Most Popular Girl Bands of All Time

Kittie is a pioneering all-female metal band from Canada, anchored by sisters Mercedes and Morgan Lander, with a revolving cast of bandmates. They have what is described by Allmusic “a gothic nu-metal sound”

The Donnas combined punk, metal and classic rock to create fun and exciting songs. They signed a record deal straight out of high school and stayed active from the early 1990s until 2012.

One of the first all-female bands in the hard rock scene, Girlschool was formed in London in the late 1970s and pumped out hits into the ’80s and beyond. They are one of the longest-running all-female groups and are still active today.

Pussy Riot is a feminist performance art collective that also makes music. They earned international attention (and eventually jail time) in 2012 when they performed a provocative song in a Moscow cathedral to criticize the Orthodox church’s support for Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The all-female post-punk band, founded in London, is known for its throwback sound and exciting live shows. Their song “Adore” was used on the popular British TV series “Peaky Blinders.”

Active in the ’80s and ’90s, Zelda was one of Japan’s first all-female bands. They combine a range of genres including new wave, punk, and pop to create a unique sound.

L7’s music has been called punk, metal, grunge, and alternative rock. Known for their live performances, the band was founded in Los Angeles in 1985 but is often associated with the early ’90s music scene in Seattle.

Bikini Kill is a feminist punk band that was most active in the ’90s. Besides making music themselves they actively encouraged more women to start their own bands.

K-Pop group Wonder Girls was introduced to the world in 2006 through an MTV Korea show called “MTV Wonder Girls.” They produced a range of music, drawing heavily from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.

Exposé is a Miami based, American-Latin vocal group. They have had a shifting lineup over the years and are known for their ’80s and ’90s dance-club hits. The group took a hiatus from music in the ’90s but continues to tour today.

The most popular female vocal group of the first half of the 20th century, The Andrews Sisters produced a mountain of hits in their swing and boogie-woogie styles (“Rum and Coca-Cola” was one of their best known efforts). Their style was imitated often, and influenced many musicians throughout the decades.

Warpaint is a four-piece band that has created a unique combination of post punk, psychedelic rock, and dream pop. The group is known for its experimental sound and melding genres in unusual ways.

The Shirelles were a pioneering female group that blended a mix of rhythm and blues, doo-wop, and soul music. They were originally founded for a high school talent show and went on to produce a plethora of hits throughout the ’60s.

Created through the British television show “Popstars: The Rivals,” Girls Aloud produced numerous pop hits in the 2000s. They disbanded in 2013 after a career as one of the few highly successful reality TV groups.

Sleater-Kinney was born out of the riot grrrl movement in Olympia, Washington, in the 1990s. The band is known for its punk and indie rock sounds and feminist and left-leaning beliefs.

The pioneering hard rock group was active in the late ’70s and responsible for some big hits. Their biggest song, “Cherry Bomb,” found new popularity after appearing in the movie “Guardians of the Galaxy.” During their heyday, the group found considerable success abroad, especially in Japan.

AKB48 is a Japanese idol band. Started in 2005, the group has its own theater in the Akihabara area of Tokyo and performs daily live shows. The unique entertainment model allows fans to meet and interact with the artists. The group is made up of 48 members, broken into different teams that perform at different times.

The female trio creates pop and soft rock. Members Carnie and Wendy Wilson are the daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and Chynna Phillips is the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and Papas.

The all-female band was popular in the ’80s for its pop and new wave music. The group made light and fun music including several top hits and memorable songs like “Vacation.”

The British pop trio produced several big hits in the early 2000s. All original members eventually left the group but were replaced over the years and the group continues to make music today.

Iconic ’80s dance and pop group Bananarama produced decade defining hits. Their music was extremely popular in dance clubs in the UK and beyond. After a long break, the group came back together in 2017 for a UK and North American tour.

Originally a nine-member group, Girls’ Generation has produced K-Pop songs popular throughout Asia and beyond. The band re-released its self-titled album, originally recorded in Korean, in a Japanese-language version, to critical and popular success in Japan.

Tegan and Sara are twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin. The Canadian indie pop duo released its first album in 1999 and remains active.

En Vogue was originally an R&B quartet from Oakland, California. They released several genre-blending hits in the ’90s and ’00s. The group’s lineup has shifted over the years, and seen six different members.

2NE1 was a female K-pop group, active between 2009 and 2016. They are one of the best-selling girl groups of all-time and helped to revolutionize K-pop. 2NE1 stands for “New Evolution of 21st Century.”

Inspired by doo-wop groups in the 1950s, the Ronettes produced music in the ’60s and (briefly) ’70s that melded a variety of genres. Their soulful but exciting songs found considerable success, especially their hit “Be My Baby,” produced by the legendary Phil Spector (who later married lead singer Ronnie Bennett).

Led by the legendary Diana Ross, The Supremes dominated the 1960s, rivaling The Beatles with their international success. They were the biggest Motown group in an age when Detroit was on top.

Originally an R&B group of three sisters (eventually four) from Oakland, California, the Pointer Sisters blended genres. They created songs that ranged from pop to disco to jazz and even picked up a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance.

Formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, the group combines a mix of pop rock, new wave and other genres. They found major success with memorable and catchy songs like “Walk Like an Egyptian” and a Prince tune, “Manic Monday.”

One of the most iconic pop groups of all time, the British superstars dominated the ’90s. With their unique monikers and dazzling style, the Spice Girls took the world by storm. They created massive dance-pop hits and infused them with independent and feminist messages.

Promiscuous in music and name, the Pussycat Dolls — which began as a burlesque troupe in Los Angeles — created a string of hits that melded pop, hip-hop, and R&B.

Responsible for mega hits like “Waterfalls” and “No Scrubs”, TLC was formed as a trio in Atlanta in 1990. The group created a unique style that combined Hip-Hop, R&B and Pop.

Fifth Harmony found prominence after finishing third on the show “X Factor.” They signed to Simon Cowell’s label and originally had five members until Camila Cabello went solo. Based in Miami, Fifth Harmony has created some big pop songs.

Destiny’s Child recorded some gigantic hits in their day and are still massively popular 20 years later. The group had several members come and go, but its most popular iteration was Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. Beyoncé and Rowland both went on to create chart-topping solo hits and Williams shifted into a successful gospel music career.

The all-female British group was the first to win the UK’s “X Factor” and sign with Simon Cowell’s record label. Little Mix combines R&B, pop, and dance music into exciting tunes while advocating for female empowerment, body positivity, and LGBTQ rights.