Entertainment
21 Baby Girl Names Inspired By Women Who Make It Happen
Choosing a name for your child is no easy task. You can opt for popular names of the year, names with inspirational meanings, or even choose a family name that has been passed down through the decades. Other parents go another route and name their babies after influential people who are changing the world. If you're looking for baby girl names inspired by the women who make it happen ("it" being everything important, obviously) then you've come to the right place.
These women are of various ages, professions, and backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common — they're extremely influential and have created some kind of positive change for our country and generation (and the generations to come).
There's a certain feeling of power that comes from knowing that you're named after someone who changed the world in a positive way. As a child, it can inspire you to achieve great things and dream big, just like their namesake before them. With a little bit of research, you'll find that these women didn't start out as "world changers." They slowly climbed the ladder of success, and after lots of losses and rejections, achieved their current level of greatness.
Whether you're raising the "next big thing" or not, it's inspiring to think that even the tiniest among us are filled with potential. Choosing a name, like one of the ones below, to reflect that message is just as inspiring as the women the names represent.
1Sheryl
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg has been named one of the most powerful business women by Forbes several times over. She was added to the Facebook board in June and has been killing it ever since. Her name is a classic that means "darling."
2Shonda
Shonda Rimes is the producer and one of the masterminds behind a multitude of the TV shows you know and love. Grey's Anatomy and Scandal are two of her most popular. Her name is likely a combination of Shona which means "God is merciful" and Rhonda which means "noisy one."
3Virginia
In October of 2011, Ginni Rometty was named the first female CEO of IBM, according to Wired. Her full name is Virginia, which means "pure."
4Kate
The Duchess of Cambridge is one of Time magazine's top 100 most influential women. Her name means "pure" and is often short for Katherine.
5Mia
Mia Love has made history several times. In 2014 she became the first black Republican woman elected to congress. She's also the first Haitian American representative. Her name, which can be short for Amilia or stand on it's own, means "mine or bitter."
6Angelina
Actress Angelina Jolie has long been lauded for not only her movie roles but her heart for charities and humanitarian efforts. Her name means "angel."
7Taylor
With more that 59 million followers on Twitter alone, according to BBC, calling Taylor Swift influential seems almost trite. Her name is a popular gender-neutral option and means "tailor."
8Tyra
The former model and Harvard Business School graduate has more than just her beautiful face going for her. She's the owner of Bankable Productions and is frequently named among the most influential women. Her name has Scandinavian roots and is as unique as the model herself.
9Emma
As one of Time magazine's top 100 influential people, Emma Watson's work on the HeForShe campaign has brought awareness for gender inequality to a new level. Her name means "universal."
10Marissa
According to Forbes, Marissa Mayer has been the CEO of Yahoo since 2012. Her name means "of the sea" and is a feminine and dreamy sounding name.
11Tina
Tina Wells is the CEO and founder of Buzz Marketing Group, an organization that helps companies "capture the youth market's tastes and attitudes" according to Essence. Her name is the diminutive of Christina which is Greek for "a Christian."
12Anne
According to NY Times, Anne Sweeny was the former co-chair of Disney Media and is currently a director for Netflix. Her name means "grace" and is a classic girl's name that is as sweet as it is short.
13Joanne
You've definitely read her books, but did you know the famous author's full name is Joanne Rowling? After a tumultuous past, Rowling, who Business Insider calls one of the most influential people of our time, penned the most popular series in history, second to Tolkein's Lord of the Rings. Joanne means "god is gracious" and is an inspiring namesake for a baby.
14Demi
With her openness about eating disorders and her strong voice for body positivity, Demi Lovato continues to influence culture in a positive way. Her name is the Greek word for "half."
15Michelle
Our own First Lady definitely deserves a spot on the list. Michelle Obama, besides becoming the first African-American First Lady, is a lawyer, author and advocate for healthier families. Her name means "who is like God."
16Ursula
Chairwoman and CEO of Xerox, Ursula Burns is a powerhouse in the business world. Her name is Latin for "little female bear."
17Arianna
Arianna Huffington, the co-founder, editor-in-chief, and CEO of the Huffington Post is also an established author in her own right, publishing 15 books to date, according to her bio on the Huffington Post. Her name is Greek for "very holy."
18Diane
Meaning "divine," Diane Von Furstenberg is definitely a deity in the fashion industry. In an article for Time magazine Von Futstenberg is called an "entrepreneur and philanthropist...who understands that changing the way women see themselves can also change the world." Her name means
19Rosalind
Rosalind Brewer is the CEO of Sam's Club, and the first woman and first person of color to head a Wal-Mart subsidiary. Her name means "pretty rose" in Latin and is a gorgeous choice with an inspirational namesake.
20Amy
The co-chairman of Sony Pictures, Amy Pascal, is in charge of some of the most influential and loved films of our time. One of the most popular names of the '60s and '70s according to Name Berry, Amy means "beloved."
21Meryl
Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep is one of the most influential and popular actresses of our time, according to a piece on Independent when they discuss what has been called "the Streep Effect." Her full name is Mary Lauren, combined to create her classic household name.
