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Naming your child is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so why not honour your baby girl by giving her the beautiful name of a saint?
In case you didn’t notice, some of our favourite celebrities and artists are named after saints! But if you’re looking for more ideas, we’ve compiled some cool and meaningful names to help you give your daughter the saintly name she deserves. Read on to find out the best baby girl saint names and what they mean!
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What’s In A Name?
Naming children after female saints is a common Catholic practise for baptism and confirmation. Saints are well-known for rising above adversity and their selfless acts of kindness.
At some point, your daughter will probably ask you how you came up with her name. Wouldn’t it be nice to get into a history lesson about how awesome female saints are? Not only will the stories inspire her, but they’ll also give her role models to look up to as she grows up!
The 15 Best Saint Names For Girls
While you don’t have to be religious to name your baby girl after a saint, it helps to look into the historical significance of each name. Most of them have Spanish, French, and Italian roots, but their appeal is universal. If you’re looking for the best names for your baby girl, here are our top picks!
15. Aloysius
This androgynous name is a Latin version of Lewis or Louise, inspired by Italian Jesuit Saint Aloysius who died while caring for the sick and the poor. Eccentric and bold, this name pushes the envelope!
Pronunciation: Al-oh-ish-uhs
Origin: Saint Aloysius of Gonzaga – patron saint of young students and caretakers
Meaning: Old German for “famous warrior”
Famous Namesakes: Aloysius Bertrand, James Augustine Aloysius Joyce, Aloysius Pang
14. Charbel
This Christian name may seem masculine, but it’s pronounced in a rather feminine way. The name comes from a Lebanese priest known for performing miracle healings.
Pronunciation: Shar-bel
Origin: Saint Charbel Makhlouf of Lebanon – patron saint of the universal church
Meaning: Aramaic for “God’s good news”
Famous Namesakes: Charbel Georges, Charbel Nader, Charbel Aesso
13. Brigid Or Bridget
Now spelled as Bridgette, this feminine name has endured the test of time. Saint Brigit lived a difficult life as a young slave, but she found her place in an abbey where she dedicated her life to converting people to Christianity.
Pronunciation: Brij-id or Brij-it
Origin: Saint Brigid of Kildare – patron saint of harvest, fertility, and fire
Meaning: Celtic for “exalted or noble one”
Famous Namesakes: Bridget Fonda, Bridget Moynahan, Bridget Wilson
12. Blaise
This boyish name is also great for little girls! It has its roots in the third century, inspired by a Turkish bishop and physician who miraculously saved a boy from choking to death before getting imprisoned for his faith.
Pronunciation: Bley-s or Bley-z
Origin: Saint Blaise of Caesarea- patron saint of throat diseases and animals
Meaning: Latin for “lisping”
Famous Namesakes: Blaise Alexander, Blaise Sonnery, Luna Blaise
11. Maeve
If you’ve ever wondered where the word ‘Maven’ comes from, you’ve found the answer! Taking cues from Irish mythology, the wolf Queen Maeve (originally Medb) is famous for her powerful sensuality and cunning intellect.
Pronunciation: Meyv or Mey-eev
Origin: Queen Maeve of Connacht
Meaning: Gaelic for “one who brings joy and intoxicates”
Famous Namesakes: Maeve Quinlan, Maeve McGuire, Stella Maeve
10. Amanda
The popular girl’s name Amanda comes from Saint Amandus: the father of monasteries in Belgium. Because of his widespread influence, there are lots of places named after him all over the world!
Pronunciation: Ah-man-dah
Origin: Saint Amand or Amandus of Thorigny – patron saint of breweries and vineyards
Meaning: Latin for “she who is worthy of love”
Famous Namesakes: Amanda Bynes, Amanda Seyfried, Amanda Cerny
9. Teresa
Everyone knows how influential Mother Teresa is, and it shows in how lots of parents named their daughters after her. The name has many variations from different countries, but some modern versions go with Therese or Theresa.
Pronunciation: Teh-ray-sah
Origin: Saint Teresa of Avila – patron saint of World Youth Day, Missionaries of Charity, and Archdiocese of Calcutta
Meaning: Greek for “to gather or harvest”
Famous Namesakes: Teresa May, Teresa Palmer, Teresa Guidice
8. Antoinette
This is the female version of Anthony. While Marie Antoinette might be the first to come to mind, there was once a Carmelite nun named Antoinette Roussel who died by guillotine for her religious beliefs.
Pronunciation: An-twah-net
Origin: Blessed Antoinette Roussel – Martyr during the French Revolution
Meaning: French for “priceless and worthy of high praise”
Famous Namesakes: Antoinette Robertson, Antoinette Aron, Antoinette Sayeh
7. Ava
Ava was a princess born blind. When she grew older, Saint Rainfredis granted her the gift of sight so she could become the abbess she always wanted to be.
Pronunciation: Ey-vah
Origin: Saint Ava Pajnigar of Rome – Benedictine Abbess of Dinart, Hainault
Meaning: Latin for “life”
Famous Namesakes: Ava Philippe, Ava Max Ava DuVernay
6. Lucy
The Romans persecuted Saint Lucy when she refused to marry and give up her faith for her betrothed. Despite the tragic history, it’s a beautiful bouncy name that literally translates to ‘light’.
Pronunciation: Lu-see
Origin: Saint Lucy or Lucia of Syracuse – patron saint of the blind
Meaning: English/French for “light”
Famous Namesakes: Lucy Liu, Lucy Hale, Lucy Fry
5. Joan
A feminised variation of the popular boy’s name ‘John’, the heroic Frenchwoman Joan of Arc popularised this name – Joan of Arc fought with incredible courage and is often hailed as one of the greatest female leaders in history!
Pronunciation: Jo-uhn
Origin: Saint Joan of Arc – patron saint of soldiers
Meaning: English for “God’s grace”
Famous Namesakes: Joan Jett, Joan Rivers, Joan Cusack
4. Catherine
This name is simple and elegant, and is the base of a ton of other names like Katherine, Katie, and Katrina. While some historians are sceptical about Saint Catherine being a real person, the church still considers her a great martyr.
Pronunciation: Kath-er-een
Origin: Saint Catherine of Alexandria – patron saint of scholars and philosophers
Meaning: Greek and Latin for “pure”
Famous Namesakes: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Catherine Valdes, Catherine Paiz
3. Beatrice
Out of jealousy, the Queen sent Beatrice to prison for her beauty. There, she experienced an apparition of Mary that inspired her to establish the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception.
Pronunciation: bey-ah-tris
Origin: Saint Beatrice of Silva – patron saint of prisoners
Meaning: French for “bearer of happiness and joy”
Famous Namesakes: Beatrice Borromeo, Princess Beatrice of York, Beatrice Miller
2. Anne
The names Hannah and Anna come from Mary’s mother and Jesus’ grandmother Anne. It sounds pretty whacky, but some devoutly Christian women looking for a husband actually pray to her by chanting something along the lines of “Saint Anne, Saint Anne, find me a man!”
Pronunciation: Ann
0Origin: Saint Anne – patron saint of mothers and miners
Meaning: Hebrew, French, and English for “full of grace”
Famous Namesakes: Anne Hathaway, Anne Frank, Anne Curtis
1. Mary
Mary is actually the most popular Christian name in the world! And that’s hardly a surprise given that it’s the name of Jesus’ very own mother. Although it’s a really common name, there’s a purity to it that lots of parents can appreciate along with its biblical and religious significance.
Pronunciation: Mer-ry
Origin: The Blessed Virgin Mary – Holy Mother of Jesus Christ
Meaning: Hebrew for “sea of sorrow or bitterness”
Famous Namesakes: Mary J. Blige, Mary-Kate Olsen, Mary Berry
1The Name Game
Coming up with new names can be a struggle, so why not stick with the classics? We guarantee you’ll never go wrong with saint names – they’re versatile, memorable, and #blessed!
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