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Little Women

  1. Adelaide

    • Origin:

      Variant of Adelheidis, German

    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility"

    • Description:

      Adelaide is now heading straight uphill on the coattails of such newly popular sisters as Ava, Ada, and Audrey, and in the company of Adeline and Amelia. It was chosen by actress Katherine Heigl for the name of her second daughter.
  2. Adeline

    • Origin:

      French, diminutive of Adele

    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility"

    • Description:

      Adeline has a lovely, old-fashioned "Sweet Adeline" charm, but has become so popular in the US under so many spellings and variations -- with Adalynn and Adalyn also popular -- that considered together it is far more popular than it first seems. Adorable nickname Addie is also pervasive.
  3. Anaise

    • Origin:

      Variation of Anais

    • Description:

      Anais, the name forever attached to the daring French-born American novelist and diarist Anais Nin, is unusual and French enough without appending an e, though some may think it clarifies pronunciation.
  4. Annie Elizabeth
    • Cecily

      • Origin:

        Feminine variation of Cecil

      • Meaning:

        "blind"

      • Description:

        Cecily is as dainty as a lace handkerchief. Cecily has a wide assortment of namesakes. One Cecily was the mother of King Richard III, whose beauty gained her the title "the Rose of Raby," Cecily Parsley is a Beatrix Potter bunny, Cecily Cardew is a character in The Importance of Being Earnest, and the author of the Gossip Girl books is Cecily von Ziegesar.
    • Charlotte

      • Origin:

        French, feminine diminutive of Charles

      • Meaning:

        "free man"

      • Description:

        Charlotte, the name of the young Princess of Cambridge, is the latest classic name to join Sophia, Emma, Olivia, and Isabella at the top of the popularity list. It is now among the most popular girl names in many English-speaking and European countries.
    • Clementine

      • Origin:

        French feminine version of Clement, Latin

      • Meaning:

        "mild, merciful"

      • Description:

        Clementine is a Nameberry favorite that broke back into the US Top 1000 in 2014 after more than half a century off the list.
    • Dot

      • Origin:

        English, diminutive of Dorothy

      • Description:

        Old-fangled nickname could make dot.com era short form or middle name.
    • Edie

      • Origin:

        English, diminutive of Edith

      • Meaning:

        "prosperous in war"

      • Description:

        Edie is part of the Evie-Ellie et al family of cute and friendly short forms that sometimes stand on its own. Briefly popular in the 1960s, it could well be due for rediscovery. It's already a fashionable choice in the UK, where it has ranked just outside the Top 100 for several years.
    • Emmeline

      • Origin:

        Old French form of archaic German Amal

      • Meaning:

        "work"

      • Description:

        Emmeline is an Emma relative and Emily cousin that is destined for greater use in the wake of the megapopularity of those two names. A recommended Nameberry fave, Emmeline hopped onto the US Top 1000 in 2014 for the first time ever. While it is genuinely an old name, it was rarely used a century ago; only 17 baby girls were named Emmeline in 1915, the same number as were named Ernie!
    • Emmeline Virginia
      • Frances

        • Origin:

          English from Latin

        • Meaning:

          "from France; free man"

        • Description:

          Frances, a soft and gentle classic last popular a hundred years ago, is trending again. The cool nickname Frankie is one reason for the revival of Frances, adding lightness and sass to a serious name. Frances is the feminine form of Francis, the English variation of the Latin name Franciscus. Franciscus, meaning "Frenchman," was taken from the Germanic tribe the Franks, which got its name from the francisca, the axe they used in battle. Until the seventeenth century, the spellings Frances and Francis were used interchangeably for both sexes.
      • Gertie

        • Origin:

          Short form of Gertrude

        • Description:

          Gertie has a certain homespun charm, summoning to mind butter-yellow braids and denim overalls, summoning mind the adorable character played by little Drew Barrymore in E.T. Is the world ready for the return of Gertie and Gertrude? Maybe?
      • Hattie

        • Origin:

          English, diminutive of Harriet

        • Meaning:

          "estate ruler"

        • Description:

          In the USA, Hattie is one of those nicknames that is now more popular than its parent name, Harriet. In England, however, Harriet is still by far more popular than Hattie, while in Australia, Harriet is highly popular while no data exists on Hattie. In the US, we’d like to see Harriet get more usage but we’re happy to see Hattie again.
      • Hazel

        • Origin:

          English

        • Meaning:

          "the hazelnut tree"

        • Description:

          Hazel has a pleasantly hazy, brownish-green-eyed, old-fashioned image that more and more parents are choosing to share. Former Old Lady name Hazel reentered the popularity lists in 1998 and now is near the top of the charts.
      • Ingrid

        • Origin:

          Norse

        • Meaning:

          "fair; Ing is beautiful"

        • Description:

          The luminous Ingrid Bergman's appeal was strong enough to lend universal charisma to this classic Scandinavian name, which has been somewhat neglected in the US. Even today, a child named Ingrid would be assumed to be of Scandinavian ancestry, signaling the name has never been fully integrated into the English lexicon the way other European choices from the same era like Danielle or Kathleen have.
      • Iris

        • Origin:

          Flower name; Greek

        • Meaning:

          "rainbow"

        • Description:

          Iris has so much going for it. It's a fashionable flower name. It's a mythological name, from the Greek goddess of the rainbow. And it's a classic name, always ranking in the girls' Top 1000 but now at its highest point ever.
      • Lainey

        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Elaine, French and Scottish

        • Meaning:

          "bright shining light"

        • Description:

          Nickname name Lainey has been rising since the turn of the century to become a Top 200 girls' name in the US today.
      • Lottie

        • Origin:

          English, diminutive of Charlotte

        • Meaning:

          "free man"

        • Description:

          Lottie is a nostalgic great-grandma name that conjures up lockets and lace, and — like Nellie, Josie, Hattie, Tillie, and Milly — has considerable vintage charm.
      • Maeve

        • Origin:

          Irish

        • Meaning:

          "she who intoxicates"

        • Description:

          Maeve is a short and sweet name that has become one of the most stylish Irish names for girls in the modern US. Maeve would make an excellent first or middle name choice, with more heft than Mae/May and more modern charm than Mavis.
      • Mairi

        • Origin:

          Scottish variation of Mary

        • Meaning:

          "bitter"

        • Description:

          Why does Mairi (rhymes with Harry) seem so much cooler than Mary? This Irish form of Mary was not used before the seventeenth century, as it was considered too sacred. The vocative case of the name, Mhairi (pronounced VAH-ree), is also used as a given name in Scotland.
      • Mina

        • Origin:

          Hindu equivalent of Pisces or diminutive of Wilhelmina, German

        • Meaning:

          "resolute protection"

        • Description:

          Most famous as a Dracula victim (where Mina is short for Wilhelmina), Mina is a name that can stand on its own or be a diminutive of any name ending in -mina, most usually Wilhelmina.
      • Nella

        • Description:

          Nella is a feminine name with Italian and Germanic origins. It can be a standalone name or a diminutive of names like Petronella, Antonella, or Cornelia. In Italian, it literally means 'at the' or 'in the,' while as a short form, it often inherits meanings from its longer versions. Nella has historical usage dating back centuries but has experienced periods of renewed popularity in recent decades. The name has a vintage charm that appeals to parents seeking something classic yet not overused. With its brief two syllables and melodic sound, Nella strikes a balance between simplicity and distinctiveness. The name carries connotations of sweetness and strength, making it versatile for different personalities.

      • Nina

        • Origin:

          Short form of names that end in -nina

        • Description:

          Nina is as multiethnic as you can get: Nina is a common nickname name in Spain and Russia, a Babylonian goddess of the oceans, and an Incan goddess of fire. Here and now, it's a stylish possibility that's been underused. "Weird Al" Yankovic chose this decidedly nonweird name for his daughter.
      • Nella Virginia
        • Olive

          • Origin:

            English, from Latin, nature name

          • Meaning:

            "olive tree"

          • Description:

            Though greatly overshadowed by the trendy Olivia, Olive has a quiet, subtle appeal of its own -- and is now enjoying a remarkable comeback. Olive is one of only four girl names starting with O on the US Top 1000. Cool couple Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen chose it for their daughter, reviving the name to stylishness, and now Drew Barrymore has a little Olive too, as has country singer Jake Owen.
        • Olive Virginia
          • Willa

            • Origin:

              Feminine variation of William

            • Meaning:

              "resolute protection"

            • Description:

              Willa has become increasingly fashionable, with its combination of Willa (born Wilella) Cather-like pioneer strength and the graceful beauty of the willow tree.
          • Wren

            • Origin:

              English

            • Meaning:

              "small bird"

            • Description:

              Wren, a lilting songbird name, could be the next Robin. Wren entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2012 and is among the new wave of popular English names for girls.
          • Willa Evangeline