Girl Names Lists · Popular Names and Name Trends
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 19 pages
of 19
Nature name
This body of water runs deep; the best of a group of new possibilities that includes Bay, Ocean, River, and the more established Brook. It has received attention via the actress Lake Bell. Lake would…
Scottish
"son of the fair hero"
New Presidential name, if you're ready to move beyond Lincoln and Jefferson. At the turn of the last century, during the original McKinley's heyday, as a first name it almost reached the Top 100.
Invented name
Possibly created by blending a love for K initials and an interest in designer baby names (Dior), Kior is a modern invention, first appearing in the US charts in 2017. Used for girls and boys, it…
Spanish place-name
"covered in snow"
Named for its snowcapped mountains, Nevada is a state name which, unlike Carolina, Montana, and Dakota, has been relatively undiscovered. Warning: today's unvisited place-name could become tomorrow's…
English surname and place-name
"Wynn's channel or stream"
Winslet is one of a legion of surnames newly considered fair game as first names. The inspiration may be British star Kate, but she's not the only reason parents are attracted to Winslet, one of…
Word name
One of the new literalist religious names, like Blessing, Heavenly and Neveah. More male than female, but essentially unisex.
Modern invention, variation of Emery or combination of Emily or Emma and Arielle
"industrious; rival or universal + lion"
Names starting with Em- are hugely popular for girls with seven of them in the US Top 200. Meanwhile, names ending in -elle or -el are also stylish and this modern creation combines both. Quietly…
English word name
"month name"
The menu of usable month names seems to expand every, well, month, with such choices as November, October, and January joining more established names like April, May, June and August. Logical…
"truth"
With the first name True receiving a Kardashian dose of popularity for girls, Truth is gaining in visibility too. Though its still more popular for boys two to one, the truth is that the name works…
Variation of Xavier, Arabic, Basque
"new house; bright"
This name caught the attention of American parents beginning in 2018, when the Fox show The Four: Battle for Stardom premiered. Zhavia Ward was a finalist on the first season.
Names that have not historically been names are not intrinsically gendered, so though we originally pinned Arrow as a boys' name, both starbaby Arrows that have been born recently have been girls.…
Harlan as a feminine name represents an interesting gender crossover, as it traditionally began as a masculine name of English origin meaning 'rocky land' or 'army land.' Derived from Old English…
There's definitely a cold front of names for winter babies moving in, with Summer, Spring and Autumn giving way to Winter--plus North, January, Frost--and Snow. This name feels brisk, fresh, pure,…
Place name, Arabic
"the strong; the conqueror"
On trend for boys but with plenty of unisex appeal too, the place name Cairo was put on the map for girls when model Beverly Peele chose it for her daughter. Given to around 50 girls each year, it…
Spelling variation of Cairo, Arabic
"the conqueror"
A fast rising city name and on trend for boys, Kairo has unisex potential too. Similar in sound to Kaia, Kyra, Skyla and Kai, Kairo was chosen by DJ Zinhle and later rapper, AKA, for their daughter,…
English nature name
"prairie"
Unspecific place name with a wonderfully wide-open, spacious, western feel; used for a character in Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland . Prairie is derived from the Old French word praierie , which…
English bird name
Lark is getting some new and well-deserved attention as a post-Robin and Raven bird name. Although it was first recorded as a name in the 1830's, it has never appeared on the Social Security list.…
Greek
"west wind"
Zephyrus was the Greek god of the west wind, and all names associated with him have a pleasantly gentle, breezy feel. With its cool Z initial and similarity in sound to Stephie and Serafina, Zephyr…
"fire"
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…
"idyllic place"
Acadia, the French name for Nova Scotia and the name of a gorgeous national park in Maine makes a fresh, rhythmic choice for your little girl. Acadia is an original yet accessible member of the…
