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Most Common Names for Girls

Common names are different from popular names as they denote names found most widely amongst the entire population, not just used for babies in a single year. Names most common for females in the US over the past century are listed here, with Mary claiming the top spot, followed by Patricia, Jennifer, Linda, and Elizabeth.

Along with Mary and Elizabeth, other common girl names that remain in the US Top 150 include Alice, Anna, Emma, Grace, Katherine, Olivia, Sarah, and Victoria. The common names for girls that have dropped the farthest in popularity include Cheryl, Debra, Donna, and Carol.

Some of the top names for baby girls today, such Sophia and Isabella, don't quite make it onto the Most Common Names list yet, but as older names such as Doris and Joyce fade away, they'll be replaced by newer popular names such as Ava and Charlotte. These are the 100 most common girl names of the past century.

Nancy The meaning of Nancy is 'grace'. Nancy was o...
Origin:English diminutive of Ann
268
Betty

Meaning: pledged to God

Origin:Diminutive of Elizabeth
505
Michelle

Meaning: who is like God

Origin:French variation of Michael
529
Danielle

Meaning: God is my judge

Origin:French feminine variation of Daniel, Hebrew,"God is my judge"
582
Jean

Meaning: God is gracious

Origin:English and Scottish, from French variation of Johanna
723
Lisa

Meaning: pledged to God

Origin:English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Italian
928
Kathleen

Meaning: pure

Origin:Anglicized form of Irish Caitlin
720
Martha

Meaning: lady

Origin:Aramaic
433
Barbara

Meaning: foreign woman

Origin:Latin
693
Judith

Meaning: woman from Judea

Origin:Hebrew
896
Pamela

Meaning: all honey

Origin:English
899
Maria

Meaning: drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved

Origin:Hebrew or Egyptian
1003
Tiffany

Meaning: of divine manifestation

Origin:English variation of Theophania, Greek
1241
Nicole

Meaning: people of victory

Origin:French feminine variation of Nicholas, Greek
421
Patricia

Meaning: noble, patrician

Origin:Latin
437
Marie

Meaning: drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved

Origin:French variation of Mary
604
Virginia

Meaning: virginal, pure

Origin: Latin
657
Linda

Meaning: pretty

Origin:Spanish, Portuguese and Italian word name meaning "pretty"
825
Kathryn

Meaning: pure

Origin:Variation of Katherine and Catherine, Greek
989
Julie

Meaning: youthful, sky father

Origin:French from Latin
1001