New Girl Names: Ailanny to Yuna and 41 More

Let’s hear it for the new girl names 2026!

What, precisely, does that mean?

Every year, the US Social Security Administration updates the 1,000 most popular names for girls and boys.

The list changes year-to-year, of course. The list released on May 9, 2025 is based on birth data for the prior calendar year, so it reflects births recorded between January 1st and December 31st of 2024.

Some names are debuting for the first time, while others have returned after an absence. Occasionally, a name will teeter on the edge of the rankings, in one year and out the next, before moving in one direction or the other.

This year’s list includes 43 new or returning names. That number is pretty typical. Here’s how it stacks up:

Last year’s list came in with 44 names that had not appeared in the prior year.
The 2024 list also included 44 new or returning names.
46 names returned or debuted on the 2022 list.
36 names returned or debuted on the 2021 list.
In calendar year 2020, 47 names debuted or returned.
The 2019 list included 40 new names.
For calendar year 2018, the new data revealed 50 newcomers.
Names chosen in 2017 gave us 43 new girl names.
In 2016, 45 girls’ names ranked in the US Top 1000 that did not appear in the prior year.
The list from calendar year 2015 included 47 new names
The update for the year 2014 set the number at 38.
And for 2013, it stood at 45.

And now, on to the names!

AILANNY (#932)

The sound of our moment in girls’ names is -lani, and especially Ailany. The single-N spelling catapulted to #14 this year, after debuting just two years prior. Now Ailanny has joined the Top 1000, too, along with other similar picks like Ailani and Kaylani. It likely comes from a South American take on a name like Aylen, Aylin, or Ayelen, with several possible meanings and a popular sound.

ALARA (#652)

Several theories compete for Alara’s meaning and origin: it could be Turkish, borrowed from the name of a medieval fortress and nearby river. It might be a feminine form of Alaric, another old school choice. Other theories compete, but perhaps the simplest explanation applies: Alara is an obvious cousin to fast-rising Elara – which also appears on this list.

ANAYAH (#913)

Likely either an Arabic name meaning care or a Hebrew name meaning God has answered, Anayah is similar to rising choices Anaya and Anaiah, too.

ARDEN (#975)

Tailored Arden traces its roots to England’s storied Forest of Arden. It’s teetered on the edge of the US Top 1000 for our daughters and sons in recent years, but as of 2025, ranks only for girls.

ASHLYNN (#980)

A Nature-Plus name in the key of Wrenley, Ashlynn with two Ns joins Ashlyn with a single N in the US Top 1000.

BENNETT (#912)

Bennett is a Top 100 favorite for our sons, a surname take on the oh-so traditional Benjamin. What explains Bennett’s rise for girls? Bennet – with a single T – has long been associated with Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice, most recently reinvented as The Other Bennet Sister. But that was in early 2026. The rise of Bennett as a girls’ name is probably down to retired NFL star Jason Kelce and his podcaster wife Kylie who welcomed daughter Bennett in 2023. Her older sisters are Wyatt and Elliotte; the youngest Kelce daughter is Finnley.

BEXLEY (#963)

It’s an English place name turned surname, but also feels like a refresh for former favorite Rebecca and the traditional, but somewhat dated, Becky.

BRYLEE (#992)

Probably most often an invention based on names like Brianna and Rylee, but also a re-spelling of an English surname, cousin to Brawley and Bradley.

COLBIE (#881)

Colbie – this spelling, for a girl – has been rising in use ever since singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat’s 2007/2008 debut. It’s only recently tipped into the Top 1000 after years of gains.

CORDELIA (#981)

Vintage Cordelia has hovered on the edge of the US Top 1000 for years, but this was the year it finally tipped back onto the list.

CORINNE (#999)

Like Cordelia, another Cora name. In this case, Corinne ranked in the US Top 1000 every year from 1880 through 2020, and hasn’t really changed in use this year, either – it’s just a few more births puts Corinne back in the Top 1000. Though given the name’s similarity to rising French favorites like Colette and Celeste, perhaps Corinne will continue to gain in use.

DARLA (#941)

Along with Darlene, Darla comes from our term of endearment darling, from the same roots as dear. In the 1930s, child actress Darla Hood played Darla, the main female member of the Little Rascals in the Our Gang shorts. That grounds this name in a particular moment, though Darla actually peaked in the early 1960s. There’s something about Darla that’s so far out it’s in, and the numbers suggest this really is a revival, not a blip.

ELARA (#942)

The name of a minor figure in Greek myth, for whom one of Jupiter’s moons is named. Or possibly a take on popular Elora, fellow debut Alara, or traditional choice Lara.

ELIORA (#914)

Eliana’s rise into the US Top Ten might’ve paved the way for Eliora. It’s also a gorgeous Hebrew name with an appealing meaning: my God is my light.

EVELINA (#778)

Another Ev- name, in the key of Evelyn. It’s used in many European languages.

JASLYN (#996)

A Jasmine-lyn mashup, this name has charted in the US Top 1000 previously. It was the name of a character in a 2022 episode of American Horror Story, possibly pushing the name back into the Top 1000.

KHADIJA (#982)

An Arabic name, Khadija was the first wife of Muhammed, and his very first convert to Islam. Given the name’s significance, it’s almost shocking that it hasn’t appeared in the Top 1000 previously.

KINSLEE (#956)

An alternate spelling of Top 100 Kinsley.

KIYOMI (#765)

A Japanese given name from elements meaning pure and beautiful, Kiyomi has a long history of use. Anime series Death Note gives us the character Kiyomi Takada, but that was earlier in the 2000s. Voice actress Kiyomi Asai is another high-profile bearer of the name.

KLARITY (#791)

Clarity with a K is a modern virtue name with a tiny twist. Detroit rapper Kash Doll welcomed a daughter named Klarity in 2024. She and boyfriend Tracy T are also the parents of son Kashton. The toddler gets credit for her name’s success; she’s a frequent presence on her mom’s social media stories.

KOLLYNS (#905)

Collins has been established as a girl’s name ever since The Blind Side became a hit movie in 2009. This respelling surfaces that same year, but has gained traction since.

KYOMI (#548)

A slightly-streamlined version of Kiyomi, and this year’s highest debut.

LAKEN (#990)

The name of a soap opera character from the 1980s, Laken briefly ranked in the US Top 1000 during the 1990s. It disappeared for years, but is back now, riding a wave of Nature Plus names, like Lakelynn.

LANDRY (#935)

Could Landry be the new Remy? This surname-style choice is also French. It comes from Landric or Landeric – Landericus in Latin. There are at least three saints by the name, all from the early Middle Ages, including Saint Landry of Paris.

LAYAN (#831)

Layan means delicate in Arabic. Netflix’s AlRawabi School for Girls includes a teenage Layan, played by Noor Taher. The Jordanian original series’ second season debuted in 2024.

LEYLANI (#971)

Another Hawaiian-ish name, probably a respelling of Leilani, meaning heavenly flowers or possibly royal child. While this spelling is new, Leilani has been in quiet use for years. Bing Crosby even recorded “Sweet Leilani” in 1937 for the movie Waikiki Wedding.

LIORA (#900)

The very similar Eliora also appears on this list. Liora means “my light” in Hebrew.

girl with dark hair wearing sparkly silver dress surrounded by confetti; new girl names 2026

MADISSON (#319)

Madison made a splash in the 1980s, a sort of punchline name for a Tom Hanks/Darryl Hannah rom-com. The Madeline-Allison combination marched up the popularity charts to define a generation of women. This particular spelling arrives all these years later possibly because of MTV reality series Siesta Key cast member Madisson Hausburg.

MARIEL (#893)

This pretty elaboration of Marie has ranked in the Top 1000 before, but it’s never really caught on. In our Ariella/Ariel moment, could Mariel finally rise?

MAIZIE (#901)

One more spelling of Maisie/Maisy, a Margaret nickname with spirit.

MARCELLA (#948)

Marcello is rising for boys, too, romance language names that sound just right in 2026.

MERRITT (#703)

Strictly speaking, this surname comes from an English word meaning “boundary gate.” But parents are likely choosing it as a modern virtue name, inspired by the word merit, meaning excellence or worth.

NAYLANI (#897)

Another Laylani-inspired choice.

ODETTE (#883)

A feminine form of Otto by way of France, Odette is famous as the character name from Swan Lake. A dozen years ago, Odette topped every list of hipster baby names – but never really caught on. Today it’s rising as part of a mini-trend for French names for girls, especially those ending with -ette, like Colette and Juliette.

ROMI (#818)

A favorite in Israel, Romi means “my exaltation.” American parents might see it as a logical Romy/Remi evolution. Romy is a short form of names like Rosemary, made famous by midcentury European screen icon Romy Schneider.

ROSELYN (#979)

A traditional Rose name, with a hint of modern Lakelynn and Oaklyn’s style.

RYNLEE (#755)

Rylee meets Brynlee and Wrenlee.

SARIAH (#951)

A name from the Book of Mormon, likely a twist on older Hebrew names like Sarai and Seraiah, but also similar to the Persian Soraya and Maria-cousin Mariah.

SIMONE (#998)

Tailored, feminine, and French. Bridgerton actress Simone Ashley might get some credit for boosting her name, but the wildly accomplished athlete Simone Biles is probably the biggest factor.

SUNDAY (#947)

Reality television alum Madisson Hausburg’s name makes this list; so does her daughter’s name, Sunday. It’s been in the spotlight ever since Nicole Kidman gave the name to her daughter in 2008. And now that Sunday Kidman Urban is a teenager, she’s in the spotlight more, too, recently attending the Met Gala with her famous mom.

TARA (#847)

An Irish name, but also one with roots in Sanskrit. It means “star” in the latter, putting Tara in the company of Stella and Luna.

WINIFRED (#923)

A few of the new girls names 2026 are really old girl names – just like the Germanic Winifred. First famous thanks to an early medieval saint, Winifred peaked in the 1910s, hovered near extinction by the late 20th century, and has slowly been revived. Nickname Winnie reached the US Top 500 this year, so no surprise that Winifred isn’t far behind.

YUNA (#952)

The name of a character in video game Final Fantasy X, Yuna rose in use after the game’s release in the early 2000s. But that doesn’t explain the name’s new peak popularity today. That could be down to other figures, like K-Pop’s Yuna, or Shane Hollander’s manager/mom in the Game Changers books that inspired television series Heated Rivalry.