Fairies have long enchanted the human mind for their elusive and ethereal qualities. While most Westerners think of delicate, long-haired waifs that frolic through shaded woods when they hear the word, other cultures depict some fairies as large, gnarled demons that terrorize human ne’er-do-wells.
Considering the dominant cultural image of fairies as sweet, beautiful nymphs, names with fairy-inspired meanings are mostly lovely and sweet in meaning. Nerida is a perfect example of this–it means “water nymph.” There’s also Sebille, which is an English name from Arthurian times that literally means fairy.
We also love Tania, an old-time Russian favorite which means “fairy queen,” perhaps a nod to Shakespeare’s Titania, who was also queen of the fairies in his play: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Melia is another nymph-inspired name, which is Greek in origin and actually the name of a popular nymph in Greek mythology.
Understandably, most of these names will be for girls. There are, however, some great unisex choices that still conjure images of these enchanting creatures, like Avery. With a meaning like “ruler of elves,” it’s no wonder that both boys and girls want to get in on the fun here.
Take a look at some of our other names that mean fairy on the list below. They’re all guaranteed to imbue your little one with a sense of wonder and magic.
Aelfdene
Meaning: From the elfin valley
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Albreda
Meaning: Feminine form of Old French Aubrey counsel from the elves; Elf Counsel
Origin: German
Gender: Girl
Alf
Meaning: Wise counsel; Elf or Magical counsel
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Alfred
Meaning: Wise counsel; Elf or Magical counsel
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Alfreda
Meaning: Wise counsel; Elf or Magical counsel
Origin: German
Gender: Girl
Alfredo
Meaning: Wise counsel; Elf or Magical counsel
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Alvan
Meaning: From Alba; Elf or Magical being, friend
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Alvin
Meaning: Elf wine; Noble friend; Elf or magical being, friend
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Alvina
Meaning: Friend of the elves; Elf or magical being, friend
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Alvy
Meaning: From Alba; Elf or magical being, friend
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Alvyn
Meaning: Wise friend; Elf or magical being, friend
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Alwin
Meaning: Wise friend; Elf or magical being, friend
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Alwyn
Meaning: Elf wine; Noble friend; Elf or magical being, friend
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Andromeda
Meaning: Beautiful maiden rescued by Perseus;
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Aretha
Meaning: Nymph; Excellence; Righteous
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Arethusa
Meaning: Myth name nymph
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Aubrey
Meaning: Rules with elf-wisdom; Elf or magical being, power
Origin: German
Gender: Girl
Averey
Meaning: Elf or magical being, power; Elf or magical counsel
Origin: German
Gender: Boy
Avery
Meaning: “Uler of Elves,”
Origin: English, French
Gender: Girl
Azinza
Meaning: Mermaid
Origin: African
Gender: Girl
Berengaria
Meaning: Spearbearer maid; Maiden of the bear-spear
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Breen
Meaning: Fairy palace
Origin: Irish
Gender: Girl
Breena
Meaning: Fairy palace
Origin: Irish
Gender: Girl
Brucie
Meaning: Forest sprite
Origin: French
Gender: Girl
Chepi
Meaning: Fairy (Algonquin)
Origin: Native American
Gender: Girl
Chu’mana
Meaning: Snake maiden (Hopi)
Origin: Native American
Gender: Girl
Chu’si
Meaning: Snake flower (Hopi)
Origin: Native American
Gender: Girl
Clytie
Meaning: Myth name a water nymph; Lovely one
Origin: Native American
Gender: Girl
Coventina
Meaning: Name of a nymph
Origin: Anglo Saxon
Gender: Girl
Cyrena
Meaning: Cyrene was a water nymph who wrestled with a lion which endeared her to the sun god Apollo.
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Cyrene
Meaning: Name of a mythological nymph
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Daisey
Meaning: Day’s eye; Flower name
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Daisi
Meaning: Day’s eye; Flower name
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Delbin
Meaning: Dolphin; Flower name
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Dianthe
Meaning: Divine flower; Flower of the Gods
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Dryope
Meaning: Myth name a nymph
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Echo
Meaning: A nymph; Repeated voice
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Egeria
Meaning: Myth name a water nymph
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Eidothea
Meaning: Myth name a sea nymph
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Eiluned
Meaning: Nymph; Idol
Origin: Welsh
Gender: Girl
Elfred
Meaning: Wise counsel; Elf or magical counsel
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Ella
Meaning: Beautiful fairy woman
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Melia
Meaning: A mythological nymph
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Nerida
Meaning: “Water Nymph”
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Sebille
Meaning: Fairy.
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Tania
Meaning: “Fairy Queen”; “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Origin: Russian
Gender: Girl