Favorites

  1. Abigail
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "my father is joyful"
    • Description:

      Abigail has been in for so long -- the name has ranked in the US Top 100 since the late 1980s -- it's amazing that it isn't more out by now. But Abigail's biblical and historic roots make it a fashionable classic rather than a passing fad.
  2. Brooke
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "small stream"
    • Description:

      The final e adds a big purple bow to what has already become a pink name. Try Brook or better, Brooks.
  3. Emma
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "universal"
    • Description:

      Emma has now been among the top girl names in the United States for several years, claiming the Number 1 crown in 2008 and again from 2015 to 2018 before dropping back to second place.
  4. Emme
    • Origin:

      American invented name; homonym of Emmy
    • Meaning:

      "universal"
    • Description:

      Introduced by "plus-size" model Emme (born Melissa) and now a legitimate member of the Em-starting girls' name group, especially since it was chosen by Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony for their twin daughter.
  5. Ella
    • Helena
      • Origin:

        Latinate form of Helen, Greek
      • Meaning:

        "torch; shining light"
      • Description:

        Helena is one of those classic names that just misses making the US Top 1000 girl names for its entire history, falling off for a single year in 1992. Since then it's been drifting lazily up the charts, and makes a perfect choice if you want a name that both fits in and stands out.
    • Heloise
      • Origin:

        French from German
      • Meaning:

        "healthy; wide"
      • Description:

        Heloise is an ancient name related to sleek, peppy classic Eloise. Both ultimately derive from the Germanic name Helewidis, which became Helewis in medieval England. In the twelfth century, the name was borne by the beloved of the French philosopher Pierre Abelard, who was considered to be one of the most learned women of the Middle Ages.
    • Layla
      • Origin:

        Variation of Leila, Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "night"
      • Description:

        A lovely musical name (remember the old Eric Clapton-Derek & the Dominos song?), Layla's seen a significant surge in popularity, partly partly all names with a double L are stylish, and partly because all the forms of the name push it into the Top 15 for girls.
    • Lena
      • Origin:

        English, Scottish, Dutch, German, and Scandinavian, diminutive of various names ending in -lena
      • Description:

        This pet form of Helena and other ena-ending names, long used as an independent name, is attracting notice again as an option both multicultural and simple. Lena was a Top 100 name from 1880 to 1920.
    • Lou
      • Origin:

        Short form of Louise
      • Meaning:

        "renowned warrior"
      • Description:

        Lou is usually a short form of Louise, Louisa, or Lucy in English-speaking countries, when Lou is used for girls at all. But in France and Germany, it's a fashionable choice all on its own, sure to gain even more widespread style credibility since Heidi Klum and Seal chose it for their daughter.
    • Louise
      • Origin:

        French and English, feminine variation of Louis
      • Meaning:

        "renowned warrior"
      • Description:

        Louise has for several decades now been seen as competent, studious, and efficient—desirable if not dramatic qualities. But now along with a raft of other L names, as well as cousin Eloise, Louise is up for reappreciation—sleek and chic, stylish in Paris, and starting to become so in the US as well. Louisa is perhaps more in tune with the times, but Louise has more edge. Louise has been on the rise lately, and reentered the US Top 1000 for the first time in a quarter century in 2016.
    • Mabel
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Amabel, Latin
      • Meaning:

        "lovable"
      • Description:

        Mabel is a saucy Victorian favorite rising in popularity in the US over the past decade, after a 50-year nap If you love offbeat old-fashioned names like Violet or Josephine, only sassier, Mabel is one for you to consider.
    • Macy
      • Origin:

        English surname, variation of Massey
      • Meaning:

        "hill"
      • Description:

        Singer Macy Gray has popularized this cute and upbeat choice—once solely associated with the department store—a modern replacement for Stacy and Tracy.
    • Mae
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Mary or Margaret, Hebrew, Latin
      • Meaning:

        "beloved, bitter, drop of the sea; pearl"
      • Description:

        Mae, a sweet and springlike old-fashioned name, hadn't been on the national charts in forty years, but finally made it back in 2010. Mae is derived from May, the month name that was chosen for its connection to Maia, the Roman goddess of growth and motherhood.
    • Maye
      • Mia
        • Origin:

          Italian word name or Scandinavian short form of Maria
        • Meaning:

          "mine or bitter"
        • Description:

          Mia is an appealingly unfussy multicultural name that has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the charts and is now firmly among the ten top girl names. Mia has surpassed its mother name Maria as the Number 1 girls' name starting with M.