My Favorite Girl Names

Newly fashioned but familiar and with an on trend, unisex feel, Addison seems like the perfect solution for anyone who can’t decide between Madison, Adeline, and Alison.

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 it is far more popular than it first seems. Adorable nickname Addie is also pervasive.

A variation on Emmeline, Ameline has not experienced nearly the same level of success in the US, though it was given to five girls in 2015. Whereas Emmeline lends itself to trendy nicknames Emme and Emmy, Ameline has a clearer path to the dated Amy.

The goddess name Aurora has consistently been on the US popularity list since the nineteenth century, but has really taken off in the past 30 years. Aurora also enjoys remarkable international popularity, ranking in the Top 100 throughout the English-speaking world as well as in Italy, Spain, Norway, Switzerland, and several other European and Latin American countries.

Beatrix has a solid history of its own apart from Beatrice, with that final x adding a playful, animated note to the name's imposing history and stately vibe.

Eva is a simple, classic Hebrew name for girls that recently slipped out of the US Top 100 for the first time in more than a decade. Pronounced either like her more popular sister Ava or less popular sister Eve, Eva is one of the elite group of girl names that mean life.

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.

Hazel has a pleasantly hazy, brownish-green-eyed, old-fashioned image that more and more parents are choosing to share. Former Old Lady name Hazel reentered the popularity lists in 1998 and now is near the top of the charts.

One of the most popular of the trendy Caitlin variations, Katelyn points directly to components Kate and Lyn --making it a bit more traditionally feminine.

A lovely musical name (remember the old Eric Clapton-Derek & the Dominos song?), Layla's seen a significant surge in popularity, partly partly all names with a double L are stylish, and partly because all the forms of the name push it into the Top 15 for girls.

Too trendy and too prone to needing to be spelled every time. Just go with the classic (and classy) accepted spellings: Madeleine, Madelyn, or Madeline.

Treacy is a distinctive feminine name with Irish origins, derived from an Irish surname meaning 'fighter' or 'more powerful.' As a given name, Treacy represents the modern trend of transforming family names into first names. The name carries a sense of strength and resilience, reflecting its warrior-like etymology. Treacy remains relatively uncommon as a first name, giving it a unique quality that appeals to parents seeking distinctive options for their daughters. The name has a contemporary feel with traditional roots, balancing modernity with heritage. The spelling with '-cy' rather than '-cey' or '-cie' enhances its Irish character and provides a straightforward pronunciation.

With Willow and Willa becoming more popular for girls, surname-name Willoughby could be a more unusual alternative. Its full form sounds appropriate for both genders, but can be shortened for girls to Willow, Willa, or even Bee.

Zalia is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variation of Zahlia (Arabic for 'beautiful flower') or Zelia (Greek for 'zeal'). Some consider it a modern elaboration of Zara or Zadie. The name has a melodic quality with its soft 'z' sound and flowing syllables, giving it an exotic and contemporary feel. Zalia benefits from starting with the distinctive letter 'Z', which often appeals to parents seeking uncommon initials. While still relatively rare globally, Zalia has seen modest growth in usage in the 21st century, particularly among parents drawn to names that sound distinctive and feminine without being overly complicated. The name carries a fresh, modern sensibility while maintaining a timeless elegance.