Popular Girl Names Starting With A

  1. Angela
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "angel"
    • Description:

      Angela was a Top 10 name from 1965 to 1979, the fifth most popular name for three years, and staying in the double digits until the turn of the 21st century. Today, though, Angelina or Angelica would be more fashionable options.
  2. Allison
    • Origin:

      Scottish, diminutive of Alice
    • Meaning:

      "noble"
    • Description:

      Widely used here since the 50s, Allison — a derivative of Alice — has now been once again surpassed by the original Alice as parents embrace vintage revivals. Despite this, Allison's popularity has slipped only slightly.
  3. April
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "to open"
    • Description:

      Once the most popular month names, April has been overtaken by June (for girls) and August (for boys), as well as the charmingly old-fashioned May. Literary reference: the heroine of the book and movie Revolutionary Road, and there have been Aprils on Parks and Recreation, Glee, and The Vampire Diaries. Trivia note: comedian Ralphie May named his daughter April June May.
  4. Ariel
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "lion of God"
    • Description:

      Ariel is a male Biblical name, seen there as the messenger of Ezra, and also used as a symbolic name for the city of Jerusalem, while Shakespeare used it for a (male) sprite in The Tempest.
  5. Alison
    • Origin:

      Norman French, diminutive of Alice
    • Meaning:

      "noble"
    • Description:

      Alison has been long popular in Scotland and widely used here since the fifties. This more feminine medieval elaboration of Alice had long surpassed the original in popularity, but now sounds a tad dated in the U.S., with Alice having leapfrogged back over Alison, Allison, Alicia and other variations.
  6. Adriana
    • Origin:

      Latin, feminine variation of Adrian
    • Meaning:

      "man of Adria"
    • Description:

      This a-ending feminine form of Adrian, from the northern Italian city of Adria, is a soft and lovely Italian choice. It appears as a character in Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors.
  7. Adrienne
    • Origin:

      Latin, feminine variation of Adrian
    • Meaning:

      "man from Adria"
    • Description:

      A long-integrated French feminine form of Adrian, now overshadowed by the a-ending version, but still a valid option, with considerable substance and dignity—though these days more parents would probably choose Adriana.
  8. Alessandra
    • Origin:

      Italian and Portuguese variation of Alexandra
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      This Italian and Portuguese variant of the classic Alexandra softens the classic name, while still maintaining its strength and dignity. Currently in the US Top 500, it also ranks in Brazil and Italy. Instead of Lexi, this form could get you to nicknames Essie or Alessa.
  9. Alexa
    • Origin:

      Greek, English
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      Alexa was a steadily popular modern classic until Amazon's virtual assistant Alexa was released in 2013. It remains relatively well used in the US despite this, though its standing keeps dropping for obvious reasons. Too bad, because it's a strong and pretty name (which is probably why Amazon used it.)
  10. Allyson
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Allison
    • Meaning:

      "noble"
    • Description:

      The original Allison was a Top 50 name from the 1980s through 2016, and Allyson is one of the many spelling variations parents used to put a more unique spin on the original.
  11. Abby
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Abigail, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "my father is joyful"
    • Description:

      Gently old-fashioned stand-alone nickname that owes its popularity to mega popular Abigail.
  12. Angel
    • Origin:

      Spanish and English
    • Meaning:

      "angel, messenger"
    • Description:

      Angel is one of those names that has a very different trajectory for girls and boys. As a female name, it was most popular in the US from the 1970s until the turn of this century, almost breaking into the Top 100 at its peak in 2001 but then beginning a long slide down the list.
  13. Adrianna
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Adrian
    • Meaning:

      "man of Adria"
    • Description:

      A popular spelling variation of Adriana.
  14. Angie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Angela
    • Description:

      Cute nickname of Angela and other angelic names, Angie is now being used on its own, although its popularity has fallen in recent years. That said, Angie is one of those surprising classics, hanging on in the girls' Top 1000 continuously since its inception in 1880.
  15. Asia
    • Origin:

      Place name
    • Description:

      This still attractive place name was one of the first to gain popularity, though it now probably owes some of its favor to the similar Aisha. Asia ranked as high as Number 195 on the US baby names popularity list in 1997.
  16. Annamaria
    • Origin:

      Italian combination of Anna and Maria
    • Meaning:

      "grace + drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      A pretty smoosh name predominantly used by Italian Catholics.
  17. Alyson
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Alison
    • Description:

      Alison by any spelling is now considered more of a mom name than a baby name. It's been trending downward for more than a decade, though it still makes the Top 1000.
  18. Annamarie
    • Origin:

      English combination of Anna and Marie
    • Meaning:

      "grace + drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      This variation of Annemarie ensures the name is pronounced with four syllables. Classic and sturdy but with a playful, spirited sound, Annamarie is popular in Czechia, where it is also written as Anna Marie.