Biblical sources shape most Amish girl names, which reflect their Swiss Christian heritage and deep religious beliefs. Sarah, Mary, and Elizabeth have stayed popular through the centuries as these names come straight from scripture. Most Amish people live in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana – about 63% of their population. This creates unique regional patterns that keep these naming traditions alive.
Amish families choose their daughters’ names through prayer and careful consideration of their family heritage. Ruth holds special meaning because she’s one of just five women named in Jesus Christ’s family tree. Popular names like Fannie, Naomi, and Malinda appear among other biblical favorites. These communities pass down names through generations instead of following modern trends. They solve the challenge of many people sharing similar names by using special nicknames and initials rather than middle names. This practical solution helps them tell people apart while staying true to their simple traditions.
The Tradition Behind Amish Girl Names
Amish girl names reveal a lot about their community’s values and history. Modern parents might chase unique names, but Amish families stick to traditional names that haven’t changed much over generations.
Biblical and Germanic roots
Two main sources shape female Amish names: the Bible and Germanic heritage. Most Amish girls receive their names straight from scripture. Names such as Hannah (meaning “grace”), Elizabeth (“oath of God”), and Rebecca (“servant of God”) connect these girls to biblical figures who showed strong faith and lived virtuous lives.
Germanic names play a big role too. Take Emma, which comes from the German word “Ermen,” meaning “whole” or “universal.” This connection goes back to the Amish community’s European background, when they started their trip from Switzerland through the Alsace region between France and Germany before making America their home.
Why simplicity matters in Amish naming
Simplicity is the life-blood of Amish culture, and this shows in their naming traditions. While mainstream society loves unique or fancy names, Amish people think over their choices and pick simple, timeless ones. This choice shows their dedication to humble and modest living.
These simple names create an interesting challenge in Amish communities where many people share the same name. They’ve come up with smart ways to tell people apart:
- They add descriptions based on skills (like “Mary Ann who makes dolls”)
- They use father’s or husband’s names to identify people (such as “Jacob’s Anna”)
- They create nicknames to tell apart people with common names
The role of religion and community
Religion touches every part of Amish life and shapes how they pick names. The community sees names as more than just labels – they reflect their faith and hopes for their children. Family and community elders often help pick names to make sure they fit with cultural values.
Names mean much more than their religious connections. They help keep family heritage alive, as children often get named after grandparents or respected family members. This creates a strong bond between generations and brings the community closer.
The Amish naming system also helps organize their society. Unmarried women use their father’s name with an apostrophe before their own (like “Sim’s Lomie”). Married women put their husband’s name first without the apostrophe (“David Saloma”). People might even refer to entire families by the father’s name with an added ‘s’ (visiting “Davids” instead of “the Furlong family”).
How Amish Families Choose Names for Girls
Amish girl names follow practical traditions that families have passed down through generations. Large families with ten to fifteen children need systematic ways to name their children. These approaches blend tradition with practicality.
Naming after grandparents and ancestors
New Amish parents turn to their family lineage as inspiration. “Many start out naming their babies after the child’s grandparents on both sides of the family,” which makes the first six to eight names a natural choice. This meaningful tradition connects generations and preserves family heritage.
Names cycle through communities again and again, creating deep ancestral bonds. Girls’ names like Sarah, Mary, and Rebecca appear consistently in family trees because of this careful preservation of lineage.
Use of initials instead of middle names
Middle names rarely exist in many Amish communities. “Most Amish children are only given a first name and a middle initial,” which comes from their father’s first name. The middle initial “U” might be shared by all siblings because their father’s name was Ura.
Some communities use the mother’s maiden name differently. “In Lancaster County, the middle initial represents the mother’s maiden surname”. This system works much like modern hyphenated last names but serves a unique cultural purpose.
Nicknames and descriptors to avoid confusion
Limited name variety in Amish communities makes it crucial to tell people apart. Multiple identification systems have evolved:
Unmarried girls often carry their father’s name with an apostrophe, like “Sim’s Lomie” (Simon’s Saloma). Marriage changes this prefix – a woman becomes “David Saloma” instead of “David’s Saloma”.
People’s skills become useful identifiers when names overlap. Someone might know a woman as “Mary Ann who makes dolls”. Married women’s identities often link to their husbands’ names in daily conversation. “John Susan” means John Yoder’s wife Susan, distinct from “David Susan” or “Levi Susan”.
These naming conventions show how Amish communities honor their traditions while solving practical challenges of limited name choices.
Most Common Amish Girl Names and Their Meanings
Amish communities in America have several female names that they’ve managed to keep popular through generations. These amish girl names connect children to their faith and ancestors with deep meanings.
Sarah – Princess and strength
Sarah stands as one of the most common female amish names with Hebrew roots. The name means “princess,” “respect,” “strength,” and “sovereignty”. She was Abraham’s wife in the Old Testament and holds special meaning as Isaac’s mother. Her role makes her the symbolic mother of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Amish families often choose this name to honor their faith tradition.
Mary – Revered biblical figure
Mary comes from the Hebrew name Miriam and remains a top choice among amish women names. This name means “beloved,” “bitter,” or “drop of the sea”. People love this name because it links to many important biblical figures. The Virgin Mary, Jesus’s mother, along with Mary Magdalene and other New Testament women make this name special. It represents purity, devotion, and faithfulness—values that Amish society holds dear.
Emma – Universal and whole
Emma stands out from other female amish names because it has Germanic roots instead of biblical ones. The name means “whole” or “universal”. Amish communities welcome this non-biblical name because its Germanic origins appeal to many Amish families’ Swiss-German heritage.
Elizabeth – God is my oath
Elizabeth comes from Hebrew and means “God is my oath”. This biblical name appears often in scripture, especially as John the Baptist’s mother. Lancaster County communities use this name frequently, sometimes as “Lizzie”. The King James Bible spells it as Elisabeth. This name shows the Amish people’s steadfast dedication to faith-centered naming traditions.
Rebecca – Mother of Israel
Rebecca, from Hebrew Rivka, means “to tie firmly,” “to bind,” or “to fascinate”. Rebecca was Isaac’s wife and mother to twins Esau and Jacob in the Bible. She became even more important because Jacob (later called Israel) started the twelve tribes of Israel. This makes Rebecca the symbolic “Mother of Israel”. Amish families often pick this name because of its strong biblical ties.
Ruth – Loyalty and lineage
Ruth symbolizes faithfulness in Amish culture. The biblical Ruth showed amazing loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi. The Hebrew name means “companion” or “friend”. Ruth stands out as one of just five women in Jesus Christ’s family tree. Her story about gathering grain in fields to make bread connects with traditional Amish women’s roles. This makes Ruth a powerful name choice for girls in the community.
Rare and Unique Amish Female Names
Beyond the common amish girl names, some rare gems show up in communities that reflect local differences and family creativity. These unique female amish names emerge even with the community’s conservative way of naming children.
Saloma – Peaceful and rare
Saloma stands out as one of the unusual amish women names you’ll mostly see in specific communities. The name is rare, but people who share it need special nicknames to tell them apart. A former Amish woman tells how people called her “Sim’s Lomie” (Simon’s Saloma) to set her apart from another girl with the same name at her school. Marriage changes this naming pattern—the apostrophe drops as the husband’s name becomes a prefix, and “Sim’s Lomie” becomes “David Saloma”.
Lovina – Possibly from Lavinia
Lovina (also spelled Lavina) likely comes from Lavinia, a name rooted in Roman mythology. Lavinia was Aeneas’s wife and “the mother of the Roman People”. This shows that not all amish names come from the Bible. Some Amish settlements have welcomed this name despite its Latin roots.
Cevilla – Regional and Swartzentruber-specific
You’ll find Cevilla mostly in Minnesota communities, and it might be another way to spell Sovilla. This name shows up in specific areas, especially among Swartzentruber Amish groups. The name might have Spanish roots and people pronounce it different ways: Sa-V-Yah, Se-V-yah, or Sa-Villa.
Arlowene – A creative blend
Arlowene shows how creative amish girl names can be. It might be a feminine version of “Arlo” or a longer form of “Arlene” with an extra syllable. This distinctive name shows how some Amish communities let people get creative with names while keeping their traditional values.
Leora – Light and grace
Leora appears now and then among amish women names and might come from Hebrew words meaning “my light”. Some people think it has Greek roots instead. This musical name appears in several Amish communities and gives families a graceful option besides the usual biblical names.
Elvesta – Possibly Germanic origin
Elvesta is one of the most mysterious rare amish female names. People have found this name mostly in Ohio communities, but no one knows much about where it came from. It might have Germanic roots, and shows how local Amish communities sometimes use unique names while staying true to their culture.
Summing it all up
Amish girl names offer a unique glimpse into their community’s values, faith and cultural heritage. These names have stayed consistent through generations. The community draws names from biblical sources and sometimes includes Germanic influences. Modern parents might chase unique names, but Amish families value simplicity and tradition above everything else.
The Amish take family heritage seriously when choosing names. Most parents name their first kids after their grandparents. This creates deep family connections that make community bonds stronger. The limited pool of names can create confusion, but the community has found ways to work around it. They use initials, descriptive nicknames, and special naming rules that change after marriage.
Common names like Sarah, Mary, and Elizabeth fill Amish communities. You’ll also find unique names like Saloma, Lovina, and Cevilla in certain areas. In spite of that, each name carries deep meaning tied to faith, family history, or cultural roots.
The Amish naming system does more than just identify people. It shows their faith in action, builds family bonds, keeps traditions alive, and helps organize their society. Modern society’s pressure hasn’t changed these naming traditions. They’ve stayed strong for centuries, which shows how well Amish cultural practices survive in today’s ever-changing world.
Here are some FAQs about amish girl names:
What are the traditional Amish names?
Traditional Amish girl names often include biblical names or simple, classic names that reflect their values. Some common amish girl names are Sarah, Rebecca, Mary, and Esther, which have strong religious significance. The amish names girl tradition favors names that are humble and timeless rather than modern or flashy.
What is a Mennonite girl name?
Mennonite girl names overlap significantly with amish girl names, sharing many biblical and traditional options. Names like Anna, Lydia, and Ruth appear frequently in both communities. While some Mennonites may use slightly more modern names, most stick to the same simple naming conventions as their Amish neighbors.
Do Amish girls date non Amish?
Amish girls typically do not date outside their community as it goes against their religious and cultural traditions. The amish names girl tradition reflects their insular community values that discourage relationships with outsiders. While rare exceptions might occur, dating non-Amish would usually lead to being shunned by the community.
Is Ezekiel an Amish name?
Yes, Ezekiel is a common Amish boy’s name, though it’s less common among amish girl names. Many Amish names come directly from the Bible, and Ezekiel fits this pattern perfectly. While more popular for boys, some biblical names are used for both genders in the Amish community.
What are the 3 languages of Amish?
The Amish primarily use three languages: Pennsylvania Dutch for daily conversation, High German for religious services, and English for dealing with outsiders. These linguistic traditions influence their naming conventions, including amish names girl choices. Many common amish girl names work well across all three languages.
What celebrities are Amish?
There are virtually no Amish celebrities since their religion prohibits participation in mainstream entertainment and media. The simple, traditional amish girl names reflect their separation from modern celebrity culture. Some former Amish like Rebecca Borntrager have written about their experiences, but none are true celebrities.
What are Amish women’s first names?
Amish women’s first names are typically biblical or simple traditional names like the common amish girl names: Miriam, Naomi, or Rachel. The amish names girl tradition avoids trendy or flashy names in favor of timeless choices. These names reflect their values of humility and separation from worldly influences.
Can Amish marry Mennonites?
While possible, marriages between Amish and Mennonites are quite rare due to theological and cultural differences. The amish girl names tradition is just one of many distinct practices that separate the two groups. Such marriages would typically require one partner to leave their original community.
Do Amish have middle names?
Most Amish do not use middle names, keeping with their tradition of simplicity. The amish names girl convention typically involves just a first and last name. This practice differs from mainstream culture where middle names are common, reflecting the Amish value of plainness in all things.
