Finding Cute Southern Girl Names with Energy

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INSPIRED BY COUNTRY STYLE

Heather writes:

We’re expecting a daughter and agree that we like country names and Southern names. 

So far we’ve talked about double names, like Raelynn and Grace Lynn. 

Also, is Kingsley a boy’s name or a girl’s name? I like it for a girl, but I’m not sure!

Her middle name has to start with A.

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

BUILDING A LIST

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new daughter!

The thing about this category of names? It’s big! 

I can argue that traditional favorites like Elizabeth and Margaret fit, especially with nicknames or used in a double name combination. (Think Bessie or Maggie Mae.) 

Beyond that, you might consider:

• Place names, from a Southern state like Georgia (or even Alabama) to cities like Abilene, Dallas, and Savannah.
• Sweet nicknames names: Hattie, Ruby, Ellie, Sadie. 
• Country music and culture hero and icon names, like Dolly (Parton) or Minnie (Pearl).
• Many a Southern belle has answered to a traditional family surname. Kingsley fits here.
• Nature names, from elegant florals like Magnolia to more casual ones like Daisy.
• Pop culture names inspired by songs, like Jolene.
• Names with timeless elegance, like Clara, Charlotte, and Annabelle can share a certain Southern, country sweetness, too. Grace fits in this category, and maybe GraceLynn, too.

But I think you’re looking for a more modern first name.

A little more Yellowstone and a little less Designing Women. 

They’re country, but they’re fresh and often high-energy, too.

MODERN COUNTRY GIRL NAMES

DELILAH

I’ve heard Delilah called delicate, and I get it. But there’s a bounce and an exuberance to this name. If you’re drawn to the L of Lynn, I wonder if Delilah’s double-L sounds will appeal?

EMMYLOU

A double name with a little bit of legend about, thanks to country rock innovator Emmylou Harris. It shares the singer’s strength and grace, but with plenty of warmth. Raelynn is just outside the current US Top 100. Emmylou doesn’t even crack the current Top 1000. And yet, they’re both immediately familiar.

HADLEY

We’ll talk about Kingsley in a minute, but I wanted to suggest a few names that strike a balance between that unisex surname style and feminine appeal. Hadley has a fascinating backstory. It actually means “field of Heather.” It’s on our naming radar thanks to two things: a best-selling work of historical fiction called The Paris Wife, about the life of Hadley Hemingway, and rise in names like Harper – also literary, also surname-style. I love this one for lots of reasons, including its connection to your name.

LAINEY

When it comes to sparky country/cute Southern girl names, Lainey is having a moment. Credit goes to country music’s Lainey Wilson, but it’s also just a great name with a strong, appealing sound.

LAKELYNN

Raelyn and Gracelynn have some history. Lakelynn is a newcomer. It’s a Nature Plus name, a mix of word names inspired by all things outdoorsy and traditional name elements. If Raelyn/n isn’t quite right, I wonder if Lakelynn might be?

MEADOW

Floral favorites like Daisy have always read slightly country, with a laid-back energy. Meadow shares that spirit, but feels like a fresher, less expected update.

PRESLEY

Another suggestion in the key of Hadley and Kingsley. Will you be asked if you’re an Elvis fan? Maybe sometimes. But this is where a little bit of popularity helps. Presley has ranked in the girls’ Top 1000 since 1998, so it’s familiar enough as a given name that it doesn’t feel exclusively about the singer.

WRENLEE

Another name in the same Nature Plus category as Lakelynn, but with the same ending sound as Kingsley – and Hadley and Presley, too!

LET’S TALK ABOUT KINGSLEY

Is Kingsley a unisex name?

Kind of, actually. For calendar 2024, there were 228 boys and 122 girls given the names. That means it’s definitely not unusual to hear a girl named Kingsley, even if it roughly twice as common for boys.

Just to state the obvious: no one is naming their daughters Queenslie. But I wonder if some of the name’s use – across gender lines – is a Christian reference to Jesus as King of Kings?

In any case, I think you could absolutely use Kingsley for a girl without any real issue, but I would suggest choosing a very obvious, feminine name to balance out the more masculine-leaning first.

Overall, my favorites for you are:

• Hadley Annabelle – A nod to your name, and a current choice that bridges Kingsley and Raelyn.
• Gracelynn Adele – Especially with the nickname Gracie! It’s peak cute Southern girl names.

Readers, over to you! What would you suggest for a daughter that blends country and cute Southern girl names style?