Girl names not too trendy, not too boring

  1. Lillian
    • Origin:

      English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "lily; pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Lillian has ranked among the US Top 50 for the past 20 years, making it Lily's less popular but more grownup cousin.
  2. London
    • Origin:

      English place-name
    • Description:

      The capital of the United Kingdom makes a solid and attractive twenty-first-century choice, with a lot more substance than Paris. It's in the unisex column, with both girls and boys given the name in recent years.
  3. Mallory
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "unfortunate"
    • Description:

      Early 1980s sitcom (Family Ties) name that has been well used ever since, with an upbeat three-syllable sound and a slightly tomboyish edge.
  4. Mariah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "the Lord is my teacher; or drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Thanks to Mariah Carey, everyone now knows this name – and is aware that Mariah's pronounced with a long i – just as Maria was in the Jane Austen era. And though Mariah now sounds modern, it was heard as far back as 1550 in Great Britain.
  5. Mckenna
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "son of Kenneth"
    • Description:

      Mackenzie begat McKenna - a catchy but very trendy choice. While the Mc or Mac prefix means "son of," this is much more popular as a girl name in the US, peaking at #177 in 2002.
  6. Milania
    • Origin:

      Variation of Milana or Melania
    • Description:

      This name similar to Milana and Melania was popularized by Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Guidice's daughter. It has ranked in the US Top 1000 since 2011.
  7. Monroe
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "mouth of the Roe river"
    • Description:

      Monroe is a presidential surname which feels fresher than Jackson, Lincoln and Taylor. Marilyn Monroe is a famous female namesake, but her smart Scottish surname feels equally usable for either sex. Plus, we think old man nickname Moe would sound both cool and adorable on a baby boy today!
  8. Payton
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "fighting man's estate"
    • Description:

      Originally popularized by football stay Peyton Manning, Peyton and Payton are now used much more often for baby girls. While the Peyton spelling is given to about five times as many girls as boys, the Payton version leans even more heavily toward the female side, with about 1000 girls named Payton to 100 boys in the most recent year counted.
  9. Piper
    • Origin:

      English occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "pipe or flute player"
    • Description:

      Piper is a bright, musical name that entered the list in 1999, one year after the debut of the TV series Charmed, which featured a Piper, and it's been a consistent riser since. Piper Kerman is the memoirist whose prison experiences provided the basis for the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black.
  10. Quinn
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "descendent of Conn"
    • Description:

      Quinn is the Anglicized version of the Irish patronymic surname Ó Cuinn, meaning "descendent of Conn." Conn has two possible derivations—the Old Irish cond, meaning "intellect," or cenn, meaning "chief." One of the most notable Quinn clans was from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.
  11. River
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      Most of the notable Rivers have been male, but this nature name certainly flows as well for a girl. The name River is still rising for both genders, with about 3500 baby boys receiving the name last year vs. 1900 baby girls.
  12. Rowan
    • Origin:

      Scottish and Irish
    • Meaning:

      "rowan tree; little redhead"
    • Description:

      Stylish, gentle, and rustic at the same time, Rowan is a name that falls into various categories. Unisex and cool, mystical and woodsy, with the feel of both Rose and Riley, Rowan is a fresh but familiar choice.
  13. Savannah
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "flat tropical grassland"
    • Description:

      A place name with a deep Southern accent, the once-obscure Savannah shot to fame, with others of its genre, on the heels of the best seller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which was set in the mossy Georgia city of Savannah. Originally a substitute for the overused Samantha, Savannah is now becoming overused itself, long among the top girls' names starting with S.
  14. Seraphina
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "ardent; fiery"
    • Description:

      Seraphina is one of the most-searched name on Nameberry, destined for even greater popularity. The highest-ranking angels, the six-winged seraphim, inspired the lovely name Seraphina, which was brought into the contemporary spotlight when chosen by high-profile parents Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck for their second daughter, following the influential choice of Violet for their first.
  15. Sinclair
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "from the town of St. Clair"
    • Description:

      The most famous Sinclair was the (male) writer Lewis, but these days the name works at least as well for a girl.
  16. Sloane
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "raider"
    • Description:

      Sloane is a sleek, sophisticated surname name that has gradually morphed over to the girls' side. Sloane is definitely a name that's going to continue to rise. Spelled without the final "e," Sloan joined Sloane in the Top 1000 for the first time in 2011.
  17. Spencer
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "keeper of provisions"
    • Description:

      Yes, Spencer makes a plausible and powerful female choice these days, though still thought of as primarily for boys. Kelsey Grammer used it for his daughter in the 1980's. Spencer made its first appearance on the girls' Top 1000 in 2017.
  18. Sutton
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from the southern homestead"
    • Description:

      Sutton is a habitational surname propelled to popularity by Tony-winning Broadway actress Sutton Foster, who's also the star of Hulu's Younger -- based on a novel written by Nameberry co-creator Pamela Redmond.
  19. Teagan
    • Origin:

      Irish or Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "little poet or fair"
    • Description:

      As Meghan/Megan and Reagan/Regan show signs of wilting, along comes Teagan to take up the slack: definitely one to consider. The vast majority of American babies named Teagan are now girls. A variant spelling is Teaghan.