Choosing a name for your daughter is one of the most exciting — and most debated — decisions you'll make as a parent. To help you build a shortlist, we've grouped baby girl names by style, with the meaning and origin of each. Many of these names have featured near the top of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) lists for England and Wales in recent years, while others are rarer finds.
Popular baby girl names
These names regularly appear among the most popular choices for girls in England and Wales.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Olivia | Olive tree; peace | Latin |
| Amelia | Work, effort | Germanic |
| Isla | Island | Scottish |
| Lily | The lily flower; purity | English |
| Ava | Life; bird | Latin / Germanic |
| Freya | Lady | Norse |
| Ivy | The ivy plant; faithfulness | English |
| Florence | Flourishing | Latin |
| Isabella | Pledged to God | Hebrew / Spanish |
| Sophia | Wisdom | Greek |
| Grace | Grace, kindness | Latin |
| Willow | The willow tree | English |
Classic and vintage girls' names
Old-fashioned names are firmly back in fashion, especially those that remind people of grandmothers and great-grandmothers.
- Elizabeth — "pledged to God"; endlessly versatile, with nicknames from Libby to Eliza.
- Margaret — "pearl"; vintage charm, often shortened to Maggie or Daisy.
- Edith — "prosperous in war"; short, strong and stylish again.
- Alice — "noble"; a literary favourite thanks to Lewis Carroll.
- Matilda — "mighty in battle"; much-loved since Roald Dahl.
- Rose — the flower; works beautifully as a first or middle name.
- Harriet — "ruler of the home"; with the cheerful nickname Hattie.
- Mabel — "lovable"; a vintage name enjoying a revival.
Nature and flower names
Nature names feel fresh, gentle and very British-countryside.
- Daisy — the flower; also a traditional nickname for Margaret.
- Poppy — the red flower of remembrance.
- Hazel — the hazel tree; associated with wisdom.
- Iris — rainbow; the Greek messenger goddess.
- Primrose — "first rose"; the first flowers of spring.
- Marigold — the golden flower.
- Wren — the small, much-loved British bird.
- Juniper — the evergreen shrub.
Short and sweet girls' names
- Ada — "noble"; famously Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer.
- Eve — "life".
- Mia — "mine"; or a short form of Maria.
- Zoe — "life" in Greek.
- Nell — a traditional short form of Eleanor or Helen.
- Bea — short for Beatrice, "she who brings happiness".
Unusual baby girl names
Want something less common? These names are recognisable but rarely shared with three classmates.
- Clementine — "merciful".
- Ottilie — "prosperous in battle".
- Seren — "star" in Welsh.
- Ailsa — after the Scottish island Ailsa Craig.
- Delphine — "dolphin"; elegant and French.
- Marnie — "of the sea".
- Esme — "esteemed".
Tips for choosing a girl's name
- Say it out loud with your surname. Check how the first, middle and last names flow together.
- Check the initials. Make sure they don't spell anything unfortunate.
- Think about nicknames. Children will shorten most names, so make sure you like the likely nickname.
- Consider spelling. Unusual spellings can mean a lifetime of correcting people.
- Register in time. In England and Wales you must register a birth within 42 days (21 days in Scotland).
Looking for boys' names too? See our list of baby boy names, or browse more ideas in our baby names section.
