To many parents, choosing a name with meaning is a priority! Because of this, I went through the top baby girl names of 2018 and their meanings to help new parents choose their favorite girl name.
I used the Social Security Administration’s list of popular baby names, since it is the most accurate way to assess the true popularity of names. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, they are not releasing the 2019 list of baby names anytime soon.
Once that list is released, I plan to update the list of names and meanings to reflect the newest popular baby girl names!
Part of me was curious if the names were chosen because they are well-liked for their sound and how pretty they are, or if the meaning of the names were of significance to people. It’s hard to say from looking at the list, because so many of the top baby girl names also have strong meanings!
When looking at the meaning of names, there are a few different interpretations for some. Many of the names origins are speculations, and it’s hard to say where they truly originated from.
Also, some of the names have more than one meaning because it means a different thing depending on which country of origin it came from! Since many female names are adapted from male names or other, different female names, it’s common for there to be several interpretations.
Either way, these names are beautiful! There’s no secret why they’re so popular, and I believe they will stay common for a while.
Most Popular Baby Girl Names and Meanings
1. Emma
“Whole” or “universal.”
Emma has been in the top five baby names since 2002! In fact, over 1% of all female births in the United States were named Emma in 2018! That doesn’t seem like a lot, but when you consider that parents can name their child anything, it’s pretty amazing that 18,688 parents name their child Emma in 2018!
3. Olivia
“Olive tree” or “of the olive tree.”
Olivia has been topping the charts since 2013, and I can’t imagine its popularity ending anytime soon!
3. Ava
“Like a bird.”
Many attribute the rise in popularity of the name Ava to the birth of actress Reese Witherspoon’s daughter Ava in 1999. While it’s definitely a possibility, the name is gorgeous and likely would have climbed the list either way!
4. Isabella
“God is my oath” or “pledged to God.”
This name quickly climbed the popularity charts, and has been in the top 10 popular names since 2004. Isabella has both Spanish and Italian roots, and is a form of the name Elizabeth.
5. Sophia
“Wisdom.”
Sophia is a name of Greek origin, and can also be spelled Sofia. Though the spelling “Sophia” has been in the top 10 since 2006, “Sofia” is not far behind. “Sofia” has been in the top 20 since 2011.
6. Charlotte
“Free.”
Charlotte is the newest to the list of top baby names, and has only been in the top 10 since 2014!
After the birth of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge in 2015, the name held its spot in the popularity rankings, and will likely climb higher in the 2019 and 2020 numbers!
7. Mia
“Bitter” or “mine.”
There are many interpretations of the meaning of this name. In fact, some even say the name may also mean a “wished for child.” Mia has been in the top 10 list since 2010.
There is some discrepancy as to whether this name is derived from Maria and its variants, or from other names like Amelia and Maya. Either way, this name is short, sweet and beautiful!
8. Amelia
“Work” or “hard working.”
Tied with Evelyn as the new names on the popularity list, both names didn’t make an appearance until 2017!
Amelia is popular with many parents as being a name with plenty of nicknames. Amelia is commonly shortened to Mia, Lia, Amy, and Millie.
9. Harper
“Harp player.”
Harper has been hanging out on the list since 2015. Contrary to Amelia, it’s not easy to shorten, making it a favorite of parents who aren’t a fan of nicknames.
10. Evelyn
“Life,” “little bird,” or “wished for.”
This is another name whose origins are messy. This is because Evelyn is a common surname in some countries, while in others the name is derived from other female names.
The Hebrew meaning of the name is “life,” the Latin meaning is “little bird,” and the English meaning is “wished for.” Pick whatever meaning you like the best!
Not what you’re looking for? Check out these lists of baby names…
-Unique Baby Girl Names (that aren’t weird!)
-Classic Baby Girl Names
-Short and Sweet Girl Names
-Nature Inspired Baby Names
What do you think of these baby names?
I’m very excited to see what the 2019 top baby girl names come out to be, though I think many of these names will remain on the list!
What names and meanings do you absolutely love? I think it’s so fascinating to learn the story behind a name and learn the name meanings!
