​
​
Advanced Search

Pretty Names for Girls

  1. Abella

    • Origin:

      French, meaning 'breath'

    • Description:

      A pretty name heard in the Louisiana Cajun community, Abella would fit right in with all the other, more familiar, bella names.
  2. Abriana

    • Origin:

      Italian feminine variation of Abraham

    • Meaning:

      "father of multitudes"

    • Description:

      This lovely name is all but unknown outside Italy but fits perfectly in with the fashions for vowel-starting names that are elaborately feminine. Might make a distinctive alternative to Angelina or Arianna. Downside: People will inevitably mistake it for Adriana.
  3. Afternoon

    • Origin:

      English, “afternoon”

    • Description:

      An early day name worthy of consideration today for someone seeking a truly unusual name.
  4. Alessia

    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Alexis

    • Meaning:

      "defending warrior"

    • Description:

      Young Canadian pop singer Alessia Cara has given this spicy-sounding name a new lease on life, propelling it into the Top 1000 in 2016. It was one of the fastest rising girl names of the year in 2016, then again in 2023. As a form of Alexander, Alessia could make a wonderful honor for any of Alexander's variants—Alexandra, Alexis—or as an alternative to Alexa, now best known as Amazon's AI voice.
  5. Annabelle

    • Origin:

      Combination of Anna and Belle or French form of Amabel

    • Meaning:

      "loving"

    • Description:

      This is a charming name that rose steeply along with other-belle names, such as Isabelle, until the horror film Annabelle and its sequels knocked it out of favor. Made famous by the Edgar Allen Poe poem Annabel Lee. Annabelle is saucy and stylish, a tad upscale, has a sense of humor, is melodious and lively, but is unfortunately off its peak.
  6. Arabelle

    • Origin:

      Variation of Arabella, Latin, Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "yielding to prayer; lovable"

    • Description:

      This more succinct form of the elegant Arabella might appeal to those who are looking for a less popular spin on Annabel or those who like the sounds of Arabella but want something with fewer frills. Given to 120 girls in 2023, it is around ten times less popular than its longer counterpart.
  7. Aspen

    • Origin:

      Nature and place-name

    • Meaning:

      "a poplar tree that quakes in the breeze"

    • Description:

      Aspen is part of two groups of stylish and unique baby names: nature names and place-names. The name of a graceful tree in the poplar family with heart-shaped leaves so delicate they quiver in the gentlest breeze, Aspen is also the name of a trendy Colorado ski resort. Aspen started as a unisex name possibility but now is much more frequently worn by girls.
  8. Aubree

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Aubrey

    • Meaning:

      "elf ruler"

    • Description:

      Aubree and its big sister name Aubrey are both very widely used names, and if taken together would be among the most popular girl names. The Aubree spelling came into the limelight on the show Teen Mom 2.
  9. Bailee

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Bailey

    • Description:

      Like other "ee" names, Bailee is starting to lose its shine, slowly slipping down the charts.
  10. Bella

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Isabella, Italian

    • Meaning:

      "beautiful"

    • Description:

      Everything ella, from Ella to Bella to Arabella, is red hot right now. Bella is one of the most, well, beautiful girl names starting with B. It carried a hint of a nice Old World grandmotherly veneer, until it became attached to Twilight's Bella Swan.
  11. Blossom

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "to bloom"

    • Description:

      Now that parents have picked virtually every name in the garden, from the common Rose to the captivating Zinnia, some are reconsidering the old, more generic names like Flora and Posy and Blossom — which was last in favor in the 1920s and still has a Floradora showgirl aura.
  12. Camilla

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "young ceremonial attendant"

    • Description:

      The Spanish Camila, pronounced ka-MEE-la, is the fastest rising version of this ancient Roman name, but recent royal Camilla may have helped promote the British brand. In Roman myth, Camilla was a swift-footed huntress so fast she could run over a field without bending a blade of grass.
  13. Carleigh

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Carly

    • Description:

      Carleigh, a fancier way of spelling Carly, reflects the trend toward trying to make an ordinary name more special by fiddling with the spelling. Yes, Leigh is a feminine way to spell Lee, so Carleigh is theoretically an acceptable way to spell Carly, but it doesn't really work that way. People will wonder: is it Car-lay? Car-lee-uh? And your child will forever have to spell her name. Stick with Carly....or better, Carla or Carlin, or better yet, Charlotte or Caroline.
  14. Carter

    • Origin:

      English occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "cart maker or driver"

    • Description:

      One of the surname names for boys on its way to becoming unisex, this name broke into the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013 for girls. While it sounds masculine to us, because of its two-syllable er-ending sound so trendy with boys’ names, many parents apparently disagree.
  15. Cassiopeia

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "cassia juice"

    • Description:

      Cassiopeia, the name of a mythological mother who became a stellar constellation, is challenging but intriguing, and has all those softening Cass nicknames available. And with all names Cass-related trending, Cassiopeia may be an unusual route to a stylish name.
  16. 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.
  17. Cocoa

    • Origin:

      Color and food name

    • Description:

      Do everyone a favor and spell it Coco, an up-and-coming choice.
  18. Ekaterina

    • Origin:

      Russian; Macedonian; Bulgarian, variation of Catherine

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      This international variation was publicized by Olympic skater Ekaterina Gordeeva.
  19. Estelle

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "star"

    • Description:

      Maybe it's because she shares that winning -elle sound with Isabel and Bella, but Estelle is no longer seen as a muumuu-wearing canasta player of a certain age (think George Costanza's mother on Seinfeld or Joey Tribbiani's talent agent in Friends). This could be in part thanks to the young Royal Couple of Sweden, who chose it for their firstborn daughter, or the single-named British R&B singer. It reentered the US Top 1000 in 2012 after a nearly fifty-year absence.
  20. Grace

    • Origin:

      English, virtue name

    • Description:

      Grace, a simple and pure virtue name which originally referred to divine grace, is a fashionable classic. In the early 2000s, it seemed headed for the Top 10 but pulled back from the upward trajectory, which you may consider a very good thing.
  21. Graziella

    • Origin:

      Italian, diminutive of Grazia or variation of Grace

    • Meaning:

      "grace"

    • Description:

      Graziella, an Italian form of Grace, is another Latin version that adds spice. Consider Graziella as a distinctive alternative to either Grace or Gabriella.
  22. Harper

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "harp player"

    • Description:

      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.
  23. Isabel

    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Elizabeth

    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"

    • Description:

      Isabel derived from Elizabeth in southwest Europe during the Middle Ages. It was originally written as Elisabel, but the first syllable was dropped as it spread across the continent. In Spain and Portugal, Isabel and Elizabeth are considered to be variations of the same name, but they are treated as separate names in other European countries and the US.
  24. Ivy

    • Origin:

      Botanical name

    • Description:

      The quirky, offbeat and energetic botanical name Ivy is enjoying a deserved revival, propelled even higher by its choice by high-profile parents Beyonce and Jay-Z for daughter Blue Ivy. Ivy is also traditionally used at Christmas, make this one of the perfect names for December babies.
  25. Juliet

    • Origin:

      English from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "youthful or sky father"

    • Description:

      One of the most romantic names, the lovely and stylish Juliet seems finally to have shaken off her limiting link to Romeo. In Shakespeare's play, it was Juliet who said "What's in a name?"
  26. Keiko

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "happy child"

    • Description:

      Japanese classic with optimistic meaning.
  27. Kelsey

    • Origin:

      English surname

    • Meaning:

      "Cenel's island"

    • Description:

      Yesterday's hottie, today's mom name. It derives from several English place names and may mean "Cenel's island", from the Old English name Cenel "fierce".
  28. Kennedy

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "misshapen head"

    • Description:

      This attractive surname name still projects that Kennedy family charisma. While it didn't come into widespread use until long after the deaths of martyred heroes President John F. or Senator Robert Kennedy, Kennedy is now one of the most popular unisex names for girls as well as the top girls' name starting with K. This is one name that manages to sound trendy and classic at the same time.
  29. Kyle

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "narrow spit of land"

    • Description:

      Not as popular for girls as Kylie or Kyla, but we prefer its simplicity.
  30. Laetitia

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "gladness, happiness"

    • Description:

      Laetitia adds a layer of ancient patina to the more prosaic LETITIA.
  31. Lexie

    • Description:

      Lexi and Lexie, pixie-ish offshoots of the prolific Alex family, have come into their own, remaining in the Top 1000 for more than 20 years now.
  32. Lolita

    • Origin:

      Spanish, diminutive of Lola and Dolores, Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "lady of sorrows"

    • Description:

      In Nabokov's notorious novel, Lolita is the pet name given by the pedophilic narrator, Humbert Humbert, to his victim: a young girl called Dolores and nicknamed Lola or Lo by her mother. Still, it seems that a few parents are prepared to look past this problematic association, seeing this as a offbeat option for those who defy convention. We would recommend thinking seriously about the background of this name before bestowing it on your daughter.
  33. Mackenzie

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "son of Kenneth"

    • Description:

      Originally inspired as by eighties TV actress Mackenzie Phillips, parents since have flocked to Mackenzie for their daughters. Now a staple All-American choice, Mackenzie has ranked in the US Top 1000 for nearly 50 years.

      Mackenzie originates from the Scottish surname which itself an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Coinnich. Coinnich is one of the original Gaelic forms of Kenneth meaning "handsome, beautiful, comely".
  34. Madeleine

    • Origin:

      French variation of Magdalen

    • Meaning:

      "woman from Magdala or high tower"

    • Description:

      Sophisticated and sweet, delicate but substantial, Madeleine is the classic French variation of Magdalene.
  35. Marissa

    • Origin:

      Variation of Maris or a combination of Maria + Louisa

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + famous battle"

    • Description:

      Pretty feminissima name that never became as overused as cousin Melissa. The more streamlined Maris is a more modern sounding option.
  36. Melania

    • Origin:

      Spanish and Greek variation of Melanie

    • Meaning:

      "black"

    • Description:

      The current wife of Donald Trump, Slovenian model Melania Knauss, brought this pretty version to the fore. Saint Melania was an heiress who freed thousands of enslaved people.
  37. Melody

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "song"

    • Description:

      A melodious choice big in the sixties, Melody is now starting to pick up tempo again. It cracked the Top 150 for the first time ever in 2015. Melody is also the name of Ariel's equally curious and more tom-boyish daughter in The Little Mermaid sequel. Read more about Melody and other Disney Princess Names in our featured blog.
  38. Miri

    • Description:

      Miri is a charming feminine name with diverse cultural roots. In Hebrew, it means 'bitter' or 'rebellion,' though it's often associated with Miriam. In Swahili, Miri suggests 'mystery,' while in Japanese it can mean 'truth' or 'reason.' The name appears in various cultures, including as a Maori name meaning 'twine' or as a diminutive for Miriam or Miranda in Western contexts. Miri has gained appreciation for its brevity and melodic quality. In popular culture, the name received attention through characters in works like Star Trek. Its simplicity makes it easy to pronounce across languages, appealing to parents seeking a short but meaningful international name with a gentle, feminine sound.

  39. Monique

    • Origin:

      French variation of Monica

    • Meaning:

      "advisor"

    • Description:

      The sort of oh-so-French name that's falling out of favor now.
  40. November

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "month name"

    • Description:

      The menu of usable month names seems to expand every, well, month, with such choices as November, October, and January joining more established names like April, May, June and August. Logical November nicknames include Nova, Novi, or Ember, making this a natural (if adventurous) choice for a baby girl. November is also, obviously, one of the perfect names for November babies.
  41. 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.
  42. Opal

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "gem"

    • Description:

      Opal is on the verge of a repolishing, following other jewel names like Ruby and Pearl. A Top 100 name during the first two decades of the twentieth century, the opalescent Opal has a good chance of coming back as another O-initial option.
  43. Oriana

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "dawn"

    • Description:

      Oriana is a dashing medieval name, with a meaning similar to Aurora. At this point, though, Oriana is much more unusual than Aurora and makes a unique choice if you're searching for names that mean new beginnings or dawn.
  44. Penny

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Penelope

    • Description:

      Like Peggy and Patsy, the kind of zesty moniker young Judy Garland would sport in her early let's-put-on-a-show flicks. It fell out of favor (and the Top 1000) for a while, but has recently rebounded by reentering the charts in 2013. Expect it to continue gaining traction on the heels of Penelope.
  45. Peyton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "fighting-man's estate"

    • Description:

      Peyton is a unisex surname that rose to fame in the 90s, with parents drawing inspiration from football star, Peyton Manning, and, oddly enough, from "Peyton Flanders", the villainess of the 1992 film, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. Combining gentle sounds with contemporary style and the naughtiness of Peyton Place, the name remains a popular choice in the US today.
  46. Primrose

    • Origin:

      English flower name

    • Meaning:

      "first rose"

    • Description:

      A quaint and quirky flower name, until recently considered a bit too prim for most American classrooms but brought back to life in recent years by the attractive character of Primrose "Prim" Everdeen in the Hunger Games series. In the Top 300 girl names in England and Wales and on Nameberry, Primrose remains rare in the US, but is made more accessible by a raft of sweet nickname options, including Rosie and Posy.
  47. Rainbow

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "rainbow"

    • Description:

      Colorful, yes, but also probably among the hippiest of hippie names. Holly Madison recently chose it for her little girl.
  48. Raven

    • Origin:

      Word and animal name

    • Description:

      Bird name Raven, once a symbol of pride for both African-American and Wiccan parents, is finding new life as a superhero name. Raven Darkholme is the real name of Mystique, heroine of the X-Men films played by Jennifer Lawrence. And there is another Raven superheroine in Teen Titans. Some parents may still choose Raven to signal black pride or mystical powers or maybe even Edgar Allan Poe fandom, but we are guessing most inspiration is coming from the comics.
  49. Rio

    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "river or place of the cherry blossoms"

    • Description:

      Rio is one of Japan's most popular girls' names, constantly sitting in that country's Top 10. Of course, Rio may also stem from the Portuguese and Spanish word for river, and the Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro. A truly international name for a cosmopolitan baby!
  50. Rory

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "red king"

    • Description:

      Rory is a buoyant, spirited name for a redhead with Celtic roots. The name Rory is getting more popular overall, but for the past few years has been trending decidedly toward the boys' side -- however, it's been rising to new heights for girls in recent years.
  51. Rose

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "rose, a flower"

    • Description:

      Rose is derived from the Latin rosa, which referred to the flower. There is also evidence to suggest it was a Norman variation of the Germanic name Hrodohaidis, meaning "famous type," and also Hros, "horse". In Old English it was translated as Roese and Rohese.
  52. Róisín

    • Origin:

      Irish Gaelic, diminutive of RÓIs

    • Meaning:

      "rose"

    • Description:

      An authentic choice for your little Irish Rose, chosen by singer Sinead O'Connor for her daughter.
  53. Sasha

    • Origin:

      Russian, diminutive of Greek Alexander

    • Meaning:

      "defending men"

    • Description:

      Sasha, largely male in Russia--and also spelled Sascha and Sacha--is an energetic name that has really taken off for girls here, chosen by Jerry Seinfeld (using the alternate Sascha spelling) and other celebs. The Barack Obamas use it as the nickname for their younger daughter, whose proper name is Natasha. But in line with a trend toward softer-sounding boys' names like Asher and Joshua and thanks to Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen, Sasha also still has life as a boys' name too--it's popular in France for boys and girls almost equally.
  54. Shea

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "the stately, dauntless one"

    • Description:

      The short but solid Irish surname Shea works well for both genders thanks to its soft, succinct sound. The traditional Irish form is Séaghdha, though it could also be used as a short form of Séamus, connected to James.
  55. Sierra

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "saw"

    • Description:

      Sierra is a name borrowed from the western mountain range, with Latin rhythm and cowboy charm, that has led to many offshoots: Cierra, Cyara, and so on. It is now probably past its peak but retains its pretty-yet-strong sound. The meaning refers to the sharp, irregular peaks of some of the Western mountains such as the Sierra Nevada.
  56. Skye

    • Origin:

      Scottish place-name

    • Description:

      The e-addition takes the name from slightly hippie-ish nature name to the place name of a picturesque island off the coast of Scotland, and for baby namers it's by far the more popular spelling.
  57. Snow

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Description:

      There's definitely a cold front of names for winter babies moving in, with Summer, Spring and Autumn giving way to Winter--plus North, January, Frost--and Snow. This name feels brisk, fresh, pure, evocative -- and magical. A haunting middle name choice.
  58. Stevie

    • Origin:

      Short form of Stephanie, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "garland, crown"

    • Description:

      Stevie survives as a short form of Stephanie thanks to the immortal Ms. Nicks. After a little more than a decade out of the limelight, she rejoined the US Top 1000 in 2014. It is now leading the trend of boyish nicknames for girls - standing alongside picks like Charlie and Scottie.
  59. Skylar (Skye)
    • Teagan

      • Origin:

        Irish or Welsh

      • Meaning:

        "little poet or fair"

      • Description:

        As Meghan/Megan and Reagan/Regan show signs of wilting, along comes Teagan to take up the slack: definitely one to consider. The vast majority of American babies named Teagan are now girls. A variant spelling is Teaghan.
    • 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.
    • Whitney

      • Origin:

        English surname

      • Meaning:

        "white island"

      • Description:

        Yesterday's sensation that rose with the popularity of Whitney Houston. Whitney may have lost some of its style value, but it still sounds like one of the quintessential English names for girls. Today, you might want to shorten it to cool nickname Whit.
    • Winslet

      • Origin:

        English surname and place-name

      • Meaning:

        "Wynn's channel or stream"

      • Description:

        Winslet is one of a legion of surnames newly considered fair game as first names. The inspiration may be British star Kate, but she's not the only reason parents are attracted to Winslet, one of those British girl names that sounds at once classy and winning. Yet be warned that if you choose this, people will forever assume you are major fans of the actress. Other Win- beginning names up for new consideration: Winslow, Winston, Wynton, Winifred and Winnie, along with just plain Win or Wyn or Wynn.
    • Xiomara

      • Origin:

        Feminine variation of Guiomar, Spanish, Portuguese

      • Meaning:

        "famous in battle"

      • Description:

        The gorgeous and romantic name Xiomara popped into the Top 1000 from 2004-2011 after a contestant on America's Next Top Model increased interest in her rare name.