Best A Names for Girls
Girl names that start with A are first in the alphabet and first in parents’ hearts. A has been the most popular initial for girl names in the US for many years.
Our favorite A names for girls change with each generation. Thirty years ago, Amy, Amber, Ashley and Amanda dominated the charts. Today you’re much more likely to meet a young Amelia or Ava (both in the Top 10).
We’ve assembled some of the very best A names for girls, the ones we’d suggest to a friend. They range from vintage to modern, popular to rare, and from traditional classics to borrowings from other cultures. What they have in common (apart from the letter A) is that they’re all absolutely awesome.
Ada
What a difference a letter makes! Ada has all the sleek simplicity of Ava (and of course is also a palindrome) but isn’t so… everywhere. Many parents love it for the connection to computing pioneer Ada Lovelace. Her first name, Augusta, is a grander and rarer option.
Adelaide
Once buttoned-up and dusty, Adelaide has had a huge image shift in recent years. We love Adeline too, but Adelaide has the advantage of being more distinctive, with only one spelling. Short forms Adele and Adela are equally classic and much less common.
Agnes
This gentle great-grandma name is so old it’s new again. Agnes is very popular in Scandinavia, and in England’s Top 500 — we’re sure it’s only a matter of time before the revival reaches America too. Aggie is a cute nickname, but if the “G” sound is too harsh for you, Annis is the historical pronunciation.
Alani
Meaning “orange tree”, Alani is one of the Hawaiian girl names that have risen through the ranks in recent years. Another is Ailani, meaning “chief”. It can also be an honor name: Alani is the most popular feminization of Alan now, taking over from Alana.
Alice
It’s rare to find a truly classic name that feels fresh, but Alice is one. It suffered a popularity dip towards the end of the twentieth century, when variants like Alicia and Alyson were in favor, but now this sweet, literary and royal name is back in the US Top 100 again.
Alma
With its gentle sound and positive meanings — “nurturing” in Latin, “soul” in Spanish — it’s no surprise that Alma is back on the rise for girls. Similar-sounding Alba is popular in several European countries, and a contender to return to the US Top 1000 girl names next year.
Top A Names for Girls in the US
Amara
Amara is a graceful chameleon name, with roots in many cultures and a wide range of meanings to choose from. It’s one of several names in the same pattern that have seen a huge increase in the last five years: others include Amira, Amaya and Amora.
Amelie
Amelie is to Amelia as Sylvie is to Sylvia: more streamlined, more surprising, and with extra French chic. It’s been in the Top 100 in England and Wales for nearly twenty years. Will it ever get there in the States? Amalie is a Germanic spelling option.
Annie
This sweet, spirited vintage nickname has never really been out of style, but it’s starting to show signs of a big revival. Other names in the Ann family we recommend are Anya, Annelise, and Anais.
Arabella
Looking for an alternative to Isabella, with a classy British flavor? Arabella could be the answer. It ranks in the Top 20 names in England, but lower in the States — for now — and has a wealth of nicknames to choose from. We also still love Annabel(la), and the much more unusual Amabel.
Ari
A true unisex name — 40 percent of babies named Ari in 2021 were girls — that takes on-trend names like Aria, Ariana and Ariyah and whittles them down to the part parents really love. Avi is equally light-touch and unisex.
Unique Girl Names That Start With A
Aspen
Gentle and distinctive, modern but rooted in nature, Aspen fits into several style brackets. It’s a botanical name, joining other A names like Aster, and a place name — from the Colorado ski resort — like Arden and Alaska. Aspen is now at its highest-ever rank on the name charts.
Astrid
A Scandi-chic name with a starry sound and a steely-strong meaning, Astrid is in the US Top 500 and heading upwards. It’s very popular in Sweden and Denmark, as is the short form Asta, and other A names including Alva and Aya.
Athena
The Greek goddess of war, wisdom and poetry entered the US Top 100 last year, making it one of the most popular mythology names around. Both feminine and substantial, it’s also the Greek name for Athens.
Aurelia
This golden-hued name echoes the sounds of Aurora and Amelia, and the grandeur of ancient Rome. If Roman is your style, we also recommend classic-but-underused Antonia.
Ayla
Whether you pronounce it “ay-la” or “Isla”, more parents are falling in love with this name every year — it’s on course to enter the US Top 100 in 2022. With ties to several cultures and to literature, it’s one of the most light and versatile names around. Alternative spellings include Aila and Ailsa.
Azalea
“Az” is one of the hottest sounds in baby names right now. Azariah and Azra are also climbing up the charts, but Azalea has the advantage of being a colorful flower name, and the cool association with rapper Iggy Azalea (real first name Amethyst, another A name for girls we love).
Find all our search by letter tools on the Baby Names A-Z page.