Baby Girl Names

Picking a name is one of the first big decisions you’ll make for your daughter, and it can feel like a lot of pressure. She’ll carry it for the rest of her life. The good news is you don’t have to decide in one sitting. Browse our collection of 683 baby girl names, each with its origin and meaning, and take your time. Search by name, origin, or meaning, or jump straight to a letter. Try typing a word like “light” or “joy” and see what turns up.

How to Use the Name List

You can scroll through the list from A to Z, or use the letter buttons to jump to a spot. The search box is the faster route if you already have an idea. It matches against the name itself, the origin, and the meaning, so you can look for “Greek” names, names that mean “wise,” or any name that starts with the letters you type. Some entries list more than one spelling or form of a name, such as a name and its shorter nickname, so you can compare options side by side.

Where These Names Come From

Our collection leans toward classic and traditional names with deep roots. The biggest groups are Latin names, with 136 in the list, and Greek names, with 130. Hebrew names make up another 80, and Teutonic (Germanic) names add 73 more. Celtic, French, Spanish, Italian, and Persian names round things out.

Each language tends to have its own flavor. Latin names often describe a quality or feeling, like Luna, meaning shining, or Olivia, meaning symbol of peace. Greek names lean toward wisdom and light, like Sophia, meaning wise one, and Eleanor, meaning light. Hebrew names tend to be tied to joy and life, like Abigail, meaning source of joy, and Evelyn, meaning life giving. Teutonic names often point to nobility and strength, like Emma, meaning ancestress, and Alice, meaning noble.

A Quick Note on Meanings

Name meanings come from old languages, and different sources sometimes tell the story a little differently. A name can also have more than one possible origin. Treat the meanings here as a fun starting point, and a nice thing to share with your daughter someday. If a name has a special meaning in your family or culture, that matters more than any list. A few names in our collection are marked “Unknown,” which means the roots aren’t clear.

Tips for Choosing the Right Name

Say it out loud, with your last name. Does it flow? Try writing it too, so you know how the initials look together. Think about nicknames, since people will shorten almost anything. If you love Eleanor, you should be fine with Ellie or Nora as well. Consider how it will sound at the playground, and how it’ll look on a college application.

It helps to think about siblings and middle names. Some parents like names that match in style, and others want contrast. A family name can make a lovely middle name if the first name needs a little breathing room. Keep the spelling in mind too. A creative spelling is fun, but your daughter may spend her life correcting it.

Finally, give it a test run. Use the name in a sentence for a few days and see how it feels. Ask yourself whether you’d still like it in ten or twenty years. If it passes, you’ve probably found the one.

Checking Today’s Popularity

Some parents want a name that’s in style, and others want one that’s less common. Either way, it helps to know what’s trending. The Social Security Administration publishes a yearly ranking, and its 2025 list put Olivia at number one for girls for the seventh year in a row. Charlotte moved up to second place, followed by Emma, Amelia, and Sophia. If your favorite is a classic like Olivia, you’ll have plenty of company. If you want something more unusual, flip through the list and look for a name that fits.

More Help for New and Expecting Parents

Still deciding between a few favorites? Our baby boy names page is a good place to look if you’re expecting a boy, or if you want ideas for a unisex name. When you’re ready to plan for the big day, our due date calculator can help you figure out when your baby is likely to arrive. You can also browse all of our BabiesDirect articles for pregnancy and newborn advice.