Choosing a name for a baby girl is an exciting and meaningful experience for parents. The name will be part of the child’s identity and can influence how she is perceived. When selecting a name, parents may consider family traditions, cultural backgrounds, meanings, popularity trends, and more. Ultimately, the right girls name is one that resonates with the parents and fits the child’s personality.
How to Brainstorm Girls Names
Here are some tips for brainstorming unique and meaningful girls names:
- Look to your family tree for names of female relatives you’d like to honor.
- Make lists of names you love based on meanings, origins, nicknames, etc.
- Read through baby name books and websites to generate ideas.
- Consider naming traditions in your culture or ethnic background.
- Use letters from your own first, middle, or last names.
- Think about positive attributes you’d like your daughter to embody.
- Choose names with natural nicknames you like.
- Be creative with name combinations for first, middle, and last names.
It often helps to make master lists of potential first and middle names early on. You can mix and match combinations until finding ones that flow well together with your last name.
Most Popular Girls Names
While you don’t need to choose a common name, considering popularity can be helpful. Very rare names may lead to misspellings or mispronunciations. Here are the top 10 girls names for 2022:
| Rank | Name | Popularity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olivia | 17,728 |
| 2 | Emma | 16,767 |
| 3 | Charlotte | 13,922 |
| 4 | Amelia | 13,339 |
| 5 | Ava | 12,759 |
| 6 | Sophia | 12,708 |
| 7 | Isabella | 11,201 |
| 8 | Mia | 10,359 |
| 9 | Evelyn | 9,434 |
| 10 | Harper | 9,038 |
Olivia has been the top girls name for several years now. Short, feminine names like Emma, Ava, and Mia are also very popular. Vintage names like Evelyn and Charlotte are seeing a resurgence. The top names tend to have a melodic, lyrical quality.
Unique Girls Names
While some parents choose common, well-known names, others seek more rare and unique girls names. Here are some ideas:
- Anaya
- Brinley
- Cassia
- Daphne
- Elliott
- Fiona
- Gwendolyn
- Haven
- Isadora
- Juniper
- Kira
- Lux
- Maren
- Nola
- Odette
- Posie
- Quinn
- Raine
- Sienna
- Talia
- Uma
- Veda
- Wren
- Ximena
- Yara
- Zaria
Nature names like Juniper and Wren have become trendy. Old-fashioned names like Gwendolyn and Isadora are being revived. There are also unique word names like Haven, Lux, and Posie gaining popularity.
Meaningful Girls Names
Many parents look for girls names that have uplifting, positive meanings. Here are some examples and their meanings:
- Abigail: Source of joy
- Aurora: Dawn
- Beatrice: Blesses, happy
- Clementine: Mild, merciful
- Diana: Divine
- Eden: Delight
- Felicity: Good fortune
- Grace: Gift, blessing
- Hope: Optimism
- Iris: Rainbow
- Jane: God is gracious
- Katherine: Pure
- Lily: Purity, innocence
- Nora: Light
- Olive: Peace
- Primrose: First rose
- Quinn: Wise, intelligent
- Ruth: Compassion
- Stella: Star
- Violet: Purple
- Willa: Determined protector
- Xanthe: Golden glow
- Yara: Small butterfly
- Zoe: Life
Names connected to nature, light, joy, wisdom, and other uplifting themes are popular for girls. Doing research on name meanings can help you find the perfect fit.
Honoring Family Members
One common girls naming tradition is using a family surname from your family tree. Here are some first name ideas based on popular last names:
- Anderson: Andie, Andy, Ande, Sonnie
- Clark: Clara, Claire, Clarice
- Davis: Davina, Davie, Davida
- Garcia: Gracie, Graciela
- Harris: Harlow, Harley, Harmony
- Jackson: Jackie, Janelle, Jacinda
- Jones: Joelle, Jocelyn, Josie
- Miller: Millie, Mila, Miley
- Moore: Morgan, Maureen, Mara
- Rodriguez: Ria, Rose, Roz
- Smith: Sloane, Sienna, Sage
- Thomas: Tamsin, Tess, Teagan
You can also honor relatives by using their first names or nicknames as middle names. Grandmother Elizabeth could inspire Betty, Lizzy, Elle, or Beth as a middle name.
Names from Media and Pop Culture
Books, movies, television, and other media often influence baby name trends. Here are some current ideas from pop culture:
- Arya (Game of Thrones)
- Bella (Twilight saga)
- Daphne (Bridgerton)
- Elsa (Frozen)
- Ginny (Harry Potter)
- Katniss (The Hunger Games)
- Luna (Harry Potter)
- Maeve (Westworld)
- Nala (The Lion King)
- Ophelia (Hamlet)
- Piper (Charmed)
- Quinn (Glee)
- Rory (Gilmore Girls)
- Scarlett (Gone with the Wind)
- Thea (Arrow)
Films and shows featuring strong female characters often inspire baby names. Just be cautious borrowing names from villains or characters with very negative connotations.
Names from Different Cultures
Honoring your cultural heritage is often important in selecting a baby name. Here are some beautiful girls names from various backgrounds:
- Arabic: Aaliyah, Dalia, Jasmine, Laila, Samira
- Chinese: Mei, Lei, Ming, Jia, Lan
- French: Chloe, Claire, Margaux, Genevieve, Noelle
- Greek: Athena, Calliope, Chloe, Thalia, Zoe
- Hawaiian: Alani, Kalia, Kailani, Leilani, Noelani
- Hispanic: Carmen, Elena, Paloma, Sierra, Valentina
- Indian: Anjali, Indira, Priya, Kamala, Sonali
- Irish: Bridget, Fiona, Siobhan, Caoimhe, Saoirse
- Italian: Bianca, Fiorella, Gianna, Lucia, Serafina
- Japanese: Aiko, Hina, Miyu, Saki, Yui
Research name traditions from your ancestry for meaningful options. Or expand your search to names from cultures that intrigue you.
Tips for Final Selection
Once you’ve created a shortlist of top girls names, here are tips for final selection:
- Say names aloud to test flows and rhythms
- Pair with middle and last names for the full sound
- Make sure no common nicknames could be problematic
- Consider initials and monograms
- Envision calling the name across a playground
- Ask for honest input from loved ones
- Meet your baby before finalizing a name
It’s smart to keep your top choice private until baby is born. Once you meet her, you’ll know if the name is right. Trust your instincts!
Conclusion
Finding that perfect girls name is a special part of preparing for a daughter. Focus on names with personal significance that also sound beautiful. Look to family, culture, nature, and inspiration from books or media you love. But don’t stress – the right name for your baby girl will come naturally when you meet her.
