Gutsy Gals

Gussy is a feminine name that typically functions as a diminutive or nickname for names like Augusta, Augustine, or Gustava. With English origins, it carries a vintage, playful charm reminiscent of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The name evokes a sense of nostalgic whimsy and has occasionally appeared as a standalone given name. In literature and period dramas, Gussy often characterizes spirited, vivacious female characters. Though rarely found in contemporary birth records as a formal name, it continues to serve as an affectionate nickname. The name's cheerful, unpretentious quality gives it a friendly, approachable character.

One spelling variation that's more popular than the original, this somewhat old-fashioned name might be in honor of poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African-American to win a Pulitzer prize for poetry, or may be a way to get to the modern short form Gwen.

The name of the Greek goddess of youth, daughter of Zeus and Hera, is rarely used today but may be ripe for revival considering the rejuvenation of the rhyming Phoebe. We'd call it one of the Greek goddess names ripe for modern use.

The feminine form of Helios or Helio is occasionally heard in Spain and Portugal. In Greek mythology, Helia is one of the Heliades, daughters of the sun god Helios by Clymene the Oceanid.

Imogen has long been fashionable in England and is gaining favor in the US among stylish parents. Pronounced the British way — the initial i is short as in Kim, as is the final E as in Ken — Imogen is as pretty and classy as it is distinctive.

In mythology, Iphigenia was sacrificed by her father, Agamemnon -- a difficult legacy to pass on to a daughter, and only one reason the name is hardly ever used.

Juna, a variation of the newly stylish month name June, goddess name Juno, or literary Djuna, is among the fresher-feeling girl names starting with J. While Juna has never been given to more than 50 baby girls per year in the US, it's a popular choice in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Larue is a feminine name with French origins, derived from 'la rue' meaning 'the street' or 'the road.' As a surname-turned-first-name, it belongs to the category of location-based names that became personal identifiers. Originally, it likely referred to someone who lived on a particular street or roadway. While not among the most popular names, Larue has maintained consistent though limited usage throughout the 20th century, particularly in the United States. The name has a sophisticated, French-inspired quality with its simple yet elegant sound. Larue experienced modest popularity in the early 1900s and has seen occasional revival among parents seeking vintage names with European flair. Its simple pronunciation belies its somewhat exotic character, making it both accessible and distinctive.

Lavender lags far behind sweet-smelling purple-hued sister names Violet and Lila, but is starting to get some enthusiastic attention from cutting-edge namers along with other adventurous nature names like Clementine and Marigold. In fact, 2024 saw it enter the US Top 1000 for the first time, when it was given to nearly 260 girls.

Sweet but sleek, and distinctive, Liesel is an old German nickname-name for Elisabeth. It might have once seemed inextricably tied to to its country of origin, but now, like Elsa, Enzo, Saoirse, Freya, Soren, and Heidi, it leans more towards being international and European chic.

Lilabet is a charming feminine name that originated as an affectionate Scottish diminutive of Elizabeth. The name gained wider recognition as it was the childhood nickname of Queen Elizabeth II, used by her close family members, particularly her father, King George VI. Lilabet combines the popular 'Lil' prefix seen in names like Lily and Lillian with a shortened version of Elizabeth, creating a name that feels both familiar and distinctive. Though uncommon as a formal given name, it offers a sweet alternative to the more common Elizabeth derivatives like Liz, Beth, or Eliza. The name carries a cozy, intimate quality while maintaining royal associations. Its rarity makes it appealing to parents seeking a name with historical connections yet an uncommon presence in modern naming trends.

Luella is a sleeker spelling variant of the girls' name Louella and is now more popular than the original. Sweet, but lively, it was a popular name in the the early 19th century, but fell out of favor in the 50s. Now, after a 60 year absence, it's back in the charts, in the US and the UK.

Lula is one of the livelier nickname-names with the fashionable double-L sound: It joins Lulu, Lila, Lily, and Lou among the trendiest names today. Lula might be short for Talula and sisters or for Lucy or Louise, or may stand on its own two adorable feet. Lula was actually a Top 50 name in the late 1880's and continued in the Top 100 for a couple of decades more.

Lyra is a name with ancient and celestial roots that's finding new popularity thanks to its starring role in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series, seen in the movie The Golden Compass. Simple yet unique, Lyra hits the sweet spot between too popular and too unusual.

A super diminutive nickname name, and sometime Madonna nickname – it was how the British tabloids referred to her when she moved to London in the 1990s, which she found annoying until then husband Guy Ritchie said it stood for 'Your Majesty'. Madge Undersee is Katniss's best friend in The Hunger Games books.

This feminine form of Mael has the distinctive "aelle" ending found in Brittany. In the French spelling Maëlle, it is a Top 100 girls' name in France.

Though it sounds like a variation of the Irish Maeve, Maeva actually hails from Tahiti, and is currently enjoying a wave of popularity in France, where it ranks in the Top 100, possibly via popular French folk singer and actress Maeva Meline.

Maeve is a short and sweet name that has become one of the most stylish Irish names for girls in the modern US. It joined the Top 100 for the first time in 2023 and now ranks at Number 74.

Magnolia, a sweet-smelling Southern belle of a name made famous via the iconic Edna Ferber novel and musical Showboat, is one of the latest wave of botanical names, along with unexpected blossoms Azalea and Zinnia. It is named for French botanist Pierre Magnol.

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.