13 Strong Female Names From the Past Centuries and Their Meanings

Today we have another article focused on names! And this time, we're going to talk about some of the strongest female names from the last few centuries!

Just like fashion and so many other aspects that are part of our society, there are names that gain a lot of strength for a period of time and, after a while, they lose strength to make way for new names in fashion.

The event that best illustrates this type of movement – and which most of us have probably already noticed – is the recent craze for children who were given the names Enzo and Valentina.

This type of movement is what explains the large volume of people who are similar ages and have the same name.

But as much as this type of wave may seem like something recent, they are not.

So much so that we can observe that this phenomenon has been happening for centuries.

And it was thinking about this phenomenon involving names that we had the idea of creating the material you are about to read!

Following the trend of content with name tips, the text you are about to read will explore some strong female names from the last centuries and what their meanings are and which figures each of them was inspired by!

13 strong female names from the last centuries: discover what they are and learn more about their meanings 

Eve

Name of the Argentine first lady between 1946 and 1952, Eva Perón was the wife of Juan Perón. Eva moved to Argentina at an early age to pursue an acting career.

Known by many as the country's political leader, Eva Perón is considered one of the most powerful women of the last century.

The name also does justice to the first lady and means “the one who lives or the one who has a full life”.

Strong female names | Simone

Simone is a very common name, right? And it became popular thanks to Simone Beauvoir, a very important French writer of the 20th century.

In addition to being an exceptional writer, Simone is also known for being an ardent activist and participating in the French existentialist movement.

The name means “she who is patient and listens” and also signifies obedience and compassion.

Cecilia

The first Brazilian on our list, a name also very common in Brazil, Cecília is inspired by Cecília Meireles.

Cecília was one of the most important writers in Brazil and is still considered one of the most important poets in our history.

Cecília's work is heavily influenced by psychoanalysis with a focus on social issues and has always been considered ahead of its time by many.

The name also does justice to Cecília and means “she who is wise” or simply “wisdom”.

Strong female names | Joana

One of the best known on our list, Joan of Arc is one of the most powerful women in history due to her strength.

She was a leader and warrior who helped France in the war against England. Many also know her for her tragic end, when she was burned alive at the stake at the age of 19.

Our warrior’s name means “graced by God” and also “God’s grace saves and forgives.”

Anita

Although the name is more common today thanks to the singer Anitta, the name has been considered a strong and powerful name for many years because of Anita Garibaldi.

Anita was one of the most revolutionary Brazilian women, as she fought in the Farroupilha Revolution and also in the battle of the Curitibanos in Brazil.

The name Anita means “she who shines and is full of grace” or just “graceful”.

Strong female names | Amelia 

Another name that is quite common in Brazil, Amélia Earhart was a pioneer in aviation and was the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean alone by plane.

Just like Amelia Earhart, the name means “hardworking” and also “active woman who is always ready to face challenges”, it seems true, right?

Strong Female Names | Rachel

Well known, especially in films and series, the name Rachel belonged to a great Brazilian woman: Rachel de Queiroz.

Rachel was one of Brazil's leading novelists and also the first woman to join the Academy of Letters and win the Camões Prize. 

The name does not have such a strong meaning, it comes from “sheep” and “the one who is calm”.

Fernanda

It's impossible to talk about strong women without mentioning Brazil's darling, Fernanda Montenegro, right?

Fernanda is one of the greatest actresses in Brazil and has been giving us great performances for over fifty years. She is also the only Brazilian actress to be nominated for an Oscar.

The actress and activist, Fernanda Montenegro, has the meaning of her name “bold to achieve collective peace”, very beautiful, right?

Rita

One of the greatest icons of Brazilian music, Rita Lee brought several hits to Brazilians over several decades.

In addition to being an exceptional singer, Rita also participated in several social movements such as Tropicalismo and supports important causes against racism, sexism and homophobia.

Rita means “creature of light” or “enlightened creature”.

Strong Female Names | Jane

Jane Austen is still one of the most present names in literature, even though she died more than 200 years ago, her name always tops the bestseller lists.

The reason for this is that Jane always thought ahead of her time and published books that challenged the society in which she lived, especially by featuring strong female protagonists.

The name Jane means “blessed by God.”

Victory

Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire between 1837 and 1901 and her reign was full of economic, political and industrial changes, giving rise to the name of the Victorian Era.

In addition to being celebrated during her lifetime, after her death, the queen was even more honored when it was discovered through her personal diaries that she was even more intelligent than she seemed.

As the name suggests, Vitória means “the victorious one” and “the eternal winner”.

Strong Female Names | Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth II is one of the best known on our list, having passed away just over a month ago after more than 70 years of reign.

Queen Elizabeth II was responsible for overcoming several threats and problems that could have ended the monarchy, which continues to this day.

The name of Hebrew origin means “My God is an oath”.

Diana

And to finish our list – and also the sequence of strong female names inspired by royalty – we have Diana, one of the most famous and beloved princesses in history.

Diana was always the people's darling and had a tragic and unjust end, but she is remembered to this day for her support of social causes such as the AIDS cause in the late 90s.

Diana often went against the prejudiced thoughts of the royal family and therefore, many believe that her death was ordered by the powerful family.

A very appropriate meaning for the princess, Diana means “she who is divine and enlightened.”

Did you like today's content? Then take the opportunity to read it too Names for male and female babies: discover 40 options for the undecided