Badass Girl Names
A badass girl name has backbone. It might come from a warrior queen who faced down Rome, a goddess of the hunt, a pioneering scientist or simply a word that sounds like a lightning strike. What they share is a sense that the girl wearing it isn’t going to be pushed around.
We’ve gathered more than 100 badass girl names with their meanings and the stories behind them, from Boudica and Zenobia to Ripley and Scarlett. For more names with power, see our strong girl names and female warrior names, or explore names by meaning, like names that mean warrior.
Warrior queens and fighters
Real women who led armies, defended kingdoms or fought their way into history. More in our queen names.
| Name | Who she was | Name meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Boudica | Celtic queen who led a revolt against Rome (AD 60–61) | Victory |
| Zenobia | Queen of Palmyra who challenged Rome | Life of Zeus (Greek form) |
| Nzinga | 17th-century queen of Ndongo and Matamba (Angola) | Meaning uncertain; Mbundu royal name |
| Tomoe | Tomoe Gozen, legendary samurai warrior | Comma-shaped swirl (Japanese) |
| Joan | Joan of Arc, French military leader | God is gracious |
| Mulan | Hua Mulan, legendary warrior of Chinese ballad | Magnolia |
| Lagertha | Shieldmaiden of Norse saga | Possibly “famous protector” |
| Grace | Grace O’Malley, Irish pirate queen | Grace, favor |
| Artemisia | Artemisia I of Caria, naval commander | Of Artemis |
| Tamar | Queen Tamar of Georgia | Date palm (Hebrew) |
| Olga | Saint Olga of Kyiv, fearsome regent | Holy, blessed (Old Norse Helga) |
| Khutulun | Mongol wrestler princess | Moonlight (popular interpretation) |
| Mariana | Mariana Grajales, Cuban independence heroine | Of Mars; from Maria |
| Hatshepsut | Egyptian pharaoh who ruled in her own right | Foremost of noble women |
| Tomyris | Scythian queen who defeated Cyrus the Great | Meaning uncertain (Iranian root) |
| Yaa | Yaa Asantewaa, Ashanti queen mother who led the 1900 war against British rule | Born on Thursday (Akan) |
Goddess names with power
Deities of war, hunting, justice and storms. See goddess names and mythology girl names for more.
| Name | Mythology | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Athena | Greek | War strategy and wisdom |
| Artemis | Greek | The hunt and the wild |
| Nike | Greek | Victory |
| Bellona | Roman | War |
| Enyo | Greek | Destructive war |
| Freya | Norse | Love, war and magic |
| Skadi | Norse | Winter, skiing and the hunt |
| Hel | Norse | Ruler of the underworld |
| Sekhmet | Egyptian | Lion-headed goddess of war |
| Kali | Hindu | Time, destruction and liberation |
| Durga | Hindu | Invincible protector |
| Morrigan | Irish | Fate, war and sovereignty |
| Nemesis | Greek | Retribution |
| Hecate | Greek | Magic, crossroads and night |
| Oya | Yoruba | Winds, storms and change |
| Brigid | Irish | Fire, poetry and smithcraft |
Names that mean strong, brave or battle
Classic names that don’t shout but carry fierce meanings. Great if you want a badass name that still sounds gentle.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Matilda | Mighty in battle | Germanic |
| Imelda | Whole battle | Germanic |
| Gertrude | Spear of strength | Germanic |
| Hilda | Battle | Germanic |
| Bridget | Exalted one; strength | Irish |
| Valentina | Strong, healthy | Latin |
| Valeria | Strong | Latin |
| Audrey | Noble strength | Old English |
| Louise | Famous warrior | Germanic |
| Alexandra | Defender of the people | Greek |
| Andrea | Brave, courageous | Greek |
| Gabriella | God is my strength | Hebrew |
| Kelsey | Ship victory | Old English |
| Bernadette | Brave as a bear | Germanic |
| Griselda | Gray battle | Germanic |
| Brunhilde | Armored battle maiden | Germanic |
| Everild | Boar battle | Old English |
Viking and Norse girl names
Norse names are almost built for this list. Explore female Viking names for more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Astrid | Divinely beautiful | Old Norse |
| Sigrid | Beautiful victory | Old Norse |
| Gunnhild | Battle battle (doubly fierce) | Old Norse |
| Thyra | Thor’s strength | Old Norse |
| Ingrid | Ing’s beauty | Old Norse |
| Valkyrie | Chooser of the slain | Old Norse |
| Solveig | Strong house; sun strength | Old Norse |
| Randi | Shield beautiful (from Ragnfríðr) | Old Norse |
| Brynja | Armor, coat of mail | Icelandic |
| Eir | Mercy; Norse healing goddess | Old Norse |
| Freydis | Freyr’s lady (Freydís, who sailed to Vinland) | Old Norse |
| Hervor | Army guardian; shieldmaiden of saga | Old Norse |
Edgy modern badass names
Short, sharp names with attitude. For darker vibes, see dark girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Raven | The black bird | Dark, mysterious |
| Onyx | Black gemstone | Sleek, tough |
| Storm | Tempest | Wild |
| Blaze | Flame | Fiery |
| Sloane | Raider | Cool, sharp |
| Jett | Black gemstone | Fast |
| Harley | Hare meadow; the motorcycle | Rebellious |
| Scarlett | Red cloth | Bold, glamorous |
| Nova | New star | Explosive |
| Phoenix | Mythical firebird | Unbreakable |
| Rebel | One who resists | Punk |
| Maverick | Independent thinker | Unconventional |
| Ryder | Horseman | Sporty |
| Reign | Royal rule | Regal |
| Vega | Bright star | Stellar |
| Jinx | A charm or spell | Mischievous |
Badass heroines from books and film
Names borrowed from characters who fought monsters, empires and expectations. These franchises are listed for inspiration only; we have no affiliation with them.
| Name | Character | Where from |
|---|---|---|
| Ripley | Ellen Ripley | Alien films |
| Arya | Arya Stark | A Song of Ice and Fire / Game of Thrones |
| Katniss | Katniss Everdeen | The Hunger Games |
| Eowyn | Shieldmaiden who slays the Witch-king | The Lord of the Rings |
| Buffy | Buffy Summers | Buffy the Vampire Slayer |
| Xena | Warrior princess | Xena: Warrior Princess |
| Leia | Princess and rebel general | Star Wars |
| Hermione | Brilliant witch | Harry Potter |
| Trinity | Hacker and fighter | The Matrix |
| Sarah | Sarah Connor | The Terminator |
| Furiosa | Imperator Furiosa | Mad Max: Fury Road |
| Merida | Archer princess | Brave |
| Moana | Wayfinder | Moana |
Named for trailblazing women
History’s rule-breakers make wonderful namesakes.
| Name | Named for | Why she’s badass |
|---|---|---|
| Amelia | Amelia Earhart | First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic |
| Harriet | Harriet Tubman | Led enslaved people to freedom |
| Ada | Ada Lovelace | Wrote the first published computer algorithm |
| Frida | Frida Kahlo | Painted through pain and on her own terms |
| Rosa | Rosa Parks | Sparked the Montgomery bus boycott |
| Marie | Marie Curie | First person to win Nobel Prizes in two sciences |
| Malala | Malala Yousafzai | Youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate |
| Billie | Billie Jean King | Tennis champion and equality pioneer |
| Simone | Simone Biles | Most decorated gymnast in history |
| Ruth | Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Supreme Court justice and gender-equality litigator |
| Sojourner | Sojourner Truth | Abolitionist and women’s rights orator |
| Serena | Serena Williams | 23 Grand Slam singles titles |
How to pick a badass name she’ll grow into
- Strength can be subtle. Matilda, Audrey and Louise all have fierce meanings but sound gentle. That gives her a secret superpower.
- Balance fierce with familiar. A bold first name like Valkyrie or Boudica pairs well with a soft middle name like Rose or June.
- Check the story. Goddesses like Kali, Hel and Nemesis have complex myths and deep religious significance; read up so the name feels right for your family.
- Use the meaning. Share the story behind the name with her as she grows. A girl named Zenobia will want to know who Zenobia was.
- Think about every age. Say it on a playground, in a courtroom and on a book cover. The best badass names work everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most badass girl name?
It depends on your taste, but names with legendary stories behind them, like Boudica, Zenobia, Artemis, Freya, Valkyrie and Matilda, top most lists.
What girl names mean warrior?
Louise and Louisa (famous warrior), Matilda (mighty in battle), Hilda (battle), Imelda (whole battle) and Gunnhild (battle battle) all have warrior meanings. See names that mean warrior.
What are badass girl names that are still pretty?
Astrid, Sigrid, Valentina, Audrey, Scarlett and Freya combine a soft sound with a powerful meaning or story.
What is a badass girl name that means strong?
Valentina and Valeria (Latin, strong), Gabriella (God is my strength), Audrey (noble strength) and Bridget (strength) are all good choices.
Are goddess names OK to use as baby names?
Many are widely used, such as Athena, Freya, Aurora and Artemis. Names of deities still actively worshipped, like Kali or Durga, are best chosen with an understanding of their cultural and religious meaning.