Invented Girl Names

Bonnie meets Annabel (or Belle, or any other name ending in this sound) in this jaunty modern compound.

Icelynn is a modern smoosh name which rose 300 places in the popularity charts in 2023.

Australian opera singer Nellie Melba—self-named for her hometown of Melbourne—inspired this now-dated name more associated today with a peach dessert and dietetic toast.

This beautiful and fresh name has a timeless meaning. Its popular -eth ending ensures it sits well with traditional names like Judith and Elizabeth, while its uncommon Y beginning makes it a good choice for parents looking for unique baby names. We think this name is a pretty alternative to the tired Yasmin/Yasmeen and the minimalist Yara.

A poetic name first used in Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" in 1596, it had a literary vogue in the 18th century, especially favored by Robert Burns. "inda" names--Melinda, Belinda, Linda" are not particularly in right now.

All baby names can be made more "creative" by putting a Z at the beginning instead of what's conventionally there: B or C or H, for instance. Zaley is an adorable entry in this group, also spelled Zailey or Zayley or Zalee. The Zaley spelling attains a measure of authenticity when seen as a feminine form of Zale, a Greek name with an ocean-related meaning.

Adds a soupcon of French flair to some old classics with the currently trendy ae ending.

Can be shortened to Nova. Appeared on the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2016.

Variation of Emma with the popular suffix -lyn.

Similar to Brielle and Riley, this name lags quite far behind these more common variations. It peaked at Number 622 in 2009 in the US, but it is now descending the ranks.

Similar to Kinsley, this modern choice has become much more popular in recent years; it first entered the Top 1000 in 2011. Part of its appeal might be that it sounds reminiscent of the overly-popular McKenzie.

Capitola owes its position on the US Top 1000 to the 1859 novel The Hidden Hand, also known as Capitola the Madcap. It was written by E. D. E. N. Southworth — the initials stand for Eliza Dorothy Emma Nevitte — and serialized first in the 1860s, then in 1883, and was published as a book in 1888.

Saylah is a name manufactured from elements of Sailor (or Saylor) and Kaylah (or Kayla) to make one of those unique baby names that's not quite genuine. Still, it has a pretty sound and is superior to such inventions as, say, Scarla.

Caylee was the third fastest-rising name in 2009 and peaked then at Number 263, but has since dropped in the charts, perhaps due to the Caylee Anthony association.

Familiar due to the English musician Siouxsie Sioux, singer of the 1970s-80s rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. Apart from its complicated look, the inclusion of the Native American tribe name Sioux in this name feels inappropriate by today's standards. Stick with Susie or Suzie.

Itzayana, one of the fastest-rising girls' names of 2016, feels like a distant cousin of the ultra-popular Isabella.

Kaylin is a variation of Kayla and Katelyn that had several years of chart climbing before reaching a peak of Number 372 in 2009. Cailin and Kailyn are two other spellings.

Avaline emerged as a full-fledged name when Cameron Diaz used it as the name of her wine brand. Only a dozen or two baby girls are given the name each year in the US, a surprise given the dramatically increased popularity of Adeline and Evelyn, which have spawned an abundant number of variations.

Talisa is a recent addition to the Tali family, brought to light by actress Talisa Soto.

A playful and whimsical choice for a child that works as a given name or a nickname (perhaps for Beatrix).