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Girl Names

  1. Margo

    • Origin:

      French, diminutive of Margaret

    • Meaning:

      "pearl"

    • Description:

      Margo and Margot sound exactly the same, so why has the Margot spelling hopped back onto the Top 1000, outpacing Margo in numbers more than two to one? (Over 350 baby girls were named Margot in the most recent year, versus 150 named Margo.)
  2. Margot

    • Origin:

      French, diminutive of Margaret

    • Meaning:

      "pearl"

    • Description:

      Margot is suddenly a star again. After a nearly-half century absence, it hopped back on the Top 1000 list in 2013 and is on the rise. The Margot spelling is now given to three times as many baby girls as the Margo one.
  3. Matilda

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "battle-mighty"

    • Description:

      Matilda is a sweet vintage name that has been gently climbing the popularity list for the past 15 years, after a half-century slumber. The spunky children's book heroine Matilda is one factor in its rise, along with others of its class like Eloise and Caspian.
  4. Maven

    • Origin:

      Word name or Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "one who understands"

    • Description:

      In English, the word 'maven' refers to an expert or connoisseur, someone who possesses deep knowledge. Comedian Tracy Morgan brought this name into the spotlight when he chose it for his daughter, Maven Sonae, in 2013. Now, over 100 newborn girls in the US are given this name each year.
  5. Mayuri

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "peahen"

    • Description:

      Mayuri is the feminine version of the name Mayur, which means peacock. The name has a mellifluous sound to it, which makes it well placed to make the transition to the West. Dancer and chorerographer Mayuri Upadhya is a notable bearer of this name.
  6. Mazie

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Maisie

    • Meaning:

      "pearl or bitter"

    • Description:

      In a wave of vintage nickname revivals, cutesy Maisie — traditionally a nickname for Margaret or Mary — has been rising fast in recent years. And along for the ride are spelling variations Maisy and Mazie.
  7. Mckenna

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "son of Kenneth"

    • Description:

      Mackenzie begat McKenna - a catchy but very trendy choice. While the Mc or Mac prefix means "son of," this is much more popular as a girl name in the US, peaking at #177 in 2002.
  8. Meara

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "pool, lake"

    • Description:

      A name that has many close, more familiar relatives, like Mira and Myra.
  9. Mercy

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "compassion"

    • Description:

      The quality of mercy makes this lovely Puritan virtue name a quiet favorite today. Although it was most popular in the late nineteenth century, Mercy is on its way to a comeback -- it rose 143 spots between 2012 and 2013, making it one of the year's fastest-rising names. Right now, it's still stylish and distinctive, a rare and wonderful combination.
  10. Merida

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "one who has achieved a high place of honor"

    • Description:

      You'll probably be hearing more of this name thanks to the newest Pixar film, featuring Princess Merida, the first Pixar princess--a feisty, athletic, independent medieval Scottish girl with wild red hair. Her name, however, is not Scottish, but a Spanish place name found in both Spain and Mexico's Yucatan peninsula.
  11. Mila

    • Origin:

      Slavic, Russian

    • Meaning:

      "gracious; dear"

    • Description:

      Mila is a popular name that took a 125 year nap, ranking in the Top 1000 in 1881 and then not ranking again until 2006, after actress Mila Kunis appeared on That 70s Show.
  12. 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.
  13. Murphy

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "sea warrior"

    • Description:

      This surname name popularized for girls by TV's Murphy Brown back in the 80's and 90's still has some breezy energy. Almost 400 baby girls were named Murphy in 2021, versus just over 200 baby boys, making the name solidly gender neutral.
  14. Myra

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "sweet-smelling oil"

    • Description:

      As with many grandmother-y names, this choice may be coming back into style.
  15. Myrna

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "festive; affection, endearment"

    • Description:

      An anglicized spelling of Muirne, the name of the mother of Finn mac Cool in Irish legend, Myrna has a unique sound and two possible meanings, both of which are positive. Actress Myrna Loy was a notable bearer and her fame caused a spike in popularity of the name, when it reached the US Top 150 in the 1930s.
  16. Oceana

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "ocean"

    • Description:

      If you're a lover of the beach and sea, and want a name that relates to the largest body of water, there are several variations you could consider.
  17. Odelle

    • Description:

      Odelle is a feminine name of French origin, derived from "Odile" or possibly as a feminine form of "Odo," meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous." This elegant, vintage-sounding name carries a delicate sophistication while remaining uncommon. Odelle peaked in popularity in the early 20th century but has largely remained under the radar, giving it a distinctive quality for modern bearers. The name has musical qualities with its soft sounds and flowing syllables. Some may associate it with model Odelle Yiddish or variations like Odele or Odella. For parents seeking a name with vintage charm that isn't overused, Odelle offers French elegance, a positive meaning, and a distinctive sound that's both familiar and unique.

  18. Odette

    • Origin:

      French, from German

    • Meaning:

      "wealthy"

    • Description:

      Odette is the good swan in Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake, a role for which Natalie Portman won an Oscar ---and it would make a particularly soigne, sophisticated yet upbeat choice, unlike some of the more dated other 'ette'-ending names.
  19. 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.
  20. Ophelia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "help"

    • Description:

      Floral, elegant, and bold, Ophelia re-entered the US Top 1000 in 2015 after more than 50 years off the charts. It has risen more than 700 spots since then and shows no signs of slowing down. Now in the US Top 300, could Ophelia one day become the next Olivia or Amelia?