If you’re like most parents on their search for a perfect girl name, you may be hoping to incorporate special meaning, honor a family or cultural tradition, or find a name that’s unique on its own.
Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names of 2021
Whatever your approach, this list of the 1,000 most popular baby girl names, as recorded by the Social Security Administration (SSA), will help you consider all your options, enjoy the experience, and narrow down your list to a favorite choice. A more in-depth look at the list offers some idea of where these trends are coming from. Of course, several of these names have been popular for a while now—Olivia, Ava, Sophia, just to name a few—but a quick scroll might yield some additional recognition. Do you spot some beloved fictional characters on here? Lorelai and Rory make the cut (hello, “Gilmore Girls”), along with nearly every “Bridgerton” woman you can think of. It’s worth noting that unisex names, such as Skye or Phoenix, seem to be climbing in popularity. You’ll also find plenty of unique spellings—like Brynleigh or Kaydence—and lots of goddess-inspired names, including Persephone, Artemis, and Diana. Ready to dive into the names? The following list reflects the U.S. birth certificate data from 2021.
Special Considerations
Middle Names
The traditional number of names in the United States is three names—a first name, a middle name, and your family or last name. However, there are many families who have a tradition of two middle names, or no middle name at all. It’s up to you how many names your daughter will have, but it’s certainly something to consider. If a middle name (or names) is important to you, think about how the two, three, or more names will pair together. Do the syllables of the names flow together? What do the initials spell out? Taking the time to run through these questions and consider your options will help ensure you find the perfect name for your little one.
Family Names
Naming a baby for a family member is a tradition a lot of families share, but the execution of sharing names can be very different. In some traditions, it is common to designate the mother’s last name into the child’s official name as a middle name. In others, it might be about continuing the use of a favorite family name. Outside of family, think about the popular (or unpopular) famous or historical figures who will share your baby girl’s name. Are they the individuals you want your daughter to be associated with? For better or worse, the association with a famous person who shares the same name will likely follow your child throughout their lives so take special care to make sure it’s a good one!
Gender-Neutral Names
There are plenty of amazing gender-neutral names out there, so don’t forget to consider them when coming up with your list of top names for your baby girl.
About This List
Every May around Mother’s Day, the Social Security Administration usually releases the most popular baby names from the previous year. The list above refers to the top 1,000 baby girl names from 2021, as determined by birth certificate data. If you need help choosing your baby’s name, or would just like to look through some of the most popular baby names throughout the year—as far back as the 1800s—the Social Security Administration’s website is a great baby-naming resource.
More Baby Name Ideas
For more baby girl name inspiration, take a look at the following lists:
