Girl names

  1. Aila
    • Origin:

      Finnish variation of Helga or Scottish Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "from the strong place"
    • Description:

      Now that Isla Fisher has pushed her once-obscure name into the Top 150, some parents are looking for similar-sounding Scottish names for girls that are further off the beaten path. This one is especially promising, with its cross-cultural appeal. Ayla, a common name in Turkey, is also worth considering.
  2. Alaina
    • Origin:

      Variation of Alana or Elena
    • Meaning:

      "little rock, child; shining torch"
    • Description:

      Alaina, part Alana and part Elena and maybe also a little bit Elaine, is one of the many feminine forms of Alan (or its French form Alain) that have grown in popularity over recent decades, surpassing the male original. Not quite fashionable but also not quite un, Alaina is a choice that may feel more distinctive than it really is.
  3. Alaine
    • Alina
      • Origin:

        Slavic, Germanic, Arabic, Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "bright, beautiful; noble; delicate, soft; defending men"
      • Description:

        Alina has been drifting up the US popularity charts since the early 1980s, and now sits in in the Top 200. But Alina's real strength is in its international flexibility: The name ranks highly in a wide range of European, English speaking, and Latin American countries.
    • Alivia
      • Origin:

        Variation of Olivia
      • Description:

        While Alivia may not have achieved the megapopularity of its mother name, it's still a widely used choice. Alivia combines the trendiness of A names with the trendiness of Olivia to create a choice that's slightly off the beaten track -- slightly being the operative word here. Is the distinction the initial A earns you worth a lifetime of explaining, "No, it's Alivia, with an A, not Olivia"? Your call, though ours would be no.
    • Alva
      • Origin:

        English form of Irish Ailbhe, Swedish and Norwegian feminine form of Alf
      • Meaning:

        "white; elf"
      • Description:

        While the male Alva or Alvah relates directly to the minor Biblical character, the female version is more likely an Anglicized form of the Irish name Ailbhe, or a feminine form the name Alf (and Alf- beginning names), popular in its native Sweden and Norway. Best known as Thomas Edison's middle name, Alva has true unisex roots.
    • Amelia
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "work"
      • Description:

        Amelia is one of the hottest girls' names, a successor to the megapopular Emma and Emily. Amelia, which spent several years at Number 1 in England, is now comfortably ensconced in the US Top 10.
    • Andi
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Andrea or Anderson, Greek or English from Scandinavian
      • Meaning:

        "strong and manly, son of Anders"
      • Description:

        Boyish nickname name that first heard in the Ricki/Terri era but finding new favor among parents who love names like Billie and Frankie, Scottie and Stevie. It was among the fastest-rising names in the US on the 2023 names chart.
    • Anorah
      • Archer
        • Origin:

          English
        • Meaning:

          "bowman"
        • Description:

          Archer is an Anglo-Saxon surname that feels more modern than most because of its on-target occupational and Hunger Games associations. And it's a nice way to bypass the clunky Archibald to get to the cool nickname Archie.
      • Avalynn
        • Origin:

          Combination of Ava and Lynn
        • Description:

          Part Ava, part Lynn, and part cousin of the stylish Evelyn and Adeline, Avalynn is a recent 2014 entrant to the US Top 1000. But sometimes when a name is trying hard to have everything, it doesn't really impress. Avalyn is one spelling variation.
      • Ayla
        • Origin:

          Hebrew, or Turkish
        • Meaning:

          "oak tree, or halo, moonlight"
        • Description:

          Bright, fresh, and sunny, Ayla is a fashionable choice for girls. Reminiscent of other trending names such as Layla, Isla, and Ava, Ayla has recently found its place in the Top 100.
      • Eleanor
        • Origin:

          English variation of French Provencal Alienor, meaning unknown
        • Description:

          Eleanor's straightforward feminine image combined with its royal medieval history is striking just the right note for parents in search of a girls' name that combines substance and style.
      • Ellis
        • Origin:

          English surname derived from Elijah or Elias or Welsh
        • Meaning:

          "benevolent"
        • Description:

          Ellis is a former Old Man Name turned gender-neutral choice for the 21st century. It's one of the less used names in the currently popular El-family.
      • Evelyn
        • Origin:

          English from French and German
        • Meaning:

          "desired; or water, island"
        • Description:

          After decades of disuse, soft and feminine Evelyn has returned to the baby name stage in a huge way. It reached the Top 10 for the first time in 2017. Evelyn has now surpassed its former heights, joining a legion of contemporary little Evas, Avas, Eves, Evies, and Evelines.
      • Evie
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Eve or Eva
        • Meaning:

          "life"
        • Description:

          Evie was derived from Eve, which in turn comes from Chawwah, a Hebrew name related to the concept of life. Evie can be used as a nickname for any name that starts with Ev-, including Eva, Evelyn, and Evangeline, but also for names such as Genevieve and Maeve. Evie is typically pronounced with a long E sound, but a short E is also valid.
      • Remington
        • Origin:

          English
        • Meaning:

          "place on a riverbank"
        • Description:

          Remington Steele was the perfect name for an upper-crust action hero on 1980s television. Now, Remington is catching fire along with a new generation of predatory baby boy names such as Hunter, Gunner, and Colt. Or you might consider it a unisex namewith a buttoned-up British feel and the friendly short form Rem or Remy.
      • Rosaline
        • Origin:

          Medieval variation of Rosalind
        • Description:

          Rosaline, which can be pronounced to rhyme with mine or mean in its final syllable, has a deeper, richer pedigree than it might seem. Rosaline was used twice by Shakespeare and was also used in the poetry of Edmund Spenser. While we prefer the stronger-sounding Rosalind or Rosamund, Rosaline deserves another contemporary look.
      • Sarah
        • Origin:

          Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "princess"
        • Description:

          Sarah was derived from the Hebrew word sarah, meaning "princess." Sarah is an Old Testament name—she was the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. According to the Book of Genesis, Sarah was originally called Sarai, but had her name changed by God to the more auspicious Sarah when she was ninety years old.
      • Seanna