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136 English names

English girl names

English names for girls, from classics like Elizabeth and Grace to modern favourites like Isla and Luna, each with its meaning and origin. Unisex names are included.

Names

  1. AbigailGirlAB-ih-gayl · HebrewMeans “my father is joy”In the Bible, Abigail is a wise woman who becomes a wife of King David. English Puritans began using the name in the 17th century, and for a while “abigail” was also an everyday word for a lady’s maid because of a character in a popular play. Today it is a common girls’ name again, especially in the US.
  2. AdaGirlAY-duh · GermanicMeans “noble”Ada began as a short form of old Germanic names that start with adal, the word for “noble”. It was used in England from the 18th century and is best known through Ada Lovelace, who wrote about computer programs long before computers existed. Short and old-fashioned, it has become fashionable again in the 2020s.
  3. AlexUnisexAL-iks · GreekMeans “defender of men”Alex is a short form of Alexander for boys and Alexandra for girls, both from Greek words for “defend” and “man”. It is now often given as a full name on its own. Because it works for both genders, it is one of the best-known unisex names in English.
  4. AliceGirlAL-is · GermanicMeans “noble type”Alice comes from Adalheidis, the same old Germanic name as Adelaide, and the Normans brought it to England in the 11th century. It was very common in the Middle Ages and became famous again through Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Queen Victoria also gave the name to one of her daughters.
  5. AmberGirlAM-bur · EnglishMeans “amber, a golden fossil resin”Amber is the English word for the golden-brown stone made from very old tree resin; the word itself came into English from Arabic through French. It started to be used as a first name in the late 19th century, together with other gem names. The 1944 novel Forever Amber made it much more popular.
  6. AmeliaGirluh-MEE-lee-uh · GermanicMeans “work”Amelia probably comes from the old Germanic word amal, meaning “work”, through the name Amalia, but it has also been mixed up with the Latin name Emilia. It arrived in Britain with the German royal family in the 18th century, and King George III named his youngest daughter Amelia. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in England since the 2010s.
  7. AmyGirlAY-mee · LatinMeans “beloved”Amy comes from the Old French name Amée, from the Latin word for being loved. It has been used in England since the Middle Ages. Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women, with its youngest sister Amy March, helped keep it popular.
  8. AnnaGirlAN-uh · HebrewMeans “grace, favour”Anna is the Greek and Latin form of the Hebrew name Hannah. In the New Testament, Anna is an old prophetess who sees the baby Jesus in the Temple. The name is used in almost every European language, which makes it easy to say anywhere.
  9. AshleyGirlASH-lee · Old EnglishMeans “ash tree clearing”Ashley was first an English place name and then a surname, made of Old English words for an ash tree and a clearing in a wood. It was mainly a boys’ name at first, like Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind. In the US it became a very common girls’ name in the 1980s and 1990s.
  10. AshtonUnisexASH-tuhn · Old EnglishMeans “ash tree town”Ashton was first an English surname, taken from the many places called Ashton, meaning a settlement near ash trees. It became a first name in the 20th century. It is mostly given to boys, and only sometimes to girls.
  11. AudreyGirlAW-dree · Old EnglishMeans “noble strength”Audrey is a later form of the Old English name Æthelthryth, which was borne by a 7th-century princess and saint who founded a church at Ely. Cheap lace sold at her fair was called “St Audrey’s lace”, which gave English the word “tawdry”. The actress Audrey Hepburn made the name feel elegant again in the 20th century.
  12. AuroraGirluh-ROR-uh · LatinMeans “dawn”Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn, who was believed to bring the morning light each day. The northern lights are also called the aurora borealis. The princess in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty is named Aurora, and the name has become very popular in the US in recent years.
  13. AvaGirlAY-vuh · HebrewMeans “life”The origin of Ava is not certain. It is usually treated as a form of Eve, from the Hebrew word for life, but there was also an old Germanic name Ava in the Middle Ages. The film star Ava Gardner made it well known, and it has been one of the top girls’ names in the US and UK in the 21st century.
  14. AveryUnisexAY-vuh-ree · Old EnglishMeans “elf counsel”Avery comes from an English surname that grew out of a Norman French form of the Old English name Alfred, which joins words for “elf” and “advice”. It was used mainly for boys at first. Today in the US it is given to girls much more often than to boys.
  15. BaileyUnisexBAY-lee · EnglishMeans “bailiff”Bailey is an English surname for a bailiff, an officer who looked after land or the law; it can also come from the “bailey”, the outer wall of a castle. As a first name it is more common for boys in the UK but given to girls more often in the US.
  16. BeatriceGirlBEE-uh-tris · LatinMeans “she who makes happy, blessed”Beatrice comes from the Latin name Beatrix, which was probably first Viatrix, “traveller”, but was changed to look like the Latin word for blessed. It is famous as the name of the woman Dante loved and wrote about in his poetry. Queen Victoria gave it to her youngest daughter, and Princess Beatrice of York carries it today.
  17. BethanyGirlBETH-uh-nee · HebrewMeans “house of figs”Bethany is the name of a village near Jerusalem in the New Testament, where Jesus visited his friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. The meaning “house of figs” is the usual explanation, but it is not certain. Catholics first used it as a first name in honour of Mary of Bethany, and it became popular in the second half of the 20th century.
  18. BlakeUnisexBLAYK · Old EnglishMeans “dark; or pale, shining”Blake comes from an English surname with two possible sources: the Old English word for “black, dark” or a similar word for “pale, shining”. Nobody can be sure which one applies, so the name has two opposite meanings. It is mostly a boy’s name, but it is also used for girls.
  19. CameronUnisexKAM-er-uhn · ScottishMeans “crooked nose”Cameron is the name of a famous Scottish clan, from the Gaelic words for “crooked” and “nose”. It became a first name in the 20th century. It is mainly given to boys, but girls get it too, sometimes spelled Camryn.
  20. CarolineGirlKAR-uh-lyn · GermanicMeans “free man”Caroline is a French feminine form of Carolus, the Latin form of Charles, which comes from a Germanic word for a free man. It came to Britain with Caroline of Ansbach, the German wife of King George II, in the 18th century. It has stayed in steady use ever since.
  21. CaseyUnisexKAY-see · IrishMeans “watchful, vigilant”Casey comes from the Irish surname Ó Cathasaigh, based on a word meaning “alert” or “on guard”. It became a first name in the US and spread from there. It is used for boys and girls in roughly similar numbers.
  22. CatherineGirlKATH-rin · GreekMeans “pure”Catherine comes from the Greek name Aikaterine, whose real origin is unknown; early Christians linked it with the Greek word for pure. Returning crusaders brought the story of St Catherine of Alexandria to England, and the name became very common. Three of Henry VIII’s wives were called Catherine, and so is the present Princess of Wales.
  23. CharlieUnisexCHAR-lee · GermanicMeans “free man”Charlie is a short form of Charles for boys and Charlotte for girls, both from a Germanic word for a man who was not a slave. It is now very often given as a full name. In the UK it is a favourite for boys, while in the US it is used for both genders.
  24. CharlotteGirlSHAR-lut · GermanicMeans “free man”Charlotte is a French feminine form of Charles, from a Germanic word for a free man. It became common in Britain after Charlotte of Mecklenburg married King George III in the 18th century. The novelist Charlotte Brontë and today’s Princess Charlotte have kept it popular in England and the US in the 2020s.
  25. ChloeGirlKLOH-ee · GreekMeans “young green shoot”In ancient Greece, Chloe was a name given to the goddess Demeter, who looked after crops and new growth. It appears once in the New Testament, in a letter of St Paul, so Puritans began to use it in the 17th century. It became very popular in Britain and the US from the 1990s onwards.
  26. ChrisUnisexKRIS · GreekMeans “bearing Christ; follower of Christ”Chris is a short form of Christopher for boys and Christine or Christina for girls. These names come from Greek words connected with Christ and the Christian faith. As a name on its own it is usually male, but many women use it as a nickname.
  27. ClaireGirlKLAIR · LatinMeans “clear, bright”Claire is the French form of the Latin name Clara, from a word for clear and bright. The Normans brought it to England, where it was often spelled Clare. It was especially popular in Britain in the 1960s and 1970s.
  28. ClaraGirlKLAIR-uh · LatinMeans “clear, bright”Clara comes from a Latin word for clear and bright, and was spread by St Clare of Assisi, a friend of St Francis. It was used in England from the 19th century, often in honour of the German pianist Clara Schumann. It is the heroine’s name in the ballet The Nutcracker in many versions.
  29. DaisyGirlDAY-zee · EnglishMeans “daisy, day’s eye”Daisy is the name of the small white flower; the word comes from Old English and described how the flower opens in the morning and closes at night. It began as a pet name for Margaret, because the French word marguerite means daisy. Today it is used as a name of its own and is well liked in Britain.
  30. DianaGirldy-AN-uh · LatinMeans “divine, heavenly”Diana was the Roman goddess of the moon and of hunting, and her name probably comes from an old word linked to the sky and the gods. English speakers began to use it in the 16th century, after the revival of interest in classical stories. Diana, Princess of Wales, made it famous around the world.
  31. DrewUnisexDROO · GreekMeans “manly, brave”Drew began as a short form of Andrew, from a Greek word for “man” and “brave”. It is also an English surname, and that is how many girls got it. It is mostly a boy’s name, though the actress Drew Barrymore made it familiar for girls.
  32. EleanorGirlEL-uh-nor · FrenchMeans “uncertain, often linked with light”Eleanor comes from Aliénor, an old name from the south of France whose origin is uncertain; it is often linked with Helen and with light, but this may not be correct. Eleanor of Aquitaine brought the name to England in the 12th century when she married King Henry II, and later Edward I married Eleanor of Castile. It is very popular again in the US and UK in the 2020s.
  33. ElizabethGirlih-LIZ-uh-beth · HebrewMeans “my God is an oath”Elizabeth comes from the Hebrew name Elisheva; in the New Testament, Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist. It became one of the most common English names after Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century. Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years, made it famous all over the world.
  34. EllaGirlEL-uh · GermanicMeans “all, other”Ella was a Norman name, probably from a Germanic word meaning “all” or “other”, though this is not certain. It is also used as a short form of names like Eleanor and Isabella. The jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald made it famous, and it has been a popular name in the UK and US for many years.
  35. EllieGirlEL-ee · FrenchMeans “uncertain, often linked with light”Ellie began as a pet form of Eleanor, and it is also used for Ellen and Elizabeth. Since the 1990s it has often been given as a full name on its own. It is one of the most popular girls’ names in the UK.
  36. ElliotUnisexEL-ee-uht · HebrewMeans “my God is Yahweh”Elliot comes from an English surname that grew from a medieval pet form of Elias, the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elijah. It is mainly given to boys. Girls are sometimes named Elliot too, especially in the US.
  37. EloiseGirlEL-oh-eez · GermanicMeans “healthy, wide”Eloise comes from the French Héloïse, which probably goes back to a Germanic name made from words for healthy and wide. Héloïse was a clever 12th-century French woman whose love letters to the scholar Abelard are still famous. In the US, the Eloise children’s books about a girl living in a New York hotel made the name well known.
  38. ElsieGirlEL-see · HebrewMeans “my God is an oath”Elsie started in Scotland as a pet form of Elspeth, the Scottish form of Elizabeth. It was very common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After sounding old-fashioned for many years, it has become popular again in England.
  39. EmersonUnisexEM-er-suhn · GermanicMeans “son of Emery”Emerson is an English surname meaning “son of Emery”, and Emery comes from an old Germanic name. It became better known through the American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson. Today it is used for both genders, and in the US slightly more often for girls.
  40. EmilyGirlEM-ih-lee · LatinMeans “rival”Emily comes from Aemilia, the female form of an old Roman family name that probably meant “rival”. It became common in England in the 18th century, after the German royal family arrived; a princess named Amelia was often called Emily. The writers Emily Brontë and Emily Dickinson helped make it a classic.
  41. EmmaGirlEM-uh · GermanicMeans “whole, universal”Emma began as a short form of Germanic names starting with ermen, meaning whole or universal. Emma of Normandy became queen of England in the 11th century, and the name spread further after the Norman Conquest. Jane Austen’s novel Emma helped keep it popular, and it has been one of the top names in the US and Europe in recent years.
  42. EstherGirlES-tur · PersianMeans “star”Esther is the brave Jewish queen of Persia in the Old Testament book named after her. The name is probably from a Persian word for star, though some link it with the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. English Puritans used it from the 17th century, sometimes in the form Hester.
  43. EvaGirlEE-vuh · HebrewMeans “life”Eva is the Latin and Greek form of Eve, the first woman in the Bible, whose name comes from a Hebrew word for life. It is used in many European languages and has been common in English since the 19th century. It is popular again in the UK and US today.
  44. EvelynGirlEV-uh-lin · GermanicMeans “uncertain, perhaps desired”Evelyn comes from an English surname, which came from the Norman girls’ name Aveline; that probably goes back to a Germanic word, but its meaning is not certain. At first it was used for both boys and girls, as with the writer Evelyn Waugh. Today it is almost always a girls’ name and one of the most popular in the US.
  45. FaithGirlFAYTH · EnglishMeans “faith, trust”Faith is the English word for belief and trust, especially trust in God. English Puritans began to use virtue words like this as names in the 17th century. It is still used, especially in the US.
  46. FinleyUnisexFIN-lee · ScottishMeans “fair warrior”Finley comes from the Scottish Gaelic name Fionnlagh, made from words for “white, fair” and “warrior”. It is a popular boy’s name in the UK. In the US it is used for both genders and in recent years more often for girls.
  47. FlorenceGirlFLOR-uns · LatinMeans “flourishing, blooming”Florence comes from the Latin name Florentius, from a word meaning to bloom or do well. In the Middle Ages it was used for both men and women. It became popular as a girls’ name after the nurse Florence Nightingale, who was named after the Italian city where she was born, and it is fashionable again in England.
  48. FrankieUnisexFRANK-ee · LatinMeans “Frenchman”Frankie is a pet form of Francis for boys and Frances for girls. Both come from the Latin Franciscus, which referred to the Franks, the people who gave France its name. It is now often given as a full name to both boys and girls.
  49. FreyaGirlFRAY-uh · NorseMeans “lady”In Norse mythology, Freyja is the goddess of love, beauty and war, and her name simply meant “lady”. The name has been very popular in Britain, especially Scotland, since the 2000s.
  50. GeorgiaGirlJOR-juh · GreekMeans “farmer”Georgia is a feminine form of George, from a Greek word for a farmer or someone who works the earth. The US state of Georgia was named after King George II. As a first name it became popular in Britain from the 1990s.
  51. GraceGirlGRAYS · EnglishMeans “grace, God’s favour”Grace is the English word for elegance and for God’s kindness, which came into English from Latin gratia. Puritans began using it as a name in the 17th century, along with other virtues. The actress Grace Kelly, who became Princess of Monaco, made it glamorous, and it is still very popular.
  52. HannahGirlHAN-uh · HebrewMeans “grace, favour”In the Old Testament, Hannah prays for a child and becomes the mother of the prophet Samuel. English Puritans started using the name in the 17th century. It reads the same backwards and forwards, and it was especially popular in the 1990s and 2000s.
  53. HarleyUnisexHAR-lee · Old EnglishMeans “hare clearing”Harley comes from an English surname based on a place name, probably from Old English words for “hare” and “wood, clearing”. Many people also link it with the motorbike brand. It is more common for boys in the UK, while in the US it is given to both genders.
  54. HarperGirlHAR-pur · Old EnglishMeans “harp player”Harper is an English surname for someone who played the harp. It became known as a first name through Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird. In the 2010s it quickly became one of the most popular girls’ names in the US.
  55. HaydenUnisexHAY-duhn · Old EnglishMeans “hay valley”Hayden is an English surname from place names, usually explained as “hay valley” in Old English. It became a first name in the late 20th century. It is mostly given to boys, but it is also used for girls.
  56. HazelGirlHAY-zul · EnglishMeans “hazel tree”Hazel is the name of a small tree that gives hazelnuts, from an Old English word, and also of a light brown eye colour. It was first used as a first name in the late 19th century, when nature names were fashionable. After a long quiet period, it is popular again in the US.
  57. HelenGirlHEL-un · GreekMeans “torch, light”In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy was the most beautiful woman in the world. Her name may come from Greek words for a torch or the moon, but its origin is not certain. It spread in Christian Europe through St Helena, the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine.
  58. HollyGirlHOL-ee · EnglishMeans “holly tree”Holly is the evergreen plant with shiny leaves and red berries, from an Old English word. Because people use it to decorate homes at Christmas, the name is often given to girls born in December. It became common in Britain and the US in the 20th century.
  59. HopeGirlHOHP · EnglishMeans “hope”Hope is the English word for wanting and expecting something good to happen, from Old English. It is one of the virtue names used by Puritans in the 17th century. It is often used today as a middle name as well as a first name.
  60. ImogenGirlIM-uh-jun · IrishMeans “maiden”Imogen is the heroine of Shakespeare’s play Cymbeline. In the old story the character was called Innogen, but the name was printed wrongly and the mistake stayed. It may come from the Gaelic word for a girl or daughter, and it is mostly used in Britain.
  61. IrisGirlEYE-ris · GreekMeans “rainbow”In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow, who carried messages from the gods. The name is also the word for a colourful flower and for the coloured part of the eye. It became a first name in the late 19th century.
  62. IsabellaGirliz-uh-BEL-uh · HebrewMeans “my God is an oath”Isabella is the Latin form of Isabel, which began as a Spanish and southern French form of Elizabeth. Isabella of France became queen of England when she married Edward II in the 14th century. In the 21st century it has been one of the most popular girls’ names in the US and UK.
  63. IslaGirlEYE-luh · ScottishMeans “from Islay, uncertain”Isla is taken from Islay, an island off the west coast of Scotland, and from a Scottish river of the same name; the meaning of the place name is not known. It is sometimes linked with the Spanish word isla, “island”, but that is a different word. Since the 2000s it has become one of the most popular girls’ names in Scotland and England.
  64. IvyGirlEYE-vee · EnglishMeans “ivy plant”Ivy is the evergreen climbing plant, from an Old English word, and has long been a symbol of loyalty and lasting love. It became a first name in the late 19th century with other plant names. It is very popular again in the UK and US in the 2020s.
  65. JadeGirlJAYD · EnglishMeans “jade stone”Jade is a green stone used for jewellery and art. The word comes from Spanish piedra de la ijada, “stone of the side”, because people believed it could cure pain in the side of the body. It became a common first name in Britain from the 1970s.
  66. JamieUnisexJAY-mee · HebrewMeans “supplanter”Jamie started as a Scottish pet form of James, which goes back to the Hebrew name Jacob. It is still used for boys, especially in the UK. Since the 20th century it has also been a common girl’s name.
  67. JaneGirlJAYN · HebrewMeans “God is gracious”Jane comes from Jehanne, an Old French feminine form of John, which goes back to Hebrew. It became common in England in the 16th century; Jane Seymour was the third wife of Henry VIII. Jane Austen and the novel Jane Eyre made it a lasting classic.
  68. JasmineGirlJAZ-min · PersianMeans “jasmine flower”Jasmine is a climbing plant with sweet-smelling white or yellow flowers, and its name comes from Persian yasaman through Arabic and French. It became a first name in English in the early 20th century. The princess in Disney’s Aladdin helped make it more popular.
  69. JenniferGirlJEN-ih-fur · WelshMeans “fair, white”Jennifer is the Cornish form of Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur, whose Welsh name Gwenhwyfar begins with a word for fair or white; the second part is less clear. It was rare outside Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw used it in a 1906 play. It was one of the most popular girls’ names in the US in the 1970s and 1980s.
  70. JesseUnisexJES-ee · HebrewMeans “gift”Jesse comes from the Hebrew name Yishai, which possibly means “gift”, though scholars are not certain. In the Bible he is the father of King David. Jesse is mostly a boy’s name, while girls more often use the spelling Jessie.
  71. JessicaGirlJES-ih-kuh · HebrewMeans “to behold”Jessica first appears in Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice, as the daughter of Shylock. Shakespeare probably based it on Iscah, a minor woman in the Book of Genesis whose name may mean “to see” or “to look”. It became very common in Britain and the US in the 1980s and 1990s.
  72. JordanUnisexJOR-duhn · HebrewMeans “flowing down”Jordan is the name of the river in the Middle East where, in the Bible, Jesus was baptised. The river’s Hebrew name comes from a word meaning “to go down”. It is more common for boys, but it is also a well-used girl’s name.
  73. JoyGirlJOY · EnglishMeans “joy, great happiness”Joy is the English word for great happiness, which came from Old French joie. It has been used as a name since the Middle Ages, but it became more common in the 20th century. It is a popular middle name too.
  74. JulesUnisexJOOLZ · LatinMeans “youthful, downy-bearded”Jules is the French form of the Roman name Julius, whose origin is uncertain; it may come from a Greek word for a young man’s first beard. In France it is a boy’s name. In English it is also used as a short form of Julia, Juliet or Julian, so it works for both genders.
  75. JuliaGirlJOO-lee-uh · LatinMeans “of the Julius family”Julia is the female form of Julius, an old Roman family name; its meaning is not clear, though some say it meant “youthful” or was linked to the god Jupiter. Julia is mentioned in one of St Paul’s letters in the New Testament. It has been used in England since the 18th century.
  76. JulietGirlJOO-lee-et · LatinMeans “of the Julius family”Juliet is the English form of the Italian Giulietta, a pet form of Giulia (Julia). Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, about two young lovers in Verona, made it famous. Many people still link the name with romantic love.
  77. KellyUnisexKEL-ee · IrishMeans “bright-headed; or war, strife”Kelly comes from the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, from an old name whose meaning is not certain. In Ireland it was first a boy’s name. Today it is used mainly for girls, especially in the US and UK.
  78. KendallUnisexKEN-duhl · EnglishMeans “valley of the river Kent”Kendall is an English surname taken from the town of Kendal in Cumbria, which lies in the valley of the river Kent. It was used for boys first. Today it is given more often to girls, especially in the US.
  79. LauraGirlLOR-uh · LatinMeans “laurel”Laura comes from the Latin word for the laurel or bay tree, whose leaves were used to crown winners in the ancient world. The Italian poet Petrarch wrote many love poems to a woman called Laura in the 14th century. It has been used in England since the 19th century.
  80. LaurenGirlLOR-un · LatinMeans “from Laurentum”Lauren is a feminine form of Laurence, from a Latin name for a person from the town of Laurentum, which was linked with the laurel tree. The Hollywood actress Lauren Bacall made it known as a girls’ name in the 1940s. It was very popular in Britain and the US in the 1990s.
  81. LeahGirlLEE-uh · HebrewMeans “weary”In the Old Testament, Leah is the first wife of Jacob and the older sister of Rachel. Her name probably comes from a Hebrew word for tired, though some scholars connect it with an older word for a cow. Puritans began using it in the 17th century, and it is still common today.
  82. LeeUnisexLEE · Old EnglishMeans “clearing, meadow”Lee comes from an English surname based on the Old English word for an open space in a wood. It became popular as a first name in the 20th century. It is more common for boys, while girls often use the spelling Leigh.
  83. LeslieUnisexLEZ-lee · ScottishMeans “garden of holly”Leslie comes from a Scottish surname and place name; it probably means “garden of holly”, but the origin is not certain. In the UK it is mainly a man’s name, and women usually spell it Lesley. In the US the spelling Leslie is given far more often to girls.
  84. LilyGirlLIL-ee · EnglishMeans “lily flower”Lily is the name of a tall white flower, from Latin lilium, which is a symbol of purity. It was also an old pet form of Elizabeth. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in England and the US in recent years.
  85. LindaGirlLIN-duh · GermanicMeans “soft, gentle”Linda began as a short form of old Germanic names containing lind, which probably meant “soft” or “flexible”, though it may also refer to the linden tree. Many people also connect it with the Spanish and Portuguese word linda, “pretty”. It was one of the most common girls’ names in the US in the 1940s and 1950s.
  86. LucyGirlLOO-see · LatinMeans “light”Lucy comes from the Latin name Lucia, from lux, the word for light. St Lucy was a 4th-century Christian saint whose feast in December is still a festival of light in Sweden. The Normans brought the name to England, and it has been widely used ever since.
  87. LunaGirlLOO-nuh · LatinMeans “moon”Luna is the Latin word for the moon and the name of the Roman goddess of the moon. It is also used in Spanish and Italian. In the 2020s it has become one of the most popular girls’ names in the US and many other countries.
  88. LydiaGirlLID-ee-uh · GreekMeans “woman from Lydia”Lydia was a region in what is now western Turkey, so the name first meant a woman from there. In the New Testament, Lydia is a seller of purple cloth who becomes one of the first Christians in Europe. In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Lydia is the youngest Bennet sister.
  89. MadisonGirlMAD-ih-sun · EnglishMeans “son of Maud”Madison is an English surname that meant “son of Maud”, Maud being a medieval form of Matilda. It was rare as a girls’ name until the 1984 film Splash, in which a mermaid names herself after Madison Avenue in New York. It then became one of the most popular girls’ names in the US.
  90. MargaretGirlMAR-gret · GreekMeans “pearl”Margaret comes from the Greek word for a pearl, which itself probably came from Persian. St Margaret of Scotland, an 11th-century queen, made it very popular in Britain, and Queen Elizabeth II’s sister was Princess Margaret. It has more nicknames than almost any other English name.
  91. MaryGirlMAIR-ee · HebrewMeans “uncertain, perhaps beloved or bitter”Mary comes from the Hebrew name Miriam, whose meaning is not known for sure; suggestions include “bitter”, “wished-for child” and an Egyptian word for “beloved”. As the name of Jesus’s mother, it has been one of the most important names in Christian Europe for centuries. England has had two Queen Marys who ruled in their own right, and Scotland had Mary, Queen of Scots.
  92. MatildaGirlmuh-TIL-duh · GermanicMeans “mighty in battle”Matilda comes from old Germanic words for strength and battle. The Normans brought it to England: Matilda of Flanders was the wife of William the Conqueror, and Empress Matilda fought for the English throne in the 12th century. Roald Dahl’s children’s book Matilda helped make it popular again.
  93. MayaGirlMY-uh · GreekMeans “uncertain, perhaps mother”Maya has several separate origins. In Greek mythology Maia was the mother of the god Hermes, and her name is linked to a word for mother or nurse; in Sanskrit, maya means “illusion”. The poet Maya Angelou made the name well known, and it is popular in many countries today.
  94. MeganGirlMEG-un · GreekMeans “pearl”Megan is a Welsh pet form of Meg, which is short for Margaret. For a long time it was used mostly in Wales. It spread across Britain, the US and Australia in the 1980s and 1990s.
  95. MiaGirlMEE-uh · HebrewMeans “uncertain, perhaps beloved or bitter”Mia began as a short form of Maria, the Latin form of Mary, in Scandinavia, Germany and the Netherlands. In Italian and Spanish it is also the word for “mine”, which many parents like. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in the US and UK in the 21st century.
  96. MichelleGirlmih-SHEL · HebrewMeans “who is like God?”Michelle is the French feminine form of Michel (Michael), from a Hebrew question meaning “who is like God?”. It became common in English-speaking countries in the 1960s, helped by the Beatles song Michelle. It was very popular in the US in the 1970s.
  97. MilaGirlMEE-luh · SlavicMeans “gracious, dear”Mila is usually a short form of Slavic names such as Ludmila and Milena, from a Slavic word for gracious or dear. In Spanish and Italian it can also be short for Camila, which comes from Latin, so its origin depends on the family. It has quickly become a popular name in the US and Europe.
  98. MorganUnisexMOR-guhn · WelshMeans “sea circle”Morgan comes from the old Welsh name Morcant, probably from words for “sea” and “circle”, though the meaning is not certain. In Wales it has long been a boy’s name, but the witch Morgan le Fay in the King Arthur stories is female. Today it is used for both genders, and in the US mostly for girls.
  99. NaomiGirlnay-OH-mee · HebrewMeans “pleasantness”In the Old Testament Book of Ruth, Naomi is Ruth’s loving mother-in-law. After losing her husband and sons, she says she should be called Mara, “bitter”, instead of Naomi. English Puritans used the name from the 17th century.
  100. NatalieGirlNAT-uh-lee · LatinMeans “Christmas day”Natalie comes from the Latin phrase natale domini, “birthday of the Lord”, so it was often given to girls born at Christmas. It came into English through French Nathalie and Russian Natalya. Actresses Natalie Wood and Natalie Portman made it well known.
  101. NicoleGirlnih-KOHL · GreekMeans “victory of the people”Nicole is the French feminine form of Nicholas, from Greek words for victory and people. St Nicholas, the saint behind Santa Claus, made the male name popular across Europe. Nicole became common in English-speaking countries in the second half of the 20th century.
  102. NoraGirlNOR-uh · LatinMeans “honour”Nora is a short form of Honora, from the Latin word for honour, and is also used for Eleanor. It was especially common in Ireland. Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House made Nora famous, and the name is popular again in the US in the 2020s.
  103. OliviaGirluh-LIV-ee-uh · LatinMeans “olive”Olivia was first used by Shakespeare for a rich young woman in his comedy Twelfth Night. Its origin is debated: it is usually linked with the Latin word for olive, but it may have been made as a female form of Oliver. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in England and the US in the 2020s.
  104. ParkerUnisexPAR-ker · EnglishMeans “park keeper”Parker is an English surname for a person who looked after a park, a large area of land where animals were kept for hunting. It is mostly given to boys in the US. A smaller number of girls are also named Parker.
  105. PatriciaGirlpuh-TRISH-uh · LatinMeans “noble, patrician”Patricia is the female form of Patrick, from the Latin word for a Roman noble. It became common in Britain after Princess Patricia of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, in the early 20th century. It was one of the top girls’ names in the US in the 1940s and 1950s.
  106. PenelopeGirlpuh-NEL-uh-pee · GreekMeans “uncertain, perhaps weaver”In Homer’s Odyssey, Penelope is the faithful wife of Odysseus, who waits twenty years for him to come home. Her name may come from a Greek word for threads on a loom, because she tricks unwanted suitors by weaving and unweaving cloth, but this is not certain. It has become very popular in the US in recent years.
  107. PeytonUnisexPAY-tuhn · Old EnglishMeans “Pæga’s town”Peyton comes from an English surname based on a place name meaning the settlement of a man called Pæga. It is used for both genders in the US. In recent years it has been given more often to girls than to boys.
  108. PhoebeGirlFEE-bee · GreekMeans “bright, pure”In Greek mythology, Phoebe was a Titan, and her name was also used for the moon goddess Artemis. A woman called Phoebe is praised by St Paul in the New Testament. It was used by Puritans and is well liked in Britain today.
  109. PhoenixUnisexFEE-niks · GreekMeans “dark red”In Greek myth the phoenix is a bird that dies in fire and is born again from the ashes, so the name suggests new life. The Greek word also meant a deep red or purple colour. It is used for both boys and girls, and it is also the name of a city in Arizona.
  110. PoppyGirlPOP-ee · EnglishMeans “poppy flower”Poppy is the bright red flower, from an Old English word. After the First World War, the poppy became the symbol for remembering soldiers who died, and people in Britain wear paper poppies in November. As a first name it has been very popular in England since the 2000s.
  111. QuinnUnisexKWIN · IrishMeans “descendant of Conn”Quinn comes from the Irish surname Ó Cuinn, from the old name Conn, which may mean “chief” or “sense, reason”. In Ireland it is mainly a surname. As a first name in the US it is now given more often to girls, but boys get it too.
  112. RachelGirlRAY-chul · HebrewMeans “ewe, female sheep”In the Old Testament, Rachel is the beloved wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. English Puritans began using the name in the 17th century. It was very common in Britain and the US from the 1970s to the 1990s.
  113. RebeccaGirlrih-BEK-uh · HebrewMeans “to tie, bind”In the Old Testament, Rebecca is the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau. Her name probably comes from a Hebrew word meaning to tie or join. Puritans used it from the 17th century, and Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 novel Rebecca made it famous in the 20th century.
  114. ReeseUnisexREES · WelshMeans “enthusiasm, ardour”Reese is an English spelling of the Welsh boy’s name Rhys, borne by several medieval Welsh princes. In the UK the Welsh spelling Rhys and the form Reece are used for boys. In the US, Reese is now mostly a girl’s name.
  115. RileyUnisexRY-lee · IrishMeans “descendant of Raghallach”Riley usually comes from the Irish surname Reilly, from an old name whose meaning is unknown. It can also come from an English place name meaning “rye clearing”. It is popular for both genders, more for boys in the UK and more for girls in the US.
  116. RiverUnisexRIV-er · EnglishMeans “river”River is simply the English word for a large stream of water, used as a name since the late 20th century. It suggests calm, flowing nature. It is given to both genders, a little more often to boys.
  117. RobinUnisexROB-in · GermanicMeans “bright fame”Robin began in the Middle Ages as a pet form of Robert, a Germanic name made from words for “fame” and “bright”, and it is also the name of a small red-breasted bird. It is the name of the outlaw hero Robin Hood. In the UK it is more often a man’s name, while in the US it is more common for women.
  118. RoseGirlROHZ · GermanicMeans “rose flower”Rose was first a Norman name, probably from Germanic words for fame or horse. Over time people connected it with the flower, from Latin rosa, which is a symbol of love. It is now often used as a middle name as well as a first name.
  119. RowanUnisexROH-uhn · IrishMeans “little red one”Rowan comes from the Irish name Ruadhán, from a word for “red”, and it is also the name of a tree with bright red berries. It is mostly a boy’s name. It is given to girls as well, often because of the tree.
  120. RubyGirlROO-bee · EnglishMeans “ruby, a red gem”Ruby is a precious red stone; the word comes from Latin ruber, meaning red. It was first used as a name in the late 19th century, together with other gem names. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in England in recent decades.
  121. RuthGirlROOTH · HebrewMeans “friend”Ruth is the heroine of the Old Testament Book of Ruth, a woman famous for staying loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi. The meaning “friend” is the usual explanation, but it is not certain. Puritans used it from the 17th century, and it was very common in the early 20th century.
  122. SageUnisexSAYJ · EnglishMeans “wise; the herb sage”Sage is an English word for a wise person and also for a herb used in cooking. Both words come from Latin, through French. It is used for both genders, and somewhat more often for girls.
  123. SamUnisexSAM · HebrewMeans “God has heard”Sam is a short form of Samuel for boys and Samantha for girls. Samuel is a Hebrew name, usually explained as “God has heard” or “name of God”, and Samantha was probably made from it in America. Sam is one of the most common unisex short names in English.
  124. SamanthaGirlsuh-MAN-thuh · HebrewMeans “uncertain”Samantha seems to have been created in 18th-century America, perhaps by joining Samuel with the ending -antha, which may come from the Greek word for a flower. It became popular in the 1960s through the TV series Bewitched, about a friendly witch named Samantha. It was very common in the 1980s and 1990s.
  125. SarahGirlSAIR-uh · HebrewMeans “princess, lady”In the Old Testament, Sarah is the wife of Abraham; God changes her name from Sarai to Sarah. It became common in England after the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. It has been a favourite name in English-speaking countries ever since.
  126. ScarlettGirlSKAR-lut · EnglishMeans “scarlet, bright red”Scarlett is an English surname for someone who made or sold scarlet, a bright red cloth. It became a girls’ name thanks to Scarlett O’Hara, the heroine of Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel Gone with the Wind. It is very popular in the US and UK in the 2020s.
  127. SkylerUnisexSKY-ler · GermanicMeans “scholar”Skyler comes from the Dutch surname Schuyler, which means “scholar”, with a spelling changed to look like the English word “sky”. It was used for boys first. Today it is given to both genders, and the spelling Skylar is more common for girls.
  128. SophiaGirlsoh-FEE-uh · GreekMeans “wisdom”Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom, and the great church Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is named after Holy Wisdom. The name was used by European royal families, and it came to Britain with the German House of Hanover in the 18th century. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in the US in the 21st century.
  129. StellaGirlSTEL-uh · LatinMeans “star”Stella is the Latin word for a star. The English poet Sir Philip Sidney used it in the 16th century in his love poems Astrophel and Stella, which made it a name. It is popular again in the US.
  130. SusanGirlSOO-zun · HebrewMeans “lily”Susan is the English form of Susanna, from the Hebrew name Shoshannah, which comes from a word for a lily or similar flower. Susanna appears in the Bible, both in the Gospel of Luke and in a story added to the Book of Daniel. It was one of the most popular girls’ names in Britain and the US in the 1950s.
  131. SydneyUnisexSID-nee · Old EnglishMeans “wide island”Sydney comes from the English surname Sidney, usually explained as an Old English place name meaning “wide island”; an old idea that it comes from the French Saint-Denis is not supported. It was once mainly a boy’s name. Today the spelling Sydney is mostly given to girls, while Sidney stays more common for boys.
  132. TaylorUnisexTAY-ler · EnglishMeans “tailor”Taylor is an English surname for a person who made clothes, from an old French word meaning “to cut”. It became a first name in the 20th century. It was used for boys first, but in the US it is now mostly given to girls.
  133. VictoriaGirlvik-TOR-ee-uh · LatinMeans “victory”Victoria is the Latin word for victory and was the name of the Roman goddess of victory. It was rare in England until Queen Victoria, who reigned for most of the 19th century and gave her name to the Victorian age. Many places around the world, such as Lake Victoria, are named after her.
  134. VioletGirlVY-uh-lut · EnglishMeans “violet flower”Violet is the name of a small purple flower and of its colour, from Old French violete and Latin viola. It became popular in Victorian times, when flower names were fashionable. It is very popular again in the US and UK in the 2020s.
  135. WillowGirlWIL-oh · EnglishMeans “willow tree”Willow is a tree with long thin branches that often grows near water, from an Old English word. It became a first name in the 20th century as part of the trend for nature names. It is now popular in both Britain and the US.
  136. ZoeGirlZOH-ee · GreekMeans “life”Zoe is the Greek word for life, and early Greek-speaking Christians used it in place of Eve. It was an important name in the Byzantine Empire. It became common in Britain and the US from the 1970s.