Top 100 Girl Names: Coolest, Classic, New

The Top 100 girl names mix evergreen classics, cool and original choices, and some just plain new ideas, along with reliable standards we’ve been naming our daughters for ages.

And yes, a name can be cool, even edgy – and still very popular.

After all, only the most appealing names make it to the top of the popularity charts.

In any given year, the most popular girl names include some rising stars and some falling favorites.

Because, yes, even in 2025, we’re still naming our daughters Caroline and Sarah, even though lots of us know moms with those names, too.

Some names you might guess chart in the US Top 100 fail to make an appearance. Long-time #1 Mary isn’t here. Former favorites like Jessica, Laura, Rebecca, Julia, Amanda, Melissa, Megan, and Christina are long gone.

Plenty of classics, from Katherine (and Kathryn and Catherine) to Margaret, and Teresa, appear in the US Top 1000 – but not in the 100 most popular names.

TOP 100 GIRL NAMES ON THE MOVE

While there’s always lots of movement within the US Top 100, it’s worth noting that it’s a fairly stable group. In general, it takes a few years for a name to gain enough popularity to crack the US Top 100. Declines tend to take time, too.

Let’s look at the data updated in May of 2026, which reflects births between January 1st and December 31st of 2025.

For calendar year 2025, the following five names entered the girls’ US Top 100:

• Ailany
• Amara
• Georgia
• Juniper
• Sienna

And these five names left the US Top 100 as of the May 2026 update:

• Aaliyah
• Addison
• Allison
• Anna
• Athena

A NOTE ABOUT NUMBERS

It’s also worth noting that some names might be more popular than they initially appear. Ailany rocked to the #14 spot, but Ailani and Ailanny are also popular, along with lots of other Al- and -lani names. Call this one out on a crowded playground in a few years, and more than head will turn.

Likewise, a names like Journey might crack the Top 100 if spellings Journee and Journi were combined. A shared sound – like the many Elle names, from Elizabeth to Eloise to Eliza, can make a popular name feel even more common. The opposite also applies. Nothing really sounds like Willow, and it’s not easy to re-spell Quinn, making those names feel a little less popular.

Other clusters – like nature and flower names Daisy, Violet, Willow, and Iris, can make even a surprising floral fit in a little better – but also seem slightly less surprising.

Let’s take a look at the Top 100 girl names in the US.

TOP 100 GIRL NAMES

1. Olivia
2. Charlotte
3. Emma
4. Amelia
5. Sophia
6. Mia
7. Isabella
8. Evelyn
9. Sofia
10. Eliana
11. Ava
12. Eleanor
13. Violet
14. Ailany
15. Aurora
16. Harper
17. Elizabeth
18. Lily
19. Camila
20. Nora
21. Hazel
22. Penelope
23. Chloe
24. Ellie
25. Lucy
26. Aria
27. Luna
28. Isla
29. Ella
30. Lainey
31. Zoe
32. Scarlett
33. Gianna
34. Emily
35. Valentina
36. Layla
37. Avery
38. Grace
39. Ivy
40. Madison
41. Abigail
42. Elena
43. Mila
44. Willow
45. Emilia
46. Nova
47. Naomi
48. Riley
49. Eloise
50. Sadie
51. Delilah
52. Stella
53. Josephine
54. Victoria
55. Sophie
56. Hannah
57. Lillian
58. Leah
59. Adeline
60. Leilani
61. Iris
62. Maya
63. Clara
64. Ruby
65. Alice
66. Genesis
67. Paisley
68. Claire
69. Zoey
70. Eden
71. Madelyn
72. Vivian
73. Millie
74. Emery
75. Daisy
76. Maeve
77. Ayla
78. Liliana
79. Melody
80. Lyla
81. Madeline
82. Josie
83. Lucia
84. Addison
85. Kennedy
86. Audrey
87. Maria
88. Autumn
89. Natalie
90. Sarah
91. Everly
92. Lydia
93. Kinsley
94. Sienna
95. Jade
96. Caroline
97. Quinn
98. Amara
99. Georgia
100. Juniper
     

COOLEST POPULAR BABY GIRL NAMES

AURORA (#15)

Nora, Cora, and Aurora are united by sound. But Aurora has something the others lack – a tie to ancient mythology and the night sky. The Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora is familiar to many thanks to the Aurora Borealis. Also known as the Northern Lights, a natural phenomenon caused by particles from the sun. It’s also a song title, from fictional band Daisy Jones and the Six, and the very real Foo Fighters. Beyond the Top 100, Flora, Thora, and Zora await, too.

AILANY (#14)

This name blends an intriguing set of Spanish names – Ayelen, Aylen, and Aylin – with the traditional Hawaiian suffix -lani for an unstoppable name that has rocketed up the popularity charts.

AMARA (#98)

New to the US Top 100, Amara is a pan-global name, with roots in Igbo and Spanish. Possible meanings abound, too. One that’s seldom mentioned in official etymologies, but potentially the most appealing of them all: Amara looks quite a bit like the Latin amor, meaning love.

AYLA (#77)

Another name with multiple possible origins and meanings, Ayla travels across cultures and time, a little more modern than Isla, less expected than Ava, and not nearly as traditional as Ella, but sharing elements with every one of those chart-topping choices.

ELIANA (#10)

Flowing, romance language Eliana traces its roots all the way back to ancient Rome. It may be a cousin to Aelius, meaning sun. It’s definitely influenced by our love of elaborate favorites like Isabella.

GEORGIA (#99)

It’s the kind of name everyone loves, so no surprise it’s a bit of a shape-shifter. Georgia is at home on the range, but also sounds like a British aristocrat. It’s a classic and a place name and a sparky new possibility, too, somehow all things at once.

JUNIPER (#100)

Not so long ago, Juniper graced the lists of under-the-radar names. Now? This nature name with a hit of retro Junie is finally nearing the top of the popularity lists.

LAINEY (#30)

Lainey surged into the girls’ Top 100 in 2023. Credit to the name’s stylish sound and, of course, to Yellowstone. Lainey could be short for so many longer names, from Delaney to Elaine to Alaina that it’s possibly this confident, strong name for a daughter is even more popular than it appears.

SIENNA (#94)

The Italian city is spelled Siena, with a single N. But the double-N Sienna is the preferred spelling of the given name. It’s colorful, like Scarlett, though Sienna refers to the reddish-orange color of the clay in that part of Italy. This name has quietly caught on in recent years, a Sophia-meets-Jenna choice that sounds just right.

WILLOW (#44)

Many of the names on this list of coolest Top 100 girl names are new to the top of the charts. Not so Willow. It’s been a well-established favorite for years. But at a moment when nature names are steadily climbing in use, Willow’s status as a tree-meets-traditional-Will gives this name a lot of extra versatility and some serious cool, too.

CLASSIC POPULAR GIRL NAMES

ALICE (#65)

Storybook Alice brings to mind Lewis Carroll’s heroine, but still feels just right for a twenty-first century girl.

AMELIA (#4)

Among the most popular baby girl names, Amelia benefits from a vintage sound. It comes with nicknames galore, but requires none. And legendary aviator Amelia Earhart makes the name feel ambitious and fearless. Nicknames, from Amy to Mia to Millie, make it even more wearable. Other ends with -lia names like Cecilia are set to follow.

CAROLINE (#96)

Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” makes this an instant sing-along for your daughter. A feminine form of Charlotte, Caroline has long taken a backseat to Charlotte. But it’s every bit as classic, a traditional alternative for parents crushed that Eleanor is so close to the Top Ten.

CHARLOTTE (#2)

Even before we heard that Will and Kate had named their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, this name jumped into the US Top Ten. It’s traditional, elaborate – and yet somehow brief, too. From Sex and the City’s Charlotte York to Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte, this name is polished and sophisticated without being too much. Names like Frances and Marie might be good substitutes.

ELEANOR (#12)

After quietly climbing the popularity charts for years, Eleanor has surpassed its previous peak. Back in the 1910s, the name regularly appeared in the Top 30. Today it’s even more loved, helped by our strong preference for El- names.

ELIZABETH (#17)

Evergreen Elizabeth is the one girls’ name that never falls out of favor. With nicknames from the obvious Lizzie and Beth to rarities like Billie and Birdie, it’s infinitely versatile.

GRACE (#38)

A virtue name that has endured across generations, timeless Grace is a true classic.

LEAH (#50)

An Old Testament name heard across cultures, Leah is sometimes dismissed as too little name – the ending of Julia or Ophelia. But that’s not really fair. Leah has endured, a surprisingly distinctive sound despite just two syllables.

NORA (#20)

This name has gained in use steadily across the last dozen years, a straightforward choice that travels across language and time.

SARAH (#90)

Sarah was the Nora of the 1980s – a classic name that felt oh-so-current, even as it climbed to the top of the popularity charts. Today, though, Sarah has returned to classic status, a name beloved across languages and generations, with a meaning sure to appeal to many: princess.

VICTORIA (#54)

Regal and of course victorious, Victoria is a larger-than-life name that still feels easy to wear. Maybe it’s all the easy nicknames, or maybe it’s the name’s long history of use.

NEW TRADITIONAL GIRL NAMES

DAISY (#75)

A vintage floral that feels both fresh and traditional, possibly because of a long association with the classic Margaret.

ELOISE (#49)

A storybook character just like Alice, Eloise combines a distinctive sound with deep roots.

EVELYN (#8)

Tailored Evelyn has a long history of use. While it’s strongly feminine in modern American usage, once upon a time, Evelyn was unisex.

HAZEL (#21)

Another nature name that feels solidly established now.

LYDIA (#92)

New Testament name that’s both strong and lovely.

MAYA (#62)

Beautifully international, Maya is a culture-crossing wonder. It’s Hebrew and Hindi, Greek and Basque. The name belongs to a Roman goddess and the mother of Buddha. No surprise it’s heard across countless nations.

NAOMI (#47)

A Biblical name with a distinctive, unforgettable sound, Naomi is timeless.

PENELOPE (#22)

There’s something quirky about Penelope, a name long used for accomplished fictional women and damsels in distress, too. No question that we favor the former image today. While most parents use Penelope in full, potential nicknames from Poppy to Nell expand this name’s range.

VIVIAN (#72)

Tailored and, well, vivacious, Vivian is a name that feels traditional and timeless, but not quite classic. In this case, that’s a strength, making this name feel a little fresher and less expected than, say, Elizabeth.

ZOE (#31)

A Greek mini name meaning life, Zoe earns new traditional status by the numbers. Once eclipsed by pop culture-fueled spelling Zoey, the shorter version refused to give in. Zoe is now the most common spelling again, cementing this name’s place on this list.

NAMES TO WATCH BEYOND THE TOP 100

CECILIA (#108)

Pretty, traditional Cecilia is strongly associated with music, from an early saint to a Simon and Garfunkel song. The obvious substitute for Top Ten Amelia.

ESTHER (#119)

Rock solid Old Testament name that’s serious but also stylish.

HALLIE (#120)

Millie followed Ellie and Molly. Hallie seems like the next obvious LL pick.

HAVEN (#190)

Modern virtue name boosted by that middle V.

MAGNOLIA (#124)

Elaborately floral and slightly Southern, Magnolia combines the best of Isabella with a hint of Lily.

PARKER (#106)

Harper briefly made the Top Ten. Piper spent a few years in the Top 100. Now it’s Parker, with a vaguely outdoorsy sensibility, that’s set to follow them both.

PHOEBE (#157)

A vintage name following Chloe, Zoe, and Penelope into wider use.

ROSE (#114)

Elegant and traditional, Rose benefits from our love of nature names. It’s spare, but lively nickname Rosie makes it flexible.

SCOTTIE (#126)

This boyish nickname name soared last year, and continues to climb in use.

VERA (#205)

Sharp and strong, vintage Vera benefits from two equally appealing meanings: faith and truth.

ALTERNATIVES TO THE TOP 100 NAMES

AMORA (#247)

Based on the Latin amor, meaning love, Amora is a modern-meets-ancient option that sounds very right in the 2020s.

BILLIE (#691)

Boyish Billie splits the difference between everybody-loves-Lily, vintage Millie, and fast-rising Scottie and Stevie.

DOROTHY (#421)

Traditional Dorothy feels like an adventurous name, thanks to the enduring image of Dorothy Gale. It could be the perfect replacement for popular classics like Caroline and Amelia.

ELOWYN (#299)

A nature name import from Cornwall. The last name imported from this region in south west England? Jennifer.

FLORENCE (#391)

Sweetly vintage Florence could substitute for Charlotte or Eleanor. 

FRANCESCA (#307)

Spirited Francesca shares the same Italian, dramatic vibe as Aurora or Valentina. 

MARLOWE (#523)

More modern than Margot, less expected than Harlow, Marlowe has potential.

PERSEPHONE (#735)

Consider this mythological name instead of Penelope.

ROMY (#698)

A modern name connected to classic Rosemary, as well as midcentury European movie icon Romy Schneider.

SOLEIL (#758)

The French word for sun has an appealing sound: so LAY. It fits with Stella and Luna and so many nature-adjacent favorites that have been popular in recent years.

What are your favorite Top 100 girl names?

First published on April 2, 2018, this post was revised and re-published on April 10, 2021; February 18, 2022; May 6, 2022; March 29, 2023; May 12, 2023; April 14, 2024; May 10, 2024; May 14, 2025; and May 8, 2026.