AHEAD: The ultimate list of L names for girls… and which could go viral in 2025.

If you’re looking for beautiful girl names that start with L, you’re in the right place!

Below, I’ve rounded up every L name that’s even the slightest bit modern and cool.

Below you’ll find over 100 names, their meanings, and current popularities.

You’ll also find a shortlist of L names poised to go viral in 2025.

Related: Boy Names that Start with L

“L” names trending in 2025

These girl names that start with L are climbing the charts right now, each making significant gains since last year.

Lainey 🔥

• Name meaning: Bright or shining light.
• Popularity: #54 (↑120)

Lakelynn or Lakelyn 🔥

• Name meaning: Lake-inspired combination name.
• Popularity: Lakelynn ranks #778 (↑189) and Lakelyn ranks #929 (↑54)

Leia 🔥

• Name meaning: Weary.
• Popularity: #211 (↑45)

Leighton

• Name meaning: Meadow town.
• Popularity: #357 (↑19)

Lenora 🔥

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #763 (↑168)

Lia

• Name meaning: Bringer of good news.
• Popularity: #209 (↑40)

Lyla or Lila or Lilah or Lylah

• Name meaning: Night or dark.
• Popularity: Lyla ranks #98 (↑7), Lila ranks #213 (↑8), Lilah ranks #198 (↑22), and Lylah ranks #605.

Lilia 🔥

• Name meaning: Lily flower.
• Popularity: #957 (↑49)

Lilith 🔥

• Name meaning: Night creature or monster.
• Popularity: #232 (↑37)

Lisa

• Name meaning: God’s promise.
• Popularity: #850 (↑86)

^ I know, this one surprised me too!

Loretta

• Name meaning: Laurel tree.
• Popularity: #764 (↑47)

Lottie 🔥

• Name meaning: Free woman.
• Popularity: #775 (↑175)

Louise

• Name meaning: Famous warrior.
• Popularity: #586 (↑53)

Lucia 🔥

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #109 (↑17)

Luciana

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #329 (↑31)

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Luella

• Name meaning: Famous warrior or famous elf.
• Popularity: #930 (↑68)

Luz

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #843 (↑100)

More on 2025 viral predictions in just a bit.

Popular girl names that start with L

The primary spellings of these girl names starting with L are ranked in the top 500.

Lana

• Name meaning: Light, gracious, or little rock.
• Popularity: #416

Layla or Leila or Laila or Leyla or Laylah

• Name meaning: Night or dark.
• Popularity: Layla ranks #30, Leila is #240, Laila is #312, Leyla is #602, and Laylah is #982.

Leah or Lea

• Name meaning: Weary.
• Popularity: Leah ranks #53 and Lea is #801.

Leilani or Laylani

• Name meaning: Heavenly flower.
• Popularity: Leilani ranks #61 and Laylani ranks #923 (↑23).

Lena

• Name meaning: Ray of light.
• Popularity: #271

Lennon

• Name meaning: Lover, blackbird, cloak.
• Popularity: #243

Liana or Leanna

• Name meaning: To climb like a vine.
• Popularity: Liana ranks #479 and Leanna ranks #985.

Lillian or Lilian

• Name meaning: Lily flower.
• Popularity: Lillian ranks #55 and Lilian is #558.

Liliana or Lilliana or Lilianna or Lilyana

• Name meaning: Carefree.
• Popularity: Liliana ranks #88, Lilliana ranks #376, Lilianna ranks #875, and Lilyana ranks #899.

Lily or Lilly or Lillie

• Name meaning: Flower.
• Popularity: Lily ranks #20, Lilly ranks #257, and Lillie ranks #700.

Logan

• Name meaning: Little hollow.
• Popularity: This gender-neutral name ranks #356 for girls and #39 for boys.

Lola

• Name meaning: Sorrows.
• Popularity: #263

Londyn or London

• Name meaning: From the great river.
• Popularity: Londyn ranks #276 and London ranks #313.

Lorelei or Lorelai

• Name meaning: Temptress.
• Popularity: Lorelei ranks #485 and Lorelai ranks #472 (↑6)

Lucille

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #285

Lucy or Lucie

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: Lucy ranks #40 and Lucie isn’t ranking.

Related: Middle Names for Lucy

Luna

• Name meaning: Moon.
• Popularity: #10

Related: Names Similar to Luna

Lydia

• Name meaning: Beautiful one.
• Popularity: #97

Lyra

• Name meaning: Lyre harp.
• Popularity: #481

Short and unique “L” names for girls

These L names are short, sweet, and a little different!

Lake or Layke

• Name meaning: Body of water.
• Popularity: Neither spelling of this water name ranking.

Lane or Layne

• Name meaning: Pathway.
• Popularity: For girls, Layne ranks #968. (For boys, Lane ranks #254 and Layne ranks #649).

Lani

• Name meaning: Heaven.
• Popularity: This 4-letter name isn’t ranking.

Lara

• Name meaning: Fortress.
• Popularity: #732

Lark

• Name meaning: A small songbird.
• Popularity: This bird-inspired name isn’t ranking.

Leigh

• Name meaning: Delicate.
• Popularity: This one-syllable name isn’t ranking.

Leva

• Name meaning: Moon or white.
• Popularity: This Hebrew name isn’t ranking.

Lina

• Name meaning: Sunlight.
• Popularity: #583

Liv

• Name meaning: Life.
• Popularity: #702

Lynx

• Name meaning: A wild cat and a constellation.
• Popularity: This space name is not ranking.  Cool middle name!

If you like these short unique girl names that start with L you’ll like these 3-letter names.

Vintage girl names that start with L

These classic L names for girls have a timeless, elegant quality that never goes out of style.

Lacey

• Name meaning: Lace-like, delicate.
• Popularity: #759

Leona

• Name meaning: Lion.
• Popularity: #518

Leonore or Leonora

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: Neither of these girl names that start with L is ranking.

Louella

• Name meaning: Famous warrior maiden.
• Popularity: #930

Louisa or Luisa

• Name meaning: Famous warrior.
• Popularity: Louisa ranks #809 and Luisa ranks #949.

Rare and unique girl names that start with L

These L names for girls are a little more unusual.

Larkin

• Name meaning: Rough or fierce.
• Popularity: This badass name isn’t ranking.

Lavender

• Name meaning: A lovely purple.
• Popularity: This L name isn’t ranking.

Lennox

• Name meaning: Elm field.
• Popularity: #628

Leonie

• Name meaning: Lioness.
• Popularity: This L name isn’t ranking.

Lilac

• Name meaning: Fragrant purple flower that blooms in spring.
• Popularity: This sweet L name isn’t ranking.

Liora

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: This sun-inspired name isn’t ranking.

Lynden

• Name meaning: Linden tree valley.
• Popularity: This tree-inspired name isn’t ranking.

Lysandra

• Name meaning: Liberator.
• Popularity: This 3-syllable name isn’t ranking.

Lyric

• Name meaning: Words set to music.
• Popularity: #536

“L” names that are past their prime

Most of these L names peaked in popularity in previous decades and, while definitely still usable, may feel less fresh than other options.

👉🏼 Jump ahead to 2025 viral predictions if you wish.

Laura

• Name meaning: Laurel plant or wisdom.
• Popularity: #365

Laurel

• Name meaning: A tree that’s symbolic of victory.
• Popularity: #715

Lauren or Lauryn

• Name meaning: Wisdom.
• Popularity: Lauren ranks #343 and Lauryn isn’t ranking.

Leanne

• Name meaning: Graceful wood.
• Popularity: This southern name isn’t ranking.

Legacy

• Name meaning: A past or history.
• Popularity: #541

Leslie

• Name meaning: Garden of holly.
• Popularity: #670

Lexi or Lexie

• Name meaning: Defender.
• Popularity: Lexi ranks #522 and Lexie isn’t ranking.

Liberty

• Name meaning: Freedom.
• Popularity: #891

Linda

• Name meaning: Pretty.
• Popularity: #842

Lindsay or Lindsey

• Name meaning: Lake or place of linden trees.
• Popularity: Neither of these girl names that start with L is ranked.

Livia

• Name meaning: Life. Envious. Olive tree.
• Popularity: #824

Here are a few more that aren’t currently ranking:

Will any L girl names that start with L go viral in 2025?

Yes, I believe so!

There are a whopping eight stand-out names poised for dramatic growth this year.

Here they are in order of likelihood of exploding in popularity:

Lainey

Leading the surge of L names for girls, Lainey has made one of the most dramatic rises in recent naming history, jumping an astounding 120 spots from #174 to #54 in 2023.

This meteoric climb represents a 406-spot improvement since 2018, with nearly half that gain occurring in the last year alone.

The name got significant visibility from ABC’s The Goldbergs (2013-2023), where the character Lainey Lewis helped familiarize audiences with this fresh take on classic Elena/Elaine.

With 3,928 baby girls receiving the name in 2023, Lainey has hit the sweet spot of being both recognizable and distinctive.

Given its current trajectory and position at #54, Lainey shows strong potential to crack the top 25 by 2025.

Lucia

Among trending girl names that start with L, Lucia stands out by reaching its highest ranking (#109) in recorded U.S. history, showing remarkable acceleration from #266 in 2010.

The name hits a perfect cultural sweet spot: simultaneously classic (with centuries of use) and fresh (with modern pronunciation options like “lou-SEE-ah” or “lou-CHEE-ah”).

Its meaning – “light” – connects with the growing trend of luminous names like Luna (#10) and Stella, while its international usage in Spanish, Italian, and English-speaking countries gives it broad appeal.

The success of similar names (Luna #10, Luca #24) suggests the ‘Lu-‘ prefix has hit its stride, while the -ia ending (like #1 Olivia and #4 Amelia) adds familiar flair.

Leia

In a moment where L names for girls are reaching new heights, Leia shows clear signs of becoming the next breakout star, climbing to #211 in 2023 – its highest rank since entering the charts.

The name’s trajectory is particularly impressive: a 45-spot jump in 2023 alone, representing a 17.6% improvement in rank.

The upcoming “Star Wars: New Jedi Order” series in 2025 will feature Princess Leia through legacy footage, likely giving this already-rising name extra momentum.

At just four letters, Leia hits the sweet spot of being both recognizable and rare – given to just 0.081% of baby girls in 2023, while enjoying international appeal with a #28 ranking in Sweden.

Most tellingly, its yearly gains are accelerating rather than slowing – a pattern often seen in names just before they explode in popularity.

Lilith

Among trending girl names that start with L, Lilith demonstrates remarkable momentum, climbing from #994 in 2010 to #232 in 2023 – its highest ranking ever.

The name has shown particularly explosive growth recently, jumping 37 spots in 2023 alone and improving its rank by 76.5% since 2019.

International data supports its momentum: Lilith ranks #363 in England.

With 1,294 babies given this name in 2023, Lilith has proven its mainstream appeal while maintaining enough uniqueness to feel special.

While some parents might hesitate due to folkloric associations, modern interpretations focus on themes of independence and strength – perfectly aligned with current naming values.

Lottie

Just when vintage L names for girls seemed predictable, Lottie made one of 2023’s most dramatic moves – soaring from #950 to #775, a 175-spot jump representing an 18.4% ranking improvement.

In real numbers, that’s a jump from 251 babies in 2022 to 356 in 2023 – a staggering 41.8% increase in actual usage.

This Victorian sweetheart is replicating its proven success path from across the pond, where it’s catapulted from #686 to #52 in England & Wales.

The international appeal is undeniable: #41 in Scotland, #82 in Ireland, and #87 in Australia.

As the fresh-feeling diminutive of Charlotte (#3), it offers royal connections while feeling more distinctive than Charlie.

Lakelynn

Following the trend of elaborate L names for girls, Lakelynn stands out with one of the most dramatic debuts in the 2023 rankings.

After first appearing in the top 1000 at #967 in 2022, Lakelynn catapulted 189 spots to reach #778 in 2023 – a remarkable 19.5% improvement in just one year.

The name hits multiple current trends: nature-inspired roots (‘lake’), the popular ‘-lynn’ suffix, and the kind of elaborate spelling modern parents increasingly favor.

With 361 babies given this name in 2023 (up from fewer than 250 the year before), Lakelynn shows stronger momentum than its variant spelling Lakelyn (#929).

This explosive trajectory from debut to top 800 in just one year mirrors patterns seen in other viral names, suggesting significant growth potential for 2025.

Lenora

Among classic girl names that start with L seeing renewed interest, Lenora is emerging as one of the most fascinating risers of 2023.

After quietly maintaining its presence in the rankings for decades, Lenora suddenly rocketed from #931 to #763—a dramatic leap of 168 spots.

The timing couldn’t be better: Lenora sits at the intersection of two major trends—the unstoppable rise of vintage feminine names (like Eleanor at #14) and the growing popularity of -ora endings (seen in Aurora #22 and Nora #25).

The name received fresh cultural visibility through the Netflix series Trollhunters character Lenora Janeth, introducing it to a new generation of parents.

With its elegant sound, built-in nickname options (Nora, Lenny), and perfect ranking position for viral growth, Lenora shows all the hallmarks of a name poised for a dramatic rise through 2025.

Lilia

Completing our exploration of trending L names for girls, Lilia (ranked #957) shows clear signs of explosive growth potential ahead.

International momentum tells a compelling story – while Lilia ranks in the 900s in the US, it’s already reached #470 in England and #82 in Poland, suggesting strong crossover appeal.

The name shares DNA with current favorites like Mia (#6) and rising star Dahlia (#253), while tapping into parents’ love of botanical-adjacent choices.

Since entering the rankings at #989 in 2016, Lilia has shown steady upward movement, climbing 32 spots without overexposure.

The name hits a sweet spot that parents increasingly seek: familiar enough to feel wearable but rare enough to feel special, joining other trending L names for girls like Luna (#10), Lily (#20), and Lilith (#232) in offering that perfect blend of classic and contemporary style.

Nicknames for girl names that start with L

These are great if you love long names but want a shorter L-starting nickname.

👉🏼 Jump ahead to middle name ideas if you wish.

Libby

Short for: Liberty

Leo

Short for: Leonora, Leonore, Leona

Leni

Short for: Lennox, Lennon, Lenora, Leonora, Magdalena

Lake

Short for: Lakelyn, Lakelynn

Lani

Short for: Leilani, Laylani, Lana, Alana

Lou

Short for: Louise, Louisa, Louella

Lulu

Short for: Luciana, Lucille, Luna, Lucia, Louise

Lili or Lily

Short for: Liliana, Lilliana, Lilianna, Lilyana, Lilith

Lex

Short for: Lexi, Lexie, Alexandra, Alexis

Lori

Short for: Lorelai, Lorelei, Loretta, Laura

Lia

Short for: Liana, Liliana, Lucia, Lilia

Middle name ideas for first names starting with L

Here are some beautiful first + middle name combinations for a first name that starts with L.

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Girl names that start with L are having a moment

The letter L has emerged as a powerhouse initial, with 77 girl names that start with L currently ranking in the top 1000.

Even more striking, 10 of these names rank in the coveted top 100, with Luna (#10) leading the pack.

We’re seeing several distinct style categories dominate:

• Light and lyrical names ending in ‘a’ or ‘ia’ are particularly strong (Luna, Lucia, Lydia)
• Double-L names continue their reign, with Lily (#20), Lillian (#55), and their variations showing impressive staying power
• Names with ‘Lei’ sounds are having a moment – Leilani (#61), Leila (#240), and Leia (#211) all demonstrate strong rankings

Looking at recent momentum, the most dramatic gains are happening in the vintage category.

Names like Lottie (jumped 175 spots to #775) and Lenora (climbed 168 spots to #763) show that grandmother-chic is driving significant movement among girl names that start with L.

Nature-inspired choices are also surging, with Lilith (meaning “of the night”) climbing to #232 and Luna (“moon”) holding strong in the top 10.

In 2025, expect to see several key shifts in L-name trends:

• The vintage revival will likely accelerate, with names like Louise (#586) and Loretta (#764) showing early signs of upward momentum
• Literary-inspired choices like Lucia (#109) and Luciana (#329) are positioned for significant gains
• Short, sweet names like Lia (#209) and Lisa (#850) are showing surprising strength that suggests a potential comeback

The data suggests that in 2025, girl names that start with L will continue to dominate.

The letter’s ability to create both soft, feminine sounds (Luna, Lily) and strong, modern options (Legacy, Liberty) positions it uniquely for continued growth.

Baby Girl Names that Start with L

The source for popularity data is SSN.

This article was originally published on Oct 28, 2021 and was updated on Jan 6, 2025.