Names have meaning because of the individual. Yet it’s so hard to pick one out of hundreds in order to describe a character. Believe me, I know. I spent a day sifting through my Pinterest inspiration board and am overwhelmed by the number of names that can be given to a princess, murderess, and everything in between. To make life a little easier, I compiled the most fascinating names I found and know below.
Think there’s a name that should be added? Leave a comment and I’ll update the list.
Traditional
- Abigail
- Addison
- Adeline
- Agatha
- Alexandra
- Amanda
- Amelia
- Annabelle
- Ariana
- Ariel
- Astrid
- Audrey
- Ava
- Avery
- Bailey
- Beatrice
- Beth
- Bianca
- Bonnie
- Brianna
- Bridgette
- Brooke
- Cassie
- Celeste
- Charlene
- Charlotte
- Claire
- Clarabelle
- Clarissa
- Colette
- Constance
- Crystal
- Daisy
- Dana
- Danielle
- Dahlia
- Delilah
- Dolly
- Dorothy
- Edith
- Edna
- Eleanor
- Elizabeth
- Ella
- Ember
- Emma
- Esther
- Ethel
- Evangeline
- Faith
- Fern
- Florence
- Gail
- Georgia
- Gertrude
- Gladys
- Grace
- Gwen
- Hannah
- Harriet
- Hazel
- Henrietta
- Hilda
- Holly
- Iris
- Ivy
- Jane
- Janis
- Jean
- Jennie
- Jennifer
- Jill
- Joan
- Josephine
- June
- Juniper
- Kacey
- Kaila
- Kaira
- Katie
- Kennedy
- Lacey
- Lainy
- Laura
- Leia
- Lily
- Lilac
- Lori
- Louisa
- Lynn
- Mabel
- Maddie
- Madeline
- Madison
- Margaret
- Martha
- Mary
- Matilda
- Maxine
- McKenna
- Mia
- Molly
- Morgan
- Nancy
- Naomi
- Nova
- Octavia
- Odette
- Olga
- Patricia
- Patty
- Polly
- Poppy
- Reagan
- Renee
- Riley
- Rhonda
- Rosa
- Rosie
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Samantha
- Sara
- Savannah
- Selene
- Shayna
- Stella
- Stephanie
- Susan
- Taylor
- Tessa
- Teresa
- Tiara
- Val
- Valerie
- Vanessa
- Vera
- Victoria
- Vivienne
- Wendy
- Wilma
Inventive
- Agnes
- Alondra
- Amaryllis
- Amberleigh
- Andi
- Aramina
- Aurora
- Avena
- Bertha
- Blake
- Blossom
- Blythe
- Bria
- Brooklyn
- Cassandra
- Celestine
- Charis
- Clementine
- Cleo
- Cordelia
- Dakota
- Delphine
- Dulcie
- Dylan
- Elora
- Emerald
- Emery
- Eridesce
- Eris
- Estella
- Eveline
- Fern
- Fernanda
- Freda
- Haven
- Hyacinth
- Imogene
- India
- Ivana
- Jade
- Jahzara
- Kailani
- Kamila
- Karylis
- Kinsley
- Laina
- Leonora
- Lyra
- Maedrian
- Maeve
- Magnolia
- Marigold
- Marilyn
- Marisol
- Marlene
- Miara
- Miko
- Monroe
- Myriel
- Myrtle
- Nicholette
- Nix
- Norette
- Nym
- Penelope
- Primrose
- Prudence
- Prunella
- Quinn
- Raelynn
- Raine
- Rayla
- Roivette
- Rosalie
- Ryth
- Salem
- Sapphire
- Shaelyn
- Skye
- Sloane
- Tali
- Terra
- Twyla
- Velma
- Verbena
- Winifred
- Winika
- Wisteria
- Yazzy
- Yolanda
Fantasy
- Adelaide
- Aeris
- Alora
- Amara
- Amarantha
- Ambrosia
- Andromeda
- Annalise
- Anora
- Aradia
- Aralia
- Artemis
- Astara
- Aurelia
- Azaria
- Belladonna
- Bellatrix
- Briette
- Celeste
- Chrysanthemum
- Clover
- Danica
- Delaney
- Electra
- Elveryn
- Emilia
- Endora
- Fable
- Farren
- Faye
- Fenrin
- Flora
- Freya
- Genevieve
- Glenda
- Greta
- Guinevere
- Gwendolyn
- Gwinifer
- Henna
- Hensley
- Honora
- Iridessa
- Isley
- Kaia
- Katara
- Keitha
- Kyra
- Lanai
- Lucella
- Luna
- Lydia
- Mayla
- Mercedes
- Meva
- Minerva
- Mira
- Morgana
- Nia
- Nica
- Nyx
- Ollina
- Omega
- Ophelia
- Orie
- Pandora
- Pearlie
- Persephone
- Pixie
- Priscilla
- Rosalina
- Rosalind
- Runa
- Sarie
- Sybil
- Sylvie
- Tauriel
- Ursula
- Valeraine
- Vanadey
- Vixen
- Wilhelmina
- Willow
- Xylia
- Xylina
- Zephyr
Wanna Craft Your Own Names?
My editor dislikes the fact that I craft bizarre names basically for a living. It’s fun to create your own, and I highly suggest you try every now and then.
Your primary problem will be pronunciation. You could make a joke about getting the name wrong or have a pronunciation chart in the back, but the suggestion my editor gave me is to spell the name in a way that people are forced to say it correctly.
For example, my fantasy novel stars Maquilla. Most likely when you read that, you thought “muh-quill-uh.” We’re taught in elementary school to sound out letters in certain ways; writers can use this to their advantage. Spell based on pronunciation, test it on other people, and you’ll have your own unique name.

22 Responses
hi the great meme resatest is open us writers
nice
Hey Martha, what’s your question?
hi, im writing for GSCE and i have no idea
Hey Martha, what’s your question?
Hi alice
hi goody
Hi alice
I was thinking the name ‘Hetty’. Especially the tie into the drama, “Hetty Feather”! Isabel Clifton is SOOO good!
I just wanna see the Avatar.
I’m Alice!
My book ‘Hometown Whispers,’ is so much better with your names ‘Pandora’ and ‘Nica’ (only I put a ‘y’ in between the c and the a,) and I’m so thankful!
Thanks Alice xx
i am going to stop osting for over a yera bye! xxxxxxxx
osting?
yera?
I assume they meant posting for over a year but im still confused
Yeah, I meant that.
My book ‘Hometown Whispers,’ is so much better with your names ‘Pandora’ and ‘Nica’ (only I put a ‘y’ in between the c and the a,) and I’m so thankful!
Thanks Alice xx
Well done! My book ‘A Kind of Spark’ has 400000 views because of your name ‘Adeline’!
Thanks Elle McNicoll x x
you’re not elle mcnicoll
you cant bwe
coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool