Girls' Names

I just finished reading a book where the men's first names were North, West, and Laine, and the women's first names were Whitney and Blaire. Forgetting for the moment the silliness of naming two unrelated males after directions, whatever happened to simple names? Names with meaning? Like Bonnie (which means pretty) and Mildred (which means gentle hope). I suppose Mildred is too old-fashioned for a child of today, but I do like what it means. Maybe someday I will name a character Mildred -- Milli for short. I can see her now, a quiet little girl with long dark hair, who resembles the great-grandmother she was named after.

Whether it's for a character in a book or for a baby, a name can become destiny, so it needs to mean more than a direction.

Other meaningful girls' names:

Abigail: Source of joy
Adelaide: Of noble rank
Alma: Cherishing
Amy: Beloved
Audrey: Noble strength
Beatrice: She that makes happy
Bernice: Bringing victory
Bertha: Bright
Bonita: Pretty
Celeste: Heavenly
Cherie: Dear
Clara: Bright
Dorcas: Gazelle
Esther: Star
Ethel: Noble
Eunice: Happy Victory
Evangeline: Bringing good news
Felice: Happiness
Florence: Bloom, prosperity
Hilda: Battle
Irene: Peace
Iris: Rainbow
Leila: Dark as night
Letitia: Gladness
Mabel: Lovable
Melanie: Blackness
Nadine: Hope
Naomi: Pleasant
Phoebe: Shining
Regina: Queen
Sylvia: She of the forest
Vera: Faith