32 Enchanting Baby Girl Names Inspired by Forgotten Disney Characters
Finding the perfect baby girl name is hard, but for a Disney fan, there are dozens of magical options one has probably never considered. The old standbys such as Belle and Aurora are likely familiar -- but what about the characters that aren't princesses? The Pixar stars? And the lesser-known faves that complete the beloved classics? For the true Disney devotee, all of these amazing female characters are fair game as inspiration for enchanting baby names.
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Why do fans love Disney so much? From the storytelling, to the humor, to the life lessons, and to the company's latest move to create more dynamic female characters, fans have grown with these characters that warm their hearts.
That's why we wanted to dig deep and find the best baby names for the Disney or Pixar lover. With the help of BabyNameWizard, we compiled some of the prettiest and most iconic Disney baby girl names from characters that don't quite make the A-list of Disney stars. There are sure to be new names ripe for baby name discovery!
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So grab a tiara, a little bit of pixie dust, and make a wish upon a star, and join us in the Never Neverland of baby girl names!
Flora
Flora is one of the three good fairies in Disney's Sleeping Beauty, and she gives Aurora the gift of beauty. But that's not all this gorgeous name has to offer. It's also derived from the Latin word for flower, floris. Though it has dipped in popularity in the US in recent years, we think Flora deserves a comeback!
Daisy
Donald's glamorous gal pal, Daisy Duck, is fun-loving, fashionable, and a true friend! As a name, Daisy is also the name of the daisy flower, which means "days eye" (like the sun) in Old English. The name dipped in popularity in the '80s and '90s, but it's making a comeback, thanks in part to celebs such as Olivia Wilde, who named her daughter Daisy last year.
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Alice
Curiouser and curiouser! The next name on our list is Alice, the brave protagonist of Alice in Wonderland. Alice comes from Germanic roots and translates to "noble one." Or, if you prefer, you can opt for the equally lovely French version, Adelaide.
Colette
Colette Tatou, the female chef from Ratatouille, has one of the coolest Disney names we've ever heard -- and she's kind of a bada-- too! (Can we say that about a Disney character?) Strong-willed but kind, Colette works hard to compete with the men who work in the kitchen and wants to be considered the best at what she does. The name Colette is actually the French version of the name Nicole and means "victorious people."
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Jasmine
Not only does Jasmine get to be the female lead in Aladdin, but she also gets to have a pet tiger! Jasmine is clever, principled, and knows right from wrong. The name Jasmine is also the name of a fragrant flower used in teas and perfumes.
Anita
101 Dalmatians is the story of Pongo and Perdita and their many, many puppies. But you can't forget their owners, Roger and Anita. Anita is a Spanish pet name for Ana (meaning full of grace) but in the US it's often used on its own as a first name. And, because it's been steadily declining in popularity since the '50s, it's the perfect strong, unique title to bring back for a revival.
Celia
Celia, Mike Wazowski's significant other, didn't have a huge part in Monsters, Inc. but don't let that scare you away from this gorgeous name. Celia, which comes from the Latin caelum (heaven), is a name that is bold, feminine, and will never go out of style.
Violet
Shy Violet is a member of the superhuman, super-powered, super-family The Incredibles. She also has a beautiful, floral name perfect for a baby girl! The name Violet only became popular in the middle of the 19th century, when naming girls after flowers suddenly became trendy. But this name has serious staying power and is the chosen title for many celebrity babies, including one of Jennifer Garner's three girls. No need to be a shrinking violet about our feelings for this name. We love it!
Merida
There is nothing to fear about this next name! Merida from Brave is a fearless tomboy and skilled archer who eschews tradition to follow her heart. Merida is also the Latin name for Mary, which loosely means "rebellion." How fitting!
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Esmeralda
Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of Disney's fiercest and most outspoken female characters. She possesses a unique charm and ability to inspire those around her. Esmeralda comes from the Spanish word for emerald and has actually spiked in popularity in recent years, probably thanks to Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes, who named their daughter Esmeralda in 2014.
Wendy
The name Wendy was actually created by the author of Peter Pan J.M. Barrie. Barrie got the name from his friend's 5-year-old daughter, who called Barrie her "fwendy-wendy," and Barrie liked the term so much he shortened it to Wendy and made it the name of a character in his book. Such a cool backstory for a unique baby name!
Megara
Megara, named after the city in Greece, is the cynical, snarky, and deeply skeptical heroine in Disney's *Hercules*. But when she meets Hercules, his determination, strength, and heart of gold change her mind. Megara is a unique spin on the popular name Megan. Of course, your baby could also go by Meg, which means "pearl."
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Jane
As the love interest of Tarzan, Jane is smart, kind, and a little offbeat, just like her father. In real life, Jane is the English version of the French Jeanne, meaning "God is gracious." It is a perennially popular name and never goes out of style.
Giselle
As the protagonist of Enchanted, Giselle is a spoof on early Disney Princess prototypes. Giselle comes from the German word gisil meaning "to owe" or "to pledge." It's also the moniker of a certain ultra popular super model (although with a slightly different spelling), Gisele Bundchen. Giselle remains an extremely popular name and sits at number 136 on the US top baby names list. How sweet!
Bianca
Voiced by Eva Gabor in 1977, Miss Bianca from The Rescuers is very elegant and mannerly. In Italian, Bianca means "white" or "fair." It's a classic name with fancy flair that as timeless as the character herself.
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Mulan
In Chinese, Mulan means magnolia, which doesn't seem fitting for this tough cookie! Determined to fight in the army for her father's honor, Mulan goes undercover as a man and battles against the evil Shan Yu. In real life, Mulan is the perfect name for a tough spirit and a brave adventurer!
Maleficent
True to its villain status, Maleficent literally means "doing evil or harm." But Maleficent is a slightly more complicated character than depicted in Sleeping Beauty, which makes us think this name deserves another look. Maleficent turned "evil" when she was betrayed by the man she loved and lost her fairy wings. In turn, she became one of the most powerful sorceresses in fairy tale history. Despite its dark meaning, this name is really synonymous with power, and that makes it pretty cool, if we do say so ourselves.
Willow
Grandmother Willow is a ancient and wise weeping willow that advises Pocahontas. She's a little sassy and helps Pocahontas get in touch with her true purpose. The name Willow comes from the Middle English wilwe meaing "willow tree." Sounds pretty straightforward, but clearly there's more to this name than meets the eye.
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Jessie
Yee-haw! Jessie from Toy Story 2, 3, and 4 is a spunky cowgirl with a heart of gold. In Hebrew, Jessie is derived from the name yishai meaning "gift," making this a perfect choice for a lively little girl that brings joy every day.
Minnie
We couldn't get through a Disney baby names slideshow without mentioning Minnie Mouse! Though she's uber-popular in her own right, she's not the first character you think of when you think about Disney's leading ladies, and that's why she made the list. Minnie is sweet, caring, and kind to all. She's also quite the fashionista in her signature red and white polka-dot dress. As a name, Minnie is a nickname for Miryam, a Hebrew name meaning "lady of the sea," proving this name has more depth than you realized!
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Lily
Brave, strong-willed Tiger Lily isn't just a friend to Peter Pan, she's also the inspiration for a truly fearless baby name. Lily is a more current adaptation of the name and comes from the trumpet-shaped flowers often regarded as symbols of purity and perfection. No matter what the little one is named, however, we think she'll be perfect.
Anastasia
We know, we know. Technically, Anastasia is one of Cinderella's two evil stepsisters and that doesn't seem like a good place to pluck a baby name from. But we promise there's more than meets the eye. Anastasia is the female form of the Greek male name Anastasios, which means "of the resurrection." And if that isn't convincing, it might be good to keep in mind that Anastasia becomes much kinder to her stepsister in the sequels.
Rose
The Red Rose is one of the flowers that meets Alice as she wanders through Wonderland. But despite its clear floral connection, the name Rose actually comes from many old Germanic names that contained the root hros or ros and meant "horse" before it eventually came to stand for the red flower we know it as today. Still, Rose is a pretty name for any lucky girl.
Amelia
The goose with the blue bonnet from The Aristocats, Amelia Gabble is the inspiration for our next baby name. Unsurprisingly, Amelia has English roots and is the variant of an older Germanic name that means "work." But we like it because it's an older name that also feels contemporary.
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Abigail
Sweet little Abby. The twin of Amelia Gabble, we were inspired by her sister in the pretty pink hat. Abigail has always proven itself to be a name that evokes a sense of sweetness and youthfulness. It actually comes from the Hebrew name, Avigayil, and means "father is rejoicing."
Ursula
Whoever gets this name is going to have a big personality -- and hopefully, their own beautiful voice. It goes without saying that Ursula comes from The Little Mermaid, but the name was actually pretty popular throughout the late 1800s and again in the '60s. It also comes from the Latin word ursa, which means "she-bear." Pretty fierce!
Laverne
It probably isn't well known that Laverne is both a boy and girl's name. Yep, it's true. That's why one of the three gargoyles from The Hunchback of Notre Dame serves as an inspiration for this name. Laverne comes from the Latin word for "belonging to spring," and the name was typically given during the springtime.
Vanessa
Although she's often remembered for her more purple counter part, Vanessa is the human that Ursula turns into to try and steal Prince Eric away from Ariel. As a baby name, Vanessa hit its peak in the '80s, but has still remained pretty popular.
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Cleo
Cleo was the name of Geppetto's pet goldfish in Pinnochio and comes from the Greek kleos, meaning "glory" or "fame." And in Greek mythology, Clio is the muse of history. But we think the name is short, spunky, and sounds playful. It's a peppy name that will go swimmingly with any child.
Georgette
A sophisticated name for a new pup, Georgette was admittedly not the kindest character in Oliver and Company. But hey, she was voiced by Bette Midler, which we think has a certain je ne sais quoi, yes? Georgette is French in origin and is the female variation of George. All in all, we say that this name's due for a comeback.
Penny
As a baby name, Penny is a pet name for Penelope, which was so popular that it become a name in its own right. But most Disney fans might remember the name from The Rescuers. Although Penny might start out timid at the beginning of the movie, by the end we can all agree that Penny is actually pretty gutsy and brave. And that's the spirit that any little girl should have.