UK Girl Names

An evocative word name, conjuring up images of the beautiful low land between hills and mountains, and the streams and rivers that often run through them, Valley has the advantage of also sounding totally name-y. Reminiscent of Ally, Valerie, Valentina, Tally, and Callie, it is a rising choice in the US, more than doubling in popularity in recent years.
 
It was given a huge boost after Kailyn Lowry (of Teen Mom fame) used it for her daughter in 2023, a twin sister to brother Verse, who both joined older sibs Isaac, Lincoln, Lux, Creed and Rio. The following year, it was given to 142 girls (and seven boys) compared to 69 girls the year prior. Additionally, to put its rise in perspective, just five years earlier it was given to less than 20 babies.

Valley

Hollis is a surname-name used quietly for both genders. At last count, it was given to over 200 baby boys and 160 baby girls in the US. Now a Top 1000 name for boys, it could well break into the charts for girls too in the coming years. 
 
It has notable connections for both genders: Hollis Thompson is a professional (male) basketball player, while Hollis is an outsized favorite for girls in South Carolina, where Pete Hollis was a community folk hero. On the girls' side, it feels like an updated, more buttoned-up and distinctive spin on Holly.

Hollis

Variation of Emma with the popular suffix -lyn.

Emmalyn

The original Allison was a Top 50 name from the 1980s through 2016, and Allyson is one of the many spelling variations parents used to put a more unique spin on the original.

Allyson

Peaking at #9 in 1982, Crystal's popularity in the 70s and 80s stems from its sparkling natural namesake and several notable bearers, like country music singer Crystal Gayle and Dynasty character Krystle Carrington. But it has since lost some of its luster for American parents, now ranking in the mid-600s. Ruby, Gemma and Pearl are fashionable alternatives, but nowadays Crystal could actually be a more unexpected choice for your little gem.

Crystal

Through all the years when Betty, Betsy, Beth, Liz, and Lizzie were the Elizabethan nicknames of choice, the bubblier Libby was set aside, but today it may be the most modern of all—it has already made a strong comeback in England and Wales, where it ranks Number 139.
 Libby Holman was a colorful torch singer in the 1920s and '30s, Libby Smith was a mysterious character on Lost, and Carly Simon wrote a song titled "Libby."

Libby

Jaycee is a modern invented name, likely inspired by the similar sounding Casey and Macy. While these names peaked in the 1990s and 2000s, their energetic and contemporary vibe has kept them relevant today, and a recent year saw more than 300 girls given the name Jaycee in the US.
 
As Jaycee is an invention based on the sounds of established names, it doesn't have a specific meaning of its own. You might say, however, that it means "jaybird" from the "jay" element, or that it's a compound name, blending James, Jay, or Jane with Casey or Macey, offering meanings such as "vigilant supplanter", "God is gracious and vigilant", "jaybird on the hill" or similar.

Jaycee

Heavily perfumed word name that peaked a few years ago. 

Essence

This old English surname is gaining popularity, especially for girls.  Though the Marlowe spelling is both the most popular and most feminine form of the name, second-place Marlow is 75 percent female. Marlo is 50-50.

Marlow

Cool and contemporary, yet gentle and easy-going, Winslow blends the elements of other stylish choices, including Willow, Marlow, Winnie, Winter, Sloane, and Elowyn. Its most famous namesake is landscape painter Winslow Homer, which lends it a touch of creativity and fair.
 
Used as a masculine name since at least the 19th century, Winslow derives from Old English and means "friend's hill", or, more literally, "hill belonging to Wine", Wine being a given name meaning "friend". Until 2009, it had never been used for girls, but with the appeal of gender neutral names and nickname Winnie, it is no wonder it has since been on the rise.
 
Given to around 150 girls in a recent year, it is now three times more popular for girls than boys.

Winslow

Hadley, an old surname-name best known as the name of author Ernest Hemingway's "Paris Wife," only recently broke onto the scene in a big way. While Hadley has considerable appeal, spelling variations such as Hadleigh—and onward to Hadleah, Hadleah, Hadli and so on—only emphasize its trendiness. Hadleigh made its first appearance on the US Top 1000 in 2014.

Hadleigh

A multicultural choice, Aleyna is a familiar name in Turkey, the UK, the Netherlands, and in France, where it has been on the rise in recent years. In the US, it has been given to a growing number of girls since the 90s, helped along in recent years perhaps by singer Aleyna Tillki, model Aleyna FitzGerald, and actress, influencer, and singer, Aleyna Dalveren. 
 
As a variation of Elena, Alaina, and Elaina, it is connected to the classic Helen, giving it a bright and shining meaning. As a Turkish and Arabic name, it can mean "soft, tender, delicate" or "to us" depending on which root you follow.

Aleyna

Very popular surname choice — it's in the Boys' Top 100 — beginning to catch on for girls. First female association: novelist Carson McCullers.

Carson

Well-used spelling of Amara, particularly among those using the Arabic variation of the name.

Amarah

Kyle is a Scottish male name while Kylie is an Aboriginal name meaning boomerang.  Kyleigh might be seen as a feminine spin on Kyle or a spelling update of Kylie.  A trendy choice longer on style than substance.

Kyleigh

A compound name with an old-fashioned ring. It only first appeared on the US Top 1000 in 2012. Annalie is a somewhat different name that is nevertheless pronounced the same.

Annalee

In the past few years Ellery has gone from middle-aged male detective -- from old school fictional hero Ellery Queen -- to a plausible girls' name, a la Hillary.

Ellery is one of the golden names that ranks in Nameberry's Top 1000 but not in the US Top 1000, making it a choice both cool and stylish.

Ellery

2012's Hurricane Sandy blew away whatever style currency Sandra retained from its 1960s Sandra Dee heyday. While in recent years it's been associated with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, as a baby name Sandra is sinking beneath the waves.
 Actress Sandra Dee added to the popularity of this name during the mid-twentieth century.

Sandra

Place names like Memphis, Harlem, Cairo, Vienna, Milan, and Astoria are right on trend at the moment, and Egypt could fit in, thanks to its similarity in sound to the likes of Edith and Eden. Alicia Keys used the name for her son back in 2010, but before that, it was used as a stage name for three famous belly dancers.
 
 The name itself derives from Greek, via ancient Egyptian, and means "the house of the soul of Ptah", Ptah being the Egyptian God of creation and creativity. It entered the US Top 1000 in 2017 where it remained until 2022. It was given to around 230 girls in a recent year, while 60 boys also received the name.

Egypt

The phonetic Carolyn spelling, which was very popular from the 1920s to the '60s, has been steadily on the wane while Caroline herself has stayed strong. 
 Carolyn Keene was the pseudonymous author of the Nancy Drew Books; Carolyn Jones played Morticia Addams on TV's The Addams Family.

Carolyn

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 16)