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100 Popular Classic Names for Baby Girls

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Are you having a baby girl and looking for a beautiful classic name your daughter can proudly carry through life? Olivia, Emma and Charlotte are among the most popular of the crop, but that's just the beginning. Other popular classic names for girls include Amelia, Ava, Sophia, Isabella, Evelyn, Elizabeth, Eleanor and Ella. All of them are instantly familiar, rooted in tradition, and many come with cute nicknames. Scroll down for our full list of popular traditional names for baby girls.

  1. Olivia. Olivia may be one of the most popular baby names of the early 21st century, but its deep historic roots mean it could never be dismissed as trendy.
  2. Emma. A beloved girl name with literary underpinnings.
  3. Charlotte. Charlotte has French elegance, literary overtones, and modern royal cred. No wonder 21st-century parents are falling for Charlotte!
  4. Amelia. This name marries ancient roots with modern verve.
  5. Ava. If you're trying to find a classic name that's beautiful, feminine and straightforward, Ava might be perfect.
  6. Sophia. It's easy to see why Sophia continues to be a success: it's got ancient roots, international flair, and a covetable meaning ("wisdom").
  7. Isabella. A long and feminine classic name that sometimes goes out of style but always seems to find its way back to the charts.
  8. Evelyn. A beautiful, can't-go-wrong, classic choice.
  9. Elizabeth. A bona fide classic, worn across the ages.
  10. Eleanor. Eleanor has a lot going for it, not least of which is the wonderful selection of nicknames.
  11. Ella. Until the turn of the century, Ella was a well-established but not overly popular choice. Today, Ella is one of the most popular baby name choices in America.
  12. Abigail. Coming in at seven letters and three syllables, this biblical classic offers plenty of options for personalization: Abby, Ab, Abbs, Abba, Aggy and Gale are all examples of nicknames your Abigail could choose to use at different stages of life.
  13. Emily. Parents never seem to grow tired of this simple but beautiful name.
  14. Chloe. A beloved girls' name with both biblical and mythological overtones.
  15. Nora. An straightforward classic that feels at home on almost any list.
  16. Hazel. A dashing classic with a nature connection and a hint of vintage.
  17. Ellie. Pretty, whether used as a nickname or a standalone.
  18. Lily. An old, floral name with a modern sensibility, Lily offers both depth and freshness.
  19. Grace. There seems to be an eternal appeal to short virtue names...
  20. Violet. A mix of color name and nature name in a beautiful, feminine package.
  21. Aurora. Strong yet romantic, ancient yet contemporary, this classic girl name is borrowed from the ancient Roman goddess Aurora, the personification of the dawn.
  22. Stella. The Latin word for "star" doubles as a charming baby name.
  23. Zoe. Zoe packs saintly credentials, sweetness, and frills-free femininity into just three little letters.
  24. Victoria. A go-to choice for generations.
  25. Hannah. A biblical classic to some; a beautiful secular girl name for others.
  26. Leah. Leah traces its roots to the Bible but appeals to a range of parents in the modern world.
  27. Lucy. Classic, with a little pizzazz.
  28. Lillian. Romantic, feminine, and always stylish.
  29. Elena. A well-traveled classic that wears well in many different places.
  30. Naomi. A classic biblical name with widespread appeal.
  31. Natalie. Feminine but not too girly, Natalie has stood the test of time.
  32. Claire. An unpretentious, upbeat name that wears well from baby to teen to grown woman.
  33. Audrey. Always a solid, sensible choice.
  34. Ruby. After keeping a low profile for decades, this classic name borrowed from a gemstone is back on trend.
  35. Alice. A true classic with impeccable literary credentials.
  36. Madelyn. Another popular variation of Madeleine.
  37. Josephine. This one has an elegant sound, Catholic gravitas via Saint Josephine, and the nickname options are great.
  38. Bella. There are many reasons to pick Bella, not least of which is its meaning ("beautiful").
  39. Sophie. A short, sweet classic with literary cred.
  40. Caroline. A beautiful classic loved by every generation.
  41. Anna. A biblical classic without a heavy religious feel.
  42. Cora. Not sure whether this one belongs with the classics or on the list of lovely vintage names, but either way, there's something about Cora that seems to appeal to today's parents.
  43. Lydia. An understated classic rooted in the Bible.
  44. Sarah. Originally a biblical name, Sarah has seen plenty of use in secular circles as well.
  45. Eva. A succinct, feminine name that commands attention!
  46. Adeline. A beautiful girl's name with a bit of French flair.
  47. Madeline. A popular variant of Madeleine, an old French name that has a long history of use in English-speaking countries as well.
  48. Vivian. A frilly, elegant V-name, made more baby-friendly by the cute short forms Vivi and Viv.
  49. Clara. A graceful, traditional name that would sound great on a girl born in 2024.
  50. Maria. Attractive and pronounceable in many different languages, Maria makes for a nice culture-spanning option.
  51. Iris. A flourishing floral classic with literary cred to boot.
  52. Julia. An enduring classic with a ton of great namesakes.
  53. Rose. Simple, pretty and fragrant, Rose never seems to grow old.
  54. Isabelle. This name needs to introduction!
  55. Margaret. A rock-solid classic built to last.
  56. Josie. A sweet, casual name with timeless appeal.
  57. Cecilia. A gorgeous classic with saintly credentials.
  58. Mary. The all-time most popular name for baby girls born in America.
  59. Daisy. Are you drawn to literary names and botanical picks? Daisy hits both targets!
  60. Isabel. A pared-down version of Isabelle.
  61. Valerie. The association with the Latin word valēre, meaning "to be strong, powerful, or healthy", makes this classic name exude strength.
  62. Esther. This biblical classic that occasionally takes a dive but always bounces back.
  63. Valeria. A souped-up version of Valerie.
  64. Katherine. A nickname-rich classic incredible proven staying power.
  65. Georgia. The feminine form of George is also a place name as well as a classic baby name that never seems to completely lose its luster.
  66. Faith. A handful of virtue names, Faith being one of them, continue to hold strong, year after year.
  67. Andrea. A cross-cultural option that combines a timeless quality with international flavor.
  68. June. Warm and feminine, June sometimes drops in popularity but always finds its footing again.
  69. Ada. A lovely classic with a touch of vintage flair.
  70. Anastasia. Big on style—and syllables.
  71. Rosalie. The perfect blend of sweetness and elegance.
  72. Molly. Always a current choice, as a nickname or a standalone.
  73. Amy. A pint-sized classic with broad appeal.
  74. Ruth. A biblical classic that sometimes falls out of style but always comes back again.
  75. Sara. A variation of Sarah.
  76. Juliana. A charming moniker with saintly origins, poise, and a great choice of short forms.
  77. Lila. This short, sweet name packs a major style punch!
  78. Diana. A solid choice for a girl, Diana stands out for its royal credentials, literary pedigree, and mythological connection (Diana was the name of a Roman goddess).
  79. Vera. A simple but pretty girl's name that feels traditional and dewy fresh at the same.
  80. Hope. A friendly, upbeat baby name that transitions well into adulthood.
  81. Annie. This one works both as a nickname for the wide range of Ann- names and as a given name on its own.
  82. Angela. Former German chancellor Angela Merkel? Award-winning actress Angela Bassett? Medieval saint Angela de Merici? There's no shortage of notable namesakes here!
  83. Rachel. This one combines a biblical pedigree with a nod to the 90s.
  84. Elise. The elegant and restrained Elise is always a strong choice.
  85. Lola. Like many other short names, this lovely, lilting name claims multiple origins from across the world.
  86. Miriam. A quiet biblical classic with charm to spare.
  87. Adelaide. If you're after a classic name that's both strong and feminine, Adelaide could be a contender for your shortlist.
  88. Jane. This sleek classic is complete at just one syllable. No margin for error here!
  89. Annabelle. A melodious and rhythmic possibility that oozes style and sophistication.
  90. Lucille. A compelling classic with a slight vintage feel.
  91. Camille. Let's call this one a "quiet classic": it's been in steady use throughout history but never chart-toppingly popular.
  92. Maggie. Maggie may have originated as a nickname for Margaret and Magdalena, but it's also a classic name in its own right, remaining a popular choice generation after generation.
  93. Joanna. A biblical classic—with plenty of secular appeal as well.
  94. Lena. A friendly, upbeat name that holds strong from birth through adulthood.
  95. Angelina. A long, feminine name with international appeal.
  96. Rebecca. Rebecca has fallen a long way from its glory days of the 70s and 80s, but it still has plenty of fans.
  97. Catherine. Saintly, regal, and with plenty of nicknames to choose from.
  98. Nina. A trend-defying classic that's impossible to pin to any single era.
  99. Melissa. A sweet, feminine name with mythological and poetic overtones.
  100. Laura. A solid, sensible girl's name with literary and saintly credentials.

More Classic Girl Names

If you didn't find the perfect baby baby in the list above, don't worry: there are a lot more classic girl names out there. Here, you can browse hundreds of timeless girl names, sorted neatly by their first (or last) letter.