UK Girl Names

The name of a character in Dawson's Creek, from a surname derived from the Gallo-Roman personal name Paccius, of unknown meaning.

Pacey

About 60 girls were named Alise in the US last year, making it an uncommon but not truly rare name. While it's pretty and intriguing as a spin on the very popular Alice, it's pronounced more like Elise or -- in Latvian -- Elisa, and so may prove more confusing than it's worth. If you want to name your daughter Alice, name her Alice, and if you want to name her Elise, name her Elise. Choosing Alise in many ways gives you the worst of all worlds.

Alise

Blue suddenly came into the spotlight, as the unusual color name chosen by Beyonce and Jay-Z for their baby girl Blue Ivy. Blue is also a starbaby middle name du jour, used for both sexes in different spellings and forms, from John Travolta and Kelly Preston's Ella Bleu to Alicia Silverstone's Bear Blu. Dave 'The Edge' Evans named his daughter Blue Angel back in 1989.
 Despite all these high profile female references, less than 40 percent of the babies name Blue today are girls. Blue is the heroine of the Marisha Pessl novel Special Topics in Calamity Physics.

Blue

Brazil

This simplified spelling of Claire does not improve on the more popular version.

Clair

This spelling variation of Daisy ranks in the British Top 1000 but was only used for a few dozen baby girls last year in the US. At the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, it made the Top 1000 during the craze for ie-ending names.

Daisie

The most famous Sinclair was the (male) writer Lewis, but these days the name works at least as well for a girl. 

Sinclair

Though modern parents seeking to honor an ancestor named Thelma might opt for the airier Thea instead, Thelma is starting to make its way back onto adventurous vintage name lovers' radars. It is currently experiencing a revival in France, where ranked at the #250 mark in a recent year.
 The meaning of Thelma is unknown, although it is sometimes claimed to be derived from the Greek thelema "will". Alternative possibilities are that it's spin on Velma or Wilhelmina, meaning "resolute protection", a feminization of the saintly, Germanic Anthelm, meaning "zealous protection", or perhaps a spin on Ethelmary, meaning "noble and beloved" or "noble drop of the sea">.
 
It was extremely rare as a given name until British writer Marie Corelli used it for the Norwegian heroine of her eponymous novel in 1893. It went on to become a popular choice in the early 19th-century before falling out of style in the 80s. 
 In the English-speaking world, Thelma is associated with Geena Davis' character in the iconic female-centred crime movie Thelma and Louise (1991). It was also the birth name of first lady Pat Nixon.

Thelma

Only slightly fewer girls are named Brandi each year than Brandy, 45 versus 57 in the US. Both spellings have their advantages and disadvantages.

Brandi

Just the kind of vintage nickname (think Hattie, Josie, Mamie, Millie) that's coming back into style in a big way. Actress Busy Phillips named her little girl Birdie.

Byrdie

Crimson could be a possible competitor for Scarlett's success, though it's lacking that Johansson charm.
 
Crimson tends to be disproportionately popular in Alabama — the University of Alabama's athletic teams are called Crimson Tide.

Crimson

One of the earliest of the relaxed, unisex names, now relegated to oldies rock stations. Ricki is a spirited, retro nickname traditionally short for Frederica but now stands strong on its own. Notable bearers include talk show host Ricki Lake, giving it a bold, independent vibe.
 
Ricki peaked in the '90s but remains the dominant spelling of this tomboyish name. It is now given to about 20 baby girls each year in the US. If you add in Rickie and Ricky, it's more like 40. Plus a little under 300 boys - the majority spelled with a -y.

Ricki

A hot name, though perhaps not in the sense you want for your baby. About 20 times as many boys as girls were named Blaze in one recent year, perhaps because it can be seen as a spelling variation of the classic male saint's name Blaise.

Blaze

As the French Esme becomes more popular, it will inevitably spawn spelling variations. This one, like Zoey or Layla, clarifies pronunciation, so while we prefer the original, that's not a bad thing.

Esmay

There were over 1000 baby girls named Lexi -- just Lexi -- in 2015, versus only 72 named Lexy. The reason that Lexi wins: Many parents see the i ending as more feminine for a nickname-name that might be considered unisex.

Lexy

Ebba, the feminine version of Ebbe (a diminutive of Eberhard or Asbjorn) and also a form of an old English name, is in the Swedish Top 10 but virtually unknown in the US. However, with the rise of Emma, Ella, Ada, and similar simple-yet-traditional names, Ebba may enjoy more widespread popularity. 

Ebba

Though Embry became famous as the name of a boy werewolf in Twilight, we think its Em- beginning and -y ending make it perfectly appropriate for a girl. You might consider it as an alternative to Emma, Emily, or Aubrey. Embry or Embury is an established English surname.

Embry

Outdoorsy and trendy, preppy and tough, Huntlee fits in with the likes of Oakley and Wrenley, Derived from an English place name, it refers to a meadow, woods, or clearing owned by a hunter, or to a place where people can go to hunt. 
 
Though the Huntley spelling is more popular, Huntlee may appeal to those who want the name to read as more feminine than masculine or neutral. Huntlee was given to 40 girls in 2024, compared to around 20 boys.

Huntlee

Like Penn Jillette, you can have your own little brash babe. 

Moxie

Bold word names are in style and this one is a quietly used option, with the nickname possibility of Posy. Conveying a sense of drive and determination, Purpose may be given to child to encourage direction their life, or it could reflect the notion that a child brings meaning to the lives of their parent/s. 
 Alternatively, it could be viewed as a subtly spiritual option, connected to spiritual purpose, which can be summarized as an awareness of how one's existence connects to everything else and to something greater, whatever that may be. In a Christian context for example, it reflects the idea that humans are created in God's image and must therefore live in a way that glorifies God. 
 
Direct and driven, Purpose could fit in with the likes of Pius, Favor, Honor, and Shine, and was given to 22 girls in a recent year (the highest number on record).

Purpose

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 35)