- Parents
Choosing from thousands of girl names is easier with a shortlist. Start with the latest Social Security Administration list, then browse classic, biblical, vintage, short and nature names. Each table gives an origin or meaning where it is well documented, and the how-to section helps you test your favorites.
Olivia, Charlotte and Emma top the Social Security Administration list for 2025, the latest year available. Olivia has held first place for seven straight years.
Already have a shortlist? These guides go deeper.
Name trend
Name meaning
Companion guide
Family reading
These are the top 10 popular girl names for 2025, in the order the Social Security Administration published them on May 8, 2026. The rank comes from SSA, and 2025 is the latest year available. Sophia and Sofia appear as separate entries. Origins and meanings in every table on this page come from Behind the Name.
| SSA rank, 2025 | Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olivia | Used by Shakespeare in Twelfth Night. May come from Oliva, Oliver or Latin oliva, “olive” |
| 2 | Charlotte | French feminine diminutive of Charles |
| 3 | Emma | Germanic, from an element meaning “whole” or “great” |
| 4 | Amelia | Variant of Amalia |
| 5 | Sophia | Greek, “wisdom” |
| 6 | Mia | Diminutive of Maria |
| 7 | Isabella | Latinate form of Isabel |
| 8 | Evelyn | English surname derived from the given name Aveline |
| 9 | Sofia | Another spelling of Sophia |
| 10 | Eliana | Hebrew, “my God has answered.” Also an Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Éliane |
SSA also publishes a running list for 2020 to 2025. Other names in its top 20 include Ava, Harper, Luna, Camila, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Gianna, Scarlett, Violet, Ella and Emily. SSA calls that list a rough indication of the final decade ranking, because it covers six of the ten years.
These classic girl names come from SSA’s list of top names over the last 100 years, covering 1926 to 2025. These are long-established names, so most people already know how to spell them.
| SSA rank, 1926 to 2025 | Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mary | English form of Maria, from Hebrew Miryam. The meaning is not known for certain |
| 2 | Patricia | Feminine form of the Latin name Patricius |
| 3 | Jennifer | Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar |
| 5 | Elizabeth | From Hebrew, “my God is an oath” |
| 6 | Barbara | From Latin barbarus and Greek barbaros, “foreign” |
| 7 | Susan | English variant of Susanna |
| 10 | Sarah | Hebrew, “lady, princess, noblewoman” |
| 19 | Margaret | From Greek margarites, “pearl” |
Biblical girl names cover everything from familiar choices to quieter ones. Most of these come from Hebrew. Some meanings are uncertain, and the table says so where our source does. If faith is part of your decision, ask your family or clergy how the name is used in your tradition.
| Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|
| Hannah | Hebrew, “favor, grace” |
| Abigail | Hebrew, “my father is joy” |
| Naomi | Hebrew, “my pleasantness” |
| Rachel | Hebrew, “ewe” |
| Leah | Probably from Hebrew for “weary, grieved” |
| Ruth | Probably from a Hebrew word for “female friend” |
| Esther | Possibly “star” in Persian |
| Miriam | Old Testament form of Mary, the name of the sister of Moses |
Vintage girl names and old fashioned girl names have long histories in English. Both are style labels, not official categories. SSA itself has described Eloise as a classic with staying power. If one of these feels too formal, look for a nickname you like.
| Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|
| Alice | From Old French Aalis, a short form of Germanic Adalheidis |
| Clara | Feminine form of Latin Clarus, “clear, bright, famous” |
| Dorothy | Usual English form of Dorothea, “gift of god” |
| Edith | Old English elements for “wealth, fortune” and “battle” |
| Agnes | From Greek, “chaste” |
| Mabel | Medieval form of Amabilis |
| Martha | Aramaic, “the lady, the mistress” |
| Florence | From Latin, “prosperous, flourishing” |
| Beatrice | Italian form of Beatrix |
| Eloise | Éloïse is the French form |
Short girl names are easy to say, easy to spell and can balance a long last name. All of these are one syllable. Some started as short forms of longer names, so you could use the long version on paper and the short one at home.
| Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|
| Grace | From the English word, from Latin gratia. Puritans used it as a virtue name |
| Joy | From the English word |
| June | From the month, named after the Roman goddess Juno |
| Jade | From the carving stone |
| Kate | Short form of Katherine |
| Claire | French form of Clara |
| Anne | French form of Anna |
| Rose | From a Norman French form of a Germanic name, later linked to the flower |
Nature names for girls are often flowers, trees and sky words. Several are already common. Luna, Violet, Aurora, Hazel, Lily, Willow and Ivy all sit in the SSA top 50 for 2020 to 2025.
| Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|
| Willow | From the name of the willow tree |
| Ivy | From the English word for the climbing plant |
| Lily | From the name of the flower, from Latin lilium |
| Daisy | From the name of the flower, from Old English for “day’s eye” |
| Iris | From Greek, “rainbow.” It can also mean the flower |
| Juniper | From the English word for the tree |
| Hazel | From the English word for the tree or the light brown color |
| Violet | From the name of the purple flower, from Latin viola |
| Luna | Latin, “the moon” |
| Aurora | Latin, “dawn,” also the Roman goddess of the morning |
| If you want | Start with | Names to try |
|---|---|---|
| A name people know right now | Popular girl names | Olivia, Sophia, Mia |
| A name that has lasted for generations | Classic girl names | Elizabeth, Sarah, Margaret |
| A name tied to faith | Biblical girl names | Hannah, Naomi, Ruth |
| A name with an older feel | Vintage girl names | Alice, Clara, Dorothy |
| A short name for a long last name | Short girl names | Grace, June, Kate |
| A link to the outdoors | Nature names for girls | Willow, Hazel, Luna |
Check the meaning yourself: Name meanings are often debated, and some names have more than one origin. Mary and Olivia are two examples on this page. Look up the name in a reliable reference before you order anything engraved.
Baby girl names are easier to compare when you agree on what matters first. Some families want to honor a relative. Others care most about meaning, sound or faith. Pick your top two priorities, then run each favorite through these checks.
Still deciding? See our boy names guide if you want options for both, or browse more family advice in our Parents section.
Olivia. It ranked first on the Social Security Administration list for 2025, for the seventh straight year. Charlotte and Emma came second and third.
The Social Security Administration publishes it, using data from Social Security card applications. The latest list covers 2025 and was released on May 8, 2026.
It depends on what your family values. Start with the top 10 for familiar names, classic names for lasting ones, or short names for something simple. Then test your favorites with the checks above.
There is no official definition. People usually mean a name with a long history that feels tied to an earlier era, such as Alice, Edith or Dorothy.
Yes. Abigail, Naomi, Hannah and Leah all rank in the Social Security Administration top 50 for 2020 to 2025.
Written by Olivia Mercer. Edited by Abdullah Muneef. Sources: Social Security Administration. Corrections: info@elitsmedia.com.
