The popularity of names given to newborns responds to a variety of factors, and changes constantly. A look at the names that are rising in popularity can offer inspiration to any expectant parent, but also insight into major cultural and demographic shifts occurring throughout the country. (By way of illustration, these are the biggest name fads of the last 40 years.)
To determine the fastest growing girl names in America, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on first names from the U.S. Social Security Administration. Names were ranked based on the total change in female newborns assigned the name from 2017 to 2022. Supplemental data on names by state are also from the SSA. Origins and meanings come from the Oxford English Dictionary, Online Etymological Dictionary, and other sources.
The fastest growing names for girls are an interesting mix of the traditional and modern, including names from the Bible, nature, and pop culture. (These are the most common TV-inspired baby names in America.)
Many new parents to girls are looking to nature for naming inspiration. Names like Wrenley, Ivy, and Magnolia – among the fastest growing girl names – evoke images of beauty and tranquility found in the natural world. New parents are also looking to the past for inspiration. Vintage names like Eloise, Violet, Hazel, and Eleanor, for example, are experiencing a resurgence in popularity.
Click here to see the fastest growing baby names in America
There is also a growing trend toward the overall diversity of names, with less concentration among the most popular ones. While in 1920, the 500 most popular names for girls constituted 85.8% of all newborn babies, in 2022 the 500 most popular names for boys and girls made up just 55.7% of the newborn cohort. According to “Drift as a Mechanism for Cultural Change: An Example from Baby Names,” published in the August 2003 edition of proceedings Biological Sciences, the incidence of new, unusual names spiked in the 1920s and 1960s – suggesting that Americans may look to unique names during times of social and cultural change.
30. Alani
> Origin(s): Hawaiian
> Meaning(s): Orange, orange tree
> Increase in girls named Alani, 2017 to 2022: +987
> Newborn girls named Alani in 2022: 1,692 (0.1%)
> Newborn girls named Alani in 2017: 705 (<0.1%)
> States where Alani is most popular: Delaware, Mississippi, Hawaii
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29. Wrenley
> Origin(s): English
> Meaning(s): Compound of wren (a bird) and lee or ley (meadow)
> Increase in girls named Wrenley, 2017 to 2022: +1,046
> Newborn girls named Wrenley in 2022: 1,114 (0.1%)
> Newborn girls named Wrenley in 2017: 68 (<0.1%)
> States where Wrenley is most popular: Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana
28. Magnolia
> Origin(s): French
> Meaning(s): Fragrant flowering tree (named for botanist Pierre Magnol)
> Increase in girls named Magnolia, 2017 to 2022: +1,055
> Newborn girls named Magnolia in 2022: 1,869 (0.1%)
> Newborn girls named Magnolia in 2017: 814 (<0.1%)
> States where Magnolia is most popular: Vermont, Arkansas, Mississippi
27. Emilia
> Origin(s): Latin
> Meaning(s): Imitating, rivaling
> Increase in girls named Emilia, 2017 to 2022: +1,071
> Newborn girls named Emilia in 2022: 4,664 (0.3%)
> Newborn girls named Emilia in 2017: 3,593 (0.2%)
> States where Emilia is most popular: Wyoming, Rhode Island, District of Columbia
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26. Lainey
> Origin(s): Greek by way of French
> Meaning(s): Shining light (variation on Elaine, French form of Helen)
> Increase in girls named Lainey, 2017 to 2022: +1,075
> Newborn girls named Lainey in 2022: 1,689 (0.1%)
> Newborn girls named Lainey in 2017: 614 (<0.1%)
> States where Lainey is most popular: Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota
25. Hazel
> Origin(s): Old English
> Meaning(s): Hazel tree, hazelnut
> Increase in girls named Hazel, 2017 to 2022: +1,085
> Newborn girls named Hazel in 2022: 6,125 (0.4%)
> Newborn girls named Hazel in 2017: 5,040 (0.3%)
> States where Hazel is most popular: Wyoming, Vermont, Idaho
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24. Freya
> Origin(s): Old Norse
> Meaning(s): Norse goddess of love and beauty
> Increase in girls named Freya, 2017 to 2022: +1,091
> Newborn girls named Freya in 2022: 2,167 (0.1%)
> Newborn girls named Freya in 2017: 1,076 (0.1%)
> States where Freya is most popular: Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana
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23. Remi
> Origin(s): Latin by way of French
> Meaning(s): Remedy, healer; oarsman
> Increase in girls named Remi, 2017 to 2022: +1,097
> Newborn girls named Remi in 2022: 2,374 (0.1%)
> Newborn girls named Remi in 2017: 1,277 (0.1%)
> States where Remi is most popular: North Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho
22. Oakley
> Origin(s): Old English
> Meaning(s): Oak meadow
> Increase in girls named Oakley, 2017 to 2022: +1,180
> Newborn girls named Oakley in 2022: 1,837 (0.1%)
> Newborn girls named Oakley in 2017: 657 (<0.1%)
> States where Oakley is most popular: Utah, Vermont, Wyoming
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21. Camila
> Origin(s): Latin
> Meaning(s): Ceremonial attendant
> Increase in girls named Camila, 2017 to 2022: +1,191
> Newborn girls named Camila in 2022: 7,965 (0.5%)
> Newborn girls named Camila in 2017: 6,774 (0.4%)
> States where Camila is most popular: New Mexico, Rhode Island, California
20. Eloise
> Origin(s): German by way of French
> Meaning(s): Healthy, wide
> Increase in girls named Eloise, 2017 to 2022: +1,259
> Newborn girls named Eloise in 2022: 2,888 (0.2%)
> Newborn girls named Eloise in 2017: 1,629 (0.1%)
> States where Eloise is most popular: Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire
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19. Kehlani
> Origin(s): Hawaiian
> Meaning(s): Sky, heavenly one
> Increase in girls named Kehlani, 2017 to 2022: +1,267
> Newborn girls named Kehlani in 2022: 1,865 (0.1%)
> Newborn girls named Kehlani in 2017: 598 (<0.1%)
> States where Kehlani is most popular: Mississippi, New Mexico, Hawaii
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18. Millie
> Origin(s): Various
> Meaning(s): Nickname for Mildred, Camilla, Millicent, Emilia, etc., meaning depending on origin
> Increase in girls named Millie, 2017 to 2022: +1,288
> Newborn girls named Millie in 2022: 2,182 (0.1%)
> Newborn girls named Millie in 2017: 894 (0.1%)
> States where Millie is most popular: North Dakota, Utah, Alaska
17. Eleanor
> Origin(s): Greek or Old German by way of French
> Meaning(s): Ancient north, shining light
> Increase in girls named Eleanor, 2017 to 2022: +1,334
> Newborn girls named Eleanor in 2022: 6,881 (0.4%)
> Newborn girls named Eleanor in 2017: 5,547 (0.3%)
> States where Eleanor is most popular: Vermont, Maine, District of Columbia
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16. Aurora
> Origin(s): Latin
> Meaning(s): Dawn
> Increase in girls named Aurora, 2017 to 2022: +1,348
> Newborn girls named Aurora in 2022: 5,956 (0.4%)
> Newborn girls named Aurora in 2017: 4,608 (0.3%)
> States where Aurora is most popular: Alaska, Wyoming, Vermont
15. Ayla
> Origin(s): Hebrew, Turkish
> Meaning(s): Oak tree, gazelle (Hebrew), halo around the moon (Turkish)
> Increase in girls named Ayla, 2017 to 2022: +1,377
> Newborn girls named Ayla in 2022: 2,735 (0.2%)
> Newborn girls named Ayla in 2017: 1,358 (0.1%)
> States where Ayla is most popular: District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Delaware
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14. Juniper
> Origin(s): Latin (?)
> Meaning(s): Evergreen coniferous shrub, the shrub’s berry
> Increase in girls named Juniper, 2017 to 2022: +1,428
> Newborn girls named Juniper in 2022: 2,474 (0.2%)
> Newborn girls named Juniper in 2017: 1,046 (0.1%)
> States where Juniper is most popular: Vermont, Wyoming, South Dakota
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13. Willow
> Origin(s): Old English
> Meaning(s): Willow tree
> Increase in girls named Willow, 2017 to 2022: +1,462
> Newborn girls named Willow in 2022: 5,025 (0.3%)
> Newborn girls named Willow in 2017: 3,563 (0.2%)
> States where Willow is most popular: West Virginia, Alaska, Vermont
12. Eliana
> Origin(s): Hebrew, Latin, Greek
> Meaning(s): God answered me (Hebrew), sun (Latin), shining light (Greek)
> Increase in girls named Eliana, 2017 to 2022: +1,499
> Newborn girls named Eliana in 2022: 4,780 (0.3%)
> Newborn girls named Eliana in 2017: 3,281 (0.2%)
> States where Eliana is most popular: New Mexico, District of Columbia, Wyoming
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11. Oaklynn
> Origin(s): English, Welsh
> Meaning(s): Oak clearing, oak lake
> Increase in girls named Oaklynn, 2017 to 2022: +1,519
> Newborn girls named Oaklynn in 2022: 1,824 (0.1%)
> Newborn girls named Oaklynn in 2017: 305 (<0.1%)
> States where Oaklynn is most popular: West Virginia, Wyoming, Arkansas
10. Leilani
> Origin(s): Hawaiian
> Meaning(s): Heavenly garland
> Increase in girls named Leilani, 2017 to 2022: +1,553
> Newborn girls named Leilani in 2022: 3,834 (0.2%)
> Newborn girls named Leilani in 2017: 2,281 (0.1%)
> States where Leilani is most popular: Hawaii, New Mexico, Delaware
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9. Alaia
> Origin(s): Basque, Arabic
> Meaning(s): Joyful (Basque), exalted (Arabic)
> Increase in girls named Alaia, 2017 to 2022: +1,611
> Newborn girls named Alaia in 2022: 2,072 (0.1%)
> Newborn girls named Alaia in 2017: 461 (<0.1%)
> States where Alaia is most popular: Delaware, Florida, Rhode Island
8. Violet
> Origin(s): Latin
> Meaning(s): Violet flower, violet color
> Increase in girls named Violet, 2017 to 2022: +1,704
> Newborn girls named Violet in 2022: 6,434 (0.4%)
> Newborn girls named Violet in 2017: 4,730 (0.3%)
> States where Violet is most popular: Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire
7. Maeve
> Origin(s): Irish
> Meaning(s): She who intoxicates, leader
> Increase in girls named Maeve, 2017 to 2022: +1,792
> Newborn girls named Maeve in 2022: 2,659 (0.2%)
> Newborn girls named Maeve in 2017: 867 (0.1%)
> States where Maeve is most popular: Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire
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6. Everleigh
> Origin(s): Old English
> Meaning(s): Wild boar wood, wild boar meadow
> Increase in girls named Everleigh, 2017 to 2022: +1,902
> Newborn girls named Everleigh in 2022: 2,708 (0.2%)
> Newborn girls named Everleigh in 2017: 806 (<0.1%)
> States where Everleigh is most popular: Wyoming, West Virginia, Vermont
5. Ivy
> Origin(s): Old English
> Meaning(s): Climbing evergreen plant
> Increase in girls named Ivy, 2017 to 2022: +1,993
> Newborn girls named Ivy in 2022: 4,772 (0.3%)
> Newborn girls named Ivy in 2017: 2,779 (0.2%)
> States where Ivy is most popular: North Dakota, Vermont, Maine
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4. Isla
> Origin(s): Scottish
> Meaning(s): Island
> Increase in girls named Isla, 2017 to 2022: +2,376
> Newborn girls named Isla in 2022: 5,255 (0.3%)
> Newborn girls named Isla in 2017: 2,879 (0.2%)
> States where Isla is most popular: Alaska, New Hampshire, Hawaii
3. Nova
> Origin(s): Latin
> Meaning(s): New, star
> Increase in girls named Nova, 2017 to 2022: +2,836
> Newborn girls named Nova in 2022: 5,885 (0.4%)
> Newborn girls named Nova in 2017: 3,049 (0.2%)
> States where Nova is most popular: Wyoming, Vermont, Mississippi
2. Gianna
> Origin(s): Hebrew by way of Italian
> Meaning(s): God is gracious
> Increase in girls named Gianna, 2017 to 2022: +3,189
> Newborn girls named Gianna in 2022: 6,385 (0.4%)
> Newborn girls named Gianna in 2017: 3,196 (0.2%)
> States where Gianna is most popular: Delaware, Alaska, Connecticut
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1. Luna
> Origin(s): Latin
> Meaning(s): Moon
> Increase in girls named Luna, 2017 to 2022: +3,568
> Newborn girls named Luna in 2022: 8,922 (0.5%)
> Newborn girls named Luna in 2017: 5,354 (0.3%)
> States where Luna is most popular: Rhode Island, Hawaii, Nevada
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