For families expecting a little girl, trying to find cute girl names sometimes requires strategizing. Is an unusual name important? Does the family want a more familiar name? Or does the family want to find cute girl names that are cute but strong?
Everyone is going to give their own opinion on what qualifies as cute girl names, but some themes persist. For instance, nature and flower-inspired names evoke “cuteness,” as do shorter names that sound like a nickname. Names inspired by or shared with princesses – real or not – are also automatically going to be cute.
If a baby girl is on the way and finding a cute name is important, here are 20 cute baby girl names to sift through. Chances are, the perfect name will jump right out.
ARABELLA
There is something extra cute about baby names with two names in one. Arabella sounds like a princess and means answered prayer or beautiful altar. A few ways to spell this name exist, such as with an extra “r” or one fewer “l” to put your own unique spin on this cute baby girl name.
AURORA
Yes, naming a baby after a Disney princess automatically makes the name cute, and this one, inspired by Sleeping Beauty, is a great way to infuse that without being terribly obvious. The name means dawn, which would also be a pretty name.
AVA
One feature of this name is that it’s short, which arguably adds to its cuteness. Ava means “life” and is thought to be a shortened form for the names Aveza or Avia. Both of those are cute options, too, but not as cute as just Ava.
BRINLEY
If having an uncommon name is something that’s important when considering options for the perfect cute name, Brinley may be the right choice. It can also be shortened to Brin for extra cuteness.
The name has been in the top 500 for girls, so although the chance of meeting another Brinley is low, it’s not impossible.
CHARLOTTE
A beautiful classic name, Charlotte is a popular choice for people who are expecting a girl. It’s the perfect blend of cute and strong, which is a good combination for a little girl. The name is literally fit for a princess, especially after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, now the Prince and Princess of Wales, named their little girl Charlotte.
CORA
Cora, meaning heart, is another short, cute baby name for a little girl. The name is often in the top 100 baby names lists but was even more popular back in the 1800s. This name can be a nickname for Caroline or Coraline.
DAISY
Anytime a girl’s name is inspired by a flower, it’s going to be cute. The name Daisy dates to the 1800s when it was extremely popular, but now it’s slowly rising back up after a long period when the name was rare.
EMMA
The name Emma is a very popular one, and it’s been around since before the 19th century. It’s derived from Old German and means universal or whole. It’s one of those names that doesn’t seem to ever go out of style.
EFFIE
The name means “pleasant speech” and a name can’t get much cuter than that. Effie, historically, is a nickname for Euphemia, which is a name that is rarely ever used these days. Both are equally cute, though.
FAWN
Literally the name for a young deer, this name has cute written all over it. The moniker hasn’t been around for a long time, peaking in the 1970s, and it’s been around, though not popularly, since then.
HAZEL
Another name that comes from nature, this one is all about the hazelnut tree. It’s cute because it’s strong, unique, and fitting for a little girl. The name symbolizes protection and authority, but there’s still a very cute element to it.
LILY
The name Lily is inspired by the gorgeous white flowers of the same name. It’s another short name that comes across as cute because the flower is a symbol of innocence, purity, and beauty. There are several TV characters with the name Lily, and they, too, are cute.
MAE
Proving our theory that shorter names are always cute girl names, we present: Mae. Mae is cute because it started off as a pet name for the more popular names Mary and Margaret. The shortened version means pearl and is a gorgeous, spring-sounding moniker for a baby girl.
NOVA
Nova could be used for any gender, but for a girl, it’s definitely in the cute category. The name, meaning new, is growing in popularity, landing a spot in the top 30 back in 2020 and rising since then. Another way one could go with this name is a longer version of a less common name, such as Novaline.
PIPER
Although this name is gender neutral, as a cute girl’s name, Piper is an adorable choice. Named for people who play the flute, Piper is a newer name on the scene but has seen some increased popularity in recent years.
SADIE
This name translates to princess, and there isn’t a cuter name meaning than that. Sadie sounds like it could be a nickname, but it’s not. The name was huge back in the 1890s and has made a resurgence more recently.
SOFIA
When there is a Disney princess with the same name, it’s a great choice for a cute baby girl. She will have someone to look to when she’s growing up, and the character is strong and cute. With a meaning of wisdom and skill, Sofia is a well-rounded name fit for a girl who will lead.
VIOLA
A form of the name Violet, Viola is a Latin name inspired by the flower. It became popular in the 19th century when other plant and flower names surged. You might say it’s a “blooming” cute girl name.
WILLOW
The name Willow means “freedom,” but it is also inspired by the willow tree. This choice has been growing in popularity in the last 30 years. Willow trees, along with the name Willow, are associated with elegance and grace.
ZARA
Zara is derived from the Arabic word zahra, which means flower or blossom in addition to bright or brilliance. The name Zara has been slowly growing in popularity, and it’s not a surprise because this is an adorably cute name choice. Traditionally, it is not pronounced with a soft “a” sound, like “Sarah,” but with a hard “a” sound.
