frills free names for girlsFrills-free names for girls fall somewhere between James and Arabella.

They’re clearly feminine. And yet, sound-wise, they’re tailored. Even brisk.

And they’re not primarily surname names. Blair and Sloane, Harper and Peyton count as frills-free names for girls … but we could just as easily use them for our sons, so they seem to belong on a slightly different list.

They also lean traditional.

It would be easy to come up with frills-free names for girls drawn from the natural world. And some of these do fit that description! But to belong on this list, they also need to feel like names with some amount of history … even if it’s twenty years, rather than two hundred-plus.

So if you’re into names with a little bit of history, but with a spare and buttoned-up sensibility, this list might be for you!

FRILLS-FREE NAMES FOR GIRLS

ADELE

We’re wild about Adeline – choose your spelling – but spare Adele seems like a traditional, restrained option.

AFTON

A sweetly flowing Scottish river, immortalized in poetry and song.

ALICE

Storybook Alice is the restrained, vintage charmer that has eclipsed frillier 80s favorites Alicia and Alyssa.

ANN

Among the most traditional of choices, and as stripped-down as they come. Adding an ‘e’ to make it Anne is only a little fancier.

ASTRID

A Viking name that’s equal parts accessible and fierce.

AUTUMN

Seasonal Autumn is tailored and just on the right side of traditional.

BRIAR

A nature name with a fairytale tie-in, via Sleeping Beauty’s story.

CARMEN

Carmen means “song,” and since it’s famous as an opera, that tracks.

CARYS

A Welsh name meaning “love” and a thoroughly tailored option.

CLAIRE

A sophisticated name, all wrapped up in a single syllable. Clare makes it even sparer.

COLETTE

It’s French and maybe a little fancy … but only a little. The strong sounds put Colette on the list of frills free names for girls.

CONSTANCE

A virtue name with a serious vibe.

CORA

Pretty, but still far more restrained that Cordelia, Coraline, or many other Cora names.

DAPHNE

It fits with Penelope and Persephone, but Daphne seems just a little briefer and more contained.

EDEN

A Biblical Garden, and a strong, distinctive sound.

EDITH

A vintage name with a capable vibe.

ELISE

An Elizabeth nickname, Elise feels complete and slightly spare.

ELLE

A single syllable name, though one with quite a bit of style.

ELLEN

Pleasantly old-fashioned, and surprisingly overlooked today.

ELSPETH

A Scottish take on Elizabeth, short and strong.

ESME

Like other frills free names for girls, Esme is just the tiniest bit romantic – but still far less elaborate than many favorites.

ESTELLE

Stella and Estella seem sparkly, while frills free Estelle is the strong, serious type.

ESTHER

An Old Testament name known for heroics.

FAITH

A virtue name, rich with meaning.

FERN

Gentle Fern is as simple and lovely as a name can be.

FRANCES

Classic and traditional, Frances has long been in the shadow of frillier Francesca.

GRACE

Simple, straightforward, and as elegant as the late Grace Kelly.

GREER

Another Hollywood-inspired name, Greer started out as a contraction of Gregory, but today feels more like a rare name for a daughter.

GRETA

Like Margot, Greta comes from Margaret – but stands on its own today.

GWEN

Few names sound quite like Gwen, and Gwen seems whole and complete – even though it could be short for the elaborate Gwendolyn or Guinevere.

HAVEN

A virtue name with sharp and tailored style.

HAZEL

Nature name Hazel is almost exclusively used for girls, packing plenty of style into two short syllables.

HELEN

A serious name with plenty of notable namesakes.

HOPE

A simple word name that carries so much potential.

INGRID

A strong Scandi import with the glam of Hollywood Golden Age star Ingrid Bergman.

IRENE

An early twentieth century favorite with a powerful meaning: peace.

IRIS

An elegant floral possibility.

IVY

A mini name at home in the winter, or really any season.

JADE

A glittering green name with a straightforward sound.

JANE

Frills free and oh so literary.

JUDITH

Judy is a Jetson, but strong and capable Judith belongs with the frills free names for girls.

JUNE

A summery month with a sunny disposition.

JUNO

Goddess Juno is bright and frills-free.

JUSTINE

A distinctive sound with a great meaning: just.

KATE

The original frills-free name for a daughter, bright and upbeat.

LENA

Helena and Magdalena and Catalina are elaborate, dramatic choices. Just Lena seems far more down-to-Earth.

LIV

A Scandinavian name meaning “life,” Liv is the pared down alternative to romantic and elaborate Olivia.

LOUISE

Sister to Louis, with a vintage vibe.

LUCY

Lucia, Lucinda, and Lucienne all turn it up to eleven, while homespun Lucy is the spare alternative.

LUNA

A Top 100 favorite with maybe the tiniest bit of frill.

LYRIC

A music name with a tailored sound.

MAE

Mini Mae offers a brief, bright possibility for a daughter.

MAEVE

A name from Irish legend with a strong sound and an appealing meaning: intoxicating.

MAREN

Possibly a Mary cousin, but with an even more tailored sound.

MARGOT

Margaret isn’t frilly, but the French nickname Margot seems like a separate – and even more straightforward – option.

MARLO

Marlowe is the surname name possibility, but mid-century Marlo seems like the definition of frills free girl names.

MARY

A classic with history to spare, Mary is also nicely free of embellishment.

MEREDITH

Some a first, and sometimes a last; sometimes masculine, but more often feminine in recent decades, Meredith feels like a name that continues to adapt to our changing world.

NEVE

A name with multiple meaning and origins, Neve seems like the perfect brief, but complete, choice for minimalist parents.

NORA

As simple and feminine as a name can be.

OLIVE

The edible – and far simpler – alternative to Olivia.

OPAL

A gemstone name that’s slowly returning to wider use.

PEARL

Understated and sophisticated, all at once.

PETRA

A rarity with a strong and unexpected sound.

RACHEL

A late twentieth century favorite, but an enduring classic, all the same.

ROSE

A garden full of roses is anything but frills-free, and yet this name sounds brief and strong.

RUTH

Steely Ruth is an Old Testament name with plenty of backbone.

SEREN

A Welsh name meaning star, tailored and complete.

SIMONE

A French name with a serious, sophisticated appeal.

SKYE

More common than word name Sky, this name seems as big as the natural world it seeks to describe.

SYBIL

Once a name for a prophetess, Sybil now feels practical and self-contained.

TAMAR

An Old Testament rarity that fits with surnames like Harper, Parker, and Piper.

TAMSIN

A slimmed-down take on elaborate Thomasina.

VIVIAN

A lively name with a bright sound, Vivian is just on the right side of frills-free.

WILLOW

A tree name with an appealingly brief sound.

WREN

One of several avian names very much in favor today.

What are some of your favorite frills-free names for girls? Would you use any of the names on this list? Are there more names that should be included here?

First published June 28, 2008, this pst was substantially revised and re-posted on February 24, 2014 and again on July 1, 2021.

frills-free girl names

About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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25 Comments

  1. This list is great. I think Mairi, Greer, Zola, Zora, Freya, Zara, Lark, Wren, Xanthe, Dinah, and Maisie would make great additions to the list.

  2. I can’t completely decide between Ivy, Ingrid, and Iris. Ivy is the most spritely, Ingrid has the highest cheekbones, and Iris has the goddess aspect. I don’t know how to choose! (Also, do you think Irene is usable or still too old? But if Iris is back…?)

    Esther was completely off my radar for a long time but my husband championed it and it’s really grown on me. It’s not tough but it’s slim and stately.

    However, he nixed Tamar and Hazel and I was devastated. Tamar I will admit is plagued by pronunciation issues – I only love ta-MAR, not TAY-mer.

    We both like Briar… overall, I’d say this is the style we have the most overlap on.

    I’d add:
    Zelda
    Opal
    Xanthe
    Amy
    Blythe
    Prudence
    Sinead
    Nina
    Mae

  3. Awesome post and comments — between them both we’re generating quite a wonderful list of strong, frills-free girls names!

    To them I’d like to add:

    Elara
    Imogen
    Maris
    Marnie
    Thora (maybe breaks the rules a bit, but Thor isn’t a realistic boy’s name for most folks)
    Gertrude
    Velma
    Enid
    Helen
    Joan
    Bavin (pronounced like bay-veen or bee-veen, not like Kevin)

  4. This is my favorite kind of girl name!

    From your original list I like Ailis, Carys, Daphne, Elspeth, Hazel, Iris, Ivy, Juno, Maren, Margo, and Olive. I second the suggestion of Edith, Fern, Mabel, and Pearl, and I’d add Maud to the mix. Particularly since you list Ingrid, I think my daughter’s name – Astrid – also qualifies. Definitely feminine, not frilly, and unranked in the top 1000.

  5. What a great list! I’m not sure if these meet the popularity standards, but I would add Agnes, Ruth, Sibyl and Helen.

  6. I think this must be my favorite category for girl names. I love almost every one you listed. Some others I love that I think fit your criteria are…
    Cora
    Cleo
    Adele
    Aster
    Clover
    Sibyl
    Edith
    Judith
    Seren
    Fern
    Greta
    Nell
    Jade
    Lark
    Leonie
    Pearl
    Mabel
    Mavis
    Saffron

    1. Some of these will be on Friday’s 25 more list … and some of these are making me think that I need a THIRD installment of the list! 🙂