Names Ending in -lie for Girls

Aurelie is the delicate French variation of Aurelia, one of the most improbable popular names of recent years. Both versions of the name are lovely, but it might be difficult to insist that Americans pronounce Aurelie the attractive French way rather than like plain old orally.

A Scottish place and surname that was once adrogynous but now leans about 20 to 1 toward the girls' side, Leslie has a pleasant, heathery feel that kept it in or near the Top 100 for several decades; the Lesly and Lesley spellings are also frequently used, especially in Britain. While Leslie may not be the freshest name in the bunch, it's become a modern classic and is one of the surprising names always to have ranked among the US Top 1000 for girls.

The French Miley? This trendy choice from Brittany, which is pronounced either as Miley or May-lee, is related to the traditional (male) saint's name Mael, traditionally feminized as Maelle.

In European countries where it's regularly used as a form of the Amelia family of names, the pronunciation is very similar to the a-ending form, Amalia.

Akin to Ada, Adeline, and Adele, Adalie is one of many names to derive from the Old German element adal. Musical and lively, and less popular than its many of its sisters, Adalie was given to around 160 girls in a recent year. An obscure choice until the 2000s, Adalie saw increased usage in the US in 2012, around the time as other Ad- names were beginning to really trend.

Adelie comes from French origins and is often associated with nobility, deriving from the Germanic name Adelaide, meaning 'noble' or 'nobility.' The name gained recognition from the Adelie penguin, discovered in 1840 by French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville, who named the species after his wife, Adèle. As a girl's name, Adelie offers a delicate, elegant sound with a connection to both nature and aristocratic heritage. While not among the most common names, Adelie has been steadily increasing in popularity, particularly among parents seeking a name that is distinctive yet easy to pronounce. Its French flair and penguin association give it both sophistication and a whimsical quality that appeals to modern naming sensibilities.

A stylish French name which ultimately derives from Adelaide, via the Occitan form Azalaïs. It was borne by Saint Marie-Azélie Guérin, also called Zélie, the mother of Thérèse of Lisieux.

French variation of Ophelia that might make that lovely-and-haunted name feel more viable, yet there will be inevitable pronunciation issues.

Though this name properly takes an accent over the first e, most Americans would probably have trouble pronouncing it with French elan.

A warm, sunny, and extremely rare name, even within its native France. Idalie would be especially perfect to honor an Ida.

One of the few Lu- names that you've probably never heard of, Lulie could prove a good alternative for Luna, Lucy, and Lula.

French favorite gaining notice here thanks to the charming film of that name. Although to the English-speaking ear it sounds more like Emily than Amelia, it derives from the latter which has a different origin and meaning.

A sweet (literally) and rare nickname for Charlotte. Lollie would also work as a short form of other names with a strong L sound, such as Elizabeth, Lauren, Lola, Lorelei, and Louisa.

Attractive, underused name made famous by the heroine of The Color Purple. Still, if you're going to go to Celie, why not go all the way to Celia or Cecelia? You can always use Celie for short.

Vallie is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a diminutive of Valentine or Valerie, both derived from the Latin word "valens" meaning "strong" or "healthy." Alternatively, it could be related to geographical features, referencing valleys (from Old French "val"). Vallie saw modest popularity in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but has since become uncommon. The name has a gentle, vintage quality that fits with the revival of century-old names in modern naming trends. Its simple spelling and pronunciation make it accessible, while its vintage character gives it a distinctive quality in contemporary contexts. Vallie carries a warm, friendly sound with its soft consonants and ending.

Arlie is a diminutive form of the Germanic name Arlo, which means 'hill' or 'fortified hill'. While traditionally used for boys, Arlie has evolved into a unisex name with increasing popularity for girls. Its charming, friendly sound gives it a folksy, approachable quality reminiscent of rural America. In the United States, Arlie enjoyed modest popularity in the early 20th century before declining, but has seen a slight resurgence as parents seek vintage yet uncommon names. The name carries a sweet, unpretentious quality with its soft sounds and friendly ending, making it appealing for parents looking for something simultaneously traditional and distinctive.

An interesting cousin of Natalie (the 'h' is silent) found in the Louisiana Cajun community, Athalie is the name of a tragedy by classic French playwright Racine.

Ollie is used less often as a nickname for the mega-popular Olivia or the stylish Olive than Ellie is for Eleanor or Allie for Allison. That may be because Ollie has a much longer use as a nickname for boys.

Tallie is a seldom-heard nickname name that, with the ascendance of Hallie and Callie, we might just be hearing more of.

Unlike most creative spellings, this one isn't overly trendy or overdone—in fact, it's quite delicate and pretty. However, it is clearly suffering from the plethora of similar names that are flowing around right now (Emelie, Emilia, Emily, Emilee, Amelie, Amelia) and has fallen more than 300 spots since 2013. It might be time for Emilie and her sisters to be left alone for a while.