Top 100 baby girls' names 2021

The annual The Office of National Statistics (ONS) releases the most popular names chosen for babies born in England and Wales throughout each year. These were the top 100 most popular names for girls in 2021 – see any you like?

Taking the top spot on the girls' names list for the sixth year in a row is the lovely Olivia, which derives from Latin, meaning olive tree.

The name first became popular because Olivia was the main character in Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night. It's often shortened to Liv, Livvy or Livia.

Amelia is of German origin, meaning 'work'. The name has stood the test of time as it first came about in the Victoria era.

This sweet name was given to the daughters of King George II and King George III, as well as belonging to the inspirational aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart.

The beautiful name Isla unsurprisingly means 'island', from Spanish and Scottish origin.

It's another one that's been picked by the royal family in years gone by, but most recently the Queen's eldest grandchild, Peter Phillips, named his second daughter Isla.

This simple, three-letter name is of Latin origin and means 'life'.

Ava rose in popularity when Hollywood stars like Reese Witherspoon and Hugh Jackman chose it for their kids.

And who can forget famous Avas like the glorious Ava Gardner from Hollywood's Golden Age and iconic film director Ava DuVernay?

The name Ivy is of English origin. The plant has history in ancient Greece, where newlyweds are presented with an ivy wreath.

We see a lot of the green, pointed plant around Christmas, making Ivy an ideal name for December babies.

It's good enough for Beyonce's eldest daughter, Blue Ivy ... but what do you think?

Freya was the name of the Norse goddess of love, beauty and fertility, and means 'a noble woman'.

We're sure any baby Freya will grow up to be just as honourable as her name suggests.

Lily is another common flower name of English origin.

It has an age old association with purity and innocence, as well as having a connection to Christianity.

Florence is a lovely name of Latin origin, meaning 'flourishing' and 'prosperous', just like the stunning city of Florence in Italy.

Will your daughter be as inspirational as nurse Florence Nightingale or a brilliant singer like Florence Welch?

Mia is interestingly of Italian and Scandinavian origin, meaning 'mine' or 'bitter'.

Titanic actress Kate Winslet named her daughter Mia, as did Princess Anne's daughter, Zara Tindall.

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Willow is another plant name, associated with the 'magical' willow tree.

In literature, from Shakespeare to Harry Potter, willow trees are believed to possess magical powers.

The Romani believe they have the ability to heal the sick and rejuvenate the aged, too.

A great choice for any baby with lovely rosy cheeks!

The name Rosie unsurprisingly means 'rose', but adding the 'ie' to the end gives it a cute but still classy vibe.

Got a little wise one on your hands? The name Sophia is of Greek origin and means 'wisdom'.

It was first used in England in the 17th century.

Isabella harks from a few different languages, including Hebrew, Spanish and Italian. It means 'pledged to God' so is a great twist on more traditional religious names.

The name became more popular after the the Twilight vampire series hit our bookshelves and screens – the main character was named Isabella, Bella for short. Izzy is another common nickname, too.

Of Latin origin, Grace means just that!

The heavenly name is soft to say and perfect for a graceful girl.

It's so popular, it's been given exotic twists like Engracia, Graziella and for boys, Grayson, the 66th most popular boys' name in 2021.

Daisy, like the flower, means 'day's eye', thanks to its bright yellow centre and white petals that open up at daybreak.

It's ideal for a baby born in spring, with its fresh and lively energy.

Jamie Oliver embraced flower names by naming one of his daughters Poppy, the next Daisy and the youngest Petal.

You might be able to tell from the way it rolls off the tongue that Sienna is of Italian origin.

The name lends itself to the Tuscan city called Siena, which is associated with iconic orange-red clay buildings.

Another gorgeous flower name in the list is Poppy, after the distinctive red bloom.

It's got a bit more, well, 'pop' to it than other, more delicate flower names, and is obviously popular with parents.

TV chef Jamie Oliver chose this name for his eldest daughter.

Elsie means 'pledged to God' and is of Scottish origin.

It's the name of the actress who voices the oh-so-sweet Agnes in Despicable Me.

Emily may sound like a sweet, innocent name but it actually means 'rival' in Latin.

It's a classically feminine, pretty name with great literary connections to writers like Emily Dickinson and Emily Brontë. 

Did you know that La La Land actress Emma Stone's real name is Emily?

The delicate name Ella, which means 'fairy maiden' or 'completely', is of German and English origin.

Sounding close to the even more popular Isabella, it's no surprise this is another favourite – especially with the stars!

John Travolta, Ben Stiller, Eric Clapton and Mark Wahlberg have all picked this name for their baby girls.

Is your baby a wish come true? The extended version of Evie, Evelyn is of English origin, meaning 'wished for child'.

This super-sweet feminine name was originally used for boys – can you believe it?!  

Phoebe, meaning 'radiant' and 'shining one', from Greek origin, would be a fitting choice for any baby girl.

Although the name's been used in mythology, the Bible and Shakespeare's works, it only really became popular after the rise of smash hit American show Friends, in which the eccentric Phoebe kept everyone entertained.

The only difference between this Sofia and the more popular Sophia is the spelling. Take your pick ...

Evie means 'life' and comes from Hebrew origins.

Parents currently seem to be loving names that sound like a nickname, but are actually the baby's full name, like Millie, Freddie and Ollie.

Before this trend, Evie would've been short for Evelyn.

Charlotte is a classic name derived from French, meaning 'free man'.

It's fit for any princess, even the fourth in line to the throne! Prince William and Kate chose this name for their only daughter.

Charlotte is often shortened to Lottie.

Harper is an English name, which literally means 'harp player'.

The name was quite rare until To Kill A Mockingbird author Harper Lee became well-known.

Celebrities like the Beckhams, David Spade, Dave Grohl and Neil Patrick Harris have opted for the name for their daughters, too.

Like the name Emilia, but want a shorter, cuter version? Try Millie! 

It's of German and English origin and has actually been around since the 19th century.

Nowadays, the name is most well-known as belonging to the young British actress Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven in the hit Netflix show Stranger Things. 

Matilda is a German name that's full of strength; it means 'battle-mighty'.

Often shortened to Tilly, it's been picked by chef Gordon Ramsay and actress Michelle Williams for their daughters, as well as belonging to the most clever little girl going – Matilda from Roald Dahl's famous book by the same name.

Maya, meaning 'water', has quite an exotic image thanks to its Hebrew, Spanish and Greek origin.

It's a popular name in Central American culture, but is usually spelled Maia. It was also the name of Greek God Hermes' mum.

To the Romans, Maia/Maya was the incarnation of the earth mother and goddess of spring – that's how the month of May got its name.

Like its more popular sister name Sophia, Sophie also means 'wisdom'.

Can't decide which one you like better?

Well, unlike Sophia, Sophie is a royal name belonging to the Duchess of Wessex, Prince Edward's wife.

Alice is a traditional name that's made a comeback recently, possibly because it has a more modern sound to it than other long-used names like Margaret and Mary.

Of German origin, meaning 'noble', it was a perfect name for Queen Victoria's second daughter.

The sweet name Emilia is of Spanish, Italian and Hungarian origin, and just like Emily means 'rival'.

The name makes a nice alternative to Amelia, and has become more popular since the rise of Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke, who plays the Queen of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen.

It's amazing what a difference in popularity one letter can make!

Replacing the 'a' on the end of Isabella with an 'e' is an option not as many parents pick, although it's still a common name.

Isabelle is of French origin, meaning 'pledged to God'.

Ruby is the first gemstone name in the list, meaning 'deep red, precious stone' – of course.

The name has associations with being sassy, sultry and vibrant thanks to its enchanting red colour.

Luna means 'moon' in Italian and Spanish, so is great for a bright little baby born during the night.

It's climbed in popularity since the Harry Potter character Luna Lovegood appeared in the books and films.

Celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem have picked this mystical name for their daughters.

The adorable name Maisie is of Scottish origin, meaning 'pearl'.

It might make you think of the classic children's book character Maisy Mouse, or the Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark.

Following closely behind is Aria, which is very similar to Maisie William's character name in Game of Thrones, Arya.

A light and airy name, Aria means 'air' or 'song' from its Hebrew and Italian origin. It's also the name of a character in the smash hit American drama Pretty Little Liars.

The sweet name Penelope derives from Greek, and means 'weaver'.

It's become more popular thanks to celebrities like Penelope Cruz.

Tina Fey chose the name for her youngest daughter and Kourtney Kardashian for her only daughter.

From its Russian origin, Mila means 'dear one'. From the Slavic origin, it means 'industrious'.

It can be abbreviated from Milena, or even Camila, but thanks to Black Swan star Mila Kunis' rise to fame, this name has been rising in the ranks, too.

If your baby is a bonnie lass, this could be the perfect choice! Bonnie is a Scottish word, meaning 'beautiful' and 'cheerful'.

It comes from the French word 'bonne', which means 'good' ... that's a slight contrast to the Bonnie we know from Bonnie and Clyde.

Eva, like Evie, means 'life'.

It's a classic Hebrew name that's seen a rise in popularity, possibly thanks to actresses Eva Longoria and Eva Mendes.

Similar to other short names, it was once more commonly used in its longer form, Evangeline.

Hallie is of Norse origin with a very specific meaning: 'dweller at the meadow by the manor'.

It was popular at the beginning of the 20th century and saw a revival in the 1980s.

Eliza, which used to be a just a nickname for Elizabeth, means 'pledged to God' in Hebrew.

A notable Eliza is cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle from the musical My Fair Lady, so the name's got an air of charm about it.

Ada, pronounced 'Ay-da', means 'noble' from its German origin.

It was popular in the late 19th century, but parents then lost interest until the mid '00s, when it suddenly started getting more attention again. It can probably thank some of the newfound attention to the character Ada from hit BBC show Peaky Blinders, which gave a new lease of life to a few older names.

Violet as a name is inspired by the striking purple colour.

It was picked by celebrity ex-couple Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck for their daughter, and has gradually began to gain popularity since.

It's also a favourite of children's book authors: Violet Baudelaire in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Violet Beauregarde in Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Violet Parr in Disney Pixar film The Incredibles.

Esme is a pretty name of French and Persian origin, meaning 'esteemed', beloved' and 'emerald'.

It's usually pronounced 'Es-may' and became more popular after the Twilight vampire series was released, in which Edward's mum was called Esme.

Arabella is a beautiful name of Latin origin, meaning 'yielding to prayer'. Plus, it's got the oh-so-trendy 'Bella' in it.

Ivanka Trump chose to call her daughter Arabella, and the name also belongs to the first American woman to become a lawyer, Arabella Mansfield.

Imogen is of Celtic origin, meaning 'maiden', and shortens to the cute nickname Immy.

It's another name that has Shakespearean ties, as Imogen is the daughter of King Cymbeline in the play Cymbeline.

Think your baby girl is the best gift you could ever have wished for? Jessica actually means 'gift' in Hebrew origin, so this could be a top pick for you!

Jessica is a familiar name within celebrity circles, too – Jessica Lange, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel and Jessica Simpson.

The fun name of Hebrew origin means 'delight'.

There was initially a stigma against the name because in the Bible, Delilah is a temptress. But it's come a long way and is no more than a lovely girls' name now.

You might find people sing the popular Tom Jones song at you rather a lot if you choose this name, though!

Lottie is one of the few nicknames that is still less popular than its full version, Charlotte.

The blonde-haired character Charlotte LaBouff from Disney's The Princess and the Frog prefers to go by Lottie.

Chloe is of Greek origin and interestingly means 'young green shoot'.

Because of its meaning, the name symbolises spring, new growth and freshness.

Kris Jenner liked the name, but of course she could only pick a name for her daughter that began with K, so she switched up the spelling to Khloe.

Layla is from Arabic origin and means 'night', so it'd be a perfect fit for a baby born during the darkest hours.

The spelling can be easily changed to Leila, which is the more traditional way to spell the name, but sounds exactly the same.

Thea is a beautiful name of Greek origin, meaning 'goddess' or 'godly'.

The way it's commonly spelled is actually the Anglicised way of spelling of Theia, who was the Titan of sight and the shining light of the clear blue sky.

Like Ellie, Eleanor also means 'bright, shining one' as it's the longer version of the name.

Jane Austen gave this name to two of her characters, but with slightly different spellings: Eleanor in Northanger Abbey and Elinor in Sense and Sensibility.

The lovely name Aurora means 'dawn' in Latin.

The Roman goddess of sunrise with the same name cried tears that turned into the morning dew. Plus, Aurora was of course the name of Disney's famous Princess Sleeping Beauty.

Let's hope your baby girl sleeps just as well!

Margot is another name that has an old school vibe, but is showing it can be modern, too.

Of French origin, it means 'pearl'. It's a French pet form of the name Marguerite that's come to light thanks to I, Tonya star Margot Robbie and Gru's eldest daughter in Despicable Me.

Meaning 'lovable', Mabel is a gorgeous traditional English name that's becoming increasing popular once more. A favourite name in Victorian times, has its roots in the Latin word, 'amabilis', meaning 'loveable' or 'dear'.

It entered the top 100 in 2019, marking the first time the sweet name has been in the top 100 since 1924!

Erin is of Irish origin, meaning 'from the island to the west'.

Éirinn and Éire were the Irish words for the country of Ireland, so why not celebrate Irish roots by naming your daughter this?

Elizabeth is the original name that means 'pledged to God', which is why all the variations of the name, like Eliza, Isabelle and Elsie mean this, too.

It's got a broad appeal, considering its religious connection and royal relations.

In the Bible, Elizabeth was the mother of John the Baptist and two of England's most notable queens had the name. Following the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, could this name be even more popular next year?

Emma means 'universal' from its German origin, which is quite fitting considering its universal appeal as a baby girls' name.

It was the name of one of Jane Austen's most famous books, what Ross and Rachel named their baby in Friends, and belongs to Hollywood stars Emma Watson, Emma Thompson and Emma Stone.

Another name for the colour red that would be so perfect for a ginger-haired baby is Scarlett.

Scarlett Johansson might be the only famous owner of the name that comes to mind, but Sylvester Stallone, The White Stripes' Jack White and Mick Jagger all gave their daughters the name, too.

Harriet is of French and English origin, meaning 'estate ruler' – be warned, a baby girl named Harriet is set to be the ruler of your house!

It's much more popular in the UK than it is in other English-speaking countries like the US or Australia, and can be made into a cute nickname like Hattie or Hetty.

'Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl ...'

This fun Spanish name will always make us think of Barry Manilow's song Copacabana but it actually means 'lady of sorrows'.

It's been chosen by celebrities like Chris Rock, Lisa Bonet, Charlie Sheen and Annie Lennox.

Nancy is of Hebrew and French origin, and a variant of the name Ann, which means 'grace'.

Some of our best known Nancys are Nancy from Oliver Twist and the girl detective Nancy Drew.

Frank Sinatra gave his daughter the lovely name and even wrote a song to her called Nancy With The Laughing Face.

Orla is an adorable Irish name, meaning 'golden princess'.

It was super popular in the Middle Ages, but clearly it's coming back into fashion. In Irish, the name is Orlaith. 

Ayla is of Hebrew and Turkish origin, meaning 'oak tree', 'halo' or 'moonlight'.

If you'd like something a bit more unique than Isla or Ava, Ayla is a great choice.

Rose is another gorgeous girls' name, picked from the flower family.

Flower names were most popular between 1896 and 1921, where Rose reigned supreme as a choice. There are loads of names inspired by it, too, like Rosa, Rosetta, Roseanne, Rosemary and Rosalie.

Would your baby Rose by any other name still smell as sweet?

Zara is of Arabic and Hebrew origin, meaning 'princess' or 'to blossom'.

It was considered quite exotic until the Queen's daughter, Princess Anne, defied royal protocol by giving her daughter the name, and then it became more mainstream.

Iris is of Greek origin, meaning 'rainbow'.

In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow – she rode the rainbow as a messenger between heaven and Earth, for Zeus and Hera.

Robyn is of German origin, and was used as a pet form of Robert, so its meaning is associated with being 'bright' or 'famous'.

The Dancing On My Own singer Robyn is one of the few female celebrities to have the name.

Bella means 'beautiful' in Italian.

While the name is popular on its own, it's usually given as a nickname to girls with longer names like Isabella or Arabella.

Bella was being used as far back as the 13th century, becoming particularly fashionable in the 18th century.

Molly is another name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'bitter'.

This cute name has been traditionally used as a nickname for Mary since the Middle Ages, but it's more commonly used on its own nowadays.

Will you be singing 'good golly miss Molly' to your little one?

Of Latin origin, Olive means Olive tree, a great name inspired by food.

The meaning behind Maria is up for debate; some think it means 'bitter' or 'sea of sorrow' and others think it means 'wished for a child'.

The name is of Aramaic and Latin origin, but is particularly popular in Spanish-speaking countries.

Lyla is very close to Ayla, but has a totally different meaning. Of Arabic origin, it means 'night'.

Pretty variations of the name include Lila and Laila.

Maeve means 'intoxicating' and comes from the Irish Gaelic name, Méabh.

It's been increasing in popularity in recent years, perhaps due to the character of the same name in the popular Netflix show Sex Education.

Continuing the theme of light, airy names, Ellie means 'bright shining one' from its English origin.

The longer form is usually Eleanor or Elizabeth, but like many others, Ellie is now a name in its own right.

Film and TV characters with the name include Carl's late wife in the Disney movie Up and Manny the mammoth's wife in the Ice Age series.

Gracie is like an even cuter version of Grace.

Why not give your little one this nickname as her full name?

The name of Ed Sheeran's daughter and the lead character in Philip Pullman's book trilogy, His Dark Materials, Lyra is from the Greek and means 'lyre'.

Darcy is a unisex name, but spelt Darcie it's considered more feminine.

In French, it comes from the surname Darcy, meaning 'person from Archy', which is a place in France.

It's also an Irish surname, meaning 'descended from the dark one'.

Maryam is of Arabic, Greek and Iranian origin. Similarly to Maria, people believe it means 'sea of bitterness'.

The name Miriam can be found in the Bible, as the sister of Moses and Aaron. After the Exodus, she was known as a prophetess to the people.

Maryam is also a botanical name in Iran.

Edith means 'prosperous in war' from its English origin.

You might think it sounds old fashioned, but the classic name is making a comeback.

Thanks to characters like Lady Edith Crawley from Downton Abbey, and Gru's second oldest daughter in Despicable Me, the name has dropped its association with elderly relations.

Heidi is of German origin, meaning 'of noble birth'.

German-born model and Project Runway presenter Heidi Klum is a famous face with this name.

Lucy is of English and Latin origin, meaning 'light', and was once traditionally given to girls born at dawn.

It's always been a favourite in England and Wales, thanks to its ability to sound both solid and cute.

The female version of Myles or Milo, Myla can be used as an alternate spelling for Mila. It means 'soldier' or 'merciful' and is thought to have its origins in Norman French.

The pretty name Amelie is of German and French origin, meaning 'work'.

It's associated with being French, especially because of the 2001 film Amélie, but it's now proving popular in the UK.

Amber gets its name from the intense yellow-orange Amber gemstone.

It's been appreciated for its colour and natural beauty since Neolithic times and was used as a healing agent in folk medicine.

Two Love Island winners have been named Amber, too ...

Hannah is a palindrome name from Hebrew origin, meaning 'grace'.

In the bible, Hannah was the mother of Samuel, but the name's also been used for characters in TV shows like Hannah Montana, Girls, and 13 Reasons Why.

The name is so popular, different cultures around the world have variations of it, such as Hana or Hanna.

Are you a fan of the hottest season?

Characters named Summer have consistently popped up in popular American TV shows over the years, such as Baywatch, The OC and The Mentalist.

From Hebrew, Eden means 'place of pleasure'. A unisex name, it's also the name of Adam and Eve's garden of paradise in the bible.

The floral name Jasmine is of Persian origin, meaning 'gift from God'.

The delicate, white flower is known to have an intense aroma and healing properties.

As a name, it became popular after Disney's Aladdin first came out in 1992, featuring Princess Jasmine.

The French form of the Spanish name Elodia, Elodie is a lovely melodic name for your baby girl.

Clara appropriately means 'clear' and 'bright' from its Latin origin.

The pretty name has taken over the more traditional and commonly used Clare. Try spelling it with a 'K' instead to give it a twist!

Actor Ewan McGregor chose the name for one of his daughters. 

Similar to Ivy, Holly is a botanical girls' name of English origin, that's mostly related to Christmas.

Holly and Ivy would be perfect names for twins born in December!

This sweet flower name appears twice in the list of popular girls' names – this time, it's spelled with two Ls.

Some people prefer to use this spelling as it has less association with the flower and is more focussed on being a baby name.

Like Hannah without the H's, the name Anna also means 'grace' and is a palindrome.

If your daughter grows up to be a Frozen fan, she'll love being named after Princess Anna.

Lara is of Russian origin, and the diminutive form of Larisa/Larissa meaning 'cheerful'.

It also has Latin, Greek, and Russian roots, meaning "protection." Lara could also be a pretty alternative to 'Laura"

Fun fact: In Roman mythology Lara was the name of a beautiful nymph.

Beatrice is the English version of the French 'Béatrice', which came from the Latin 'Beatrix', which means "she who makes happy".

If you are a fan of Peter Rabbit then this name could be a lovely nod to the author Beatrix Potter.

Sara is of Hebrew origin and means "princess".

It goes without saying that this is the perfect name for your little princess!