Character names #1 - 'A'

An epithet of the goddess Durga, associated with the beginning of the earth. Aadya, also appearing as Aadhya, Adya and Adia, is notably borne by make-up artist Aadya Reddy and by singer Aadya Rajwanshi who appeared on the 2020 series of The Voices Kids.

Gently old-fashioned stand-alone nickname that owes its popularity to mega popular Abigail.

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

Acacia is an attractive, rarely used Greek flower name enhanced by its popular beginning-and-ending-with 'a'-construct, and is gradually beginning to catch on as a new member of the stylish girl names starting with A.

Acadia, the French name for Nova Scotia and the name of a gorgeous national park in Maine makes a fresh, rhythmic choice for your little girl. Acadia is an original yet accessible member of the stylish girl names starting with A.

The açai palm is a tree native to Brazil that produces açai berries (the base of those trendy smoothie bowls). Since US birth certificates don't allow for diacritical marks, we are unsure if people are naming their children after the fruit (pronounce ah-sah-EE) or omitting the cedilla and pronouncing it a-KYE.

Acasha is a feminine name with several possible origins. It may be a variant spelling of Akasha, which comes from Sanskrit and refers to the fifth element or 'ether' in Hindu philosophy, representing the essence of all things and infinite space. Alternatively, it could be a creative variation of names like Acacia (the tree) or a phonetic spelling inspired by Russian names ending in '-asha.' The name has a flowing, exotic quality with its soft consonants and balanced vowel sounds. Acasha remains quite rare in usage statistics, making it an uncommon choice that still feels accessible and intuitive to pronounce. Its spiritual connections to concepts of universality and essence may appeal to parents seeking a name with depth and metaphysical significance while maintaining a feminine, melodic quality.

Ace is a retro nickname most often used for boys, as in Ace Ventura. While some celebrities have adopted it for their sons, there's nothing that makes this name exclusively male.

Distinctive, elegant, and luxurious, Adalia can be a variation of Adele, or a Hebrew name with a Biblical background. Although it is given exclusively to girls in the US, in the Bible it is masculine. The similar Adlai might be easier to wear for boys in English speaking countries, while Adalia fits in with Adeline, Amelia, and Dahlia.

With Adelyn, Adelaide, Adeline, Ada, Lainey, Delaney, and Elena all in the charts, Adelaine remains surprisingly underused. Given to just 35 girls in the US in 2023, it makes a distinctive but familiar alternative to the other Ad- names in the charts and comes with the built in nicknames Lainey, Laine, Della, Addie and Ada. Beauty influencer and vlogger Adelaine Morin might draw more people's attention to the name in coming years, or perhaps it will be dismissed as it might feel more popular than it actually is.

Aisha was Muhammad's favorite wife, making this lovely name and its myriad variations hugely popular among Muslims and also African-Americans. It's been energized by TV personality Aisha Tyler. Pronunciation is usually eye-EE-sha but some say ay-sha.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Apple has opened the world of botanical names beyond flowers to trees, herbs, fruits, and — why not — nuts. Cayley and Brandon Jenner have a daughter named Joan Almond.

Strong, attractive, and stylish, Amara is a true multicultural choice enjoying some popularity in both the US and the UK. In the US Top 1000 since the turn of this century, Amara has been holding steady in the rankings between overly popular and obscure.

Though perhaps not as currently stylish as Ruby, Jade, or Pearl, Amber has a colorful history (remember the notorious Forever Amber heroine?). Unfortunately, it does come with the "Amber Alert" connotation for modern parents (and their children).

Ambrosia combines some of the more whimsical qualities of more popular Aurora and Isabella, with a heavenly meaning.

Anya is a Russian variation of Anna, which came from the Hebrew name Hannah. Anya is the form found most frequently in Russia, Poland, and other East European countries, while Anja is the spelling usually preferred in Germany Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and The Netherlands. In the Hungarian language, Anya also means mother.

A very unique fruit name heard more often on peachy-colored dogs than on baby girls.

Aprielle is a feminine name representing a lyrical variation of April, the fourth month of the year. Derived from the Latin 'aperire,' meaning 'to open,' it references the opening or blossoming of flowers in spring. This embellished version adds a French-inspired flair to the traditional month name, creating a more elaborate and romantic feel. While April has been used as a name since the 1940s, Aprielle emerged as a more distinctive alternative for parents seeking something familiar yet unique. The name evokes images of renewal, freshness, and springtime beauty. Though relatively uncommon, Aprielle appeals to those drawn to seasonal names with an elegant, sophisticated twist, offering a balance between recognizability and individuality.

Arabella, lovely and elegant, has long been well used in Britain and finally made it onto the American list in 2005. A Top 50 choice in the UK, in the US in remains in the Top 300, given to around 1300 babies each year.