Looking for spunky girl names? You’ve found the right list!
These names feel ready for adventure. They can suit a big personality. They’re adorable on a baby girl.
But they’re not limited to children.
These choices are just right for women of accomplishment, too. Whether you’re naming a daughter or a fictional character, there’s a strength and boldness to these names that makes them terribly appealing.
In fact they’re just plain great names for any age.
Read on for dozens of the best spunky girl names.
BORROWED FROM THE BOYS
Some parents balk at borrowing girl names from boys. With dozens of gorgeous girl names, why steal? But many of these started out as nicknames for equally traditional feminine choices, which casts them in a different light than, say, Ryan or Dylan.
ALEX, ALIX
Strictly speaking, Alix is an old-school twist on Alice. But it feels like a modern answer to Alexandra, too.
BILLIE
A little bit boyish, and far less involved than the gorgeous Wilhelmina, Billie blends in with girl names like Ellie and Millie.
CHARLIE
Short for Charlotte, or stands alone? Ever since the 1970s gave us the fragrance Charlie, it’s felt like a spirited stand-alone.
FRANKIE
Short for classic Frances and romance language favorite Francesca, Frankie is the next generation Charlie.
NICO
German singer Nico made her mark with The Velvet Underground, and put this o-ender squarely on the list of maybe names for girls.
RORY
Stars Hollow’s smartest kid made parents see this one as a potential pick for a daughter.
SASHA
It sounds feminine, but Sasha originates as a Russian masculine nickname for Alexander. Beyonce begs to differ.
SHEA
A short, bright sound with ties to the legendary home of the New York Mets.
STEVIE
Credit singer Stevie Nicks, and television’s Stevie Budd for making this boyish nickname name a new possibility, in the key of Charlie and Frankie.
NATURE NAMES
We love a good nature name, but it’s not a single category. Some lean EcoVintage, traditional names like Lily and Flora. Others seem quirky and offbeat. But a handful of favorites from the natural world belong with spunky girl names, too.
BRIAR
A little bit spiky, with a dash of fairytale princess in hiding.
CLOVER
As lucky as a shamrock, Clover fits right in with all of those girl names ending with R.
CRICKET
Sometimes an affectionate nickname for another C/K name, Cricket works independently, too – especially since Busy Philipps gave the name to her younger daughter.
DAISY
Daisy feels traditional-ish, and yet still has plenty of spirit.
IVY
A short name with a big sound.
POPPY
All the pop of the repeating P, plus a bright red flower.
RUBY
Sparkly, and the shoe color of choice for spunky heroine Dorothy of Wizard of Oz fame.
WREN
Deceptively simple nature name Wren is set to soar.
LONG & LIVELY
Nothing says that spunky girl names have to be short. Plenty of longer names bring just as much spirit.
ANNIKA
There’s something sparky about this Scandi spin on Annika.
BIANCA
Blanche is terribly elegant, but the Italian version of the name, Bianca, has a completely different vibe.
CLEMENTINE
There’s something bright and sunshiny about Clementine, possibly because the name is shared with the citrus fruit.
ELIZA
Doolittle + Hamilton = spunky traditional.
ELOISE
Maybe it’s the storybook character, forever six and roaming through the Plaza Hotel. Or maybe it’s just the unexpected mix of sounds, but this name is spunky in spades.
FRANCESCA
Frankie makes this list, but long form, extravagant, and Italian Francesca offers just as much spirit.
JOSEPHINE, JOSIE
It’s just plain fun to say, and Josie is an obvious spunky girl name.
JUNIPER
A nickname name that bounces off the tongue.
MATILDA
Roald Dahl’s whip-smart and kind-hearted heroine earns this name a spot on the list.
RAMONA
Does it get any more high energy than Ramona Geraldine Quimby of Klickitat Street?
VERONICA
Traditional and edgy, a name with saintly bona fides that’s not quite classic, but could never be dismissed as fleeting.
RETRO NICKNAMES
They’re short for something longer and more elegant, the stickball- playing little sisters of Elizabeth and Mary.
BETSY
Among the dozens of Elizabeth nicknames, many share a certain liveliness – think Libby and Lizzie and Betty, too. But Betsy gets my vote for the spunkiest of them all.
EDIE
Edie falls somewhere between traditional Edith and modern Eden, a sparky nickname choice that could stand alone.
ELSIE
Zooey Deschanel’s pick for her firstborn, an Elizabeth nickname with lots of sound.
HATTIE
Harriet seems a little more ladylike, but Hattie climbs to the tippy-top of the highest trees.
LOU, LULU
These spirited nicknames transform ladylike Louise and Louisa.
POLLY
A little old-fashioned, but in a skinned-knees-and-fishing-holes kind of way, not a crinoline-and-embroidery-hoops one.
ROXIE, ROXY
Chicago gave us Roxie Hart, and the name has leaned spunky ever since. Formal version Roxanne – or maybe even Roxana – has potential, too.
TESS
Theresa belongs to saints and queens, while Tess is the daring one.
ZAZIE
This overlooked Isabelle nickname just plain sounds plucky, plus there’s actor Zazie Beetz and the French novel turned 1960 Louis Malle movie about a girl wandering Paris.
MODERN MINIS
These names feel very twenty-first century, but with a healthy dose of chutzpah.
BREE
Brief and breezy, Bree comes from an Irish name meaning power. So very appropriate, then, that Brie Larson plays Captain Marvel.
BRYNN
A Welsh name meaning hill, and a slim, compact name for a daughter with plenty of spirit.
GWEN
Maybe it’s Gwen Stefani that does it, or Gwen Stacy. But this Welsh name just plain feels bold.
KAI
From the Hawaiian word for ocean, or maybe from Chinese or Dutch, or some other language entirely, this mini name is more common for boys. But it feels like an update to Kay, modern and bright.
KIT
It could come from Katherine – or Christopher. Or another name entirely. American Girls’ Kit Kittridge was born Margaret. Regardless of the origin, Kit sounds capable and confident.
LIV
It sounds like a command, a directive to go live life to the fullest – and that’s not far off from this Norse mini name’s meaning.
REMY
A unisex favorite, Remy means oarsman – perfect for your future crew team member.
SCOUT
An active verb, and a literary heroine, too.
VINTAGE DARLINGS
They’re names you can imagine on comic strip characters circa 1953, but they’re right at home in the twenty-first century, too.
CLEO
Cleopatra is an empress, but Cleo is an adventurous child – or adult.
COCO
A little bit high fashion, and a whole lot world-changing. If the Chanel reference gives you pause, consider more recent women of accomplishment, like tennis star Coco Gauff.
ETTA
Think legendary singer Etta James.
JUNE
Sweetly retro, but with plenty of strength, too.
MAE
Delicate and gutsy all at once, thanks to a vibrant sound and the legacy of screen legend Mae West.
MABEL
Mad About You made this name an acronym for Mothers Always Bring Extra Love. But by today’s standards, Mabel brings an extra dash of vintage sass.
NORA
A true shape-shifter of a name, it’s easy to picture a quiet Nora in the library, or a Nora climbing trees. Or climbing trees to read a book. It’s a choice with plenty of spirit.
SURNAMES
Surname names just won’t quit, with Taylor and Mackenzie looking for the next generation of surname names for their daughters. These spunky girl names inspired by last names are just right for a new generation.
BLAKE
Credit to Blake Lively.
DARCY
A dashing surname from a romantic hero, but sparky and fun for a girl, too.
HARPER
Author Harper Lee makes this name feel brave and world-changing. But the sound also feels like something unexpected for a daughter, newer than Esther or Harriet.
MARLOWE
First came Harlow. Now Marlowe is the sparky surname name to beat.
PIPER
Musical in meaning, and rhythmic to say.
Quinn
Mighty.
Rowan
A true unisex pick, Rowan feels upbeat and Irish on boys and girls alike.
MAINSTREAM FAVORITES
We hear them lots, on everybody’s shortlist and on girls we know in real life, too. But they’re still spunky.
AVA
A bright, energetic palindrome of a name.
DAPHNE
A figure from myth, a romantic heroine, and a sprightly piece of music.
GEORGIA
Southern and high energy, more action hero than belle of the ball.
ISLA
Smooth and sophisticated, Isla has plenty of spirit, too.
JOSIE
A favorite Josephine nickname, and a daring stand-alone choice, too.
LUNA
A fast-rising favorite for English and Spanish speaking families alike.
MAISIE
One of many Margaret nicknames that feels traditional and spirited.
MARGOT
A go-to name for girls that feels artistic, adventurous, and yes, spunky.
MOLLY
The wearable nickname that makes elegant Mary more approachable.
MILLIE
Thoroughly modern.
SADIE
A sassy Sarah nickname and a solid Top 100 choice in recent years.
THEA
Shorter, and possibly a little more energetic than traditional Theodora.
THE LAs
We la-la-love the La sound in girl names right now. And if spunky girl names are your thing? A lot of the Las fit this category.
DELLA
Della sounds like the girl Friday to a private eye in a 1950s detective thriller – which is exactly what spunky girl names should be.
LAYLA
A name borrowed from Arabic literature, with the rousing rock ballad “Layla” to turn this name up to eleven.
LOLA
Originally short for the buttoned-up Dolores, Lola feels daring and exotic, but right at home on a child, too. Children’s book turned animated series characters Charley and Lola make it even more kid-friendly. Today it could potentially be short for Lorelei, Laura or Lauren.
LUCY
Classic, but with a certain mischievous streak. Maybe that’s down to Lucille Ball, or maybe that’s Lucy’s own charm.
LULA
A vintage Louise nickname lifted by the La sound.
NOLA
Short for Magnolia, or possible New Orleans, Louisiana. Either way, it fits.
STELLA
The Latin word for star, and a name that shines.
WILLA
Billie is on this list, too. Willa feels a little more feminine, but every bit as spunky.
IMPORTS
American names can feel especially spunky, like an Aaron Copland fanfare. But there’s no shortage of imports that carry the same spirit. In fact, I’d guess they fit this list in the US – but might not have the same vibe in their home countries.
COSETTE
The Victor Hugo character is sweet, but the sound of this name feels at home with Bianca and Bree, Poppy and Lula.
GIA
An Italian nickname for longer choices like Giovanna, Gia captures all the mini name energy.
MAEVE
A sharp and powerful Irish import.
MIKA
A re-spelling of Micah, a feminine twist on Mike, or a Japanese import? Whichever is right, this name’s spirit shines through.
OONA
Irish and unforgettable. Also spelled Una, though maybe the double O feels more distinctive.
ROMY
An iconic French and German cinema star of the mid-20th century, Romy feels retro, upbeat, and just slightly undiscovered in the US.
PIPPA
As in Middleton, of course, the bridesmaid that stole the show.
SYLVIE
Sylvia seems more conventional, but sweetly French Sylvie feels like a promising alternative.
MIX
These are the spunky girl names that don’t quite fit elsewhere in the categories – but clearly belong on the list.
GEMMA
As sparking as a jewelry box.
JADA
A modern possibility based on the color and the stone.
JOVIE
An invented name meaning “joy,” Jovie was created for the Christmas movie Elf, but has spirit and spark any time of the year.
JUNO
A goddess name with all the bravado of that ‘o’ ending.
LAINEY
Lane belongs to the boys, but Lainey takes it in a feminine direction. They’re wide open spaces names, at home on horseback. But despite Lainey’s status as a modern not-quite-nickname, it feels flexible.
LONDON
A generation ago, this list would’ve included Brooklyn. But now that the New York neighborhood is well-established as a choice, London feels like the sparkier option.
MOXIE
Modern names mix stylish sounds and cool meanings. Moxie has it all.
PHOEBE
A bright, energetic name to substitute for Zoe and Penelope.
VADA, VEDA
Vintage names that mean life.
XANTHE
Another Greek rarity, with a big sound and lots of energy.
ZARA
Sarah with a Z, an international clothing brand, and a good blend of traidtional and spirited.
ZOE
Two-syllables packed into just three-letters, plus Zoe’s meaning – life – is unoverlookable.
I was surprised to see Zoe not on this list!
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/01/feisty-flounce-bossy-words-put-women-down
“In their guide to improving the media coverage of female politicians, the Women’s Media Centre lists ‘feisty’ as one of the words that should be avoided (it categorises it with ‘spunky,’ which is surely a word that nobody should use, ever), describing it as ‘normally reserved for individuals and animals that are not inherently potent or powerful.'”
Yeah … I thought about this. Because even though we’re talking about baby names, obviously babies grow up. And spunky is a heavily gendered word. When boys are spunky, we just call them … boys.
Except it’s clearly a broad category of name, and I’m not sure another word substitutes. (At least, from a search engine perspective, it’s the correct choice. That sounds a little cold, but lists aren’t helpful unless they can be found.)
I have this same struggle with the word cute. LOTS of people look for “cute baby names,” but I’ve resisted writing anything with that phrase. Mostly because “cute baby names” is so unclear to me. Cutesy, yeah – I know what that is. (And I’ve written about that.) But “cute” seems unclear, almost like “nice” baby names or “baby names I like.”
Spunky, though? Well, I know it when I hear it. And I’ve heard lots of parents talk about spunky as a midway point between frilly and BNOG. So while the word isn’t perfect, it serves a purpose here – though perhaps it reflects our challenges around gender and naming more than anything.
Names … I always think they’re fluffy and trivial, except then I remember they carry all of our ideas about the human experience …
Not been on in a while recently gave birth to our third a little girl we named Claramarie Margaret to go with Big Brother Edward Benedict and Sister Matilda Evangeline. Love the Spunky name list I’d probably include:
Willa
Alma
Ottilie
Woody
Hank
Finn
As always great posts Abbey!
I love this list. I think you nailed it, and I think you helped me figure out my naming style.
I would add Heidi to this list
Love these! You have my eldest daughter’s name here (first and middle), my son’s first name, the “runner-up” name for my second daughter, AND the name we would have called her if she was a boy! I guess this is my style!
My grandmother was named Anna nn Annika, but she was nowhere near Scandinavian, LOL. I always wondered where my grandmother’s family heard that nickname from.
I have both an Annika and an Elsbeth nicknamed Betsy so these names are right up my alley!
So much fun to see their names listed!
Great list!