Names inspired by girls who rocked the world

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Written by Mary Fetzer

Girls rule! In the book Girls Who Rocked the World, author Amelie Welden introduces readers to 33 girls who changed history and helped to shape our world. And they did it before age 20! Let these amazing ladies inspire your next baby girl.

Cleopatra VII – Ruler of Egypt. This ancient Egyptian name means Queen.

Joan of Arc – French warrior and saint. Joan is a Hebrew name that means Gift from God.

Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz – Brilliant Mexican scholar and poet. This Hebrew name, like Joan, means Gift from God.

Eliza Lucas Pickney – Agricultural inventor and entrepreneur. Eliza comes from the Hebrew origin and is a diminutive of Elizabeth, which means Oath of God.

Phillis Wheatley – Slave turned poet; the first African-American woman to be published. Phillis, usually spelled Phyllis, is a Greek name that means Green Bough.

Maria Theresia von Paradis – Blind pianist, singer and composer from Austria. The Spanish name Maria means Bitter.

Baby girl names with lovely meanings

Sacagawea – Guide and interpreter for explorers Lewis and Clark. Sacagawea is a name from the Native American Shoshoni tribe and means Bird Woman.

Dr. Miranda “James” Barry – Posed as a man for 50 years so she could practice as a doctor. A Spanish name, Miranda means Admirable.

Mary Anning – Successful English fossil Hunter. Mary is a Hebrew name that means Bitter.

Queen Victoria – Ruler of the British Empire for 64 years (the Victorian age). Victoria is an English variant of the name Victorius.

Virginia Reed – Brave pioneer emigrated from Illinois to California. Virginia is an English name that means Chaste, Virginal.

Pretty baby girl names

Anna Elizabeth Dickinson – Influential orator, abolitionist and suffragette. The name Anna, a variant of Hannah, is of Hebrew origin and means God has favored me.

Sarah Bernhardt – French actress known as “The Divine Sarah.” Sarah is a Hebrew name that means Princess.

Emma Lazarus – Jewish poet; wrote “The New Colossus,” which is engraved on the base of the Statue of Liberty. Emma is a popular Danish name that means Whole.

Helen Keller – American author, political activist and advocate for the blind; the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. The Greek name Helen means One who is bright.

Bessie Smith – Singer and “Empress of the Blues”. Bessie, a diminutive of Elizabeth, is a Hebrew name that means Oath of God.

Baby girl names inspired by First Ladies

Irene Joliot-Curie – French chemist and Nobel Prize winner. The Greek name Irene means Peace.

Queen Salote Tupou III – The 6 ft. 3 in. tall Queen of Tonga for 45 years.

(Magdalena Carmen) Frida Kahlo – Mexican painter known for self-portraits. Frida is an Icelandic name that means Peace.

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta – Catholic nun; founded Missionaries of Charity and dedicated her life to serving the poor. The name Teresa has Greek roots and means Harvest Gatherer.

Mary Leakey – Famed British archaeologist and anthropologist. Mary is a Hebrew name that means Bitter.

Saintly baby girl names

Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias – American Olympic athlete; competed in golf, basketball and track and field. Mildred is a name of English origin and means Mild of strength.

Indira Gandhi – Third prime minister of India for four terms. In Sanskrit, the name Indira means Beauty.

Anne Frank – Kept a famous diary of her life during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. The Hebrew name Anne means God has favored me.

Wilma Rudolph – Famous American Olympic track and field gold medalist. The name Wilma, a feminine variant of William, is a German name meaning Resolute Protector.

Susan Eloise (S. E.) Hinton – American author wrote The Outsiders as S.E. Hinton. Susan is a name of Hebrew origin that means Graceful Lily.

Amatalrauf al-Sharki – Celebrity and women’s rights activist.

Ancient names for baby girls

Nadia Comaneci – Romanian Olympic gymnast; first female gymnast to receive a perfect score of 10. Nadia is an Eastern European names that means Hope.

Sheryl Swoopes – America’s first WNBA basketball player. Sheryl is an English baby name that means Cherry.

Wang Yani – Chinese artist; began painting at age 2.

Vanessa-Mae Nicholson – Internationally famous British violinist and former child prodigy. Vanessa is a Greek name that means Butterfly.

Cristen Powell – Teenage drag racer; first woman to race Top Fuel dragsters. Cristen, an English name, is a variant of Christian.

Martina Hingis – Swiss tennis champion; spent 209 weeks as World No. 1. The Spanish name Martina is a feminine version of Martin, which means Warring.

All-American names for baby girls