111 Best D Names for Girls

Updated
From vintage darlings to modern favorites, meet your daughter's perfect D name.

The letter D has a soft, rolling sound that lands somewhere between gentle and bold, and it gives girl names a warmth that is hard to fake. Think of the graceful lilt of Delilah, the sunlit ease of Daisy, or the quiet strength of Diana.

You will find 111 girl names that start with D here, from timeless picks like Dorothy and Deborah to fresh favorites like Dakota and Delaney, plus a few rarer gems like Danica if you want something that turns heads.

Scroll through and see which one makes you pause. The right name for your daughter is often the one you cannot stop saying out loud.


111 Inspirational Female Names That Start with D

Browse our complete list of girl names starting with D, each with its origin and meaning, to find your favorite.

  1. Dace: Of French and Latin origin, meaning “of the nobility.”
  2. Daenerys: A name invented for Game of Thrones, tied to the “mother of dragons,” for parents drawn to a bold fantasy pick.
  3. Dafne: An alternative spelling of Daphne, meaning “laurel tree” in Greek.
  4. Dahlia: This Swedish girl’s name comes from the dahlia flower, named for 18th-century botanist Anders Dahl, and carries the sense of “valley.” Its popularity has been climbing: Social Security Administration data show it moved up to the 215th most popular U.S. girls’ name in 2025, from 241st the year before (1).
  5. Dailyn: A habitational name for someone living near a dale, or a modern name meaning “pretty flower.”
  6. Daisy: An Old English name from Daegeseage, or “day’s eye,” for the flower that opens at dawn; actress Daisy Ridley is a modern bearer.
  7. Dakota: This Native American female name means “friend and ally” and suits girls and boys alike, as Dakota Fanning and Dakota Johnson show.
  8. Daksha: A classic Hindu baby name meaning “brilliant.”
  9. Dalanna: Derived from High German meaning “precious,” or “child” in Irish.
  10. Dalary: This Spanish girl’s name means “gift of God” or “the air.”
  11. Dalett: A vintage Hebrew name with the unusual meaning of “door.”
  12. Daleyza: This Spanish and Italian name means “delightful.”
  13. Dalilah: Of Hebrew and Arabic origin, meaning “delicate.”
  14. Dallas: A place name of Irish origin, meaning “skilled.”
  15. Damara: The name of a Greek fertility goddess, meaning “gentle girl.”
  16. Damaris: An Old Greek word meaning “calf” and “gentle.”
  17. Damia: This top Greek name means “goddess of the forces of nature.”
  18. Damita: Of Spanish origin, meaning “little noblewoman.”
  19. Dana: This Irish and Hebrew short form of Daniel means “God has judged.”
  20. Danet: An Old English term for someone “from Denmark.”
  21. Dani: A cute Hebrew nickname meaning “God is my judge.”
  22. Dania: A short form of the Hebrew name Daniela, meaning “God is my judge.”
  23. Danica: Of Slavic origin, meaning “morning star,” borne by trailblazing race-car driver Danica Patrick.
  24. Daniela: The feminine version of the Hebrew name Daniel, meaning “God is my judge.”
  25. Danna: Taken from ancient Hebrew, meaning “God is my judge.”
  26. Danuta: Of Polish and Lithuanian origin, meaning “God is my judge.”
  27. Daphne: A Greek name meaning “laurel tree,” after the nymph who became a laurel in myth; the Bridgerton series renewed its appeal.
  28. Dara: This Irish and Hebrew unisex name means “pearl of wisdom.”
  29. Darby: A place name in England, meaning “deer park.”
  30. Darcy: This French and Irish name means “dark one” or “from Arcy.”
  31. Daria: The feminine form of the Persian Darius, meaning “possessing goodness”; the 1990s animated series Daria gave it a wry edge.
  32. Dariana: A Persian royal name meaning “maintains possessions well.”
  33. Darika: This popular Hindi name means “maiden.”
  34. Darla: Often used as a nickname, this Old English name means “darling” or “dearly beloved.”
  35. Darlene: An Old English name meaning “darling.”
  36. Darnetta: With roots in Old English, this name means “hidden nook.”
  37. Darsani: This Hindi female name has the unusual meaning of “worth looking at.”
  38. Dasha: Of Greek and Romanian origin, meaning “gift of God.”
  39. Datia: Derived from the Hebrew word datya, meaning “belief in God.”
  40. Davi: A short form of David, meaning “beloved” in Hebrew.
  41. Davida: A Hebrew name similar to Davina, meaning “beloved.”
  42. Davina: Of Scottish and Hebrew origin, meaning “beloved.”
  43. Dawn: This self-explanatory Old English name means “daybreak.”
  44. Dawsin: A classic Old English name meaning “son of David.”
  45. Deborah: From the Hebrew D’vorah, meaning “bee,” carried by the prophetess and judge Deborah in the Hebrew Bible. Since 1926, 741,045 baby girls have received the name in the United States, ranking it 24th among the country’s most popular girls’ names of the past century (2).
  46. Dee: A short and sweet Welsh girl’s name meaning “swarthy.”
  47. Deepana: A pretty Sanskrit name with the beautiful meaning of “illuminating.”
  48. Deidre: This feminine Irish and Gaelic name means “broken-hearted” or “sorrowful.”
  49. Deja: This pretty French and Spanish name means “remembered.”
  50. Delaney: An Irish surname name meaning “from the alder grove,” now used as an upbeat first name for girls.
  51. Delilah: A Hebrew name meaning “delicate,” now the most popular girl’s name starting with D in the United States.
  52. Della: An English name of German origin meaning “noble,” a vintage short form of Adela that is finding new fans.
  53. Delmara: This Spanish and Portuguese name means “of the sea” or “woman of the sea.”
  54. Delores: Of Spanish and Latin origin, meaning “lady of sorrow.”
  55. Delphine: A French name from the Greek for Delphi and “dolphin,” evoking the ancient oracle city.
  56. Delta: The fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, meaning “born fourth,” and a nature word for a river’s mouth.
  57. Demi: A short form of the Greek Demetria, meaning “earth mother,” familiar from Demi Moore and Demi Lovato.
  58. Denali: A nature name from the Koyukon Athabaskan word for North America’s tallest peak, meaning “the high one.”
  59. Denim: From the French term serge de Nimes, meaning “strong cloth.”
  60. Denise: This French version of the masculine name Dennis means “devoted to Bacchus.”
  61. Denver: A place name of Old English origin meaning “green valley,” equally at home on girls and boys.
  62. Derrea: An Irish and Gaelic version of the male name Darren, meaning “great.”
  63. Desire: From the Latin term desiderata, meaning “desired.”
  64. Desiree: A French and Latin derivative of Desree, meaning “desired.”
  65. Desna: A Czech habitational name or a Hindi word meaning “offering and gift.”
  66. Desree: Of French and Latin origin, meaning “desired.”
  67. Destiny: A word name from the Latin destinare, meaning “fate,” that saw its biggest wave of popularity in the early 2000s.
  68. Devaki: A vintage Sanskrit name meaning “black.”
  69. Devina: A Scottish variation of the boy’s name David, meaning “beloved.”
  70. Devine: With Irish, Gaelic, and French roots, this name means “ox” or “divine.”
  71. Devora: A Hebrew variant of Deborah, meaning “bee.”
  72. Devyn: An English name meaning “poet” or “bard.”
  73. Dextra: This name derives from Latin and means “adroit and skillful.”
  74. Dhriti: This name comes from Hindi and means “courage, morale, and patience.”
  75. Dia: A classic Spanish name meaning “day.”
  76. Diamante: A Middle English version of Diamond, meaning “of high value” and “brilliant.”
  77. Diana: A Latin name meaning “divine,” borne by the Roman goddess of the moon and the hunt and by Princess Diana of Wales. According to Social Security Administration data, 364,848 American girls have been named Diana since 1926, placing it 87th on the century’s most popular list.
  78. Diane: A variant form of the Latin Diana, meaning “divine.”
  79. Didi: A Dutch name meaning “raging, broken-hearted, and beloved.”
  80. Dido: This short baby name means “queen of Carthage” in Latin.
  81. Dielle: Of Hebrew and French origin, meaning “God is my judge.”
  82. Dilly: A derivative of the Welsh name Dylan, meaning “great” and “sea.”
  83. Dina: Of Hebrew origin, meaning “judged” or “vindicated”; in Genesis, Dinah is a daughter of Jacob and Leah.
  84. Diondra: This Greek girl’s name means “follower of Dionysius” or “from the sacred spring.”
  85. Dior: A French name tied to the fashion house founded by Christian Dior, with a sleek, high-style feel.
  86. Diva: Of Italian and Latin origin, meaning “goddess.”
  87. Dixie: A nickname for the Southern United States, meaning “tenth” in Latin.
  88. Dolly: A short form of Dorothy meaning “gift of God,” made iconic by singer Dolly Parton.
  89. Domele: Derived from the Latin domela, meaning “mistress of the home.”
  90. Dominga: A Spanish version of the Latin name Dominicus, meaning “of the Lord.”
  91. Dominique: The feminine form of Dominic, meaning “of the Lord” in French.
  92. Donita: With Italian roots, this name means “world, mighty, and lady.”
  93. Donna: A short form of Madonna, meaning “lady” in Italian.
  94. Dora: A short form of Dorothea, meaning “gift” in Greek.
  95. Dore: A short form of Dorothea or Isidora, meaning “gift” in Greek.
  96. Dorine: A beautiful Greek name meaning “gift.”
  97. Doris: A vintage Greek name meaning “gift of the ocean,” linked to a sea nymph of myth and to actress Doris Day.
  98. Dorma: Comes from ancient Latin, meaning “sleep” or “sleeping.”
  99. Dorothea: A classic Greek name meaning “gift of God,” the fuller form behind Dora, Dot, and Thea.
  100. Dorothy: An English form of the Greek Dorothea, meaning “gift of God,” known worldwide through Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz. According to Social Security Administration figures, 620,441 American girls have carried the name since 1926, ranking it 35th among the era’s most popular girls’ names.
  101. Dory: Of Greek and French origin, meaning “gift of God, sea, and gilded.”
  102. Dotty: Derived from the Greek Theodora, meaning “gift of God.”
  103. Dove: An English nature name for the bird of peace, familiar from actress and singer Dove Cameron.
  104. Dream: A beautiful word name linked to dreams and aspirations.
  105. Drew: A Welsh name meaning “wise.”
  106. Dreya: A name of Scottish and American origin meaning “strong and beautiful.”
  107. Drina: A derivative of the Greek name Alexander, meaning “defender of mankind.”
  108. Drucilla: Derived from the Greek word drus, meaning “firm and strong.”
  109. Dua: An Arabic name meaning “prayer,” brought to wide attention by pop star Dua Lipa.
  110. Dulce: Popular in Spain and Portugal, meaning “sweet.”
  111. Dylan: A Welsh name meaning “son of the sea,” popularized by musician Bob Dylan and used for girls and boys.

Girl Names That Start with D FAQs

What Are the Most Popular Girl Names That Start With D?

The most popular girl names that start with D include Daphne, Dora, Donna, Darby, Darcy, and Desree. Others like Dorothy, Dina, Doris, and Dore trace back to Greek and ancient Hebrew roots.

What Are the Most Popular Sanskrit-Inspired Girl Names That Start With D?

The most popular Sanskrit-inspired girl names that start with D are Dhriti, Devaki, Deepana, Darsani, and Daksha. Each carries a meaning rooted in classical Indian tradition.

Are There Any Unique D Names for Girls?

Unique D names for girls include Dalett, Domele, and Desna. These rare picks stand out while staying easy to pronounce.

What Are Some Short Girl Names Starting With D?

Short girl names starting with D include Dee, Dia, Dua, Demi, and Didi. Each is quick to say and simple to spell.

What Are the Best Vintage D Names for Girls?

The best vintage D names for girls include Dorothea, Doris, Dorothy, and Daphne. These timeless classics have seen a recent revival in popularity.

Do Any D Names Have Nature Meanings?

Several D names carry nature meanings. Daisy, Dahlia, and Daphne connect to flowers, Dove points to the peaceful bird, and Delta and Denver tie to geography and the outdoors.

What Are Some Strong D Names for Baby Girls?

Strong D names for baby girls include Dextra, meaning adroit and skillful, and Drina, meaning defender of mankind. Both project confidence and resilience.

Are There Unisex Names That Start With D?

Unisex names that start with D include Dylan, Dakota, Denver, Drew, and Dallas. Each works well for both boys and girls.

Headshot of Mark Weir

About the Author

Mark Weir

Mark has always been fascinated by the stories behind names, their meanings, and the rich histories they carry. It's a curiosity that has grown into a full-fledged passion project, engaging him in the study of how names shape our identities and reflect our cultures. Since stepping away from his previous career, Mark has delved deeper into this fascinating realm. He spends his days unraveling these narratives and sharing his findings on Honey Name. He does all this amidst the tranquility of England's rivers and canals from his charming widebeam barge. His constant companions on this journey are his wife, Julie, and their adorable King Charles Cavalier, Eric.