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1. Olivia
Olivia is the female form of Oliver but even more strongly associated with the Latin 'oliva', meaning 'olive'. Olivia was first found in England in the early 13th century and was used by Shakespeare in Twelfth Night.
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2. Grace
Graco, meaning blessing or graceful, existed as Gracia, the Latin form, in the Middle Ages but did not become common until the Puritans adopted Grace. The pet form Gracie is sometimes given as a separate name.
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3. Jessica
The source of this name is much debated but may well come from Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' in which Shylock's daughter is called Jessica. It is shortened to Jess or Jessie (sometimes spelt Jessye).
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4. Ruby
This is one of many jewel names introduced during the 19th century.
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5. Emily
Emily originates from the Latin Aemilius, the name of a Roman family. The name became very common as Emily in the 19th century, when it was sometimes shortened to Emma. Milly is a pet form and Emmeline is an old French pet form.
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6. Sophie
Sophie comes from the Greek meaning 'wisdom'. The name spread through Hungary to Germany and then to England when George I became king. Both his mother and wife had the name. The form Sophy is also used.
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7. Chloe
Chloe comes from the Greek meaning 'a green shoot', a name given to the goddess Demeter who protected the green fields. Chloris, 'greenish', is another name from the Greek myth, and was associated with fertility. It is sometimes spelt Cloris to reflect pronunciation of these names with a hard 'c'.
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8. Lucy
Lucy is the usual English form of the Latin Lucia from 'Lux', 'light'. In Roman times the name was often used for a child born at dawn and the goddess Lucina was the patroness of childbirth. Other forms are Lucette, Lucinda, Lucasta and Lulu.
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9. Lily
Originally a pet form of Elizabeth. In the 19th century Lily was definitely given as the name of the flower, which is a Christian symbol of purity.
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10. Ellie
Ellie is the abbreviation form of Eleanor and Ellen. Eleanor and Elinor are French forms of Helen which have been used in this country since the Middle Ages.
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