Opt for something short (there are plenty of one-syllable names!) or trendy.
Choosing a baby name is one of the first (and most important) decisions parents can make, but they often forget that they can have more than one bite at that particular apple. Sure, all the spotlight (and stress) goes on the first name, but parents get to choose a middle name, too!
And with middle names, the pressure's off. Kids can choose to use (or divulge) their middle names or not as they get older, so parents don't have to worry about "screwing it up" and living with baby name regret. They can think out of the box a little more. If they went with a time-honored first name, they can pick a trendy name for a middle. If they wanted a super-unique first name, the middle can be a popular name. Basically, the possibilities are endless.
For those looking for inspiration, these are ideas for the best middle names for girls. (We also have lists for middle names for boys and gender neutral/unisex names.) Some follow the current baby-naming trends of 2024, while others go deeper for those rare and unique names. Pair these with a first name, and see how well they go together.
Short Middle Names for Girls
Short names are becoming more popular, and they make sense as middle names, especially when they can act as a brief punctuation between two other names. If you're looking for names with few letters and a big impact, choose one of these short names for girls:
- Ada
- Ana
- Amy
- Ava
- Eva
- Eve
- Gia
- Ida
- Ivy
- Kay
- Kit
- Lia
- Mia
- Noa
- Zoe
Long Middle Names
Then again, after so many years of short-name dominance, the pendulum may be swinging in the other direction. If brevity was never really your thing, these long names for girls really trip off the tongue:
- Avayah
- Brynleigh
- Charlotte
- Clementine
- Elizabeth
- Evangeline
- Florence
- Hadassah
- Isabella
- Juliana
- Penelope
- Rosalia
- Theodora
- Xiomara
- Valentina
Up-and-Coming Middle Names
Middle names are where you can go a little wild, and pick a trendy name even if you have your heart set on a classic first name. The Social Security Administration (SSA) keeps track of the most popular baby names, and also the names that have experienced the biggest leaps in popularity in the past year. If you're looking for a name on the upswing, try one of these fast climbers (listed in order of popularity):
- Kaeli
- Alitzel
- Emryn
- Adhara
- Azari
- Kya
- Ivey
- Ainara
- Arely
- Scottie
- Avani
- Miller
- Aleyna
- Blessing
- Miley
- Andie
- Inaya
- Dania
- Halo
- Ailany
- Aylani
- Maisy
- Lakelynn
- Elowyn
- Tallulah
Here, you see a mix of up-and-coming trends: Typically boyish names repurposed as girls' middle names (Scottie, Miller, Andie), dictionary word names (Blessing, Halo) and lots of names that end in -i, -y and -ie. Will these be cracking into the top 10 any time soon?
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Trendy Middle Names
The SSA isn't the only entity keeping track of hot baby names. The baby-naming sites like Nameberry, BabyCenter and The Bump keep data on its of its users' choices and interest in names. These may give you more insight into what names are popular right at this moment. Some current faves of these users include:
- Amara
- Arabella
- Aria
- Aurelia
- Clara
- Eliana
- Daphne
- Gianna
- Hayden
- Imogen
- Kai
- Lyla
- Maeve
- Malia
- Millie
- Noelle
- Ophelia
- Parker
- Remi
- Reese
- River
- Rose
- Rowan
- Rylee
- Zaya
Names That Honor Family
If you're reluctant to have a "junior," or have your baby share her first name with a relative, you can use a middle name as a way of honoring your family. Doing so might also land you an au courant name, since vintage names like Edith, Eleanor, Josephine, Louise, Margot and Sadie and are all increasing in popularity.
Or, you can slot in an old family last name (after all, last-names-as-first-names is a trend, as names like Ainsley, Eden, Ellis, Sloane, Kennedy, and Piper can attest). And if that doesn't work, you can try using a name with an origin that celebrates your family's heritage. Perhaps one of these has a connection to your family's history:
- Alessia
- Alma
- Astrid
- Dulce
- Estella
- Dagmar
- Giovanna
- Khalani
- Layla
- Maya
- Mei
- Saoirse
- Yara
Strong Goddess Middle Names
No matter the origin, names inspired by goddesses are on the rise. If you want the middle name to exude strength, try one of these heavenly names:
- Aphrodite
- Ariadne
- Artemis
- Athena
- Aurora
- Cora
- Dalia
- Devi
- Flora
- Freya/Frejya
- Gaia
- Iris
- Jaya
- Juno
- Kali
- Luna
- Minerva
- Niamh
- Padma
- Persephone
- Phoebe
- Seren
- Thora
- Uma
- Ziva
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Popular Names for Girls
According to the SSA, these are the most often used baby names for girls that we haven't mentioned already:
- Olivia
- Emma
- Amelia
- Sophia/Sofia
- Evelyn
- Harper
- Camila
- Violet
- Scarlett
- Emily
- Hazel
- Lily
- Nora
- Chloe
- Ellie
- Mila
- Avery
- Abigail
- Ella
- Isla
- Madison
- Grace
- Lucy
- Willow
- Emilia
- Riley
- Naomi
- Victoria
- Stella
- Elena
- Hannah
- Delilah
- Leah
- Lainey
- Lillian
- Paisley
- Genesis
- Madelyn
- Leilani
- Addison
- Natalie
- Alice
- Ruby
- Claire
- Kinsley
- Everly
- Emery
- Adeline
- Audrey
- Autumn
- Jade
- Maria
- Caroline
- Brooklyn
- Quinn
- Aaliyah
- Vivian
- Liliana
- Gabriella
- Hailey
- Sarah
- Savannah
- Madeline
- Natalia
- Ariana
- Lydia
- Allison
- Aubrey
- Melody
- Ayla
Looking for more great baby girl names?
Check out other Good Housekeeping lists:
French Baby Names | Hispanic Girl Names | Indian/Hindu Girl Names | Irish Girl Names | Italian Baby Names | Japanese Baby Names | Long Girl Names | Short Girl Names | Baby Boy Names | Unisex/Gender Neutral Names
Marisa LaScala
Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.
