Baby Girl Names That Begin With L

Unusual, Popular, and Classic Female Name Choices

Feb 3, 2008

A Cute Little Girl, Kahanaboy, Morguefile.com

From Lily and Lauren to Leilani and Lola, here are some beautiful names for baby girls that start with the letter L.

Love the letter L? This melodic letter begins some of today's most popular names, like Lily and Lauren, and also begins many lesser known baby name gems. If you're looking for a baby girl name that begins with the letter L, here are some popular, classic, and unusual choices.

Popular & Trendy Baby Girl Names That Start With L

Lily & Lillian. Popular early in the twentieth century, these old-fashioned names have made a big comeback. According to the U.S. Social Security Baby Name Index, Lily was ranked #33 on the popularity lists in 2006, and Lillian was right behind at #38. The Spanish Liliana also is a popular choice at #150. These names come from an Italian name that simply means "lily."
Lauren. Laura is out. Laurie is way out. But Lauren has been popular since the 1980s and was ranked at #24 in 2006. These names come from a Latin name that means "laurel."
Leah. At #69, Leah is climbing up the name charts. Perhaps parents see Leah as an alternative to the ubiquitous Sarah. One of the oldest Biblical names, Leah comes from a Hebrew word that means "delicate."
Layla. With the popularity of Kayla, it was inevitable that this rock-and-roll name would follow. It's currently ranked at #100. Layla comes from an Arabic expression that means "wine." An uncommon alternative is Leila, which is usually pronounced LEE-lah.
Lucy. Lucy is another old-fashioned name that catching on again fast. It rose from near obscurity to #152 in 2006, and it seems like it might be headed to join other old-fashioned names like Olivia and Isabella on the top of the popularity charts. One drawback that might limit its popularity: Lucy is also a very popular name for dogs. Lucy comes from a Latin name that means "light."
Lydia. Lydia's also an up-and-coming name that climbed to #131 in 2006. Lydia is an ancient Greek place name.
Leslie. This Baby Boomer name hasn't suffered the same popularity plunge as Linda, and in 2006 was still ranked #108. Leslie comes from a Gaelic name that means "holly garden."

Classic Baby Girl Names That Start With L

Laura. Lauren may be more popular, but Laura is more classic. Thanks to Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Little House series, this name has an all-American feel.
Linda. Thanks to massive use during the Baby Boomer years, this name screams 1953 and does sound a little dated. However, it's become uncommon enough that it's regained some freshness. Linda comes from a Spanish expression that means "pretty." Lynn is also a classic choice and a popular middle name. Lindsay was hot for about five minutes during the seventies and eighties, but has since plunged down the name charts.
Lisa. Lisa replaced Linda in the 1960s as the ultra-trendy name of the day, so it also sounds a bit dated. However, this short-but-sweet name has a classic feel, so parents should not forget it. Lisa is a form of Elizabeth and means "God's promise."

Unusual Baby Girl Names That Start With L

Liana. Tired of Brianna? Try this uncommon name, which is usually pronounced lee-AH-nah. Liana comes from a French name that means "descendant of Jove."
Leilani. This pretty Hawaiian name means "heavenly lei."
Lila. If you're looking for a less common version of Lily or Lillian, Lila hasn't caught on as much.
Lacey. This feminine name sounds like it should be trendy, but it's not as popular as you might think-- only #446 in 2006. Lacey comes from an old French place name.
Larissa. This Russian name can be a nice alternative to the more trendy Marissa. It comes from a Latin name that means "cheerful."