Girl Names

Naming a daughter is a chance to give her something beautiful to carry for life. The good news is that girl names are the most varied corner of the naming world — you can go timeless (Eleanor, Charlotte), botanical (Magnolia, Juniper), vintage (Hazel, Mabel), global (Aoife, Noor, Sakura) or fiercely original.
Below are 90+ of our favorite girl names across every major style, each with a real meaning and origin, followed by links to all of our themed lists. Popular picks live in popular girl names; if you want something rarer, go to unique girl names. Expecting a boy instead, or not finding out? Try our boy names and gender-neutral names.
Girl Names: browse all lists
Badass Girl Names100+ names
Classic Girl Names100+ names
Country Girl Names100+ names
Fancy Girl Names100+ names
Female Warrior Names100+ names
Flower Names for Girls100+ names
Grandma Names100+ names
Middle Names for Girls100+ names
Names to Call your Girlfriend120+ names
Nature Names for Girls100+ names
Pretty Girl Names100+ names
Southern Girl Names100+ names
Girl Names That Start With A100+ names
Girl Names That Start With B100+ names
Girl Names That Start With C100+ names
Girl Names That Start With D100+ names
Girl Names That Start With E100+ names
Girl Names That Start With G100+ names
Girl Names That Start With H100+ names
Girl Names That Start With I90+ names
Girl Names That Start With J100+ names
Girl Names That Start With K100+ names
Girl Names That Start With L100+ names
Girl Names That Start With M90+ names
Girl Names That Start With N90+ names
Girl Names That Start With P90+ names
Girl Names That Start With R90+ names
Girl Names That Start With S90+ names
Girl Names That Start With T90+ names
Girl Names That Start With W90+ names
Girl Names That Start With Z90+ names
Unique Girl Names100+ names
Girl Names That Start With F100+ names
Girl Names That Start With O90+ names
Girl Names That Start With U90+ names
Girl Names That Start With V90+ names
Girl Names That Start With Y90+ names
Popular Girl Names120+ names
Short Girl Names100+ names
Strong Girl Names100+ names
Cool Girl Names100+ names
Cute Girl Names100+ names
One Syllable Girl Names100+ names
Princess Names90+ names
Vintage Girl Names110+ names
Hippie Girl Names100+ names
Boho Girl Names100+ names
Elegant Girl Names100+ names
Mythology Girl Names120+ names
Cowgirl Names100+ names
Preppy Girl Names100+ namesPopular girl names parents love right now
These names have been consistently near the top of US charts in recent years (SSA data). They’re popular because they’re pretty, easy to spell and work at every age.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Olivia | Olive tree | Latin |
| Emma | Whole, universal | Germanic |
| Charlotte | Free woman (from Charles) | French |
| Amelia | Work, industrious | Germanic |
| Sophia | Wisdom | Greek |
| Mia | Mine; beloved (short for Maria) | Scandinavian / Italian |
| Isabella | Pledged to God (form of Elizabeth) | Hebrew via Italian |
| Ava | Possibly “life” or “bird” | Latin / Germanic |
| Evelyn | Possibly “hazelnut” or “desired” | English (from Aveline) |
| Luna | Moon | Latin |
| Harper | Harp player | English |
| Eleanor | Possibly “the other Aenor”; linked to light | Old French |
| Aurora | Dawn | Latin |
| Violet | The purple flower | English |
| Nora | Honor; light (short for Eleanor/Honora) | Irish / English |
| Ella | All; fairy maiden (varied roots) | Germanic / English |
Classic girl names that never date
Names that have been used steadily for centuries. More in our classic girl names and elegant girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth | God is my oath | Hebrew |
| Catherine | Pure (popular association) | Greek |
| Margaret | Pearl | Greek |
| Anne | Grace, favor | Hebrew |
| Victoria | Victory | Latin |
| Caroline | Free woman | French |
| Grace | Grace, goodness | Latin |
| Alice | Noble | Germanic |
| Julia | Youthful | Latin |
| Rose | The rose flower | Latin |
| Claire | Clear, bright | French |
| Lucy | Light | Latin |
| Josephine | God will increase | Hebrew via French |
| Madeline | Woman from Magdala | Hebrew |
Vintage girl names making a comeback
Grandma-chic names that are back in style. See vintage girl names and grandma names for dozens more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Hazel | The hazel tree | English |
| Mabel | Lovable | Latin |
| Clara | Bright, famous | Latin |
| Iris | Rainbow; the flower | Greek |
| Beatrice | She who brings happiness | Latin |
| Florence | Flourishing | Latin |
| Pearl | The gemstone | English |
| Edith | Rich in war | Old English |
| Mae | Form of May or Mary | English |
| Ruth | Friend, companion | Hebrew |
| Opal | The gemstone | Sanskrit via Greek |
| Winifred | Blessed peace | Welsh |
| Ada | Noble | Germanic |
| Frances | Frenchwoman, free | Latin |
Nature and flower names for girls
Botanical names are one of the biggest trends of the last decade. Browse flower names for girls and nature names for girls.
| Name | What it is | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Ivy | Climbing evergreen vine | Fresh, short |
| Willow | Graceful tree | Soft, bohemian |
| Juniper | Aromatic evergreen | Spirited |
| Magnolia | Southern flowering tree | Lush, romantic |
| Daisy | Day’s eye flower | Sunny |
| Poppy | Red wildflower | Cheerful |
| Wren | Tiny songbird | Delicate |
| Laurel | Victory wreath tree | Classic |
| Dahlia | Showy garden flower | Dramatic |
| Briar | Wild rose | Romantic |
| Marigold | Golden flower | Vintage, warm |
| Sage | Silvery herb; wise | Calm |
Short and sweet girl names
One- and two-syllable names that feel crisp and confident. Our short girl names and one-syllable girl names have many more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Isla | Island; the Scottish river Islay | Scottish |
| Zoe | Life | Greek |
| Eva | Life | Hebrew |
| Lila | Night; play (Sanskrit) | Arabic / Sanskrit |
| Maya | Illusion (Sanskrit); water (Hebrew) | Various |
| June | The month; Juno | Latin |
| Tess | Harvester (short for Theresa) | Greek |
| Nell | Light; short for Eleanor | English |
| Jade | The green gemstone | Spanish |
| Faye | Fairy; loyalty | English |
Unique girl names
Uncommon but wearable names with real history. Want more? See rare girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Margot | Pearl (French form of Margaret) | French |
| Freya | Lady; Norse goddess of love | Old Norse |
| Seraphina | Fiery one (seraphim) | Hebrew |
| Ottilie | Prosperity | Germanic |
| Imogen | Maiden (possibly) | Celtic via Shakespeare |
| Thea | Goddess | Greek |
| Linnea | Twinflower, named for Linnaeus | Swedish |
| Cosima | Order, beauty | Greek via Italian |
| Delphine | From Delphi; dolphin | Greek via French |
| Ondine | Water spirit | Latin via French |
| Esmé | Esteemed, loved | French |
| Philippa | Lover of horses | Greek |
Girl names from around the world
A few favorites from different cultures, easy to love in English. Our Irish girl names, Italian girl names and Japanese girl names have many more.
| Name | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Aoife | Irish | Beauty, radiance (EE-fa) |
| Saoirse | Irish | Freedom (SEER-sha) |
| Chiara | Italian | Bright, clear |
| Giulia | Italian | Youthful |
| Sakura | Japanese | Cherry blossom |
| Hana | Japanese / Arabic | Flower (Japanese); bliss (Arabic) |
| Noor | Arabic | Light |
| Amara | Igbo | Grace |
| Priya | Sanskrit | Beloved |
| Ingrid | Norse | Ing’s beauty |
| Elena | Greek / Spanish | Torch, bright light |
| Anya | Russian | Grace (form of Anna) |
| Mei | Chinese | Beautiful, plum (depending on character) |
| Leilani | Hawaiian | Heavenly flowers |
How to choose the perfect girl name
- Start with a style. Decide whether you’re drawn to classic, vintage, nature or modern names, then browse that list first — it narrows the field fast.
- Say the full name aloud. First, middle and last name together should flow; watch for repeated sounds and awkward initials.
- Check popularity. Some parents love a top-ten name; others don’t want three in one class. SSA data will tell you how common it is.
- Think about nicknames. Elizabeth gives Eliza, Libby, Beth or Betsy; Margaret gives Maggie, Greta or Daisy. Make sure you like the likely ones.
- Honor family gently. A grandmother’s name can work beautifully as a middle name, or in a modern variant (Margaret → Margot).
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular girl name in the US?
Olivia has been at or near the top of US girl name charts for several years according to Social Security Administration data, with Emma, Charlotte, Amelia and Sophia close behind.
What are timeless girl names?
Elizabeth, Catherine, Margaret, Anne, Caroline, Grace, Julia and Rose have been used steadily for centuries and still sound fresh today.
What are the prettiest girl names?
Taste varies, but names like Aurora, Seraphina, Violet, Eleanor, Isla and Juniper are often described as beautiful. Browse pretty girl names for more.
What are strong girl names?
Names with powerful meanings include Matilda (mighty in battle), Valentina (strong), Audrey (noble strength) and Alexandra (defender). See strong girl names.
How do I find a girl name by first letter?
Use our A–Z lists, like girl names that start with A, linked in the grid below.