There hasn’t been much movement at the top for the most popular girl names over the last few years.
It’s easy to see why, the most used girl names are beautiful and timeless!
But what if you don’t want to use a name that thousands of other parents are also selecting? If you prefer your child’s name to be unique, or at least stand more of a chance of them being the only child in their class with that name, then you’ll be hunting for alternatives.
I’ve selected lesser-used by similar names to give you alternatives to the most popular girl names in the UK and US.
When we look at the UK and US most used girl names they are extremely similar, with just a couple of exceptions.
- UK most popular girl names – Olivia, Amelia, Isla, Ava, Lily
- US most popular girl names – Olivia, Emma, Charlotte, Amelia, Sophia
I’ve got alternatives for all eight of these beautiful baby girl names! I have focused on getting names that are not as popular – so not in the top 50 most used names, and mostly outside of the top 100, to give you some rarer options.
I hope you find your perfect name here. If you are still looking you may love these trending girl names.
Alternatives to Olivia
Adelia – Noble or nobility.
Ophelia – Help or aid.
Octavia – Eighth; traditionally given to the eighth child.
Cecilia – Blind or dim-sighted; derived from the Latin name Caecilius, which is related to the Roman family name Caecilius.
Cassia – Cinnamon; also refers to the cassia tree or bark.
Livinia – Purity or clean; variant of Lavinia.
Evelina – Life or little bird; derived from the Latin word avis meaning bird.
Lilia – Meaning lily; symbol of purity and beauty.
Rosalia – Rose or rose garden; related to the Latin word rosa.
Ottilia – Prosperous in battle or wealthy.
Valencia – Strength or valour; also a place name referring to the Spanish city.
Alternatives to Emma
Alma – Soul or nurturing; from the Latin word almus, meaning kind or nourishing.
Ever – Always or eternal; used as a modern name often implying lasting or enduring qualities.
Della – Noble or noble kind; derived from the Old High German word adal meaning noble.
Emme – Universal or whole; often a diminutive form of Emma, which means universal or whole.
Etta – Little one or ruler of the home; often a diminutive form of names like Henrietta or Letitia.
Elsa – Noble or pledged to God; derived from the Hebrew name Elizabeth, meaning God is my oath.
Flora – Flower or blossom; from Latin, referring to the Roman goddess of flowers and spring.
Willa – Resolute protector or will helmet; a variation of William, meaning resolute protector.
Esme – Esteemed or loved; from Old French esmé, meaning esteemed or loved.
Ember – Burning coal or spark; refers to a small, glowing piece of coal or wood in a fire.
Emery – Brave or powerful; derived from the Old French name Emery, meaning brave or powerful.
Emerson – Son of Emery or brave; derived from the Old English surname meaning brave or powerful.
Emilia – Rival or eager; derived from the Latin name Aemilia, meaning rival or eager.
Alternatives to Charlotte
Lottie – Free woman or petite; a diminutive form of Charlotte, which means free woman or petite.
Scarlett – Red or scarlet; refers to the color scarlet, often associated with passion and courage.
Cordelia – Heart or daughter of the sea; derived from Latin cor (heart) and delia (of the sea), popularized by Shakespeare’s King Lear.
Charlize – Free man or strong; a modern name derived from Charles, meaning free man or strong.
Caroline – Free woman or song of happiness; derived from the name Charles, meaning free man or song of happiness.
Ottilie – Prosperous in battle; derived from the Germanic name Otilia, meaning prosperous in battle.
Cosette – Little thing or victorious; derived from the French word coquette (little thing) and associated with the character in Les Misérables.
Colette – People of victory or victorious; derived from the French name Nicolas, meaning victorious people.
Corryn – Heart or maiden; a variant of Corrine, meaning heart or maiden.
Odette – Wealth or fortune; derived from the Old French name Odet, meaning wealth or fortune.
Alternatives to Amelia
Alicia – Noble or exalted; derived from the name Alice, meaning noble or exalted.
Alessia – Defender or helper; an Italian name derived from Alexis, meaning defender or helper.
Emelia – Rival or eager; a variant of Emilia, derived from the Latin Aemilius, meaning rival or eager.
Emmeline – Work or home; derived from the Germanic name Amal, meaning work or home.
Eliza – God is my oath; a diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning God is my oath.
Antonia – Priceless or of inestimable worth; derived from the Roman family name Antonius, meaning priceless.
Cordelia – Heart or daughter of the sea; derived from Latin cor (heart) and delia (of the sea), popularized by Shakespeare’s King Lear.
Evelyn – Wished for child or life; derived from the Old French name Aveline, meaning wished for child or life.
Mirabel – Wonderful or beautiful; derived from Latin mirabilis, meaning wonderful or beautiful.
Ada – Noble or happy; derived from the Germanic name Ada, meaning noble or happy.
Adela – Noble or noble kind; derived from the Germanic name Adela, meaning noble or noble kind.
Amalia – Work or industrious.
Alternatives to Sophia
Cecilia – Blind or sixth; derived from the Latin name Caecilius, meaning blind or sixth (from the Roman family name Caecilius).
Ophelia – Help or aid; derived from Greek ophelos, meaning help or aid, popularised by Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Emelia – Rival or eager; a variant of Emilia, derived from the Latin Aemilius, meaning rival or eager.
Portia – Pig or pork; derived from the Latin name Portia, meaning pig or pork, often associated with the character in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.
Valentina – Strength or health; derived from the Latin name Valentinus, meaning strong or healthy.
Gracia – Grace; derived from the Latin gratia, meaning grace or favour.
Lucia – Light; derived from the Latin name Lucius, meaning light.
Lydia – From Lydia; derived from the name of an ancient region in Asia Minor, meaning from Lydia.
Selena – Moon; derived from the Greek name Selene, meaning moon.
Anastasia – Resurrection; derived from the Greek name Anastasia, meaning resurrection.
Sofia – Wisdom; derived from the Greek name Sophia, meaning wisdom.
Octavia – Eighth; derived from the Latin name Octavius, meaning eighth, traditionally used for the eighth child.
Pia – Pious or devout; derived from the Latin name Pia, meaning pious or devout.
Alternatives to Isla
Aria – Air or melody; derived from Italian, meaning air or song, often associated with a solo performance in opera.
Nora – Honour or light.
Ayla – Moonlight or halo; derived from Turkish, meaning moonlight or halo, and also from Hebrew, meaning oak tree.
Iola – Violet; derived from Greek, meaning violet flower.
Leila – Night or dark beauty; derived from Arabic, meaning night or dark beauty.
Orla – Golden princess; derived from Irish, meaning golden princess or golden lady.
Nyla – Champion or winner; derived from Arabic, meaning champion or winner.
Viola – Violet; derived from Latin, meaning violet flower, also the name of a musical instrument.
Lola – Strong woman or sorrows; a diminutive of Dolores, meaning sorrows, but often interpreted as strong woman.
Willa – Desire or resolute protection; derived from the Germanic name Wilhelm, meaning resolute protector or desire.
Alternatives to Ava
Iona – Island; derived from the Scottish Gaelic name for the island of Iona, meaning island or blessed.
Avalee – Desired or wished-for; a modern variation of the name Ava, with a suffix that gives it a unique sound.
Avaline – Little bird or desired; a variation of the name Aveline, which is derived from the French name Aveline, meaning little bird or desired.
Evelyn – Wished-for child or life; derived from Old French, meaning wished-for child or life, originally a surname from the name Aveline.
Avalon – Island of apples; derived from Arthurian legend, meaning island of apples, and associated with a mythical island paradise.
Vera – True or faith; derived from Latin, meaning true or faith.
Avril – April; derived from French, meaning April, and associated with the springtime month.
Ever – Always or eternal; derived from Old English, meaning always or eternal.
Ana – Grace or favour; a variant of the name Anna, meaning grace or favour in Hebrew.
Ada – Noble or nobility; derived from Germanic roots, meaning noble or nobility.
Vivian – Alive or lively; derived from Latin, meaning alive or lively.
Haven – Safe place or refuge; derived from Old English, meaning safe place or refuge.
Alternatives to Lily
Liliana – Lily; derived from Latin, meaning lily, symbolising purity and beauty.
Liza – Pledged to God; a diminutive of Elizabeth, which means pledged to God in Hebrew.
Lyra – Lyre; derived from the Greek name for the musical instrument lyre, associated with the constellation.
Linnet – Small songbird; derived from Old French, meaning small songbird or finch.
Lilibet – God is my oath; a diminutive of Elizabeth, with Lili and Bet combined, meaning God is my oath.
Rosalie – Rose; derived from Latin, meaning rose, symbolising beauty and love.
Layla – Night or dark beauty; derived from Arabic, meaning night or dark beauty.
Calla – Beautiful; derived from Greek, meaning beautiful, also associated with the calla lily flower.
Lorelai – Alluring or enchanting; derived from the German name Lorelei, meaning alluring or enchanting, originally a rock on the Rhine River.
Lola – Strong woman; derived from Spanish, a diminutive of Dolores, meaning sorrows, but often associated with the meaning strong woman.
Iris – Rainbow; derived from Greek, meaning rainbow, and associated with the Greek goddess Iris, who connected gods to humanity.
Lilac – Lilac; derived from the name of the flower, symbolising love and beauty.
