Girl Names That Mean Butterfly
Girl names that mean butterfly include Mariposa, Parvaneh, Farasha, Kimimela, Papillon, Titli, Bindi, Vlinder and Choko. Many come straight from the word for butterfly in Spanish, Persian, Arabic, Lakota, French, Hindi and Japanese. Others, like Vanessa and Psyche, link to butterflies through science or myth. This guide covers the best butterfly names for girls by culture and style.
Quick Picks
- Mariposa: butterfly in Spanish
- Parvaneh: butterfly in Persian
- Farasha: butterfly in Arabic
- Kimimela: butterfly in Lakota
- Titli: butterfly in Hindi and Urdu
- Vanessa: a name linked to butterflies since the 1700s
- Psyche: Greek for soul, also linked to the butterfly
Names That Directly Mean Butterfly
- Mariposa: Spanish
- Parvaneh: Persian
- Parvana: Azerbaijani form of Parvaneh
- Farasha: Arabic
- Kimimela: Lakota
- Kimimila: another Lakota spelling
- Bindi: Noongar, from Western Australia
- Vlinder: Dutch
- Kelebek: Turkish
- Farfalla: Italian
- Papillon: French
- Titli: Hindi and Urdu
Spanish, Italian and French Names
- Mariposa: Spanish for butterfly, with nicknames like Mari and Posa
- Farfalla: Italian for butterfly
- Papillon: French for butterfly
- Mariposita: a soft Spanish form meaning little butterfly
Arabic and Persian Names
- Farasha: butterfly in Arabic
- Parvaneh: butterfly in Persian
- Parvana: the Azerbaijani form
- Parwana: a Persian and Urdu word often used for a moth, and poetically for a devoted lover
- Yara: said to mean small butterfly in Arabic, though it is also linked to a lady of the water
Urdu, Hindi and Bengali Names
- Titli: butterfly in Hindi and Urdu
- Titlee: another spelling of Titli
- Projapoti: butterfly in Bengali
- Parwana: moth or butterfly, with poetic meaning
Native American and Aboriginal Names
- Kimimela: butterfly in Lakota
- Kimimila: another form
- Kamama: butterfly, from a Native American language
- Aponi: butterfly in a Native American language
- Bindi: butterfly in Noongar
Asian Names
- Choko or Chouko: butterfly child in Japanese
- Cho: butterfly in Japanese
- Hudie: butterfly in Chinese
- Nabi: butterfly in Korean
Greek and Latin Names
- Psyche: Greek for soul, often drawn as a butterfly
- Papilio: Latin for butterfly, used as a genus name
- Kallima: a butterfly genus, linked to beauty
- Chrysalis: the pupa stage of a butterfly
Butterfly Species Names
Many classic names are also used for butterfly species.
- Vanessa: a butterfly genus, and a name often tied to butterflies since the 1700s
- Atalanta: the red admiral butterfly
- Io: a peacock butterfly
- Cressida: a swallowtail butterfly
- Julia: the Julia butterfly
- Melissa: the Melissa blue butterfly
Transformation Names
Butterflies stand for change and rebirth.
- Psyche: soul and transformation
- Chrysalis: the stage of change
- Aurora: new dawn
- Nova: new
- Eve: life
- Renata: reborn
Modern and Unique Picks
- Mariposa
- Kimimela
- Farasha
- Parvaneh
- Chrysalis
- Monarch
- Butterfly
What Butterfly Names Symbolize
The butterfly stands for transformation, freedom and beauty. In many cultures it is also linked to the soul, which is why Psyche means both soul and butterfly in Greek. A butterfly name suggests a light, graceful and hopeful spirit.
How to Choose the Right One
Decide whether you want a direct translation like Mariposa or a softer link like Vanessa. Say the full name aloud with your surname. Check spelling and pronunciation, since Parvaneh, Parvana and Parwana can look alike but differ in language. Think about nicknames too, such as Mari from Mariposa or Tit from Titli. If heritage matters, choose a name from your own language.
Middle Name Ideas
- Amina Mariposa
- Zara Parvaneh
- Maya Farasha
- Ella Psyche
- Noor Titli
- Luna Vanessa
FAQs
What girl name means butterfly?
Mariposa, Parvaneh, Farasha, Kimimela and Titli all mean butterfly in different languages.
What is the most popular name linked to butterflies?
Vanessa is the best known, since it has been tied to butterflies since the early 1700s.
What is a unique girl name that means butterfly?
Kimimela, Farasha, Parvaneh, Bindi and Vlinder are uncommon but have clear meanings.
What Spanish name means butterfly?
Mariposa means butterfly in Spanish.
What Arabic name means butterfly?
Farasha means butterfly in Arabic. Yara is also said to mean small butterfly in some sources.
What Urdu or Hindi name means butterfly?
Titli means butterfly in Hindi and Urdu. Parwana is a related poetic word for a moth or devoted lover.
What Persian name means butterfly?
Parvaneh means butterfly in Persian, and Parvana is the Azerbaijani form.
What Japanese name means butterfly?
Cho means butterfly, and Choko means butterfly child.
What Native American name means butterfly?
Kimimela and Kimimila mean butterfly in Lakota, and Kamama and Aponi also mean butterfly in Native American languages.
What name means butterfly and soul?
Psyche is Greek for soul and is also linked to the butterfly.