Animal Names for Girls

Ailany is a fun variation of the Hawaiian name Ailani that is riding the wave of similar sounding Kailani, Alani, Leilani, et al.

Dexter turned ultracool for a girl when Diane Keaton named her daughter Dexter Dean. Dexter is getting a new style gloss for both genders thanks to (unlikely) baby name role model, television's Dexter the genial serial killer.

Appealing comedian Aidy Bryant -- born Aidan -- put this energetic nickname on the map when she joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2012. Each of the years since then has seen a handful of baby girls given Aidy as a full name. Which makes sense: It combines the elegance and trendiness of the whole Ada/Adaline/Adelaide family with the retro (almost rockabilly?) appeal of names like Hattie. Expect to see it more going forward as Bryant's star continues to rise.

A little like Elliot (or Elliette), Electra, and Etta, Ellette is a zippy but rarely used compound name.

This habitational surname works as a modern way to honor a Carrie, Carolyn, or Caroline.

Charleston is one of those baby names that may become more popular thanks to its nickname Charlie, now used about equally for boys and girls. If you want to call your daughter Charlie but believe she needs a more formal name, you might try Charleston instead of Charlotte. And Charleston is a lovely city in South Carolina.

A recent favorite among boy names, now a top riser for girls.

Cendrine derives from Cendrillon, the French form of Cinderella. It's quite uncommon, even in France, but if the fairy tale made a big impression on you, it could be a sweet tribute.

The 'ley' ending makes this British surname name ripe for consideration as a feminine girls' name. Brinsley joins such sisters as Kinsley and Tinsley.

A jaunty English surname which may derive from "betony", the name of a pretty purple-flowering shrub. A famous bearer is British historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes.

Highly religious choice.

One of the spiritual word names that parents started to use in the 2010s.

Potentially a cool route to Ellie.

The name of one of the three Graces or Charites in Greek mythology, sometimes spelt Aglaea. The anglicized pronunciation would be "ah-GLY-ah", while the traditional Greek would "ah-glah-EE-uh".

Nein.