"On Mother’s Day, my 7-month-old gifted me with a first word. Ironically, the word was “Da-Da.” My husband is a wonderful millennial dad, so I wasn’t upset, but it definitely made the day memorable. While my husband may jokingly claim that it happened because he’s the favorite, this occurrence is quite common. The reason is because babies often start babbling easy and repeatable syllables like “dada.” The letter ‘D’ is also easier to pronounce and one of the first letters babies start to sound out. So, if you want to increase the chances of your baby girl being able to pronounce the first letter of her name sooner than others, choosing a girl name that starts with ‘D’ is the way to go.
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I’m also fond of girl names that start with ‘D.’ Astronaut, scientist, influencer, and mom, Kellie Gerardi, named her daughter Delta Victoria for “Delta-V”—the quantitative measure of a change in velocity—such a cool and unique name. And we can’t forget about the beloved Diana, Princess of Wales, a name that holds beauty and elegance and stands the test of time. If you’re looking for more darling names for a future daughter, read on for 75+ baby girl names that start with ‘D.’
Unique Girl Names That Start with D
Danae
Meaning “she who judges.” Mythologically, Danae gave birth to Zeus’s son, Perseus, who later carried out the prophecy to kill Danae’s father, who locked her up to prevent her from ever marrying or having children. We love a heroine for women’s rights.
Daleyza
This unique girl name with Italian and Spanish roots means “delightful” and debuted on the list of the most popular girl names in 2013. The name is likely influenced by pop culture—Daleyza is the daughter of beauty influencer Kenia Ontivero and musician Larry Hernandez. The couple seems to love invented girl names that start with ‘D’ as their other two daughters are named Dalary and Dalett.
Danica
From Slavic origins, Danica means “morning star.” Danicas are seen as powerful and positive feminine energies.
Daria
Daria originally comes from the word ‘Dareios,’ which translates to “process of goodness.” What a ‘good’ name to have.
Darcy
Historically an English surname—ahem, Mr. Darcy and Pride and Prejudice fans—Darcy became a popular name for girls in the 1960s and 1970s.
Delphine
If you’re a lover of water or seaside vacays, Delphine translates to “dolphin.” If Lisa Frank had daughters, I think she would be in favor of this one.
Deirdre
While the name means “rage,” “broken-hearted,” or “fear”—the name personally sounds strong. Deirdre is known as a feminine heroine with a tragic story in Irish mythology.
Diya
Diya holds various bright meanings like “light,” “prosperity,” “radiance,” and “heavenly.”
Delta
Delta hasn’t topped the list of the most popular girl names since 1934, so you’d be giving your baby girl this rare name meaning “island at the mouth of the river.”
Vintage Girl Names That Start with D
Daisy
For the book lovers out there, Daisy is known as the fictional and fashionable socialite, Daisy Buchanan, from the novel The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Also commonly known as the daisy flower, this nature baby name is derived from the Old English word dægeseage, which means “day eye.”
Daphne
Daphnes are said to be empathetic and dream big. In other words, a girl who is caring and who will lean into her manifestations? Sounds like a great choice for a vintage girl name that starts with ‘D.’
Denise
A popular Boomer baby name, it’s said that people with the name Denise enjoy being social. With a name that means “follower of Dionysus,” the God of wine, festivity, and ecstasy, this name is suitable for a future social butterfly.
Diana
A beloved and royal name carried by Diana, Princess of Wales. This name proves its royalty as it is also the name of a Roman goddess, and in Latin, it means “divine.”
Dolly
A wonderful namesake for the iconic Dolly Parton, Dolly was originally a sweet nickname for the names Dolores and Dorothy.
Donna
While this vintage girl name translates to “lady of the home,” any little one named Donna (like Madonna) is bound to be the lady—or queen—of anything she wants.
Dorothy
Biblically, Dorothy means “gift of God.” The nicknames that come with it are also vintage-esque and cool—Dot, Dotty, and Dolly.
Dottie
A vintage nickname for Dorothy, Dottie was popular in the 1890s, but it can totally make a comeback.
Modern Girl Names That Start with D
Dahlia
This pretty flower-inspired baby name has been rising in popularity since 2006.
Daniela
Another feminine form of the name Daniel. Daniela was one of the top 20 names in the ’90s and early 2000s.
Danielle
The French version of Daniel—Danielle has also morphed into Daniella in Italian and Danjela in Croatian. How cute is the nickname, Dani, too?
Dawn
Defined as “the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise,” this nature-inspired name is beautiful for any firstborn girl in the family.
Deanne
The name originally comes from the name Diane or Diana. Whichever form you choose, she’ll sound noble and princess-esque.
Delia
In Greek, Delia means “of Delos,” which is an epithet for Artemis and Apollo, the twin gods of the moon and the hunt, who were born on the island of Delos.
Delilah
The name became popular in the U.S. after the Plain White T’s released Hey There Delilah in 2007. Biblically, Delilah was Samson’s mistress who cut his hair. In Hebrew, Delilah means “delicate.”
Demetria
Did you know singer, songwriter, and actress Demi Lovato’s full first name is Demetria? One of her biggest advocacies is for mental health and fighting against bullying. In Greek, the name comes from the “follower of Demeter,” the Greek goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility.
Demi
Derived from Demeter, the Greek goddess of Harvest, the name has most recently gained popularity due to famous singer Demi Lovato and actress Demi Moore.
Desiree
A popular ’90s name, Desiree is of French origin and means “much desired,” but its symbolism also includes aspiration and ambition.
Geographical Girl Names That Start with D
Dallas
If you’ve most recently been a fan of cowboy culture this year—thanks to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter—the name is fitting for any female ready to kick up her boots and celebrate Texas Hold ‘Em as being the first country song to hit the Billboard Top 100 by a Black female artist. Geographically, Dallas, Texas, is the most populated city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Dayton
Said to be the birthplace of aviation, the famous Wright Brothers are from the city of Dayton, Ohio.
Daytona
Best known for its famous NASCAR racetrack and a hub for racing, Daytona, Florida, was also called the “World’s Most Famous Beach” in the 1920s.
Denver
Some of the top reasons to visit Denver, Colorado, are the 300 days of sunshine and the many outdoor activities to do all year round. It’s a fitting name for your “little miss sunshine” or if your baby girl will be joining an adventurous family.
Delfina
If you’re inspired by the ocean or seaside, Delfina comes from the word “dolphin.” And if you’re more inspired by travel, Delphi is also a town located in Greece.
Destin
Known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” Destin, Florida, has beautiful beaches and popular vacation spots for families in the United States.
Dublin
The capital of Ireland, known for its literature and music, is also the home to the famous band U2 and would make for an adorable city-inspired baby name.
Gender-Neutral Names That Start with D
Dana
A popular name in the ’70s and ’80s, the name Dana has Danish roots, but in Persian, it means “wise.”
Dani
A nickname to the name Danielle, Dani is a cute name right off the bat. The character Dani Dennison in Disney’s Hocus Pocus was spunky, headstrong, and a quick-thinker.
Dara
Dara takes on many meanings among many cultures, but the ones most notable say that the name means “compassion,” “fruitful,” “gift,” and “special or one of a kind.”
Darby
Darby was first noted to be an Irish surname of Derby—fitting if you’re a Kentucky Derby fan. It also means “free,” which I’m thinking is so cute for a free-spirited girl.
Davis
An uncommon name for a girl, as its origin comes from the name “David,” or son of David. However, the name means “beloved” or “favorite,” and a favorite Davis that comes to mind is Viola Davis—actress, film producer, and an EGOT winner.
Dawson
If you’re a Dawson’s Creek fan, this might naturally be a top favorite name for you. Although it’s a common boy name, it’s so cute for a girl—Joey Potter pulled off a masculine name perfectly in the show, and so can a ‘Dawson’ in real life.
Dee
Quite literally the perfect name if you’re wanting to incorporate the letter ‘D.’ It also means “dark” and “mysterious,” which adds some edginess to the name.
Devin
There are so many ways to spell Devin: Devon, Deven, Devinne, and Devyn. Take your pick. But one reason why it’s a great choice is that it means “divine” or “godlike.”
Drew
Although commonly used as a nickname for ‘Andrew,’ the name Drew has gained popularity among girls. I mean, we can’t forget about actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore.
Dustin
Tied to Greek mythology, Dustin means “Thor’s stone” and in German, “brave warrior.” It’s an edgy girl name that could be shortened to “Dusty,” like cool-girl singer Dusty Springfield.
Dylan
Meaning “born from the ocean,” Dylan is a gender-neutral name that became popular among girls in 1993. American fashion designer Ralph Lauren named his daughter Dylan, who is the owner of New York City’s “Dylan’s Candy Bar.”
More Girl Names That Start With D
- Dayaa: Hindi | “Compassion”
- Daenerys: Welsh | “Lady of Hope”
- Daly: Irish | “Meeting Assembly”
- Dakota: Native American | “Friend”
- Darlene: English | “Darling”
- Davie: Hebrew | “Cherished”
- Davida: Hebrew | “Beloved”
- Deborah: Hebrew | “Bee”
- Deccan: Sankrit | “South”
- December: Latin | “Ten”
- Declan: Irish | “Full of Goodness”
- Deena: Hebrew | “Judged”
- Delaney: Irish | “Dark Challenger”
- Delby: Norse | “Valley Settlement”
- Deja: French | “Already Seen”
- Des: Latin | “To Determine”
- Destiny: Greek | “Certain Fortune”
- Dessie: Greek | “Desire”
- Devi: Sankrit | “Goddess”
- Dhriti: Sankrit | “Courage”
- Dior: French | “Gift”
- Dominique: French | “Of the Lord”
- Don: Italian | “Boss”
- Donovan: Irish | “Dark”
- Dora: Greek | “Gift”
- Doretta: Greek | “Gift”
- Dolores: Spanish | “Sorrow”
- Doris: Greek | “Gift”
- Dorothea: Greek | “Gift”
- Dory: Greek | “Gift”
- Drea: Greek | “Strong”
- Dream: Scandinavian | “Joy”
- Driver: German | “Driver”
- Dusty: German | “Valiant Fighter”
Patty Schepel, Editorial Intern
As the editorial intern, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.