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Girl Names I Like

  1. Naya

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Nia

    • Description:

      Related to Nia and Naia, Naya was new to the US Top 1000 in 2014 and benefits from the short and simple pronunciation that many parents are seeking in fresh names. It also has obvious similarities to popular Mia and Maya.
  2. Kerensa

    • Origin:

      Cornish

    • Meaning:

      "love"

    • Description:

      Kerensa, forever romantic, is a rare Cornish name spelled with an 's' or 'z', the most modern of the Karen family. Kerensa (or Kerenza) has ties to the Welsh Cerys.
  3. Avis

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "bird"

    • Description:

      Avis is a bird name that's been in hibernation for awhile, possibly due to the car rental association, but it could make a return on the wings of Ava. Baldwin brother Daniel chose it for his daughter.
  4. Leta

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "glad, joyful"

    • Description:

      Leta has hipster cred as the daughter of cool mommy blogger Dooce. Related to the Greek mythological Leda, a great beauty who mothered another great beauty, Helen of Troy, Leta is a name that's as unique as it is historic: Only 14 baby girls were named Leta in the US last year, and 18 were named Leda. Pronunciation is lee-tah.
  5. Roslyn

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Rosalind

    • Description:

      Spelling variations abound when a name is trendy, which Rosalind is not these days. We say leave Roslyn back in the middle of the 20th century and reclaim the original Rosalind.
  6. Mathilda

    • Origin:

      Variation of Matilda

    • Meaning:

      "battle-mighty"

    • Description:

      The addition of the h makes it more Old World, which is not the direction you want to push Matilda in.
  7. Katia

    • Origin:

      Russian diminutive of Ekaterina

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      One of the warm and earthy Russian nickname names now coming into style. Denzel Washington is the father of a Katia.
  8. Imogene

    • Description:

      Imogene is a feminine name of Celtic origin, believed to be derived from the Gaelic word 'imogen,' meaning 'maiden' or 'daughter.' Some scholars suggest it may also have connections to the Latin phrase 'Iphigenia,' from Greek mythology. The name gained literary significance through Shakespeare's play 'Cymbeline,' where the virtuous protagonist bears this name. Imogene enjoyed moderate popularity in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries before declining, though it has seen renewed interest in recent years as part of the revival of vintage names. With its combination of classical literary associations and a distinctive, melodic sound, Imogene appeals to parents seeking names with historical depth, intellectual connections, and a touch of antiquated elegance.

  9. Seneca

    • Origin:

      Latin surname and Native American

    • Meaning:

      "people of the standing rock"

    • Description:

      Seneca was both a Roman philosopher-statesman and is a Native American Iroquois tribe. Occasionally used for both girls and boys, Seneca is now a Hunger Games character.
  10. Jada

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "jade"

    • Description:

      Long used in Spanish-speaking countries, this strong but feminine name was jump-started here by the rise of actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The Italian Giada is a popular variation. In the Bible, the name Jada was borne by a man and has a different root and meaning: It's Hebrew and means "he knows".
  11. Ayelet

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "deer, gazelle"

    • Description:

      Ayelet is an unusual -- and somewhat challenging -- Israeli name familiar thanks to sometimes controversial Jerusalem-born novelist-essayist Ayelet Waldman.
  12. Kiernan

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "little dark one"

    • Description:

      Kiernan Shipka, aka Sally Draper on Mad Men, brings this Irish surname into the girls' column. And, like Kieran and Tierney and Tiernan, it's one of the perfectly unisex baby names. Only 14 girls were named Kiernan in the US in a recent year...and three times as many boys. If you want to move beyond Riley and Kennedy to one of the more unusual surname-based Irish names for girls, this may be a good choice.
  13. Lilo

    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Liselotte; Hawaiian

    • Meaning:

      "generous one"

    • Description:

      Lilo is the name of the spunky little Hawaiian girl character in the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch-- and is also Lindsay Lohan's nickname. Multi-cultural, it can be found in Hawaiian, German and Hebrew nomenclature.
  14. Swan

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "swan"

    • Description:

      Obsolete Swanhild gives way to oh-so-modern Swan, joining the flock of newly fashionable bird names such as Wren and Lark. In France, the Swann spelling is fashionable for both sexes. But Swan carries an image of grace, though perhaps also a bit of languor. It's a lovely and original name, right for our times.
  15. Clove

    • Origin:

      Nature name

    • Description:

      Clove is a spice name that is a tad more piquant than Saffron or Cinnamon. It might get more attention now as a member of The Hunger Games family of names.
  16. Oceane

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "ocean"

    • Description:

      Oceane (oh-see-EN) has been one of the chicest names in France for several years, ranking in the French Top 50. This is a sophisticated name that could easily cross the ocean, and is much more stylish than the English Ocean or Oceana.
  17. Jara

    • Origin:

      Hindu, Slovakian, Spanish, or Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "rock-rose or earthen water jug"

    • Description:

      Jara is a name with roots in several different cultures and languages, with different meanings and associations. She's the Hindu goddess of the household, happiness, and prosperity. In Spanish, where the name is pronounced with an H sound at the beginning ala Jose, Jara is a flower name meaning "rock-rose". In Arabic, the meaning of "earthen water jug" relates it to both the earth and to water.
  18. Kieran

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "little black-haired one"

    • Description:

      Kieran is a boys' name that could cross over, as an update of outmoded Karen or a variation on trendy Kiera (or Keira or Kyra). Keren Ann is an Israeli-born singer. The proportion of babies named Kieran who are girls is less than ten percent, but is slowly growing. Kieran had an increase in use for girls in 2022.
  19. Aviana

    • Origin:

      Variation of Avis, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "bird"

    • Description:

      Aviana is a name that's like the megapopular Ava and Ariana, but not quite as popular as either. It entered into the mainstream back in 2010 however, after actress Amy Adams chose it for her daughter, fulfilling her desire to choose a "normal" name after all, even if it didn't seem like that a decade ago.
  20. Dagny

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "new day"

    • Description:

      If you're looking for a name with Scandinavian roots, this would make a stronger and more appealing import than Dagmar. With its meaning of "new day," it could make an ideal choice for a girl born around New Year's.