Let’s find the perfect modern name for your baby girl…
It’s a challenge to choose an ‘on trend’ baby name that will also stand the test of time. Thankfully, there are plenty of great options!
Let’s delve right in and check out these adorable modern girl names!
Related: Modern Boy Names
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Short modern girl names
Here’s a great list of modern baby names that are only 3 or 4 letters.
- Aria {air or melody}
- Ava {life} this “A” name is the 3rd most popular baby girl’s name in the U.S.
- Ayla {oak tree}
- Belle {beautiful}
- Brie {marshland}
- Bryn {hill}
- Cora {maiden}
- Cove {sheltered bay}
- Dana {gift}
- Dara {oak tree}
- Demi {half}
- Eden {place of delight}
- Ella {fairy maiden}
- Emma {whole} this is the #2 most popular baby girl’s name in the U.S.
- Eve {life}
- Evie {life}
- Faye {fairy}
- Hart {brave}
- Ivy {like the plant}
- Jade {green stone}
- Jane {gracious}
- June {sixth month}
- Kara {Cornish name for love}
- Lane {pathway}
- Lani {means sky in Hawaiian}
- Leah {weary}
- Lexi {defender}
- Lila {night}
- Lily {flower}
- Liv {life}
- Luna {moon}
- Lyla {night}
- Mara {a river}
- Maya {water}
- Mia {mine} this is the 8th most popular baby girl’s name in the U.S.
- Mila {beloved}
- Mira {peace}
- Noe {peaceful}
- Page {helper}
- Peri {mountain dweller}
- Rai {like ray of light}
- Rain {abundant blessings}
- Remi {oarsman}
- Reva {rain}
- Rose {for your flower child}
- Roux {reddish brown}
- Ruby {strong red gemstone}
- Sage {grayish green herb}
- Sky {limitless}
- Terra {earth}
- Zoey {life}
Related: One Syllable Girl Names
I happen to LOVE short names.
Plus, they pair nicely with any middle name!
Here are a few name combinations I like, just for some inspo! Mila Jade, Ruby Skye, Lani Page, Maya Emery, Ella Kinsley, Emma Rowan.
A quick note before we continue!
I recently put together a pregnancy to-do list for when you want to be productive but you’re too tired to do anything.
Send yourself this list of 35 things to do before baby while lying down!
Gender neutral modern girl names
Unisex baby names are definitely “in” right now, and I’m all about this! Here are some cool options…
- Arden {great forest}
- Aster {a daisy-like flower}
- Avery {elf king/queen} see the best middle names for Avery here
- Blake {fair or light}
- Camden {winding valley}
- Chesney {oak grove}
- Ellery {alder tree}
- Emerson {Emery’s son/daughter}
- Emery {industrious}
- Hadley {heather clearing} see the best middle names for Hadley here
- Harley {the long field}
- Harlow {army hill}
- Hayes {brushwood}
- Indigo {blue or Indian dye}
- Kennedy {helmeted chief}
- Lennox {among elm trees}
- Oakley {meadow of oaks}
- Phoenix {mythical bird}
- Reagan {little king}
- Reese {fiery} see the best middle names for Reese here
- Remi {oarsman}
- Remington {raven}
- Riley {wood clearing}
- Rowan {reddish brown tree}
- Rylan {island meadow}
- Shiloh {tranquil}
- Taylor {seamstress}
If you choose to do a gender neutral name, you could always pair it with a super girly middle name like Rose, Jane, Lily, Grace, Sophia, or Olivia.
I like Emerson Grace, Arden Rose, and Hadley Jane—just to give you some ideas!
It’s also fun to do a 2 unisex names like Reagan Hayes, Emery Reese, or Remi Taylor.
Related: 40+ Space Names for Girls that are Actually Cool
Now, onto some more first names for modern baby girls!
Cute modern girl names
Everything in this next batch has a sweet and playful ring.
- Ellie {bright shining one}
- Jules {youthful}
- Kylie {a boomerang}
- Lacey {from Lassy}
- Macie {weapon}
- Malia {bitter}
- Mazie {child of light}
- Millie {industrious}
- Piper {flute player} see the best middle names for Piper here
- Quinn {counsel}
- Rylee {valiant}
- Sadie {princess}
- Sophie {wisdom}
You could keep the whole name light and spunky like this: Lacey Belle, Macie Roux, Piper Quinn, Sophie Rose.
Or, you could pair one of these cutesy names with a “serious” middle name like this: Rylee Remington, Millie Lennox, Kylie James, Mazie Emerson.
Related: Victorian Girl Names
Let’s keep tackling this list of 200 modern girl names!
Southern sounding modern girl names
Even if you don’t live below the Mason-Dixon line, these are some classic yet current baby names worth considering…
- Abigail {my father’s joy}
- Annabelle {beauty}
- Belle {beautiful}
- Blaire {field dweller}
- Brinley {burnt meadow}
- Charlotte {free woman} this is the 6th most popular baby girl’s name in the U.S.
- Clara {clear and bright}
- Delilah {delicate}
- Everly {brave}
- Grace {goodness}
- Harley {the long field}
- Harper {harp player} this is the 9th most popular baby girl’s name in the U.S.
- Harriet {home}
- Jolene {lord}
- Magnolia {flower}
- Mercy {compassion}
- Paisley {a cute curved pattern}
- Palmer {she who holds the palm} the SSA says this name has had a huge leap in popularity!
- Penelope {weaver}
- Peyton {fighting man’s estate}
- Presley {priest}
- Savannah {treeless plain}
- Scarlett {red}
- Sutton {southern settlement}
It’s really fun to combine these southern names. Think: Abigail Grace, Sutton Presley, Harper Magnolia.
Related: 100 Gorgeous Long Girl Names
Related: L Names for Girls
Nature-oriented modern girl names
This next batch of modern girl names is inspired by flowers, plants, earth, and water.
- Arden {great forest}
- Aspen {tree with heart-shaped leaves}
- Aster {a daisy-like flower}
- Aurora {dawn}
- Ayla {oak tree}
- Blakely {dark wood}
- Brie {marshland}
- Brinley {burnt meadow}
- Brooke {small stream}
- Bryn {hill} see more “B” names here
- Chesney {oak grove}
- Cove {sheltered bay}
- Dara {oak tree}
- Ellery {alder tree}
- Embry {flat topped hill}
- Hailey {hay clearing} see the best middle names for Hailey here
- Hartley {meadow}
- Hayes {brushwood}
- Hazel {of the hazelnut tree}
- Ivy {like the plant}
- Jade {green stone}
- Kinsley {kings meadow}
- Lani {means sky in Hawaiian}
- Lennox {among elm trees}
- Lily {flower}
- Magnolia {flower}
- Mara {a river}
- Marin {beautiful place near SF!}
- Marley {seaside meadow}
- Maya {water}
- Meadow {freely growing grassland}
- Morgan {of the sea}
- Oakley {meadow of oaks}
- Olive {from a tree}
- Peri {mountain dweller}
- Phoenix {mythical bird}
- Rain {abundant blessings}
- Reva {rain}
- Riley {wood clearing}
- Rose {for your flower child}
- Rowan {reddish brown tree}
- Ruby {strong red gemstone}
- Rylan {island meadow} see more “R” names here
- Sage {grayish green herb}
- Savannah {treeless plain}
- Sierra {mountain range}
- Sky {limitless}
- Terra {earth}
- Valli {winding plant}
- Violet {purple}
I absolutely love combining nature names. Some cool ideas: Arden Sage, Aspen Valli, Indra Rain, Olive June.
P.S. If you’re liking these options, you may also like my mega list of incredible hippie names or rainbow baby names.
More modern girl names you may love
Let’s round out our list of cool baby names with this last batch of modern choices!
- Addison {son/daughter of Adam}
- Alana {cheerful}
- Alexia {defender}
- Alexis {defender}
- Amelia {work} this is the 7th most popular baby girl’s name in the U.S.
- Ariana {holy}
- Ariella {lioness}
- Arielle {lion}
- Athena {goddess}
- Aubrey {magical being} see the best middle names for Aubrey
- Bridget {strength}
- Briella {God is my strength}
- Emilia {excel}
- Evelyn {wished for child} this is the 10th most popular baby girl’s name in the U.S.
- Fiona {white or fair}
- Gabriella {strong woman}
- Hannah {grace}
- Isabella {promise} this is the 5th most popular baby girl’s name in the U.S.
- Jolie {pretty}
- Juliana {youthful}
- Juliet {youthful}
- Laila {night}
- Leigh {delicate}
- Leighton {meadow town}
- Liliana {care free}
- Madelyn {woman from Israel} see the best middle names for Madelyn here
- Madison {son…or daughter of Matthew}
- Monet {to be heard}
- Olivia {olive tree} this is the #1 most popular baby girl’s name in the U.S.
- Ryder {horsewoman}
- Skyler {scholar}
- Sloan {warrior}
- Sofia {wisdom}
- Sophia {wisdom} this is the 4th most popular baby girl’s name in the U.S.
- Teagan {little poet}
- Vienna {Austria capitol}
- Viviana {life}
For some more name combination ideas: Madelyn Hart, Skyler Brooke, Liliana Ava, Olivia James.
Related: Edgy Girl Names
Related: Names that Mean Graceful
More articles to check out if you’re expecting…
- 250 Hippie Names for your Boho Baby | The Ultimate List
- 8 Things to DELETE from Your Baby Registry (Unsafe stuff you’ll want to skip… and what to get instead)
- Hospital Bag Must Haves: What to Pack for Giving Birth
- Easy Boho Baby Shower Decor [DIY a Stunning Party!]
- The Ultimate Second Trimester Checklist for First Time Moms
My thoughts on choosing the best modern girl’s name
What’s most important is that you choose a name that makes you (and your partner) happy.
If you want my 2 cents, I’d avoid any baby name that’s on the top 10 list of most popular names—unless you’re REALLY in love with it or it has sentimental value.
This would mean several names I really like are out: Olivia, Emma, Ava, Sophia, Isabella, Charlotte, Amelia, Mia, Harper, and Evelyn.
If you choose one of those names, just be prepared that your little girl may be one of many in her grade with the same name. She’ll probably go by her last initial for quite a few years.
This certainly isn’t the worst thing in the world, but just keep it in mind!
There are lots of similar sounding names to consider that are just as pretty and modern as the ones in the top 10, but less common.
For example, Olive is #213. Emery is #93. Mira is #455. (I love all three of those, by the way!)
The other piece of advice I’ll leave you with is be sure to google your baby girl’s initials before making any final decisions, even if you think they’re safe.
You never know what sort of slang or medical conditions those 3 letters may be associated with. A quick check is worth your time!
Congratulations and good luck choosing a great modern girl’s name for your baby!