The Ultimate List of 4 Letter Names for Girls

There aren’t many baby names shorter, sweeter and more popular than 4 letter girl names. 

Take Mary and Lisa for example. 

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), Mary was the No. 1 most popular baby girl name in the U.S. over the past 100 years and was given to more than 2.9 million baby girls since 1924.

Lisa, which ranked No. 11 over that same span, was given to approximately 965,624 million baby girls. 

But fast forward to today and we’re seeing a new generation of 4 letter girl names emerge in the U.S. — and it’s Emma that’s leading the way now. 

Emma has been a top-5 girl’s name every year since 2002 and a top-2 girl’s name every year since 2012, per the SSA. 

Luna (10th), Lily (20th), Aria (24th), Nora (25th) Mila (28th), Ella (32nd), Isla (33rd), Nova (35th), Lucy (40th) and Maya (50th) were the only other 4 letter baby girl names to rank inside the top-50 in 2023. 

With so many beautiful 4 letter girl names to discover, here are some of the most popular today!

RELATED: 50+ Baby Names With a Hyphen for Your Little Girl

Leah

Origin: Hebrew; Old English

Meaning: Weary; Grieved; Meadow; Clearing

Leah, pronounced LEE-uh or LAY-uh, comes from the Hebrew name Le’a, which is likely derived from the Hebrew word la’a, meaning “weary” or “grieved.” It also directly comes from the Old English word leah, meaning “meadow” or “clearing.”

Leia

Origin: Hebrew; Old English

Meaning: Weary; Grieved; Meadow; Clearing

Leia, pronounced LEE-uh or LAY-uh, is the Portuguese form of Leah, which either derives from the Hebrew word la’a, meaning “weary” or “grieved,” or the Old English word leah, meaning “meadow” or “clearing.”  

Ruby

Origin: Latin; English

Meaning: Precious red stone; July birthstone

Ruby, pronounced ROO-bee, comes directly from the name of the red precious stone made of corundum, which derives from the Latin word ruber, meaning “red.” Ruby is the traditional birthstone for July. 

Eden

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Paradise; Delight

Eden, pronounced EE-den, derives from the Hebrew word eden, meaning "delight" or "paradise." In the Bible, Eden refers to the Garden of Eden — where the first humans, Adam and Eve, were placed.

Iris

Origin: Greek; English

Meaning: Rainbow; Flower; Eye color

Iris, pronounced EYE-ris, comes from the Greek word for "rainbow" and was the name of the Greek goddess for rainbows. It can also refer to the iris flower or the English word for the colored part of the eye.

Anna

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Grace; Favor

Anna, pronounced AN-nuh, is a variation of Hannah, derived from the Hebrew name Hanna and Hebrew word hanan, meaning "grace" or "favor." In the Bible, Anna is a prophetess mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.

Jade

Origin: Spanish

Meaning: Green gemstone; Stone of the flank

Jade, pronounced JAYD, refers to the green precious gemstone. Its name comes from the Spanish term piedra de la ijada (stone of the side), as the gem was believed to cure ailments in the area of the kidneys. 

Sara

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Lady; Princess; Noblewoman

Sara, pronounced SAIR-uh, is a variation of Sarah and comes directly from the Hebrew word sara, meaning “lady,” “princess” and “noblewoman.” In the Bible, Sara is the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac.

Mary

Origin: Greek; Hebrew; English

Meaning: Sea of bitterness; Wished for child; Beloved

Mary, pronounced MAIR-ee, comes from the Greek names Mariam and Maria, which are derived from the Hebrew name Miryam. The meaning is debated, but many experts suggest it means “sea of bitterness,” “wished for child” or “beloved.” 

Cora

Origin: Greek; Latin

Meaning: Maiden; Goddess of spring; Heart

Cora, pronounced KOR-uh, derives from the Greek word kore, meaning "maiden" or "daughter." Kore is another name for Persephone, the Greek goddess of spring. It may also come from the Latin word cor, meaning "heart."

Lyla

Origin: Arabic

Meaning: Night

Lyla, pronounced LY-luh, is a variant of Layla, which comes from the Arabic word layla, meaning “night.” It was popularized by a character in the old Arab tale “Layla and Majnun,” notably retold by Nizami Ganjavi. 

Lila

Origin: Sanskrit; Arabic

Meaning: Play; Amusement; Night

Lila, pronounced LEE-lah or LY-lah, comes directly from the Sanskrit word lila, meaning “amusement” or “play.” It can also be a variant of Leila and Layla, which comes from the Arabic word layla, meaning “night.”

Lola

Origin: Spanish

Meaning: Sorrows

Lola, pronounced LO-luh, originated as a Spanish diminutive of Dolores, which means “sorrows” and comes from the Spanish phrase Nuestra Señora de los Dolores (Our Lady of the Sorrows), a title for the Virgin Mary. 

Nyla

Origin: Modern; Invented

Meaning: Hero; Cloud

Nyla, pronounced NY-luh, was likely popularized by similar-sounding names like Kyla and Lyla, but can also be a feminine form of the Irish element nia, meaning “hero,” or Old Irish element nél, meaning “cloud.”

Kyla

Origin: English; Gaelic

Meaning: Narrows; Channel; Strait

Kyla, pronounced KY-luh, was likely popularized by its sound, but can also be a feminine variant of Kyle, which derives from the Gaelic element caol, meaning “narrows,” “channel” or “strait,” making it a water name.

Iyla

Origin: Modern; Spanish; Sanskrit; Turkish

Meaning: Island; Earth; Speech; Moonlight

Iyla, pronounced EYE-luh, is a modern variant of names like Isla, meaning “island” in Spanish, and Ila, meaning “earth” and “speech” in Sanskrit. It can also be a variant of Ayla, meaning “moonlight” in Turkish.

Ayla

Origin: Turkish; Hebrew; English

Meaning: Moonlight; Halo; Terebinth tree

Ayla, pronounced AY-luh, is often linked to the Turkish root ay, meaning “moonlight” or “halo,” but can also derive from the Hebrew element ela, meaning “terebinth tree.” It was popularized by a character in “Clan of the Cave Bear” (1980) by Jean M. Auel.

Myla

Origin: English; Slavic; Latin

Meaning: Dear; Gracious; Soldier

Myla, pronounced MY-luh, is likely a modern variant of the name Mila, which derives from the Slavic element milŭ, meaning “dear” or “gracious.” It can also be a feminine variant of Miles, meaning “soldier” in Latin.

Rose

Origin: Latin; English

Meaning: Rose flower

Rose, pronounced ROHZ, derives from the Latin word rosa, referring to the rose flower known for its beauty and fragrance. Roses are universally recognized symbols of love, romance and passion.

Remi

Origin: English; Yoruba

Meaning: Settlement on the stream; The lord consoles me

Remi, pronounced REM-ee, is often used as a short form of Remington, which comes from an English place name in Lancashire, itself meaning "settlement on the Riming stream." It can also be a short form of the name Oluremi, meaning “the lord consoles me” in Yoruba.

Arya

Origin: Sanskrit

Meaning: Noble

Arya, pronounced uh-REE-yuh or AR-ee-uh, comes directly from the Sanskrit word arya, meaning “noble.” The name was recently popularized in the United States by Arya Stark, a character in “Game of Thrones.” 

Sage

Origin: English; French

Meaning: Wise; Judicious; Aromatic herb

Sage, pronounced SAYJ, comes directly from the English word sage of French origin, meaning “wise” and “judicious.” It can also refer to the aromatic herb belonging to the mint family and known for its medicinal and culinary uses. 

June

Origin: English; Roman

Meaning: Chief goddess; Protector of women

June, pronounced JOON, comes directly from the name of the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, which itself was named after Juno, the chief Roman goddess of love, marriage and fertility. 

Kaia

Origin: English; Hawaiian; Chinese; Greek

Meaning: Sea; Triumph; Pure

Kaia, pronounced KY-yuh, is an elaborated form of the name Kai, which either means “sea” in Hawaiian or “triumph” in Chinese. It can also be a diminutive of the names Katerina and Katherine, meaning “pure.” 

Ruth

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Female friend

Ruth, pronounced ROOTH, comes from the Hebrew name Rut and Hebrew word re’ut, meaning “female friend.” In the Bible, Ruth was the great-grandmother of King David and the daughter-in-law of Naomi.

Wren

Origin: English; Latin

Meaning: Small songbird

Wren, pronounced REN, comes directly from the English word for the small brown songbird, derived from the Latin word wrenna. Wrens are known for their small size, chunky bodies and reddish-brown plumage. 

Zuri

Origin: Swahili

Meaning: Beautiful; Lovely

Zuri, pronounced ZIR-ree or ZOO-ree, comes directly from the Swahili word zuri, meaning “beautiful.” The name was popularized in the United States by Zuri Ross, a character in “Jessie” played by Skai Jackson.

Zara

Origin: Arabic; Invented

Meaning: Shining; Brilliant; Bright

Zara, pronounced ZAR-uh or ZAIR-uh, is likely a modern variant of Sara, but it can also be linked to the Arabic name Zahra, derived from the Arabic element azhar, meaning “shining,” “brilliant” or “bright.” 

Vera

Origin: Russian; Latin

Meaning: Faith; True

Vera, pronounced VEER-uh or VAIR-uh, comes directly from the Russian word vera, meaning “faith,” though it’s also commonly linked to the Latin word verus, meaning “true.” Actress Katie Lowes has a daughter named Vera.

Cara

Origin: Italian; Irish; English

Meaning: Beloved; Friend

Cara, pronounced KAHR-uh or KAIR-uh, comes directly from the Italian word cara, meaning “beloved,” or the Irish word cara, meaning “friend.” It’s also commonly used as a nickname for Carol or Caroline. 

Evie

Origin: English; Invented

Meaning: Breathe; Full of Life; Wished for Child

Evie, pronounced EE-vee, originated as a diminutive of names like Eve, meaning “to breathe” or “to live” in Hebrew, or Evelyn, believed to mean “wished for child” or “bird.” It also relates to the name of an adorable Pokémon (Eevee). 

Lena

Origin: English; Hebrew

Meaning: Torch; Corposant; Born in a tower

Lena, pronounced LEE-nuh, is a common diminutive of names that end in -lena, such as Helena, meaning “torch” or “corposant” in Hebrew, and Magdalena, meaning “born in a tower” in Hebrew. 

Jane

Origin: English; Hebrew

Meaning: God is gracious

Jane, pronounced JAYN, is the medieval English form of Jehanne, the feminine of John, ultimately from the Hebrew name Yoḥanan, which is composed of the Hebrew elements yo, meaning “God,” and hanan, meaning “gracious.” 

Kali

Origin: Sanskrit; Greek

Meaning: The dark one; Beauty

Kali, pronounced KAL-lee or KAH-lee, derives from the Sanskrit word kala, meaning “black.” The Hindu goddess Kali is the fierce destructive form of the wife of Shiva. It can also derive from the Greek word kallos, meaning “beauty.” 

Hope

Origin: English

Meaning: Hope; Faith

Hope, pronounced HOHP, is derived directly from the English word hope, which comes from the Old English word hopian, meaning “to have a positive expectation that something desired will happen or be true.”

Rory

Origin: Old Irish

Meaning: Red king

Rory, pronounced ROR-ee, comes from the Old Irish name Ruaidrí, which is composed of the Old Irish elements rúad, meaning “red,” and rí, meaning “king.” It was the name of the last high king of Ireland. 

Thea

Origin: Greek

Meaning: Goddess

Thea, pronounced THEE-uh, derives from the Greek word theia, meaning “goddess.” In Greek mythology, Theia was a Titan and also the mother of Helios (the sun), Selene (the moon) and Eos (the dawn). 

Tess

Origin: Greek

Meaning: Summer harvest

Tess, pronounced TESS, originated as a diminutive of Teresa or Theresa, ultimately from the Greek word theros, meaning “summer,” or therizo, meaning “to harvest.” It can also be linked to the Greek island of Therasia.

Esme

Origin: Old French; Spanish; Portuguese

Meaning: To love; Emerald

Esme, pronounced EZ-may, derives primarily from the Old French word esmer, meaning “to love,” but can also be a diminutive of the name Esmeralda, which translates to “emerald” in Spanish and Portuguese.

Nina

Origin: Spanish; Quechua; Aymara

Meaning: Little girl; Fire

Nina, pronounced NEE-nuh, comes directly from the Spanish word niña, meaning “little girl,” or Quechua and Aymara word for “fire.” It can also be a diminutive of names ending in -nina, such as Antonina. 

Navy

Origin: English; Old French; Latin

Meaning: Fleet of ships; Blue color

Navy, pronounced NAY-vee, comes directly from the English word for a country's fleet of ships, which ultimately derives from the Old French word navie and Latin word navigia, meaning “fleet of ships.” Navy is also a shade of blue. 

Raya

Origin: Latin; Italian; Irish

Meaning: Queen; Little king

Raya, pronounced RAY-uh, is believed to be a diminutive of the name Rayna, which comes from the name Regina, meaning “queen” in Latin and Italian. It can also be a diminutive of Ryan, meaning “little king” in Irish. 

Demi

Origin: French; Greek

Meaning: Half; Goddess of harvest

Demi, pronounced DEM-ee, comes directly from the French word for “half,” but can also be a diminutive of Demeter, referring to the ancient Greek goddess of agriculture, harvest and fertility. She was also the mother of Persephone. 

Mira

Origin: Sanskrit; Slavic

Meaning: Sea; Ocean; Peace; World

Mira, pronounced MY-ruh or MEER-uh, comes directly from the Sanskrit word mira, referring to the “sea” or “ocean,” but can also be derived from the Slavic element mirŭ, meaning “peace” or “world.” 

Lana

Origin: Hawaiian; Spanish; Irish

Meaning: Calm as still waters; Hope; Wool; Money; Little Rock; Precious

Lana, pronounced LAH-nuh, has various meanings depending on its origin. It can translate to “calm as still waters” or “hope” in Hawaiian, “wool” or “money” in Spanish, and “precious” or “little rock” in Irish. 

Kira

Origin: Greek; Old Persian; Irish

Meaning: Young; Humiliator; Lord; Black

Kira, pronounced KEER-uh or KY-ruh, is believed to be a feminine variant of Cyrus, which comes from the Greek name Kyros and Old Persian name Kuruš, meaning “young” or “humiliator.” It can also be linked to the Greek word kyrios, meaning “lord,” or Irish word cíar, meaning “black.” 

Elle

Origin: French

Meaning: Her; She

Elle, pronounced EL, comes directly from the French pronoun elle, meaning “her” or “she.” It’s also commonly used as a nickname or diminutive of names beginning with El-, such as Eleanor or Elizabeth. 

Anya

Origin: Russian; Hebrew

Meaning: Grace; Favor

Anya, pronounced AHN-yuh, is primarily a Russian diminutive of Anna, which is ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Hanna and Hebrew word hanan, meaning “grace” or “favor.” 

Skye

Origin: Scottish; English; Old Norse

Meaning: Sky; Cloud; Scottish island

Skye, pronounced SKY, comes from the name of the Isle of Skye in Scotland, but is also considered a variant of the name Sky, which comes from the English word sky, ultimately derived from the Old Norse word ský, meaning “cloud.” 

Cali

Origin: Greek; English

Meaning: Beautiful

Cali, pronounced KAL-ee, is often considered a diminutive of names that start with Cal-, such as Calista and Calliope, both of which are derived from the Greek word kallos, meaning “beautiful.”

Maia

Origin: Greek

Meaning: Good mother

Maia, pronounced MY-uh, comes directly from the Greek word maia, meaning “good mother.” In Greek mythology, Maia was the oldest of the Pleiades, a daughter of Atlas and Pleione, and mother to Hermes.

Alma

Origin: Hebrew; Spanish; Latin

Meaning: Young woman; The soul; Nourishing

Alma, pronounced AIL-muh or ALL-muh, has various meanings depending on its origin. For example, it means “young woman” in Hebrew and “the soul” in Spanish, and can also derive from the Latin word almus, meaning “nourishing.”

Kate

Origin: Greek

Meaning: Pure; Each of the two

Kate, pronounced KAYT, originated as a diminutive of Katherine, ultimately derived from the Greek word katharos, meaning "pure." Other theories suggest it derives from hekateros, meaning “each of the two.”

Lyra

Origin: Greek; English

Meaning: Lyre; Stringed instrument; Constellation

Lyra, pronounced LY-ruh, is derived from the Greek word lyre, referring to the harp-like stringed musical instrument. It’s also the name of a constellation in the northern sky containing the blue-white star Vega. 

Opal

Origin: Sanskrit; English

Meaning: Precious stone; Colorful stone; October birthstone

Opal, pronounced OH-pal or OH-pul, derives from the Sanskrit word upala, meaning "precious stone.” It refers to the unique gemstone known for its characteristic play-of-color and is the birthstone for October.

Faye

Origin: English; Latin

Meaning: Fairy; Magical; Enchanting

Faye, pronounced FAY, derives from the English word fay, meaning “fairy,” the Middle English word faie, meaning “magical” or “enchanted,” and the Latin word fata, referring to the Fates. In Greek mythology, the Fates were three sister goddesses who controlled destiny. 

Emmy

Origin: Latin; Germanic

Meaning: Rival; Whole; Great

Emmy, pronounced EM-ee, originated as a diminutive of Emily, which comes from the Latin word aemulus, meaning “rival,” or a nickname for Emma, which comes from the Germanic element irmin, meaning “whole” or “great.” 

Lexi

Origin: Greek

Meaning: Helper; Defender of mankind

Lexi, pronounced LEK-see, originated as a diminutive of Alexis, which comes from the Greek word alexo, meaning “to defend” or “help,” or Alexandra, the feminine form of Alexander composed of the Greek elements alexo (“to defend”) and aner (“man”). 

Rhea

Origin: Greek

Meaning: Titan goddess; To flow

Rhea, pronounced REE-uh or RAY-uh, comes from the Greek name of the Titan goddess who gave birth to Zeus and other Olympian gods. The name may derive from the Greek word rheo, meaning "to flow."

Kora

Origin: Greek

Meaning: Maiden; Queen of the underworld

Kora, pronounced KOR-uh, is a variant spelling of Cora, which derives from the Greek word kore, meaning “maiden.” In Greek mythology, Kore was an epithet of Persephone, the queen of the underworld.

Alia

Origin: Arabic

Meaning: Exalted; Lofty; High

Alia, pronounced AH-lee-uh or AY-lee-uh, is a variant of similar names like Aliyah and is considered a feminine form of Ali. All these names are derived from the same Arabic elements alīy and alā, meaning “to be high” or “lofty.” 

Halo

Origin: English; Greek

Meaning: Ring of light; Uncreated light

Halo, pronounced HAY-loh, comes directly from the English word for a ring of light, which ultimately derives from the Greek word halos, meaning "disk of the sun or moon." The halo is a powerful symbol of the Uncreated Light.

Anna

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Gracious; Favored

Anna, pronounced AN-nuh, is a variation of Hannah, derived from the Hebrew name Hanna and Hebrew word hanan, meaning “to be gracious.” Anna was the name used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament.

Mara

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Bitter; Sea of bitterness

Mara, pronounced MAR-uh or MAIR-uh, is believed to be derived from the Hebrew word marar, meaning “to be bitter.” It can also be linked to the name Mary, meaning “sea of bitterness” or “wished for child.” 

Lina

Origin: Multicultural

Meaning: Flax; United; Soft

Lina, pronounced LEE-nuh, is commonly used as a nickname for longer names that end in -lina, but it can also derive from the Greek word linos, meaning “flax,” the Sanskrit word for “united” or the Arabic word lana, meaning “to be soft.” 

Mina

Origin: Sanskrit; Persian

Meaning: Fish; Azure; Enamel

Mina, pronounced MEE-nuh, comes directly from the Sanskrit word mina, meaning “fish,” but it can also derive from the Persian word for “azure” and “enamel,” or be used as a nickname for names that end with -mina, such as Adamina, Wilhelmina and Emina. 

Myra

Origin: English; Greek

Meaning: Myrrh; Bitter

Myra, pronounced MY-ruh, is sometimes considered a variant of Mary, but other theories link it to the English word myrrh, derived from the Greek word myrrha, referring to the gummy, resinous exudation of certain plants of Arabia and Ethiopia.

Cleo

Origin: Greek

Meaning: Glory

Cleo, pronounced KLEE-oh, derives from the Greek word kleos, meaning “glory” and originated as a short form of Cleopatra, which is composed of the Greek elements kleos and pater, meaning “father.”

Yara

Origin: Persian; Tupi

Meaning: Friend; Helper; Lady of the water

Yara, pronounced YAH-ruh, is sometimes considered a modern variation of Sara, but can also derive from the Persian element yar, meaning “friend” and “helper,” or the Tupi elements y, meaning “water,” and iara, meaning “lady.” 

Abby

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: My father’s joy

Abby, pronounced AB-ee, originated as a diminutive of Abigail, which comes from the Hebrew name ʾAviḡayil and is composed of the Hebrew elements av, meaning “father,” and gil, meaning “joy.” 

Noah

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Rest; Repose; Motion

Noah, pronounced NO-uh, comes directly from the Hebrew name Noaḥ and Hebrew word nuah, meaning “rest” or “repose,” but it can also refer to the Heberw name No’a, meaning “motion.” Noah is the hero of the biblical Flood story in the Old Testament book of Genesis. 

Remy

Origin: Latin; English

Meaning: Oarsman; Rower; Settlement on the stream

Remy, pronounced REM-ee or RAY-mee, derives from the Latin name Remigius, meaning "oarsman" or "rower." It can also be a diminutive of Remington, which comes from an English place name meaning "settlement on the Riming stream."

Bell

Origin: Italian; Hebrew

Meaning: Beautiful; Oath to God; My God is an oath

Bell, pronounced BELL, either comes from the Italian word bella, meaning “beautiful,” or is a diminutive for the name Isabel, itself a derivative of Elizabeth and Elisheva, meaning “oath to God” or “my God is an oath” in Hebrew. 

Erin

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Meaning: Ireland

Erin, pronounced AIR-in, is the Anglicized form of the Irish name Éireann, which comes from the Irish Gaelic name Éire, meaning “Ireland.” It’s a beautiful way to honor both the country and culture.

Dana

Origin: Persian; Hebrew

Meaning: Wise; God is my judge

Dana, pronounced DAY-nuh or DAN-uh, comes directly from the Persian word dana, meaning “wise,” though it can also be considered a feminine diminutive of Daniel, meaning “God is my judge” in Hebrew.

Rosa

Origin: Latin

Meaning: Rose; Red flower

Rosa, pronounced ROH-zuh, comes directly from the Latin word rosa, referring to the rose flower. Roses are an international symbol of love, often used to express romantic affection, friendship and admiration.

Ryan

Origin: Irish

Meaning: Little King; Little Queen

Ryan, pronounced RYE-in, is the Anglicized form of the Irish name Rian, which is believed to derive from the Old Irish element rí, meaning “king,” combined with a diminutive suffix, ultimately meaning “little king.”

Macy

Origin: English; French

Meaning: From Massy

Macy, pronounced MAY-see, originated as an English surname derived from the French place name Massy and Latin name Maccius. Its prominence in the United States is partly tied to the department store. 

Maci

Origin: English; French

Meaning: From Massy

Maci, pronounced MAY-see, is a contemporary spelling variant of Macy, ultimately derived from the French place name Massy and Latin given name Maccius. Other common variants include Macie and Mayzee. 

Kyra

Origin: Greek; Old Persian; Irish

Meaning: Young; Humiliator; Lord; Black

Kyra, pronounced KYE-ruh, is a variant of Kira, which is believed to be a feminine variant of Cyrus, derived from the Old Persian name Kuruš, meaning “young” or “humiliator.” It can also be linked to the Greek word kyrios, meaning “lord,” or Irish word cíar, meaning “black.”

Hana

Origin: Hebrew; Arabic; Japanese; Korean

Meaning: Gracious; Bliss; Flower; One

Hana, pronounced HAN-uh, is a variant of Hannah derived from the Hebrew word hanan, meaning “to be gracious.” It can also derive from the Arabic root hanaʾa, meaning “bliss,” the Japanese word hana, meaning “flower,” or Korean word for “one.” 

Brie

Origin: Germanic; Hebrew

Meaning: God is my strong man; High; Hill; Mighty; Powerful

Brie, pronounced BREE, is commonly used as a diminutive of names like Brianna, meaning “hill,” “high,” “mighty” or “powerful” in German, and Gabriella, meaning “God is my strong man” in Hebrew. 

Ines

Origin: Greek; Latin; Spanish

Meaning: Chaste; Pure; Holy; Lamb

Ines, pronounced EE-nes, is the Spanish variation of Agnes, which comes from the Greek name Hagne and Greek word hagnos, meaning “chaste,” “pure” or “holy.” It can also derive from the Latin word agnus, meaning “lamb.” 

Emma

Origin: Germanic

Meaning: Whole; Great; Universal

Emma, pronounced EM-muh, comes from the Germanic elements irmin and ermun, meaning “whole,” “great” or “universal.” It has been a top-2 girl’s name in the United States every year since 2012. 

Luna

Origin: Roman; Latin

Meaning: Moon

Luna, pronounced LOO-nuh, comes directly from the Latin word luna, meaning “moon.” Luna was the Roman goddess of the moon who was often depicted wearing a crown with a crescent moon. 

Lily

Origin: English; Latin

Meaning: Lily flower

Lily, pronounced LIL-ee, comes directly from the English word for the flower, ultimately derived from the Latin word lilium. Lilies are primarily known to symbolize love, purity, fertility and rebirth in many cultures.

Aria

Origin: Italian; English; Old Persian

Meaning: Air; Solo song; Noble

Aria, pronounced AHR-ee-uh or AIR-ee-uh, comes directly from the Italian word aria, meaning “air.” In English, an aria refers to a solo song, typically found in operas. It can also derive from the Old Persian word ariya, meaning “noble.” 

Nora

Origin: Arabic; Latin; Occitan

Meaning: Light; Honor; The other Aenor

Nora, pronounced NOR-uh, is believed to derive from the Arabic word nūr, meaning “light,” but is also commonly used as a diminutive of names like Honora, meaning “honor” in Latin,” and Eleanor, meaning “the other Aenor” in Occitan.

Mila

Origin: Slavic

Meaning: Gracious; Dear

Mila, pronounced MEE-uh or MEE-luh, comes from the Slavic element milŭ, meaning “gracious” or “dear.” It’s commonly used as a nickname for names that end with -mila, such as Camila, Yamila or Ludmila. 

Ella

Origin: Spanish; Germanic

Meaning: She; Other

Ella, pronounced EL-lah, comes directly from the Spanish word ella, meaning “she,” but other theories link it to the Germanic element alles, meaning “other.” It’s also used as a diminutive of Eleanor and Ellen.

Isla

Origin: Spanish; Scottish

Meaning: Island

Isla, pronounced EYE-luh, comes directly from the Spanish word isla, meaning “island.” It’s also a variant of the Scottish name Islay, derived from the island of Islay, which lies off of the west coast of Scotland

Nova

Origin: Latin; English

Meaning: New; Bright star

Nova, pronounced NO-vuh, derives from the Latin word novus, meaning “new.” In astronomy, a nova is a sudden, dramatic brightening of a star, typically becoming thousands of times brighter in a short period. 

Lucy

Origin: Latin; English

Meaning: Light

Lucy, pronounced LOO-see, is the English form of Lucia, which derives from the Latin word lux, meaning “light.” St. Lucy is the patron saint of the blind, those with eye problems, and the island of Saint Lucia.

Maya

Origin: Sanskrit; Hebrew; Greek

Meaning: Illusion; Magic; Water; Good mother

Maya, pronounced MY-uh, comes directly from the Sanskrit word māyā, meaning “illusion” or “magic,” but it can also derive from the Hebrew word mayim, meaning “water,” or the Greek word maia, meaning “good mother.” 

Dora

Origin: Greek

Meaning: Gift; Gift of God; God’s gift

Dora, pronounced DOR-uh, is believed to be derived from the Greek word doron, meaning “gift.” It’s a common diminutive of names like Theodora, Isidora and Dorothea, meaning “God’s gift” or “gift of God.”

Tara

Origin: Sanskrit; Irish

Meaning: Star; Elevated place

Tara, pronounced TAR-uh or TAIR-uh, comes directly from the Sanskrit word tārā, meaning “star.” Other theories suggest that it’s the Anglicized form of Teamhair, an Irish place name meaning “elevated place.”

Fern

Origin: Old English

Meaning: Vascular plant

Fern, pronounced FURN, comes directly from the English word for the feathery-leaved plant, ultimately derived from the Old English word fearn. Ferns are one of the oldest groups of plants on Earth.

Bryn

Origin: Welsh

Meaning: Hill; Mound

Bryn, pronounced BRIN, derives from the Welsh word bryn, meaning “hill” or “mound.” It was popularized in the United States through actress Brynn Thayer, best known for her role on “One Life to Live.”

Nola

Origin: English; Modern

Meaning: New Orleans

Nola, pronounced NO-luh, was likely popularized as a tribute to New Orleans, Louisiana, sometimes referred to as NOLA. It can also be a product of similar-sounding names like Lola, Viola and Nikola. 

Orla

Origin: Old Irish; English

Meaning: Golden princess

Orla, pronounced OR-luh, is the Anglicized form of the Irish name Órlaith, which is composed of the Old Irish elements ór, meaning "gold," and flaith, meaning "ruler” or “princess.” Therefore, it means “golden princess.” 

Gwyn

Origin: Welsh

Meaning: White; Fair; Blessed

Gwyn, pronounced GWIN, derives from the Welsh word gwyn, meaning "white," "fair" or "blessed." It can also be a diminutive or nickname for names like Gwyneth, Gwyndolyn and Gwyneira. 

Not Interested In 4 Letter Girl Names?

4 letter names for girls are a great place to start your baby-naming journey. 

But we understand that every parent is different. And while short girl names are popular in the U.S., some parents might be more interested in a longer name for their daughter — or even a hyphenated name.

Like going with Hannah instead of Anna. Or Gabriella and Isabella instead of Ella. 

If our collection of four-letter girl names didn't quite capture what you're looking for, don't worry! The perfect name is out there waiting for you. And Mod Moms Club is here to help you narrow it down. 

ALSO ON MOD MOMS CLUB: 125+ Mom-Inspired Baby Names for Mama's Little Girl

If you truly get stuck, don’t forget about our baby name generator, which is designed to help you quickly browse baby names inspired by your personal preferences.