English Girl Names That Mean Life
English girl names that mean life come in more than one shape, from Eve-rooted classics to bold modern word names built to describe living itself.
Names87
OriginEnglish
MeaningLife
GenderGirl
Most name lists like this pull from a single language. This one shows English borrowing from two life-roots at once: Evie, Evelynn, and Evalina all trace back to Eve, the Hebrew name for 'life,' filtered into English pet forms. Vivien takes a different road, from the Latin word for 'alive' or 'lively.'
English also has a newer habit: naming the idea of life directly instead of borrowing a root word for it. Journey, Journie, and Journei each spell a life in motion three different ways, and Legacy names what that life leaves behind.
How English Girl Names That Mean Life Trace Back to Eve
Chawwah, the Hebrew word behind Eve, means 'life,' and English has reshaped it again and again. Evie keeps it short and bright, currently the highest-ranked name on this list. Evelynn stretches it into a double-n, Edwardian-style flourish, and Evalina adds a Latinate '-lina' ending for extra polish. Three names, one ancient root, three very different personalities.
Journeys, Legacies, and the English Word-Name Tradition
Journey means simply 'a day's travel,' and its variants Journie and Journei dress the same idea in softer, more personal spelling. Legacy looks past the journey to what remains after it. English also folds in surnames like Hollis ('at the holly trees') and Banks (a riverside surname), plus the word name Pepper, proof this language will turn almost anything into a name.
Names List
Evie#270 in the U.S.Life; living; breath of lifePronounced EE-vee▶Evelynn#301 in the U.S.Wished-for child; life — as a variant of Evelyn blending Eve (life) and Old English elementsPronounced EV-uh-lin▶Journey#411 in the U.S.From Old French journée meaning a day's travel or a day's work, from jour (day), itself from Latin diurnuPronounced JUR-nee▶Legacy#662 in the U.S.From the English word legacy, from Medieval Latin legacia meaning bequest or what is bequeathed, from legPronounced LEG-uh-see▶Avalynn#1173 in the U.S.Modern compound of Ava (life, bird, or island of apples) and -lynn (Welsh: lake); or linked to Avalon (CePronounced AV-uh-lin▶Hollis#1237 in the U.S.At the holly trees; from Old English holegn (holly tree) — a topographic surname for families living nearPronounced HOL-is▶Journie#1437 in the U.S.A journey, a voyage, the path of lifePronounced JER-nee▶Journei#1483 in the U.S.A modern creative respelling of the word name Journey, from Old French journee "a day's travel," used to Pronounced JUR-nee▶Pepper#1627 in the U.S.An English vocabulary name from the word for the spice 'pepper' (ultimately from Latin 'piper'), used as Pronounced PEH-puhr▶Evalina#1714 in the U.S.Elaboration of Eva/Evelina, from Hebrew Chawwah ('life'); the '-lina' ending is a Latinate diminutive.Pronounced ev-uh-LEE-nuh▶Vivien#1721 in the U.S.Alive, lively, livingPronounced VEEV-een▶Banks#2052 in the U.S.Topographic surname for someone living by a hillside slope or riverbank (Middle English 'banke', from OldPronounced BANGKS▶Ayva#2190 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Ava; popularly 'bird' (Latin avis) or 'life' (via Eve), underlying Germanic root uncePronounced AYV-a▶Everlynn#2235 in the U.S.wished-for child with eternal connotationsPronounced EV-ur-lin▶Cypress#2439 in the U.S.cypress tree, symbol of eternal lifePronounced SY-pres▶Lively#2444 in the U.S.full of life, animated, energeticPronounced LYV-lee▶Amarie#2793 in the U.S.One who lives a long life, one who buildsPronounced uh-MAHR-ee▶Scarleth#3002 in the U.S.Spanish-influenced variant of Scarlett, meaning the bright red color scarlet; associated with passion, coPronounced SKAR-leth▶Vianna#3006 in the U.S.Modern blended name combining a Vi- prefix (from Violet, Vivian: life) with Anna (Hebrew: grace), suggestPronounced vee-AN-ah▶Zailey#3008 in the U.S.Contemporary invented name combining a Z- prefix (possibly from Zayla or Zoe: life) with the popular EnglPronounced ZAY-lee▶Avalee#3015 in the U.S.Modern blend of Ava (from Hebrew Chava: life, or Latin avis: bird) and Lee (Old English: woodland clearinPronounced AV-uh-lee▶Evee#3287 in the U.S.Life, living one; a spelling of Evie, the pet form of Eve (Hebrew Chawwah) and EvelynPronounced EE-vee▶Evy#3520 in the U.S.Short form of Eva/Eve and Evelyn — Eve from Hebrew Chawwah, 'life, living one'Pronounced EV-ee▶Ivee#3767 in the U.S.Double-e spelling of Ivy — the evergreen climbing plant, an emblem of fidelity and eternal lifePronounced EYE-vee▶Spirit#4637 in the U.S.From the word spirit — Latin spiritus, 'breath, soul, vital energy'Pronounced SPEER-it▶Journeii#4936 in the U.S.Double-i spelling of Journey — from Old French journee, 'a day's travel; a trip, voyage' — a life's pathPronounced JUR-nee▶Journiee#5200 in the U.S.-iee spelling of Journey — from Old French journee, 'a day's travel; a trip, a voyage' — a life's pathPronounced JUR-nee▶Evelean#5770 in the U.S.Evelean reads either as a spelling of Evelyn, which comes from the Norman French given name Aveline throuPronounced EV-uh-leen▶Evalee#5996 in the U.S.A modern name joining Eva ('life', Hebrew) with the -lee ending ('a meadow', English); routes layeredPronounced EV-ə-lee▶Iviana#7404 in the U.S.A modern blend leaning on Ivy ('the climbing plant; faithfulness') and the Ana/Viviana family ('grace'; 'Pronounced iv-ee-AH-nah▶Avamae#7994 in the U.S.An English compound of Ava (variously 'bird; life; living') and Mae ('pearl' / 'the month of May', a formPronounced AY-vuh-may▶Cricket#8148 in the U.S.The English word cricket: the small chirping insect, and separately the bat-and-ball sport. As a name it Pronounced KRIH-kit▶Kaisha#8251 in the U.S.Kaisha is a modern name with no documented etymology of its own. It echoes Keisha (itself often traced toPronounced KY-shuh▶Wrynn#8378 in the U.S.A spelling of Wren — from the English word wren, a small, lively songbird (Old English wrenna); a word/naPronounced RIN▶Yvie#8908 in the U.S.A spelling of Evie/Yvie — variously a pet form of Yvonne/Eve ('yew'; 'life') and the plant Ivy; routes laPronounced EE-vee▶Aaniya#8980 in the U.S.Aaniya is a spelling of Aniya, a vowel-rich modern name. It has a double life: as an American coinage it Pronounced ah-NEE-uh▶Evvie#9095 in the U.S.A short form of Eve ('life; living', Hebrew) and Evelyn ('a wished-for child'); routes layeredPronounced EV-ee▶Caprice#9740 in the U.S.Caprice is the English word 'caprice' — a whim, an impulsive turn of mind — borrowed from French caprice Pronounced kuh-PREES▶Vi#10184 in the U.S.A short form of Violet ('a violet flower', Latin) or Vivian ('alive; life', Latin); also a Vietnamese namPronounced VY▶Essynce#10497 in the U.S.A modern respelling of the English word essence ('the core, true nature; the vital substance of somethingPronounced EH-sens▶Evayah#10501 in the U.S.A modern coinage extending Eva/Ava ('life; living one,' or 'bird') with a soft -ayah ending. Melodic; rouPronounced eh-VAY-ah▶Jazz#10598 in the U.S.A word name from jazz, the American musical style, connoting 'lively, spirited, improvisational energy'; Pronounced JAZ▶Aeva#11090 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Ava — itself linked to 'life' (via Eve/Chava), 'bird' (Latin avis), or a Germanic Pronounced AY-vah▶Avaa#11196 in the U.S.A double-a spelling of Ava, linked variously to 'life' (via Eve), 'bird' (Latin avis), and 'voice; sound'Pronounced AH-vah▶Evalynne#11381 in the U.S.An elaborated spelling of Evelyn, from the Norman Aveline (via the Germanic avi) and often linked to Eve,Pronounced EV-uh-lin▶Eviee#11386 in the U.S.An elaborated spelling of Evie, a pet form of Eve ('life') and Evelyn. The doubled -ee ending gives a sofPronounced EE-vee▶Evaleen#11509 in the U.S.Evaleen is a spelling of Evaline or Eveline, ultimately from the Norman Aveline and long linked in the poPronounced EV-uh-leen▶Malaysha#11792 in the U.S.A modern American coinage pairing a Ma- opening with the -aysha ending that echoes Aisha, the Arabic namePronounced muh-LAY-shuh▶Zo#12112 in the U.S.A one-syllable short form or spare spelling of Zoe, from the Greek zoe, 'life.' Minimal and bright.Pronounced ZOH▶Evelisse#12538 in the U.S.A modern coinage blending Eve/Evelyn ('life') with Elise/-lisse ('God is my oath'). Seen in Latina namingPronounced ev-uh-LEECE▶Evlyn#12539 in the U.S.A modern trimmed spelling of Evelyn, from the surname/given name Aveline (Germanic, variously tied to 'liPronounced EV-lin▶Evynn#12546 in the U.S.Evynn is a recent American girls' name that restyles the Ev- of Evelyn and Evie with a -ynn ending. EvelyPronounced EV-in▶Hollins#12615 in the U.S.From the English surname Hollins, a topographic name for someone living by the 'hollins' — the holly treePronounced HOL-inz▶Lyfe#12889 in the U.S.A stylized respelling of the English word Life, used as a bold modern word-name; the 'y' spelling gives iPronounced LYFE▶Onie#13285 in the U.S.Onie is an affectionate short form of names ending in -ona or -one, such as Iona, Leona, and Ona. WrittenPronounced OH-nee▶Asharia#13335 in the U.S.Asharia is a twenty-first-century American coinage. It most likely builds on Asha — a name meaning 'hope'Pronounced ah-SHAH-ree-uh▶Ausha#13665 in the U.S.A modern spelling that reads as a variant of Asha (Sanskrit 'hope'; Swahili 'life') or of Aisha. No singlPronounced AW-shuh▶Avabella#13666 in the U.S.A modern compound of Ava (linked variously to 'life; bird; water') and Bella (Latin, 'beautiful'), joinedPronounced ah-vuh-BEL-uh▶Avey#13675 in the U.S.A modern coinage that echoes Ava ('life; bird') and Avery ('ruler of elves'); as spelled here it reads asPronounced AY-vee▶Evalene#13964 in the U.S.A vintage American elaboration of Eva — from Hebrew Chavah, 'life' — with the -lene ending, or a softenedPronounced EV-uh-leen▶Evelette#13964 in the U.S.A modern diminutive built from Eve or Evelyn with the French suffix -ette, which forms small or affectionPronounced ev-uh-LET▶Evalyna#13965 in the U.S.A modern spelling of Evelina, itself a Latinate elaboration of Eva ('life', from Hebrew Chavah) or of thePronounced ev-uh-LEE-nuh▶Evamae#13970 in the U.S.Evamae joins Eva, from Hebrew Chavah meaning 'life,' with Mae, a pet form of Mary or May and by extensionPronounced EE-vuh-may▶Heva#14066 in the U.S.Most naturally read as a form of Eve — Hebrew Chavah/Hava, generally understood as 'life, living one'. HePronounced HEH-vah▶Hinsley#14073 in the U.S.An English surname name, close to Hensley and Hinsdale, built from Old English elements generally read asPronounced HINZ-lee▶Evyana#14124 in the U.S.A modern elaboration built on Eve or Eva, from Hebrew Chavah ('life, living one'), with an -ana ending. IPronounced ev-ee-AH-nah▶Jazzy#14178 in the U.S.Jazzy began as a nickname for Jasmine, Jazlyn and Jasmin, and doubles as the English adjective 'jazzy' — Pronounced JAZ-ee▶Jernee#14194 in the U.S.Jernee is a modern respelling of Journey, the English word name — from Old French journee, 'a day's travePronounced JUR-nee▶Layann#14436 in the U.S.May represent the Arabic Layan (Lain), 'softness, tenderness, a gentle and easy life'. In English-speakinPronounced LAY-an▶Masai#14591 in the U.S.Masai is used in the U.S. mostly as a boy's name, and it is also a common spelling of Maasai — the name oPronounced mah-SYE▶Ebelin#14838 in the U.S.Ebelin is a Latina respelling of Evelin, the Spanish-language form of Evelyn, in which the v is written bPronounced eh-beh-LEEN▶Vivie#15093 in the U.S.Vivie is a diminutive of Vivian, Vivienne or Viviana, all from Latin Vivianus, built on vivus, 'alive; liPronounced VIV-ee▶Aava#15250 in the U.S.A spelling of Ava (a hugely popular name of debated roots, often linked to 'bird' or 'life') that also maPronounced AH-vah▶Aivah#15321 in the U.S.Aivah is a decorative respelling of Ava, one of the most popular modern girls' names. Ava is variously liPronounced AY-vuh▶Avrianna#15620 in the U.S.Avrianna blends the Avri- sound, drawn from Avery or Ava, with the -ianna ending of Brianna and Julianna.Pronounced av-ree-AN-uh▶Evelie#15930 in the U.S.A modern name sitting near Evie and Evelyn (from Aveline, tied to 'wished-for child; life'). As spelled hPronounced EV-uh-lee▶Evolett#15997 in the U.S.Evolett is a modern American coined name, a spelling of Evolet, the heroine of the 2008 film 10,000 BC. TPronounced EV-uh-let▶Sissi#16248 in the U.S.Sissi is a pet form, best known as the nickname of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, whose life inspired the Pronounced SIS-ee▶Livvi#16637 in the U.S.A pet form of Olivia or Livia — names tied to the olive ('olive tree; peace') and the Latin for 'life.' BPronounced LIV-ee▶Natori#16801 in the U.S.Natori is a modern American coinage. It matches a real Japanese surname and is best known publicly as thePronounced nuh-TOR-ee▶Porshia#17096 in the U.S.Porshia is a phonetic spelling of Portia, the name of a clever, eloquent heroine in Shakespeare's MerchanPronounced POR-shuh▶Veta#17500 in the U.S.Veta is a short form that was cut from a variety of longer names ending in -veta or -vita — such as ElvirPronounced VEE-tuh▶Zowie#17651 in the U.S.A bright elaboration of Zoe, from the Greek for 'life'; the playful -wie spelling gives it a wink. MusiciPronounced ZOH-ee▶Zoeymarie#17993 in the U.S.A modern joined name combining Zoey (from the Greek zoe, 'life') and Marie (a form of Mary), written as oPronounced ZOH-ee-muh-ree▶Soo#18446 in the U.S.Soo is best read two ways. As a Korean name or name element it romanizes a syllable that, depending on thPronounced SOO▶Evelinda#18515 in the U.S.A modern blend of Evelyn (from Aveline, 'wished-for child; life') and Belinda ('pretty; snake; bright'). Pronounced ev-uh-LIN-dah▶EvaarahA modern coinage joining Eva ('life; living one') with an -arah ending (echoing Sarah). As spelled here tPronounced eh-VAH-rah▶
More English Meaning Guides
Boy Names That Mean BraveryGirl Names That Mean StrengthBoy Names That Mean GraceBoy Names That Mean the SeaGirl Names That Mean LoveGirl Names That Mean the SkyGirl Names That Mean BirdBoy Names That Mean BirdGirl Names That Mean BraveryBoy Names That Mean LeaderGirl Names That Mean SnowGirl Names That Mean Wind
Frequently Asked
What's the most popular English girl name that means life?
Evie is currently the highest-ranked on this list, at US #270 and rising. It's a short, sunny pet form of Eve, the Hebrew name behind English's 'life' names.