Favorite Girl Names

  1. Iyra
    • Jacie
      • Jane
        • Origin:

          English
        • Meaning:

          "God is gracious"
        • Description:

          No, we don't consider Jane too plain. In fact, for a venerable and short one-syllable name, we think it packs a surprising amount of punch, as compared to the related Jean and Joan.
      • Janie
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Jane, English
        • Meaning:

          "God is gracious"
        • Description:

          Will this old-fashioned nickname make a comeback, now that Jane has shed her "plain" image? Janie is cute and approachable, and would stand as well on the birth certificate as Josie and Jessie do now.
      • January
        • Origin:

          English word name
        • Meaning:

          "month name"
        • Description:

          Thanks to two cultural influences, January has joined March, April, June and August as a plausible month name.
      • Jean
        • Origin:

          English and Scottish, from French variation of Johanna
        • Meaning:

          "God is gracious"
        • Description:

          Originally a feminine of John, Jean was popular in Scotland long before it found favor elsewhere, and had its most shining moment here in the era of Jean Harlow (born Harlean), ultimate symbol of silver screen glamour. Now, though there are many grandmas and even moms with the name, it doesn't seem all that baby-friendly. Though that could change, and Jean could join Jane.
      • Jessamine
        • Origin:

          English from Persian
        • Meaning:

          "jasmine"
        • Description:

          Jessamine, a charming name occasionally heard in England, is just beginning to be appreciated in the U.S. as a possible successor to all the Jess names of the past. It's also spelled Jessamyn, as in Quaker novelist Jessamyn West, author of Friendly Persuasion--who started life with Jessamyn as her middle name.
      • Jewel
        • Origin:

          Word name
        • Description:

          Just like Flora is for botanicals, Jewel is the generic gemstone name, not used much since the early twentieth century, when it was seen as a symbol of how precious a daughter could be. The French version, Bijou, feels more modern, as do Pearl and Ruby.
      • Jeyden
        • Kaelynn
          • Origin:

            Spelling variation of Kaylin
          • Description:

            The family of Kaylin names includes a wide variety of spellings—Kaylen, Kaelyn, and Kaylynn are a few—that enjoy varying degrees of popularity. This particular spelling plays on a couple contemporary trends, namely the ae vowel combination and the -lynn ending. While it's definitely a distinct spelling, it's likely to be misspelled more often than not.
        • Kaya
          • Origin:

            English, Nordic
          • Meaning:

            "pure"
          • Description:

            One of the currently stylish Kaia-Maya-Mia family, deriving either from an elaboration of Kay or an alternative spelling of Kaia, a Scandinavian diminutive of Katarina.
        • Keelynn
          • Kimber
            • Origin:

              Diminutive of Kimberley
            • Description:

              This diminutive of Kimberley is gaining momentum as a standalone name. For our part, we're stumped by its rise.
          • Kimberly
            • Origin:

              English surname and place name
            • Meaning:

              "Cyneburga's meadow"
            • Description:

              Kimberly's heyday was in the 1960s and 70s, when it ranked among the Top 10. While it hasn't been stylish for decades, it's evidenced more staying power than some former hot girl names, remaining among the Top 300 girl names in the US, where it's stood for 70 years.
          • Kya
            • Origin:

              Spelling variation of Kaia, Latin, Scandinavian, or Hawaiian
            • Meaning:

              "to rejoice or sea"
            • Description:

              Kya, a variation of the popular Kaia, the feminine form of the also-popular gender-neutral name Kai, was one of the fastest-rising girls' names of 2023.
          • Kye
            • Kaetynn
              • Kale
                • Kamrynn
                  • Keetynn