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Favorite Names for a Girl

mlm115
By mlm115
Updated Mon Mar 28 2022
  1. Amelia

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "work"

    • Description:

      Amelia is one of the hottest girls' names, a successor to the megapopular Emma and Emily. Amelia, the Number 2 choice in England, is now also comfortably ensconced in the US Top 10, where it ranked as the third most popular name for girls in 2024.
  2. Anna

    • Origin:

      Variation of Hannah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "grace"

    • Description:

      Anna has become the dominant form of the Ann family, offering a touch of the international to English speakers and a bit more style than the oversimplified Ann or Anne.
  3. Brynn

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Bryn, Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "hill"

    • Description:

      Brynn outshines the original Welsh Bryn in the popularity stakes. This simple, brisk name might be seen as a combination of Bree and Lynn, an androgynous-sounding choice that especially in this spelling is not truly unisex: Brynn, for boys, is not even in the Top 1000.
  4. Claire

    • Origin:

      French form of Clara

    • Meaning:

      "bright, clear"

    • Description:

      Claire, luminous, simple, and strong, is one of those special names that is familiar yet distinctive, feminine but not frilly, combining historical depth with a modern edge. And though Claire is enjoying revived popularity, it will never be seen as trendy. Claire is also a great middle name choice.
  5. Cora

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "maiden"

    • Description:

      Cora is a lovely, old-fashioned girls' that has been recently rejuvenated by its contemporary-feeling simplicity. In fact, Cora seemed headed straight for the top of the popularity list when the coronavirus pandemic somewhat weakened its appeal.
  6. Elizabeth

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"

    • Description:

      Elizabeth is one of the most popular girls' names of all time, the female equivalent of James or William. Yet Elizabeth has so much going for it—rich history, broad appeal, and timeless style—that no matter how many little girls are named Lizzie, Eliza, and Beth, you can still make Elizabeth your own.
  7. Eva

    • Origin:

      Latin form of Eve, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "life"

    • Description:

      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.
  8. Kaley

    • Description:

      Kaley is a feminine name with Irish roots, related to the surname Cayley or Kaley, which derived from a place name meaning 'woodland clearing.' It gained significant popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, partly due to actress Kaley Cuoco. The name offers a modern take on traditional Irish and Celtic naming elements, with a fresh, contemporary sound. Kaley is often seen as a variant of Kaylee or Cailey, all sharing similar melodic qualities. It strikes a balance between being recognizable and not overly common. The name has a light, breezy quality that suggests a bright, cheerful personality. Parents often choose Kaley for its appealing blend of familiarity and distinctiveness.

  9. Kate

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Katherine

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      Kate, in the headlines via Catherine Middleton aka the Princess of Wales, has been as pervasive as Kathy was in the 1950s and 1960s, both as a nickname for Katherine and Kaitlyn and as a strong, classic stand-alone name.
  10. Laine

    • Origin:

      English variation of Elaine, Estonian and Latvian

    • Meaning:

      "bright, shining light; wave"

    • Description:

      Lainey is one of the many fast-rising nickname names of the last few years, and longer forms like Elaine, Alaina, and Delaney are enjoying their own bouts of popularity. Simple and tailored, but equally sweet Laine is not yet in the Top 1000, but feels stylish today.
  11. Norah

    • Origin:

      English, Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "woman of honor, light"

    • Description:

      The skyrocketing success of singer Norah Jones brought this spelling of the name onto the pop charts in 2003. As well as being a spelling variant of Nora in English, it's also an alternative transcription of the Arabic name Nura, from Nur/Noor "light".
  12. Tess

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Theresa

    • Meaning:

      "to harvest"

    • Description:

      With its solid Thomas Hardy background, Tess has a lot more substance, strength, and style than most single-syllable names, with an efficient yet relaxed image.