100 Best Girl Names Below the Top 1000
Uncommon and unique girl names are more sought after than ever by new parents. Long gone are the days when there were five Jennifers or three Ashleys in every class! In 2022, a third of American baby girls received a name outside the Top 1000 most popular.
The great news is that there has never been a more exciting time to name a girl. But it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the ever-expanding universe of options out there!
In an attempt to simplify the process, today we take a systematic look at a selection of the best options ranking comfortably below the Top 1000.
In 2022, the #1000 girl name, Kahlani, was given to 260 baby girls. Other stylish choices that just missed out on a place in the charts include Etta and Eleanora, Libby and Tilly, Xena and Zola.
All of the rare names in the lists below were given to fewer than 200 baby girls in 2022. They are sorted according to number of births in the last year on record, and include options to suit a range of styles and sensibilities.
150-200 Births
Girl names given to between 150 and 200 baby girls last year sit in the popularity sweet spot for parents looking for names that are familiar but rare. They are unusual enough to be highly unlikely to repeat in a class, grade, or even school, but they’re also widely known and liked.
They include stylish vintage options poised for revival, fresh word and nature names, and international options that translate well between cultures. Below are some of our favorites.
Alba
Fans of the hit Spanish-language Netflix shows Cable Girls and Money Heist will associate Alba with strong, complex female protagonists. It’s a popular choice across much of Europe, including Spain, France, the Scandinavian nations, and the UK – where it’s also a poetic name for Scotland.
Imogen
This ancient legendary name swims eternally beneath the US Top 1000, never quite rising above the surface, though it has ranked in the Top 100 in recent years in several English-speaking countries. It's a perfect rare but established choice for lovers of history and literature.
Pepper
This feisty word name might have seemed outlandish a decade ago, but now its high-energy sound and offbeat appeal hit just the right style notes. Pepper feels like a natural successor to the likes of Piper and Juniper, and boasts a positive Marvel association to boot.
Rosalind
A name with a distinguished literary history, Rosalind peaked in the 1940s with the stardom of Rosalind Russell, but fell off the list in the late 1970s and has yet to return. For now, this Shakespearean classic remains rare.
Romy
Romy, originally a short form of Rosemary, has been a recent celebrity favorite and ranks in the Top 100 in several European countries. It's more substantial than many nickname names, with a warm and upbeat appeal.
More names given to 150-200 baby girls
- Amal
- Antonia
- Aranza
- Beatrix
- Campbell
- Chiara
- Danica
- Eleni
- Evaluna
- Gaia
- Giada
- Honey
- Kit
- Laramie
- Lavender
- Maple
- Marjorie
- Mirabel
- Odette
- Onyx
- Pia
- Rue
- Salome
- Sterling
- Valkyrie
- Venus
- Xochitl
- Yael
- Zinnia
- Ziva
100-149 Births
Girl names in this category are truly under-the-radar options that are unlikely to break the Top 1000 for a good few years – if at all. They include some cool modern options with fashionable sounds, as well as unique names from ancient civilizations that feel right at home on 21st century birth certificates.
Hartley
Girl names ending in -ley have undergone a style transformation since the days of Shirley and Beverley. Now, it’s one of the cutest and coolest name endings around, and Hartley is an underused gem with a sleek sound and the lovely (literally!) nickname Hart.
Honor
This classic virtue name has now become solidly unisex, which only increases its appeal. Legendary English actress Honor Blackman was known for portraying strong, glamorous female characters. And more recently, Jessica Alba chose it for her daughter.
Fern
At its peak around a century ago, Fern is right on track for a comeback in the 2020s. It’s an appealingly fuss-free vintage option, with ties to the natural world and to the young heroine of the children’s classic Charlotte’s Web. Its compact shape also makes it a great alternative to the single-syllable middle names du jour, like Rose, Grace and May.
Leni
Four-syllable, ends-in-I names are some of the hottest for baby girls right now, and Leni is one we're suddenly seeing everywhere! It boasts a light, bright, international sound and its minimalist spelling puts a feminine spin on the recent trend of grandpa names for girls.
Tabitha
A bewitching vintage option with style and substance, Tabitha has storybook charm in spades and plenty of nickname potential. It’s exactly the sort of quirky traditional name the British love – and indeed, it’s a Top 250 pick across the pond.
More names given to 100-149 baby girls
- Avalon
- Aviva
- Blanca
- Bowie
- Brighton
- Cecily
- Clarke
- Dua
- Echo
- Edie
- Ever
- Georgie
- Hollis
- Inara
- Isadora
- Juno
- Jupiter
- Kaori
- Linnea
- Lux
- Maven
- Nell
- Noelani
- Oriana
- Petra
- Rio
- Sunday
- Verity
- Wilhelmina
- Zelie
50-99 Births
Coming in at under 100 births in 2022, these names are true rarities that you’re unlikely to ever encounter on anyone else (IRL, at least). But unique doesn’t necessarily mean out there! While there are some more adventurous choices in this category, others are overlooked classics which come with plenty of historical precedence.
Cassia
With the current craze for Cas- names from Cassius to Caspian, we can’t believe that this beautiful option remains so underused! Properly pronounced with three syllables – CASS-ee-ah – it has a lovely natural namesake in the cinnamon tree.
Dorothea
Theodore joined the boys' Top 10 in 2021, and Theo, Thea and Theodora are all hot – but this reversed alternative remains rare. It's equally appealing, with a vintage charm in-step with Bridgerton-esque favorites like Daphne and Hyacinth. And nickname options abound, including cute-as-a-button Dot or Dottie.
Greer
Old Hollywood icon Greer Garson lends a glamorous feel to her sleek and sophisticated name, which was actually a family surname. It’s a streamlined choice every bit as stylish as Blair or Sloane, but far less common.
Rooney
Some names are just plain fun to say! Rooney is a punchy, playful alternative to Riley or Rory that retains its warm Irish charm. Actress Rooney Mara lends it extra visibility, and it comes complete with the adorable childhood nickname Roo.
Susannah
Susannah may be the most beautiful classic name that continually fails to become more popular. Perhaps that's due to too many midcentury Susans and Susies and Sues, but Susannah feels far more timeless than any of its sisters, benefitting from both Biblical roots and a lovely floral meaning.
More names given to 50-99 baby girls
- Acacia
- Afton
- Andromeda
- Banks
- Blythe
- Cosette
- Delphine
- Dove
- Eira
- Fia
- Gigi
- Idalia
- Larkin
- Leonie
- Lula
- Morrigan
- Moxie
- Neva
- Olympia
- Oona
- Posie
- Primrose
- Runa
- Sakura
- Sullivan
- Tamar
- Twyla
- Vesper
- Wednesday
- Zipporah
Below 50 Births
The rarest of the rare! Girl names given to fewer than 50 babies last year are standout choices that your daughter won’t share with anyone else. International baby name charts are a great source of appealing yet virtually unused options, and there are also plenty of overlooked vintage names that feel ripe for revival.
Alouette
An adventurous choice that nevertheless has a very accessible sound, Alouette is French for “lark” and is made more familiar by the popular nursery rhyme of the same name. It has a bright, bohemian feel and plenty of cute nicknames to choose from, such as Ettie and Lou.
Bronte
The Brontë sisters – Charlotte, Emily and Anne – are among the most famous female authors of all time, penning classics including Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. That makes this strong-sounding name a wonderful option for feminist parents.
Cosima
An aristocratic Italian name with a long history and a bright, starry-eyed charm. Now that brother name Cosmo is a high-profile celebrity pick, now seems like the perfect time for Cosima to shine.
Lilac
Vintage revival turned modern classic Lily is the long-reigning queen of the flower names for girls, a popular category which includes stylish favorites like Violet, Rose and Iris. But despite its similar sound, pretty Lilac remains virtually unheard of in the US. Its distinctive consonant ending gives it an interesting, offbeat appeal.
Vega
If you’re drawn to sleek celestial names like Luna, Nova and Lyra but are turned off by their popularity, Vega could just be the perfect underused alternative. Its vibrant V initial is right on trend, and it’s also a little-known Marian name with two beautiful natural meanings: “meadow” and “swooping eagle”.