40+ baby names inspired by women who have changed the course of history

March is Women’s History Month and while we love keeping up with celebrity baby names or royal baby news, we also think it’s important to highlight women who’ve changed the course of history. Who knows, maybe your little bebé will grow up to be an activist or trailblazer as well!

Look for baby name inspo across all genres for the names of famous women. From the glass-ceiling breakers in Hollywood to female pioneers and suffragists, there are so many influential women to look up to. Famous women in history have been making strides for many, many years and they continue to do so every day.

40+ baby names inspired by famous women in history

1. Betty Friedan

Founding member of the National Organization for Women.

2. Shirley Chisholm

Founding member of the National Organization for Women.

3. Pauli Murray

Founding member of the National Organization for Women.

4. Muriel Fox

Founding member of the National Organization for Women.

5. Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Started the National Woman Suffrage Association.

6. Sally Ride

The first American woman to go to space.

7. Mae Jemison

The first Black woman to go to space.

8. Marie Curie

The first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

9. Misty May-Treanor

One of the first women to earn Team USA a gold medal in beach volleyball.

10. Kerri Walsh-Jennings

One of the first women to earn Team USA a gold medal in beach volleyball.

11. Maya Angelou

World famous author who pioneered a unique autobiographical writing style.

12. Amelia Earhart

The first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

13. Ruby Bridges

The first Black child to attend an all white school and desegregate it.

14. Ida B. Wells

Suffragist, journalist and activist who led a anti-lunching crusade in the 18090s.

15. Yuri Kochiyama

A leader and activist in the Japanese American community who fought for social justice.

16. Dolores Huerta

A Co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association and leader of the Chicano civil rights movement.

17. Rosa Parks

An icon of the civil rights movement who became famous for refusing to give up her seat at the front of the bus for a white man.

18. Malala Yousafzai

A child activist in Pakistan who spoke out against the education ban on women and girls. She was awarded a Nobel Peace Price for her activism.

19. Greta Thunberg

An environmental activist who is bringing awareness to climate change.

20. Michelle Obama

The first Black woman to serve as the First Lady of the United States.

21. Susan B. Anthony

A famous abolitionist and suffragist who helped fugitive slaves escape, led anti-slavery rallies and was a key part of passing the 13th amendment.

22. Kamala Harris

The first woman, first Black person and first person of Asian descent to hold the office of the Vice President.

23. Harriet Tubman

A suffragist, spy, nurse and helped slaves escape using the Underground Railroad.

24. Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Fought to break gender barriers for women in many areas including being the second woman and first Jewish woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

25. Emily Dickinson

Famous 19th century poet best known for her unique writing style.

26. Toni Morrison

The first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

27. Virginia Woolf

A pioneering woman novelist who raised bold questions about female independence.

28. Louisa May Alcott

One of the foremost novelists in the 19 and 20th centuries, best known for her novel “Little Women.”

29. Amanda Gorman

A poet and activist who was named the first Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles and the first US National Youth Poet Laureate.

30. Serena Williams

Widely considered one of the best tennis players of all time, she has revolutionized women’s tennis.

31. Simone Biles

The most decorated American gymnast.

32. Billie Jean King

A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her advocacy work in sports and LGBTQ rights.

33. Nadia Comaneci

Influenced women’s artistic gymnastics and the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score in Olympic history.

34. Danica Patrick

The first woman to win an IndyCar championship event.

35. Mia Hamm

An icon in women’s soccer, she is a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

36. Ronda Rousey

The only woman to be the champion in the UFC and WWE and she was the only woman to headline a pay-per-view event in both companies.

37. Sarah Thomas

The first woman to referee the Super Bowl.

38. Aretha Franklin

The first female artist inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

39. Chloé Zhao

The first Asian American woman to win an Oscar for best director.

40. Sandra Oh

The first person of Asian descent to host the Golden Globes, the first woman of Asian descent to win a Golden Globe for best actress in a TV drama in 39 years and she’s the most nominated Asian actor in Emmy history.

41. Jane Fonda

An award-winning actress who is also known for her activism and advocacy for several social issues.

42. Hattie McDaniel

The first Black actress to win an Oscar.

43. Viola Davis

An activist and the first Black woman to win an EGOT.

44. Florence Nightingale

Pioneer of nursing and hospital reform and best remembered for her compassionate care of the sick and wounded during the Crimean War.

45. Frida Kahlo

A feminist icon, activist and Mexican painter known for her self-portraits.

46. Clara Barton

The founder of the American Red Cross.

47. Ada Lovelace

Known as the first computer programmer.

A version of this post was published March 5, 2021. It has been updated.