Girl Names

Like many spelling variations, Abigayle sprang up during the recent heyday of the Biblical Abigail, ranking in the US Top 1000 from 1998 through 2008. Now its star has dimmed.

Amelia is one of the hottest girls' names, a successor to the megapopular Emma and Emily. Amelia, the Number 2 choice in England, is now also comfortably ensconced in the US Top 10, where it ranked as the third most popular name for girls in 2024.

A compound name with an old-fashioned ring. It only first appeared on the US Top 1000 in 2012. Annalie is a somewhat different name that is nevertheless pronounced the same.

In the USA, Blair is gaining momentum, rising quickly for the last 10 years and likely to continue to climb. In England and Wales, where Blair has political connotations – calling to mind former prime minister Tony Blair – it is much less common, although it is in use for boys in its native Scotland.

The musical word name Cadence, seemed to come out of nowhere to zoom up the charts; it rose over 700 spots between 2002 and 2004, and showed up in the Top 200 in 2007. It's gone down in the popular names list since then, though. Some might see it as a feminine relative of the popular Caden. Kadence and Kaydence are also rising.

The combination of Emily and Emma's popularity -- and the fact that Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher's daughter is named Emerson -- have put this formerly strictly boys’ name, embodying the gravitas of Ralph Waldo Emerson, in the limelight for girls.

Falon is a unisex name with Celtic origins, though more commonly used for girls in contemporary naming practices. It derives from the Irish word 'falón' meaning 'leader' or 'in charge,' suggesting strength and authority. Alternatively, it may relate to the Old Irish term for 'descended from a wolf' or 'jackal,' conveying wildness and independence. Falon gained modest recognition in the 1980s and 1990s, partly influenced by characters in popular television shows. The name offers a balance between uncommon distinctiveness and familiar sound patterns, making it accessible despite its relative rarity. With its short, strong phonetics and meaningful heritage, Falon appeals to parents seeking nature-connected names with Celtic roots and a contemporary feel.

With the sounds of Jennifer and Alexis, and the vibes of Eden and Serenity, Genesis is a Biblical inspired choice that has been popular in the US since the 2000s.

Georgianna is a feminine name derived from the masculine George, which comes from the Greek name Georgios meaning "farmer" or "earth-worker," from the elements ge (earth) and ergon (work). Georgianna emerged as an elaborate feminine form, adding the feminine suffix -anna to the already feminized Georgia. Popular during the Victorian era when elaborate names were fashionable, Georgianna offers the versatile nicknames Georgie, Anna, or Giana. While less common than Georgia or Georgina today, it maintains an elegant, vintage charm with aristocratic associations—notably as the name of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, in the 18th century. The name combines classic roots with a graceful, feminine quality.

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen undoubtedly gave this name a boost. The French pronunciation (jiz-ELLE) gives it a more graceful, balletic, gazellelike feel.

The quirky, offbeat and energetic botanical name Ivy is enjoying a deserved revival, propelled even higher by its choice by high-profile parents Beyonce and Jay-Z for daughter Blue Ivy. Ivy is also traditionally used at Christmas, make this one of the perfect names for December babies.

Lesley runs a distant second to more popular sister Leslie, used for about 30 baby girls in one recent year vs. Leslie's 400+. And interestingly, no baby boys were named Lesley though about 40 were named Leslie. Once one of the most widely-used girl names starting with L, Lesley and Leslie now trail behind trendy L-starting girl names like Layla and Lily.

Less common than other virtue names, Liberty is nonetheless a name with a long American heritage.

Since Morgan is used as--or more--frequently for girls as for boys, this feminization has fallen by the wayside. It drew some brief attention via the pop singer Morgana King.

The similar Morgiana appears in Tales from the Thousand and One Nights.

Quinn is one of the first popular Irish unisex surnames, a strong and attractive choice on the rise for girls but still popular for boys. Quinn was used for about 2600 baby girls and 600 boys in the US last year.