The A to Z Guide to Girls’ Baby Names

Jul 23, 2015

There may be an endless number of baby names out there, but there are only 26 letters in the alphabet, which can narrow the pool down for you. From A (Ava) to Z (Zoe), here’s a rundown of what’s hot in the ‘bet in baby name land.

A

A is the most popular letter for girls’ baby names, including top tens Ava and Abigail, plus Avery, Amelia, Aubrey, Addison and fast-climbing newcomer Aria.

B

Longtime Nameberry favorite Beatrix doesn’t rank in the US top 1000. Beatrice is Nameberry’s number 34, but comes in at a mere number 601 in the US.

C

Will and Kate chose the classic Charlotte for their new daughter in May. So did lots of American parents. It’s currently the tenth most popular name for girls in the US.

D

Fast-rising Daleyza was coined by singer-turned-NBC Universo reality star, Larry Hernandez, for his first daughter. His new daughter’s name, Dalary, was among the top debuts of 2014.

E

Emma is the number 1 name in the US. It’s also a favorite internationally. Emma is big in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain and throughout the English-speaking world.

F

Frances is rising, possibly thanks to the popularity of the current pope. But Frances isn’t the most popular F name in the US. That distinction belongs to Faith.

G

Gigi has lots of high-kicking, Gallic spirit. But Gabrielle, Genevieve, Georgia or even Marguerite might make a better formal name. Model Gigi Hadid was born Jelena.

H

Harriet Tubman won a recent popular vote to be the first woman featured on US currency. While Harriet is rare, sassy nickname Hattie has made a comeback.

I

Among the more unusual baby name influences? Extreme weather. Thirteen girls were named after 2014’s Hurricane Iselle.

J

Justice is among the baby names banned in New Zealand, but in 2014, nearly 800 baby girls were named Justice in the US.

K

Katherine-with-a-K is currently the more popular spelling, but until 1973, Catherine-with-a-C was preferred.

L

Lucy, Lucia, Lucille, Luciana, Luna and Louisa are all rising, making Lou- one of the hottest sounds for girls’ names.

M

Long-time number-one name Mary is often passed over as too common. But last year, Mary ranked just number 120, making it an underused classic.

N

A French judge ordered a baby girl’s name changed from Nutella to just Ella, ruling that Nutella was an unacceptable name. Napoleonic laws forbid baby names that may subject a child to ridicule.

O

Olivia is a favorite, but it’s girls names ending in the ‘o’ sound that are among the freshest in 2015, from classic Margot to nature name Willow.

P

Poppy is a perpetual parent-pleaser in the UK, but is seldom heard in the US. American parents prefer Paisley and Penelope.

Q

Quinn is the most popular Q name for girls in the US. In fact, it’s the only Q name in the girls’ top 1000.

R

Riley is the girls’ name of the summer, thanks to the animated star of Disney Pixar’s Inside Out, and NBA champ Steph Curry’s scene-stealing daughter. Riley girls outnumber Riley boys about two to one, a proportion we expect to rise. The Reilly spelling is more popular for boys, while Rylie trends girlward.

S

Sutton and Sloane are among the new surname names for girls, replacing fading favorites Madison and Taylor.

T

Theresa is a classic, but the only form of the name still in the girls’ US top 1000 is Tessa.

U

Over 2,200 girls have been named Unique over the last decade, which makes the name anything but.

V

Violet is one of several names boosted by British drama Downton Abbey. Others to watch: Daisy, Edith and Marigold.

W

Winter is the hottest season name, catching up to Autumn and Summer. Still rarely heard? Spring.

X

Ximena is the most popular X name for girls in the US, ranked number 142 last year.

Y

Neil Gaiman coined the lovely name Yvaine for his novel Stardust. It’s a feminine spin on a name from Arthurian legend.

Z

Lively Zoe is among the 50 most popular names for girls in the US. But just-add-y spelling Zoey is even more popular.

What are your favorite baby girl names? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

This post was originally published on Nameberry by Abby Sandel.

(Photo via WPA Pool/Getty)

7 Cute Christmas Nail Designs That'll Put Your Beauty Look In The Spirit

Sprinkle the magic of Christmas into every seasonal activity by creating some festive Christmas nail designs! Whether you like to lean towards the traditional reds and greens or prefer to think colorfully outside the box, the polishes and Christmas nail designs below will set your mood and nail look right. Winter nails don't have to be drab – from star-studded nail art to bejeweled nail beds, we've got just the inspo for you.

Christmas Nail Colors

Amazon

essie 'Off Tropic'

You can't get your dream Christmas nail designs done without some stellar nail polishes! If your look involves a deep green, this shiny pick will help you pull it off easily. Use it to coat the entire nail for a sultry seasonal mani.

Amazon

OPI Opaque Light White & Gray Shimmer Nail Polish

With Christmas comes cold, and this nail polish screams icy. Wear it alone or apply it over a traditional Christmas color like red or green!

Amazon

OPI Infinite Shine 'Bubble Bath'

This baby pink will look gorgeous as a solid coat for Christmas-y dates and dinner parties.

Amazon

ILNP 'Ruby'

It's red. It's glittery. It's perfect for the holidays!

Amazon

Essie 'Winter Trend'

Spending Christmas with your besties or roommates? It's time for you to have your first 'Pinkmas' with the sparkly magenta nails to match!

Amazon

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri 'White on Time'

A super solid white nail polish, alongside a thin nail art brush, can be used to paint snowmen, gift wrap, or snowflakes like some of our featured Christmas nail designs depict.

Amazon

RARJSM Holographic Gel Polish

For the lazy gal manicurists, this holographic polish will make any light reflect off your nails which is the point during Christmas!

Amazon

essie 'U Wish'

Embrace the holidays with this fiery red that defies expectations of what a Christmas color should be.

Amazon

Butter London Patent Shine Nail Polish

This one color will work excellently for minimalist Christmas nail designs – use it to dot, stripe, or wear it on its own.

Amazon

Revlon 'Iced Mauve'

Sparkles are a must for Christmas, which is why we're heavily eyeing this potent pink.

Christmas Nails Inspo

Nataszija / July Ninety Six

Nifty-Gifty Gems

Use small nail gems of any color to infuse your Christmas nail designs with festive energy. We're loving red in particular because it just feels luxurious!

Brydie/Instagram

Deep Red Elegance

The bold red French tips, in combination with some art deco-inspired golden stars, can really bring your seasonal mani to the next level.

Charlotte Herberts/Instagram

Colorful Christmas Stars

Use a stencil or freehand these tiny stars in different chrome nail colors for a more jolly vibe this year.

Bryony Howell/Instagram

(Gift) Wrap It Up

A nail art brush can be used to paint on cutie little Christmas bows like this silvery one!

(via )

Oliwia Krauz/Instagram

Classic Colors

Multicolor nails are not dead – take the trend further for the holidays by crafting your look with a mix of whites, golds, greens, and reds.

Melou's Nails/Instagram

Let It Shine

For an understated (yet still spirited) Christmas manicure, glitter will be your go-to. We love the gradient effect that this hand has on!

Peachi Nails/Instagram

Merry & Bright

Tiny star details are sure to turn heads this Christmas! You could use any hue, but a standout gold like this one really makes your nails pop!

Check out our weekly newsletter for more seasonal inspiration!

Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated

Ali Krieger Just Told Us About "A Wave Of Dishonesty" Amid Ashlyn Harris & Sophia Bush Drama

Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris are the talk of the town lately — and Ali Krieger definitely has something to say about it. The timeline of Ashlyn and Ali's divorce and Ashlyn and Sophia's relationship is messy at best, but the latter couple constantly dispel any rumor that there was overlap. For much of this narrative, Ali's been pretty silent, but it's clear she's ready to speak her truth. In a statement posted to Instagram, the soccer superstar opened up. Here's what she had to say.

See Ali Krieger's full statement about the Ashlyn Harris drama here!

Ali says that while she's had an "outpouring of love and support" over the last year, she's been confronted with "a wave of dishonesty and misinformation" in regards to her marriage to Ashlyn Harris.
Ali noted that her "unwavering priority" is to her kids, and that she requests privacy while she comes to terms with the state of her personal life right now.
This comes after Ashlyn Harris made comments about the dissolution of their marriage on a podcast, stating that there was a total lack of intimacy and that the cheating "is so far from the truth."

www.instagram.com

On December 3, 2024, Ali posted her statement to Instagram. She opened with, "I’m overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support I’ve received this last year. However, amidst this warmth, I’ve also had to confront a wave of dishonesty and misinformation regarding my marriage and personal life."

Ali shared that she isn't ready to make a more formal statement, but she feels "compelled to address this currently to prevent further distortion of the truth." But at the end of the day, Ali explained that her "unwavering priority" is her kids at this moment, and that she'll share more when her "heart feels ready."

She closed her statement with, "In this vulnerable time, I humbly ask for privacy and understanding from all involved, as I grapple with the profound changes in my personal life."

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for American Ballet Theatre

This comes after Ashlyn spoke on the Naked Sports with Cari Championpodcast. Ashlyn noted that she was in a relationship without intimacy, eventually leading her to ask for an open marriage as a "last attempt." She also stated that people constantly see her as a cheater, which she says is "is so far from the truth."

I guess we'll know the truth in time...but for now, this is definitely messy. Wishing both sides of this divorce peace and understanding!

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Justin Baldoni Spilled On "Near Breakdown" After Filming With Blake Lively

If you were on the internet at all this summer, then you're probably familiar with all the It Ends With Us cast drama. The rumored rift between director and star Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively didn't come to light until after the movie released, but Justin just revealed some brand new information that totally reframes the whole film: he almost suffered a "breakdown" while filming.

Justin Baldoni has been vocal about taking the role of Ryle, who abuses Blake Lively's Lily throughout the film, really seriously, but his latest interview with the How to Fail podcast reveals the effect of the character went way farther than anyone knew.

Keep reading to see why starring as Ryle Kincaid opposite Blake Lively in It Ends With Usaffected Justin Baldoni's mental health.

Justin Baldoni says Ryle Kincaid was "very hard" to get rid of.

Sony Pictures Releasing

When host Elizabeth Day asks about how he decompressed after playing Ryle, Justin admits the character was harder to shake than he anticipated. "That was very hard and honestly, that took a few months," he says. "I had dreams as him for a while, and it lived in my body, but I think for the most part, he's out."

And while starring in such a role is difficult on its own, he also had the job of directing the scenes he was in! "Directing is a very lonely job, I'll just be very candid," he says. "Because you are kind of at the top of this totem pole. In your moments of quiet, everybody has a thousand questions for you and also nobody wants to disturb you and you don't really have many people to talk to and you can't necessarily share your anxiety or your nervousness about something because you're also the leader."

His scenes as Ryle involved everything from romantic scenes with Blake Lively to a physical fight with Brandon Sklenar, and there were times he had to go "shake it out" away from the rest of the cast.

Justin Baldoni almost had a breakdown after filming a scene with Blake Lively.

"I've done a lot of somatic therapy so there were times when I was actually just shaking," he says. "There's a moment in the movie where Ryle finds Lily's phone and he finds a phone number and he's very jealous and he's heartbroken and he's angry and he doesn't harm her but you can see in his eyes how dangerous he is. After that scene, I had a near breakdown."

Despite the fact he plays such a "dangerous" character, Justin quickly became the most beloved cast member after the movie's release. Fans became suspicious whey they realized Blake Lively, Brandon Sklenar, and Jenny Slate didn't follow the director on Instagram (and avoided talking about him in interviews)...and then the internet came to the conclusion there was a major rift between the director and the cast (which hasn't technically been confirmed by anyone who's rumored to be involved).

Justin spent the movie's press run raising awareness for domestic violence support, while the internet quickly criticized how Blake Lively treated the film like a lighthearted rom-com, using the opportunity to promote her haircare line.

A source told People that Blake Lively felt "surprised," "vulnerable and upset"about the response to the film's press, while Justin's Jane the Virgin costar Gina Rodriguez came to Justin's defense and told People in September that "sweet, sweet soul" Justin is "my brother forever. Forever and ever."

"You know what?" Justin says. "[Gina's comments] came at a very special time for me and that meant a lot. She really showed up for me. That was really sweet...She's a sweetheart. She's family forever."

Read up on what Brandon Sklenar said about a potential It Starts With Us sequel movie.

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