Invented Girl Names

Variation of Gail.

Variation of Tamara, popularized by Canadian singer Tamia.

One of the many -lani names to be created in recent years, this one a variation of JWOWW's invention Meilani.

You could either see this as a smoosh of Cara + Lena (or any name ending in -lena), or a variation on Carolina. Either way, it's a pretty, melodious name that first appeared on the US charts in 2008, and has been used sparingly ever since.

Kikkan Randall, the American cross-country skier who won a Gold Medal at the 2018 Olympics, made her invented name famous. The name Kikkan was a compromise between Megan and Kikki, the name her father wanted to give her to honor skier Kiki Cutter. While we don't expect Kikkan to win any medals as a baby name, it's undeniably cute and original and also honors an inspirational female athlete.

An invented name inspired by the Irish/Scottish May Day festival of Beltane. And perhaps a modern way to honor a Tania?

A rising respelling of Aviana.

One of several creations with the anda ending, this one drawing on the Muslim favorite Rashad.

Streamlined Isabella alternative that may have been inspired by names such as the Nahuatl Isel or Dutch Iselle.

Created by lovers of the ae vowel combo.

A versatile name with multiple origins, Anylah - and its more popular sister spelling Anyla - have quietly risen up the US charts since the 2000s. As a Hindi and Sanskrit name, it is a feminine form of Anil, the Hindu god of the wind, while in Albania, Hungry, Poland, Sweden and Finland, it is a form of Anila or Anilla, in turn variations of Anna and Agnes, There is also the possibility that this is a created name, inspired by the rise of Nyla.

Though rapper Chingy's (real name: Howard) Alzea is a boy, this name seems more appropriate for girls.

An elaboration of popular Nova, that first appeared in the US baby name charts in 2020.

An intriguing, plausible name--kind of a Nell-Hillary combo--created by L. Frank Baum for a character in his book The Lost Princess of Oz.

A pretty but none-too-classy amalgamation of Nicole and Keesha.

Rylynn blends a number of modern trends: love for name Riley, the addition of the -lyn suffix, replacement of a vowel with a Y, a nature-connected meaning, and a slightly unisex, surname-inspired feel. The name peaked in 2019 when 209 girls were given the name, though recent years have seen if decline.

A recent addition to the name lexicon with some real potential.

While this spelling is running a close second on the popularity charts to the original Briana, it feels more invented -- probably because it is. Some parents may want to move further away from Brian, root name for all the feminine variations, and so prefer the e versions. But we like the older, more authentic Briana best. Another spelling way: Breanna.

Brilie combines elements of the megapopular Briana and Riley to form a pleasant merger. Some would call Brilie a Smoosh Name.