Today my sexism spider senses are tingling, and much like Spider (Wo)man I’m ready to take action against those guilty of propagating patriarchy (try saying that three times fast, I dare you). I was pretty apathetic towards feminism, partially because I didn’t feel the need for feminism and optimistically thought things were fairly equal until after I had children.
I felt like I’d hit my head on the glass ceiling, hard (ouch). As a parent I want a better, more fair world for both of my children, and children everywhere, in terms of pay, education, and life opportunities. With modern pop culture heroes like Jessica Jones, Rey and Katniss Everdeen blowing up everywhere, it’s evident that feminism is alive and well, and getting popular. I mean who doesn’t love a tough chick who can kick butt?
Many of the choices and rights that we have as women today we owe to other women who stood up for equality. We all want to raise our children in a safer, fairer world, where men and women are considered peers. Have grand expectations for what your little one is going to achieve in their life outside of the womb? Would you ever consider naming your little girl after some great and trailblazing women feminists who made life better for all of us. Here are 25 baby names inspired by trailblazing feminists, who truly made and make a difference.
25 Diana
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Diana Prince
With the launch of the Wonder Woman movie in 2017, it just seems right to pay tribute to the warrior princess of the Amazon. Wonder Woman was one of the first widely publicized female super heroes giving young girls everywhere an option beyond Batman or Superman.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana, despite being in a very public role, set out to be her own person. While known for her fairly conventional ambassador role within the monarchy she also stood her ground to break tradition. She was determined to show her boys life outside of the palace walls, even taking them on public transit.
She was also very honest and upfront with the public surrounding her battle with bulimia, providing education and starting conversations for people suffering from eating disorders everywhere.
The name Diana originates from an Indo-European root and means heavenly, divine. Diana was a Roman Goddess of the moon, hunting, forests, and child birth. Other notable people who share the name: Diana Ross and Diana Krall.
24 Helen, Helena
Helen Keller
Helen Keller is probably most widely known for overcoming misfortune when she became both blind and deaf at 19 months of age due to Scarlet Fever. When she was six Helen met Anne Macy nee Sullivan, the tutor, who taught her the alphabet and opened up her ability to communicate.
What many people don’t know about Helen, in addition to her role as an advocate and lecturer in support of the blind and deaf, is that she was also an advocate for women’s rights and women’s suffrage. Helen was a radical socialist, and anti-racist. Unfortunately many of Helen’s efforts in activism have been removed from historical documents.
“Never bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.” - Helen Keller
Helen comes from the Greek, Helene, meaning torch. The North American meaning of Helen means shining light or the bright one. Other notable people who share the name: Helen of Troy, Dame Helen Mirren and Helena Bonham Carter.
23 Marlene, Marla, Marlee
Marlene Dietrich
Wearing pants may not seem like an act of feminism, but at the time this was a major statement. Suffragette Elizabeth Smith Miller is often historically known as the first woman to have worn pants as a statement to help secure women the vote, and Katherine Hepburn was the first person to wear pants in a motion picture, with Marlene Dietrich furthering the feminist cause in the movie Morocco.
German born Dietrich challenged traditional gender roles, and was an anti-fascist who publicly denounced Hitler’s Germany. Sexually liberated, bibliographical testimonies suggest that Dietrich had multiple affairs with both men and women.
“The weak are more likely to make the strong weak than the strong are likely to make the weak strong.” - Marlene Dietrich
Marlene is a blend of the names Maria and Magdalene, paying homage to Mary Magdalene, from the New Testament. Other notable people who share the name: Marla Maples Trump, Marlene Hagge (golfer) and Marlee Matlin.
22 Rosie
Rosie the Riveter
Rosie the Riveter is an American cultural feminist icon. Rosie represented the working women of America during World War II. Many of these women were employed by manufacturers who produced war supplies. Advertising, such as those that featured the face of Rosie, were used in the media as government posters to encourage women to volunteer for factory work.
The name Rosie is diminutive of the English origin name, after the flower rose. Other notable people who share the name: Character from Children’s Book, Rosie Revere Engineer and Rosie Perez.
21 Bell (Belle)
bell hooks
Gloria Jean Watkins, is best known by her pen name bell hooks. Hooks is a well respected author, having published over 30 books and a number of articles addressing topics including race, class, education, sexuality and feminism. She is a teacher who participates in public lectures, and has appeared in documentaries.
A major theme in her recent work is about how loving communities can overcome class, race, and gender inequalities. Watkins deliberately put her name (bell hooks) in lowercase to differentiate herself from her grandmother, from whom she based her pen name after.
Bell is a French baby name meaning handsome. Other notable people who share the name (usually a surname): Alexander Graham Bell and Kristen Bell.
20 Gloria
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Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem was the “face” of the feminist movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She is an American political activist, journalist and founder of Ms. Magazine. In 2005, she co-founded the Women’s Media Center, an organization created to help make women both visible and influential in the media. She currently travels the world as a spokesperson on equality.
“The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.” - Gloria Steinem
Gloria is a Latin name meaning glory with the name Gloria first appearing in popular media in George Bernard Shaw’s play You Never Can Tell. Other notable people who share the name: Gloria Estefan, Gloria Vanderbilt and Gloria Gaynor.
19 Margaret (Maggie)
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian writer famous for her novels, poetry and essays. She is a literary critic and environmental activist and founder of the Writer’s Trust of Canada, a not for profit organization dedicated to strengthen the Canadian writing community. Atwood is also famous for her novel The Handmaids Tale, set in a fictional dystopian society exploring themes of women in subjugation.
“Men often ask me, 'Why are your female characters so paranoid?' It’s not paranoia. It’s recognition of their situation.” - Margaret Atwood
The name Margaret is derived from the French origin name Marguerite and the Latin Margarita, and derived originally from the noun margaron which means pearl. Other notable people who share the name: Margaret Thatcher, Margaret Cho and Margaret Trudeau.
18 Frida
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo was a highly celebrated artist. The native Mexican born painter, known for self-portraits, has been applauded by feminists for her work’s tenacious depiction of the female experience and form.
“I was born a bitch. I was born a painter.” - Frida Kahlo
In Old Norse the name Frida means, beautiful or beloved whereas in Europe Frida is a compounded short form of names containing fried (German) meaning peace.
17 Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale was an inspiration to nurses and women everywhere with her approach to compassion in health care. Despite her wealthy background, Nightingale didn’t want to prepare to be a “good” wife for a man of similar class and status. Although her parents disapproved of her desire to become a nurse, after nine years she was allowed to leave home to begin her training in Germany.
After her training, and the onset of the Crimean War, she organized a group of 38 nurses to work in a military hospital. The conditions of the hospital were appalling and she quickly set out to make things better with a large amount of private, family money to procure needed medical supplies.
Under Florence’s watch the death rate in the hospital fell by two-thirds. After the war, Nightingale returned to England and eventually became an invalid and was bedridden. This did not stop her work. She created over 200 books, reports, pamphlets, and thousands of letters in support of her life mission.
After her mother’s death, she got out of her own bed. She founded a training school for nurses, reformed hospitals, and helped bring public health and increased sanitation to India. “Were there none who were discontented with what they have, the world would never reach anything better.” Florence Nightingale.
Florence is an English name that is derived from Latin, florens, which means blossoming or to blossom. Other notable people who share the name: Florence (Flo-Jo) Joyner and Florence Henderson.
16 Cleo
Cleopatra
Cleopatra was the last Pharaoh, dying over 2000 years ago. She ruled for over 20 years as a female “King” of Egypt. Cleopatra spoke nine languages, was a poet, politician, philosopher and great warrior.
It is now believed that history written by the Roman victors is altered to make Cleopatra better known as a great seductress and sex symbol, rather than what she was the naval commander and ruler who was able to masterfully manage her wealthy, but weak army as the Roman Empire grew.
Feminists today see Cleopatra as a stronger, smarter, albeit less beautiful version of the woman who has been presented to us throughout history and literature. The name Cleopatra is Greek in origin and literally translates to the Queen of Egypt. Sounding like “Cleo”, the name Clio is the name of an Ancient Greek Muse of poetry and history.
Other notable people who share the name: Jazz singer Cleo Lane, David Schwimmer notably named his daughter Cleo.
15 Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth I
The BBC website recently described Queen Elizabeth I as, “the ultimate British feminist icon.” She is known for her many successes as a powerful monarch and for bravely ruling in a man’s world.
Elizabeth is remembered for rallying her troops with her speech before the attack on the Spanish Armada when she garnered the respect of her men and women by declaring that she too was willing to die on the battlefield for her country alongside her troops. This is especially notable since at this time Kings no longer went to war.
“I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a king of England too.” - Elizabeth I
The name Elizabeth is of Hebrew origin and means, my God is an oath or my God is abundance. Other notable people who share the name: Elizabeth II, Elizabeth Taylor, Elizabeth Arden and Elizabeth Banks.
14 Ada
Ada Lovelace
It’s no secret that we all want women to get more involved in mathematics and science, so why not name your future number crunching genius after Ada Lovelace, a 19th-century mathematician. Lovelace’s notes on coding for an Analytical Engine have given her acclaim as one of the first computer programmers.
“That brain of mine is something more than merely mortal; as time will show.” - Ada Lovelace
Ada is a name of French origin which means nobility.
13 Amelia
Amelia Earhart
Fancy travel and strong female role models? Why not name your daughter after Amelia Earhart, the first female pilot to successfully fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross for achieving this record.
“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” - Amelia earhart
Amelia is a name with Latin Origin which means work. Other notable people who share the name: Amelia Boynton (Civil Rights Activist), Amelia Bloomer (Women’s Right Activist) and Amelia Bedelia (Title character in a children’s book series).
12 Harriet
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman dedicated her life to freeing over 300 slaves during 19 trips to the south over the course of a decade, after escaping slavery herself by using the Underground Railroad. Tubman was a frequent speaker and activist for women’s rights.
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” - Harriet Tubman.
Harriet is an English baby name that is the female form of Henry. The name means rules the home. Other notable people who share the name: Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom’s Cabin) and Harriet Ann Jacobs (Journalist).
11 Emma
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Emma is the quick witted, whip smart, but slightly spoiled title character in Jane Austen’s acclaimed novel. It is said that the film Clueless is an homage to the wonderful classic book with many characters sharing names, plotlines and growth as displayed in the novel.
“I always deserve the best treatment because I never put up with any other.” -EmmaWoodhouse.
Emma is a female name that is derived from the German word erman which means universal or whole. Other notable people who share the name: Emma Watson, Emma Stone and Emma Thompson
10 Maya
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Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was a famous American poet, memoirist and civil rights activist. During her life she published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, as well as many books of poetry. She received many, many awards and over 50 honorary degrees during her life time for her achievements.
“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.” - Maya Angelou
Maya is an English baby girl name that is a variation of the name Mia.
Other notable people who share the name: Maya Rudolph and Maya Lin (architect & artist).
9 Tina
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Tina Fey
Tina Fey has laid a ton of groundwork for women in television and comedy by challenging gender barriers. She is funny, smart and calls people on their actions, including encouraging other influencers to be proudly feminist, rather than humanist to break some of the negative connotations surrounding modern feminism.
“I have a suspicion that the definition of "crazy" in show business is a woman who keeps talking even after no one wants to f*** [sleep with her] anymore.” - Tina Fey
Tina is a short form of Christina, derived from the Latin Christian, the name of an early saint who was tormented by her pagan father.
8 Naomi
Naomi Klein
Naomi Klein is a Canadian author, social activist and film maker who is famous for her political analysis and critical review of capitalism. In 2016 Klein was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize for her work with climate justice.
“When Nike says, just do it, that's a message of empowerment. Why aren't the rest of us speaking to young people in a voice of inspiration?” - Naomi Klein
Naomi is a Hebrew name meaning pleasantness.
7 Anne
Anne of Green Gables
Written in the early 1900’s I’m not entirely certain that author Lucy Maud Montgomery had feminist aspirations for her redheaded leading lady, but Anne is most certainly someone to look up to. Anne is smart academically and socially, convincing the Cuthbert’s to allow her to stay in Green Gables, even though she isn’t a boy. Anne isn’t afraid to speak up for herself, and others, and never feels limited because she is a woman.
"Why can't women be ministers, Marilla? … I think women would make splendid ministers." - Lucy Maude Montgomery, as Anne Shirley
Anne is a Hebrew baby girl name that means Grace. Other notable people who share the name: Anne Hathaway, Anne Frank and Anne Rice.
6 Hermione
Hermione Granger
This Muggle born witch is whip smart with extreme bravery, honesty and loyalty towards her friends. She was never embarrassed or afraid of her intellect, and was quite capable, helping friends Harry and Ron out of a number of tough situations.
The name Hermione is Greek and means well born.
“Maybe [I don’t understand Quidditch], but at least my happiness doesn’t depend on Ron’s goalkeeping ability.” - J.K. Rowling as Hermione Granger