Baby Girl Names That Begin with E

Popular, Classic, and Unusual Female Name Choices

Jan 18, 2008

A Cute Baby Girl in an Exersaucer, Alan Bruce, Wiki Commons

Are you planning to join the "Emily" name trend? Or are you looking for a similar alternative? Here are some popular and unusual names that start with the letter E.

Baby girl names that begin with "E" are in vogue. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration Baby Name Index, Emily and Emma have topped the popularity charts since 2002-- and versions of these two names are popular in many other cultures as well. Other "E" names have earned a chic reputation. If you're looking for a baby girl name that begins with E, here are some trendy, classic, and unusual choices.

Popular & Trendy Baby Girl Names That Begin With E

Emily & Emma. Emily is the more popular of these two chart-topping names,-- it's been in the Top 10 since 1990. Emma didn't actually crack the Top 10 until 2002, but it's been a close second to Emily ever since-- no doubt receiving a boost from the birth of Ross and Rachel's daughter Emma on Friends. Emily comes from a Latin name that means "eager." Emma comes from a Germanic word that means "universal" (which is appropriate, considering how ubiquitous this name has become).
Ella. Ella is vying to take Emma's place as the new Emily. Or something like that. This old fashioned name rose from obscurity to #21 on the U.S. top baby name list in 2006. It's a somewhat less popular alternative to Emma and Emily-- at least for now. Also quickly rising up the charts is Ellie. Both names comes from a Germanic name that means "entire."
Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a classic name-- one of the most classic ones there is-- but it's also very popular in the United States. It's been on the American Top 20 list since 1960! Elizabeth is derived from a Hebrew name that means "God's promise." A less popular version is Eliza.
Evelyn. A variation on the Biblical name Eve, this old-fashioned name may be the biggest shocker in the Top 100. It's been creeping up the popularity polls, and in #2006 it was up to #65! Eva is also becoming surprisingly trendy.
Emerson. This androgynous is still not widely used, but it's leaping up the charts very quickly and definitely fits the last-name-turned-first-name trend.

Classic Baby Girl Names that Start With E

Ellen. Ellen is a variation of Helen, which means "sun ray." This is one of those names that's always been around, but never has become trendy. It reached its popularity peak during the Baby Boom. Chic variations include Elle, reminiscent of model Elle Macpherson and Reese Witherspoon's perky character int he Legally Blonde movies, and also Elena.
Eleanor. Once a starring name in the 1920s, this famous First Lady's name is slowly creeping back onto the popularity polls and may be destined for a comeback. It's from a Greek name that means "compassion."
Eileen. This Gaelic name of disputed origin has never been very popular in the United States, but has a classic appeal-- especially if you want to pass on your Irish heritage.
Erin & Erica. These two names are both 1970s stars that are falling down the name charts. Yet both have a classic appeal, so they don't sound dated. Erin is a classic Irish place name, while Erica is the female form of Eric and means "complete ruler" in ancient German.

Unusual Baby Girl Names That Start With E

Elsa. This Scandinavian version of Elizabeth is hardly ever used in the United States, so if you're looking for a unique twist on the Ella/Emma trend, this may be your choice.
Elise. This is a French version of Elizabeth, and it also isn't very widely used.
Eden. This Biblical name hasn't caught on much yet, although with all the little Angelinas, Heavens and Nevaehs out there (Nevaeh is Heaven backwards), Eden might be climbing the charts soon.
Eliana. Pronounced AY-lee-AH-nah, this is a great Hebrew name for parents seeking an alternative to common choices like Sarah. It means, "God has answered."
Esther. Speaking of unusual Biblical names, Esther's an often overlooked choice as well. If you're Jewish, this is great for a Purim baby. Esther means "myrtle tree or star" in Hebrew.
Estelle & Estella. From a Latin expression for "star," these pretty names aren't even on the Top 1000 chart, so they're ripe for the picking of unusual name seekers. A related name is Estrella (pronounced es-STRAY-ah"), which is the Spanish word for star.