great baby names for girls

Aida is a melodic name largely associated with the title character of the 1871 Verdi opera, an enslaved Ethiopian princess who dies to save her people. In the past, her name was rarely heard outside the Latino community, but in the current time of love for all A-starting girls' names, this could very well change.

Amy is the English variation of the Old French name Amée—Aimée in modern French. Amée was a translation of the Latin name Amata, which derived from amatus, meaning "beloved." Other spelling variations include Amie and Ami.

There are no less than ten different variations of Hailey on the current Most Popular list, but this is the spelling that brought it into the Top 10 of 2010, although it has quickly fallen in popularity. So, although Hailey has a shiny, unpretentious charm, its mass popularity makes it very much of the moment.

Among the children named Heaven are the daughters of TV personality Brooke Burke and rap singer Lil' Mo, who also has a daughter named God'iss Love. Some parents have taken to using Nevaeh instead—Heaven spelled backwards.

Can a name as virtuous as Hope be cool and trendy? Strangely enough -- yes. But though this optimistic Puritan favorite is experiencing substantial popularity, Hope is too pure and elegant to be corrupted, a lovely classic that deserves all the attention it's getting.

Merina is a delicate feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Latin, it's related to 'marinus' meaning 'of the sea,' while in Malagasy culture, it refers to the highlands people of Madagascar. The name also appears as a variant of Marina or a diminutive of Mary. With its soft, melodious sound pattern and ending in the feminine 'a,' Merina has a gentle, flowing quality reminiscent of water. Though not widely common in English-speaking countries, it enjoys greater popularity in parts of Eastern Europe and Madagascar. Merina offers a distinctive yet accessible choice for parents seeking a name with international appeal and natural associations, balancing uniqueness with familiarity.

Ricki has also been used, but like Vikki and Nikki, Rikki has also had its day.

Victoria is the Latin word for "victory" and a feminine form of Victor. It is the name of the ancient Roman goddess of victory, the equivalent of the Greek Nike, and also a popular third century saint.