Latin Girl Names
If you love names that feel both ancient and fresh, Latin is a treasure chest. Many of today’s favorite girl names are simply Latin words: Luna means “moon,” Stella “star,” Aurora “dawn” and Clara “clear, bright.” Others come from the feminine forms of Roman family names, like Julia, Livia and Octavia.
Below are more than 100 Latin girl names with their Latin roots and meanings, grouped into celestial names, virtues, flowers, Roman women, goddesses and saints. For the ancient system behind them, see Roman girl names; for brothers, try Latin boy names. Our hub page on Latin names explains how Latin names work.
Popular Latin girl names
These Latin-rooted names are consistently among the most popular girl names in SSA data and across Europe.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Olivia | oliva | Olive tree (popularized by Shakespeare) |
| Emilia | Aemilia | Feminine of Aemilius; often read as “rival” |
| Lucy | Lucia | From lux, “light” |
| Victoria | victoria | Victory |
| Julia | Iulia | Feminine of Julius |
| Valentina | valens | Strong, healthy |
| Vivian | vivus | Alive, lively |
| Cecilia | Caecilia | Roman clan name, from caecus, “blind” |
| Beatrice | Beatrix | She who brings happiness (beatus, blessed) |
| Camila | Camilla | Young attendant at religious rites |
| Miranda | mirandus | Worthy of admiration (coined by Shakespeare) |
| Serena | serenus | Calm, serene |
| Vera | verus | True |
| Alma | almus | Nourishing, kind |
| Amanda | amandus | Worthy of love |
| Mabel | amabilis | Lovable, via Old French |
| Regina | regina | Queen |
| Laura | laurus | Laurel, bay tree |
Celestial Latin girl names
Moon, stars and dawn light. See also names that mean star and names that mean light.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Luna | luna | Moon; also the Roman moon goddess |
| Stella | stella | Star |
| Aurora | aurora | Dawn; the Roman goddess of dawn |
| Celeste | caelestis | Heavenly |
| Nova | novus | New (a nova is a newly bright star) |
| Astra | astrum | Star, from ad astra, “to the stars” |
| Clara | clarus | Clear, bright, famous |
| Lucina | lux | Light; goddess who brought babies into the light |
| Caelia | caelum | Heavenly, of the sky |
| Estelle | stella | Star, via Old French |
Latin flower and nature names
Botanical Latin gave us many of the sweetest girl names. More in our list of flower names for girls.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Flora | flos | Flower; the goddess of spring |
| Rosa | rosa | Rose |
| Viola | viola | Violet |
| Lilia | lilium | Lily |
| Silvia | silva | Of the forest |
| Marina | marinus | Of the sea |
| Ursula | ursa | Little she-bear |
| Leona | leo | Lioness |
| Columba | columba | Dove |
| Laurel | laurus | Laurel tree |
| Terra | terra | Earth |
| Oliva | oliva | Olive |
| Flavia | flavus | Golden, blonde |
| Rufina | rufus | Red-haired |
Latin virtue names for girls
Old-fashioned grace names with real substance, several revived by the Puritans. Also see names that mean hope.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Grace | gratia | Grace, favor |
| Felicity | felicitas | Good fortune, happiness |
| Constance | constantia | Steadfastness |
| Prudence | prudentia | Good judgment |
| Patience | patientia | Endurance |
| Clementine | clemens | Merciful, gentle |
| Verity | veritas | Truth |
| Mercy | merces | Reward, kindness |
| Gloria | gloria | Glory |
| Letitia | laetitia | Joy, gladness |
| Fidelia | fidelis | Faithful |
| Pax | pax | Peace |
| Benedicta | benedicta | Blessed |
| Hilaria | hilaris | Cheerful |
Names of Roman women
Roman girls were usually given the feminine form of the family name. These belonged to empresses, poets’ muses and legendary heroines. For more, see queen names.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning / famous bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Livia | Livius | Possibly “bluish”; wife of Emperor Augustus |
| Octavia | octavus | Eighth; sister of Augustus |
| Claudia | Claudius | Feminine of Claudius |
| Cornelia | Cornelius | Mother of the reformers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus |
| Antonia | Antonius | Daughter of Mark Antony |
| Valeria | valere | To be strong |
| Lucretia | Lucretius | Legendary heroine of the early Republic |
| Portia | Porcius | Wife of Brutus; heroine of The Merchant of Venice |
| Aurelia | aureus | Golden; mother of Julius Caesar |
| Drusilla | Drusus | Sister of Caligula |
| Priscilla | priscus | Ancient, venerable |
| Lucilla | lux | Little light |
| Faustina | faustus | Lucky; two Roman empresses |
| Sabina | Sabinus | Sabine woman |
| Marcia | Marcius | Feminine of Marcius, linked to Mars |
| Camilla | camilla | Warrior maiden in the Aeneid |
| Lavinia | Lavinium | Wife of Aeneas |
| Paulina | paulus | Small, humble |
| Marcella | Marcellus | Little warrior of Mars |
| Cassia | Cassius | Feminine of Cassius; also a cinnamon tree |
Roman goddess names for girls
Rome’s goddesses make powerful, elegant names. Compare with Greek goddess names.
| Name | Latin root | Goddess of |
|---|---|---|
| Juno | Iuno | Queen of the gods, marriage and childbirth |
| Minerva | Minerva | Wisdom, crafts and strategy |
| Venus | venus | Love and beauty |
| Diana | Diana | The hunt, the moon and wild animals |
| Vesta | Vesta | Hearth and home |
| Ceres | Ceres | Grain and harvest |
| Fortuna | fortuna | Luck and fate |
| Pomona | pomum | Fruit trees and orchards |
| Bellona | bellum | War |
| Maia | Maia | Spring growth; gave her name to May |
| Salacia | sal (possibly) | Salt water, wife of Neptune |
| Libera | libera | Wine and fertility (“free”) |
Latin number names for girls
Roman daughters were often numbered by birth order; a few of these have quietly returned.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Prima | primus | First |
| Secunda | secundus | Second |
| Tertia | tertius | Third |
| Quinta | quintus | Fifth |
| Septima | septimus | Seventh |
| Nona | nonus | Ninth |
| Decima | decimus | Tenth |
Latin saints’ names for girls
Martyrs and nuns of the early Church carried Latin names that spread across Christian Europe. See our saint names for more.
| Name | Latin root | Meaning / saint |
|---|---|---|
| Lucia | lux | Light; St. Lucy of Syracuse |
| Clare | clarus | Bright; St. Clare of Assisi |
| Perpetua | perpetuus | Everlasting; 3rd-century martyr |
| Scholastica | scholasticus | Scholar; sister of St. Benedict |
| Monica | Monica | Uncertain origin; mother of St. Augustine |
| Veronica | vera icon (folk) | Popularly “true image”; also from Greek Berenice |
| Justina | iustus | Just, fair |
| Agnes | agnus (folk) | Linked to Latin agnus, “lamb”; really Greek “pure” |
Tips for choosing a Latin girl name
- Choose your vibe. Luna and Nova feel modern; Octavia and Cornelia feel stately; Flora and Clementine feel vintage.
- Consider nicknames. Aurelia gives you Aura or Rae, Valentina gives Val or Tina, Cornelia gives Nell.
- Check popularity. Luna and Aurora are very popular in the US right now; Livia, Caelia and Lucina are rarer.
- Mind the meaning. Cecilia comes from a word for “blind” and Claudia from “lame.” Most parents don’t mind, but it’s worth knowing.
- Mix languages gracefully. Latin first names pair well with short English or Irish middle names, such as Aurelia Jane or Stella Maeve.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Latin girl name?
Olivia, Luna, Aurora, Stella, Emilia and Victoria are all Latin-rooted names that rank highly in the US.
What Latin girl name means moon?
Luna means moon in Latin and was the name of the Roman moon goddess. Diana is also associated with the moon.
What Latin girl name means light?
Lucia, Lucy, Lucilla and Lucina all come from lux, “light.” Clara means “clear, bright.”
What is a strong Latin name for a girl?
Valentina and Valeria mean “strong,” Victoria means “victory,” and Bellona was the Roman goddess of war.
Is Aurora a Latin name?
Yes. Aurora is Latin for “dawn” and was the Roman goddess who renewed herself each morning.