95 Short Classic Names for Baby Girls

Looking for a short classic name for a baby girl? Excellent choice! With short classic names there's no guesswork, and whatever you choose, your daughter's name will grow beautifully with her from childhood to old age.

1. Emma. A wildly popular appellation with literary cred to spare.
2. Ava. Much more than just a palindrome, Ava is one of the most popular girl names of this century so far. But it's also an old name, with a history that goes back centuries.
3. Ella. This brisk and brief classic has been used by a number of celebrity parents, including John Travolta, Daniel Craig and Ben Stiller.
4. Chloe. Chloe appears in the Bible, but you sure don't have to be a churchgoer to use this lovely classic in the modern world.
5. Nora. Modern and traditional? Nora somehow manages to hit both targets.
6. Hazel. What's not to love about this botanical pick with a slight vintage feel?
7. Ellie. Traditional and friendly, Ellie is popular for a reason!
8. Lily. An old, floral name with a modern sound, Lily has both depth and freshness.
9. Grace. A handful of virtue names, such as Grace, never seem to lose their panache.
10. Zoe. Zoe enfolds a sweet sound, saintly credentials, and frills-free femininity into just three little letters.
11. Leah. Originally a biblical name, Leah has seen plenty of use in secular circles as well, so don't worry if you're not a churchgoer.
12. Lucy. Succinct, with a little spunk.
13. Claire. A casual, upbeat baby name that serves well into adulthood as well.
14. Ruby. After being out of the spotlight for decades, this classic gemstone name is back on trend.
15. Alice. Not only does Alice have a dazzling literary pedigree via Alice in Wonderland and authors Walker, Hoffman, Munro, Feeney and McDermott, it also has royal flair—courtesy of a couple of 19th century British princesses.
16. Bella. Beautiful, literally.
17. Sophie. A short and sweet classic with literary cachet.
18. Anna. A biblical and literary classic that will make teaching your kiddo how to spell her name a breeze!
19. Cora. A traditional name that sometimes goes out of style but always finds its way back to the charts.
20. Sarah. This enduring classic comes from the Bible but appeals to a range of parents in the modern world.
21. Eva. Short, strong and feminine, Eva is a can't-miss name for a daughter!
22. Clara. A beautiful traditional name that any little girl should be proud to call her own.
23. Iris. A floral-infused classic with literary underpinnings to boot.
24. Rose. Parents never seem to grow tired of this sweet floral name.
25. Josie. If you're looking for a classic J-name that's sweet and casual, Josie might be just the perfect handle for your baby girl.
26. Mary. The all-time most popular name for American baby girls.
27. Daisy. Can't decide whether you're tempted by literary names or botanical picks? Daisy delivers on both counts.
28. Faith. This name needs to introduction!
29. June. This warm, feminine name sometimes falls out of fashion but always bounces back.
30. Ada. Not sure whether this one belongs with the classics or on the list of lovely retro names, but either way, there's something about Ada that seems to appeal to 21st-century parents.
31. Molly. A name well represented in literature and film, Molly stays relevant, year after year.
32. Amy. A simple, unpretentious classic with broad appeal.
33. Ruth. A biblical classic that occasionally takes a dip in popularity but always comes back again.
34. Sara. A variation of Sarah.
35. Lila. A "quiet classic" that's always been around but never in the limelight.
36. Vera. A simple, graceful name that sounds both classic and fresh.
37. Hope. Hope manages to pack a lot of meaning and sound into a single syllable.
38. Annie. This sweet name may have started out as a nickname, but it works as a given name, too.
39. Elise. The elegant and restrained Elise always seems like a good choice.
40. Lola. A short and jaunty name that claims multiple origins from across the world.
41. Jane. A traditional name that sometimes drops in popularity but always finds its footing again.
42. Maggie. Whether you use it as a nickname or it stands on its own, Maggie is pure sweetness.
43. Lena. A friendly, upbeat name that will grow with your child from the playground to the boardroom.
44. Nina. A timeless classic that's impossible to pin to a particular decade.
45. Mabel. Looking for a classic name that means "love"? The pretty Mabel traces its roots to the Latin word amabilis, commonly translated as "lovable" or "worthy of love".
46. Laura. A solid, sensible girl's name with saintly credentials and a ton of literary namesakes.
47. Joy. This name offers a positive meaning, frills-free femininity, and a long history of use as a female given name.
48. Helen. Helen may not be the coolest name at the moment, but it's pops up on a whole lot of family trees, which is why it's hard to imagine it not making a comeback at some point.
49. Rosie. Can you think of anything sweeter than a little Rosie?
50. Eve. Eve packs a sweet sound, biblical provenance, and frills-free femininity into one tiny syllable.
51. Edith. Worn by everyone from royals and first ladies to saints and award-winning authors, Edith goes back eons as a given name.
52. Mae. Traditional yet fresh first (or middle) name for a daughter.
53. Alma. A name with multiple origins and meanings, Alma has a long history as a given name, even if parents are using it in big numbers at the moment.
54. Katie. A cute, classic girl name that your child can later shorten to the more grown-up Kate, if she so chooses.
55. Amber. This name has fallen dramatically from the heights of the 80s, but it still has its fans.
56. Opal. A lovely gemstone name with a bit of vintage flair.
57. Anne. Can you think of another name that's got saintly, royal and literary credentials packed into a single syllable? Thought so!
58. Myra. A literary powerhouse, Myra belongs to a slew of famous authors and fictional characters.
59. Marie. A neglected classic in need of revival.
60. Faye. The short and gentle Faye, whether spelled with or without the final E, has proved surprisingly resilient.
61. Leslie. This all-rounder of a name can be used for a boy or a girl, and spelled with -lie or -ley.
62. Louise. A name with a lot of historical and cultural cred, Louise definitely passes as a classic, even though it isn't wildly popular at the moment.
63. Flora. An under-the-radar classic with a nature tie.
64. Julie. If you're after a classic name that has the lovely -ie ending but that's not too cutesy, Julie might be perfect.
65. Rosa. This currently overlooked beauty means "rose" in a number of languages, including Spanish and Italian.
66. Irene. A short, traditional name that's instantly familiar but rarely heard on today's playgrounds.
67. Della. A forgotten classic dripping with potential.
68. Martha. A biblical classic that occasionally takes a dive but always bounces back.
69. Pearl. A lovely gemstone name that packs old-school charm, femininity, and literary overtones into a single syllable.
70. Paula. Some see Paula as a lovely classic with saintly associations; for others, it's an outdated moniker best left to nostalgia. What do you think?
71. Linda. A bit dated, but still a classic!
72. Ellen. A cast-aside classic that's waiting for some for some intrepid parents to bring it back to prominence.
73. Nancy. Nancy is an Old Hollywood darling, shared by 20th century stars Sinatra, Kovack, Gates and Kelly. Add in first lady Nancy Reagan and politician Nancy Pelosi, and you've got a name with plenty of distinguished namesake cred.
74. Joyce. This one blends an upbeat vibe with strong literary credentials.
75. Dana. A formerly unisex baby name that today leans heavily toward the pink side of the ledger.
76. Susan. This one combines classic style with a nod to the 50s.
77. Ann. A pared-down version of Anne.
78. Ida. The short but complete Ida stands out for its saintly bona fides, literary clout, and links to Greek mythology.
79. Betty. Betty had a distinguished career in Old Hollywood, with several Golden Age stars bearing the name with pride (think Hutton, White, Grable, Garrett, Furness, Compson, Blythe). Other notables from history include feminist writer Betty Friedan and first lady Elizabeth "Betty" Ford.
80. Joan. A currently underappreciated classic with impeccable saintly, literary and royal credentials.
81. Rita. A compelling classic with saintly credentials or a dusty, musty moniker with a mid-century vibe? You be the judge.
82. Jenny. The 70s' favorite Jennifer only entered the American baby name lexicon in the 20th century, but the good ol' Jenny has been around for centuries.
83. Inez. Strong, traditional, and yours for the taking!
84. Judy. Judy may be the go-to nickname for Judith, but it works independently, too.
85. Diane. Choose this and your daughter will have a ton of notable namesakes to look up to: Diane Kruger, Diane Warren, Diane Lane, Diane Keaton...
86. Janet. A variation of the French name Jeannette, the English Janet is the feminine form of John (Jean in French).
87. Carol. Caroline without frills.
88. Tina. A common nickname for names like Christina and Martina, Tina also works as a formal name.
89. Jean. Jean is the French equivalent of John, but in English-speaking countries, it's mostly seen as a variation of the feminine given name Jane.
90. Dora. A nickname for a bevy of traditional names like Dorothea, Theodora and Isadora, Dora is also a given name in its own right. Bonus points for a lovely meaning ("gift", derived from the Greek doron).
91. Doris. A dusty, over-the-hill moniker that deserves a long hiatus, or an unduly neglected literary appellation worthy of revival? Your call.
92. Lynn. Whether you use it as a first name or pop it in the middle, this one-syllable wonder of Welsh origin has an appealing, outdoorsy meaning: "lake."
93. Irma. Depending on who you ask, Irma is either a clunky, old-fashioned name or an underused classic overdue for a comeback.
94. Olga. A straightforward Slavic classic without frills. Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic parents may appreciate the link to Saint Olga of Kiev.
95. Jeanne. In use for hundreds of years, Jeanne has been worn by everyone from saints to queens to artists.