Girl names that start with F are far and few between in the popularity charts, with none making it into the Top 150. On the bright side, this means there are many fantastic offbeat and unique options. Here we highlight some of our favorite F names for girls.
Fable
One of the recently coined unisex literary word names (
Story,
Poet, and
Sonnet are a few others) with an enchanting fairy-tale edge,
Fable is one of the most contemporary unique girls names starting with F. It could make a meaningful middle.
Fallon
This unisex Irish name meaning "leader" is one of several boyish surname names introduced in the over-the-top 1980s nighttime soap Dynasty.
Fallon peaked in 1983 at number 376, before falling off of the charts. In the last few years, she has been experiencing a revival, re-entering the Top 1000 and currently at 725.
Farrah
Farrah is an attractive alternative to tried and true classic
Sarah.
Farrah is an Arabic name with the delightful meaning "happiness" that was first popularized in the 1970s by American Actress Farrah Fawcett. She experienced another small moment of fame and was reintroduced to the charts in the early 2010s due to 16 and Pregnant's teen mom Farrah Abraham. Today
Farrah does not rank on the charts, feeling accessible but uncommon.
Faye
Faye, alternatively spelled
Fay, comes from the old Middle English word meaning fairy and has been a first name since the 1800s. Most popular in the US in the first three decades of the 20th century, it’s been off the list since 1968 — but is still in the Top 100 in the Netherlands. Question: Can
Faye join
May on the comeback trail?
Felicity
This light and springy name sounds just like its meaning "happiness" would suggest. More exciting than
Faith,
Grace, or
Hope, but still completely recognizable,
Felicity is one of our favorite virtue names today.
Felicity may bring to mind the hit TV show of the same name or the horse-loving American Girl Doll.
Felicity has lots of lively nickname options, including
Lissy,
Fliss,
Flick, and
Fee.
Top F Names for Girls in the US
Heart1FreyaChevron - RightHeart2FaithChevron - RightHeart3FinleyChevron - RightHeart4FionaChevron - RightHeart5FatimaChevron - RightHeart6FrancesChevron - RightHeart7FrancescaChevron - RightHeart8FelicityChevron - RightHeart9FernandaChevron - RightHeart10FrankieChevron - Right
Fern
Fern is one of the sweetest offbeat nature names that feels fresh but has a long history as a name, making it as high as number 152 in 1916.
Fern can be seen as the little girl in the classic children's book Charlotte's Web. Reality TV star Jessa Duggar and her husband Ben Seewald recently named their daughter
Fern, which could give it a boost.
Fiammetta
This fiery Italian girl name quite literally means "little fiery one", stemming from the Italian word for "flame".
Fiammetta could make a fresh alternative to more popular, equally grand Italian names such as
Giovanna,
Valentina, and
Francesca. Cute nicknames could include
Fia or
Etta.
Fiona
This beautiful Scottish name meaning "white" may feel greener to some.
Fiona has brought to mind the princess from Shrek in recent years, but we believe she is ready to move past her ogre days and enter more nurseries.
Fiona currently ranks at 296, so it is clear that some parents are recognizing her beauty. A more offbeat Gaelic possibility is
Fionnuala, or her Anglican spelling,
Finola.
Flannery
Flannery is another attractive Irish unisex name that has yet to be discovered. She has a warm (dare we see flannelly) feel, and fits the 3-syllable, ending in "ee" sound mold that parents are loving today. Mary Flannery O'Connor was an important 20th-century regional writer whose work has been characterized as Southern Gothic, often featuring grotesque characters and concerned with questions of morality.
Flavia
An ancient Roman name perfect for a blonde (because that’s what it means) that’s very rare here, but still a Top 100 choice in Italia and popular in Brazil. The novelist Daphne Du Maurier (Rebecca) had a daughter named
Flavia. Pronunciation is FLAH-vee-a or FLAY-vee-a.
Unique Girl Names That Start with F
HeartFabianaChevron - RightHeartFaridaChevron - RightHeartFennaChevron - RightHeartFerelithChevron - RightHeartFiferChevron - RightHeartFionnulaChevron - RightHeartFioralbaChevron - RightHeartFleurChevron - RightHeartFrancineChevron - RightHeartFuchsiaChevron - Rightsee all girl names that start with fChevron - Right
Flora
This fragrant and flowery vintage name is ready for a revival.
Flora is simple, feminine, and distinctive, being the Latin word for "flower". In Roman mythology,
Flora is the goddess of flowers and spring who enjoyed eternal youth.
Flora (along with Fauna and Merryweather) is one of the endearing Good Fairies in Disney's Sleeping Beauty. French variation
Fleur is also a stunning option.
Florence
One of the most sophisticated and elegant of place names,
Florence is coming back after a 40-year hiatus. Florence Nightingale was named after the Italian city — her birthplace.
Florence means "flourishing and prospering", but also brings to mind flowers due to her resemblance to
Flora. Nickname options include
Flo,
Flossie,
Florrie, and
Flora.
Frankie
This spunky unisex
Frankie joins
Charlie,
Billie,
Scottie, and
Georgie as stylish nicknames that 10 years ago were primarily left to the boys (although
Frankie was used for girls consistently before the 1950s), but are hot for girls today.
Frankie can be a sassy nickname for the more formal
Frances,
Francesca, or
Francine, but we think she has plenty of energy and character to stand on her own.
Freya
Most likely surprising to many,
Freya is actually the most popular girl name starting with F in 2021, coming in at 152. In England,
Freya has been hot for some time now, currently ranking 12th.
Freya is a stunning option with a beautiful namesake: the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. Alternative spellings
Freyja and
Freja are less common but just as legitimate.
Frida
A German name meaning "peace" that is strongly tied (in the best way) to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
Frida just barely makes it into the Top 1000 in 2021 but has been experiencing more love in Europe, especially Denmark and Norway.
Frieda and
Freida are alternative spellings.
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About the Author
Brynn McKeon
Brynn McKeon joined the Nameberry team in August of 2022 as an assistant editor, and has written about topics such as the Ultimate Guide to Goddess Names and Redefining Classic Names. As Head Moderator, she also oversees our active Nameberry forums community. Brynn also writes the Name of the Day newsletter, featuring a new name each day.
Outside of Nameberry, Brynn lives in New York State with her dog Raven, where she is working towards her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy. You can reach her at [email protected]
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