Baby Girl Names That Begin with A

Popular, Classic, and Unusual Female Name Choices

Jan 10, 2008

A Cute Baby Girl, Piotr Ciuchta, Stock Xchange

Ashley? Aurora? Anna? If you're looking for a baby girl's name that starts with the letter A, here's a list of popular, classic, and unusual choices.

Looking for a name a baby girl name that begins with the letter "A"? You're in good company, as the first letter has always been one of the most popular when it comes to little girl names. Years ago, Annie and Alice were chart toppers. According to the Social Security Baby Name Index, 19 of the top 100 U.S. names began with the letter A in 2006, including trendy favorites such as Ava, Ashley, and Alexis.

Here are some beautiful choices for a baby girl that begin with the letter A, grouped into popular names, classic names, and unusual names

Popular Baby Girl Names That Start With A

Ava. Ava was never a popular name until the 2000s, when suddenly it leaped to the top 10. It's derived from the Hebrew name "Chava," which means life. The similar name Avery has also climbed from obscurity to the Top 100 list.
Alexis & Alexa. These feminine variants of Alexander (which means "protector") have taken off quite a bit since the 1990s. Alexis has been on the top 20 American names list since 1994. Alexa has been climbing steadily and may overtake Alexis in a few years. If you like these names but want something a little more unique, try Alexia, or go with the classic variants, Alexandra and Alexandria.
Ashley. This trendy name hit the scenes in the 1980s so quickly that one might think it was already headed for obscurity, but it's hanging in there on the top 20-- unlike the similarly trendy Brittany, which has nose-dived to the bottom of the charts. Ashley is one of the most popular last-name-turned-first-name.
Abigail. This Biblical name (which means "exalted father") has joined Sarah on the list of old names gone trendy. Surprisingly, Abby as a stand-alone name hasn't caught on as much-- so it's a good choice if you want something less trendy.
Angelina. Perhaps this names newfound popularity has to do with Angelina Jolie, or perhaps it has the same heavenly appeal as the trendy name Nevaeh (which is heaven spelled backwards) At any rate, it's climbing quickly and seems to be a contender for the top 10 in the years to come. The more classic Angela remains moderately popular.
Allison & Alyssa. These two names have never been the most popular or trendy, but they have graced the top 50 since the 1970s. They're modern variants on Alice, which hasn't been popular since the early twentieth century. The names are derived from the French Alis, which means "exalted nature."
Ariana & Arianna. This name has roots in Hebrew, Greek, and Welsh and are quickly climbing the name charts. If you don't mind the Disney connection, Ariel is a pretty variant.

Classic Baby Girl Names That Start With A

Ann, Anne, Anna, & Annie. These simple and classic names derive from the Biblical name Channah, which means ":favored grace." Ann and Annie were the preferred forms in the early-to-mid twentieth century, but these days, Anna's all the rage. Another classic variation is Annabelle.
Amy. This short and sweet name was uber-trendy in the 1970s and remains moderately popular. It comes from a French expression that means "beloved one." The French spelling Aimee is a more unique twist.
April. This month name was fairly popular in the 1970s but has fallen down the charts.
Audrey. if you're a fan of the glamorous Ms. Hepburn, you'll be happy to know that this name has climbed onto the top 100. Audrey comes from an Old English name meaning "noble strength."

Unusual Baby Girl Names That Start With A

Anya & Annika. These two names are both variations of Ann. Anya (pronounced ON-ya) is Russian and Annika (pronounced ON-i-kah) is Swedish. Despite its status as a Buffy the Vampire Slayer name, Anya hasn't caught on much in the West, and neither has Annika.
Anastasia. Also popular in Russia, this name derives from a Greek word meaning "resurrection."
Aurora. From a Latin expression meaning "dawn," Aurora is unusual but recognizable, and comes with a great built-in nickname-- Rory.
Aleezah. This underused Hebew name is from an expression meaning "gift of joy." Other spellings include Aliza or Aleeza.
Astrid. This unusual name is better known in German speaking countries. It's from an Old Norse expression that means "beautiful goddess."
Aisha. Pronounced eye-EE-sha, this Arabic name is from an expression meaning "alive and well." The name is popular in the Arabic speaking world, and has become popular among African Americans.
Aliya. Also fairly popular among African Americans, Aliya comes from a Hebrew expression that means "rising." Alternate spellings include Aaliyah (like the late musician) and Aleah.