Invented Girl Names

The popular Aiden has spawned a legion of offshoots used mostly for boys but sometimes for girls too: Brayden, Caden, Kayden, Zaiden and so on. While it is now predominantly used on boys, back in the late 2000s and early 2010s, it was used more equally on girls. In a recent count, the name has fallen out of favor, with only 14 girls receiving the name in 2023.

One of many distinctive names in the show and book series Midnight, Texas by Charlaine Harris -- and one of very few girl's names that start with the letter X.

See JALEN.

Novalyne Price Ellis was a 20th century writer best known for One Who Walked Alone, a memoir about her relationship with pulp fiction writer Robert E. Howard, the inventor of Conan the Barbarian, which was adapted into a movie starring Renee Zellwegger.

More popular than the original form in Puerto Rico.

Adalee's rise is thanks to the current fashion for all names ada-related. It does have a sweet melodic charm.

Part Rylee, part Raelynn — Raelee is a trendy compound name on the rise.

A literary name, originally created as a male name by the poet Mihály Vörösmarty, that is now in the Hungarian Top 100 for girls.

Unfortunate name that's become a caricature, like Muffy, say, or Bruce.

A mix-and-match unisex name inspired by Taylor.

The Early Americans invented names too, sometimes variations of classical or biblical favorites. This one appears in Colonial rosters; the Aur beginning is Latin and means "gold."

It sounds like a genuine French name, but it's an invention, made famous by actress Garcelle Beauvais.

Rydia of Mist is a sprite-like character in the Final Fantasy video game series. Fans of the game may consider it for their daughters as a rarer alternative to Lydia. Rydia first appeared on the charts in 2008.

This elaboration of the popular Ava likely took inspiration from other on-trend choices such as Amaya, Nevaeh, and Alayah. Given to nearly 140 girls each year, alternative spelling Avayah is twice as popular and currently in the US Top 1000.

Mother of rising star actress Quvenzhané Wallis.