Girl Names

Piper

“Pipe player”

Piper is an English occupational surname turned given name, originally referring to someone who played the pipe or flute. It has a musical, lively quality that translates beautifully to a modern first name. The name suggests energy, creativity, and a spirited personality, and has surged in popularity as a confident choice for girls.

Pippa

“Lover of horses”

Pippa is a diminutive of Philippa, the feminine form of Philip, which comes from the Greek Philippos, meaning lover of horses. The Greek elements are philos (loving) and hippos (horse). Whilst Pippa began as a nickname, it has long been used as a fully independent given name, particularly in Britain. It has a bright, energetic, and endearing quality that makes it feel both classic and lively. The name became especially prominent in British public life through Pippa Middleton, cementing its image as quintessentially British. Pippa has a charm that is at once playful and elegant.

Pixie

“Mischievous fairy of Devon and Cornwall”

Pixie is a whimsical English name drawn from the mythological tradition of pixies, tiny, mischievous supernatural beings found in the folklore of Devon and Cornwall. As a given name it evokes a sense of magic, energy, and individuality, and has grown in popularity as parents seek names with fairy-tale charm. The name has been embraced in popular culture as a symbol of free-spirited, creative personalities.

Plum

“Sweet, rich, something especially desirable”

Plum is a soft, colourful English name taken from the stone fruit, carrying associations of deep purple hues, sweetness, and abundance. It has gained traction as a fashionable given name in Britain, fitting within the broader trend of botanical and food-inspired names such as Clementine, Berry, and Olive. The name has a gentle, lyrical quality and a pleasingly old-fashioned British charm.

Pnina

“pearl”

Pnina is the Hebrew word for pearl, a gem formed slowly through patience and pressure into something of luminous beauty, a potent metaphor for a life of quiet strength and radiance. In Jewish tradition, the name carries both biblical resonance and the timeless appeal of a precious, rare thing. For parents, Pnina offers a name that is simultaneously ancient and elegant, intimate and profound, a jewel of the Hebrew naming tradition.

Origin: Hebrew

Polixeni

“Many guests”

Polixeni is the modern Greek form of the ancient name Polyxena, composed of the Greek elements polys, meaning many or much, and xenos, meaning guest, stranger, or foreigner. Together they yield a name that evokes the virtue of hospitality, one of the most sacred obligations in ancient Greek culture known as xenia. In Greek mythology, Polyxena was a Trojan princess, daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, renowned for her beauty and nobility. The modern Greek spelling Polixeni preserves the name in living use across Greece and the Greek diaspora.

Polly

“Star of the sea”

Polly originated as a medieval English rhyming nickname for Molly, which was itself a pet form of Mary. The name Mary derives from the Hebrew Miriam, most commonly interpreted as meaning 'star of the sea' from the Latin 'stella maris', though other derivations include 'beloved' and 'bitter'. Polly therefore carries this ancient heritage at several removes, arriving as a cheerful, distinctly English form with a long history of use. It has been borne by characters in English literature, music, and folklore, giving it a warm, unpretentious, and thoroughly British character. Polly has enjoyed a sustained revival in the United Kingdom over recent decades, reclaiming its place as a genuinely charming choice.

Pollyanna

“Beloved grace, irrepressible optimism”

Pollyanna is a warmly expressive English name that entered the language through Eleanor H. Porter's 1913 novel of the same name, featuring a relentlessly cheerful orphan girl who plays the 'Glad Game' to find something positive in every situation. The name has since entered everyday English as a noun and adjective describing an excessively optimistic person, giving Pollyanna a unique dual existence as both a given name and a cultural archetype. Despite its association with naivety, the name is cherished for its brightness, femininity, and storytelling heritage.

Polyhymnia

“the one of many hymns”

Polyhymnia is the name of one of the nine Muses in ancient Greek religion and mythology, the divine patron of sacred poetry, sacred hymn, eloquence, and later of mime, dance, and agriculture in some traditions. Her name literally translates as 'she of many hymns', constructed from the Greek polys meaning many and hymnos meaning hymn or song. She was typically depicted veiled and in a pensive or oratorical pose, representing the contemplative and devotional nature of sacred verse.

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Polytimi

“Precious, highly valued”

Polytimi is a traditional Greek feminine name composed of two elements: 'poly', meaning much or many, and 'timi', meaning value, honour, or worth. Together they convey the sense of something or someone who is precious or held in very high esteem. The name belongs to a family of Greek compound names that express abundance of a particular virtue, a naming convention with ancient roots in classical Greek culture.

Polyxena

“very hospitable or offering many gifts to strangers”

Polyxena is a classical Greek compound name formed from polys, meaning many or much, and xenos, meaning stranger, foreigner, or guest-friend, yielding the meaning of one who is very hospitable or one who welcomes many strangers. In Greek culture, xenia (hospitality to strangers) was a sacred obligation, making Polyxena a name that invoked one of the most fundamental Hellenic virtues. She appears in Greek mythology as a beloved daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy, whose tragic fate after Troy's fall became the subject of multiple ancient literary treatments.

Polyxeni

“Very hospitable”

Polyxeni is a classical Greek name composed of 'poly' (much, many) and 'xenia' (hospitality, guest-friendship), meaning 'very hospitable' or 'of great hospitality'. Xenia was one of the most sacred values in ancient Greek society, a divine obligation of host to guest enforced by Zeus Xenios, the protector of strangers. The name thus carries a profound ethical charge, invoking an ancient moral code. In mythology, Polyxena was a Trojan princess, daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, whose story is one of beauty, tragedy, and sacrifice.

Pomona

“Goddess of fruit trees and orchards”

Pomona is a classical name of Latin origin that entered English usage through admiration for Roman mythology, where Pomona was the goddess of fruit trees and the abundance of orchards. It has a distinctly botanical, pastoral character that appeals to parents with a love of nature, classical learning, or the rich fruit-growing traditions of the English countryside. The name also carries a transatlantic heritage, as several places in the United States, including Pomona, California, were named in tribute to the Roman goddess.

Pooja

“Worship, prayer”

Pooja means worship or prayer in Sanskrit, referring to the sacred ritual of devotion practised across Hindu tradition. It is one of the most established and beloved names in South Asia, embodying the spiritual heart of daily life. The name connects its bearer to a tradition of reverence, gratitude, and mindful devotion.

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Popi

“preparation or eve of the Sabbath”

Popi is a beloved Greek given name that originated as a diminutive of Paraskevi, the Greek feminine name meaning preparation or Friday (literally 'the day of preparation' before the Sabbath), derived from the Greek paraskeue meaning preparation or readiness. Over generations of use in Greek-speaking communities, Popi evolved from a pet name into an independent given name with its own identity and affection. It carries the warmth, familiarity, and approachability characteristic of Greek diminutive names that have become full names in their own right.

Poppy

“Red flower, remembrance”

Poppy is a flower name derived from the Old English popig, referring to the bright red flowering plant known for its vivid colour and its association with remembrance. In Britain the poppy carries particular emotional weight as the symbol of Remembrance Day, worn each November to honour those who died in the First and Second World Wars. As a given name it captures both cheerful vibrancy and quiet poignancy, a combination that has made it one of the most beloved girls' names in Britain for the past two decades.

Portia

“Offering, gate”

Portia is derived from the ancient Roman family name Porcius, which is believed to connect to the Latin word for gate or offering. The Porcia gens was a distinguished Roman family, and the name carries the gravitas of that heritage. Portia is most celebrated through Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, where the heroine demonstrates extraordinary wit, legal brilliance, and moral courage. The literary association has largely eclipsed the name's Latin etymology, giving Portia a reputation for intelligence and eloquence above all.

Porzia

“pig farmer”

Porzia is the Italian form of the Latin Portia (feminine of Porcius), a name from the ancient Roman gens Porcia. The literal etymology, from porcus, a pig, reflects the agricultural origins of many Roman family names, but the name's cultural meaning was entirely transformed by its distinguished bearers. The historical Porcia was the daughter of Cato Uticensis and wife of Marcus Brutus; Shakespeare's Portia in The Merchant of Venice became the archetype of female legal intelligence.

Origin: Italian

Posie

“Small bouquet of flowers”

Posie is a sweet, vintage English name that functions both as a diminutive of Josephine and as a standalone nature name evoking a small bouquet of flowers. It has experienced a notable revival in the 21st century as parents seek charming, old-fashioned names with botanical resonance. The name carries an inherently cheerful, light quality that suits its floral associations.

Posy

“Small bunch of flowers”

Posy is an English name meaning a small bunch of flowers or nosegay, the little tied posies of mixed blooms that were exchanged as tokens of affection and meaning from the medieval period onward. The word itself derives from the Middle English 'poesy', meaning a short verse or motto, which was inscribed inside rings and given with flowers, over time the flower token and the verse token merged into the word 'posy'. As a name, Posy belongs to the tradition of botanical and floral names beloved in the English-speaking world, alongside Violet, Flora, Lily, Daisy, and Poppy. It has a distinctly British character, sweet without being saccharine, whimsical without being frivolous. Posy has been rising in popularity among British parents drawn to vintage names with a fresh, light quality, and it fits naturally within the current revival of Edwardian and Victorian-era names.

Pragalbha

“Bold, confident, eloquent”

Pragalbha is derived from the Sanskrit word 'pragalbha', meaning bold, confident, self-assured, or eloquent. It describes a person who speaks with authority and acts with courage and decisiveness.

Pragya

“Wisdom; deep intelligence”

Pragya (also spelled Pragna or Prajna) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'prajna', meaning wisdom, intelligence, or deep insight. It refers to the highest form of knowing, not mere knowledge but true discernment and understanding.

Prairie

“Vast open grassland of the plains”

Prairie is a nature name drawn from the word for the sweeping grasslands of North America, carrying connotations of wide-open spaces, freedom, and rugged American frontier spirit. It is an uncommon but evocative given name that has been used by bohemian and nature-minded parents seeking something both geographic and atmospheric. The name has a distinctly American character rooted in the landscape of the Great Plains.

Prajna

“Transcendent wisdom; insight”

Prajna comes directly from the Sanskrit word meaning wisdom, understanding, or transcendent insight. It represents the highest intellectual and spiritual faculty in Hindu and Buddhist philosophy, the ability to perceive the true nature of reality.

Pranavi

“Goddess Parvati; embodiment of Om”

Pranavi is a Sanskrit-rooted name closely associated with the sacred syllable Om, known in Sanskrit as 'Pranava'. The Pranava is considered the primordial sound of the universe in Hindu philosophy, the vibration from which all creation arises. Pranavi is therefore an embodiment of this cosmic energy, and the name is also used as a title for Goddess Parvati, the divine mother and consort of Lord Shiva. The name suggests primal power, spiritual depth, and divine femininity.

Precious

“Of great value, highly treasured”

Precious is a name that speaks directly to the immeasurable value a parent places on their child, declaring from the very first moment that this person is treasured beyond measure. While the word itself is English in origin, the name has been embraced with particular warmth across West and East Africa, where it carries profound emotional weight as an expression of gratitude and love for a child's arrival. It belongs to a tradition of virtue and sentiment names that celebrate the gift of life and the depth of parental devotion.

Origin: African

Prescilla

“Ancient and venerable wisdom”

Prescilla is an alternative spelling of the classical Latin name Priscilla, which has been in use since early Christian times and appears in the New Testament. The variant spelling with the 'e' gives it a slightly more distinctive look while retaining the name's elegant, timeless sound. It carries an air of dignified antiquity combined with feminine grace.

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Presentación

“Presentation of the Virgin Mary”

Presentación refers to the Feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, a Catholic celebration observed on November 21st. The name was traditionally given to girls born around that feast day as a way of consecrating them to the Virgin. It reflects the devout Spanish Catholic custom of naming children after liturgical celebrations, saints' days, and Marian feasts.

Origin: Spanish