Girls' Names

Grace

English, virtue name

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…

Hadley

English

"heather field"

Hadley, most famous as the name of Ernest Hemingway's first wife, is more sophisticated, professional, and modern than cousins Harley, Haley, or Hayden. The hit book The Paris Wife , a novel by Paula…

Heidi

Diminutive of Adelheid; German

"noble, nobility"

Heidi became known — and popular — via the 1880 eponymous children's classic by Swiss writer Johanna Spyri and, despite decades of American Heidis of all sizes, shapes, and personalities, the name…

Annalise

German, combination of Anna and Lise

"grace and pledged to God"

Variously spelled Annalise and Annaliese as well as several other forms, this is not a modern smoosh but a traditional German combo-name with a definite Heidi-esque feel. Anna of course is familiar…

Eve

Hebrew

"life"

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…

Fallon

Irish

"leader"

Fallon is one of several boyish surname names introduced in the over-the-top 1980s nighttime soap Dynasty . Despite being a "mom" name, Fallon is making a surprise comeback. It returned to the US Top…

Aspyn

Variation of Aspen, tree name and place name

Divorces Aspen from its nature and ski resort associations. Aspyn first broke into the Top 1000 in 2020.

Emmeline

Old French form of archaic German Amal

"work"

Emmeline is an Emma relative and Emily cousin that is destined for greater use in the wake of the megapopularity of those two names. A recommended Nameberry fave, Emmeline hopped onto the US Top 1000…

Brook

English nature name

"small stream"

Brooke variation – or is the other way around? – that makes it more a nature name, less an eighties-style androgynous name.

Britton

English

"from Britain"

Britton, technically a spelling variation of Britain, is much more popular that the original place name for both boys and girls. There are about three baby girls named Britton for every four boys,…

Corbin

English and French surname

"crow, raven"

Rising boys' name could cross the gender line.

Chrissie

Chrissie is a feminine name that functions as a diminutive of Christina or Christine, both derived from the Greek 'Christos' meaning 'anointed one.' Popular throughout the 20th century, particularly…

Desiree

French

"desired, wished"

One of the original French names chosen by midcentury parents for their sophistication and je ne sais quoi , Desiree has since become completely assimilated in the US. It ranked in the Top 1000 from…