People can keep coming up with trendy baby names all they want, but there's just something so sweet about a classic, old-fashioned baby girl name that gives a subtle nod to the good ol' United States of America. And All-American baby names are as diverse as the country itself — vintagey names like Ruth and Frances give us that down-home feeling just as much as virtue names like Justice and Charity do.
All-American girl names have seen a resurgence among today's parents who are looking for names that are classic and beautiful. Here's a look at the biggest names for your All-American girl.
Popular American girl names
Each year, the Social Security Administration rounds up the top baby names taken from birth certificates in America. These 10 almost always make the top:
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Old fashioned baby girl names
The Social Security Administration also compiled the top names over the last 100 years, between 1911 and 2010. If you are looking for a classic All-American name, this list if for you. Check out the top most popular girl names in the USA from the past 100 years.
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New American girl names topping all the lists
Pop culture has long had an influence on baby names. Thanks to the popular HBO show Game of Thrones, the name girl name Arya (after the character Arya Stark) is red hot, and of course Elsa and Anna, from the popular movie Frozen, are more popular than ever.
Check out the hottest new baby girl names in the US:
Vintage baby girl names
What's old is new again! If you want a girl's name that is not as popular, check out some of our picks of American names from the past decades, including the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. You are sure to love these old fashioned, yet truly American baby girl names.
- Helen
- Betty
- Margaret
- Ruth
- Virginia
- Doris
- Mildred
- Frances
- Evelyn
- Jean
- Shirley
- Florence
- Rose
- Lillian
- Ruby
- Eleanor
Early American baby names
The Pilgrims were the first settlers in America — and they had some beautiful and meaningful names. Many of these names were virtue names, meaning the names were also a characteristic they hoped their child would also have. Consider using these early American baby names as a first or even a middle name for your baby girl.
Before you go, check out our slideshow below:
Originally published December 2015. Updated April 2017.