Modern Baby Girl Names

Debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2016.

Loyalty is one of the Modern Virtue Names rising precipitously for babies in recent years, used last year for nearly 200 children, about 85 percent of them girls. Loyalty may also owe some of its popularity to trendy sister name Royalty.

This evocative place-name is rising in popularity -- despite (or perhaps because of) the unfortunate association with an airplane that went missing in March 2014.

Created in the style of Jabari, a fashionable Swahili name. Jakari is mainly used among African American families in the US.

A variation of Riley with an added -lynn suffix, this girl name is bubbling right underneath the Top 1000.

Saint went quickly from word to celebrity baby name to accepted baby boy name and now to baby girl name. And there's nothing historically or etymologically gendered about Saint, so why not?

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

Legacy is proof that any attractive-sounding word can be turned into a name, and this one has the added attractions of an inspirational meaning and a cool creative namesake -- hot young artist Legacy Russell.

This Native American tribe name is an attractive option for a boy or a girl. Tia Mowry used it for her son in 2011.

Prior to 2013, this name was unheard of. That was the year that Larry Hernandez, singer and star of reality show Larrymania, gave the name to his daughter. It has now entered the US Top 1000, following in the footsteps of Daleyza, the invented name Hernandez bestows upon his older daughter.

As far as Texas place names go, Houston is more unique than Austin and Dallas and more attractive than Marfa.

Fresher diminutive form of Gertrud

Strong meaning, sweet but strong sound, fresh and earthy: a winner.

With the first name True receiving a Kardashian dose of popularity for girls, Truth is gaining in visibility too. Though its still more popular for boys two to one, the truth is that the name works equally well for both genders -- but may inspire a lot of puns.

Artist is one of many occupational words newly adopted as first names. Now gender-neutral, Artist appeared first for boys and now is given to about 20 percent girls. A name that is sure to spark discussion and may prove inspirational.

Loyal has history as a boy name—most popular in the late 19th century, later falling off the charts in 1948. This was back when loyalty suggested faithfulness to one's country, rather than fidelity to others. Today it would likely be interpreted as the latter.

Modern virtue names are rapidly rising in popularity—could Loyal be the next True?

Painter is among the most creative choices in this very fashionable category of names, with a particularly pleasant sound. Whereas most occupational names conjure up physical labor, this one feels like a gateway to the arts. Actor Chad Lowe used it as the middle name of his daughter Mabel.