New Girl Names: Aleia to Zyla and 42 More

Let’s hear it for the new girl names 2025!

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 44 new or returning names. That number is pretty typical. Here’s how it stacks up:

• Last year’s 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!

AKIRA #955

A Japanese name typically use for boys, but potentiall unisex, Akira has dipped into the US Top 1000 for girls a few times before. One possible reason for the name’s recent rise? Japanese anime series Kirakira PreCure a la Mode character Akira Kenjou. (Among other things, she wields a sword made of chocolate.)

ALEIA #965

Yet another spell of can’t-stop-won’t-stop Aaliyah, with a subtle Star Wars vibe, too.

ANAIAH #914

Sometimes this is an Old Testament masculine name, a brother for Elijah and Isaiah, but far more obscure. Except Aaliyah cousin Aniyah has trended in the 21st century, an updated Anna name with pan-global energy. Anaiah is probably an updated spelling of the latter.

ANALEIA #915

Fresh new update to old school picks like Leanne.

ARISBETH #987

Probably a creative take on Elizabeth, influenced by so many Ari- names, especially popular with Spanish-speaking parents.

AYLANI #560

A sky-high debut among new girl names 2025, Aylani is one more take on all those -lani names we love.

CAMPBELL #951

Campbell returned to both the new girls names 2025 and new boys’ list, too. It’s a logical successor to Cameron.

CATTLEYA #905

A fresh, bold flower name, inspired by the Cattleya orchid. (The bloom is named for British horticulturist William Cattley.) Spellings including Kataleya and Cataleya already appear in the US Top 1000. Cataleya has been trending ever since actress Zoe Saldaña played a character by the name in 2011 movie Colombiana. The character is named for her mother’s orchid necklace.

CELINA #969

Fresh take on Selena.

DAFNE #876

Daphne won’t stop rising, a name boosted by television from Bridgerton to The White Lotus, a name associated with Greek myth and the laurel tree. Spanish-spelling Dafne follows logically.

DARCY #983

An English surname name forever tied to Jane Austen’s enduring Pride and Prejudice, this name enjoyed some popularity for girls in the US from the 1950s into the 90s. But today it’s back, and it feels like a promising choice in our age of Avery and Harper and Emery.

ELANI #990

One more -lani name, though this one feels more connected to Eleanor and company.

ELOWEN #898

Americans prefer the spelling Elowyn, but this Cornish name meaning “elm tree” is traditionally spelled with a -wen ending. (This is also true for Gwendolen and Bronwen, to name just two.)

ELSA #938

This sleek Elizabeth short form was on the rise when Frozen became a juggernaut. It briefly spiked in use and then parents just … let it go. Elsa left the US Top 1000 entirely in 2023, only to return just a year later. This time, it’s a different pop culture powerhouse that gets credit: Yellowstone spin-off 1883. Elsa Dutton serves as the narrator.

EMI #994

It might be Japanese, a name element with different meaning depending on the kanji chosen to write it. It could be the most logical short form of popular choices like Emilia. Or it might be a fresh mini name, an Em- pick in the spirit of Ivy and Mia.

GUINEVERE #947

Lush name from medieval legend, King Arthur’s Guinevere of Camelot is a familiar figure – but relatively rare as a given name.

HONEY #935

Nature-inspired word name rising quickly in the UK, and now trending in the US, too. It’s a little bit of a generic term of endearment, akin to Darling or Dear. But there’s Miss Honey from Matilda, Honey Ryder from early James Bond movie Dr. No, and English actress Honey Weeks – full name Honeysuckle. In our moment with so many nature names in use, Honey feels surprising mainstream.

ICELYNN #922

Also spelled Icelyn, this name has multiple possible origins and meanings, but here’s an intriguing one: it’s common in families of Jamaican descent. The name’s current popularity, however, probably has more to do with our love of Nature-Plus names like Wrenlee and Lakelyn.

JIANNA #995

Phonetic take on Italian feminine form of John, Gianna.

JULIETTA #974

One more entry in the Juliet, Juliette, Julieta category.

KAILANY #896

Alternate spelling for Hawaiian favorite Kailani, meaning “sea” and “sky” or “heaven.”

KAYA #966

Several Scandinavian languages use Kaia or Kaya as a pet form of Katherine, but Kaya also feels like a modern invention based on Maya and similar choices. There’s an American Girl doll by the name – short for Kaya’aton’my. Model Kaia Gerber is the daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford.

KEZIAH #865

A Hebrew name from the Old Testament, Keziah means cinnamon. This name debuts on the new girl names 2025 list, but old school nickname Kizzy was briefly popular during the late 1970s. That’s down to a character from novel-turned-miniseries Roots.

KIERA #981

One more spelling of global favorite Kyra, Chiara, choose-your-spelling. The rise of Kiera might owe something to the growing popularity of Kieran for boys.

LAVENDER #998

Floral name following Violet into wider use.

LETTIE #936

Last year, it was vintage nickname Lottie on the list. So the new girls names 2025 is the logical moment for Lettie to follow.

LYANNA #957

A Leanna spelling popularized by Game of Thrones, but also fitting in our Lyla/Lylah/Lyra moment.

MAELYNN #996

Another Nature Plus name in the key of Wrenlee and Lakelyn.

MALKA #986

Hebrew name meaning queen, currently trending in Israel.

MARIELLA #992

Marie elaboration, boosted by a long-time love of Ariel names.

MARJORIE #822

Antique favorite from the 1920s, back again on schedule.

MICAH #841

A Top 100 name for boys, now also trending for girls. Worth noting: this name has been unisex since the Old Testament.

REBEKAH #877

Speaking of the Old Testament, this spelling of traditional favorite Rebecca leans a little more old school.

ROMY #926

Originally short for Rosemarie and Rosemary, Romy is strongly associated with screen legend Romy Schneider. The French film industry awards Le Prix Romy Schneider to a promising new actress annually.

ROSALEE #959

Another spelling of vintage favorite Rosalie, possibly influenced by our love of names like Wrenlee.

ROSALYN #888

Another Rose- elaboration. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter spelled her name two Ns.

ROWYN #782

Creative spelling for unisex nature name favorite Rowan.

SALOME #952

We tend to associate Salome with a Biblical villain – the woman who demanded the head of John the Baptist. But a second Salome was present at the Resurrection. She’s likely the reason this name ranked in the US Top 1000 during the 19th century. Or possibly it’s the lovely, flowing sound: sal oh MAY. Worth noting: even other English speakers may pronounce this name more like SAH loo mee.

SIYA #930

A sleek mini name, Siya currently outpaces Sia on the popularity charts in the US. It may have Sanskrit roots, though other origins are possible.

SORAYA #913

Soraya previously ranked in the US Top 1000 in 2021. It’s the Persian version of an Arabic name which refers to the Pleiades – a constellation also known as the Seven Sisters.

TILLY #953

With Millie in the Top 100, Tilly is trending, too.

WRENLEIGH #843

One more spelling of popular choice Wrenley.

YUSRA #954

Arabic name associated with ease, as in an easy life defined by wealth and prosperity.

ZYLA #901

Phonetic spelling of Xyla, a name associated with a Greek word used to refer to a cross in the New Testament. Or possibly a Zoe-Kyla mash-up. But given the recent rise of Xyla, it’s probably (usually) the former.

Do you have any favorite new girl names 2025?