Happy New Year! Having a baby and choosing a name for her in the new year offers the opportunity for parents to impart a sense of hope for the future and all the incredible things to come. A date might just be a number, but for many parents this year, there’s definitely a collective hope that 2021 will bring much-needed relief after the difficulties of 2020. And, we have discovered baby names for the occasion!
These names for girls hold meanings of “hope,” “newness,” “dawn,” and other sentiments that seem appropriate for baby girls born into a fresh year. These baby names have forward-looking meanings which would be especially appropriate for those born at the start of a new year. Here are 25 new year baby names for boys that celebrate hope for the future and a fresh start.
25. Alula
The palindromic name Alula has Arabic origins and sweetly means “first leap.” Alula is the name of two binary star systems in Ursa Major. We expect this name to grow in popularity in the coming years so get ahead of the curve now!
24. Zera
What looks like a cross between zero and Vera, Zera would make for a unique option for a baby born at the start of the new year as this Hebrew name means “beginnings” or “seeds.”
23. Asha
Asha is an Indian name that comes from the Sanskrit word for “hope” or “desire,” but it is also a Swahili name derived from Aisha, meaning “life.” Asha has appeared in the US top 1000 baby names list a few times in the early aughts, but it’s since fallen off the charts! Let’s keep the love for this gorgeous name flowing!
22. Zora
Zora is an inspiring literary heroine name honoring Zora Neale Hurston, an important Black writer and leader of the Harlem Renaissance. Zora is a multicultural hit and you will find it in a number of naming traditions including Slavic, Arabic, and a number of languages spoken throughout Africa. The name means “dawn.”
21. Roxana
Roxana was first used in the English-speaking world in the 1600s and was popularized by Daniel Defoe’s novel Roxana, published in 1724. The name has Persian origins and like Zora, also means “dawn” or it can mean “little star.” Please put this name back in the top 1000, new parents!
20. Sahar
Sahar is an Arabic name that’s popular in the Muslim community. Not only does it sound absolutely gorgeous, it also means “morning” or “awakening.”
19. Eos
Well, it’s safe to say that there are a number of names for girls that mean “dawn.” Here’s one more, Eos, a Greek name that belongs to the mythic Titan of the dawn. Eos is pronounced with a short “e” like Eh-os. It’s not pronounced EE-os as many will make that mistake.
18. Arpina
If you’re expecting a baby in the early spring an excellent option to celebrate it would be Arpina. Arpina is an Armenian name that means “rising of the sun.” You will also find this fresh name spelled Arpineh. You get to decide!
17. Oriana
Oriana is a dashing medieval name, with a meaning similar to Aurora. In medieval tales, she was the beloved of the knight Amadis. Oriana has Latin origins and means “dawn.” Unfortunatley, Aurora has eclipsed this name in modern times.
16. Tikvah
Tikvah is a name for girls appreciated by religious Jews for its connection to “Hatikva,” the Jewish national anthem. Tikvah has Hebrew origins and means “hope.” We could all use more of that in the months to come!
15. Raja
Raja is an Arabic gender-neutral name that we love for little girls. Raja has a gentle sound that fills others with excitement. Perhaps this is due to the name meaning “the anticipated one.”
14. Dawn
Dawn is a pretty straightforward name that has been popular in the US for decades. However, the name has slipped in recent years and fallen off the top 1000. Dawn is an effortless pick that will not disappoint.
13. Amal
Amal is an attractive name with a wonderful meaning that has long been used in many Middle Eastern countries, especially Lebanon. Amal has Arabic origins and means “hope” or “inspiration.” Amal is one of our very favorite names and we hope to hear more of it in the coming years.
12. Taraji
If you loved the name Raja but seek something with a little more pizzazz, Tiraji would be an excellent choice. It’s an alternative form of Taraja (which is also fantastic). This name has Swahili origins and means “hope.”
11. Neoma
An obscure yet on-trend name with two wonderful meanings associated with it. Neoma is one of the freshest celestial girl names with moon-related meanings, rarer than Luna or Phoebe. The name has both Greek and Hebrew origins and can mean “new moon” or “pleasantness.”
RELATED: 25 Classic Greek Baby Names for Girls That Are Ancient Yet Still Sound Fresh
10. Hila
Hila is a name with both Hebrew and Pashto origins that can be pronounced HILL-ah or HEE-lah. Take your pick! This very versatile name can mean “halo” or “hope.” You will find this name spelled in a variety of ways including Hilla or Hilah or Heela.
9. Revel
Revel is an English word name that celebrates the word for “to rejoice.” We could all use more joy and with a name like Revel you’re almost guaranteeing it for your child.
8. Nadia
Nadia has been a popular name for girls in the US since the seventies. That should come as no surprise as the name is a multicultural hit with Russian, Slavic, and Arabic origins. The name can mean “hope” but in Arabic, its meaning is considered “tender.” All-in-all a very good pick.
7. Nova
Nova was absent from the US top 1000 from 1938 until 2011! Now, it’s back and bigger than ever before. This energetic name has Latin origins and means “nova.” This one really makes us see stars.
6. Marnie
Marnie is an adorable name with a retro vibe that hasn’t seen popularity in the US since the seventies. Marnie has Hebrew origins and means “rejoice.” Please do not associate this name with an insufferable character from Girls.
5. Hana
Hana is a girl’s name of Hebrew, Slavic, and Czech origin meaning “blossom” and you’ll also find the name is Japanese tradition. However, we think many people have chosen this name as an alternative for the more popular Hannah.
4. Makara
If you’d like to go the astrology route, you can choose the Hindi name Makara which means “Capricorn.” This name would be most appropriate for a girl born between December 21 and January 21.
3. Hope
Hope is a virtue name that was popular with the Puritans. The name still finds plenty of favor today. It has performed well since records for baby names began in the US in 1880. It’s easy to understand why this inspirational name has enjoyed such a long run.
2. Esperanza
Esperanza is a Spanish classic that’s found its way onto the national popularity list in recent years. This magical name means “hope” or “expectation.” Esperanza is the name of the main character in the novel The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, about a young Latina growing up in Chicago.
RELATED: 25 New Year Baby Names for Boys that Celebrate the Promise of the Future
1. Signy
Signy is a popular Scandinavian name with Norse origins that means “new victory.” Yes! We love it! The name can also be spelled Signe. Signe was a very popular name in the US until 1915. Let’s bring this baby back to life!
There you go! 25 hopeful names for girls to help ring in the new year and make it extra bright for your daughter. We hope you feel inspired by these names with positive and optimistic meanings and will consider one for your baby girl!
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