without about ten babies receiving the name each year. It’s clear that parents have picked this patriotic name for what it spells in reverse: American.
Legna
Angel spelled backwards gives us Legna. Angel is currently in the top 500 in the US. Legna would be a bold pick for adventurous parents. It’s derived from the Italian word for “wood.” It does not sound as harsh as it looks. In Italian, this G in this name is silent. The name is pronounced len-yah.
Siri
Siri’s possibility for new parents was quickly dismantled after Apple choice the name for their virtual assistant. So, unless you want your iPhone reacting to you every time you call your daughter’s name, avoid this one. Siri is a name with Norse origins that means “fair victory.” Flip ol’ Siri around and you get Iris. Iris is the more popular of the two with Greek origins that mean “rainbow.”
Noel
Are you expecting twins? Perhaps a baby boy and a baby girl? We have a name that might be perfect for both of them. Noel is a French name that’s been given to baby boys and girls born on Christmas since the Middle Ages. Flip that pretty name around and you find Leon. Leon has Greek origins and means “lion.” Noel and Leon seem like a fabulous pair to us.
Gem
The Italian classic Gemma gives us Gem, which means “precious stone.” Flip the name and you get Meg. Meg is a short form of Margaret. Margaret means “pearl.” So, these both have a thing or two in common. Meg is the more established of the two, but you can pick your favorite!
Diaz
Diaz is a popular Spanish surname-name. This fun moniker means “days.” Turn this one around and you get a boy’s name, Zaid. Zaid has Arabic origins and it means “growth.” For the right parents, Diaz could be an incredible, positive-sounding option.
Evan
Evan Rachel Wood showed the possibility of Evan as a name for baby girls. Evan is the Welsh form of John and it means “the Lord is gracious.” For parents who love architecture or church this name might be extra-appealing given that it spells “nave” backwards.
Lilah
Lilah is an Arabic name that means “night.” It has really taken off in the US in recent years and has become one of new parents’ favorite options. Halil is a Hebrew name traditionally given to boys that means “flute.” Good meanings are aplenty in this name.
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Nelle
Nelle Harper Lee who authored To Kill a Mockingbird spelled her name with an extra E at the end. This spelling was very popular in the US until the 1920s. Then, Nell became the favorite way to go. Nelle comes from English by way of Greek and means “bright.” Guess what? This name spelled backwards gives us Ellen and shares the same origins as Nelle. Thus, both names mean bright.
Aviva
Aviva contains Aviva as this name is a fabulous palindrome. Angelina Jolie named a daughter Aviva and helped land this name on many new parents’ radar. Aviva has Hebrew origins and it means “springlike,” “fresh,” and “dewy.” No matter how you look at it, this is a wonderful baby name for girls!
Nevar
Nevar has Arabic origins and is found as a surname in many countries in the Middle East and beyond. In Spanish you will find a similar name and variant that means “snow.” Nevar spells a much more popular name backwards: Raven. Raven has been a top 1000 name in the US since 1977.
Mikah
Mikah has emerged as a gender-neutral name in recent decades making it a refreshing choice for baby girls. It’s a form of the name Michael, a Hebrew name that means “who is like God.” In reverse, you will find the decidedly masculine name Hakim which comes from Arabic and means “judicious.”
Cassi
Cassi comes from the gorgeous Greek name Cassandra. It means “shining.” Read this one backwards and you get the established name Issac which, with this spelling, has been in the US top 1000 since 1880. Issac has Hebrew origins and means “laughter.” Shining and laughter are two things we want for all daughters!
Nadia
Yet another name for girls that gives us a name for boys, Nadia is a Slavic favorite among Russian parents and the name has been in the top 500 in the US since 1976. Turn this one around and you will find the name, Aidan. Aidan is an Irish name for boys that means “little and fiery.”
Rae
Rae has been in use as a name for girls since 1880, the year that baby name records were first recorded in the US. Rae is a cool and hip-sounding form of Rachel. Rachel is a Hebrew name meaning “ewe.” So, the name means “female sheep” as is and spells “ear” in reverse. How are we feeling about this?
Adaven
You will probably only find the Adaven in a certain state on the West Coast. It served as the name of a small mining town established in the 1890s and was later called “Adaven” because it spelled Nevada backwards. Do you love Las Vegas that much?
Saira
Saira is most widely regarded as a form of the Hebrew name Sarah which means “princess.” However, the name also has Arabic roots which mean “traveler.” Saira is a top 1000 name in the UK and new parents are turning to it more and more in the US today. The name spells “arias” backwards which would be excellent for music-loving parents who like the Italian word for “melody” aria.
Enid
Enid used to be a popular name in the US but fell out of fashion by the sixties. This classic Welsh name means “spirit.” How cute is that? Enid curiously spells “dine” in reverse. So, if you are a chef or just really love to eat this name could be a subtle nod to your love of food and congregation.
Enola
Enola is the name of Sherlock Holme’s younger sister in Nancy Springer’s novels. In reverse, the name says “alone.” The name was once popular in the US but faded from fashion by the 1930s.
Lanesra
Lanesra sounds like an elaborate, almost romantic name. In reality, it’s just Arsenal in reverse. Fans of the English football team, Arsenal, have used the name for their daughters and we’re not sure how to feel about it.
Leafar
Celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D named her son for her husband, Rafael. Leafar sounds so much like Leah, it feels like it should be in baby girl territory.
Neleh
Are you looking for a unique way to honor a relative named Helen? Neleh which sounds so soft and sweet is the appellation spelled in reverse. We find this one to be one of the most accessible backwards names on this list.
Nella
Not too far from the previous name, Nella sounds a bit like a vintage appellation because it is. Nella was once a popular, diminutive form of Helen or Eleanor. Thus, this name has the meaning of “bright and shining one.”
Senga
Senga is an established name for girls of Scottish origin that has a Gaelic root that means “slender.” Coincidentally, Senga spells Agnes in reverse.
Rima
Rima is an established and gorgeous Arabic name for girls that means “white antelope.” If you look at the backwards spelling of this name, it spells an ultra-popular Arabic boy’s name, Amir.
Nedra
Nedra is an established Slavic name for girls, related to Nedda. It means “born on Sunday.” Take a look at the name backwards and you get the English name, Arden.
Semaj
Semaj sounds like an exotic name for girls but if you look at it backwards, it spells James. We’d like to remind you that James is actually a unisex name so this works both ways. The name is taken to mean “supplanter.”
Dnegel
One of the clunkiest backwards names for girls is Dnegel which spells Legend in reverse. Why don’t know why anyone would not just go with Legend for their daughter, but this is a thing that exists in this world.
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Nevaeh
As promised, we bring you the biggest name propelled to favor by its backwards spelling. Since 2000, Nevaeh has been in the top 1000 surprising baby name trend watchers. The name is heaven spelled backwards and it has become very popular especially among religious parents. It peaked as the 25th most popular name for girls in 2010. So, you should feel inspired to spell all sorts of things you love in reverse and they might just catch on!
There you go! We hope you enjoyed these baby names for girls that hold meaning when you look at them backwards. While some are “out there” others are very established at this point and many you probably never noticed spelled things backwards. Be adventurous with your baby names, new parents!
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