By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 104 pages
of 104
Malley is a feminine name with Irish and Scottish Gaelic roots. It likely derives from the surname O'Malley or Malley, which comes from 'Ó Máille' meaning 'descendant of Máille' (a personal name…
Scottish
"from the land by the sea"
An old-man name that sounds cute when used for a little girl, and is starting to seem cool again for boys too. For girls, it might be associated with Mina Murray (later, Mina Harker) from Bram…
Paisly is a modern feminine name, primarily considered a variant spelling of Paisley, which originated as a Scottish place name and pattern. The name Paisley derives from the town in Scotland known…
Sadey is a feminine name typically considered a variation of Sadie, which originated as a diminutive form of Sarah. Sarah comes from Hebrew origins meaning 'princess' or 'noblewoman.' The spelling…
English
"blessed, happy"
Surname name with an uplifting meaning. Just beware that this is a well-known mattress brand.
Talley is primarily used as a feminine name, though it began as an English and Irish surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French 'taillis,' meaning 'coppice' (a small growth of trees). As a given…
"wooded meadow"
An English surname originally denoting someone living near a farmstead in the forest. Makes a sweet and unusual addition to the -ley name family.
Diminutive of Zelda, Yiddish, English
"gray fighting maid"
Cute and quirky Zeldy adds some extra zip to Zelda — which is making its way back up the charts after decades out of the Top 1000.
Acey is a rare feminine name with several possible origins. It may have developed as a diminutive of names containing the 'ace' sound, such as Asenath or Acacia, or as a nickname for names beginning…
English word, Old English
"an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"
One of the most usable of the pleasant, newly adopted nature/water names (like Lake and Ocean), especially in middle position. It's gentle, slightly whimsical, but grounded by its similarity to May…
English word name
"pleasantly windy"
This light and cheerful word name conjured up imagery of breezy days at the beach, kids flying kites, or wind blowing through the trees — all lovely associations. Sixteen baby girls were named Breezy…
Calley is a feminine name of English origin, typically considered a diminutive form of Caroline or Calista. The name ultimately derives from Greek elements meaning 'beautiful' or 'most beautiful.'…
Variation of Kaylee, English
"laurel, crown"
With its C spelling, Cayley is softer than its more popular counterpart, Kayley. It's never ranked in the US Top 1000 and at this point probably never will, now that the -aylee, -ayley, and -aylie…
English surname
"people of victory; dark, black, coal; black bird"
A surname stye choice that could also work as a nickname, Coley may appeal to those who like Callie, Colby, and Carey, or anyone looking for an interesting way to honor a Nicole or a Nicholas.…
Irish
"love, friendship"
Connelly is a rollicking and rare example of the popular surname genre that may work even better for girls. A huge update on Colleen.
Daphney is a feminine variation of Daphne, which derives from Greek mythology where Daphne was a nymph who transformed into a laurel tree to escape Apollo's pursuit. The name means "laurel tree" or…
Delancy is a feminine name with English origins, though it began as a surname. Derived from the Norman French 'de Lanci,' referring to someone from Lancy, a place in Normandy, France. As a first…
French
"gift of God"
A Dorothy nickname name with a measure of nostalgic charm. Kids will associate it with the funny fish character voiced by Ellen DeGeneres in the Pixar animated instant classic Finding Nemo .
Diminutive of Dorothy, Greek
Dotty has a cheerful, playful quality that embodies vintage charm. It gained modest popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly during the 1930s-1950s when nickname-style given names were…
"blooming, flowering"
Florence is back, and the adorable short form Flory (or Florie) is too. Or you could just choose Flora and cover all bases with one stroke.
