top names for girls

Clarke

Variation of Clark

A rising choice for girls that fits in with tailored surnames such as Sloane, Greer, and Blair.

Claudia

Feminine variation of Claude

"lame; enclosure"

Claudia is a classic name with ancient Roman roots. Never truly in or truly out, Claudia feels like a strong, modern choice that hits the sweet spot between too popular and too unusual.. Claudia was…

Clemence

French feminine variation of Clement

"mild, merciful"

Calm, composed, and chic. Often seen with an accent in France, as Clémence.

Coe

English surname

"jackdaw"

In keeping with other short names like Poe and Bo, Coe is a surname that could easily move into first place. It has a sports hero factor as well, in Olympic runner Sebastian Coe — who later became a…

Conwenna

Cornish, Welsh or Breton

Made familiar by poet William Blake. According to Blake, after her death, Conwenna "shines ... over the north with pearly beams gorgeous and terrible". Make of that what you will.

Crescent

English, French, Latin

"waxing or waning moon; increasing, growing, springing forth"

Crescent is an intriguing word name with a pretty sound and links to the moon. Used to describe a curved shape more generally, it is heavily associated with the lunar calendar, with the moon forming…

Cyra

Persian or Greek

"sun or throne, or lord"

Cyra is an unusual name that can be pronounced either SEER-a or SI-ra, rhyming with Keira or Tyra. This name may be a feminine variation of Cyrus but is also a Persian name that stands on its own.…

Dancer

English word name

"someone who dances"

A word name that's appealing when applied to a person boogying or doing ballet; a different story in the context of Santa's reindeer.

Delfina

Italian and Spanish variation of Delphine

The Spanish and Italian variation of the sophisticated French Delphine is also the word for "dolphin". A popular choice in Uruguay and Argentina, the name is rarely used in the US.

Delia

Greek

"born on the island of Delos"

Delia is a somewhat neglected southern charmer that stands on its own but also might be short for Adelia or Cordelia. Delia's name is based on that of the Greek island of Delos, which in Greek myth…

Dellen

Cornish

"petal"

Intriguing combo of elements.

Delphi

Greek place name

"of Delphi; womb"

An interesting unisex possibility, with an air of mystery connected to the Delphic Oracle, the most important oracle in ancient Greece; it was also a major site for the worship of the god Apollo.…

Delphine

French from Greek

"of Delphi; womb"

Delphine is a sleek, chic French name with two nature associations — the dolphin and the delphinium, a bluebell-like flower, a well as a link to the ancient city of Delphi, which the Greeks believed…

Delta

Greek

"fourth letter; island formed at the mouth of a river"

Delta is an unusual vintage option, blending the sounds of Della and Etta. The fourth letter of the Greek alphabet and a geographical term, used to describe an island formed at the mouth of a river,…

Devi

Sanskrit

"divine"

This Hindu goddess name has a powerful heritage plus lively sound with a devilish edge. If you're enchanted by goddess names but want to set your little girl apart from all the Lunas and Athenas in…

Devon

English place-name

This spelling of Devon, as opposed to Devin or Devan, makes it a pretty and popular British place-name, evoking the beautiful county of farmlands and dramatic seascapes and moors in southwest…

Dominique

French, feminine variation of Dominic, Latin

"belonging to a lord"

Had a surge of popularity in the Dynasty days, now has subsided in the wake of fresher French choices like Destry and Delphine, though it retains its sense of sophistication. It's one of the most…

Echo

Greek mythology name

"echo or sound"

Echo, the pretty, resonant name of a legendary nymph, was the heroine of Joss Whedon's sci-fi series Dollhouse . Nick Hexum, of the band 311, named his daughter Echo Love. In the Greek myth, Echo was…

Edda

Norse

"poetry"

This Old Norse girl name has a lovely meaning and a familiar yet distinctive sound.

Elke

Dutch, German, and Frisian diminutive of Adelheid

"noble"

Though she has long stood on her own, Elke has many longer cross-cultural connections, to the Dutch/German/Scandinavian Adelheid and Alice and the English Adelaide, as a feminine version of Elkanah…