Favorites (Girls)

  1. Finn
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "white, fair"
    • Description:

      The most enduringly popular hero of Irish myth was Finn McCool, whose name is one of the coolest ever. When used for the female protagonist of How to Make an American Quilt, Finn established its hipness for girls as well.
  2. Fiona
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "white, fair"
    • Description:

      Fiona entered the American consciousness with the opening of the 1954 Broadway musical Brigadoon, but didn't come onto the U.S. popularity list until 1990.
  3. Hannah
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "grace"
    • Description:

      Hannah is one of the nation's top biblical girls' names—it surpassed Sarah in 1998, and ranks in the Top 50 along with Elizabeth, Abigail, Chloe, and Naomi. Hannah is a name with many sources of appeal: Old Testament roots, soft and gentle sound, and a homey yet aristocratic image.
  4. Honora
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "woman of honor"
    • Description:

      Honora and Honoria are two ways of softening the severity of Honor, while retaining its righteous meaning. They were predominant until the Reformation, when the Puritans adopted the abstract virtue names, and were introduced to Britain by the Normans.
  5. Iris
    • Origin:

      Flower name; Greek
    • Meaning:

      "rainbow"
    • Description:

      Iris has so much going for it. It's a fashionable flower name. It's a mythological name, from the Greek goddess of the rainbow. And it's a classic name, always ranking in the girls' Top 1000 but now at its highest point ever.
  6. Isla
    • Origin:

      Scottish place-name or Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "island"
    • Description:

      Isla is a hit name throughout the English-speaking world but hasn't found the same popularity in other western countries, perhaps because its spelling and pronunciation don't make sense for those whose native language is not English. Think island without the final two letters.
  7. 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.
  8. Kerenza
    • Kirsten
      • Origin:

        Scandinavian variation of Christine
      • Description:

        Lovely, authentic name -- but any Kirsten will be condemned to a lifetime of hearing "Did you say Kristen?" They're both genuine Scandinavian names but too interchangeable.
    • Leilani
      • Origin:

        Hawaiian
      • Meaning:

        "heavenly flower"
      • Description:

        Lyrical, lively and bold, Leilani is a name that feels fresh, floral, and summery. Sharing sounds with the popular Lillian, Layla and Luna, Leilani is a fairly recent addition to 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.
    • Margaret
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "pearl"
      • Description:

        Margaret is derived from the French Marguerite, which in turn came from Margarita, the Latin form of the Greek Margarites. Margarites was based on the Old Persian word margārīta, meaning "pearl."
    • Meagan
      • Origin:

        Welsh diminutive of Margaret
      • Meaning:

        "pearl"
      • Description:

        The many spellings of Meagan each seem to suggest a different pronunciation. This one suggests Reagan or the pronunciation MAY-gan.
    • Milena
      • Origin:

        Czech; Slovak; Serbian; Croatian; Polish; Italian
      • Meaning:

        "love, warmth, grace"
      • Description:

        This popular name in various Slavic countries and in Italy holds considerable continental appeal. It is the full name of Ukranian-born actress Mila Kunis, most noted for her award-winning role in the film Black Swan. Another actress bearing the name is Milena Govitch, of Law & Order.
    • Niamh
      • Origin:

        Irish Gaelic
      • Meaning:

        "bright"
      • Description:

        Niamh, derived from the Old Irish Niam, is an ancient Irish name that was originally a term for a goddess. In Irish myth, one who bore it was Niamh of the Golden Hair, daughter of the sea god, who falls in love with Finn's son Oisin and takes him to the Land of Promise, where they stayed for three hundred years. Niamh can be Anglicized as Neve, Nieve, or Neave.
    • Ria
      • Origin:

        Spanish
      • Meaning:

        "small river"
      • Description:

        Short and feminine, Ria has a rhythmic flow.
    • Riley
      • Origin:

        English, Irish
      • Meaning:

        "rye clearing; courageous"
      • Description:

        Riley—an upbeat, friendly surname name—is red hot for girls and still going strong for boys. If you haven't been spending much time around babies recently, you may be surprised to learn that Riley is the most popular girls' name starting with R and also the Number 1 Irish name for girls in the US.
    • Rose
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "rose, a flower"
      • Description:

        Rose is derived from the Latin rosa, which referred to the flower. There is also evidence to suggest it was a Norman variation of the Germanic name Hrodohaidis, meaning "famous type," and also Hros, "horse". In Old English it was translated as Roese and Rohese.
    • 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.
    • Susanna
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "lily"
      • Description:

        Susanna is an old and under-appreciated name, perhaps because of the recent overpopularity of Susan, that is certainly due for a comeback.