Baby Girl Names That Begin with G

Unusual, Popular, and Classic Female Name Choices

Jan 18, 2008

A Cute Baby Girl, Kristine Kisky, Morguefile.org

Grace? Gwendolyn? Gianna? Here are some trendy, unique, and old-fashioned names for girls that start with the letter G.

When it comes to popular baby girl names in America, relatively few start with the letter G. However, a few trendy choices do share this letter, and many classic and beautiful names also begin with G. If you're looking for a "G" name, here are some popular, classic, and unusual choices.

Popular & Trendy Baby Girl Names That Start With G

Grace. Along with other old-fashioned names such as Ava and Olivia, Grace has shot up the baby name charts. In 2006, according to the Social Security Baby Name Index, the name was the 17th most popular girl's name in the United States. The related names Gracie and Gracelyn also have become popular.
Gabrielle & Gabriela/Gabriella. From a Hebrew word that means "hero of God," these names took off in the early 1990s and have been on the rise ever since. The two-L Gabriella (at #50 in 2006) is more popular than the one-L Gabriela (at #110), and the French Gabrielle ranked #62. The names have no doubt received a boost from the character Gabriella of the popular High School Musical.
Gianna. This Italian version of Joanna has risen from obscurity and is climbing the charts quickly (#98 in 2006), and may become trendy soon. It originates from a Hebrew name that means "God's grace."

Classic Baby Girl Names That Start With G

Georgia, Georgina, & Georgianne. Despite the two recent presidents with the name George (or perhaps because of them, depending on your politics), these classic names are not used widely today in the United States. Georgia is the most popular (at #273 in 2006), and although Georgina is a popular choice in Great Britain, it's rare in the U.S. These names derive from a Greek name meaning "farmer."
Ginger. This nickname for Virginia was a somewhat popular stand-alone name in the 1930s and 1940s, probably because of the performer Ginger Rogers, but the name has never been very popular. But thanks to Rogers, Ginger has a regal and classic feel and is ripe for the picking. This name may be a unique alternative to the popular name Jasmine.
Gloria. Gloria was a hot name around the 1930s and 1940s, perhaps due to a surge of patriotism. Today, many see it as a more appropriate choice for a grandmother than a baby, but the name's classic feel may win favor with parents seeking an old-fashioned name that hasn't become trendy. The name simply means "glory" in Latin.
Gayle/Gail. Popular during the Baby Boom, this name has fallen off the Top 1000 list-- perhaps because of many people's negative association with the word "gay." However, the name Abigail is hot, so perhaps Gail will come back as a nickname for those bored with Abby.
Gina. A perennial favorite with Italian-Americans, Gina has fallen low on the popularity charts. Gina is also a Hebrew name that means "garden," and a nickname for names like Regina and Georgina.

Unusual Baby Girl Names That Start With G

Gwendolyn. This Welsh name, along with its built-in nickname Gwen, is hardly used in the United States (except by the author of this piece, who has a daughter with this beautiful name). Its meaning is a bit disputed, but roughly translates to "white ring" or "blessed ring," which may refer to a moon goddess.
Genevieve. Pronounced JEN-e-veev in English and zhan-vi-EV in French, this regal name comes from an ancient Germanic word that means "woman of the people." Parents who are sick of Jennifer might see this as an unusual alternative.
Guinevere. Speaking of Jennifer, Guinevere is the original source of the popular late twentieth century name. This Welsh name means "pure and yielding."
Gemma. Almost unheard of this side of the Atlantic, this Latin word for "jewel" is a popular name in Great Britain and throughout much of Europe.
Giselle. Rising from obscurity to the #168 spot in 2006 (perhaps in part due to supermodel Gisele Bundchen), this pretty name is derived from an ancient Germanic word for "ancient pledge."
Greta & Gretchen. Largely unused in the United States, these distinctive Germanic names are related to the name Margaret and are derived from a German name that means "pearl." A less common variation (with fairy tale connotations) is Gretl.