UK Girl Names

One of many spellings of Kaylee, itself a name created from Kay and Lee or from Kelila; or, an anglicization of the Gaelic Ceilidh, meaning "companion" but generally referring to a social occasion of dancing, music, and story telling. 

Cailey

Similar in style to Carter, Harper, and Hunter, this arty occupational name has been gaining attention in the US in recent years — mostly for boys, but also a small number of girls. Predominantly associated with wood carving, it could also be linked to those who carve stone, marble, ice, pumpkins, or meat. 
 
While some may read the "carver" meaning as creative and artistic, others may find it a little grisly and violent, but there is a way around this association if you love the sound or it's a family surname. It may also have its origins in the Norman French caruier meaning "wagon, cart" which could feel more neutral.
 
In a recent year, Carver was given to 11 girls, compared to 120 boys, however, celebs Amanda Marie Mizell and JJ Mizell named their daughter Carver Christine in 2025, which may put Carver on more people's radar.

Carver

A nickname-y choice with a touch of vintage charm, Jeannie is ultimately a feminine diminutive form of the classic John, via Johanna and Jean. With sounds reminiscent of magical genies and of genius, Jeannie (or sleeker Jeanie) might just have the energy to climb back up the charts, as Joni and Joanie have done.
 
Fitness influencer Alice Liveing named her daughter Jeannie Isabella in 2025, which might remind parents of the name. In a recent count, however, it was given to 22 girls while Jeanie was given to 16.

Jeannie

A spelling variation of Kendall, with the contemporary letter y. It first entered the US stats back in the 80s, grew in popularity during the 2000s, and peaked in 2011 when it was given to 112 girls (and 5 boys). This coincided with when the Kendall spelling was also at its most popular. 
 
Originally used as an English surname, taken from the place name, Kendale, in England, Kendyll was given to 22 girls in a recent year.

Kendyll

A playful blend of Maria or Marie with Luisa, Lucy, or Lourdes, Marilu could be interpreted as meaning "beloved warrior", "Mary of Lourdes" or "beloved light", as just a few possibilities. You could even relate it to Margaret, Marina, or Maris, to get meanings such as "pearl of light", "renowned warrior of the sea", or "light of Mars" and so on.
 
Familiar in Mexico, Brazil, Peru, and beyond, notable bearers include actress Marilu Henner and snowboarder Marilu Poluzzi.

Marilu

To most English speakers, Nana is the dog in Peter Pan, the daughter played by Emma Stone in Crazy Stupid Love, and another name for Grandma, however, it is also a diminutive of Nancy and Anna (meaning "grace"), of Ioanna or Joanna (meaning "God is gracious"), and of a whole variety of similar sounding choices, such as Diana, Oriana, Fernanda, and Inanna.
 
As a Hawaiian name, Nana may derive from Puna meaning "spring" (as in the season) or from nani meaning "beauty". Additionally, it is used as a Japanese name, meaning "vegetables, greens", and a (unisex) Akan title for a monarch. 
 
Nana is currently in the England and Wales Top 1000 for boy boys and girls.

Nana

Revel is a joyous word name that may appeal to parents wanting a non-traditional Biblical choice or simply a name that expresses how they feel.

Revel

A partially anglicized form of two Scottish names — Seònaid or Seonag — Seona can be pronounced as SHAW-nuh or SHO-nuh. Since Seònaid (SHAW-nat) is a Scottish variation of Janet and Seonag (SHO-nak) is a variant of Joan, they share the same roots, meaning Seona is ultimately a Scottish feminine form of John.
 
More popularly appearing as Shona, a notable bearer is art administrator Seona Reid DBE. 
 
While SHAW-nuh and SHO-nuh are the more traditional pronunciations, see-o-nuh is sometimes used, either as a reinterpretation of the name, or if it is being used as an alternative spelling of Siona or Ciona.

Seona

Tempest is one of those names that could go either way. Cool, evocative modern word name? Or asking for trouble?  Your call, but if you decide the former image is dominant, be warned that some people will see it as the latter.


Tempest

As the popular 80s and 90s Angelica falls more and more out of favor, word name Angelic is feeling extra fresh. Fitting in with the trend of grandiose and ethereal word names such as Legend and Dream, Angelic feels more than useable today — especially with similar sounding Angelique being one of the fast-rising names of 2022.

Angelic

Araminta is a poetic and enchanting eighteenth-century invention with plenty of elegance and a touch of old-fashioned clunkiness. It first appeared in William Congreve's 17th century comedy The Old Bachelor and then again in 1705 when it was used by architect and playwright Sir John Vanbrugh in his play The Confederacy.
 
There are several theories on where Araminta came from, one possibility being that it is a compound name, blending Arabella with Aminta. Arabella is considered a variant of Anabella or derived from the Latin orabilis and means "loveable" or "unyielding". Aminta is itself a literary invention, meaning "defender". Together then, they form a strong name, connected to love and strength.
 
An alternative suggestion is that it was developed from the plant name Amaranth, meaning "unfading" from the Greek amarantos. Poet Richard Lovelace had used to altered form Aramantha forty years before Araminta appeared on stage and could have been the inspiration.
 
Other theories suggest that Araminta is: a form of Aminata, itself a variant of the Arabic Amina, meaning "safe and secure" or "trustful"; inspired by the Greek element anthos meaning "flower"; or a spin on the Germanic Arminius, meaning "whole, universal" or army man".
 
Moving away from the tangled etymology, Araminta was notably the birth name of abolitionist, Harriet Tubman. It is also borne by photographer Araminta de Clermont, and by actress Araminta "Minta" Durfee.
 
More familiar in Britain than the US, but rare there too, it has however proved popular in fiction. In the Enid Bagnold novel National Velvet, Araminta is the name of the central character's mother, while Araminta Lee is a character in Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians.It had also appeared in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn and in Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi.
 
Just 11 girls were named Araminta in 2024 in the US.

Araminta

Bonnie meets Annabel (or Belle, or any other name ending in this sound) in this jaunty modern compound.

Bonnibel

Caris is either a variation of the Carys, a modern Welsh name meaning "love", or a spin on the Greek Charis, meaning "grace, kindness", and used to describe the Three Graces collectively. It briefly made the England and Wales Top 1000 in the late 90s.

Caris

Sometimes used as a short form of the bold Godfavour, this warm-sounding virtue name is popular in parts of Africa, where there is a strong tradition among Christian parents especially to choose spiritual word names for their children. 
 
In the US, the Favor spelling was selected for 31 girls in a recent year, while in England and Wales, Favour was given to 16 girls, down from its 2009 peak, when it ranked in the Top 1000!

Favour

This is one case where removing a letter makes a name more complicated, not more simple.

Kathrine

On-trend Knox gets the inevitable -lee/leigh makeover in this modern invention. Also appearing as Knoxleigh and Knoxley, this name has been given to over 100 girls and 50 boys since it first started appearing in the chart back in the late 2010s.
 
By combining the meaning of Knox and the element Lee, you could say this name means "round hill by the clearing" or "meadow by the round hill".

Knoxlee

Lianne is occasionally used independently, but fairly flimsy. Our advice: Keep looking for a name that carries more individual authority.

Lianne

Biblical name long associated with the fallen-yet-redeemed Mary Magdalen, now rising improbably into the ranks of the fashionable among parents hungry for classic yet distinctive girls' names. The Magdalene and Magdalena versions are perhaps even more stylish. Can be shortened to Maggie or Magda but the full version is prettiest. One of our new favorites!
Madeleine and its variations is a form of Magdalen. The meaning of both names sometimes varies as place name Magdala is Aramaic for "high tower," so that may be considered an alternate meaning.

Magdalen

Cool unisex Rocky meets the trend for -lynn names, joining ranks with Emberlynn, Raelynn, Gracelynn and Jazlynn. It may be interpreted as meaning "rocky lake" or "rocky valley" in English, though it may also blend the Spanish names Rocío and Linda to give the meaning "pretty, beautiful dew".
 
This spelling is used predominantly (though quietly) on girls, while Rocklin is preferred for boys. In the most recent count, 8 babies were given the name and another 6 where called Rocklynn.

Rocklyn

If True, Constance, Verity, and Faith feel too familiar for you, how about this rare virtue name? Associated with reliability, truthfulness, strength of character, hope, belief, and dependability — and with trust funds, legal agreements, property, interest, and money — Trust was given to 15 girls (and 34 boys) in a recent year.
 
Similar in style to bolder choices like Merritt, Brave, Truth, and Favor — and an interesting middle name possibility —Trust first entered the US stats for boys in the year 2000, and for girls in 2005.

Trust

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 40)