Girl Names That Start With E
E is quietly one of the strongest letters for girls’ names. Emma, Evelyn, Eleanor, Elizabeth and Emilia have all held top-20 spots in SSA data over the past decade, and the letter leads into some of the prettiest sounds in English: the airy “el” of Eloise and Elodie, the bright “ev” of Evie and Everly.
This list gathers over 100 girl names that start with E, from royal classics to Cornish and Scandinavian rarities, each with its real meaning. Many E names are variations of Elizabeth or Helen, so we’ve noted the roots. For a neighbor letter, try girl names that start with D; for royal inspiration, see princess names and queen names.
Popular girl names that start with E
The E names you’re most likely to hear at school pickup. Emma held the #1 spot in the US from 2014 to 2018.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Emma | Whole, universal | Germanic |
| Evelyn | Possibly “wished-for child” or from Aveline | English / Norman |
| Eleanor | Possibly “the other Aenor”; linked to “light” | Provençal |
| Elizabeth | God is my oath | Hebrew |
| Emilia | Rival, eager (from Aemilius) | Latin |
| Ella | All; also short for Eleanor | Germanic |
| Everly | Wild boar in a woodland clearing | Old English |
| Eliana | My God has answered | Hebrew |
| Emily | Rival, eager | Latin |
| Eliza | God is my oath (short for Elizabeth) | Hebrew |
| Elena | Shining light (form of Helen) | Greek (via Spanish) |
| Eden | Delight; the biblical garden | Hebrew |
| Emery | Brave, powerful | Germanic |
| Elliana | God has answered me | Hebrew |
| Esther | Star | Persian |
| Emerson | Son of Emery | English surname |
| Elaina | Variant of Elena, “shining light” | English |
Vintage E names
Once standard names for grandmothers and great-aunts, now charming again. Our old lady names page has plenty more retro favorites.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Edith | Rich in war | Old English |
| Etta | Home ruler (short for Henrietta) | English |
| Estelle | Star | French |
| Edna | Pleasure, delight | Hebrew |
| Ethel | Noble | Old English |
| Elsie | God is my oath (Scottish form of Elizabeth) | Scottish |
| Eloise | Healthy, wide | French (from Germanic) |
| Evangeline | Good news | Greek |
| Enid | Soul, life | Welsh |
| Eunice | Good victory | Greek |
| Elaine | Bright, shining light | French (from Helen) |
| Edwina | Rich friend | Old English |
| Erma | Whole, universal | Germanic |
| Effie | Well spoken (from Euphemia) | Greek |
| Esmeralda | Emerald | Spanish |
| Ernestine | Serious, resolute | Germanic |
| Elvira | Possibly “all true” | Spanish (Visigothic) |
| Emmeline | Work (from Amelia’s roots) | Norman French |
Elegant and literary E names
Graceful names from novels, poetry and royal courts. See elegant girl names for more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Elodie | Foreign riches | French (from Germanic) |
| Estella | Star; Dickens’s heroine in Great Expectations | Spanish / Latin |
| Eugenie | Well born | French (from Greek) |
| Elisabetta | God is my oath | Italian |
| Esme | Esteemed, loved | French |
| Emmanuelle | God is with us | French (from Hebrew) |
| Eleonora | Italian form of Eleanor | Italian |
| Evangelina | Good news | Spanish (from Greek) |
| Elspeth | God is my oath | Scottish |
| Eulalia | Sweetly spoken | Greek |
| Elise | God is my oath | French |
Unique girl names starting with E
Distinctive names you won’t often hear. Find more in unique girl names and rare girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Elowen | Elm tree | Cornish |
| Eira | Snow | Welsh |
| Ebba | Strength of a boar | Germanic / Swedish |
| Ellery | Elder tree island | English |
| Eowyn | Horse joy; Tolkien’s shieldmaiden | Old English (literary) |
| Esmae | Esteemed (variant of Esme) | English |
| Echo | Sound; a mountain nymph | Greek |
| Ellison | Son of Ellis | English surname |
| Elva | Elf | Irish / English |
| Eilidh | Possibly Gaelic form of Helen (AY-lee) | Scottish |
| Emrys | Immortal (Welsh form of Ambrose) | Welsh |
| Eponine | Taken from Gaulish Epona; Hugo’s Les Misérables | French (literary) |
| Eliora | God is my light | Hebrew |
Short E names for girls
Tiny names with a big presence. They work beautifully as middle names too — see one-syllable girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Eve | Life, living | Hebrew |
| Evie | Life (from Eve or Evelyn) | English |
| Elle | She; short for Eleanor | French |
| Effy | Well spoken | Greek |
| Ena | Fire (Irish); kernel | Irish |
| Emi | Blessing, beautiful smile | Japanese |
| Elsa | God is my oath | German |
| Ever | Always | English |
| Edie | Rich in war (short for Edith) | English |
Nature-inspired E names
Earthy and celestial E names. For more in this style, browse nature names for girls.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Ember | A glowing coal | English |
| Evergreen | Always green; trees that keep their leaves | English |
| Estrella | Star | Spanish |
| Eglantine | Sweetbriar rose | French |
| Elm | The elm tree | English |
| Edelweiss | Noble white; Alpine flower | German |
| Emerald | The green gemstone | English (from Greek) |
| Echinacea | Hedgehog; the coneflower | Greek |
| Ebony | The dark hardwood | English (from Egyptian) |
E names from around the world
International E names, from Irish to Ethiopian, all in genuine use today.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Emer | Swift (EE-mer); wife of Cú Chulainn | Irish |
| Eithne | Kernel (EN-ya) | Irish |
| Esperanza | Hope | Spanish |
| Ekaterina | Pure | Russian |
| Elif | Slender; first letter of the Arabic alphabet | Turkish |
| Eshe | Life | Swahili |
| Emine | Trustworthy, faithful | Turkish (from Arabic) |
| Enya | Kernel (anglicized Eithne) | Irish |
| Ebere | Mercy | Igbo (Nigeria) |
| Elham | Inspiration | Persian / Arabic |
| Elin | Light (Welsh/Swedish form of Helen) | Welsh / Swedish |
| Eun-ji | Grace + wisdom | Korean |
| Eriko | Blessed child | Japanese |
| Eszter | Star | Hungarian |
| Eilonwy | Possibly “sea-blossom”; Welsh-inspired literary name | Welsh |
Biblical and mythological E names
Ancient names from scripture and myth. More in biblical girl names and goddess names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Elisheba | God is my oath (Exodus 6:23) | Hebrew |
| Eos | Greek goddess of the dawn | Greek |
| Electra | Amber, shining | Greek |
| Europa | Wide face; Phoenician princess | Greek |
| Eris | Strife; goddess of discord | Greek |
| Euphemia | Well spoken | Greek |
| Epona | Gaulish goddess of horses | Celtic |
| Eostre | Germanic goddess of spring | Old English |
| Eurydice | Wide justice; wife of Orpheus | Greek |
| Elara | Mother of the giant Tityos; moon of Jupiter | Greek |
How to choose an E name
- Look for the root. Elizabeth alone gives Eliza, Elsie, Elise, Elspeth and Elsa — if you love one, the others may suit a sibling.
- Beware vowel run-ons. E names often end in A or E; with a surname starting with a vowel (Emma Ortiz), the two can blur together.
- Test the nickname. Eleanor becomes Nora, Nell or Ellie; Evangeline becomes Evie or Vangie. Pick a long name with short forms you like.
- Think about pronunciation. Eilidh, Eithne and Emer are lovely but often mispronounced outside Ireland and Scotland — be ready to explain.
- Meaning matters? Esther, Estelle and Estrella all mean star — see names that mean star for more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular girl name that starts with E?
Emma has been one of the most popular girl names in the US for over a decade, and Evelyn, Eleanor and Elizabeth are also consistently in the SSA top 25.
What are unique girl names that start with E?
Elowen, Eira, Ebba, Ellery, Eilidh and Eglantine are unusual in the US and have beautiful meanings.
What E names mean “star”?
Esther, Estelle, Estella and Estrella all mean star, from Persian and Latin roots.
What E names mean “light”?
Elena, Elaine and Eleanor are connected to Helen, often interpreted as “torch” or “shining light,” and Elin is its Welsh and Swedish form.
What is a good old-fashioned E name?
Edith, Etta, Elsie, Eloise and Estelle are vintage choices that sound fresh again today.