Choosing a first name is much more than a simple administrative formality: it is the very first gift you will give your child. It is envisioning the woman she will become, dreaming of her future life. As Julie Milbin recalls in her Guide to girl names 2026 (ed. 2026, Solar editions), “what is a first name if not a few syllables which will contain a whole story?”.
Among the 5,000 female first names listed in this reference work, the letter “E” occupies a special place: it offers soft, luminous sounds, and origins of astonishing richness – Hebrew, Greek, Celtic, Germanic… Enough to seduce the most indecisive as well as the most curious future parents.
Here is our selection of 20 girls’ names starting with “E” that deserve your full attention, with their origins, their characters and their anecdotes.
The Top 20 girls’ names that start with “E”
1. Emma
Origin: From Germanic ermin“power”. Contrary to popular belief, Emma is not a diminutive of Emmanuelle: she was born by a rich German widow, cousin of Emperor Henry II, who founded monasteries in Westphalia. Feast: April 19 | Color: blue | Number: 6 Character: Voluntary, active, hardworking and autonomous. Winks: Emma Peel, the cult heroine of Bowler hat and leather boots ; actresses Emma Thompson and Emma Watson; the heroine of Jane Austen’s novel (1815); and of course Madame Bovary under the pen of Flaubert. Emma has remained in the French top 20 for 15 years.
2. Elise
Origin: From Hebrew elischeba“God is my oath.” Variant of Elisabeth, she carries within her a natural elegance. Feast: November 17 | Color: orange | Number: 9 Character: Artistically curious, dynamic and attractive, she excels in social life. Winks: Who does not have in mind the famous Letter to Élise by Beethoven? This timeless first name owes its fame in part to this musical masterpiece.
3. Eva
Origin: From Hebrew h’ava“the living one”. International form of Eve, it is today more attributed than the original. Feast: September 6 | Color: blue | Number: 5 Character: Independent, voluntary, autonomous and ambitious. Winks: Eva Green, Eva Mendes, Eva Longoria, Eva Herzigova… The list of sunny women with this first name is impressive!
4. Emilie
Origin: From Latin aemulus“rival”, from a large Roman family which exercised high responsibilities for more than eight centuries. Feast: September 19 | Color: blue | Number: 8 Character: She dreams of her life as much as she builds it; his dynamism blossoms in dedication or art. Winks: Émilie Jolie, heroine of Philippe Chatel’s musical tale, remains a childhood reference for an entire generation.
5. Elizabeth
Origin: From Hebrew elischeba“God is my oath.” One of the most common first names throughout the centuries and civilizations. Feast: November 17 | Color: orange | Number: 9 Character: Elegant, sensitive, tenacious and courageous, with unfailing flair. Winks: Elizabeth I of England, nicknamed “the Virgin Queen”; Empress Sissi of Austria; the writer Élisabeth Badinter… A name of queens, literally and figuratively.
6. Enora
Origin: From Breton enor“honor”. A Celtic first name full of nobility. Feast: October 14 | Color: black | Number: 8 Character: Passionate, complete, independent and full of energy. Winks: The host Énora Malagré has largely contributed to the popularity of this Breton first name across the four corners of France.
7. Estelle
Origin: From Latin stella“star”. A luminous first name that carries with it all the romanticism of the night sky. Feast: May 11 | Color: blue | Number: 6 Character: Gentle, generous, full of charm and with a certain art of living. Winks: The model Estelle Lefébure and the presenter Estelle Denis have given modern letters of nobility to this pretty first name.
8.Elsa
Origin: From Hebrew elischeba“God is my oath.” Nordic and poetic diminutive of Elisabeth. Feast: November 17 | Color: orange | Number: 1 Character: Reserved, demanding, but also creative and rigorous. Winks: Elsa Triolet, wife of Louis Aragon and great French literary figure. And of course, the cartoon Snow Queen The Snow Queen gave this first name a second world youth!
9. Elodie
Origin: From Greek elodie“fragile flower”. A first name that is both delicate and full of vitality. Feast: October 22 | Color: blue | Number: 5 Character: Hard worker, capable of firmness while remaining attentive. Winks: The singer Élodie Frégé and the actress Élodie Bouchez perfectly illustrate the duality of this first name: sweetness and strong character.
10. Emmanuelle
Origin: From Hebrew imanu-el“God is with us.” A biblical and universal first name. Feast: December 25 | Color: orange | Number: 3 Character: Attracted by originality, spirituality and philosophy. Winks: The actresses Emmanuelle Béart, Emmanuelle Seigner and Emmanuelle Devos; Sister Emmanuelle, icon of generosity.
11. Eugenie
Origin: From Greek eugenios“well born”. An aristocratic first name that is coming back into favor. Feast: February 7 | Color: blue | Number: 3 Character: Spirit of research and independence, with a taste for order and sustained work. Winks: The heroine ofEugenie Grandet by Balzac; Empress Eugénie de Montijo, wife of Napoleon III. A name that smells of the 19th century, but which is increasingly appealing to today’s young parents.
12. Esther
Origin: From Persian ester“star” ; named after the Babylonian goddess Astarte, of legendary beauty. Biblical character, Esther was the wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus. Holiday: July 1 | Color: blue | Number: 5 Character: Bright, courageous, with great inner strength. Winks: This biblical first name alone embodies centuries of oriental history and poetry.
13. Erin
Origin: From Celtic eireann“the island of the west”. Erin is literally Ireland — a name used for young Irish girls for centuries. Color: green | Number: 1 Character: Good advisor, resolute as well as wise, very appreciated by those around her. Winks: Erin Brockovichthe film with Julia Roberts, largely contributed to the craze for this first name in France. A film, a heroine, a first name: the magic of cinema in action.
14. Éléonore
Origin: From Greek eleos“compassion”. Also similar to Eleanor, its medieval variant. Feast: August 5 | Color: yellow | Number: 8 Character: Unpredictable and capricious, but with a charm deemed irresistible by those close to her. Winks: Éléonore d’Aquitaine (1122-1204), queen of France then of England, remains one of the most powerful women of the Middle Ages. A name with quite a history in its baggage!
15. Elisa
Origin: From Hebrew elischeba“God is my oath.” Diminutive of Élisabeth, widely represented in France. Feast: November 17 | Color: orange | Number: 9 Character: Energetic, with healthy intellectual curiosity, she knows how to make the right decisions. Winks: The singer and actress Élisa Tovati; the heroine of Serge Gainsbourg’s song. A short, punchy, modern first name.
16. Enya
Origin: From Irish, “almond”. Short, sweet, and carries a strong Celtic identity. Character: Human, generous and dreamer. Winks: Enya, the Irish singer known for her captivating Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)gave this first name an incomparable musical and mystical aura.
17. Éloane
Origin: From Celtic, “light”. This first name is very used in Brittany. Feast: August 28 | Color: yellow | Number: 4 Character: Loves originality, spirituality and philosophy. Winks: A Breton first name which is now exported beyond its region of origin, carried by its beautiful, luminous sound.
18. Éponine
Origin: Refers to EponaGallic goddess of horses. A first name anchored in Gallic mythology. Character: Sense of family and responsibility, fairly demanding woman of influence. Winks: Éponine is one of the heroines of
Miserable by Victor Hugo — a courageous and endearing young woman. For parents who love literature, this first name is a declaration of love for great French texts.
19. Evangeline
Origin: From Greek had aggelion“good news”. A name that brings light and hope. Color: blue | Number: 4 Character: Curious, lively, sometimes opportunistic. Winks: Canadian actress Evangeline Lilly, known in particular for the series Lostgave an unexpected modernity to this originally very classic first name.
20. Enola
Origin: From Old French, “she who is noble”. A rare, discreet and elegant first name. Character: Faithful, intuitive, excellent mediator. Winks: The series Enola Holmes
on Netflix, featuring the sister of Sherlock Holmes, brought this first name back to the forefront among younger generations. Original without being extravagant: the perfect balance.
Beyond the origins and anecdotes, Julie Milbin recalls it in her Guide to girl names 2026 : the choice of a first name is above all personal and subjective. The etymology, the history, the sound — it all matters — but the final decision is yours. Take the time to say it out loud, to imagine your daughter growing up with it, to whisper it in the evening before going to sleep. The right first name is often the one that makes you smile without you knowing exactly why.