Emma has been the most popular girl’s name in the United States for over a decade now. It is a traditionally feminine name meaning universal or whole. Other top names like Olivia, Ava, Isabella and Sophia are also lovely classic choices. These names have remained steadily atop lists of most popular baby girl names for several years running.
Harper and Amelia have seen a recent rise in popularity as well. Harper calls to mind images of nature while Amelia is a smart, sophisticated name meaning hard working. Names like Mia, Charlotte and Abigail are likewise beautiful, elegant options. Chosen names often reflect the fashion and trends of the time that they are popular.
Newer hits on the charts include names like Camila, Aria, Luna and Maya. Camila has a romantic feel while Luna signifies the moon. Creative names with meaningful definitions are also becoming more common. Unusual spellings or variations on top names are another novelty parents are drawn to for their new baby daughters. Overall the most popular girls’ names tend to be those that are timeless, recognizable but also feel fresh.
Most popular name by decade
| Keyword | Density | LSI Keywords |
| popular baby | 4.35% | baby names, most popular, popular girls, names |
| Victoria | 4.35% | Tasmania, Western Australia, New South Wales, Australia, girls, boys |
| Oliver | 6.09% | Oliver tops, Oliver retaining, boys’ name, most popular name, popular name for boys |
| Amelia | 3.80% | Amelia rising, Amelia the most popular, most popular girls’, aviator Amelia Earhart, real name is Amelia |
Rare S names for girls
| Seraphina | Selene | Saskia | Saffron |
| Sariah | Solange | Seren | Selah |
| Soraya | Sistine | Sabine | Suri |
| Samara | Sybil | Sonnet | Soleil |
| Sequoia | Sariel | Sancia | Samira |
Rare S names for girls
| Zara | Zephyra | Zinnia | Zola |
| Zora | Zoya | Zadie | Zelie |
| Zuri | Zabrina | Zaina | Zandra |
| Zola | Zephyrine | Zeldine | Zylia |
| Zariah | Zariyah | Zayla | Ziana |
What is the most popular girl’s name?
Here is 500+ Most popular girl’s names
Names A-D
| Aaliyah | Adalyn | Adeline | Adison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adley | Adrienne | Afton | Ainslee |
| Ainsley | Alaina | Alana | Alanna |
| Alayna | Alena | Alessandra | Alessia |
| Alexandra | Alexandria | Aliana | Alondra |
| Alora | Alyvia | Amara | Amari |
| Amaya | Amelie | Amira | Amirah |
| Anabel | Analeigh | Aniyah | Annabelle |
| Annabeth | Annalise | Anniston | Annmarie |
| Anya | Arabella | Aria | Ariadne |
| Ariah | Ariana | Arianna | Ariel |
| Ariella | Arielle | Arya | Aspen |
| Aubree | Aubrey | Aubriella | Auden |
| Audra | Aura | Aurelia | Aurea |
| Aurora | Autumn |
Names E-K
| Eva | Evalyn | Evangeline | Eve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evelyn | Everlee | Everleigh | Everly |
| Felicity | Fiona | Freja | Gemma |
| Genevieve | Gia | Gigi | Giselle |
| Gwen | Gwendolyn | Hadassah | Hadley |
| Hailey | Hannah | Harley | Harlow |
| Harmony | Haven | Hayley | Hazel |
| Heidi | Henley | Hope | Irene |
| Iris | Isabel | Isabella | Isabelle |
| Isla | Ivy | Jada | Jade |
| Jana | Jane | Jasmine | Jaya |
| Jayla | Jayleen | Jaylene | Jaylin |
| Jemma | Jennifer | Jessamine | Jessica |
| Jillian | Joanna | Joelle | Johanna |
| Josie | Joy | Julia | Juliana |
| Julianna | Julie | Juliet | Juliette |
| Kaelyn | Kailani | Kailey | Kaira |
| Kaitlyn | Kali | Kamila | Kamilah |
| Kamryn | Kara | Karina | Karissa |
| Kate | Katelyn | Katherine | Kathryn |
| Katie | Katrina | Kaya | Kayla |
| Kaylee | Kayleigh | Kehlani | Keilani |
| Keira | Kendall | Kendra | Kennedy |
| Kenzie | Kenley | Kensington | Kensley |
| Kiera | Kierra | Kinley | Kira |
| Kyla | Kylee | Kylie |
Names E-K
| Eva | Evalyn | Evangeline | Eve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evelyn | Everlee | Everleigh | Everly |
| Felicity | Fiona | Freja | Gemma |
| Genevieve | Gia | Gigi | Giselle |
| Gwen | Gwendolyn | Hadassah | Hadley |
| Hailey | Hannah | Harley | Harlow |
| Harmony | Haven | Hayley | Hazel |
| Heidi | Henley | Hope | Irene |
| Iris | Isabel | Isabella | Isabelle |
| Isla | Ivy | Jada | Jade |
| Jana | Jane | Jasmine | Jaya |
| Jayla | Jayleen | Jaylene | Jaylin |
| Jemma | Jennifer | Jessamine | Jessica |
| Jillian | Joanna | Joelle | Johanna |
| Josie | Joy | Julia | Juliana |
| Julianna | Julie | Juliet | Juliette |
| Kaelyn | Kailani | Kailey | Kaira |
| Kaitlyn | Kali | Kamila | Kamilah |
| Kamryn | Kara | Karina | Karissa |
| Kate | Katelyn | Katherine | Kathryn |
| Katie | Katrina | Kaya | Kayla |
| Kaylee | Kayleigh | Kehlani | Keilani |
| Keira | Kendall | Kendra | Kennedy |
| Kenzie | Kenley | Kensington | Kensley |
| Kiera | Kierra | Kinley | Kira |
| Kyla | Kylee | Kylie |
Names L-P
| Laila | Lana | Laney | Lara |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larissa | Laura | Lauren | Layla |
| Leah | Leila | Leilani | Lena |
| Lennon | Lennox | Leona | Leora |
| Lexi | Lia | Liana | Lilah |
| Lillian | Lilliana | Lily | Lina |
| Linda | Lindsay | Liv | Livia |
| Lola | Londyn | Lorraine | Louisa |
| Lucia | Luciana | Lucille | Lucinda |
| Luna | Lydia | Lyla |
Names M-T
| Mabel | Mackenzie | Macy | Madalyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madeline | Madelyn | Madison | Mae |
| Maeve | Maisie | Malia | Malaysia |
| Mallory | Mandy | Mara | Margaret |
| Margot | Mariah | Marie | Marilyn |
| Marina | Marisol | Marissa | Marlee |
| Marley | Marnie | Martha | Maryam |
| Mavis | Maxine | Maya | Mckenna |
| Meadow | Megan | Melanie | Melina |
| Melinda | Melissa | Melody | Mercy |
| Meredith | Mia | Michaela | Mikayla |
| Milana | Milani | Miley | Millie |
| Mina | Miracle | Miranda | Mira |
| Mireya | Miriam | Misty | Mollie |
| Molly | Monica | Monique | Morgan |
| Mya | Nadia | Nala | Nancy |
| Naomi | Natalia | Natalie | Natasha |
| Naya | Nayeli | Nellie | Nelly |
| Nevaeh | Nia | Nicole | Nina |
| Noa | Noelle | Noemi | Nola |
| Nora | Norah | Nova | Nyla |
| Olivia | Ophelia | Paige | Paisley |
| Paloma | Parker | Patricia | Paula |
| Payton | Pearl | Penelope | Perla |
| Phoebe | Piper | Poppy | Presley |
| Priscilla | Quinn | Rachel | Raegan |
| Raelyn | Raina | Ramona | Raquel |
| Raven | Reagan | Rebecca | Rebekah |
| Reese | Regina | Remi | Remy |
| Rhea | Rhiannon | Riley | River |
| Rivka | Roberta | Rosalie | Rose |
| Rosie | Rowan | Ruby | Ruth |
| Rylee | Sabrina | Sadie | Sage |
| Salem | Salma | Samantha | Samiyah |
| Sandra | Saoirse | Sara | Sarah |
| Sariah | Sasha | Savannah | Scarlett |
| Selah | Selena | Serena | Shelby |
| Sienna | Sierra | Skylar | Skyler |
| Sofia | Sophia | Sophie | Stella |
| Stephanie | Summer | Susan | Sutton |
| Sydney | Sylvia | Tabitha | Talia |
| Taliyah | Tatiana | Tatum | Tegan |
| Teresa | Tess | Tessa | Thea |
| Theresa | Tiana | Tiara |
Names U-Z
| Uriah | Ursula | Ulyssa |
|---|---|---|
| Valencia | Valerie | Vanna |
| Venus | Vera | Verity |
| Verna | Veronica | Vesper |
| Victoria | Vienna | Viola |
| Violet | Virginia | Vivian |
| Viviana | Vivienne | Wanda |
| Wendy | Whitney | Willa |
| Willow | Winifred | Wren |
| Xanthe | Xenia | Ximena |
| Xiomara | Yael | Yasmin |
| Yasmine | Yelena | Yesenia |
| Yolanda | Yvette | Yvonne |
| Zaina | Zara | Zaria |
| Zariah | Zelda | Zelena |
| Zephyr | Zinnia | Zoe |
| Zoey | Zola | Zora |
| Zoya | Zuri |
Baby Girls NickNames
| Name | Nicknames |
|---|---|
| Abigail | Abby, Gail, Abbie |
| Adeline | Addi, Addie, Adline |
| Adriana | Addie, Adi, Riana |
| Ainsley | Ains, Inzi |
| Alessandra | Alessia, Lex, Less, Lessie, Alex |
| Alexa | Lex |
| Alessia | Lessi |
| Alice | |
| Alison | Alli, Ally |
| Alivia | Liv, Livvy |
| Allison | Allie |
| Alora | Ally |
| Alyvia | Aly, Vivi |
| Amalia | Mali, Mally |
| Amalie | Mali |
| Amara | Amy, Mari, Rae |
| Amaris | Amari, Missy |
| Amaya | YaYa |
| Amelia | Amy, Mel, Lia |
| Anastasia | Annie, Stacey, Staci |
| Anaya | |
| Angelina | Angie, Lin |
| Aniyah | Ani, Yah |
| Annabelle | BellBell, Belle |
| Annabella | BellBell |
| Anya | |
| Arabella | Bellie, Bella, Ara |
| Aracely | Ellie, Ara |
| Ariana | |
| Ariell | |
| Ariella | |
| Armani | |
| Aubrey | Ave |
| Auden | Odie |
| Aura | |
| Aurelia | Reily, Aure |
| Autumn | Tumnie |
| Avalynn | Avie, Linnie |
| Avi | Vivi |
| Avianna | Avi, Vivi |
| Avriella | Ellie |
| Ayla | LayLay |
| Azalea | Zeli, Az |
| Bailey | Bay, Belle |
| Bellamy | Bells |
| Briar | Bry |
| Calliope | Cal, Calli |
| Camilla | Millie, Cami, Milla |
| Catalina | Tali, Lina, Talla |
| Carmen | Carly, Caca |
| Cassidy | Cass, Sid |
| Charlie | Charli, Charlie |
| Charlotte | |
| Chloe | Cloe, Chlo |
| Cienna | Cece |
| Cora | Cory |
| Danica | Dani |
| Daphne | Daph |
| Daisy | Day, Daysie |
| Delaney | Lanie, Lay |
| Delilah | Lili |
| Destiny | Destiny, Desti |
| Dixie | Dix |
| Dior | Dio |
| Dorothy | Dot, Dottie, Dory |
| Eden | Eddy, Edie |
| Eleanor | Ellie |
| Elaina | Lane, Ellie |
| Elizabeth | Liz, Ellie, Beth, Liza |
| Elena | Ellie, Leni |
| Eliana | Ellie, Ella |
| Elise | |
| Eloise | Ellie, Lou |
| Eliza | Els, Liza |
| Elowen | Ellie |
| Emersyn | Emmy, Emma, Emmie |
| Emilia | |
| Emily | Emm, Emmy |
| Emma | Mema |
| Emme | Emmy |
| Emmeline | |
| Emmalene | Emmie, Emm |
| Emmalynn | Emmie, Emm |
| Emerson | |
| Emmy | |
| Erica | |
| Erika | |
| Estelle | |
| Estrella | |
| Evelyn | Eve, Evie |
| Everlee | Ever, Leigh |
| Everly | Evie, Ever |
| Gabriella | Gigi, Bri, Brie |
| Gemma | Gem, Gems |
| Georgia | |
| Gigi | GeeGee, GG |
| Giselle | Gigi, Shelle |
| Grace | Gracie |
| Gracelynn | Gracie, Gracelyn |
| Hailey | Hays |
| Halston | Hal, Halli |
| Harlee | Harley, Leah |
| Harlow | Harls, Howe |
| Harmony | Harms, Monie |
| Harper | Hops, Posie |
| Haven | Havi |
| Hazel | Elle, Elle |
| Isla | Issy, Izzi |
| Ivanna | Van, Vie |
| Izzy | |
| Jacqueline | |
| Jaelyn | Jae, Jaey |
| Jaelynn | JayJay |
| James | |
| Jani | |
| Jenna | Jay |
| Jennifer | |
| Jessamine | Jessi, Jess |
| Jessica | |
| Jillian | |
| Joelle | |
| Jolene | Jo |
| Jordyn | Jordi, JoJo |
| Jovie | Jo |
| Journey | Journ, Jurn |
| Joy | |
| Jules | |
| Julianna | Julie, Jules |
| Juliette | Jules, Jewel |
| Kailyn | |
| Kali | KK |
| Kalliope | Kally |
| Kamden | KD, KC |
| Kameron | Kam |
| Kamilla | Kami, Mimi, Milli |
| Kamora | Kam, Myra |
| Kamryn | Kam, Kaami |
| Karina | |
| Kate | Katie, KatieKat |
| Katalina | KT, Lyn |
| Katarina | Kat, Rina |
| Katie | KK |
| Kayden | KD, KD |
| Kaylani | Kailie, Lan |
| Kaylee | |
| Keira | |
| Kendall | Ken, Kin, Kendall |
| Kenley | Kenz |
| Kenna | Kenzie |
| Kennedy | Ken, Kin, Kendall |
| Kenzie | Kenz |
| Kiera | |
| Kinley | Kinzie |
| Kinsey | Kinz |
| Kira | |
| Kirsten |
| Name | Nicknames |
|---|---|
| Kirsten | |
| Kora | Koko |
| Kristina | Kris |
| Kyra | |
| Laila | |
| Lana | |
| Lila | |
| Lillian | Lily, Lil |
| Lilliana | Lily, Lil |
| Lily | |
| Lina | |
| Lisa | |
| Lorelei | |
| Lucy | Luce |
| Lydia | Ly |
| Mabel | |
| Maeve | |
| Maia | |
| Maisie | |
| Malia | |
| Mallory | Mallie |
| Margaret | Maggie |
| Mariah | |
| Mariana | |
| Marianna | Anna |
| Marilyn | Myra, Ryl |
| Marina | |
| Marisol | |
| Marjorie | |
| Mary | |
| Matilda | Tilda |
| Maya | |
| Megan | |
| Melanie | Mel, Lani |
| Melinda | |
| Melissa | |
| Mia | Mimi |
| Michaela | |
| Michelle | Mich |
| Mikayla | Kay |
| Mila | |
| Miley | |
| Miranda | |
| Miriam | |
| Molly | |
| Morgan | Morgie, MM |
| Myra | Myra |
| Nadia | |
| Naomi | |
| Natalia | Talia, Tallie |
| Natalie | Talie, Tal, Tally |
| Natasha | Tasha |
| Nia | NiNi |
| Nicole | Nicky, Nikki |
| Nina | |
| Noelle | Nelly |
| Nyla | Ny |
| Olivia | Liv, Livi, Livy |
| Opal | Oppie |
| Paige | Pai |
| Paisley | Pais, Pais |
| Parker | Par |
| Patience | Pat, Patty |
| Payton | Pey, Toni |
| Penelope | Nellie, Nelly, Penny, Poppy |
| Phoebe | |
| Piper | |
| Poppy | Pops, Posie |
| Presley | Preezy, Pressie, Pres |
| Priscilla | |
| Quinn | |
| Rachel | Rae |
| Raegan | Rae |
| Raelyn | Rae |
| Reagan | Rae, Rennie |
| Reese | Ree |
| Reign | |
| Remy | |
| Rhea | |
| Rhiannon | Rhi |
| Riley | Riles |
| River | |
| Rivka | |
| Rosa | Rosie |
| Rose | |
| Rowan | Ro, Low |
| Ruby | |
| Ruth | |
| Rylee | Ryle, Ryleigh |
| Sabrina | Sab |
| Sadie | |
| Sage | Sagie |
| Sailor | Sail, SailSail |
| Samantha | Sam, Sammy |
| Sariah | |
| Scarlett | Scar, Lettie, Scarley |
| Selah | Ellie |
| Selena | Lena, Lele, Selly |
| Seraphina | Sere, FaFa |
| Serenity | Ren, Renny, Reni |
| Shiloh | Shy |
| Sierra | |
| Skye | |
| Skylar | Sky, Skye |
| Sloane | Sloanie Slo |
| Sofia | Sofi, Fia |
| Sophie | |
| Stella | Bell, Sunny |
| Stephanie | Steph |
| Summer | |
| Sydney | Sid, Dey |
| Sylvia | |
| Tabitha | Tabby, Tabs |
| Tatum | Tate |
| Tessa | Tess |
| Thea | |
| Tiffany | Tiff |
| Trinity | Tri |
| Uma | |
| Valentina | Tina, Tini |
| Valerie | Val, Vali, Lia |
| Vanessa | Vanny |
| Vera | Rae |
| Veronica | Ronnie, Ron |
| Victoria | Vicki, Vicky |
| Violet | Vi, Vio |
| Virginia | Ginny, Vir |
| Vivian | Vivi |
| Willow | Willa, Wills |
| Winifred | Winnie, Winn |
| Winter | Winnie, Winn |
| Wren | |
| Wynter | Winnie, Winn |
| Zara | Zaza |
| Zaria |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some names remain popular for years?
Certain names that are timeless and traditionally feminine tend to stay in style for several years.
Which names have seen the biggest rise in popularity recently?
Names like Ava, Emma, and Sophia were very popular in the 2010s. Emery, Everly and Avery have also grown a lot in popularity.
When do names start to decline in popularity?
Once a name reaches the top 10 most popular, it often starts going down on the charts. Overexposure may make it seem less unique.
Which names were top 100 years ago but aren’t anymore?
Names like Mildred, Ethel, Gladys and Agatha were very common a century ago but haven’t stayed in fashion.
What names are expected to soar in popularity next?
Names predicted to rise include Charlotte, Amelia, Isabella and Liliana. Vintage styles like Irene and Ruth may also make a comeback.
Final Thoughts
The popularity of girls’ names rises and falls over time due to trends and generational tastes. Names from the top of the charts 20 years ago like Emma and Sophia still remain favorites. Their timeless quality allows their fashionable status to last. However as a name spreads, its appeal can diminish which leads to a decline.
Names closely linked to a certain period become less common as fashion moves on to new styles. Long-lasting names usually have positive meanings or significant cultural relevance that prevents them from feeling dated. Their versatility allows appeal across generations.
Choosing a name is a significant decision for expecting parents. Understanding name trends helps predict which styles may stand the test of time. Most parents also factor in family history and cultural values when selecting the perfect match for their new baby girl. Popularity lists are useful but ultimately what matters most is finding a name with special meaning to your family.
