Polish girl names: a comprehensive guide

The most popular Polish girl names

Although the Polish name Agata may not be very popular in English-speaking countries, it has an English equivalent (Agatha). The name Agatha in different languages comes from the Greek word agathos, meaning “good” or “noble”.

Agnieszka is one of the most popular Polish female names. It is a derivative of the name Agnes, which comes from the Greek word hagnos, meaning “pure” or “holy”.

Amelia comes from Old German and means a hardworking housewife or a brave defender of the hearth. Although it is not a typical Polish-sounding name, it is very popular in Poland, especially among unique girl names which Polish parents like to choose for their daughters.

Anna is, without a doubt, the most popular female name in Poland. It was estimated that over 1 million Polish women have the name Anna. Anna is a female name derived from the Hebrew word channah, meaning grace. In Polish, it is often abbreviated as Ania. Sometimes, it is also spelled with an H, like Hanna, abbreviated as Hania.

Aleksandra is the female form of the male name Aleksander which is derived from the Greek word aleksandros, meaning “protector of people”. The name was popularized by a famous Polish writer, Henryk Sienkiewicz, who gave it to the main female character of his historical novel titled Potop (The Deluge).

In the Polish language, this name is often abbreviated as Ola. Many other names, such as Aleksa or Sandra, derive from this name.

The name Alicja probably comes from the English name Alice. Alice is a given name that originates from the diminutive of the German name Adelheid, which means a woman of a noble nature. It is also thought to derive from the Greek word aletheia, meaning true. In Poland, this name was popularized by Marian Falski, the author of the Polish ABC book.

Barbara is a name of Greek origin, from the word barbaros, meaning barbarian or non-Greek. In ancient Greece and Rome, this word was used to describe enslaved people imported from distant, barbaric countries. The name Barbara became popular thanks to St. Barbara. Barbara is a trendy name in the Polish language, although it is commonly used in its abbreviated form, Basia.

Elżbieta is a name of Old Hebrew origin, coming from the word elisheba, meaning “God is my oath.” Biblically, it is the name of John the Baptist's mother. It is also the name of the current Queen of England, Elizabeth II. Although Elżbieta is an old Polish name, it is still quite popular.

The Polish name Ewa is the equivalent of the English name Eve. It is a name of Hebrew origin, from the words hajja (to be) or hawwa (taken from a husband or giving life). According to the Bible, it is the name of the first woman created from Adam's rib. Ewa is one of the most popular names for girls in Poland.

The Polish name Joanna is possibly the female equivalent of the masculine name Jan, originating from Hebrew. Linguists, however, point out that Joanna may be a diminutive of the name Janina. This name is widely known, thanks to Joanna d'Arc.

Julia is a name of Roman origin, which has become popular since the time of Julius Caesar. It is the female form of Juliusz, meaning radiant or young. It has been present in Poland since the 18th century.

Karolina is a Polish name of Old Germanic origin, coming from the words “charal” or “carl”, meaning husband, man. It is said that the name Karolina means a woman faithful to her spouse and devoted to her home. In Polish, Karolina is the female variation of the masculine name Karol.

Katarzyna is a Polish name with many equivalents and derivatives in other languages, such as Catherine in English, Catalina in Spanish, or Katerina in Russian. It is a name of Greek origin, which comes from the word “katharos”, meaning pure, unspoiled, or spotless. It has been present in Poland since the 13th century, and it is most commonly used in its abbreviated form, Kasia.

Kinga is a name of Hungarian origin derived from the name Kunegunt, which, in turn, is a variation of the German name Kunegunda. Saint Kinga was the patron of Poland and Lithuania who lived in the 13th century.

Krystyna is a name of Latin origin, coming from the word “Christinus”, which means “of Christ”. It is the female form of the masculine name Krystian. The Polish name Krystyna is a variation of its equivalent in other languages, such as Christina in English or Cristina in Spanish. It is often used in its abbreviated form, Krysia.

It is not clear where the name Maja originates from. It may be derived from the Hebrew word “mariam” (to fill with joy) or the Egyptian “meri-jam” (loved by God). Moreover, it may be derived from the names of the Greek nymph Maya, the oldest of the Pleiades and the mother of Hermes.

Magdalena is one of the most popular names in Poland, commonly abbreviated as Magda. It is a name of Aramaic origin, meaning a woman from a town called Magdala, located in Palestine. This name has Biblical origins. It has been present in Poland since the 13th century.

Małgorzata, commonly abbreviated Małgosia or Gosia, is a name of Greek origin from the word margarites (pearl). This name exists in many languages around the world, such as Margarita in Spanish or Margaret in English.

Maria is one of the most popular girl name in the world, and many women are named Maria.

It is a name of Hebrew origin, from the word marjam, meaning to be beautiful. In addition, it has many other meanings, such as "beloved by God" or "the cause of joy." It is the Biblical name of the mother of Jesus, and because of that, it used to be prohibited. That’s why it gave origin to many of its derivatives, such as Marianna or Maryna.

Marta is a Polish name deriving from its universal form, Martha. Martha, or Marta in Polish, comes from the Aramaic word “martha”, meaning mistress or lady. It is quite a popular name in Poland.

The Polish name Martyna derives from the Latin name Martina. It is the female form of the Latin name Martius, meaning the one associated with the Roman god of war, Mars. Its masculine version in Polish is Marcin.

Natalia is a name of Latin origin, from the word “dies natalis”, meaning the day of birth. It is likely that the name Natalia, or its universal equivalent Nathalie, means the one who is waiting to be reborn in the afterlife. In Poland, the name Natalia has been given since the 14th century.

Oliwia is a Polish variation of the name Olivia or Olive. In Polish, it is spelled with a “w” instead of a “v.” Olivia is a name of Latin origin and means the olive tree branch, which is a symbol of peace. It also means the person who grows olives. It is the female form of Oliver (or Oliwer with Polish spelling).

Paulina is a female name of Latin origin and a derivative of the masculine name Paulinus, meaning “little” or “small.” Paulina is a universal name that exists in many different languages around the world. This is a very popular name in Poland.

The name Patrycja - or its more universal equivalent, Patricia - is the feminine form of the Latin name Patricius, meaning “nobleman.” In other words, “patricius” was a word describing someone who belonged to a privileged class. Patrycja is generally thought to be an extroverted, talented, and resourceful woman.

Róża is a female name of Latin origin. It comes from the Latin word rosa, meaning “rose”. This name exists in many languages, such as Rose in English or Rosa in Spanish. Róża is thought to be a woman as delicate and beautiful as a rose. She’s caring and values family very deeply.

Teresa is a name of Greek origin. It comes from the name of the island of Tera (today’s Thira or Santorini) or the word thera, meaning hunting or prey. Therefore, it is said that the name Teresa means “coming from the island of Tera.” This name has many variations in other languages, such as Theresia in Latin, or Tess, Tessa, or Tracy in English.

Wiktoria is the Polish spelling of a quite universal name that exists in many languages. It is the feminine equivalent of the masculine name Wiktor, which comes from the Latin word victor, meaning a winner or a champion.

Zofia is a name of Greek origin, which comes from the word sophia, meaning wisdom. Zofia is quite a universal name that has an equivalent in many languages around the world, such as Sophie in French or Sofia in Spanish.

This name has Hebraic origins, and it is derived from the word shoshannah or shoshana, meaning “lily.” It is the equivalent of the English name Susan and its derivatives. Zuzanna is a biblical name, and she appears in the Book of David. It is said that Zuzannas are subtle, highly intuitive, and romantic women.

Rare Polish Girl Names

Foreign-sounding names are becoming increasingly popular in Poland in recent years. Since most Polish names for girls are usually very Polish-sounding, many parents choose to name their baby girl something less common but more universal.

Here is a list of some bilingual names for Polish girls.

• Anastazja
• Blanka
• Eliza
• Gabriela
• Kaja
• Klara
• Kornelia
• Lena
• Laura
• Melania
• Nikola
• Nina
• Rozalia
• Sara

Old Polish Girl Names

Polish names have gone through a significant evolution over the years. Our grandmother may have names that today’s parents no longer use for their children, such as Kazimiera or Bogumiła.

Although beautiful and unique, some Polish names have become a thing of the past.

Take a look at this list of old Polish girl names.

• Bolesława
• Bożena
• Bogumiła
• Helena
• Kazimiera
• Milena
• Mirosława
• Wiesława
• Stanisława

These are just a few of the most common and popular names given to Polish girls born today, as it is impossible to cover them all in one article. But, of course, apart from the modern and trendy names, you can still find parents giving their daughters traditional names such as Stanisława or Helena.

We hope that this guide has been helpful to you. Whether you are a Polish speaker looking for a Polish name or an English speaker trying to identify the meaning of a Polish name, we hope that you were able to find exactly what you were looking for.

Many Polish names have English counterparts, but this list should provide a comprehensive look at popular and unique Polish girl names. (related article: Slavic girl names)

By Karolina Assi

Karolina Assi is an English and Polish teacher on iTalki.com. She is a polyglot and a digital nomad. So far, she has traveled to 28 countries and lived in 4. Right now, she teaches, writes, and creates content from the Dominican Republic.

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