Whether you’re expecting a baby girl, are waiting to be surprised or couldn’t care less about gender norms, there’s a chance you landed here because you’ve got girl names on the mind. And if you’d prefer your child isn’t one of three or four in their class, you may be on the hunt for a unique baby girl name in particular.
Name trends, though, depend quite a bit on geographic location, according to Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief of Nameberry. “The most fashionable girl names of the moment vary based on where you live and the social circles you run in,” she says. “That being said, there are a few trends that offer a pretty good overview spanning regions and demographics.”
Here, Kihm, and Jennifer Moss, founder and CEO of BabyNames.com break down unique girl baby names by theme.
European-inspired unique baby girl names
“What we’re seeing is a surge of European names in American baby naming,” Moss notes, “specifically Italian and French names.”
Here are a few unique baby girl names with Italian and French roots. According to the U.S. Social Security Association (SSA) database, none of these names broke the top 300 most popular baby girl names in 2023.
- Renata
- Colette
- Briella
- Demi
- Mylah
- Aurelia
- Viviana
- Luciana
- Liana
- Amiyah
Read more:
Unique baby girl names that start with “E” and “O”
Another trend Moss notes is the rise of “E” and “O” names for girls. This, in part, can be traced to some of the characters from “Bridgerton,” she adds. Here, per Moss, a few unique names that fit this bill:
- Eloise
- Evangeline
- Elodie
- Ophelia
- Odette
- Opal
Other “E” and “O” names that didn’t break the top 300 in 2023, according to the SSA are:
- Oaklee
- Elle
- Elora
- Esme
- Elisa
- Elaine
- Emory
- Estella
- Emiliana
- Emmeline
- Eleanora
- Elliot
Grandpa-inspired unique baby girl names
Yes, grandpa, not grandma names, as the latter was a trend that started a few years back, notes Moss.
According to Kihm, “vintage masculine nicknames are being refreshed on baby girls.” Here are a few she’s taken note of:
- Scottie
- Georgie
- Stevie
- Andie
- Billie
Here are a few more (girl and boy) names that haven’t broken the SSA database’s top 300 from 2023:
- Quincy
- Charley/Charleigh/Charli
- Sonny
- Johnny
Vintage nature-inspired unique baby girl names
According to Kihm, vintage- and nature-inspired names can make a truly beautiful and unique combination — and many were first popular about 100 years ago.
Here are a few she suggests:
- Hazel
- Ivy
- Iris
- Violet
- Ruby
Here are more unique, nature-infused names that combine these trends (but may not have made the cut 100 years ago!). Note, none of these names, according to the 2023 SSA database, were in the top 100:
- Primrose
- Flora
- Dahlia
- Myrtle
- Daisy
- Marigold
- Rosalie
- Rosamund
Unique baby girl names with a spiritual twist
Another trend that lends itself to unique baby girl names are spiritually-themed names. “These,” Kihm notes, “are modern choices that overtly connect to spirituality and religion or its symbolism.”
Here are a few to consider:
- Blessing
- Halo
- Serenity
- Veda
- Promise
Here are more spiritually unique names to consider (none of which broke the SSA top 300 in 2023)
- Angelica
- Eve
- Destiny
- Bodhi
- Heaven
- Astrid
Unique baby girl names that are actually last names
Another route to take when baby naming is to look at last names. “Many English and Irish surnames are seeing new life as first names for baby girls,” Kihm notes. Here are a few to consider:
- Miller
- Murphy
- Sloane
- Parker
- Collins
Other names that haven’t broken the top 300, according to the SSA:
- Hollis
- Cameron
- Carter
- Blaire
- Bristol
- Holland
- Lennox
- Mckinley
- Kelsey
- Quincy
Atmospheric-inspired unique baby girl names
Looking for ethereal names that evoke the sun and sky? Here are a few unique girl names Kihm suggests:
- Cielo
- Araceli
- Sunny
- Solana
- Soleil
And more to consider (none of which broke the SSA top 400 in 2023):
- Cael
- Brisa
- Breeze
- Lyra
- Celestia
Formerly unique baby girl names
Unique baby girl names can be subjective, as again, location comes into play. That said, here are a few names that Kihm identifies as “formerly unique” but are currently in the U.S. Top 300:
- Maeve
- Freya
- Wrenley
- Zuri
- Saylor
- Kailani
- Lilith
- Olive
Other “unique” names that all broke the top U.S. 100 in 2020 or later, according to the SSA:
- Athena
- Ayla
- Iris
- Liliana
- Eden
- Genesis
The bottom line
Finding a perfectly unique baby girl name should be fun, not stressful; and it’s important to keep in mind that everything – including names — goes in cycles, so choosing a name that you truly love (not one that’s solely obscure) is key.
“So many formerly unique names become popular, or at the very least, rise in popularity,” Kihm says. “This is something that’s important to keep in mind as you search for the elusive name that’s both on-trend and rarely used.”
