400+ Girl Names That Start With N with Meanings & Origins

Looking for the perfect “N” name for your baby girl? You’re in good company! Names beginning with N have a special charm – they sound strong yet melodious, and come from incredibly diverse cultural backgrounds.

Whether you’re drawn to timeless classics like Natalie and Nicole or modern favorites like Nova and Nevaeh, N names offer something for everyone. They’re not too common (avoiding the “five kids with the same name in one classroom” situation), but they’re familiar enough that people won’t struggle to pronounce or spell them.

I’ve gathered everything you need to know about girl names starting with N – from popularity trends and origins to unique options and celebrity inspirations. Let’s dive in and find the perfect N name for your little one!

Girl Names That Start With N

• Nora – Irish/Hebrew origin meaning “light” or “honor”
• Nina – Spanish origin meaning “little girl” or Hebrew “grace”
• Natalie – Latin origin meaning “birthday of the Lord”
• Naomi – Hebrew origin meaning “pleasantness” or “delightful”
• Nova – Latin origin meaning “new” or “young star”
• Nicole – Greek origin meaning “victory of the people”
• Nadia – Slavic/Russian origin meaning “hope” or “caller”
• Natalia – Latin origin meaning “born at Christmas” or “birthday of the Lord”
• Nadine – French diminutive of “Nadia” meaning “hope”
• Nyla – Arabic origin meaning “winner” or Irish “champion”
• Nevaeh – American origin, “heaven” spelled backward
• Nancy – English origin meaning “grace”
• Noelle – French origin meaning “born on Christmas”
• Natalya – Slavic variation of Natalia meaning “born at Christmas”
• Nia – Welsh origin meaning “bright” or Swahili “purpose”
• Noor – Arabic origin meaning “light”
• Nala – African origin meaning “successful” or “beloved”
• Nalani – Hawaiian origin meaning “the heavens” or “serenity of the skies”
• Nikita – Russian origin meaning “unconquered”
• Nisha – Sanskrit origin meaning “night”
• Nyla – Arabic origin meaning “winner” or “successful”
• Nellie – English origin meaning “bright” or “shining one”
• Neha – Sanskrit origin meaning “love” or “affection”
• Noemi – Hebrew variation of Naomi meaning “pleasant”
• Nayeli – Zapotec origin meaning “I love you”

Browse these powerful last names that pair wonderfully with N first names.

Prettiest Girl Names That Start With N

• Natalia – Latin origin meaning “born at Christmas”; this elegant name has a flowing quality
• Noelle – French origin meaning “born on Christmas”; beautifully feminine
• Niamh – Irish origin meaning “bright” or “radiant” (pronounced “Neev”)
• Nerissa – Greek origin meaning “sea nymph”; has a melodic, magical quality
• Naya – Arabic origin meaning “new” or Hebrew “beautiful”
• Nicolette – French diminutive of Nicole meaning “victory of the people”
• Naira – Arabic origin meaning “big eyes” or “luminous”
• Novella – Latin origin meaning “new” or “young”; also refers to a short story
• Nyssa – Greek origin meaning “beginning” or “new start”
• Nayra – Arabic origin meaning “luminous” or “bright”
• Nathalia – Latin variation of Natalia meaning “born at Christmas”
• Nylah – Arabic origin meaning “winner” with a beautiful flow
• Neoma – Greek origin meaning “new moon”
• Nikola – Feminine form of Nicholas meaning “victory of the people”
• Nariah – Hebrew origin meaning “lamp” or “light of God”
• Nadira – Arabic origin meaning “rare” or “precious”
• Neriah – Hebrew origin meaning “lamp of the Lord”
• Neviah – Hebrew origin meaning “God’s home”
• Natasha – Russian diminutive of Natalia meaning “born at Christmas”
• Norina – Italian origin meaning “honor” or “light”
• Najla – Arabic origin meaning “wide-eyed” or “large eyes”
• Nerida – Greek origin meaning “sea nymph”
• Nuri – Japanese origin meaning “light” or Korean “world”
• Nahla – Arabic origin meaning “drink of water” or “first drink”
• Nuria – Catalan origin meaning “light”

Check out these fantasy names for girls for more enchanting options.

Baby Girl Names Starting With N

• Nora – Irish/Arabic origin meaning “light” or “honor”; classic yet currently trending
• Nova – Latin origin meaning “new” or “young star”; perfect for a new beginning
• Natalie – Latin origin meaning “birthday of the Lord”; timeless favorite
• Naomi – Hebrew origin meaning “pleasantness”; biblical connection
• Nina – Spanish origin meaning “little girl”; short and sweet
• Nyla – Arabic origin meaning “winner”; modern and strong
• Nevaeh – American origin, “heaven” spelled backward; uniquely spiritual
• Nadia – Slavic/Russian origin meaning “hope”; international appeal
• Nicole – Greek origin meaning “victory of the people”; familiar yet strong
• Natalia – Latin origin meaning “born at Christmas”; elegant variation
• Nellie – English origin meaning “shining one”; cute vintage option
• Nadine – French origin meaning “hope”; sophisticated yet approachable
• Noelle – French origin meaning “born on Christmas”; holiday connection
• Nia – Welsh origin meaning “bright” or Swahili “purpose”; short and meaningful
• Noor – Arabic origin meaning “light”; beautiful meaning
• Nancy – English origin meaning “grace”; classic with history
• Nalani – Hawaiian origin meaning “the heavens”; exotic choice
• Nala – African origin meaning “successful” or “beloved”; Disney connection
• Nayeli – Zapotec origin meaning “I love you”; meaningful sentiment
• Nikki – Greek origin, diminutive of Nicole meaning “victory of the people”
• Nisha – Sanskrit origin meaning “night”; gentle and peaceful
• Nava – Hebrew origin meaning “beautiful” or “pleasant”
• Neve – Irish/Latin origin meaning “snow”; pure and pristine
• Nelly – English variant of Helen meaning “bright, shining one”
• Nola – Irish origin meaning “famous” or “noble”

Discover these beautiful flower names for girls that pair wonderfully with N names.

Insightful Girl Names Starting With N

• Nadia – Slavic/Russian origin meaning “hope”; represents optimism
• Noor – Arabic origin meaning “light”; symbolizes illumination and guidance
• Nevaeh – American origin, “heaven” spelled backward; represents spiritual insight
• Nirvana – Sanskrit origin referring to perfect peace and happiness
• Nisha – Sanskrit origin meaning “night”; represents time of reflection
• Nayeli – Zapotec origin meaning “I love you”; embodies compassion
• Nyx – Greek origin, goddess of night; represents mystery and power
• Noesis – Greek origin meaning “understanding” or “intelligence”
• Nysa – Greek origin meaning “goal” or “beginning”; represents ambition
• Nara – Hebrew origin meaning “happy” or Japanese “oak tree”; symbolizes strength
• Niyati – Sanskrit origin meaning “destiny” or “fate”
• Nasim – Persian origin meaning “breeze”; represents gentle wisdom
• Navya – Sanskrit origin meaning “new” or “praiseworthy”
• Nephele – Greek origin meaning “cloud”; represents ethereal insights
• Niva – Hebrew origin meaning “expression” or “utterance”
• Noam – Hebrew origin meaning “pleasantness” or “peace”
• Nooria – Arabic origin meaning “light” or “luminous”
• Nerida – Greek origin meaning “sea nymph”; connected to water wisdom
• Nabila – Arabic origin meaning “noble” or “honorable”
• Nomi – Japanese origin meaning “beauty” or Hebrew short form of Naomi
• Novena – Latin origin referring to nine days of prayer; spiritual insight
• Nerina – Greek origin meaning “from the sea”; represents depth
• Nurit – Hebrew origin meaning “buttercup flower”
• Nandini – Sanskrit origin meaning “daughter” or “joy”
• Nuala – Irish origin meaning “fair shoulders”; represents balance

Explore these names that mean moon for more celestial inspirations.

Popular Girls Names That Start With N

• Nora – Irish/Arabic origin meaning “light” or “honor”; currently in US top 30
• Nova – Latin origin meaning “new”; rapidly rising in popularity
• Natalie – Latin origin meaning “birthday of the Lord”; consistently popular
• Naomi – Hebrew origin meaning “pleasantness”; biblical favorite
• Natalia – Latin origin meaning “born at Christmas”; international appeal
• Nevaeh – American origin, “heaven” spelled backward; modern favorite
• Nina – Spanish origin meaning “little girl”; classic worldwide
• Nicole – Greek origin meaning “victory of the people”; enduring popularity
• Nyla – Arabic origin meaning “winner”; trending upward
• Nadia – Slavic/Russian origin meaning “hope”; internationally recognized
• Noelle – French origin meaning “born on Christmas”; seasonal favorite
• Nancy – English origin meaning “grace”; traditional choice
• Nala – African origin meaning “successful”; Disney connection boosted popularity
• Nellie – English origin meaning “shining one”; vintage name making comeback
• Nia – Welsh origin meaning “bright” or Swahili “purpose”; cross-cultural appeal
• Norah – Irish variation of Nora meaning “light” or “honor”
• Nikki – Greek origin, short form of Nicole meaning “victory of the people”
• Nathalie – French spelling variation of Natalie meaning “born at Christmas”
• Natasha – Russian diminutive of Natalia meaning “born at Christmas”
• Nadine – French origin meaning “hope”; elegant option
• Nalani – Hawaiian origin meaning “the heavens”; exotic yet accessible
• Noor – Arabic origin meaning “light”; growing in Western use
• Nyomi – Variation of Naomi meaning “pleasantness”
• Nelda – German origin meaning “power in battle”
• Noemi – Italian/Spanish form of Naomi meaning “pleasant”

Check out these elegant girl names for more sophisticated options.

Unique Girls Names That Start With N

• Nixie – Germanic origin meaning “water sprite” or “fairy”
• Nizhoni – Navajo origin meaning “beautiful”
• Nerissa – Greek origin meaning “sea nymph”; Shakespearean connection
• Novella – Latin origin meaning “new” or “story”
• Nyx – Greek origin, goddess of night
• Nerea – Greek origin meaning “water nymph” or Basque “my love”
• Nephele – Greek origin meaning “cloud”; mythological connection
• Numair – Arabic origin meaning “leopard” or “tiger”
• Neoma – Greek origin meaning “new moon”
• Nérida – Greek origin meaning “sea nymph”
• Naenia – Latin origin referring to funeral songs; hauntingly beautiful
• Nimue – Welsh origin, Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend
• Nuriya – Arabic origin meaning “light” or “fire”
• Narcissa – Greek origin meaning “daffodil”; mythological connection
• Nevara – Created name with celestial feel
• Nordica – Scandinavian origin meaning “from the north”
• Nuray – Turkish origin meaning “bright moon”
• Nyala – African origin, type of antelope; nature connection
• Novalie – Modern variation combining Nova and Natalie
• Nazeli – Armenian origin meaning “yearning” or “longing”
• Naiara – Basque origin meaning “swallow” (bird)
• Nymphodora – Greek origin meaning “gift of the nymphs”
• Nasrin – Persian origin meaning “wild rose”
• Neverah – Unique variation inspired by Nevaeh
• Nebula – Latin origin referring to a cloud of stars; astronomical connection

Try these one syllable girl names for more unique options.

Short Girls Names That Start With N

• Nia – Welsh origin meaning “bright” or Swahili “purpose”
• Noa – Hebrew origin meaning “motion” or “movement”
• Nell – English origin meaning “bright” or “shining one”
• Nyx – Greek origin, goddess of night
• Nina – Spanish origin meaning “little girl”
• Nori – Japanese origin meaning “doctrine” or “seaweed”
• Neve – Irish/Latin origin meaning “snow”
• Nova – Latin origin meaning “new”
• Nara – Hebrew origin meaning “happy” or Japanese “oak tree”
• Naia – Basque origin meaning “wave” or Hawaiian “dolphin”
• Nola – Irish origin meaning “famous” or “noble”
• Nour – Arabic origin meaning “light”
• Nima – Persian origin meaning “fair” or Tibetan “sun”
• Nomi – Japanese origin meaning “beauty”
• Neah – Hebrew origin, variation of Noah meaning “rest”
• Neta – Hebrew origin meaning “plant” or “shrub”
• Navi – Hebrew origin meaning “prophet”
• Niya – Arabic origin meaning “intention” or “purpose”
• Nala – African origin meaning “successful” or “beloved”
• Naya – Arabic origin meaning “new”
• Nyra – Created name with bright sound
• Nita – Native American origin meaning “bear”
• Noor – Arabic origin meaning “light”
• Nori – Japanese origin meaning “belief” or “doctrine”
• Nibi – Ojibwe origin meaning “water”

Browse these strong girl names including several powerful N options.

Long Girls Names That Start With N

• Natalia-Rose – Latin/English compound name meaning “Christmas Rose”
• Nathalia-Faith – Latin/English compound name combining “born at Christmas” with “faith”
• Nicoletta-Marie – Italian/French compound name meaning “victory of the people”
• Nathanielle – Feminine form of Nathaniel meaning “gift of God”
• Naphtali-Grace – Hebrew/English compound name meaning “my struggle” with “grace”
• Nefertiti-Amore – Egyptian/Italian compound name honoring the Egyptian queen
• Narcissa-Elaine – Greek/French compound name meaning “daffodil”
• Nymphadora – Greek origin meaning “gift of the nymphs”
• Nastassia – Russian form of Anastasia meaning “resurrection”
• Nephthysmoon – Egyptian/English compound name after the goddess Nephthys
• Neverleigh – Modern compound name combining “never” and “leigh”
• Nayeli-Sophia – Zapotec/Greek compound meaning “I love you” with “wisdom”
• Nathalinette – Elaborate form of Nathalie meaning “born at Christmas”
• Normandie – French origin referring to the Normandy region
• Nightingale – English origin after the songbird; literary connection
• Nordichelle – Creative compound with Nordic influence
• Nathalianne – Compound of Nathalie and Anne meaning “born at Christmas” and “grace”
• Nevaeh-Trinity – American/Latin compound meaning “heaven backward” with “trinity”
• Nyxandria – Creative compound combining Nyx (night goddess) and Alexandria
• Nariyahanna – Creative compound name with Hebrew influences
• Novaleigha – Modern compound combining Nova and Leigha
• Natalissima – Italian superlative form of Natalia meaning “most Christmas-like”
• Novemberlynn – English/Welsh compound referring to the month of November
• Nelliana – Elaborate form of Nell meaning “bright” or “shining one”
• Nevaeh-Destiny – American/English compound meaning “heaven backward” with “destiny”

Check out these creative usernames for digital inspiration.

N Names for Girls

• Nora – Irish/Arabic origin meaning “light” or “honor”
• Natalie – Latin origin meaning “birthday of the Lord”
• Naomi – Hebrew origin meaning “pleasantness”
• Nova – Latin origin meaning “new” or “young star”
• Nicole – Greek origin meaning “victory of the people”
• Nina – Spanish origin meaning “little girl”
• Nyla – Arabic origin meaning “winner”
• Nadia – Slavic/Russian origin meaning “hope”
• Natalia – Latin origin meaning “born at Christmas”
• Nevaeh – American origin, “heaven” spelled backward
• Nia – Welsh origin meaning “bright” or Swahili “purpose”
• Noor – Arabic origin meaning “light”
• Noelle – French origin meaning “born on Christmas”
• Nancy – English origin meaning “grace”
• Nadine – French origin meaning “hope”
• Nala – African origin meaning “successful”
• Nalani – Hawaiian origin meaning “the heavens”
• Nisha – Sanskrit origin meaning “night”
• Neve – Irish/Latin origin meaning “snow”
• Nell – English origin meaning “bright” or “shining one”
• Noa – Hebrew origin meaning “motion”
• Natasha – Russian diminutive of Natalia meaning “born at Christmas”
• Nikki – Greek origin, short form of Nicole meaning “victory of the people”
• Nellie – English origin meaning “shining one”
• Nayeli – Zapotec origin meaning “I love you”

Explore these celestial girl names for more heavenly inspiration.

Cute Girls Names That Start With N

• Nellie – English origin meaning “shining one”; adorable vintage charm
• Nina – Spanish origin meaning “little girl”; short and sweet
• Nori – Japanese origin meaning “belief”; delightfully brief
• Nala – African origin meaning “successful”; Disney character connection
• Nixie – Germanic origin meaning “water sprite”; playful fairy connection
• Nonie – English origin, diminutive form meaning “ninth”
• Nelly – Variation of Nellie meaning “shining one”; friendly sound
• Nella – Italian origin meaning “shining light”; sweet ending
• Nola – Irish origin meaning “famous”; short and charming
• Nancy – English origin meaning “grace”; classic with cute potential
• Nikki – Greek origin, diminutive of Nicole meaning “victory of the people”
• Navie – Variation of Navy; nautical cuteness
• Nessie – Scottish origin, diminutive of Agnes or associated with Loch Ness
• Netta – Hebrew origin, diminutive of Annette meaning “grace”
• Nuala – Irish origin meaning “fair shoulders”; lyrical sound
• Nomi – Japanese origin meaning “beauty”; simple and sweet
• Neve – Irish/Latin origin meaning “snow”; winter connection
• Nyssa – Greek origin meaning “beginning”; nature connection
• Nori – Japanese origin meaning “doctrine”; food connection (seaweed)
• Naia – Basque origin meaning “wave”; flowing sound
• Nomi – Hebrew origin, short form of Naomi meaning “pleasantness”
• Nani – Hawaiian origin meaning “beautiful”
• Netta – Hebrew diminutive meaning “grace”
• Nila – Sanskrit origin meaning “blue”; colorful choice
• Nita – Native American origin meaning “bear”; short and strong

Browse these aesthetic girl names for more adorable options.

Cool Girls Names That Start With N

• Nova – Latin origin meaning “new” or “young star”; astronomical connection
• Nyx – Greek origin, goddess of night; mythological power
• Nadia – Slavic/Russian origin meaning “hope”; Olympic gymnast connection
• Nora – Irish/Arabic origin meaning “light”; cool literary connections
• Natasha – Russian diminutive of Natalia; sleek international vibe
• Nizhoni – Navajo origin meaning “beautiful”; uncommon cultural choice
• Neve – Irish/Latin origin meaning “snow”; cool weather connection
• Nikita – Russian origin meaning “unconquered”; strong sound
• Nyla – Arabic origin meaning “winner”; modern feel
• Naira – Arabic origin meaning “big eyes” or name of currency
• Narcissa – Greek origin meaning “daffodil”; edgy mythological connection
• Nevaeh – American origin, “heaven” spelled backward; unique spelling
• Nasrin – Persian origin meaning “wild rose”; exotic flower name
• Nordica – Scandinavian origin meaning “from the north”; distinctive sound
• Noir – French origin meaning “black”; artistic connection
• Nyree – Greek origin meaning “bright”; unique spelling
• Nebula – Latin origin referring to a cloud of stars; space connection
• Niobe – Greek origin, daughter of Tantalus in mythology
• Nimue – Welsh origin, Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend
• Nuray – Turkish origin meaning “bright moon”; international feel
• Navy – English origin referring to the color or military branch
• Nyx – Greek origin, goddess of night; short and powerful
• Najwa – Arabic origin meaning “secret conversation”
• Nephele – Greek origin meaning “cloud”; mythological connection
• Narcisse – French form of Narcissa meaning “daffodil”

Check out these nature usernames that complement cool N names.

Powerful Girls Names That Start With N

• Nadia – Slavic/Russian origin meaning “hope”; name of Olympic champions
• Nikita – Russian origin meaning “unconquered”; strong statement
• Nyx – Greek origin, goddess of night; primordial power
• Nova – Latin origin meaning “new” or “young star”; explosive celestial event
• Noor – Arabic origin meaning “light”; illuminating force
• Nephthys – Egyptian origin, goddess of death and protection
• Nimue – Welsh origin, powerful enchantress from Arthurian legend
• Nike – Greek origin, goddess of victory
• Nariko – Japanese origin meaning “thunder child”
• Niyati – Sanskrit origin meaning “destiny” or “fate”
• Neferti – Egyptian origin meaning “beautiful companion”; royal connection
• Nemesis – Greek origin, goddess of retribution
• Nagini – Sanskrit origin meaning “female snake”; mythological power
• Notus – Greek origin, deity of the south wind
• Narvi – Norse origin, daughter of Loki in mythology
• Nubia – African origin from the ancient kingdom; historical strength
• Nyota – Swahili origin meaning “star”; celestial power
• Numair – Arabic origin meaning “leopard” or “tiger”; animal strength
• Neith – Egyptian origin, war goddess and weaver of destiny
• Nataraja – Sanskrit origin referring to Shiva as the cosmic dancer
• Nezaria – Created name with powerful sound
• Nasima – Arabic origin meaning “fresh breeze” or “gentle wind”
• Nerida – Greek origin meaning “sea nymph”; water element power
• Nafisa – Arabic origin meaning “precious” or “valuable”
• Naira – Kurdish origin meaning “belonging to fire”

Discover these badass last names to pair with powerful N names.

Traditional Girls Names That Start With N

• Natalie – Latin origin meaning “birthday of the Lord”; classic name
• Nancy – English origin meaning “grace”; traditional favorite
• Nicole – Greek origin meaning “victory of the people”; enduring classic
• Nina – Spanish origin meaning “little girl”; traditional across cultures
• Naomi – Hebrew origin meaning “pleasantness”; biblical classic
• Nora – Irish/Arabic origin meaning “light” or “honor”; vintage favorite
• Natalia – Latin origin meaning “born at Christmas”; traditional variation
• Nellie – English origin meaning “shining one”; old-fashioned charm
• Nadine – French origin meaning “hope”; traditional French choice
• Noelle – French origin meaning “born on Christmas”; holiday tradition
• Nanette – French origin, diminutive of Anne meaning “grace”
• Nettie – English origin, diminutive form of names starting with N
• Nola – Irish origin meaning “famous” or “noble”; traditional Irish name
• Naida – Greek origin meaning “water nymph”; classical mythology name
• Norma – Latin origin meaning “rule” or “pattern”; mid-century classic
• Natalina – Italian origin, variation of Natalia meaning “born at Christmas”
• Nona – Latin origin meaning “ninth”; Roman mythology name
• Nelle – English variation of Nell meaning “bright” or “shining one”
• Neva – Latin origin meaning “snow” or Spanish “white snow”
• Norah – Traditional spelling variation of Nora meaning “light” or “honor”
• Neola – Greek origin meaning “new” or “young”
• Nicolina – Italian diminutive of Nicole meaning “victory of the people”
• Nathania – Hebrew origin, feminine form of Nathan meaning “gift of God”
• Novella – Latin origin meaning “new”; traditional literary term
• Nubia – African origin referring to the ancient kingdom

Explore these vintage girl names for more traditional options.

Modern Girls Names That Start With N

• Nevaeh – American origin, “heaven” spelled backward; created in the 2000s
• Nova – Latin origin meaning “new”; currently trending upward
• Nyla – Arabic origin meaning “winner”; modern popularity
• Navy – English origin referring to the color or military branch; color name trend
• North – English origin referring to direction; celebrity influence
• Novah – Modern variation of Nova with added “h” for style
• Nalani – Hawaiian origin meaning “the heavens”; modern exotic choice
• Nori – Japanese origin meaning “belief”; food connection makes it modern
• Naira – Arabic origin meaning “big eyes” or currency name
• Novalee – Modern compound of Nova and Lee; popularized by film
• Novalie – Modern variation combining Nova and Natalie
• Nalaya – Modern variation of Nalani meaning “calm” or “serenity”
• Niaomi – Modern spelling variation of Naomi meaning “pleasantness”
• Naveah – Spelling variation of Nevaeh, “heaven” backward
• Nolani – Hawaiian origin meaning “flying in the sky”; modern sound
• Nazarya – Modern variation with biblical connections
• Nyliah – Modern spelling variation of Nyla meaning “winner”
• Naveen – Sanskrit origin meaning “new” or “fresh”; becoming unisex
• Novabella – Modern compound meaning “new beauty”
• Nirvana – Sanskrit origin referring to perfect peace; music connection
• Nyasia – Modern created name with gentle sound
• Nahlia – Modern variation of Nahla meaning “first drink”
• Nivea – Latin origin meaning “snow white”; brand association makes it modern
• Niyah – Modern variation of Nia meaning “purpose”
• Novalise – Modern created name based on Nova

Discover these preppy girl names for modern elegant options.

Foreign Girls Names That Start With N

• Niamh – Irish origin meaning “bright” or “radiant” (pronounced “Neev”)
• Nadia – Slavic/Russian origin meaning “hope”
• Noémie – French origin, variation of Naomi meaning “pleasantness”
• Noor – Arabic origin meaning “light”
• Nadežda – Czech/Slovak origin meaning “hope”
• Nayeli – Zapotec (Mexican) origin meaning “I love you”
• Natasha – Russian diminutive of Natalia meaning “born at Christmas”
• Nahla – Arabic origin meaning “first drink” or “gift”
• Nuria – Catalan origin meaning “light”
• Naoko – Japanese origin meaning “honest child”
• Nasrin – Persian origin meaning “wild rose”
• Nirmala – Sanskrit origin meaning “pure” or “clean”
• Ninfa – Italian origin meaning “nymph”
• Nieves – Spanish origin meaning “snows”
• Núria – Catalan origin meaning “light”
• Nurit – Hebrew origin meaning “buttercup flower”
• Nadezhda – Russian origin meaning “hope”
• Niran – Thai origin meaning “eternal”
• Nuray – Turkish origin meaning “bright moon”
• Névé – French origin meaning “snow field”
• Nafisa – Arabic origin meaning “precious” or “valuable”
• Najwa – Arabic origin meaning “secret conversation”
• Neela – Sanskrit/Hindi origin meaning “blue” or “sapphire”
• Níðhöggr – Norse origin, dragon of mythology
• Nikola – Croatian/Serbian feminine form of Nicholas meaning “victory of the people”

Explore these Irish girl names for more beautiful international options.

Current Popularity of Girl Names Starting with N

Names starting with N have been climbing the charts in recent years. While they’re not dominating the top 10 lists, several N names have secured solid positions in the top 100 baby names across different countries.

In the United States, six N names currently rank in the top 100:

• Nora (#27)
• Nova (#32)
• Natalie (#53)
• Naomi (#58)
• Natalia (#86)
• Nevaeh (#89)

What’s interesting is how N names vary in popularity around the world. In Israel, Noa consistently ranks in the top 10 girls’ names. Ireland loves Niamh (pronounced “Neev”), while Nia is super popular in Wales.

Over the last decade, we’ve seen traditional names like Natalie holding steady while newcomers like Nova and Nevaeh have shot up the charts. Nova, meaning “new,” has seen a particularly meteoric rise – jumping from outside the top 1000 to the top 50 in just a few years!

Check out these beautiful flower names for girls that pair wonderfully with N names.

Popular Girl Names That Start With N

Here’s a comprehensive list of N names for girls, complete with their meanings and origins:

Name	Origin	Meaning
Nora	Irish/Arabic	Light, honor
Nova	Latin	New
Natalie	Latin	Birthday of the Lord
Naomi	Hebrew	Pleasantness
Natalia	Latin	Birthday of the Lord
Nevaeh	English	Heaven spelled backward
Nina	Spanish/Russian	Little girl
Nyla	Arabic/Irish	Winner, champion
Nadia	Russian/Arabic	Hope
Nicole	Greek	Victory of the people
Nadia	Slavic/Russian	Hope
Nala	African	Success, beloved
Noelle	French	Born on Christmas
Nia	Welsh	Bright, radiant
Nancy	English	Grace
Noor	Arabic	Light
Nyla	Arabic	Winner
Nalani	Hawaiian	The heavens, peaceful sky
Nadine	French	Hope
Nellie	English	Bright, shining one
Nayeli	Zapotec	I love you

This is just a starting point – there are hundreds more beautiful N names to discover!

Browse these aesthetic girl names for more inspiration that pairs well with N names.

Unique and Rare N Names for Girls

Looking for something more unusual? These rare N names will help your daughter stand out:

• Navya (Sanskrit) – Young, praiseworthy
• Nixie (Germanic) – Water sprite
• Nuri (Korean/Japanese) – World, light
• Nerissa (Greek) – Sea nymph
• Nizhoni (Navajo) – Beautiful
• Novella (Latin) – New, story
• Nerea (Greek) – Water nymph
• Nyssa (Greek) – Beginning, new start
• Nubia (African) – From the ancient kingdom
• Nyx (Greek) – Goddess of the night

These names have a wonderful balance of being recognizable without being commonplace. They’re perfect if you want something unique but not completely unfamiliar.

I particularly love Nizhoni – it has such a beautiful meaning and sound, while honoring Native American heritage. Nerissa and Novella have a literary quality that would be perfect for book-loving families.

Explore these celestial girl names that complement unique N names beautifully.

Origins and Meanings of Popular N Names

Hebrew Origins

• Naomi – “Pleasantness, delightful”
• Naamah – “Pleasant”
• Nava – “Beautiful”
• Navah – “Lovely, beautiful”

Latin Origins

• Natalie/Natalia – “Birthday of the Lord”
• Nova – “New”
• Noelle – “Born on Christmas”
• Nona – “Ninth”

Greek Origins

• Nicole – “Victory of the people”
• Nysa – “Goal, beginning”
• Nyx – “Night, goddess of night”
• Narcissa – “Daffodil”

Arabic Origins

• Nadia – “Hope, caller”
• Noor/Nur – “Light”
• Najma – “Star”
• Nafisa – “Precious”

Irish/Celtic Origins

• Niamh – “Bright, radiant” (pronounced “Neev”)
• Nuala – “Fair shoulders”
• Nessa – “Not gentle”
• Nola – “White shoulder”

Sanskrit/Hindi Origins

• Navya – “Young, praiseworthy”
• Nisha – “Night”
• Neela – “Blue”
• Nandini – “Daughter”

African Origins

• Nala – “Successful, beloved”
• Nia – “Purpose” (Swahili)
• Nuru – “Light” (Swahili)
• Namono – “Seeing”

Slavic Origins

• Nadezhda – “Hope”
• Natasha – “Born on Christmas”
• Nevena – “Marigold”
• Nika – “Victory”

What’s fascinating about N names is how they appear across so many different cultures and language families. This gives parents an incredible range of options with different sounds, rhythms, and meanings.

Discover these powerful last names that pair wonderfully with N first names.

Thematic N Names by Category

Nature-Inspired N Names

• Nila – Blue (referring to water)
• Nieve – Snow
• Nightingale – The songbird
• Naima – Star arrangement
• Nerina – Sea nymph
• Nerida – Flower

Mythological and Historical N Names

• Nyx – Greek goddess of night
• Niobe – Daughter of Tantalus in Greek mythology
• Nephthys – Egyptian goddess of death
• Nimue – Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend
• Nefertiti – Ancient Egyptian queen

Modern and Trendy N Names

• Nevaeh – “Heaven” spelled backward
• Nova – Astronomical term for a new star
• Navy – Color/military branch
• Novah – Variation of Nova
• North – Directional name

Short and Sweet N Names

• Nia – Purpose (Swahili)
• Nell – Bright, shining one
• Noa – Motion (Hebrew)
• Neve – Snow
• Nori – Belief

Names with Strong Meanings

• Nadia – Hope
• Nicole – Victory of the people
• Niyati – Destiny
• Nara – Happy
• Nasima – Fresh breeze

Finding a name that fits into a specific category can be a great way to narrow down your choices. Maybe you’re an outdoorsy family looking for a nature-inspired name, or perhaps you love mythology and want a name with ancient roots. These thematic groupings help you find names that align with your values and interests.

Check out these names that mean moon to pair with star-themed N names.

Celebrity Inspiration: Famous People with N Names

Celebrity baby names often set trends, and there are plenty of famous women with beautiful N names who might inspire your choice:

Actresses

• Natalie Portman – Oscar-winning actress known for “Black Swan”
• Nicole Kidman – Australian-American actress and producer
• Naomi Watts – British actress known for “The Impossible”
• Natasha Lyonne – Actress from “Russian Doll” and “Orange Is the New Black”

Musicians

• Norah Jones – Grammy-winning singer-songwriter
• Nina Simone – Legendary jazz singer and civil rights activist
• Nia Peeples – Singer and actress
• Nicki Minaj – Rapper and songwriter

Models and Fashion Icons

• Naomi Campbell – Supermodel and businesswoman
• Niki Taylor – American supermodel

Authors and Characters

• Nancy Drew – Iconic fictional detective
• Nora Roberts – Bestselling romance novelist
• Nora Ephron – Screenwriter and director known for “When Harry Met Sally”
• Nina George – German author of “The Little Paris Bookshop”

Having a notable namesake can give your daughter a role model to look up to. Plus, it’s fun to share a name with someone accomplished and admired!

Explore these strong girl names that include several powerful N options.

Tips for Choosing the Perfect N Name

Picking the right name is such a personal decision, but here are some tips to help you narrow down your options:

1. Consider pronunciation and spelling: Names like Niamh (pronounced “Neev”) might cause confusion if you live outside Ireland.
2. Think about nicknames: Names like Natalie can become Nat, Nattie, or Lee. Do you like the potential nicknames?
3. Try the “playground test”: Imagine your child’s name being called across a playground. Does it sound clear? Could it be easily teased?
4. Check initials and full name flow: Make sure the initials don’t spell anything unfortunate, and say the full name out loud to ensure it flows well.
5. Research cultural significance: If you’re drawn to a name from a culture not your own, take time to understand its meaning and significance.
6. Family traditions: Consider honoring family members whose names begin with N, or modifying family names to create an N name.

Great Middle Names for N First Names

If you’ve chosen an N first name, here are some beautiful middle name pairings:

• Nora Elizabeth
• Nova Rose
• Naomi Grace
• Natalie Jane
• Nina Claire
• Nadia Hope
• Nyla Faith
• Nevaeh Skye

The best combinations often balance syllables (a short first name with a longer middle name or vice versa) and avoid awkward sounds where the names meet.

Browse these Irish girl names which include beautiful N options like Niamh and Nessa.

FAQs About Girl Names Starting with N

What are the most popular N girl names right now?

The most popular N names for girls in the US currently are Nora, Nova, Natalie, Naomi, Natalia, and Nevaeh. Internationally, names like Noa (Israel), Niamh (Ireland), and Nia (Wales) are extremely popular.

Which N names are considered rare or unique?

Some beautiful but uncommon N names include Nixie, Nerissa, Nizhoni, Novella, Nerea, Nyssa, and Nyx. These names appear outside the top 1000 in most countries.

What are some N names with positive meanings?

Many N names have wonderfully positive meanings: Nadia means “hope,” Noor means “light,” Naomi means “pleasantness,” Nova means “new,” and Nicole means “victory of the people.”

Are there any N names with religious significance?

Yes! Natalie/Natalia means “birthday of the Lord,” Nevaeh is “heaven” spelled backward, Noelle refers to Christmas, and many Hebrew names like Naomi and Naamah have biblical connections.

How do you pronounce some of the trickier N names?

• Niamh is pronounced “Neev” (Irish)
• Ngozi is pronounced “En-GO-zee” (African)
• Nyneve is pronounced “Ni-NEV” (Arthurian)
• Nurit is pronounced “Nu-REET” (Hebrew)

Check out these fantasy names for girls which include several mystical N options.

Final Thoughts

There’s something special about names that start with N. They have a natural flow, a melodic quality, and often carry beautiful meanings across diverse cultures. From timeless classics like Natalie to rising stars like Nova, from powerful meaning-rich names like Nadia to unique gems like Nizhoni, the world of N names offers something for every parent.

As you continue your baby naming journey, remember that the perfect name is one that resonates with you, honors your family’s heritage if that’s important to you, and gives your daughter a foundation she can carry proudly throughout her life.

I hope this guide has helped you discover some wonderful N names you hadn’t considered before. Which ones are your favorites? Have you discovered a hidden gem that’s now on your shortlist?

Explore these elegant girl names for more beautiful options that pair well with N names.