When we think about baby names, oftentimes we think about people who inspire us. After all, if instead of simply choosing a name with a sound and meaning we like we're going to choose a namesake for them — someone worthy of naming them after — it should be someone pretty great, right? And honestly, a wonderful place to start is by thinking about the amazing mothers in this world.
We're not just talking about celeb moms, either, but moms throughout history who have changed the world and made a difference, while raising their children at the same time. Some days, we feel like we can take on the world, and some days, we feel like it's all we can do to keep our kids alive. But on the days we need it most, these are the mothers who inspire us to push ourselves and be better than we ever thought we could be. Why not name our kids after them?
Read on for 20 incredible moms who are definitely worthy of naming our baby girls after. Moms can truly do anything, and these women (who also happen to make awesome role models for our kids) prove it.
ELIZABETH
Ever feel like an underachiever? Get ready to feel that times two. Not only did Elizabeth Cady Stanton lead the women's rights movement, but she also found the time to raise seven children. Her name is classic, and she's definitely a suitable namesake.
DIANA
Princess Diana's legacy involves a lot of successes. Her service and charity work to those in need and her openness about all things mental health immediately come to mind. But then, there's also the way she raised her children, Prince Harry and Prince William, to be good men, husbands, and fathers that will never be forgotten.
MICHELLE
She might not be the first lady anymore, but Michelle Obama certainly made her mark in the White House as the first Black woman to take on the role — and she continued raising daughters Sasha and Malia through it all.
JULIE
With the legendary career that Julie Andrews has had on both stage and screen in hits such as The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins (and now narrating Bridgerton, no less), it's easy to forget that she is also a mom to three daughters: Emma, Joanna, and Amy.
AMAL
Amal Clooney was already a humanitarian and lawyer before she settled down with George Clooney — he just helped her get the fame she rightfully deserved! And now, she's a mom, too, to their 3-year-old twins, Alexander and Emma.
MAYA
Maya Angelou died in 2014, but her impact on the world is indelible — through her activism, her writing, and the fact that she was also a mother to her son, Guy Johnson, who is now 76 years old.
KATE
Add another royal mother to the list! This time, we're talking about Kate Middleton (full name Catherine), who works tirelessly to improve early childhood education in the UK when she's not parenting Charlotte, Louis, and George (the future king of England, NBD).
MEGHAN
While we're talking about royal moms, we certainly can't leave out Meghan Markle. Not only has she dedicated her adult life to charity work, but she was also willing to walk away from the royal family to give Archie the best life possible. That's what being a mom is all about.
ANGELINA
Though she's certainly best known for her work as an actress, Angelina Jolie is so much more than that. As a humanitarian, she co-founded the Jolie-Pitt Foundation with ex-husband Brad Pitt and works on projects such as being the high commissioner of the UN Refugee Agency while also raising her six children.
ALBERTA
When we think of the moms we admire most, we also think of the women who raised some of the most impactful people in the world, and that includes Alberta King — the mother of Martin Luther King Jr. She herself was a huge part of the civil rights movement until her death in 1974.
CARRIE
Carrie Fisher definitely left the world far too soon when she died in 2016 after suffering a heart attack, but we will never forget everything she accomplished (including her reign as Princess Leia) as she was raising daughter Billie Lourd.
SERENA
How cool is it that potentially the best tennis player of our time is a mom too? Even after she gave birth to daughter Olympia in 2017, she hasn't let motherhood slow her down, and at the same time, it's pretty clear to see how much her baby girl adores her.
BEYONCÉ
If this is the name for a baby girl, there will be no doubt what bad–s mama she was named after. We can all agree that Beyoncé is queen of just about everything, and when she's not breaking musical records, selling out her Ivy Park collection, and touring the globe, she's raising kids Blue, Sir, and Rumi.
JESSICA
When we think of celeb moms who keep it real, our minds immediately go to Jessica Simpson. Sure, she's achieved a lot in her professional life, but when it comes to the reality of being pregnant and caring for three kids, Jess always tells it like it is. An admirable quality!
JACQUELINE
As far as first ladies go, we'd be remiss if we left Jackie Kennedy off this list. Jackie O had iconic style, kept herself together even after her husband had been assassinated, and all the while was mom to three children without missing a beat.
GABRIELLE
Gabrielle Union is mom to one baby these days (Kaavia, who is growing so fast — we can't believe she's already 2 years old!). She's also an activist and an actress who always stands up for herself and what she believes in, and there's no doubt she's teaching her daughter to do the same.
TONI
Best known for writing novels including The Bluest Eye and Beloved, Toni Morrison was also a mother. She had two children, Slade and Harold, and most definitely changed the world with her writing.
REESE
Besides founding a clothing brand, a production company, and countless other successful ventures, Reese Witherspoon is best known for her iconic roles in movies such as Legally Blonde and TV series including Big Little Lies. But at home, she's mom to kids Ava, Deacon, and Tennessee.
RUTH
It's hard to imagine any woman earning our respect much more than Ruth Bader Ginsburg did during her life and her tenure on the US Supreme Court as she fought for women's rights. And at the same time, she was a mother to kids Jane and James.
JADA
An acting career, raising two amazing kids, and starting her own wildly popular show on Red Table Talk. Seriously, is there anything that Jada Pinkett Smith can't do?
