Classic girl names
Most widely given today: Emily, Sophie and Grace.
43 names meet the rule, most given first.
Median birth year 1999; now about 440.6 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it EM-ih-lee
Latin origin
rival, emulator
3 syllablesLoved in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Common across five German cities, British Columbia, the Netherlands and 14 more places. Rare in Catalonia, Quebec, Poland and three more places.
1 in 78 girls born in Northern Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1975; now 99.4 per 100,000 (France)
Say it SOH-fee
French origin
wisdom
2 syllablesLoved in Ireland and the Netherlands. Common across six German cities, Canada, the UK and eight more places. Rare in Norway, Poland, Catalonia and three more places.
1 in 86 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 2003; now about 407.6 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it GRAYS
English origin
grace
1 syllableLoved in Northern Ireland, Ireland and Scotland. Common across England and Wales, Ontario, British Columbia and five more places. Rare in Italy, four German cities, Quebec and eight more places.
1 in 57 girls born in Northern Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 2005; now 671.2 per 100,000 (France)
Say it AN-uh
Latin origin
grace, gracious, graced with child
2 syllablesLoved in Austria and two more places. Common across Northern Ireland, Italy, six German cities and 13 more places. Rare in Sweden, England and Wales, Slovenia and one more place.
1 in 95 girls born in Northern Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1997; now 742.7 per 100,000 (France)
Say it AL-is
Germanic origin
noble + character
2 syllablesLoved in Sweden, Quebec, Italy and one more place. Common across Switzerland, British Columbia, Ireland and 11 more places. Rare in four German cities, Norway, Austria and four more places.
1 in 197 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1967; now 258.0 per 100,000 (France)
Say it muh-REE-uh
Hebrew origin from Miriam,
possibly bitter
3 syllablesLoved in Spain and two more places. Common across Poland, six German cities, Switzerland and 13 more places. Rare in Scotland, British Columbia and Slovenia.
1 in 311 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1968; now about 631.6 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it EV-uh-lin
Germanic origin
possibly desired, wished for
3 syllablesCommon across the UK, Ontario, British Columbia and seven more places. Rare in Norway, Quebec, four German cities and seven more places.
1 in 162 girls born in England and Wales in 2025
Median birth year 2007; now 808.9 per 100,000 (France)
Say it ROHZ
Germanic origin
rose
1 syllableLoved in France. Common across Canada, the UK, Ireland and four more places. Rare in Switzerland, four German cities, Israel and six more places.
1 in 214 girls born in Northern Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1963; now about 385.6 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it ih-LIZ-uh-beth
Hebrew origin
my God is an oath
4 syllablesCommon across Canada, England and Wales, Ireland and two more places. Rare in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands and 11 more places.
1 in 325 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1967; now 22.7 per 100,000 (France)
Say it IZ-uh-bel
French origin
my God is an oath
3 syllablesCommon across Ireland, England and Wales, Ontario and six more places. Rare in Sweden, Northern Ireland, four German cities and nine more places.
1 in 175 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1948; now 177.8 per 100,000 (France)
Say it muh-REE
Hebrew origin from Miriam,
possibly bitter
2 syllablesLoved in Austria, Cologne and one more place. Common across three other German cities, Norway, the Netherlands and two more places. Rare in France, Switzerland, Canada and six more places.
1 in 4,473 girls born in Scotland in 2025
Median birth year 1980; now about 62.4 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it MIR-ee-um
Hebrew origin
possibly bitter
3 syllablesLoved in Israel. Common across Austria and Italy. Rare in five German cities, Norway, Poland and ten more places.
1 in 1,286 girls born in England and Wales in 2025
Median birth year 2000; now 524.8 per 100,000 (France)
Say it joo-lee-ET
Roots in French and Latin 3 syllables
Loved in Quebec. Common in France. Rare in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ontario and eight more places.
1 in 1,408 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1993; now 292.9 per 100,000 (France)
Say it eh-LEES
Roots in French, German and Hebrew 2 syllables
Common across Sweden, Norway and one more place. Rare in the Netherlands, France, Canada and 11 more places.
1 in 1,278 girls born in Scotland in 2025
Median birth year 1965; now about 91.8 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it dy-AN-uh
Latin origin
goddess
3 syllablesCommon across Italy, Switzerland, three German cities and four more places. Rare in Catalonia, Sweden, three other German cities and 11 more places.
1 in 1,243 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1979; now 59.3 per 100,000 (France)
Say it RAY-chul
Hebrew origin
ewe
2 syllablesCommon in Israel. Rare in Canada, Ireland, the UK and seven more places.
1 in 880 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1971; now 36.6 per 100,000 (France)
Say it LID-ee-uh
Greek origin
beautiful one, noble one
3 syllablesRare in Canada, the UK, Norway and 13 more places.
1 in 405 girls born in Northern Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1980; now 81.9 per 100,000 (France)
Say it suh-LEEN
Latin origin
heaven
2 syllablesCommon across Sweden and Italy. Rare in Canada, Norway, four German cities and nine more places.
1 in 1,174 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1981; now 38.4 per 100,000 (France)
Say it KLAIR
French origin
bright, shining, clear
1 syllableCommon across Canada and one more place. Rare in Switzerland, three German cities, the Netherlands and nine more places.
1 in 1,921 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1961; now 200.5 per 100,000 (France)
Say it JOH-suh-feen
French origin from Joseph,
(God) shall add
3 syllablesCommon across France, Ontario and British Columbia. Rare in Austria, five German cities, the Netherlands and ten more places.
1 in 911 girls born in Northern Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1963; now 29.6 per 100,000 (France)
Say it AG-nus
Greek origin
pure, chaste
2 syllablesCommon across Sweden and Norway. Rare in Canada, Britain, Austria and six more places. Loved in Denmark.
1 in 3,206 girls born in England and Wales in 2025
Median birth year 1957; now about 45.9 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it NAN-see
English origin from Ann,
grace, gracious, graced with child
2 syllablesCommon across England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Rare in Scotland, Ontario, Italy and two more places.
1 in 347 girls born in Northern Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1958; now about 25.7 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it MAR-thuh
Aramaic origin
mistress
2 syllablesCommon across Northern Ireland and two more places. Rare in four German cities, England and Wales, Austria and nine more places.
1 in 291 girls born in Northern Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1956; now about 22.0 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it EL-en
Greek origin from Eleanor,
perhaps other
2 syllablesCommon across Sweden and two more places. Rare in four German cities, Ireland, Norway and ten more places.
1 in 754 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1945; now about 77.1 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it ROOTH
Hebrew origin
possibly companion
1 syllableCommon across Israel and Sweden. Rare in four German cities, Ireland, Norway and 13 more places.
1 in 1,243 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1996; now 353.9 per 100,000 (France)
Say it LOO-see
Latin origin from Lucy,
light
2 syllablesCommon across France and Quebec. Rare in Switzerland, four German cities, the UK and seven more places.
1 in 911 girls born in Northern Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1999; now 223.2 per 100,000 (France)
Say it kuh-MEEL
French origin 2 syllables
Common across Quebec and France. Rare in Switzerland, British Columbia, Ontario and 11 more places.
1 in 3,567 girls born in England and Wales in 2025
Median birth year 1959; now 76.7 per 100,000 (France)
Say it ih-LIZ-uh-beth
Hebrew origin
my God is an oath
4 syllablesCommon across four German cities, Quebec and Austria. Rare in Norway, Cologne, the Netherlands and 11 more places.
1 in 5,964 girls born in Scotland in 2025
Median birth year 1997; now 146.5 per 100,000 (France)
Say it mah-TEELD
French origin
might + battle
2 syllablesCommon across Norway, Quebec and two more places. Rare in France, Switzerland, four German cities and six more places.
1 in 14,071 girls born in England and Wales in 2025
Median birth year 1958; now about 196.5 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it LIL-ee-un
Latin origin
lily
3 syllablesCommon in Canada. Rare in Norway, Britain, Ireland and six more places.
1 in 1,789 girls born in Scotland in 2025
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Median birth year 1949; now about 93.6 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it MAIR-ee
Roots in Aramaic and Hebrew from Miriam,
possibly bitter
2 syllablesRare in Ireland, the UK, four German cities and nine more places.
1 in 515 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1938; now 559.6 per 100,000 (France)
Say it ZHAHN
French origin
God is gracious
1 syllableCommon across France and Quebec. Rare in Switzerland and England and Wales.
1 in 84,427 girls born in England and Wales in 2025
Median birth year 1978; now 310.3 per 100,000 (France)
Say it gab-ree-EL
French origin from Gabriel,
God is my strong man
3 syllablesCommon in France. Rare in Canada, Switzerland, Ireland and five more places.
1 in 2,641 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1947; now about 22.0 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it GLOR-ee-uh
Latin origin
glory
3 syllablesCommon across Slovenia and Italy. Rare in Poland, Austria, three German cities and ten more places.
1 in 2,347 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1946; now about 106.5 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it MAR-guh-ret
Greek origin
pearl
3 syllablesRare in Ireland, Canada, the UK and two more places.
1 in 604 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1957; now about 42.2 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it JAYN
French origin
God is gracious
1 syllableRare in the Netherlands, Ireland, the UK and seven more places.
1 in 1,056 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Median birth year 1976; now about 53.2 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it AN-juh-luh
Greek origin
messenger, angel
3 syllablesCommon in Spain. Rare in Italy, Canada, Catalonia and nine more places.
1 in 3,578 girls born in Scotland in 2025
Median birth year 1962; now 62.8 per 100,000 (France)
Say it heh-LEEN
Greek origin 2 syllables
Common across Austria and two more places. Rare in Norway, four German cities, France and four more places.
1 in 84,427 girls born in England and Wales in 2025
Median birth year 1947; now about 66.1 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it FRAN-sis
Latin origin from Francis,
French(man)
2 syllablesRare in Canada, Sweden and Britain.
1 in 2,261 girls born in England and Wales in 2025
Median birth year 1972; now about 119.3 per 100,000 (Ontario and British Columbia)
Say it VIV-ee-un
Latin origin
probably alive
3 syllablesRare in Canada, Cologne, Poland and eight more places. Common in Finland.
1 in 5,890 girls born in England and Wales in 2025
Median birth year 1971; now 64.5 per 100,000 (France)
Say it ah-LEEN
French origin 2 syllables
Rare in Switzerland, France, Canada and eight more places.
1 in 50,656 girls born in England and Wales in 2025
Median birth year 2001; now 188.3 per 100,000 (France)
Say it LEE-seh
French origin
my God is an oath
2 syllablesCommon in France. Rare in the Netherlands, Norway, Berlin and four more places.
1 in 531 girls born in France in 2025
Median birth year 1935; now 251.1 per 100,000 (France)
Say it soo-ZAN
French origin
lily
2 syllablesCommon in France. Rare in Poland, Quebec, the Netherlands and three more places.
1 in 36,183 girls born in England and Wales in 2025