Invented Girl Names
- Brynlee
Origin:
Spelling variation of Brinley, combination of Brynn and LeeMeaning:
"burnt clearing; hill + meadow"Description:
This variation of Brinley is currently the most popular of the plethora of alterative spellings. Ranking in the US Top 250 and given to 1300 girls in 2024, it is twice as popular as the traditional Brinley.
- Brae
Origin:
Modern invented name, ScottishMeaning:
"slope of a hill"Description:
A newly hatched cousin of Bree and Brea, with a touch of Bailey and Brynn there too, Brae feels like a name that could catch on. However, a 'bray' is also the sound a donkey makes.
- Amiyah
Origin:
American variation of Amaya and Amaia, SpanishMeaning:
"the end"Description:
While this name is a phonetic variant of Amaya and Amaia, its popularity could also stem from its similarity to names such as Aliyah, Amelia, and Amara too. It entered the US Top 1000 back in 2003, peaked in 2017 at #257, but has been on decline in recent years. Nevertheless, it is one of four variations of Amaia in the Top 1000 and when you combine these names together, they were collectively given to 3256 babies in a recent year, making the name *feel* or at least *sound* like a Top 100 choice, similarly popular to Ruby, Claire, Audrey, or Alice.
- Capitola
Origin:
Literary inventionDescription:
Capitola owes its position on the US Top 1000 to the 1859 novel The Hidden Hand, also known as Capitola the Madcap. It was written by E. D. E. N. Southworth — the initials stand for Eliza Dorothy Emma Nevitte — and serialized first in the 1860s, then in 1883, and was published as a book in 1888.
- Laisha
Origin:
Invented name, combining La prefix with Aisha, Arabic and SwahiliMeaning:
"living, prosperous"Description:
Laisha made the US Top 1000 list for a few years in the early 21st century, thanks to its role on a Spanish soap opera. The name is a variation of the popular Arabic and Muslim name Aisha, which has many spellings and forms.
- Hensley
Origin:
American invented nameDescription:
With Henley and Kinsley two of the most popular new ley-ending baby names for girls, why not Hensley? We can think of several reasons, but if you like this style of name, Hensley is as attractive as any.
- Kayleigh
Origin:
Variation of Kaylee, EnglishMeaning:
"laurel, crown"Description:
The -leigh suffix seems to be losing its luster; several names in this category, including Kayleigh, Kyleigh and Ryleigh, peaked in popularity a few years back but have since lost quite a bit of ground.
- Epponnee
Origin:
Australian invented nameDescription:
Epponnee-Rae — full name Epponnee-Raelene Kathleen Darlene Charlene Craig — is the daughter of Kim and Brett on the early aughts Australian sitcom Kath & Kim.
- Daenerys
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
Daenerys is yet another girls' name invented by "Game of Thrones" author George R. R. Martin that is beginning to gain some traction in real life. Daenerys was used for 67 baby girls in 2013 while one of the character's titles, Khaleesi, was given to 241 baby girls. And the name Arya, also from the hyper-popular series, is one of the fastest growing girls' names in the country.
- Zayla
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
Zayla debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2021 and is rising. The name might be thought of as the popular Ayla or Layla with the trendy letter Z at the beginning. Variations include Zaila, Zaylah, Zaylani, and the male Zaylan.
- Willowdean
Origin:
American invented nameMeaning:
"willow tree + valley"Description:
The Social Security Lists show Willodean and all its variant spellings to have been used throughout the 1920s and 30s especially in Southern states. There are a few theories on its origins (an invented name created to honor William/Willard and a a female name ending in "-dine", or it may be an Anglicization of a Native American name).
- Maylee
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
Debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2016, only to immediately dip back under the radar. While Maylee is an invented name, it can also be considered a compound name made up of May and Lee. May is a month name that's a diminutive of Mary and Lee commonly means meadow.
- Aerith
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
Aerith Gainsborough is a lead character in the video game Final Fantasy. The name was invented by the developers as a translation for the character's original Japanese name Earisu.
- Arisbeth
Origin:
Combination of Ariel and Elizabeth, HebrewMeaning:
"lion of God and pledged to God"Description:
Arisbeth is a name that feels poetic and fantastical like Arwen or Amoret, but equally familiar and sunny, like Marisol. It is in fact a name used primarily in Mexico and by Hispanic parents in the US, who've made it one of the hottest unique names.
- Maz
Origin:
Diminutive of Mazikeen, Mazarine, invented name, FrenchMeaning:
"harmful spirits; blue"Description:
An unusual nickname for unusual names — Mazikeen, a name invented by Neil Gaiman for his Sandman comics, and Mazarine, a French color name.
- Jazlyn
Origin:
Modern invented nameMeaning:
"jazz by the lake; fower by the lake"Description:
A modern invention that's been in use since the 80s and in the charts since the 90s, which combines the sounds of Jasmine (or Jasper or just the word jazz) with the popular suffix, -lyn. Inspiration might also have come from Joslyn, Jocelyn, or Roslyn. Trendy but snazzy too, Jazlyn remains in the US Top 600.
- Semaj
Origin:
Variation of James, English from HebrewMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Semaj is part of a special club of names created by spelling other names backward (meet the president, Nevaeh). Semaj is a reversal of James and is used primarily for boys. But ever since James became fair game for girls, so did Semaj — it's now unisex in usage.
- Willodean
Origin:
AmericanMeaning:
"resolute protection + valley; resolute protection + high ranking priest; willow valley"Description:
The Social Security Lists show this name to have been used throughout the 1920s and 30s especially in Southern states, where it likely appealed alongside Clarabel and Marigold. It feels part double-barrel, part surname, and part nature-inspired, which may encourage more parents to consider it in the future.
- Ozma
Origin:
Literary inventionDescription:
Princess Ozma was the leading character of L. Frank Baum's book Ozma of Oz.
- Braelynn
Origin:
Invented nameDescription:
Like its single "n" sister name (Braelyn), Braelynn is currently enjoying its highest level of popularity. Unlike Braylin and Braylyn, the 'ae' of Braelynn gives the name a Scottish look, making it seem slightly less creative and more sturdy
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