Explore Girl Names by Popularity and History
A name can feel familiar for different reasons. You may know it from your family, remember it from school, or hear it often among children today. These lists help separate those impressions. Start with current favorites such as Olivia and Charlotte, explore historical choices such as Mary and Helen, or discover rising names like Eloise and Valentina.
The historical groups describe how names moved through the U.S. top 100. Century-long favorites maintained a place for at least 100 consecutive years. Revived favorites, such as Hazel and Josephine, returned after time outside it. Recent favorites are in their first top-100 run, lasting fewer than 30 years. "Recent" describes their popularity here, rather than when the names originated.
Open an individual name to explore its literal meaning, linguistic origins, and available U.S. popularity history from 1880 through 2025. The popular list uses 2025 ranks, while the historical lists look across earlier years. Names such as Mary and Catherine can therefore be century-long favorites without ranking in today's top 100.
On this page:
Popular Girl Names
These are the most popular girl names, ordered by their U.S. popularity rank.
Century-Long Favorite Girl Names
These names stayed in the U.S. top 100 for at least 100 consecutive years - a full century of parents choosing them.
Longtime Favorite Girl Names
These names held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 50–99 consecutive years, remaining favorites across generations.
Established Favorite Girl
These names spent 30–49 consecutive years in the U.S. top 100, building a lasting place among familiar favorites.
Rising Favorite Girl Names
These names are gaining ground. Their current top-100 run spans fewer than 30 years, and their popularity rank improved in 2025.
Falling Favorite Girl Names
These girl names remain in the U.S. top 100, but rank lower than they did 30 years ago.
Recent Favorite Girl Names
These names belong to a newer generation of favorites. Their first and only top-100 run spans fewer than 30 years and continues in 2025.
Revived Favorite Girl Names
These names made a comeback. After leaving the U.S. top 100, they returned and hold a place there in 2025.
Past Favorite Girl Names
These names had more than one run in the U.S. top 100, but none continues in 2025. Browse favorites from earlier generations.
Unique Girl Names
Looking for something less common? Browse uncommon girl names for more ideas.
Short Girl Names
Prefer fewer letters? These short girl names keep the spelling compact.
Long Girl Names
Explore longer girl names, especially if you enjoy a full name with room for a nickname.
Browse Girl Names by Letter
Finding a Girl Name That Fits
Your saved names can reveal what you enjoy. Perhaps you prefer brief choices such as Mia, Ava, and Zoe, or longer names such as Evangeline and Alessandra. Look for shared sounds, endings, or family connections, then use the letter pages to explore further.
Consider the meaning and history separately from popularity. A name outside the current top 100 can still be widely recognized, while a rare spelling may resemble a more common one. Explore the exact form you would choose and learn its pronunciation, especially when the name comes from a language unfamiliar to you.
Try each finalist with the middle and last names. Say it as an introduction, write the full combination, and consider whether you would welcome a nickname. Keep the names you enjoy using aloud as well as seeing on the page.