Girl Names I Love

Abigail

Hebrew

"my father is joyful"

Abigail has been in for so long -- the name has ranked in the US Top 100 since the late 1980s -- it's amazing that it isn't more out by now. But Abigail's biblical and historic roots make it a…

Adeline

French, diminutive of Adele

"noble, nobility"

Adeline has a lovely, old-fashioned "Sweet Adeline" charm, but has become so popular in the US under so many spellings and variations — with Adalynn and Adalyn also popular — that considered together…

Adaline

Variation of Adeline, English

"noble"

Adaline rocketed onto the Top 1000 for the first time since 1924 in 2015 at a whopping Number 364 — an astonishing debut. Though similar names, such as Adeline, Adelyn and Ada, have been growing…

Rachel

Hebrew

"ewe"

Rachel was derived from the Hebrew word rāchēl , meaning "ewe." In the Old Testament, Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. International variations include the…

Adelaide

Variant of Adelheidis, German

"noble, nobility"

Adelaide is now heading straight uphill on the coattails of such newly popular sisters as Ava, Ada, and Audrey, and in the company of Adeline and Amelia. It was chosen by Britain's Princess Eugenie…

Lorelei

German

"alluring, temptress"

The lovely Lorelei, a name from old German legend, was a beautiful Rhine River seductress whose haunting voice led sailors to hazardous rocks that would cause them to be shipwrecked. And this siren…

Lilliana

Variation of Lillian or Liliana

"lily, a flower"

While Lillian is the English version of this elaborated flower name and Liliana is the authentic Spanish and Portuguese spelling, Lilliana is a familiar and perfectly usable option in the US. Frilly…

Adrianna

Feminine variation of Adrian

"man of Adria"

A popular spelling variation of Adriana.

Abriana

Italian feminine variation of Abraham

"father of multitudes"

This lovely name is all but unknown outside Italy but fits perfectly in with the fashions for vowel-starting names that are elaborately feminine. Might make a distinctive alternative to Angelina or…

Addie

Diminutive of Adelaide or Adeline

Old-fashioned nickname with sweet turn-of-the-last-century charm that's become a favorite among the popular girl names starting with A of today. In fact, with all spellings of Adeline/Adalynn taken…

Adelei

Modern invented name

Nouveau name related to Adele, Adeline, and the boys' biblical Adlai.

Ann

English variation of Hebrew Hannah

"grace"

Ann, the name of the sainted mother of the Virgin Mary, was among the top girls’ names for centuries, in both the original English Ann spelling and the French Anne. Both left the Top 100 around 1970…