Somali female names draw mainly from the Somali language and Arabic, reflecting long-standing Islamic influence. Many girls’ names are Arabic loans adapted to Somali orthography, often replacing final -ah with -a or dropping it entirely; feminine endings like -a/-ah and -sa are common. Native Somali girls’ names frequently use positive nouns and qualities, and forms ending in -o also occur.

In modern use, girls typically bear a single given name followed by their father’s and grandfather’s given names; fixed surnames are not used, and this pattern matches that of boys. Commonly used Somali female names include Hodan, Nimo, Nadifa, Farhiya, Fardawsa, Ikran, Ayannah, and Damaali.