Cool and Cute Middle Names for Your Baby Girl

The ubiquitous French version of Mary came into the English-speaking world in the nineteenth century. In the United States, Marie was a huge hit at the turn of the last century and for the ensuing fifty years, becoming the seventh most popular name in the country for three years, from 1901 to 1904.

You might think of Harper as the hottest name of the last decade, jumping from obscurity to the Top 10, where it remained until last year.

All the old ae/ay middle names for girls are back--Kay, Fay, Mae/May, --and Rae is one of the coolest, used as such by celebrities as Mark Wahlberg and Daniel Baldwin.

Originally a feminine of John, Jean was popular in Scotland long before it found favor elsewhere, and had its most shining moment here in the era of Jean Harlow (born Harlean), ultimate symbol of silver screen glamour. Now, though there are many grandmas and even moms with the name, it doesn't seem all that baby-friendly. Though that could change, and Jean could join Jane.

Joy is from an older generation of word names, which also included Merry, Bliss, and Glory -- all of which exert a certain amount of personality pressure on a child. However, Joy, like Grace, Hope, and Rose, has crossed more into name-territory than other word choices, which lightens some of that pressure.

Ashley was a sensation in the 1980s and 1990s; it hit Number 1 in 1991. Ashley is still pretty but more and more parents are turning to newer names like Ashlyn and Aubrey, and spellings such as Ashleigh and Ashlea. If you hear the name Ashley in a playground today, it's more likely to be the mom than the little girl.

The quintessentially elegant and worldly Gabrielle -- designer Coco Chanel's real name -- is on its descent after years on the rise.

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 and show no signs of returning, with Anne is the middle of the US Top 1000 and Ann dropped out of sight.

Joyce was once a boy name, but took off for girls during the mid-twentieth century, when it spent 1930 to 1947 in the Top 20.

Lynn arrived in the 1940s, spinning off from the wildly popular Linda, to become a top midcentury middle name. Now, Lynn's in limbo.

Lovely, authentic name -- but any Kirsten will be condemned to a lifetime of hearing "Did you say Kristen?" They're both genuine Scandinavian names but too interchangeable.

Presley is a much more popular name for little girls than you might think, entering the charts as a girls' name in 1998 and hovering around Number 200 for the last decade.

Kay, a cigarette-smoking, nightclubbing name of the 1930's, could be ready for a comeback along with cousins May/Mae and Ray/Rae.

Most female Rays used to spell their names Rae, but now the Ray Charles, ray-of-sunshine way is cool for both genders.

Blue suddenly came into the spotlight, as the unusual color name chosen by Beyonce and Jay-Z for their baby girl Blue Ivy. Blue is also a starbaby middle name du jour, used for both sexes in different spellings and forms, from John Travolta and Kelly Preston's Ella Bleu to Alicia Silverstone's Bear Blu. Dave 'The Edge' Evans named his daughter Blue Angel back in 1989.

This color name, spelled either Gray or Grey is rapidly catching on. Actress Jenny von Oy recently called her daughter Gray Audrey.

This variation draws more from Eva than from Eve, which might lead to pause as to whether it should be said EHV-eh-lin or EEV-eh-lin. While the former is more popular in the US, both pronunciations are in use, so an Evalyn might need to explain.

Daisey is a charming feminine name that serves as a variant spelling of Daisy. The traditional Daisy comes from the Old English word 'dægesēage,' meaning 'day's eye,' referring to the flower that opens during daylight. This alternative spelling with 'ey' instead of 'y' gives the classic nature name a slightly distinctive appearance while maintaining its bright, cheerful essence. While less common than the standard spelling, Daisey has periodically appeared on birth certificates throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. The name evokes images of freshness, innocence, and natural beauty, making it a perennially appealing choice for parents drawn to floral names.

Variation of Katherine.

Margeret is a variant spelling of the classic name Margaret, which derives from the Greek word 'margarites' meaning 'pearl'. This feminine name has been popular throughout Western history, carried by numerous saints and royalty. While the Margaret spelling remains more common, Margeret offers a slightly distinctive alternative while maintaining the same elegant sound and rich heritage. The name saw modest usage throughout the 20th century but is less common today. Margeret shares the same nickname possibilities as Margaret, including Maggie, Marge, Meg, and Peggy, providing versatility for those who bear the name.