Disney Girl Names: 105 Princess and Character Names With Meanings

Disney girl names range from princess classics like Aurora, Belle and Jasmine to heroines like Esmeralda and Nani and Pixar picks like Riley and Ellie, and this list gives a checked meaning for 105 of them.

Disney girl names are a sweet way to share a favorite story with your daughter. Many of them were real given names long before the films. Aurora is the Roman goddess of the dawn, Alice dates back to the Middle Ages and Moana means “ocean” in several Polynesian languages. Others, like Ariel, Jasmine and Elsa, got more popular after their films came out.

We grouped the names by style: the most-loved classics, princess names, heroines and sidekicks, names from Encanto and Wish, names from animated classics, Pixar names, everyday names and subtle picks with a quiet Disney link. Every meaning comes from Behind the Name, and every film year was checked against Disney’s own records.

Disney Girl Names at a Glance

Every film title and year on this page was checked in October 2026 against Disney’s own records (Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar and the D23 Disney A to Z). Every name meaning comes from that name’s own entry on Behind the Name. If a character’s name has no entry there, the name appears only in the text, not in the tables.

These ten are the Disney girl names most people think of first. Most of them were real given names long before the films came out. Behind the Name traces Aurora to a Roman goddess of the dawn, Alice to the Middle Ages and Wendy to J. M. Barrie’s 1904 play. A few of them, like Ariel, Jasmine and Elsa, got a boost after the films came out, and the entries say so.

Nala shows why the meaning column matters. Many baby name lists say Nala means “gift” in Swahili. Behind the Name says the claim does not hold up and lists Nala simply as a name from The Lion King. Moana is the opposite case: it is a real word in Māori, Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages, meaning “ocean, wide expanse of water, deep sea”, and Behind the Name lists it as a given name in those languages.

If you want a name with a Disney connection that does not shout it, keep reading: some of the best picks below are everyday names that just happen to belong to a favorite character. For a much bigger list without the movie theme, see our baby girl names.

Disney Princess Names

Disney princess names are the most popular corner of this theme. Several of the best-known princesses are already in the table above: Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Tiana, Elsa and Moana. Here are more princess and royal characters whose names have their own Behind the Name entries.

A few of these names come from much older stories. Cinderella comes from a folktale best known in English from Charles Perrault’s 1697 version, and Rapunzel comes from an 1812 tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, named after a plant. They work well as middle names or as nicknames for a pet, but they are very tied to the story. Snow and Elinor are easier to use every day. Merida is newer: Behind the Name lists it as a popular culture name from Brave and says its meaning is unexplained.

Some princesses have names that we left out of the tables on purpose. Anna (Frozen, 2013), Raya (Raya and the Last Dragon, 2021) and Mulan (Mulan, 1998) are all lovely choices. Today they are covered on our language pages instead, like Russian girl names and the new Chinese girl names. Pocahontas (Pocahontas, 1995) is named for a real 17th-century Powhatan woman, so many families would rather honor her in story than use her name for a baby. Princess Kida of Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) has no entry on Behind the Name, so we cannot give it a checked meaning.

Disney Heroine and Sidekick Names

Heroines and sidekicks give you more names to choose from, and many of them are easier to wear than a princess name. This group covers big sisters, rescuers, a captain, a detective’s young client and two of the Muses from Hercules.

This group mixes very familiar names with rare ones. Jane, Penny, Judy and Olivia are classic names you will hear at any playground. Olivia was the No. 1 name for girls born in the United States in 2025, Charlotte was No. 2 and Amelia was No. 4, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Calliope, Thalia and Eudora come from Greek mythology and are much rarer. Megara has a darker story behind it: in Greek myth she was the first wife of Heracles, and her story is a sad one, so read the full entry before you choose it. Meg is a softer option.

Kala has two separate entries: a Tamil entry (from Sanskrit, “art form, virtue”) and a Hawaiian entry (a form of Sarah). Lilo is listed as a German short form of Liselotte. Behind the Name says Nani means “beauty, glory” in Hawaiian. If you love Hawaiian names, learn the meaning and the right pronunciation from people who speak the language.

Disney Girl Names From Encanto and Wish

Disney’s newer films have brought fresh names into the mix. Encanto (2021) follows the Madrigal family, and most of its women’s names are Spanish names. Wish (2023) follows Asha, a 17-year-old in the kingdom of Rosas, as D23 describes her.

Most of the Madrigal family names are real Spanish names that families have used for generations: Luisa, Dolores, Julieta and Alma. Mirabel is the most unusual of them. Behind the Name lists it as a rare English variant of Mirabelle, from Old French for “wonderful”. Pepa, another Madrigal sister, has no entry of its own, so it stays out of the table. If Encanto names appeal to you, our Hispanic girl names list has many more Spanish-language names with meanings.

Asha has two separate entries: one from Sanskrit, meaning “wish, desire, hope”, and a Swahili one meaning “live, exist”. Since the movie is called Wish, many parents will like the first meaning. Amaya, the queen in Wish, is a variant of the Basque name Amaia, and its listed meaning is “the end”. Read that before you choose it, because some parents love it and some do not.

Names From Disney Animated Classics

The older films give you names with a cozy, vintage feel. These come from the Disney animated classics, from Alice in Wonderland (1951) to Meet the Robinsons (2007), plus Daisy Duck and Minnie Mouse. Each film year comes from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ list of its own films. The two cartoon dates come from the characters’ entries on Behind the Name.

If you like old-fashioned names, this is a great list. Pearl, Maggie, Grace, Lucille and Adelaide would fit right in on a list of old fashioned girl names, and Flora, Lily and Daisy are flower names (our flower names list has dozens more). Flora and Fauna, who appear alongside Merryweather in Sleeping Beauty, both come from Roman mythology. Merryweather has no entry on Behind the Name, so you will only see her name here in the text.

Some names here have stories you should know before you choose. Perdita means “lost” in Latin, and Shakespeare made it up for The Winter’s Tale. Ursula, from The Little Mermaid, has a gentle meaning: “little bear”. Duchess, the elegant cat in The Aristocats, has no entry, so we cannot give it a checked meaning.

Pixar Girl Names

Pixar Animation Studios is part of Disney: Pixar’s own history page says The Walt Disney Company agreed to buy the studio in 2006. That makes Pixar characters fair game for a Disney name list. Every year in this table comes from Pixar’s official timeline or the D23 Disney A to Z.

Pixar names tend to be practical, everyday names: Riley, Ellie, Violet, Sally, Helen and Evelyn would all fit right in at school. Evelyn ranked No. 8 for girls born in the United States in 2025, according to the SSA. Riley is used for both boys and girls; Behind the Name notes it has been more common for girls in the United States since 2003. For more names like this, see our gender neutral names.

Some Pixar characters have names without an entry of their own, so they appear only here in the text: Bo Peep (Toy Story films), Atta (A Bug’s Life, 1998) and Gabby Gabby (Toy Story 4, 2019).

Disney Names That Work as Everyday Names

Many parents want a name that hints at Disney without making it the first thing people think of. The good news is that many Disney characters already have everyday names. The SSA’s 2025 list (released in May 2026) gives this top 10 for girls born in the United States: Olivia, Charlotte, Emma, Amelia, Sophia, Mia, Isabella, Evelyn, Sofia and Eliana. Several of them have a Disney link.

• Olivia (No. 1): Olivia Flaversham in The Great Mouse Detective (1986).
• Charlotte (No. 2): Charlotte La Bouff in The Princess and the Frog (2009).
• Amelia (No. 4): Captain Amelia in Treasure Planet (2002), plus Amelia Gabble in The Aristocats (1970).
• Mia (No. 6): Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries (2001).
• Isabella (No. 7): closely related to Isabela of Encanto (2021); Belle is listed as a short form of Isabella.
• Evelyn (No. 8): Evelyn Deavor in Incredibles 2 (2018).

Live-action Disney films have girl names too. The four below come from films on D23’s list of Disney films, so each one has a confirmed year.

Popular names have one downside: your daughter may share her name with a classmate. If that bothers you, choose a less common name from the tables above, like Adelaide, Eudora, Colette or Laurel. Our unique girl names list has many more.

Subtle Disney-Inspired Names

If you want the Disney link to be your own secret, choose a name that is close to a character instead of the character’s exact name. Many Disney names are short forms of longer, classic names. You can put the long name on the birth certificate and use the Disney-style short form at home. Here, the middle column tells you the link, and the meaning comes from that name’s own entry.

This is the easiest way to honor a favorite film without a clear reference. Margaret gives you Meg, Maggie and Peg. Dorothy gives you Dot, Dolly and Dory. Eleanor gives you Elinor and Ellie. Our nicknames for girls guide has more full name and nickname pairs.

Middle names are another subtle option. A first name like Grace or Charlotte paired with Aurora, Belle or Wendy keeps the Disney link one step away. Some pairings built only from names on this page: Charlotte Aurora, Olivia Belle, Eleanor Rose, Margaret Wendy, Isabella Flora and Penelope Jane.

Tips for Choosing a Disney Girl Name

Before you settle on one of these Disney girl names, a few quick checks can help:

• Read the full meaning: a name’s meaning and its Disney role are two different things. Ursula means “little bear”, while Dolores means “sorrows” and Amaya means “the end”. Choose a meaning you are happy to explain.
• Think about the character: think about whether you want your daughter’s name tied to a hero, a sidekick or a villain. Kids will meet the movie at some point.
• Picture your child as a grown-up: Elsa, Belle and Jasmine are real names with long histories. Cinderella and Rapunzel are more tied to their stories.
• Check the spelling: some names on this page come from languages with accents and special marks, and U.S. paperwork does not always carry accents or special characters. Decide early how you will write the name.
• Say it with your last name: say the full name out loud, then check that the initials do not spell a word you would rather avoid.
• Look at popularity over time: the SSA’s Popularity of a Name tool shows how often a name has been used, year by year, so you can see whether a name is common or rare.

Choosing a name for twins or siblings? Disney films offer natural pairs: Flora and Fauna, Lilo and Nani, Calliope and Thalia, or Riley and Joy. Our twin names guide has more ideas for names that go well together without matching too closely. And if your family loves a good movie night, our list of best family movies for kids is a fun place to meet a name in its own story.

Related Betteroo Guides

• Baby Girl Names
• Unique Girl Names
• Fairy Names
• Flower Names
• Hispanic Girl Names
• Chinese Girl Names

The Bottom Line

Disney girl names cover a lot of styles. There are classic princess names like Aurora, Belle and Jasmine, and heroines like Esmeralda, Nani and Penny. Encanto and Wish add names like Mirabel, Isabela and Asha, and Pixar adds Riley, Ellie, Violet and Ember. Olivia, Charlotte, Amelia and Mia are everyday names that also have a Disney link. Make a shortlist, read each meaning, say each one with your last name, and pick the name that still makes you smile a week later.

Whichever name you choose, it will be your daughter’s own story, not the character’s. The movie link is a bonus.

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