UK Girl Names

Yesterday's sensation that rose with the popularity of Whitney Houston. Whitney may have lost some of its style value, but it still sounds like one of the quintessential <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/501/english-names-for-girls">English names for girls</a>. Today, you might want to shorten it to cool nickname Whit.

Whitney

An medieval English form of Helen, the sensitive but clear-eyed Ellen has swung in and out of style for centuries, often alternating with the parent name. Ellen was the more common in medieval England, until after the Renaissance, when Helen overtook her. In Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, set at the end of the nineteenth century, one character wonders why another has not changed her "ugly" given name to something prettier, like Elaine—a statement few would make today.
 Ellen has been the name of two First Ladies—Arthur and Wilson—and is Scarlett O'Hara's mother in Gone with the Wind. These days, it's most strongly associated in the US with comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

Ellen

Updates Allison—which everyone will misunderstand it as. But it's definitely a fresh spin on the Ellie names, and a rising surname name choice for girls. 
 
Ellison made its first appearance on the US Top 1000 for girls in 2013 and has been drifting slightly upwards ever since. About 75 percent of the babies named Ellison are girls.
 Ralph Ellison was the author of Invisible Man, which won the National Book Award in 1953.

Ellison

Like other "ee" names, Bailee is starting to lose its shine, slowly slipping down the charts.

Bailee

Aniya is a a cross-cultural choice with a bright, fresh sound. While alternative spelling Aniyah is in the US and UK Top 1000, Aniya dropped out of the charts in 2021, and is now given to around 250 girls each year.
 
As an Arabic name, Aniya means "caring" or "one who helps others", an aspirational meaning connoting both strength and gentleness. As a modern invention, it likely draws inspiration from Anya and Anna, which could give it the meaning "grace".
 
Writer of popular novel Queenie, Candice Carty-Williams has used the name in her first YA book, Empress and Aniya.

Aniya

Harriet has long been considered a stylish, upscale name in England, but it's still waiting to be revived in the US—though some parents seeking a solid, serious semi-classic are beginning to consider it. 
 Distinguished namesakes include Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the influential Uncle Tom's Cabin; Harriet Tubman (born Araminta), the famed abolitionist; and in pop culture, Harriet Hilliard Nelson, of Ozzie & Harriet TV fame. Many will associate it with the protagonist of the childhood classic Harriet the Spy. Harriet has appeared in other books ranging from Jane Austen's Emma to Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. 
 Harriet, a Top 100 name at the turn of the last century, hasn't appeared on the list since 1970. On the other hand, it is currently Number 61 in England and Wales.
 Cutesy nicknames for Harriet include Hattie, Hetty, and Hatsy. A related idea: Henrietta.

Harriet

Ann, the name of the sainted mother of the Virgin Mary, was among the top <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls’ names</a> for centuries, in both the original English Ann spelling and the French Anne. Both left the Top 100 around 1970 and show no signs of returning, with Anne is the middle of the US Top 1000 and Ann dropped out of sight. 

Once a go-to middle name, Ann has lost its stature in that position as well. Still, it's one of the most <a href="/list/653/100-most-common-names-for-girls">common names for girls</a> of the 20th century.
 Some more popular related names today include Hannah, Anna, and Annabelle.

Braden (and Braeden) had his heyday in the early part of the 21st century, giving rise to many offshoots for both boys and girls. But Braelyn and siblings are now on a long downward slide.

Braelyn

Playful but concise, Aira has become a rising star in England and Wales in recent years. Light and well, airy, it has also been trending upwards in the US. while in the US. 
Short and simple as it may look, Aira has a number of different origins. It could be seen as an elaboration of the word name Air — similar to Kylie Jenner's son, Aire. Alternatively, it could be a variation of Ayra, meaning "worthy" and "noble" in Sanskrit. It can also be a Finnish name meaning "messenger", or a variation of the Armenian name Ara, meaning king. Finally, it may be a Lithuanian name after the Airė river.
 
We suspect a number of English parents who name their babies Aira had the former, pop culture inspiration in mind — likely enjoying it as an alternative to the likes of Skyla or River. Others might have been inspired by dancer Aira Casim or by lifestyle influencer Ashmita Srivastava, who has a daughter called Aaira. 
 
With the announcement of Jenner's baby Aire's name in early 2023, we suspect that Aira will continue to climb the charts, with nearly 180 parents choosing it in the US in a recent count.

Aira

While Charlotte and Caroline are considered stylish and classic members of the Charles family, this Germanic form peaked in the US at Number 76 in 1965. It fell out of favor in the 2010s, but recent years have seen it re-enter the Top 1000.
 
Highly popular in Spain, Carla shares similar sounds to Clara, Kaia, Mara and Kiara, which might help people see it in a new light in coming years.

Carla

Joan was the perfect name choice for one of the leading characters on Mad Men, being a quintessential girls' name of the period. A Top 10 name in the 30s, a Top 50 name from the 40s through the early 60s, it was the fifth most popular name in the country for three years running and ranks as one of the most <a href="/list/653/100-most-common-names-for-girls">common names for girls</a> in the 20th century. But alas, Joan hasn't even appeared in the Top 1000 for a dozen years, and these days it's primarily associated with Joans of the generation of Joan Crawford, Joan Collins and Joan Rivers--just a few of the noted Joans whose ranks also include the singers Joan Sutherland, Joan Baez, Joan Armatrading and Joan Jett. But it's possible that modern parents who are reviving Jane might move on to Joan, inspired by Joan Hollaway Harris.
 The first English bearer of the name was Henry II's daughter, Jhone, but the modern spelling was soon established, which is why Saint Jeanne d'Arc was translated as Joan, making her the most illustrious wearer of the name. By Shakespeare's time, Joan had become so overused that it was ripe for replacement by the newly coined Jane, the reverse of what happened in twentieth-century America.
 Some livelier foreign versions of Joan include Giovanna, Siobhan, Ione and Juana.

Joan

Maple is one of those sweet-spot word names that sounds so almost name-like that it doesn't feel outlandish or strange, despite its relative newness as a given name. Just as Juniper is adjacent to June or Pippa, Clover like Chloe or Clara and Ember like Emma or Ebba, Maple is enough like Mabel, Maisie and Mae that it blends in well and has a touch of borrowed vintage charm.
 
Quietly used since the 1890s - yes, really - Maple has been rising up the charts in recent years. A recent year saw it given to nearly 200 girls each year, it ranks similarly to Viola, Shea, and Rue
 Jason Bateman and Amanda Anka named their daughter Maple Sylvie in 2020, which has shone a spotlight on the name, while content creator Kaydee Church chose Maple Lu for her baby born in 2025. 
 
The name appeared very briefly in the US Top 1000 back in 1902 and there's even a poem about a girl called Maple by Robert Frost which dwells on the significance choosing a name for a child. Also associated with strength and endurance, Canada, syrup and pancakes, autumn and shades of red, we predict Maple will continue to rise in coming years.

Maple

An alternative spelling to the cheerful Sunny, Sunnie may lend it a more 'name-y' feel as in the case of names like Scarlett, Daisie, Journee, and Saige. Country artist Payton Smith and his wife Hannah named their daughter Sunnie Lynn in 2025, while British actor Danny Dyer has an adult daughter called Sunnie too.
 
In a recent year, Sunnie was given to around 220 American girls, while the Sunny spelling was used nearly 800 times.

Sunnie

Lavender lags far behind sweet-smelling purple-hued sister names Violet and Lila, but is starting to get some enthusiastic attention from cutting-edge namers along with other adventurous nature names like Clementine and Marigold. In fact, 2024 saw it enter the US Top 1000 for the first time, when it was given to nearly 260 girls.

 The flower's name derives from Latin lividus "bluish", influenced by lavō "wash" due to use of lavender in washing clothes. It has long been used in traditional medicine and in cooking for its sweet fragrance and soothing properties. But it also has a long history as a name, going back to the eighteenth century, when it was also used for boys. 

 Famous fictional namesakes include Lavender Brown, a witch character in the Harry Potter saga, and the eponymous heroine's best friend in Roald Dahl's Matilda.

Lavender

Jayleen is one of those modern creations that could be seen as an attempt to be trendy yet retro at the same time. Part Jaylee, part Aileen, Jayleen could be an honor for a Jane or a James, an Eileen, or a Darlene. While Jayleen has technically been used since the '50s, it really caught on in the 2000s. It overtook Jaylene in the Top 1000 in 2008 and has remained as the preferred choice ever since. It peaked in 2013 when it reached the Top 400, but has since declined to the #700s. 
 For something truly retro, Janie, Aileen, Jolene, Justine, Geraldine, or Janine might appeal as names with a similar sound, while Jaylani, Aylin, Abilene, Lakelynn, Jazmin, and Jazlyn are similar recent stars.

Jayleen

A name with some sterling qualities, most associated with the British currency and silver markets, though it could easily be read as virtuous, celebratory choice, like Merritt or Goldie. 
 
Sterling is more commonly a male name or surname, but it has been chosen for an increasing number of girls in recent years. The latest count saw it given to 218 American girls, along with 880 boys, meaning it is currently split 20:80.

Sterling

This is a more spunky and Nordic looking variant of Erica, but the k also makes the connection to the beautiful flower less apparent.

Erika

Combine the popularity of Betty White and Mad Men's glamorous Betty Draper Francis, with the residual sweetness of Ugly Betty's Betty Suarez, and the result is an impending return of the name. It's got presidential cred via Betty Ford and feminist history through Betty Friedan.
 
Betty's image is still very World War II, when Betty Grable was a hot pin-up girl and Betty was the all-American girls' name blanketing the country, second only to Mary from 1928 to 1934. 
So yes, Betty has been out for so long now that we are starting to imagine a new generation of adorable baby Bettys. We may be on the precipice of a Betty wave, thanks to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, who recently chose it for their third daughter.
 
Bette Davis pronounced her name 'Betty,' while Bette Midler is 'Bet.'

Betty

Strong and outdoorsy, yet pretty and queenly, Rhiannon was a once obscure Welsh name, brought into the mainstream in 1976, following Fleetwood Mac's flash hit song of the same title. It stormed into the US charts, climbing straight to #593 — and to give a better sense of just how influential the song was on the name, Rhiannon had only started appearing in the US stats in 1974, when it was given to 5 girls. By 1976, it was used 50 times more often: chosen for 272 babies.
 
Possibly derived from the Celtic name Rīgantonā, Rhiannon could mean "great queen" or "divine queen". In Welsh mythology, she is a strong, forthright leader, possessed of magic, intelligence, beauty, political strategy, and generosity. She faces trials and challenges after choosing her own consort, including an uncatchable horse, being accused of infanticide, and vengeance from a friend of her spurned lover. 
 
The Welsh Rhiannon may be related to earlier Celtic goddesses, potentially Epona, a goddess of horses. Additionally, in she is considered a moon goddess in Celtic mythology, associated with rebirth, poetry, and beauty, and the owner of singing birds, who supposed wake spirits or grant sleep. 
 
Popular in the UK and Australia in the 90s and 2000s, Rhiannon is currently more quietly used, making it a distinctive but familiar choice, similar in feel or style to Rhys, Arwen, and Ffion. Director Robert Rodriguez bestowed this sweet name on his first daughter while Jenna Dewan also hose it for her baby girl.
 
The Arabic Rihanna looks similar but is unrelated, deriving from Rayhana to mean "basil".

Rhiannon

Kit is a crisp, old-time nickname with plenty of spirit and style. In the UK it's a rising star for boys, while in the US, it is trending upwards for girls too. 
 
Originally used as a diminutive of Katherine and Christopher, Kit could stand on its own to make a cool alternative to Katie, or an unexpected honor name for the aforementioned classics. 
 
Coinciding with the name for a young fox, Kit feels at home with the likes Wren and Quinn — and with fast risers like Scottie, Robin, and Drew. In a recent year, 188 girls received the name compared to 182 boys, making it a gender neutral choice in the US at least. 
Love the idea of Kit for a girl but still want a full name that isn't Katherine or Christina? You could try Kallista, Kensington, Keturah, Kismet, Kinneret, or Katalina.

UK names for baby girls originate from all the languages and cultures of the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, along with Cornwall and the Isle of Man. UK girl names range from the top female names in the English-speaking world, such as Ann, Ella, and Kate to thousands of unique girls' names like Lettice, Myfanwy, and Pixie.

Browse this list of UK girl names from the Nameberry database that originate in the English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish, Cornish and Manx languages and cultures. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.

UK names for baby girls originate from all the languages and cultures of the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, along with Cornwall and the Isle of Man. UK girl names range from the top female names in the English-speaking world, such as Ann, Ella, and Kate to thousands of unique girls' names like Lettice, Myfanwy, and Pixie. Browse this list of UK girl names from the Nameberry database that originate in the English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish, Cornish and Manx languages and cultures. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically. (Page 15)