5 Letter Girl Names

In Hebrew, Areli is a masculine name borne by a minor character in the Bible, and combining the appealing sounds of Ari and Eli and giving it the meaning "lion of God". In this case, it would be pronounced as uh-REE-lye.
 
As a Spanish name, it may well be a variation of the Hebrew name, however, it could equally be a contracted form of Araceli. Pronounced slightly differently and with the softer ah-REH-lee sound, it's likely that it was this celestial Spanish influence that pushed Areli into the US popularity charts in the 2000s. Alternative spelling Arely has made the Top 1000 in recent years.

Areli

Old-fashioned nickname with sweet turn-of-the-last-century charm that's become a favorite among the popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/a">girl names starting with A</a> of today. In fact, with all spellings of Adeline/Adalynn taken together firmly in the Top 10, and Adelaide and Addison also high in the charts, Addie is one of the most frequently-heard short forms around. But no matter how popular (or pandemic) it gets, Addie is undeniably one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/508/cute-baby-names-for-girls">cutest names for baby girls</a>. Little girls might like the fact that it's the name, though spelled Addy, of an American Girl series doll.

Addie

Ashly

Faigy is notable as New York State's quirkiest favorite name, widely-used in the Hasidic community.

Faigy

Karen, a once sweet Danish import, was so popular during the baby boom (Karen was Number 3 in 1960) that it's become a mem in recent years, representing a hostile white woman—one who usually wants to speak with the manager.
 
Given to more than 40,000 girls in a single year at its US peak, the name fell out of the US charts in 2020, though it had been on a rapid decline before that. A Danish (and Norwegian) diminutive of Katherine, itself from the Greek Aikaterine, the name it typically said to mean "pure", though the etymology is cloudy.
 
Pronounced as KA-ruhn or KEHR-uhn in English, KAH-rehn is used among Danish speakers. Parents who want to honor a Karen by choosing an updated version of the name might variations from Karina to Kyra to Kaja to Katri, or look at similar sounding options, like the Cornish Kerensa. 
 
There is more to Karen, however, than its current cultural associations in the Western world. It also has its roots in Japanese, in which its typically transcribed to mean "lotus flower" or "waterlily flower". In this case, it would be pronounced KA-REHN.
 
Additionally, in Armenian, it is used as an alternative transcription of Garen (used to reflect the Western Armenian pronunciation), meaning "high value, precious".

Karen

While Leela may be a spelling variation of Lila or Leila, it's also an Indian name in its own right with a playful meaning.  And unlike it's more popular Western sisters, Leela does not create pronunciation confusion.

Leela

An attempt to make this name swing more to the feminine side, though the original Ryan is becoming perfectly acceptable for girls.
 Ryann O'Toole is an American professional golfer.

Ryann

Nelly or Nellie is an adorable nickname name that can be short for a wide range of more formal appellations or that can stand on its own, and is typical of the vintage nickname genre that is growing in popularity. While Nelly can be used for several different names, from Helen to Eleanor to Cornelia, it has stood on its own for more than a century. It was one of the most popular names – spelled as Nellie – in the U.S. at the end of the 1800s.
 The musician known as DJ Fatboy Slim named his little girl Nelly.

Nelly

Devyn

Early European import, well known in the 1940s via Norwegian skating movie star Sonja Henie, that has sailed back across the Atlantic, despite the rising popularity of other Russian names. 

Sonia

Aylah is a spelling variant of the on trend Ayla, sharing that -ah ending with other current favorites like Delilah, Savannah, and Norah. Currently in the UK Top 800 and given to almost 200 girls in the US each year, it is becoming increasingly familiar.
 
Australian model Aylah Peterson is one notable bearer, who <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Crv0t1_A-55/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">spoke of her own name</a> after she featured in a celestial-themed photoshoot for Vogue: My name Ayla...means halo of light around the moon. My mother added the H to the end when I was born, because I come from a family of women who love a bit of extra flair...So it feels fitting for this to be my first cover.
 
It may well set her apart from the other Aylas (and Islas), however it is unlikely to be someone's intuitive guess at the spelling just yet.

Aylah

Zaina is the simplified form of Zaynab, the name of the eldest daughter of Muhammad. Zayna is another accepted spelling, while international forms include Zainabu, which exists in both the Arabic and Swahili languages, and Zenja, which is popular in Bosnia. 
 
Deriving from the masculine Zayn (also spelled Zain), Zaina is an unusual name that is simple to understand and pronounce and has a pleasant meaning, that could work well internationally.

Zaina

Ailyn is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may be a modern variation of Aileen or Eileen, which derive from the Gaelic name Eibhlín, meaning "light" or "torch." Alternatively, it could be a creative spelling of Aylin, a Turkish name meaning "halo of light around the moon." This melodic name has gained popularity in recent decades, particularly among parents seeking names with a contemporary feel but traditional roots. The appealing combination of the soft 'Ai' sound with the gentle ending creates a name that feels both delicate and distinctive. Ailyn strikes a balance between uniqueness and familiarity, making it increasingly chosen across various cultural backgrounds.

Ailyn

Will this old-fashioned nickname make a comeback, now that Jane has shed her "plain" image? Janie is cute and approachable, and would stand as well on the birth certificate as Josie and Jessie do now.
 
Spanish speakers pronounce Janie with an H sound at the beginning.

Janie

Jhene is a contemporary feminine name gaining recognition particularly through singer Jhené Aiko. The name appears to be a variant spelling of Jené or Jhené, with likely multicultural origins. It may have roots in French (where 'j' has a soft pronunciation) or could be a creative modern adaptation. 

The name has a melodic quality with its two syllables and accent on the second syllable: It rhymes with Rene. Jhene remains relatively uncommon but has seen increased interest due to the singer's popularity since the 2010s. Parents may be drawn to this name for its distinctive spelling, modern feel, musical associations, and cross-cultural appeal.

Jhene

A highly unusual Italian word-name that is nevertheless attractive and easy to pronounce and spell.

Calia

Once a Top 100 name, this Spanish diminutive of Ana still retains some of her Latin flair. A notable namesake is noted attorney Anita Hill, another is the great jazz singer Anita O'Day. Plus there's Disney cred via the lead human character in 101 Dalmatians.

Anita

Stylish, sweet, and bubbly, Livvy is a familiar short form of the popular Olivia, though it could easily work as a nickname to Olive, Lavinia, or Liv as well. In recent years, however, Livvy has been gaining attention as a standalone option, with 110 baby girls called "just" Livvy in the US in the latest stats.
 
Fitting right in with the likes of Lottie, Lily, and Libby, along with contemporary faves, Stevie, Jovie, and Navy, Livvy was also chosen by reality TV stars, Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Lauren Burnham for their daughter in 2025.

Livvy

It is popularly claimed that the name Wendy was invented by Sir James Barrie in 1904 for the big sister character in his play Peter Pan, which was followed by the classic novel in 1911. Barrie supposedly took it from the nickname "fwendy-wendy", that he was called by a young girl acquaintance. 

 Although the character of Wendy Darling undoubtedly popularized the name across the English-speaking world – peaking in the Top 10 in several countries in the 1950s and 60s – it did actually appear rarely before that. It was likely derived from the Welsh name Gwendolen and its variants.

 Wendy's heyday was once upon a time, but it's starting to undergo a style revolution. With other bouncy and peppy retro nicknames, like Sadie and Edie, rising, Wendy could be part of the next wave.

Wendy

Farah is a soft and lovely Arabic name, best known here in this original spelling via the last Empress of Iran, Farah Palavi. It's currently a Top 250 name in both France and the Netherlands, which both have a large Arabic-speaking population, and appears in at least two video games.
 
The variant spelling Farrah had a brief moment of popularity when Farrah Fawcett burst onto the scene in Charlie's Angels in 1976: her name shot up to Number 177 the following year, and after many years off the charts, it's back at Number 780 thanks to a Teen Mom named Farrah. Farrah Fawcett claimed that her mother made up the name because she thought it went well with their surname.

Farah

Five letter girl names are led by the longtime top name Emily. Sofia, the Latinate spelling of Sophia popular in the US and throughout the Spanish-speaking world, is another top girl name with five letters.

girl names with five letters ranking in the US Top 200 

include Avery, Grace, Chloe, Layla, Riley, Ellie, Alexa, Hazel, and Sarah.


Classics Alice, Lydia, Clara, Julia, Edith, and Maria are all five letter girl names, as are the trendier Sadie, Piper, Kylie, and Quinn.

 on our recommended list include Anouk, Aziza, Celia, Darcy, Elsie, Mercy, Olive, Petra, and Tansy.


Browse our entire menu of five letter names for girls here, ranked according to their current popularity on Nameberry. 

Five letter names for baby girls, with top name Emily and both popular and unique girl names with 5 letters, including meanings, origins, and popularity (Page 16)

Five Letter Girl Names