Favorite Girl Names

  1. Ailana
    • Origin:

      Kazakh
    • Meaning:

      "moonlight"
    • Description:

      A pretty Kazakh name derived from Turkish ayla, meaning "moonlight". The Hawaiian name 'Ailana (with the 'okina mark) means "loving".
  2. Alesia
    • Description:

      Alesia is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from the Greek name Alexia, meaning 'defender' or 'helper,' or it could relate to the ancient Gaulish city of Alesia, site of a famous battle where Julius Caesar defeated Vercingetorix. Some also connect it to Alice or Adelaide. The name has a gentle, melodious quality that has contributed to its modest popularity in various European countries and the United States since the mid-20th century. Alesia peaked in popularity in America during the 1970s but has since become less common, giving it a distinctive vintage charm today. The name's international appeal lies in its pleasant sound and adaptability across different languages and cultures.
  3. Aminta
    • Origin:

      Literature, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "defender"
    • Description:

      One of the romantic names favored by British pastoral poets, it was first used as a masculine name by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso for his 16th century play about a shepherd falling in love with a nymph.
  4. Bryony
    • Origin:

      Latin flower name
    • Meaning:

      "to sprout"
    • Description:

      Bryony is an unusually strong plant name --the bryony is a wild climbing vine with green flowers --that caught on in the U.K. before sprouting here. The name of the young character in the Ian McEwan novel Atonement is spelled Briony, which is the variation and Bryony the original.
  5. Claire
    • Origin:

      French form of Clara
    • Meaning:

      "bright, clear"
    • Description:

      Claire, luminous, simple, and strong, is one of those special names that is familiar yet distinctive, feminine but not frilly, combining historical depth with a modern edge. And though Claire is enjoying revived popularity, it will never be seen as trendy. Claire is also a great middle name choice.
  6. Chaelle
    • Danica
      • Origin:

        Slavic
      • Meaning:

        "morning star"
      • Description:

        While Danica may sound similar to Dana, Danielle, and Daniela, Danica is not a variation. Danica, a delicate and unique Slavic name meaning "Morning Star," is synonymous with Venus in many countries.
    • Dovie
      • Origin:

        Short form of Dove or Deborah, nature name or Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "bee"
      • Description:

        Dovie was a fairly popular nickname name a century or more ago, dropping off the Top 1000 in the 1940s only to be heading straight back uphill now.
    • Eliora
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "the Lord is my light"
      • Description:

        A pretty and melodic name of Hebrew origin that combines the elements el referring to God, li meaning "for me", and or meaning "light". The name entered the UK Top 1000 for the first time in 2023, and it's easy to understand why. With its rich vowel sounds and playful elegance, Eliora shares the sounds of other popular choices like Eleanor, Eliana, Aurora, and Elodie, which also remaining distinctive.
    • Eloisa
      • Origin:

        Italian and Spanish variation of Eloise
      • Meaning:

        "healthy; wide"
      • Description:

        Eloisa captures a lovely name back from the spoiled little girl at the Plaza. Historical romance writer Eloisa James has helped make this antique name sound fresh and sassy again.
    • Eloise
      • Origin:

        French and English variation of Heloise
      • Meaning:

        "healthy; wide"
      • Description:

        Well balanced between sleek, sweet, strong, and vintage, newly chic Eloise re-entered the US Top 1000 in 2009, following a 50-year absence. In 2022, it broke into the Top 100 in the US and across the pond in the UK. Given to nearly 3000 babies each year, Eloise is showing no sign of stepping out of the spotlight.
    • Elowen
      • Origin:

        Cornish
      • Meaning:

        "elm"
      • Description:

        A beautiful modern Cornish nature name that is rapidly picking up steam in the States: even spawning variant spellings like Elowyn and Elowynn. In its native region, it wasn't widely used as a name before the twentieth century, when the Cornish language was revived. A fresh and magical member of the fashionable El- family of names, it has a pleasant, evocative sound.
    • Fern
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "plant name"
      • Description:

        Of all the botanicals, Fern has been one of the slowest to move back from the front parlor into the nursery, despite the appealing girl character in the children's classic Charlotte's Web. Fern was most popular from the turn of the last century through the 1940s, reaching a high of #152 in 1916. We can certainly see her rejoining the long list of popular greenery names.
    • Francesca
      • Origin:

        Italian variation of Frances, Latin
      • Meaning:

        "from France or free man"
      • Description:

        Francesca is a lighter and much more feminine choice than the classic Frances, and one that is increasingly popular with upscale parents.
    • Gemma
      • Origin:

        Italian, Catalonian, Spanish
      • Meaning:

        "precious stone"
      • Description:

        Gemma is a jewel of a name, an Italian classic that was very popular in 1980s England, but has only recently been started to be used here; it entered the list in 2008.
    • Gianna
      • Origin:

        Italian, diminutive of Giovanna or feminization of Gianni, forms of John
      • Meaning:

        "God is gracious"
      • Description:

        The Italian Gianna undoubtedly owes much of its popularity in the US to its status as an honor name for John. Before the importation of Gianna, there was no truly workable feminine form of John, so Gianna found widespread favor among American parents with Italian roots and far beyond.
    • Haven
      • Origin:

        Word name, English
      • Meaning:

        "a place of safety"
      • Description:

        Haven is a recently invented safe-harbor name that appeals to an increasing number of parents who don't want to voyage quite as far as Heaven.
    • Havilah
      • Origin:

        Biblical place-name
      • Meaning:

        "to dance"
      • Description:

        Though there are a few (male) people named Havilah in the Bible, it's also a Biblical place-name that can work as an original choice for modern girls.
    • Irene
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "peace"
      • Description:

        Serene Irene, the name of the Greek goddess of peace and one of the most familiar Greek goddess names, was hugely popular in ancient Rome and again in the United States a hundred years ago.
    • Ketzia
      • Description:

        Ketzia is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, derived from the biblical name Keziah (also spelled Kezia or Cassia), who was one of Job's daughters in the Old Testament. The name means 'cassia tree' or 'cinnamon,' referring to the aromatic bark used for perfume and spice in ancient times. This nature-inspired meaning gives the name a fragrant, sweet connotation. Ketzia remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, though its biblical connections give it a timeless quality. The name has seen some limited use among families seeking names with religious significance or nature associations. With its melodic sound, exotic feel, and meaningful origins, Ketzia offers an uncommon alternative to more popular biblical names, appealing to parents looking for something distinctive yet anchored in tradition.