From the gorgeous to the groovy, baby names beginning with G for girls have topped the charts for generations. From the classic Grace and Gabriella, to the more modern Gillian and Giselle, these monikers for little ladies are popular in pop culture and in daycares. And they all have their own special origin.
Take a gander at the 'G' names for little girls and add a few gorgeous ones to your list ASAP:
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Gabriella: The feminized form of Gabriel, the name means "God is my strength" and can give you plenty of nicknames. For one, it can also be spelled Gabrielle, and Gabby, Bella, Bri, and Ella are all possible names.
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Gaelyn: Galen, the boy's name, has gotten a beautiful girl touch. The name means "calm" and "healer," and it is based on Claudius Galenus, the man who founded the idea of medical practice.
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Gemma: Originating from the word gem, the name (and your baby girl!) is a precious jewel. Actresses Gemma Ward and Gemma Arterton have helped to make the once popular British name across the pond.
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Genesis: The name means "the beginning," and of course it's because it's the first book of the Bible. Most popularly, it's used as a name for the first child in a family.
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Genevieve: Thought the origin of the name remains a mystery for baby name experts, many believe that the originally French name means "tribe of women."
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Georgia: It's the feminine version of the traditional George, and means "earth-worker and farmer," and also "husbandman." From Georgia O'Keeffe to Georgia Carroll, there have been plenty prominent ladies to hold the name.
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Gia: The short name is actually a nickname for many 'G' names on this list, but just like Mia, it's become its own standalone name. Take Gia Coppola or Gia Ventola, who both use the short version of the name.
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Gianna: Most popular in Italy, the name is a shortened version of Giovanna (see below), but parents are choosing the short name for its roots, as well as its easy-to-pronounce nature.
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Gilda: The name gained world-wide popularity after Rita Hayworth starred in the 1940s film of the same name. The name's popularity has waned since then, but the old-school feel has not been lost.
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Gigi: Another nickname-turned-standalone-name, Gigi could be a shortened version of Georgia, Georgina, or any other 'G' name on the block.
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Gillian: In the 16th century, Gillian appeared on the baby name list as a female alternative to Julian. Actresses Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) and Gillian Jacobs (Community), as well as Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn helped propel it into the mainstream status.
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Ginger: It could serve as a nickname for Virginia, but Ginger actually started out — unsurprisingly — as a nickname for someone with red hair. Famous actress Ginger Rogers helped make the nickname-to-name famous.
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Ginnifer: Though Jennifer still remains the most popular version of the name, actress Ginnifer Goodwin has helped to make this spelling more and more popular. All versions of the name originate from Guinevere, and can be linked back to the Welsh Gwenhwyfar, meaning "fair lady."
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- Giovanna: This female, and longer, form of John means "God is gracious," and though it sounds very old-school, the name has actually just recently peaked in popularity — 2005 was its biggest year to date.
- Giselle: Now-retired supermodel Giselle Bundchen helped make the German name famous, but the glamorous name is popular among the Hollywood elite. Actress Giselle Blondet carries the name, and it's actually Beyonce's middle name!
- Giuliana: TV host Giuliana Rancic might be our most famous carrier of the name, but similarly to Gillian (see above), the name is also a variant of Julian, and means "downy-bearded."
- Glinda: She'll be a nice one, that's no doubt! The name is a spin off the Welsh Glenda, which means "fair" or "good," so it's no surprise that it's the name of the Good Witch of the North in Wicked and the Wizard of Oz.
- Gloriana: Taken literally from the Latin gloria, which means "glory," the name was first used by writer George Bernard Shaw in You Can Never Tell. Since then, it's become more popular, and there's even a country band that goes by the name.
- Grace: Whether you go with Graciela, Gracelyn, Gracie, Grazia, or the traditional, Grace, the name means "favor and thanks" and has been popular for generations. It peaked in the 1880s, but ever since 2000, it's been on the rise yet again!
- Graciela: Though it sounds similar to Grace, Graciela actually has a much different meaning. It's taken from the Latin gratia, which means "pleasantness," and can be nicknamed Ella or Gracie for short.
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- Greer: It's an original last name that started back in the Middle Ages, but thanks to the popularity of actress Greer Garson in the mid-1900s, the name took off as a standalone first name.
- Gretel: Gretel started out as a nickname for Margarethe, which means "pearl," but parents in the 1930s began to use the name on its own. It's grown more popular thanks to the Brother's Grimm tale Hansel and Gretel, but consider Greta as an alternative as well.
- Gretchen: Another nickname for Margarethe that turned into its own name, Gretchen got a shout-out in Mean Girls, and is a country music superstar (just think Gretchen Wilson).
- Guinn: Though many consider it a nickname for Guinevere, Guinn has grown to become its own name in recent years. Just like its original form, it means "white, fair" and is of Welsh origin.
- Gwen: Whether it's Gwendolyn, Gwenyth, or Gwyneth, the name stems from the Celtic element, gwyn, and also means "white, fair, and blessed," but the spelling solidly differentiates it as a completely different name.
What's your favorite 'G' name for girls?
For more great baby name ideas, visit Baby Name Wizard.
Image via HTeam/shutterstock; folami/shutterstock
