Expecting a little girl this year? Although there is so much joy that comes with a baby girl, one of the hardest challenges before her arrival is choosing the perfect name. There's still more than enough time to choose an amazing name — and expectant parents have plenty of cool options to choose from. Of course, finding the perfect baby name can be hard, especially if a parent wants something that isn't too common nor too "out there."
We've come up with a list of names set to dominate in 2020 and beyond. Some of them are completely new and fresh, while others have a vintage ring. Whether baby girl already feels like a total princess or a little rebel rouser, there's something on this list to suit her budding personality. So if choosing a baby name seems a little daunting, these names are both fresh but also really, really beautiful.
Here, we've compiled a list of the hottest girls' names that won't be following the trends of the past but creating the trends of the future. Even with the decade just starting, these names have completely exploded — taking center stage with their creativity and vibrancy.
The best way to predict which names are going to be big both before and during the year is to look for names that are the fastest-rising in popularity. That means the baby names aren't necessarily already firmly planted on the most popular names lists, but were super on the rise in the year before. To help parents-to-be, we've compiled a list of trending baby names that have been dominating the charts throughout the year and already have major staying power. The girl's names on this list are sure to suit any bubbly baby girl in 2020.
AVIANA
A special name that has a feminine charm! Aviana has two meanings. The first is "like a bird" in Latin, and the second is "way of grace." The name recently made the list of the top 1,000 baby names in America, ranking at #460 in 2017 and rising to #394 in 2018.
REMINGTON
Remington is gender neutral trender that's on the rise for girls. Taken from an English surname and made popular by the '80s TV show Remington Steele, the name means "from the estate of the raven family." Remington just burst onto the top baby names list in 2014 and has quickly been flying up the charts! In 2017 it ranked as the #419 most popular name and in 2018, #357. Catch on quick, before Remington blows up!
NOVA
A name that is certain to start conversations, Nova is a quintessential 2020 moniker. A nova is a star that starts to shine a thousand times brighter and then slowly fades. It also fits in perfectly with the trend of baby names inspired by space. Nova is a name that was popular in the late 1800s and then slowly started to fade … until it came back to popularity in 2011. It ranked as the #95 in 2017 and rose to the #56 most popular name in 2018.
TEAGAN
Indie-rock lovers, this name is a hit! Teagan — like of the rock-duo Tegan and Sara — is starting to catch on in its own right. The feminine form of Teague, Teagan is similar to other girls' names Megan and Reagan. Teagan also has some really cute nicknames, including Tee, Tiger, Tilly, and Teags.
ROWAN
A pretty name for when little girl meets the world, Rowan is equal parts beautiful and fierce. The name is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ruadhán and means "little red haired one." But this name isn't just for redheads. And it certainly is growing in popularity — just think about teen actress Rowan Blanchard, who starred in the revival of our favorite '90s TV show, Boy Meets World.
JOY
Something we all wish to have more of throughout the rest of the year, Joy, meaning "delight" or "pleasure," is derived from the Middle English and French word Joie. The name Joy has always been popular, but it really took off in the '30s and '40s, possibly as a little ray of hope following many years war. Today, the name is just starting to take off again.
BLAKELY
If one is a Blake Lively fan, this name is sort of the perfect mash-up between her first and last name, right? Blakely, which is the feminine form of Blake, is just starting to become a hot baby name. As of 2017, the name ranked #258 on the top baby names list and rise slightly to #250 in 2018. That means there's time to hop on the name trend before it totally explodes in popularity.
ELOISE
Like the children's book character of the same name, Eloise has a whimsical vibe. One definition of the name is based on the Germanic Helewidis meaning "hale, hearty, or sound" or "wide," while another is the Old High German Hluodowig which translates to "famous in war." Either way, this name sounds unstoppable!
JUNIPER
Juniper, which comes from the evergreen plant of the same name, is a sprightly name that is perfect for a winter baby. Just saying this name makes people happy! And the proof is in how quickly Juniper has become popular with new parents. The name only recently debuted on the top baby names list — in 2011 — and every year since, it has gotten more popular.
ZARA
This is a fashionable name for a fashionable girl. The popularity of retailer Zara might have something to do with its rise. Derived from the Arabic word zahra, which means "flower, blossom," this name is beautiful inside and out! In 2017 rose to #283, and in 2018 jumped up 30 spots to #253.
ARIELLA
Ariella is a feminine form of the Hebrew name Ariel, meaning "lion of God." Adding -la at the end is a playful riff on Ariel, which has always been extremely popular. Ariella first became popular in 2008 — which seems like no time at all in baby name years — and has maintained its dominance on the baby name charts, rising to #284 in 2018.
IRIS
One might think that this name is a throwback, but Iris has never really gone away. Named after both the flower and the mythical Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris's appeal is in its sweetness and charm. In 2018, Iris rose to be the 138h most popular girls' name in the country, and its popularity is predicted to continue in an upswing.
FINLEY
Another boys' name that has made its way over to girls! Finley, meaning "fair-haired warrior" in Gaelic, is a little bit spunky and fun. Its ascent in popularity has been rapid; and we are here for all the unisex baby names people are choosing these days.
IVY
Nature names have been huge in 2018. Ivy, like the plant, means "climber" in Old English. In pop culture, it is also the name of Batman character Poison Ivy and is the middle name of Beyoncé's daughter Blu Ivy. Recently ranked at #86 in 2018, Ivy is one we'll see continue to climb the charts.
JOSEPHINE
ADIRA
Portraying strength through names is always a great idea. And that's exactly what Adira does. Translating to mean "strong" in Hebrew, this name sounds classic and new at the same time. It's also never managed to find a place on the popular baby name rankings in the US — at least not yet — which also makes it incredibly uncommon.
LOTUS
Just about everyone should be able to recognize the name Lotus. With strong Greek origins, the name is directly drawn from the beautiful Lotus flower. Slightly exotic, and with a definite "hippie" vibe, it's no wonder this name has been so popular.
WINTER
As if being able to say "Winter is coming" isn't cool enough, the name Winter is the definition of awesome. Whether that baby girl is born in the hot summer or during the frigid cold, there's definitely something special about a little girl with this name. Other parents think so too, because it ranked at #390 as one of the most popular girl's names in 2018.
BRIAR
Looking for a nature-themed name? Briar means "a thorny patch" and it's been gaining popularity in English-speaking countries for years. Short, sweet, and with a surprisingly cool meaning, Briar definitely belongs on every outdoorsy parents' baby name shortlist.
OPAL
LEYLA
Leyla is an alternate spelling of the traditional Layla and even Leila. The name has Arabic origins, meaning "night" in the beautiful language. Although this spelling variation hasn't been historically common, parents have been really drawn to Leyla recently.
ALANI
A name that perfectly embodies all things bright and sunny, Alani is of Hawaiian origins and means "orange tree." Alani is incredibly short, has a very simple spelling, and a delicate meaning — all factors which have surely contributed to the name growing steadily in popularity since 2017
OCTAVIA
Octavia is one of those names that always feels strong and stately, no matter what era it's being used in. Luckily, parents in 2020 can take notes from parents in ancient Rome and began naming their daughters this name, which means "eighth." Perfect for girls born in August (the eighth month, of course) or any other time of the year, Octavia never seems to go out of style.
ESME
A throwback to one of the most popular characters in the movie Twilight, Esme is a name that's fresh and classic all at once. Esme began gaining popularity in the United States in 2010 and has only grown since then, landing it a place as the 5565th most popular girl's name in the country in 2018. Plus, it's hard to go wrong with a name that means "loved" in French.
REINA
Any parents hoping their daughter embodies royalty will love the name Reina. In Latin, it translates to mean "queen." It ranked at #652 on the list of popular girls names in the United States in 2018 and continues to grow. In fact, parents as far as Japan have been choosing this name for their little girls.
ELOWYN
Admittedly, the name Elowyn sounds like something straight out of Lord of the Rings, but that's what makes it so cool. There isn't a ton of information about the origins of this name, but some believe it originated from the Cornish Elowen meaning "elm tree." With nickname options such as Elle, Wynne, and Winnie, it's hard to go wrong with this one.
LYRA
Lyra comes from the Greek word Lyre, a constellation that contains the star Vega. The name is used in books, movies, and is being chosen by creative parents in 2018. Although Lyra hasn't necessarily become a household name yet, it's gaining steam.
ATARA
Just one letter off from the popular '80s gaming console, Atara is both cool and relatively uncommon. The name means "crown" in Hebrew, which explains why parents have been so drawn to it recently. Who wouldn't want to crown a little princess with this pretty name?
XENA
For all the parents out there who loved the show featuring the "Warrior Princess" in the '90s, Xena is a throwback name. Although it may seem old-school to some of us, it sounds incredibly new these days when given to a baby girl. Translating to mean "guest" in Greek, the nostalgia alone makes Xena a great baby girl name contender.
EMBERLY
MAREN
Maren is thought to be a German variation of the name Maria. In Latin, this name means "sea" or "lady of the sea." It may sound surprising, but parents are really into the name Maren. It even topped out at #607 on the list of most popular baby girl names in the United States in 2018. Keep a lookout for baby girls named Maren in 2020.
OAKLEY
Unisex names have been incredibly popular over the course of 2018, and Oakley is no different. With its English origins, the name actually means "oak clearing," which makes it a wonderful choice for parents who want their daughter to have a nature name.
EMERALD
Both the name of a precious gem and a color, Emerald is a double whammy of beauty. Although it has been climbing the charts since 2018, it first peaked in popularity in the US in the '90s. Emerald is the perfect name for any green-eyed baby girl or for one who's simply a gem.
MILLIE
Millie definitely isn't a new name. A derivative of the names Mildred and Millicent, it first started gaining popularity in the 1800s. Although it peaked back then, too, its classic flair and sweet nature have drawn the attention of parents due in 2020 looking for a nickname-y moniker for their girls.
ZORA
It may feel and sound like a name that originated with cool, hippie parents, but Zora has old Slavic origins. It carries the beautiful meaning of "dawn" and is held by people like the iconic author Zora Neale Hurston. With its rich history, beautiful meaning, and fresh sound, Zora has more than earned its place on this list.
SAMARA
For any parents looking for a name that has a strong religious influence, Samara means "under God's rule" in Hebrew. The name made it to #256 on the list of the most popular girl's names in the United States in 2018, and we'll only see Samara continue to grow throughout 2020.
REMY
Remy may be a nickname for another name on this list — Remington — but it's also pretty great on its own. The gender neutral name actually translates to mean "oarsmen" in French and was often used in ancient Rome. There's also the major bonus of it being the name of the main furry character in the movie Ratatouille!
LORELAI
Gilmore Girls fans are definitely going to recognize the name Lorelai. In addition to being the name of one of the greatest characters on TV, it also has German origins that mean "alluring." Even if the meaning behind the name doesn't draw parents in, the cool character homage definitely will.
MIRA
Names that are short and sweet are definitely a huge trend continuing in 2020, and Mira follows that to the letter. Meaning "admirable" in Latin, Mira is incredibly popular in Europe and parents in the United States have caught on too — it's risen to #465 in 2018 and will continue to go up.
AMALIA
Rounding out our list is the name Amalia. Beautifully pronounced ah-MAH-lee-a, it bears a strong resemblance to the name Amelia but has its own twist. Its German origins point out that it means "work," which is why it makes perfect sense that parents have been choosing it for their future hard-working daughters in 2020.
