Middle Names for Girls
Short middle names for girls with a documented meaning, in current U.S. use. 420 names.
Most common origin labels on this list: Muslim (177), English (122), Latin (26).
Most used for girls in 2024: Emma, 13,485 births.
Names 1–100 of 420 (page 1 of 5)
How names qualify
A name is listed when a girl record in our data has a documented meaning, the name has 50 or more births for girls in the SSA 2024 national file, so families can find it in use, and it is short: 2 syllables or fewer, or 5 letters or fewer, in a single word. A short middle name leaves room for a long first or last name. 196 more girls' names meet the other tests but are longer, and 1,922 have no documented meaning of their own in our data yet.
SSA counts spellings, not origins: the meaning shown is the one recorded in our data for the same spelling and sex.
Syllables are estimated from spelling with an English-style rule, so they can be off for names pronounced differently from how they are spelled. The row shows the estimate and the letter count that the rule used.
How well a middle name flows depends on the first and last name next to it, so this list does not rate flow. The middle name generator scores a whole name.
195 of the 420 names come from the Muslim-names dataset (Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Turkish, Kurdish and related origins). Names from other traditions appear only where their recorded meaning fits the rule.
Births and ranks are SSA national data: see the source note under the table.
Each row shows the meaning recorded for that name in our data. A name can have other meanings and other origins.
Middle Names for Girls
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Gender | Length and U.S. births |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emma | to make a subtle gesture, mark, insignia, to quote or reference something. | Muslim | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 13,485 births |
| Charlotte | Diminutive of Charles, which means “free man” | French | Girl | 9 letters, about 2 syllables; 12,552 births |
| Ava | Ava is a Persian name for girls that means voice, melody, song, opinion. | Persian | Girl | 3 letters, about 2 syllables; 8,662 births |
| Sofia | wisdom, especially divine wisdom | English | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 8,094 births |
| Luna | the moon | Latin | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 7,135 births |
| Chloe | young green shoot | Ancient Greek | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 6,385 births |
| Nora | Light | Muslim | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 6,128 births |
| Emily | rival, emulator | Latin | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 5,955 births |
| Aria | noble | English | Girl | 4 letters, about 3 syllables; 5,935 births |
| Zoe | Variant of Zoë, which means “life” | Ancient Greek | Girl | 3 letters, about 2 syllables; 5,719 births |
| Lucy | light | Latin | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 5,396 births |
| Layla | (Born at) night, rapture, elation, dark beauty. A well-known character in Arabic literature i.e. the beloved of Majnoon. | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 5,305 births |
| Nova | new | Latin | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 5,044 births |
| Grace | Graceful | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 5,002 births |
| Naomi | my, of me | Hebrew | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 4,605 births |
| Elena | shining light | Italian | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 4,567 births |
| Stella | star | Latin | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 4,264 births |
| Maya | Princess, Graciousness, | Muslim | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 4,220 births |
| Hannah | grace, gracious, graced with child | Hebrew | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 4,054 births |
| Sophie | Diminutive of Sophia, which means “wisdom” | English | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 3,574 births |
| Iris | rainbow | Ancient Greek | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 3,124 births |
| Eden | steppe, garden | Hebrew | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 3,115 births |
| Maria | A lady with fair complexion, Wife of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 3,105 births |
| Maeve | intoxicating | Irish | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 3,098 births |
| Clara | bright, shining, clear | Latin | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 3,060 births |
| Kinsley | royal (a man's name) | English | Girl | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 2,929 births |
| Anna | hannah, grace, gracious, graced with child | Latin | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 2,700 births |
| Sarah | Pure, Happy, Princess, Name of the wife of Hazrat lbrahim (peace be upon him), a prophet of Allah Almighty. | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 2,697 births |
| Quinn | descendant of Chief | English | Girl | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 2,689 births |
| Lydia | beautiful one, noble one | Ancient Greek | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 2,663 births |
| Lucia | Variant of Lucy, which means “light” | Latin | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 2,658 births |
| Cora | maiden | Ancient Greek | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 2,570 births |
| Parker | park keeper | English | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 2,517 births |
| Brooklyn | wetland, marsh | English | Girl | 8 letters, about 2 syllables; 2,487 births |
| Bella | beautiful | Italian | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 2,469 births |
| Alaia | joyful | English | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 2,425 births |
| Eliza | Unique, precious | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 2,303 births |
| Eva | Life, Beloved. | Muslim | Girl | 3 letters, about 2 syllables; 2,296 births |
| Amara | large group of ships sailing together, tribe. | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 2,288 births |
| Esther | star | Persian | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 2,206 births |
| Alina | Beautiful, noble, illustrious in Arabic,Greek origin meaning "light" | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 2,180 births |
| Amira | Princess, leader, Noble lady, An occupant of an abode, one who makes umrah or ziyaarah, abundant treasure. | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 2,176 births |
| Sage | sedge | English | Girl | 4 letters, about 1 syllable; 1,987 births |
| June | juno, vital force, youthful vigor | English | Girl | 4 letters, about 1 syllable; 1,956 births |
| Freya | mistress, lady | English | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,877 births |
| Arya | Arya is a word that in Sanskrit, Avestan and Old Persian means noble and excellent. | Muslim | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,863 births |
| Peyton | Variant of Payton, which means “enclosure; settlement, town” | English | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,812 births |
| Amaya | Night Rain | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 1,809 births |
| Ruth | companion, compassion | Hebrew | Girl | 4 letters, about 1 syllable; 1,767 births |
| Lilah | Night | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,685 births |
| Kaia | Stability | Muslim | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,675 births |
| Bailey | outer castle wall | English | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,644 births |
| Phoebe | bright | Ancient Greek | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,639 births |
| Sara | sarah | Latin | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,605 births |
| Kylie | boomerang | English | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,594 births |
| Annie | Diminutive of Ann, which means “grace, gracious, graced with child” | English | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,564 births |
| Ada | noble | Germanic | Girl | 3 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,563 births |
| Celeste | heavenly | French | Girl | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,556 births |
| Gemma | jewel | Italian | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,514 births |
| Ana | anna, hannah, grace, gracious, graced with child | English | Girl | 3 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,497 births |
| Lila | lilac | Arabic | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,475 births |
| Blair | field, plain | English | Girl | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 1,412 births |
| Mabel | lovable | Latin | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,380 births |
| Norah | Light | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,374 births |
| Alora | my dream | English | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 1,372 births |
| Vera | faith, true | English | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,351 births |
| Celine | heaven | Latin | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,347 births |
| Amy | beloved | Latin | Girl | 3 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,344 births |
| Nyla | Winner, Achiever | Muslim | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,339 births |
| Saylor | dancer, acrobat | English | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,337 births |
| Zara | Bright as the dawn, morning, Beautiful, The light | Muslim | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,327 births |
| Kiara | Kiara is a Persian name for girls that means pica, a desire for eating non-nutritious things, such as ice. | Persian | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 1,310 births |
| Diana | goddess | Latin | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 1,293 births |
| Rachel | ewe | Hebrew | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,285 births |
| Noa | movement | English | Girl | 3 letters, about 1 syllable; 1,259 births |
| Lena | the large river, clay | Ancient Greek | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,211 births |
| Gia | Diminutive of Georgia, which means “farmer” | English | Girl | 3 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,191 births |
| Leila | (Born at) night rapture, elation | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 1,191 births |
| Jane | God is gracious | French | Girl | 4 letters, about 1 syllable; 1,180 births |
| Talia | Dew Of Heaven. | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 1,161 births |
| Selah | to hang, implying to weigh, to measure | Hebrew | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,122 births |
| Kali | Bud (of flower) | Muslim | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,066 births |
| Sawyer | one who saws | English | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,062 births |
| Ariel | lion of God | English | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 1,051 births |
| Nicole | nicholas | Ancient Greek | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 961 births |
| Nina | Gracious One, Favor | Muslim | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 955 births |
| Malia | mary, calm | English | Girl | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 946 births |
| Joanna | God is gracious | Latin | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 942 births |
| Kayla | Crown,laurel,Wise child | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 931 births |
| Aisha | Alive, living, happily living, well-living, prosperous, Well-off Youngest wife of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) | Muslim | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 900 births |
| Thea | goddess | Ancient Greek | Girl | 4 letters, about 1 syllable; 893 births |
| Laura | laurel tree | Latin | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 868 births |
| Raya | Sated with drink | Muslim | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 859 births |
| Finley | Variant of Finlay, which means “fair warrior/hero” | English | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 858 births |
| Laila | night | Arabic | Girl | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 839 births |
| Lana | to be gentle, soft, tender | Muslim | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 829 births |
| Frances | frankish | Latin | Girl | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 821 births |
| Mira | wonderful, surprising | English | Girl | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 820 births |
| Payton | enclosure; settlement, town | English | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 820 births |
| Maryam | A flower, Pious, mother of Prophet Isa (AS) i.e. Jesus. | Muslim | Girl | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 806 births |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names (national data, 1880-2024). Counts are Social Security card applications for births in the United States; names with fewer than 5 births in a year are not listed, and spelling variants are counted separately. Baby Name Wizard is not affiliated with or endorsed by the SSA.