50 Powerful Baby Girl Names That Are Beautiful and Strong

Some of these powerful baby girl names quite literally translate into “strength,” while others are borrowed from strong and powerful women in history.

Choosing your baby girl’s name is no small feat. You want something she’ll be able to grow up with, something unique and beautiful on the tongue, but also something that has meaning behind it.

Many cultures believe that the meaning behind a baby’s name will impact their personality and who they grow up to be — and if that’s the case, selecting a strong and powerful name for your newborn girl will be one of the best things you could do for her.

That’s why we collected 50 of the most powerful names for baby girls — some of them quite literally translate into “strength” or “strong,” while others are borrowed from strong and powerful women in history. Whether you’re looking for something totally unique or something more common, this list of powerful baby girl names is sure to inspire you.

Adira

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The name Adira is of Hebrew origin and quite literally means “strong.”

According to Nameberry, the name ranks as No. 920 in terms of popularity, thanks to its simple spelling but beautiful pronunciation and origins.

Alexia

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Although Alexia has become much more common in recent decades, it’s considered to be a derivative of the more popular Alexandria — which means “to defend.”

The name was particularly popular in the early 2000s but more recently ranks at No. 737, so it’s still quite unique.

Amelia

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The name Amelia has Latin and German roots — the root name of Amelia is “Amal,” which means “work.”

You might also recognize the name Amelia by way of Amelia Earhart — American aviation pioneer and the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Andrea

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Pronounced as either AN-dree-ah or AHN-dree-ah depending on region and preferences, the name Andrea has remained popular since the late 1940s.

The name is of Greek origin and means “virile.”

Audrey

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Meaning “noble strength,” the name Audrey will likely conjure up images of British actress Audrey Hepburn.

She remained a pillar of strength from her tumultuous childhood to the last years of her life as a UNICEF ambassador.

Balsinde

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First found in Medieval Europe, the name Balsinde means “destruction” or “strong.”

It might not be a common first name, but it rolls off the tongue beautifully while lending itself to many cheerful nicknames. We especially like Bali.

Balwinder

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The name Balwinder is a more unique, gender-neutral name.

It was originally derived from the Sanskrit word “bala” (strength) and combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra.

Bellatrix

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The Latin phrase for “female warrior,” Bellatrix is one of the most powerful names on this list.

It might bring to mind the powerful (if slightly misunderstood) “Harry Potter” character, Bellatrix Lestrange.

Bellicent

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Although it’s not very popular in the U.S., Bellicent is another gender-neutral name.

It’s of Celtic origin and means “brilliant” or “bright.”

Bree

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Bree is a girl’s name of Irish origin.

Although it’s quite short and snappy, the popular name is a great pick for a powerful name — it means “strength” or “the exalted one.”

Briana

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The name Briana is another one rooted in Irish history. It’s considered the feminine version of Brian and means something between “strong,” “virtuous” and “honorable.”

The name ranks No. 616 in popularity in the U.S., so definitely more unique than others.

Bridget

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Meaning “strength” or “exalted one,” the name Bridget is the Anglicized version of the Gaelic name “Brighid.”

Bridget is also the name of the most famous female saint in Ireland and is considered to be one of the earliest Irish names for girls.

Briella

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The shortened version of the longer Hebrew name “Gabriella,” the name Briella means “God is my strength.”

It’s popular among parents who don’t exactly care for typical nicknames like “Gaby.”

Carla

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The feminine version of Carl, this Germanic name meaning “free man” reached peak popularity in the 1960s and has been on the decline ever since.

But that doesn’t mean it won’t come back in style, especially given the meaning behind the name.

Carole

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The feminine variation of the name “Charles,” Carole is a strong and royal baby name in its own right — despite the decline in popularity in the past decades.

The name also means “free man” and hit its peak in the late 1940s.

Charlotte

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The name Charlotte is another female variation of the name “Charles” — but it originated in France rather than England.

The name gained in popularity thanks to England’s Queen Charlotte Sophia, wife of King George III, and continues to be very popular in both Western Europe and the United States. Of course, Princess Charlotte only added to the popularity.

Claudette

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The French, feminine version of the masculine name “Claude,” Claudette is believed to mean “enclosure” or “clause.”

The name can also pay homage to Claudette Colvin, a pioneer of the 1950s civil rights movement who was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus at the age of 15.

Diana

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The feminine name Diana is of Latin origin and means “divine.”

Of course, in the past decades, the name can also be a reference to Princess Diana and has gained popularity now that several of the new royal princesses have it as a middle name.

Erica

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The feminine version of the name “Eric,” Erica is of Norse origins and means “eternal ruler.”

The name became immensely popular in the late 1980s thanks to the popular Erica Kane character on the soap opera “All My Children.”

Fallon

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Fallon is considered to be a gender-neutral name meaning “leader.”

The name is of Irish descent and currently ranks at No. 859 in the U.S., although it’s believed to be on an upward trend.

Finley

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The Scottish and Irish name, Finley, means “fair-haired hero.”

Although the name was once considered to be a masculine name, it is now given 57 percent of the time to girls and 43 percent to boys — largely thanks to Jason Sehorn and Angie Harmon giving the name to their daughter.

Gabriella

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If Briella was too short for you, then Gabriella might be a better fit.

The Italian, feminine version of the name “Gabriel,” Gabriella has ranked in the U.S. Top 1,000 list since 1984 and continues to be very popular across Canada and Australia as well.

Harlow

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Suitable for both baby girls and baby boys, the name Harlow means “rock hill” or “army hill.”

The name gained in popularity starting in 2009 when Nicole Richie and Joel Madden named their daughter Harlow Madden.

Harriet

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The English variation of the French “Henriette,” the name Harriet means “estate ruler” — which is both powerful, and, well, kind of intimidating.

Of course, Harriet Tubman, the famous American abolitionist and political activist who had a significant impact on the Underground Railroad, is a strong female in history that bore this name.

Hilda

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The name Hilda is of German heritage and means “battle woman.”

Saint Hilda is also the patron saint of learning, culture and poetry, and as such, the name is still quite popular in certain areas of Europe but significantly less so in the U.S.

Jude

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The name Jude has taken off as a baby boy name in the U.S. and the U.K. thanks to actor Jude Law — but it’s also a rising girl’s name.

The name is of Hebrew and Latin origin and means “praised.”

Justice

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The name Justice is a gender-neutral name of French and Latin origin that has risen in popularity given its non-religious but still virtuous nature.

The name ranked at No. 575 on the U.S. Top 1000 list last year.

Kennedy

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This name of Irish origin means “mis-shapen head” and has become popular for both baby girls and baby boys.

It’s considered one of the most popular names in the U.S. (ranking at No. 72) thanks to its positive association with the Kennedy family.

Leia

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A feminine name of Hindi origin, the name Leia gained in popularity in the past decades thanks to its association with Princess Leia from the “Star Wars” film saga.

After all, she’s one of the Rebel Alliance’s most memorable leaders.

Lulu

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The diminutive of “Louise” or “Lucy,” the name Lulu is Arabic at its roots and means “pearl.”

Although it hasn’t been in the U.S. Top 1000 for decades, the powerful, if whimsical, name is on the rise again.

Maeve

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The female name Maeve is of Irish origin and means “she who intoxicates.”

The traditional spelling, Meabh, is popular in Ireland, but the Americanized version remains much more popular in North America, ranking at No. 173 in 2020.

Matilda

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The name Matilda is of German origin meaning “battle-mighty,” but you might also recognize it from British novelist Roald Dahl’s children’s book of the same name.

The titular character is well-loved for her strength (and telekinesis) as she navigates growing up in a less than ideal situation.

Maude

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The name Maude is actually a variation of “Matilda” that might appeal to parents looking for a shorter name.

It also means “battle-mighty” and is typically associated with Maud Gonne, a famous Irish political activist.

Mia

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The name Mia ranks high in the U.S. — it placed No. 8 in 2020 — for its pretty but meaningful origin.

The Italian name is short for Maria and means “drop of the sea” or “beloved.”

Millicent

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This name of German origin means “strong in work” and has been popular since the Middle Ages.

It lends itself well to a number of cute nicknames, including Milly and Mimi, to name a few.

Nicole

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The French and female variation of Nicholas, the name Nicole means “people of victory.”

The name peaked in the 1980s — ranking at No. 4 — but is still considered to be a very popular name for baby girls.

Nikita

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Although it sounds similar to Nicole, the name Nikita is completely unrelated in origin.

Rather, Nikita is actually of both Russian and Sanskrit origin and means “victor” or “house.”

Olesia

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The Polish, diminutive of the name “Aleksandra,” the name Olesia means “man’s defender.”

Despite its pleasant sound and meaningful origin, the name ranks at just 21,706 in the U.S.

Olivia

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The name Olivia is of Latin origin and means “olive tree” — but the popular name has been associated with some strong fictional women in recent years, and as such, remains a popular powerful girl’s name.

The strong-willed Olivia Benson on “Law & Order SVU” and Olivia Pope on “Scandal” have kept the name in circulation.

Raven

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The name Raven is typically given to baby girls and has remained popular over the years thanks to its association with various superheroes, including Raven Darkholme (otherwise known as Mystique) from X-Men.

Sandra

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The name Sandra is a diminutive of “Alessandra” that means “defending men.”

The name was quite popular in the 1960s but saw a decline in recent years — especially after Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Sasha

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The name Sasha is a Russian diminutive of the Greek name “Alexander.” The name is typically a boy’s name in Russia but is considered to be more gender neutral in the U.S.

The name means “defending men” but can also be a subtle nod to Beyonce’s alter ego, Sasha Fierce. Yes, please!

Thora

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The name Thora is of Norse origin and means “thunder goddess.”

It’s a wonderfully inconspicuous name that sounds soft and elegant, but the meaning behind it is about as powerful as names come.

Tyra

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The name Tyra is a Scandinavian, feminine variation of the name “Tyr,” an ancient Indo-European god, but it also means “thunder goddess.”

Tyra Banks, a trailblazing business woman and producer, likely also comes to mind.

Valentina

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The Latin, female version of the name “Valentine,” Valentina means “strength” and “health” — two excellent characteristics to bestow onto a baby girl.

The name remains quite popular to this day, ranking at No. 73 in the U.S.

Valerie

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The name Valerie is the French variation of the name “Valeria,” which also means “strength” and “health.”

It’s considered to be a very powerful feminine name given its similarity to the word “valor.”

Violet

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The name Violet is a popular name of Latin origin that means “purple,” but for one reason or another, it’s a common choice for strong women in literature and film.

Violet Baudelaire in “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” Violet Beauregarde in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and Violet Parr in “The Incredibles” are all examples of strong female leads.

Victoria

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The name Victoria is of Latin origin and means “victory,” but it’s also a popular name for its association to the British Royal Family.

The name is both classic and contemporary, ranking at No. 34 in the U.S. in 2020.

Zaila

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The Greek and Arabic feminine variation of the name “Zoilo,” the name Zaila doesn’t just sound strong — it is.

The meaning of Zaila is quite literally “might” and “strength.”

Zelda

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The name Zelda is a diminutive of the name “Griselda,” meaning “gray fighting maid.” Although it’s still quite uncommon, it became one of the fastest rising baby names in the U.S. after the release of “The Legend of Zelda” in the late eighties.

Literary fans will also recognize the name from the late Zelda Fitzgerald, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s wife.