People often say choosing girl names is easier than boy names. However, having an abundance of girls names doesn’t necessarily make choosing a favorite any easier. So whether you have a long list of adored baby girl names or are struggling to find a single baby girl name you like, we’re here to help.
We’ve compiled some gorgeous baby name ideas to help you choose a name for your new daughter. Whether you like modern names or traditional names, we have some inspiration for you. There are so many gorgeous and unique girls names out there, from cute and floral to strong gender-neutral names; keep reading to discover some of our faves.
Should I tell people my chosen baby name before the birth?
Whether you share your baby’s name before the birth is totally up to you. Some people can’t wait to share their baby’s name, whereas others prefer to keep the secret until after the baby is born.
One thing to consider is that people are more likely to express their opinions before the birth. So if you’re not ready to hear that people don’t love your chosen name, maybe wait until your baby is born before making the announcement.
How to choose a baby girl name
Some people know what they’re going to call their kids long before they fall pregnant; for others, choosing a baby name feels more like hard work. If you know you’re having a baby girl, at least you only have to choose one name. For those who don’t yet know the sex, they need to choose a name for each eventuality.
When choosing a name for your baby girl, you need to make sure both you and your partner love it. If you have very different tastes, it might be difficult to settle on baby girl names you both like.
Baby name lists
Why not work separately to find baby girl names you love and compile a list of top girl names, then swap lists? You might find some baby girl names make it on to both lists, making choosing a doddle. If there are no crossovers, seeing both lists could give each of you more of an insight into the other’s taste in baby girl names. From there, it might be a little easier to find a cute girl’s name you both like.
Where to find baby name inspiration
Your baby’s name needs to last for life, so you need to pick a name that will grow with your child. Find a name that works just as well for an old lady as it does for a gorgeous newborn.
Some people choose to use a family name to pay homage to their family identity. This might be a girl name that has been passed down through the generations or a name picked from your family tree.
Top baby girl names
Some people are keen to choose a name from the top 100 baby girls names because they don’t want their child to stand out for having an unusual name. Other people hate the thought of their child sharing a name with other kids in the class. How you and your partner feel about this will depend upon your life experiences and ideals.
The following girls names are near the top of the baby girl names charts, so you know they’re popular baby names for modern parents.
Amelia
Ava
Charlotte
Isabella
Emma
Evelyn
Luna
Mia
Olivia
Sophia.
Vintage girls names
Vintage names are very popular, with many so-called ‘old lady names’ making a comeback. These classic girls names have a certain aura and timeless appeal and you know they’re going to stand the test of time. As baby name trends go, the vintage names trend shows no signs of ending. Modern parents are still loving names from their great-grandparents’ era.
Agatha
Beatrice
Clara
Elsie
Hettie
Mabel
Nora
Penelope
Vivienne
Winifred.
Unique girls names
If you grew up with a too-popular name, you might look for something unique for your child. Because your daughter will be an individual, she deserves a unique name of her own. Choosing an unusual name for your child will allow you to avoid the most popular baby names.
The following are unique baby names that are perfect for baby girls, and you’re unlikely to meet many other babies with the same name. This could change though, as names do occasionally shoot up the baby names charts.
Avril
Cassia
Emery
Fallon
Haisley
Jazz
Keekee
Lux
Nessa
Zephyr.
Short girl names
If you’re looking for a short, catchy name for your daughter, look at the names below. Short girl names for 2023 are great because they don’t need cute nicknames. If the name is easy to say, people aren’t likely to try to shorten it.
Cleo
Dawn
Ever
Kipp
Lacy
Lex
Mimi
Posy
Sage
Scout.
Long girls names
As short names have edged their way up the charts, longer names have also become more popular. Many people love the elegance of long names with multiple syllables. Long names also offer plenty of options for nicknames, so you can pick and choose a nickname for your child.
Dominique
Felicity
Genevieve
Hermione
Millicent
Octavia
Odette
Ophelia
Persephone
Wisteria.
Beautiful rare girl names
Your little girl is one of a kind, so she deserves a beautiful and rare names. The following are our top picks for unique baby girl names that sound beautiful.
Alma
Amity
Dolly
Hesper
Letina
Lilac
Lyric
Meadow
Peregrine
Waverley.
Gender neutral baby names
Unisex names are growing in popularity as many families move away from the ‘pink is for girls’ school of thought. In recent years, as the idea of gender has been questioned by society, unisex options have become popular names.
If you haven’t found out the sex of your baby, a gender neutral name is perfect because you can use it whether you have a boy or a girl. Save yourself some work and pick a unisex name for your baby.
Ashley
Casey
Dylan
Frankie
Jessie
Laurie
Max
Riley
Robyn
Sam.
Nature names for girls
Nature names are often popular, as parents look to nature for inspiration when naming their babies. The natural world is filled with beauty and many of these beautiful things have beautiful names, so it’s really no wonder nature names are popular.
Nature names are often the names of plants and trees; many couples choose a name because the plant holds a special meaning for them. You might also choose a nature name based on the time of year your baby is born, for example, a spring flower name for a spring baby.
Aurora
Chloe
Fern
Iris
Ivy
Marigold
River
Thalia
Willow
Zaynab.
Strong names for girls
If you’re looking to raise a strong girl who will smash glass ceilings, upset the patriarchy and speak out against injustice, she deserves a name to match. Over the last decade, the stories of strong women from history have enjoyed a revival, with many of their heroic tales being told in classrooms and bedrooms around the world. Thanks to this trend, some of today’s popular names were inspired by amazing women from history.
There are so many feminist icons out there to choose from, you’re bound to discover the perfect name by flicking through the history books. Why not choose a strong icon for your own powerful woman in the making, so you can tell your daughter the story of the woman who also had her name?
Ada
Athena
Emmeline
Frida
Gloria
Greta
Ida
Malala
Rosa
Serena.
80s-inspired baby names
The 1980s never really went out of style but they’re back at the forefront thanks to Stranger Things. Many modern parents are looking back at 80s pop culture to find a name they love. Below are some of the popular names from the 80s that are enjoying a revival.
Amanda
Amber
Anna
Danielle
Heather
Jessica
Kate
Melissa
Stephanie
Tiffany.
Choosing the right baby name
We hope the names on this list have provided some inspiration. You might even have found the perfect name to use. Why not note down your favorites and then discuss them with your partner to see whether you like any of the same names? Together, you should be able to come up with the perfect baby girl name for your beautiful baby.
Good luck!
If you’d like to look through some more names, take a look at BellyBelly’s list of Girls Names.