In search of a perfect modern name for a baby girl?
Whether you want something short and sweet or a name that’s long and fancy there are so many trendy options to choose from.
There are over 150 baby names to choose from here including names that have emerged in recent years and names that tap into modern trends.
Before we get to the list, you may also want to check out my space baby names which feature some cool modern ideas.
Popular modern girl names
These are the most popular modern girl names, including names that are in the top 50 for the UK and US.
Names such as Amelia and Olivia have been popular for several years and show no signs of dropping out of the charts just yet.
These ideas are popular for a reason, offering a great mixture of delicate, feminine and short names for girls.
Amelia – Meaning industriousness or work.
Ava – A name of Latin origin meaning life, bird or water.
Avery – English and French name meaning ruler of elves.
Chloe – Meaning blooming or fertility.
Ella – Spanish name meaning she or her.
Elle – Spanish name meaning she.
Emma – English name meaning whole or universal.
Evie – Meaning life.
Freya – Meaning a noble woman.
Harper – Meaning someone who plays the harp.
Hazel – English name meaning hazel tree.
Imogen – Meaning maiden.
Isabella – Meaning god is my oath.
Isla – A Scottish name meaning island.
Jessica – Meaning god beholds.
Lily – Meaning purity and innocence.
Luna – From the Latin meaning moon.
Mia – Meaning ocean goddess or queen.
Olivia – Meaning olive tree.
Penelope – Greek name meaning weaver.
Poppy – A playful and fun choice after the red flower.
Sophia – Greek name meaning wisdom.
Sophie – Meaning wisdom.
Short modern girl names
A short name is really easy to pair up with middle names and there are so many great ones to choose from.
All of these short names are four letters or less in length.
Aria – Meaning air or lioness.
Ayla – Meaning oak tree.
Belle – Meaning beautiful.
Brie – Meaning marshland.
Bryn – Meaning hill.
Coco – A pet name popular in France.
Cora – Meaning maiden.
Cove – Meaning sheltered bay.
Dana – Meaning gift.
Dara – Meaning oak tree.
Demi – Meaning half.
Eden – Meaning place of delight.
Ella – Meaning fairy maiden.
Esme – Meaning beloved one.
Eve – Meaning life.
Faye – Meaning fairy.
Hart – Meaning brave.
Ivy – Meaning like the plant.
Jade – After the green stone.
June – After the sixth month of the year.
Kara – A Cornish name meaning love.
Lane – Meaning pathway.
Lani – This pretty name means sky in Hawaiian.
Leah – Meaning weary.
Lexi – Meaning defender.
Lila/Lyla – Meaning night.
Lily – After the exotic flower.
Liv – Meaning life.
Lucy – A name of Latin origin meaning light.
Lumi – Meaning snow.
Lyla – Meaning night.
Mai – This name means brightness in Japanese and blossom in Vietnamese.
Mara – Meaning a river.
Maya – Meaning water.
Mila – Meaning beloved.
Mira – Meaning peace.
Navy – Meaning fleet of ships.
Noe – Meaning peaceful.
Nova – A pretty modern name meaning new.
Page – Meaning helper.
Peri – Meaning mountain dweller.
Rai – Meaning thunder and lightning.
Rain – A pretty nature baby name meaning abundant blessings from above.
Remi – Meaning oarsman.
Rose – A pretty floral baby name.
Ruby – After the red gemstone.
Sia – Meaning victory.
Sky – A hippie baby name meaning limitless.
Sora – Meaning sky.
Teva – Meaning twin.
Zoey – Meaning life.
Zuri – Meaning good or kind.
Long modern girl names
A longer baby girl name tends to sound more elegant and fancy, while shorter baby names are cute and trendy.
Most of these can be shortened easily in a a number of ways. For example Adalynn can become Ada and Melody can become Mel.
Adalynn – A variant of the name Adeline. Meaning noble.
Addison – Meaning child of Adam.
Aimee – Meaning beloved.
Alexis – Meaning defender.
Bellamy – Meaning good friend.
Bridget – Meaning strength.
Caroline – A French name meaning strong.
Collins – Traditionally a surname that has grown in use as a first name. Means people of victory.
Eliana – Meaning god has answered.
Everleigh/ Everly – An English name meaning from the boar meadow.
Hadley – Meaning heather field.
Imani – A pretty name meaning faith.
Madelyn – Meaning high tower.
Melody – Meaning song.
Naomi – Meaning beautiful and gentle.
Natalia – Meaning birthday.
Oceana – Greek naming meaning from the sea.
Paisley – Meaning church or cemetery.
Remington – A surname turned first name meaning place on a riverbank.
Romilly – A name of Latin origin meaning strength.
Serenity – An English name meaning peaceful.
Savannah – Meaning treeless plain.
Scarlett – An English name meaning deep red.
Valentina – Meaning strong or healthy.
Pretty modern girl names
These delicate and feminine modern girl names are perfect if you want something cute and pretty to call your baby girl!
Elowen – Meaning elm.
Ellie – Meaning bright shining one.
Ember – Meaning glow.
Emery – Meaning industrious.
Hallie – A British name meaning dweller at the meadow.
Indie – A short form of Indigo or India, inspired by Indiana Jones.
Jolie – A cute name meaning pretty.
Jules – Meaning youthful.
Kylie – A boomerang.
Lacey – Meaning braid.
Macie – Meaning weapon.
Maeve – Meaning she who rules.
Malia – Meaning bitter.
Mazie – Meaning child of light.
Millie – Meaning industrious.
Olive – After the olive tree.
Phoebe – Greek name meaning radiant.
Piper – Meaning flute player.
Quinn – Meaning counsel.
Royal – A fancy name meaning royal.
Rylee – Meaning valiant.
Sadie – Meaning princess.
Shiloh – Meaning tranquil.
Stella – Celestial star.
Teagan – Meaning little poet.
Willa – Meaning resolute protection.
Unisex modern names
Gender neutral names that work for both boys and girls have surged in popularity in recent years. It gives parents a practical option that would work whatever gender their baby is plus the names themselves offer a chance to be trendy and a little different.
Some of these names have emerged from things like names of places and nature terms – such as names of herbs and trees. Others used to be surnames but have become fashionable as first names.
Nicknames as first names – such as Billie and Charlie – also fit into this trend too.
Ainsley – Meaning one’s own meadow.
Alex – A shortened version of the first name Alexandra. Means helper.
Arden – Meaning great forest.
Ashton – Meaning from the ash tree.
Aspen – This is a place name (after the ski resort in Colorado) and the name of a tree.
Aster – Meaning daisy.
August – A perfect summer baby name.
Bay – Meaning berry.
Billie – Meaning determination and strength.
Blake – Meaning fair or light.
Blair – Meaning dweller on the path.
Blue – After the colour. This works great as a middle name or first name.
Briar – Meaning thorny bush of roses.
Brooklyn – Can mean the neighbourhood in New York or beautiful brook.
Camden – Meaning winding valley.
Chance – Good fortune.
Charlie – A shortened version of the first name Charlotte. Meaning free man.
Delta – Meaning born fourth.
Devin – Meaning bard or poet.
Ellis – Meaning kind or benevolent.
Ember – Meaning spark.
Emery – Meaning industrious.
Harlow – Meaning army hill.
Havana – Meaning heaven.
Indigo – Meaning blue.
Lennox – Meaning among elm trees.
Phoenix – After the mythical bird.
Reese – Meaning fiery.
Remington – Meaning raven.
Rowan – A Scottish name meaning little redhead.
River – Meaning tranquil water.
Ryder – Meaning horsewoman.
Scout – An old French name meaning to listen.
Sloan – Meaning warrior.
Taylor – Meaning seamstress.
Winter – After the season.
Wren – Meaning bird.
Wyatt – Meaning brave at war.
Unusual modern names
These modern girl names are less commonly used and include some bold choices if you would like a baby name that stands out.
Acadia – A French naming meaning place of plenty.
Astrid – Meaning divinely beautiful.
Avalon – Celtic name meaning island of apples.
Azalea – Meaning a flower.
Haven – Meaning place of safety.
Hero – Meaning demi-god.
Indiana – Meaning land of the Indians.
Juniper – Meaning young.
London – Meaning fortress or after the capital city.
Sage – After the green herb.
Saoirse – An Irish name meaning freedom which has become popular in recent years due to the actress Saoirse Ronan.
Shiloh – Meaning tranquil.
Temperance – An English name meaning moderation.
Terra – Meaning earth.
Thalia – Greek name meaning to blossom or flourish.
Vesper – Meaning evening star.
Zelda – Meaning fighting maiden or dark battle.
You may also like: Baby name trends for 2022
