Favorite Girl Names

  1. Anna
    • Origin:

      Variation of Hannah, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "grace"
    • Description:

      Anna has become the dominant form of the Ann family, offering a touch of the international to English speakers and a bit more style than the oversimplified Ann or Anne.
  2. Avi
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "father"
    • Description:

      Avi, the short form of many Hebrew names, is often used on its own in Israel. It entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2015.
  3. Aviva
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "springlike, fresh, dewy"
    • Description:

      Aviva is vivacious and memorable, a fresh spin on the Vivian and Vivienne names that have been getting more popular since Angelina and Brad chose one for their twin daughter. Another A-beginning palindrome name: Aziza.
  4. Ayla
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, or Turkish
    • Meaning:

      "oak tree, or halo, moonlight"
    • Description:

      Bright, fresh, and sunny, Ayla is a fashionable choice for girls. Reminiscent of other trending names such as Layla, Isla, and Ava, Ayla has recently found its place in the Top 100.
  5. Avila
    • Bay
      • Origin:

        English word, Old English
      • Meaning:

        "an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"
      • Description:

        Like River and Lake, a cool, refreshing modern water-related choice. This name is also associated with bay leaves, the bay laurel, the contemporary term of endearment, "bae", and the Old English word beġ meaning "berry"
    • Claire
      • Origin:

        French form of Clara
      • Meaning:

        "bright, clear"
      • Description:

        Claire, luminous, simple, and strong, is one of those special names that is familiar yet distinctive, feminine but not frilly, combining historical depth with a modern edge. And though Claire is enjoying revived popularity, it will never be seen as trendy. Claire is also a great middle name choice.
    • Clover
      • Origin:

        Flower name, from Old English
      • Meaning:

        "key"
      • Description:

        Clover is a charming, perky choice if you want to move beyond hothouse blooms like Rose and Lily, and it's recently become a new celeb favorite, chosen by both Neal McDonough and Natasha Gregson Wagner, who used it to honor her mother, Natalie Wood, one of whose most iconic films was Inside Daisy Clover.
    • Elena
      • Origin:

        Spanish, Italian, German, Greek variation of Helen
      • Meaning:

        "bright, shining light"
      • Description:

        Elena is at its most popular point ever in the US, thanks to its cross-cultural appeal and the overall popularity of El- names. It's more international than Ellen or Eleanor, but still accessible.
    • Elise
      • Origin:

        French variation of Elizabeth
      • Meaning:

        "pledged to God"
      • Description:

        Elise is one of those golden names that stylish but not TOO popular. Its appeal is due in large part to its French flair and to the love for El-names in general.
    • Eve
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "life"
      • Description:

        Eve, the oldest name in the Book, is now coming back into style, having the virtues of simplicity and purity, yet with more strength and resonance than other single-syllable names like Ann. British actor Clive Owen chose Eve for his daughter, as did Jessica Capshaw.
    • Fia
      • Origin:

        Irish, Portuguese, Italian
      • Meaning:

        "wild, weaver"
      • Description:

        Fia may be most notable at this moment as the Anglicized version of the Irish Fiadh, one of the fastest-rising names in the Republic of Ireland. The meaning of Fia or Fiadh is sometimes given as "deer" but that's in the sense of a wild deer, as the name relates to the ancient word for wild.
    • Grace
      • Origin:

        English, virtue name
      • Description:

        Grace, a simple and pure virtue name which originally referred to divine grace, is a fashionable classic. In the early 2000s, it seemed headed for the Top 10 but pulled back from the upward trajectory, which you may consider a very good thing.
    • Hallie
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "dweller at the meadow by the manor"
      • Description:

        Hallie -- it rhymes with alley and is not to be confused with Halle or Hailey or Holly -- is one of those comfy nicknamish names that are in favor in these complicated times.
    • Kate
      • Origin:

        English, diminutive of Katherine
      • Meaning:

        "pure"
      • Description:

        Kate, in the headlines via Catherine Middleton aka the Princess of Wales, has been as pervasive as Kathy was in the 1950s and 1960s, both as a nickname for Katherine and Kaitlyn and as a strong, classic stand-alone name.
    • Keeley
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "slender"
      • Description:

        Keeley is well-used in modern Ireland, also found as Keely and Keela. The boys' form is Keelan. Largely unknown in the US, this could make an interesting update for Kelly or Kaylie or Kylie. A famous bearer is actress Keeley Hawes.
    • Lacey
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "from Lassy"
      • Description:

        A unique combination of a surname feel and dainty femininity. It's currently associated with actress Lacey Chambert.
    • Macy
      • Origin:

        English surname, variation of Massey
      • Meaning:

        "hill"
      • Description:

        Singer Macy Gray has popularized this cute and upbeat choice—once solely associated with the department store. A modern replacement for Stacy and Tracy, Macy was most popular in the early 2000s when it nearly made the US Top 100.
    • Maeve
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "she who intoxicates"
      • Description:

        Maeve is a short and sweet name that has become one of the most stylish Irish names for girls in the modern US. Maeve would make an excellent first or middle name choice, with more heft than Mae/May and more modern charm than Mavis.
    • Mara
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "bitter"
      • Description:

        Mara is the evocative ancient root of Mary, appearing in the Book of Ruth, in which Naomi, devastated after the death of her two sons, says "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara." It's one of the girl names starting with M that both fits in and stands out.