Cottagecore is the pastoral life shrunk to fit a wardrobe and a windowsill: floral prints, rustic rooms, bread, mending, a garden that is half weeds and bees. Merriam-Webster dates the word itself to Tumblr in 2018, and traces its -core ending back to hardcore (1).
The 100 names below carry that mood, and some of them carry real numbers with it. Charlotte ranked 2nd among U.S. girls in 2025 and Theodore 4th among boys, while Juniper cracked the top 100 for the first time at 100th, having first appeared in the federal data in 1969 (2). At the other end sits Huckleberry, 12,725th, at roughly one birth in 333,000.
Every popularity figure here comes from U.S. Social Security Administration birth records, so it describes American births and nothing else. Names run alphabetically, each with meaning, origin, pronunciation, and the bearers worth knowing.
Popularity at a Glance
The most popular names on this list in the United States, 1965 to 2025: Charlotte, Oliver, Amelia, Theodore and Benjamin.
100 Cute Cottagecore Baby Names
Return to the good old days with our collection of 100 comfy cottagecore names.
Adeline
Adeline came to England with the Normans as a diminutive of the French Adele, which traces back to the Germanic Adalheidis and the root adal, meaning noble. Centuries on, it still sounds polished and unhurried. The nicknames do the softening: Ada and Addy both step in when three syllables feel like a lot for a small person. It ranked 59th among U.S. girls in 2025, just off its best-ever showing in 2024.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Noble
- Pronunciation: A-duh-leen, A-duh-leyen
- Variations: Adaline, Adalene, Adeleine
- Namesakes: Adeline Pond Adams, an American writer and wife of sculptor Herbert Adams. Dame Adeline Genée, a Danish-British ballet dancer. Adeline Dutton Train Whitney, an American poet and author.
- Popularity: Adeline ranked 59th in the U.S. in 2025, with 3,864 girls given the name, just off its best-ever 58th in 2024.
Adler
The surname Adler became a first during the 19th-century. It’s a strong Germanic nature name inspired by the eagle. Take the Austrian doctor and psychotherapist Alfred Adler. His ideas set him apart from other members of the Vienna Circle. Strive for greater heights and make bravery, strength, and independence part of your son’s identity with Adler.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Eagle
- Pronunciation: AD-luh, AD-lur
- Namesakes: Adler Capelli, an Italian track cyclist.
- Popularity: Adler reached its best U.S. rank yet in 2025 at 871st, with 275 boys.
Adrina
Adrina might be a variant of Adriana, meaning “from Hadria,” though others have suggested that Adrina means “dark.” It’s based on Adria, also called Atria or Hatria, an ancient Italian town from which the Adriatic sea got its title. Adria probably comes from the Illyrian word “adur” meaning “water” or “sea.” Despite uncertain roots, Adrina is a perfectly pretty pick.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: From Hadria
- Pronunciation: uh-DREE-nuh, a-DREE-nuh
- Variations: Adriana
- Popularity: Adrina is rare in the U.S.: 11 girls received it in 2025, ranking 8,871st, well below its 2011 high of 2,555th.
Agnes
Agnes is a Latinization of the Greek “Hagne” from the root “hagnos,” meaning “chaste,” “pure,” or “holy.” It makes sense that several saints, including the virgin martyr St. Agnes of Rome, have used this traditional option. Agnes is great for parents who want to honor their faith or simply try out something that sounds old-fashioned.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Chaste, pure, virginal
- Pronunciation: AG-niss
- Variations: Agnese, Ines, Annis, Hagne
- Namesakes: Agnes Dean Abbatt, an American landscape coastal and floral painter. Agnes Allen, an English children’s author. Agnes of Bohemia, a Bohemian princess and saint.
- Popularity: Agnes ranked 1,016th in the U.S. in 2025 with 246 girls, a long way from its 41st-place peak in 1913, though use is up about 121 percent on the previous decade.
Alice
Alice comes from the Old French Aalis, a diminutive of Adelais, itself a shortened form of the German Adalheidis, meaning of noble birth. Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel did the rest, and the name has never really gone away. It is popular again in the U.S. without sitting at the very top, and it is one of the few names that fits a toddler and a professor equally well.
- Origin: French, German
- Meaning: Noble
- Pronunciation: A-liss
- Variations: Alys, Aalis
- Namesakes: Alice Sebold, an American author known for The Lovely Bones. Alice Meynell, a British writer, poet, and suffragist. Princess Alice, a member of the British royal family.
- Popularity: Alice ranked 65th in the U.S. in 2025 with 3,547 girls, still short of the 11th place it held in 1913.
Amber
Amber is fossilized tree resin, warm and golden, and long cut for jewelry. The word reached English through the Arabic anbar. The name peaked hard in the 1980s and has been sliding ever since, which puts it in a useful middle place: instantly familiar, rarely given. Wait another decade and it will read vintage rather than dated.
- Origin: English, Arabic
- Meaning: Amber, amber-colored
- Pronunciation: AM-buh, AM-bur
- Variations: Ambre
- Namesakes: Amber Aguirre, an American ceramic sculptor. Amber Scott, an Australian ballerina and principal dancer. Amber Glenn, an American figure skater.
- Popularity: Amber ranked 520th in the U.S. in 2025 with 576 girls, down about 56 percent on the previous decade and far below its 1986 peak at 13th.
Ambrose
Ambrose is the Anglicized version of the Latin Ambrosius, itself drawn from the Greek Ambrosios, meaning “belonging to immortals” or “of the gods,” a meaning usually shortened to “immortal.” Ambrose may conjure laid-back pastoral scenes full of ambrosia and nectar, but its use has climbed too, up about 308 percent over the past decade. It is still nowhere near common, so the gentle, old-fashioned sound stays rare for now.
- Origin: Latin, Greek
- Meaning: Immortal
- Pronunciation: AM-brohz
- Variations: Ambrosios, Ambrosius
- Namesakes: St. Ambrose of Milan, a theologian and bishop. Ambrose Bierce, an American author and poet. St. Ambrose of Camaldoli, an Italian monk and theologian.
- Popularity: Ambrose ranked 735th in the U.S. in 2025 with 358 boys, up about 308 percent on the previous decade.
Amelia
Amelia is an English variant of Amalia from the Germanic word “amal,” meaning “work.” Despite its practical, no-nonsense meaning, Amelia seems perfect for a princess. Amelia gets the job right if you’re into frilly cottagecore names that still fit the industrious rural lifestyle.
- Origin: English, German
- Meaning: Industrious, hard-working
- Pronunciation: uh-MEE-lee-uh
- Variations: Amalia
- Namesakes: Amelia Coats, an American landscape printmaker. Amelia Lily Oliver, an English singer. Amelia Perrier, an Irish novelist and travel writer.
- Popularity: Amelia ranked 4th in the U.S. in 2025 with 12,699 girls, one spot below its best-ever 3rd in 2024.
Amethyst
Amethyst is a lilac quartz that exudes refinement. In line with ideas of purification, the ancient Greeks believed amethyst prevented intoxication. Thus, Amethyst, from Amethystos, consists of the Greek elements “a,” meaning “not,” and “methystos,” meaning “intoxicated.” Carve this glittering gemstone from our list of cottage core names. Its gradual rise in use could make Amethyst as popular as Amber and Ruby.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Not intoxicated, purple semi-precious quartz
- Pronunciation: A-muh-thist, A-muh-thust
- Variations: Amethystos
- Namesakes: Amethyst Kelly, stage name Iggy Azalea, an Australian rapper and model.
- Popularity: Amethyst ranked 1,242nd in the U.S. in 2025 with 181 girls, close to its 2022 high of 1,069th.
Angus
Angus comes from the Scottish Gaelic and Irish Aonghas, built from the Celtic elements oen, meaning one, and guss, meaning force or strength. The cattle link is real, since the Aberdeen Angus is a Scottish beef breed, and it has stuck hard enough that most people hear the farm before the saint. In American use it is genuinely rare now, which suits parents after a sturdy name nobody else in the class will have. Animal Crossing players know Angus as the cranky bull villager.
- Origin: Celtic, English
- Meaning: One choice, one strength
- Pronunciation: ANG-gus
- Variations: Aengus, Aonghas, Óengus
- Namesakes: Angus Clark, an American guitarist, singer, and producer. Angus Young, a Scottish-Australian musician and co-founder of AC/DC. Angus Jones, an American actor known for Two and a Half Men.
- Popularity: Angus ranked 2,363rd in the U.S. in 2025, with 58 boys given the name; its best year was 1914 at 659th.
Anne
Few people realize Anne is unisex. From the Hebrew Hannah it is feminine and means favor or grace, while its Frisian roots make it masculine, and it has turned up on French charts for boys. In U.S. records it goes overwhelmingly to girls, where its single syllable steadies a longer first name. Plain, unfussy Anne suits a family that likes its names quiet.
- Origin: French, Hebrew, Frisian
- Meaning: Favor, grace, eagle
- Pronunciation: AN
- Variations: Ann, Anna
- Namesakes: Anne Casimir Pyramus de Candolle, a Swiss botanist. Anne Hathaway, an American actress. Anne Rice, born Howard Allen O’Brien, an American gothic fiction author.
- Popularity: Anne ranked 619th in the U.S. in 2025 with 472 girls, holding roughly steady over the past decade but far below its 52nd place in 1915.
Ansel
Ansel is a short form of Anselm, which joins the Old German elements ansi, meaning god, and helm, meaning helmet or protection. It carries an old, chivalrous ring. It is also one of the quiet climbers here: 2025 was its biggest year yet by births, though it has never come close to common. Ansel Adams gives it a second life as a photographer’s name, all granite and weather.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: God’s protection, divine helmet
- Pronunciation: AN-sul
- Variations: Ansell, Ancel, Anselm
- Namesakes: Ansel Adams, an American landscape photographer, and environmentalist. Ansel Hall, an American naturalist. Ansel Krut, a South African painter based in the UK.
- Popularity: Ansel ranked 1,138th in the U.S. in 2025, and its 186 births that year are the most it has ever recorded.
Asa
Although only three letters, Asa is wholesome and backed by loads of tradition and history. It finds roots in both the Hebrew and African cultures. In the Bible, Asa was a king of Judah who was highly devoted to God. In Nigeria, Asa is Yoruban, meaning “morning” or “new beginning,” symbolizing hope.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Healer, physician
- Pronunciation: AY-suh
- Namesakes: Asa Gray, a 19th-century American botanist. Asa Keisar, an Israeli Jewish religious scholar, rabbi, and vegan advocate.
- Popularity: Asa ranked 483rd for U.S. boys in 2025 with 622 births, plus 74 girls, near its 2022 best of 450th.
Asher
Asher is a traditional trailblazer, making the U.S. top 100 in 2014. It comes from the Hebrew word “osher” meaning “happiness” or “blessed.” It also finds roots in occupational surnames like the Middle English Aschere and the German Äscher, both meaning “ash-maker.” Despite starting as a masculine moniker, nowadays, Asher has become a viable option for girls.
- Origin: Hebrew, English, German
- Meaning: Happy, blessed, ash maker
- Pronunciation: A-shuh, A-shur
- Variations: Ascher
- Namesakes: Asher Brown Durand, an American painter. Simon Asher Levin, an American ecologist. Asher Keddie, an Australian actress.
- Popularity: Asher ranked 28th in the U.S. in 2025 with 7,456 boys, a little below its 2022 peak at 20th.
Aspen
Aspen is a zippy-sounding pick that takes root in the Old English “æspe.” Taken from the white-barked aspen tree known for its delicate, quaking leaves, Aspen is associated with the great outdoors. Paint a picture of pristine forests and alpine landscapes with this nature-loving pick. As a plus, Aspen is easy to say and spell, making it quite memorable.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Aspen tree, quaking tree
- Pronunciation: AZ-pen, AS-pn
- Variations: Aspin, Aspyn
- Namesakes: Aspen Mays, an American artist. Aspen Ladd, an American professional mixed martial artist.
- Popularity: Aspen ranked 266th for U.S. girls in 2025 with 1,179 births, and 920th for boys with 256.
Aubrette
Aubrette has a storybook quality, like a fairy out of a French fable, and it suits the cottagecore aesthetic without trying. It is probably a form of the Old French Aubrey, from the German Alberich, built from the Germanic elements alb, meaning elf, and rih, meaning ruler or king. It is rare enough that the federal name data has never listed it, which is either the appeal or the warning, depending on your temperament.
- Origin: French, German
- Meaning: Elf ruler
- Pronunciation: AW-bret
- Variations: Aubrey, Aubret
- Popularity: Aubrette is too rare for the U.S. federal name data to list, which publishes a name only when at least five babies receive it in a year.
August
August is a short form of Augustus from the Latin term “augere,” meaning “to increase.” Despite being masculine worldwide, August began ranking on U.S. charts for girls in 2017, making it a modern, non-binary option. The connection to the eighth month also conjures a summery atmosphere. August is fit for royalty if you have a tiny caesar at home.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Esteemed, magnificent, venerable
- Pronunciation: AW-gust, AH-gist
- Variations: Auguste
- Namesakes: August Jerndorff, a Danish portrait painter. August Weismann, a German evolutionary biologist. August Wilson, an American playwright.
- Popularity: August had its best U.S. year on record in 2025, ranking 81st with 3,958 boys, along with 268 girls at 962nd.
Aurora
Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn, whose tears were said to become the morning dew. Sleeping Beauty gave the name its second life, and American parents have taken to it: 2025 was its best year on record. Three syllables carry real weight on a birth certificate without feeling like a mouthful in daily use.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Dawn
- Pronunciation: aw-ROR-uh
- Namesakes: Aurora Aksnes, a Norwegian electropop, Nordic folk, and art pop singer-songwriter. Aurora Reyes Flores, a Mexican artist, muralist, and writer.
- Popularity: Aurora reached its highest U.S. rank yet in 2025 at 15th, with 7,065 girls.
Bea
However you choose to say it, Bea is simply adorable! It’s a diminutive of Beatrice from the Latin Beatrix and a derivative of Beáta. In the Animal Crossing video game, Bea is a dog villager. In the series’ New Horizons installation, Bea has a nature hobby. The player can find her reading up on bugs, flowers, fossils, and more.
- Origin: Latin, Italian, English
- Meaning: Blessed, happy
- Pronunciation: BEE-ah, BAY-ah, BEE
- Namesakes: Bea Booze, an American R&B, jazz singer, and blues guitarist. Bea Nettles, an American fine art photographer and author. Bea Palya, a Hungarian folk and world music singer-songwriter.
- Popularity: Bea ranked 2,218th in the U.S. in 2025 with 83 girls, up about 202 percent on the previous decade.
Bear
Bear is a blunt animal name from the Old English bera, and its use has roughly tripled in the U.S. over the past decade. It is warm, funny, and completely unpretentious on a birth announcement. Bear Grylls is the best-known bearer, though in his case it began as a childhood nickname rather than a given name.
- Origin: English, German
- Meaning: Bear
- Pronunciation: BAIR
- Variations: Bär, Björn, Bjørn
- Namesakes: Edward Grylls, known as Bear Grylls, a British adventurer and TV personality. Bear McCreary, an American musician and composer.
- Popularity: Bear ranked 853rd in the U.S. in 2025 with 286 boys, roughly triple its use in the decade before.
Benedict
Benedict found its footing in the U.S. in the early 1900s and, though it stays a niche pick by rank, notched its highest number of births on record in 2025. This somewhat old-school option has an atmosphere of class and decorum. It stems from the Latin Benedictus, comprising the elements “bene,” meaning “good,” and “dicte,” meaning “speak.” Many saints and popes have used Benedict, including Pope Benedict XV and Pope Benedict XVI.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Blessed
- Pronunciation: BEN-uh-dikt, BEN-eh-dikt
- Variations: Benedikt, Benedicto, Benedictus
- Namesakes: Benedict Cumberbatch, an award-winning English actor. Benedict Wells, a German-Swiss novelist.
- Popularity: Benedict ranked 814th in the U.S. in 2025, and its 305 births that year are the most on record.
Benjamin
Benjamin is one of the steadiest names in American records, and it travels well. In the Bible, Benjamin was Jacob’s twelfth son; his dying mother called him Ben-oni, meaning son of my mourning, and Jacob renamed him. This biblical moniker comes from the Hebrew roots ben, meaning son, and yamin, meaning right hand or south. Ben and Benji come free with it.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Son of the right hand
- Pronunciation: BEN-juh-min
- Variations: Benyāmīn
- Namesakes: Benjamin Agosto, an American ice dancer. Benjamin Zephaniah, a British writer and dub poet. Edward Benjamin Britten, also called Baron Britten, an English composer and conductor.
- Popularity: Benjamin ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2025 with 9,762 boys, holding steady over the past decade after peaking at 6th in 2016.
Birch
Birch has a bright and cheerful vibe, perfect for boys and girls. This rare epithet comes from the thin-leaved hardwood tree of the Betulaceae family. According to folklore, the birch has “eyes”‘ to help guide travelers through the mountains. The white trunks of the paper birch are easy to spot in a forest, so maybe there’s some truth to it.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Birch tree
- Pronunciation: BURCH
- Namesakes: Birch Wilson, an American political activist, newspaper editor, and civic employee.
- Popularity: Birch sits right at the edge of the U.S. data, with 5 boys recorded in 2025 at 12,294th.
Briar
A briar is any woody plant with a thorny stem, which leaves it fairly open to interpretation. Similarly, Briar is an androgynous option, though it’s still more popular for girls. If you feel Briar is too prickly, you can always make it a middle name. Allow your baby to feel like part of the countryside.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Thorny bush, brambles
- Pronunciation: BREYE-uh, BREYE-er
- Namesakes: Briar Nolet, a Canadian dancer and actress. Briar Rose Christensen, daughter of American actress Rachel Bilson and Canadian actor Hayden Christensen.
- Popularity: Briar ranked 400th for U.S. girls in 2025, its best year yet, with 778 births, plus 397 boys at 686th.
Brooke
Brooke comes from an English surname, referring to someone who lived near a small stream. It was popular for decades, though its use has fallen off sharply in recent years. Despite being well known, Brooke remains fairly unique. Water is a source of life, and Brooke can help you feel connected to that source as you celebrate your child’s birth.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Small stream
- Pronunciation: BRUUK
- Variations: Brook
- Namesakes: Brooke Castile, an American competitive pair skater. Brooke Sheldon, an American librarian. Brooke White, an American folk-pop singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Brooke ranked 313th in the U.S. in 2025 with 972 girls, down about 63 percent on the previous decade, the steepest drop of any name on this list.
Caspian
Set sail for undiscovered places with Caspian. Author C.S. Lewis first used Caspian for a seafaring prince in his 1950 Chronicles of Narnia books. This regal epithet is the Anglicized form of the Greek Kaspioi. This was an ethnic group that once lived along the southwest shores of the Caspian Sea. It’s also been suggested that Caspian means “white.”
- Origin: Greek, English
- Meaning: From Caspian
- Pronunciation: KAS-pee-un
- Variations: Qazvin, Kaspian
- Namesakes: Caspian Tredwell-Owen, an American screenwriter. Jay Caspian Kang, an American writer, editor, and TV journalist.
- Popularity: Caspian reached its best U.S. rank in 2025 at 491st with 614 boys, up about 665 percent on the previous decade.
Cedar
The English Cedar comes from the Latinized Greek word “kedros,” denoting a durable and unusually tall coniferous tree. As such, Cedar has a strong, stable, and steadfast connotation. With its modern feel, this versatile pick is great whether you have a boy or a girl. If your baby has siblings, you can plant a forest of little trees with other evergreen names.
- Origin: English, Greek
- Meaning: Cedar (tree)
- Pronunciation: SEE-der, SEE-duh
- Variations: Cedre, Ceder, Seder
- Namesakes: Cedar Sigo, a Suquamish-American writer. Cedar Prest, an Australian stained glass artist. Cedar Walton Jr., an American jazz pianist.
- Popularity: Cedar ranked 1,244th for U.S. boys in 2025 with 160 births, and 2,827th for girls with 60.
Charlotte
Charlotte sits at the very top of this list in current American data, and it has the range to earn the spot. The nicknames alone cover a lot of ground: Lottie, Charlie, Carly. Most readers hear Charlotte’s Web first and Charlotte Bronte second, which is a decent pair of literary godparents. Some parents will balk at how common it is; others will decide that popular and tired are not the same thing.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Freeman, petite
- Pronunciation: SHAHR-lut, SHAHR-lt
- Variations: Sharlotte, Carlota, Carlotta
- Namesakes: Princess Charlotte of Wales, a member of the British royal family. Charlotte Rhead, an English ceramics artist. Charlotte Elliott, an English poet and hymnist.
- Popularity: Charlotte ranked 2nd in the U.S. in 2025 with 13,400 girls, its highest placement on record and the top rank of any name on this list.
Clara
Clara is the feminine form of the Latin Clarus, a derivative of Claritas meaning “clarity” and “brightness.” This simple pick has a soft sound that is both sophisticated and charming. It has held steady in the U.S. top 100 for years, well off its 1913 peak at 36th but never close to disappearing. Clara wears well on any age, which is most of the case for it.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Clear, bright
- Pronunciation: KLAH-ruh, KLAIR-uh
- Variations: Claire, Klara, Clare
- Namesakes: Clara Schumann, a German pianist, composer, and piano teacher. Clara Burnham, an American novelist. Clara Doty Bates, an American author.
- Popularity: Clara ranked 63rd in the U.S. in 2025 with 3,601 girls; its best year was 1913 at 36th.
Clement
Much like the idyllic pastoral life, Clement invokes an air of tranquility. It’s an Anglicization of the Late Latin Clemens or the derivative of Clementius. As Clement means “merciful” and “mild,” it’s unsurprising that many saints and popes carry this moniker. Clement is seeing a resurgence in popularity in many countries. Why not give it a chance too?
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Merciful, mild, gentle
- Pronunciation: KLEH-munt, KLEH-ment
- Variations: Clemente, Climent, Kliment, Klement
- Namesakes: Clement Clarke Moore, an American writer and scholar. Clement Cruttwell, an English mapmaker.
- Popularity: Clement ranked 2,262nd in the U.S. in 2025 with 62 boys, long past its 1915 high of 275th.
Clover
Clover comes from the Old English clafre and needs no explaining at all: it is the small meadow flower, lucky fourth leaf included. It reached its best year on record in 2025, usually for girls, though it goes to boys too. Say it out loud and you get green hills, sheep, and gorse bushes thrown in.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Meadow flower
- Pronunciation: KLOH-vr, KLOH-vuh
- Namesakes: Clover Blue Fortus, daughter of American guitarist Richard Fortus.
- Popularity: Clover had its best U.S. year yet in 2025, ranking 517th with 578 girls.
Cobb
Cobb is quite unusual. It stems from the Old English “cob” meaning “lump” or “rounded hill.” Another possible root is the Old Norse cognate, Kobbi, denoting a large man. It’s hard not to think of corn with this one. And what loves corn? Pigs. In Animal Crossing, Cobb is a pig villager whose green color refers to Cobb salad.
- Origin: Old English, Old Norse
- Meaning: Lump, rounded hill
- Pronunciation: KOB
- Variations: Cobbe, Cob
- Namesakes: Cobb Rooney, a professional American (gridiron) football player.
- Popularity: Cobb appears in the U.S. data only once, in 1954, when 5 boys received it at 3,921st.
Cornelius
Cornelius comes from the Latin “cornu,” meaning “horn.” It specifically referred to a bull’s horn, giving it a fierce and sturdy air. Cornelius also has literary roots. In Thumbelina, Cornelius was the faery prince that fell in love with the tiny title character. Besides royalty, the Harry Potter series has an elderly and stately character called Cornelius Fudge.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Horn
- Pronunciation: kaw-NEE-lee-us, kawr-NEE-lee-us
- Variations: Cornelis, Kornelius
- Namesakes: Cornelius Cardew, an English composer. Cornelius Comegys, an American farmer and politician. Cornelius Hankins, an American landscape and portrait painter.
- Popularity: Cornelius ranked 1,908th in the U.S. in 2025 with 82 boys, down about 35 percent on the previous decade.
Dagan
Dagan, or Dagon, was an ancient Mesopotamian god of crop fertility. He was often depicted with the body of a fish and was credited with the invention of the plow. This one really takes you back to the farm. With its agricultural vibe and strong sound, Dagan is ideal for helpful little hands around the barn.
- Origin: Hebrew, Akkadian
- Meaning: Grain
- Pronunciation: DA-gan, da-GAHN
- Variations: Daganu, Dagon
- Namesakes: Dagan Yivzori, an Israeli basketball player. Dagán, a 7th-century Irish bishop who was based in Anglo-Saxon England.
- Popularity: Dagan last appeared in the U.S. data in 2024, with 5 births at 12,722nd; its best year was 2003 at 1,991st.
Dahlia
Dahlia is named for the botanist Anders Dahl, and the flowers themselves are native to Mexico and Central America. The name hit its best American rank in 2025, so it has arrived without being everywhere yet. Writer Dahlia Lithwick has carried it into American journalism, proof it reads as serious as it does pretty.
- Origin: Swedish, English
- Meaning: Valley flower
- Pronunciation: DAH-lee-uh
- Namesakes: Dahlia Ravikovitch, an Israeli poet, peace activist, and translator. Dahlia Lithwick, a Canadian-American writer and lawyer.
- Popularity: Dahlia reached its best U.S. rank in 2025 at 215th, with 1,420 girls.
Daphne
Daphne is having its best year yet, though it still carries a touch of old-world charm. For some, it brings to mind the Scooby-Doo character, Daphne Blake, who first hit TV screens in 1969. But Daphne is even more ancient than that. In Greek mythology, Daphne was a water nymph pursued by the god Apollo. Her father turned her into a laurel tree to escape her infatuated suitor.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Laurel
- Pronunciation: DAF-nee
- Variations: Daphnee, Dafne, Dafni, Daphney
- Namesakes: Daphne Reynolds, an English printmaker and painter. Dame Daphne du Maurier, an English novelist, biographer, and playwright. Daphne Njie Efundem, a Cameroonian singer.
- Popularity: Daphne had its best U.S. year on record in 2025, ranking 178th with 1,740 girls.
Dorian
The Dorians were an ancient Greek pre-Spartan tribe. Although the meaning is uncertain, Dorian has been posited to mean “gift” or “(descendent) of Doris/Doros.” Dorian hits the mark if you search high and low for an elegant, European-style moniker. Sealed in the annals of classic literature, it appears in Oscar Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Gift, of Doros
- Pronunciation: DOR-ee-un, DAW-ree-un
- Namesakes: Dorian FitzGerald, a Canadian artist. Dorian Haarhoff, a South African-Namibian writer and poet. Dorian Paskowitz, an American physician turned surfer.
- Popularity: Dorian ranked 539th in the U.S. in 2025 with 557 boys, the most it has recorded in any year, though its best rank was 398th in 2000.
Edmund
Edmund just begs you to call your son “lad.” It’s a very British-sounding moniker perfectly suited for traditional cottagecore names. Edmund comes from the Old English elements “ēad” meaning “prosperity,” “wealth,” or “fortune,” and “mund” meaning “protector.” In the Chronicles of Narnia, after becoming loyal and courageous, the third Pevensie sibling was fittingly dubbed King Edmund the Just.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Prosperous protector
- Pronunciation: ED-muhnd, ED-mnd
- Variations: Edmond, Edmont, Eadmund
- Namesakes: Edmund Lenihan, an Irish author and storyteller. Edmund Garrett, an American illustrator and author. Edmund Spenser, an English poet known for The Faerie Queene.
- Popularity: Edmund ranked 1,082nd in the U.S. in 2025 with 199 boys, up about 47 percent on the previous decade.
Elsa
Elsa is a German diminutive of Elisabeth from the Hebrew Elisheva, meaning “God is my oath,” or “my God is plenty.” It’s primarily used in Scandinavian countries, but after Disney’s Frozen, Elsa had a massive spike on U.S. charts. Don’t let the Nordic winter come and go without taking up this frosty pick for your snow princess.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: My God is an oath, God’s promise, my God is plenty
- Pronunciation: EL-suh, EL-zah
- Variations: Elza, Else
- Namesakes: Elsa Beata Bunge, née Wrede, a Finnish-Swedish botanist, writer, and noble. Elsa Einstein, the second wife and cousin of Albert Einstein.
- Popularity: Elsa ranked 1,104th in the U.S. in 2025 with 216 girls, down about 38 percent on the previous decade and well below its 2014 peak at 286th.
Ember
Ember comes from the ordinary English noun, by way of the Old English aemerge, and it means exactly what it looks like. Its climb in the U.S. over the last decade has been steep. The picture it hands you is a good one: the last warm glow of a fading campfire, still throwing light.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Spark, ember
- Pronunciation: EM-bur, EM-buh
- Namesakes: Ember Oakley, an American lawyer and politician.
- Popularity: Ember ranked 154th in the U.S. in 2025 with 1,952 girls, just off its 2024 best of 135th and up about 305 percent on the previous decade.
Ezra
Ezra is a biblical moniker of Hebrew origin, meaning “help,” and denotes a helper or an aide. With its welcoming feel, Ezra is a simple, easy-to-pronounce pick for the cottagecore aesthetic. So make a list of relaxing activities to do as a family. Ezra could be your little helper around the home.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Help
- Pronunciation: EHZ-ruh
- Namesakes: Ezra Miller, an American actor. Ezra Pound, an American poet and critic. George Ezra Barnett, an English singer-songwriter and guitarist.
- Popularity: Ezra ranked 20th in the U.S. in 2025 with 8,126 boys, a few places below its 2024 peak at 13th.
Fauna
Fauna was an ancient Roman goddess, described variously as the wife, sister, or daughter of Faunus, god of the countryside. Her name is the feminine form of Faunus, which may stem from fawe or fawono, meaning favorable. Some connect it with young deer because of how it sits beside fawn, but there is no etymological evidence for that. It is very rare in American use, which suits its mythic streak.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Favorable, to befriend
- Pronunciation: FAW-nuh, FAH-nuh
- Namesakes: Fauna Hodel, an American author and motivational speaker.
- Popularity: Fauna is very rare in the U.S.: 11 girls received it in 2025, ranking 9,051st.
Fawn
Fawn is the English word for a young deer, used plainly as a name. It is uncommon in the U.S. now, though it had a genuine run in the 1970s, so it reads vintage rather than invented. The word carries its own picture: something small and new-legged at the edge of a field. If you want the sound without the literalness, Fauna sits just above.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Young deer
- Pronunciation: FAWN, FAHN
- Variations: Fawne
- Namesakes: Fawn Brodie, an American biographer and historian. Fawn Oakes, daughter of Native American activist Richard Oakes. Fawn Johnson, an American journalist.
- Popularity: Fawn ranked 5,983rd in the U.S. in 2025 with 20 girls, long past its 1977 high of 763rd.
Flora
Flora is a classic pick from the Latin words “flos” and “florus.” In ancient Roman myth, Flora was a goddess of flowers, spring, and fertility. She was also the wife of the west wind Zephyr. Regardless of the time of year, Flora could be perfect for any budding baby.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Flower
- Pronunciation: FLAW-rah, FLAH-ruh
- Variations: Flor, Florah, Fleur
- Namesakes: Flora Twort, an English painter specializing in watercolors and pastels. Flora Haines Loughead, an American writer, farmer, and miner. Florence Nwanzuruahu Nkiru Nwapa, a Nigerian author.
- Popularity: Flora ranked 607th in the U.S. in 2025 with 483 girls, up about 199 percent on the previous decade.
Florence
Florence is an androgynous French and English name. Originally a female version of the Roman Florentius, it derives from the Latin word “florens,” meaning “blossoming” or “flourishing.” Whether referencing Florence, Italy, in all its Renaissance glory, or Florence and the Machine, this picturesque option is quite elegant. Florence has an old-school vibe that promises refinement.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Flourishing, prosperous, blossoming
- Pronunciation: FLAW-runtss, FLAWR-entss
- Variations: Florance, Florencia
- Namesakes: Florence Austin, an American violinist. Florence Welch, an English singer-songwriter for the indie rock band Florence and the Machine. Florence Brittingham, an American poet and writer.
- Popularity: Florence ranked 391st in the U.S. in 2025 with 796 girls, up about 383 percent on the previous decade after peaking at 13th in 1913.
Garnet
The (red) Garnet is one gemstone that has recently been given more spotlight with shows like Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe. It comes from the Middle English term “gernet,” meaning “dark red.” But the surname, Garnet, may stem from an Old French term for someone who made hinges or the Norman Gaurin, meaning “aware” or “cautious.”
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Dark red, hinge-maker
- Pronunciation: GAR-net, GAH-net
- Variations: Garnett
- Namesakes: Garnet Walch, an Australian writer and publisher. Garnet Jex, an American artist and historian.
- Popularity: Garnet is rare in current U.S. data, with 8 girls and 6 boys recorded in 2025; its best year was 1918 at 407th.
Ginger
Ginger is a charming cottagecore name. It usually refers to the English word for the spice made from ginger root, which has a warm flavor. Ginger also refers to a reddish-brown color and is often a nickname for someone with a fiery temper or red hair. Keep it simple and sweet with cozy Ginger.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Ginger (spice), reddish-brown color
- Pronunciation: JIN-juh, JIN-jer
- Variations: Ginjer, Ginnger
- Namesakes: Ginger Costa-Jackson, an Italian-American opera singer. Ginger Brooks Takahashi, an American artist. Ginger Riley Munduwalawala, an Aboriginal Australian artist.
- Popularity: Ginger ranked 3,308th in the U.S. in 2025 with 47 girls, down about 54 percent on the previous decade and far below its 1971 peak at 187th.
Hansel
Hansel is a German diminutive of Hans and means “little Hans.” As Hans is a nickname for Johannes, from John, Hansel also means “Jehovah has been gracious.” The most famous use of Hansel is in the fairytale Hansel and Gretel, where the children live a rural lifestyle and get lost in the forest. Break out the traditional lederhosen for folksy Hansel.
- Origin: German, Hebrew
- Meaning: Little Hans, Jehovah has been gracious
- Pronunciation: HAN-zel, HAN-sl
- Variations: Hänsel, Hansil, Hansell, Henschel
- Namesakes: Hansel Mieth, a German photojournalist.
- Popularity: Hansel ranked 1,638th in the U.S. in 2025 with 103 boys, up about 93 percent on the previous decade.
Harriette
Harriette is the French form of Harriet, a feminine version of Henry. This classy epithet means “little estate ruler.” Since an estate is usually located in the countryside, your girl is already connected to nature. Take this upscale option for a spin and try out nicknames like Hattie, Etta, or the tomboyish Harry or Harri.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Little home ruler, little estate ruler
- Pronunciation: HA-ree-eht, HAIR-ee-eht
- Variations: Harriet, Hariette, Harriett
- Namesakes: Dame Harriette Chick, a British microbiologist who made a treatment for rickets. Harriette Campbell, a Scottish novelist.
- Popularity: Harriette is rare in the U.S. now, with 12 girls in 2025 at 8,548th; its best year was 1917 at 380th.
Hazel
Hazel comes from the Old English haesel, the shrub that gives us hazelnuts, and it doubles as the greenish-brown eye color. It has spent the past few years near the top of the American charts, which means company, though that says nothing against the name itself. Soft without being sweet, and it ages onto an adult without a hitch.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Hazel (tree or color)
- Pronunciation: HAY-zl
- Namesakes: Hazel Findlay, a British climber and mountaineer. Hazel Hutchins, a Canadian children’s author. Hazel Schmoll, an American botanist.
- Popularity: Hazel ranked 21st in the U.S. in 2025 with 6,318 girls, just below its 2023 best of 18th.
Holly
Holly is the English word for the holly tree, likely from the Old English hole(g)n or the Middle English holis. Five letters, botanical, with a holiday shimmer built in, and its American use has held level rather than faded. Those red berries against dark green leaves are the whole picture, and Hol works fine as a shorthand.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Holly tree
- Pronunciation: HOL-ee, HAH-lee
- Variations: Holley, Hollee, Holli, Hollie
- Namesakes: Holly Jean Dorger, an American ballerina and principal dancer. Holly Harris, an Australian figure skater and ice dancer.
- Popularity: Holly ranked 416th in the U.S. in 2025 with 751 girls, roughly level over the past decade after peaking at 48th in 1979.
Huckleberry
Huckleberry is a North American word for the bilberry, a local form of hurtleberry or whortleberry, and it once meant something small and of no importance. Mark Twain fixed it in place with Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. By current American records it is the rarest name in this collection, so a Huckleberry is unlikely to meet another one at school.
- Origin: American English
- Meaning: Sweet berry
- Pronunciation: HUKL-beh-ree
- Namesakes: Huckleberry Edward Grylls, son of British adventurer and TV personality Bear Grylls.
- Popularity: Huckleberry is the rarest name on this list in current data, ranked 12,725th in 2025 at about one in 333,000 U.S. births.
Iris
In Greek myth, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods, her name playing on the Greek iris, meaning rainbow, and eiris, meaning messenger. The flowering plant carries wisdom and hope. Iris reached its best American rank on record in 2025 and still manages to sound like nobody else’s name. Two syllables, no nickname needed.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Rainbow
- Pronunciation: EYE-riss
- Variations: Irida
- Namesakes: Iris Birtwistle, an English lyric poet and gallery owner. Iris Davies, pen name Iris Gower, a British novelist from Wales. Iris Szeghy, a Slovak composer.
- Popularity: Iris reached its highest U.S. rank on record in 2025 at 61st, with 3,729 girls.
Ivy
Ivy comes from the Old English ifig and names the evergreen climber, officially the Hedera. Three letters, one clean sound, and a plant famous for holding on. It sits near the top of the American charts now, a notch off its best year ever.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Vine, climbing evergreen plant
- Pronunciation: EYE-vee
- Variations: Ivey
- Namesakes: Ivy May Bolton, an English Anglican nun and writer. Ivy Fife, a New Zealand portrait and landscape painter. Ivy Scott, an Australian stage actress and singer.
- Popularity: Ivy ranked 39th in the U.S. in 2025 with 5,117 girls, a notch below its 2024 best of 36th.
Jane
Jane is a certified classic. It’s a popular pick for people, both real and fictional. The list is extensive, from 80s characters like Stranger Things’ Jane Hopper (Eleven) to superheroes like Marvel’s Jane Foster. Jane is a medieval English form of the Old French Jehanne, a cognate (having the same root) of Joan.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Jehovah has been gracious
- Pronunciation: JAYN
- Variations: Jean, Jeane, Jayne, Jaine
- Namesakes: Jane Austen, an English novelist known for works such as Pride and Prejudice. Martha Jane Cannary, or Calamity Jane, an American frontierswoman, sharpshooter, and storyteller.
- Popularity: Jane ranked 221st in the U.S. in 2025 with 1,380 girls, up about 46 percent on the previous decade though far from its 35th place in 1946.
Jasmine
Jasmine is a lovely aromatic option with exotic roots. From the Persian Yasmin, it was transferred from Old French to the English language. Going with a floral name might seem unoriginal, but who can resist the beauty and fragrance of this white bloom? Bring a bit of subtle elegance to your list of cottagecore girl names with Jasmine.
- Origin: Persian
- Meaning: Gift from God
- Pronunciation: JAZ-min
- Variations: Jazmin, Yasmin, Yasmine, Jessamine
- Namesakes: Jasmine van den Bogaerde, stage name Birdy, an English singer-songwriter. Jasmine Kaur Sandlas, an Indian-American Punjabi singer-songwriter, rapper, and TV personality.
- Popularity: Jasmine ranked 206th in the U.S. in 2025 with 1,481 girls, down about 53 percent on the previous decade after peaking at 23rd in 1993.
Jeremiah
Jeremiah derives from the Hebrew Yirmiyahu and consists of the roots “rum” meaning “to exalt,” and “Yah,” which is the name of God. Another suggested meaning is “Jehovah loosens (from the womb).” The biblical Jeremiah was a prophet who foretold Jerusalem’s destruction. But you don’t have to see the future to know that Jeremiah is perfect for a country baby.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Jehovah exalts, Yahweh exalts
- Pronunciation: JEH-rih-meye-uh
- Variations: Jeramiah, Jeremy
- Namesakes: Jeremiah Clemens, an American politician and novelist. Jeremiah Green, an American musician and founding member of the indie band Modest Mouse.
- Popularity: Jeremiah ranked 88th in the U.S. in 2025 with 3,840 boys, down about 26 percent on the previous decade.
Jude
Jude is a variant of Judas and Judah and a diminutive of Judith. It takes on a different meaning from Judith, stemming from the Hebrew Yehudit meaning “Jewish woman.” As Jude is already common for boys, your baby girl can really stand out with this option. And if you want old-fashioned, Jude takes you back centuries.
- Origin: Hebrew, English
- Meaning: Lauded, Jewish woman
- Pronunciation: JOOD
- Variations: Judas, Judah
- Namesakes: Jude Deveraux, an American historical romance author. David Jude Law, an English actor. Jude Frazier Acers, an American chess master and chess author.
- Popularity: Jude ranked 155th for U.S. boys in 2025 with 2,384 births, plus 93 girls at 2,041st.
Juliet
Juliet is tied up in the romance and classical literature. From the Latin Julius, Juliet is an Anglicized form of Juliette, a French variant of Julia. It may also derive from Jupiter, meaning “sky father.” Almost everyone knows Shakespeare’s tragic romance Romeo and Juliet as the play has become synonymous with young love. Give your sweet girl an equally sweet epithet.
- Origin: English, French
- Meaning: Youthful, downy
- Pronunciation: joo-lee-EHT
- Variations: Juliette, Julliet
- Namesakes: Juliet Simms, an American musician, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Juliet Aubrey, a British actress. Juliet Huddy, an American journalist.
- Popularity: Juliet ranked 274th in the U.S. in 2025 with 1,136 girls, close to its 2016 best of 228th.
Juniper
Juniper takes its name from the Latin juniperus, the evergreen whose berry-like cones flavor food and turn up in traditional medicine. It has climbed hard in the U.S. and is now inside the top 100, making it the rare cottagecore pick that is both woodsy and mainstream. The nicknames are half the appeal: June, Juni, Juju, Ginny.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Young, vigorous
- Pronunciation: JOO-nih-puh, JOO-nih-pur
- Namesakes: Juniper Russo, an American author and educator. Juniper Shuey, a Seattle-based visual artist.
- Popularity: Juniper cracked the U.S. top 100 for the first time in 2025, ranking 100th with 2,618 girls, up about 555 percent on the previous decade.
Lily
Lily is the English word for the white flowering plant, ultimately from the Latin lilium, and the blossom has long stood for purity and innocence. It has held near the top of American charts for years without wearing thin, which is a good sign for a flower name. Short, soft, and easy for a toddler to say about herself.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Lily (flower)
- Pronunciation: LIH-lee
- Variations: Lili, Lilli, Lillie, Lilly
- Namesakes: Lily Brown, an American poet. Lily Hoshino, a Japanese manga artist known for her cutesy art style. Lily Blatherwick, a British painter.
- Popularity: Lily ranked 18th in the U.S. in 2025 with 6,673 girls, holding near its 2011 peak at 15th.
Lyle
Lyle has a grandfather quality that has come back around. It means from the island and reaches English through Scottish and French use of the Old French l’isle. Its use has risen over the past decade, so it is old without being extinct. Animal Crossing players may recall Lyle, an otter salesman, which is on the nose in the best way.
- Origin: Scottish, French
- Meaning: Island, from the island
- Pronunciation: LEYEL
- Variations: Lisle
- Namesakes: Lyle Pearce Lovett, an American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer. Lyle Tuttle, an American tattoo artist and tattoo historian who has inked several celebrities.
- Popularity: Lyle ranked 1,047th in the U.S. in 2025 with 211 boys, up about 87 percent on the previous decade.
Magnolia
Magnolia is the English word for a large fragrant flower named after the French botanist Pierre Magnol. His surname comes from the Latin root “magna,” meaning “great.” Magnolia has an air of refinement that will follow your daughter into adulthood. Plus, if you need to go casual, you can always call her Maggy.
- Origin: French, Latin
- Meaning: Magnol’s flower
- Pronunciation: mag-NOH-lee-uh
- Variations: Magnole, Magnolya, Magnoly
- Namesakes: Maminydjama Maymuru, known as Magnolia Maymuru, an Aboriginal Australian actress and model.
- Popularity: Magnolia reached its best U.S. rank in 2025 at 124th with 2,233 girls, up about 706 percent on the previous decade.
Matilda
Matilda derives from the German Mahthilt, meaning “strength/might in battle.” It uses the elements “maht,” meaning “might” or “strength,” and “hilt” meaning “battle.” British author Roald Dahl used Matilda as the title for the main character in his 1988 children’s novel. Resilience and strength shine through in the personality of this hyper-intelligent psychic girl.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Battle-strong, battle-mighty
- Pronunciation: muh-TIL-dah
- Variations: Mathilda, Matilde, Mathilde
- Namesakes: Mathilda Foy, a Swedish philanthropist and writer. Katherine Matilda Swinton, known as Tilda Swinton, a British actress. Empress Matilda, or Empress Maude, a claimant to the English throne during the Anarchy.
- Popularity: Matilda ranked 365th in the U.S. in 2025 with 838 girls, roughly double its use in the previous decade.
Maude
Maude is a variant of Maud, the medieval English and French form of Matilda, and it carries the same battle-strong meaning. Empress Matilda, the claimant to the English throne during the Anarchy, was known as Empress Maude, so the royal association is baked in. It is genuinely rare in the U.S. today, though its use has risen sharply in the last decade. Maude is a grandmother name in the best sense: short, dry, and entirely unbothered.
- Origin: German, English
- Meaning: Battle-strong, mighty in battle
- Pronunciation: MAWD
- Variations: Maud, Mawd
- Namesakes: Maude Andrews Ohl, an American journalist, poet, and novelist. Maude Gillette Phillips, an American author and animal welfare activist. Maude Nugent, an American singer and composer.
- Popularity: Maude ranked 3,367th in the U.S. in 2025 with 46 girls, up about 186 percent on the previous decade but far below its 1913 high of 179th.
May
May is like a breath of fresh air. It was used as a nickname for someone born in May and took on a life of its own. May derives from the Latin Maia, probably from “maior” meaning “greater,” and was a Roman and Greek goddess associated with growth. Save a spot in your garden for this sunny option.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: The month of May, greater
- Pronunciation: MAY
- Variations: Mae, Mey
- Namesakes: May Chow, a Canadian-born Chinese chef. May Hashimoto, stage name May J., a pop and R&B singer of Japanese and Iranian descent. May Musa Sayegh, or Mai Sayegh, a Palestinian poet, feminist, activist, and writer.
- Popularity: May ranked 1,233rd in the U.S. in 2025 with 183 girls, long past its 1913 high of 167th.
Meadow
Meadow is about as literal as pastoral names get, straight from the Old English maedwe, a grassy open field. It has sat in American records for over a century but only found real momentum recently, reaching its best rank yet in 2025. It suits a family that would rather say the countryside plainly than hint at it.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Grassy field
- Pronunciation: MEH-dohw
- Variations: Meaddow
- Namesakes: Meadow Walker, an American model and daughter of American actor Paul Walker. Meadow Sisto, an American actress.
- Popularity: Meadow reached its best U.S. rank in 2025 at 286th, with 1,078 girls.
Nell
Nell was probably a medieval nickname for names beginning with el, like Helen and Eleanore, and possibly from a phrase of affection, mine El, which slid into my Nel. Its use has climbed sharply over the past decade while staying rare. Short, warm, and a little wry, with Nelly there for the small years. Animal Crossing put Nelly on a woodcock, which does the name no harm.
- Origin: Greek, English
- Meaning: Bright, shining light, torch
- Pronunciation: NEL
- Variations: Nelle, Nelly, Nellie
- Namesakes: Nell Carter, an American actress and singer. Nell Blaine, an American expressionist, watercolor, and landscape painter. Nell Freudenberger, an American writer.
- Popularity: Nell ranked 1,628th in the U.S. in 2025 with 128 girls, up about 236 percent on the previous decade.
Olive
Olive is the vintage pick that genuinely came back. From the Latin oliva, the tree and its fruit stand for peace, friendship, and wisdom. American use had all but vanished by the late 1980s and has recovered strongly since, the sharpest revival of any name here. Soft, green, and slightly wry, with Liv waiting in the wings.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Olive tree
- Pronunciation: OL-iv
- Namesakes: Olive Dutton Green, an Australian artist. Olive Sanxay, an American poet and short story writer. Olive Dehn, an English children’s writer, anarchist, farmer, and poet.
- Popularity: Olive ranked 197th in the U.S. in 2025 with 1,597 girls, near its 1915 peak at 123rd.
Oliver
Oliver may be a medieval English variant derived from the French word “olivier” or the Latin “olive,” both meaning “olive tree.” However, Oliver might have roots in the Old Norse Áleifr, meaning “ancestor’s descendent.” Though Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist remains a popular fictional bearer, nowadays, the traditionally masculine Oliver is becoming unisex. Parents can be more liberal using Oliver.
- Origin: Latin, Old Norse
- Meaning: Olive tree, ancestor’s descendent
- Pronunciation: OL-iv-ur, OL-iv-uh
- Variations: Olivier
- Namesakes: Oliver Goldsmith, a renowned Anglo-Irish novelist, playwright, and poet. Oliver Hardy, an American comic actor and half of the Laurel and Hardy duo.
- Popularity: Oliver ranked 3rd in the U.S. in 2025 with 14,939 boys, matching the best rank it first reached in 2019.
Onyx
Onyx is a glossy black and white banded gemstone believed to offer protection and improve one’s confidence. It stems from an ancient Greek word meaning “claw” or “fingernail.” Go with the diminutives Nyx or Nixie if you’re leaning towards the modern Onyx for your son or daughter.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Claw, fingernail
- Pronunciation: On-iks, AH-niks
- Variations: Onix
- Namesakes: Onyx Lorenzoni, a Brazilian politician, businessman, and veterinarian. Onyx Stauffer, son of Youtubers James and Myka Stauffer. Onyx Kelly, son of rapper Iggy Azalea.
- Popularity: Onyx ranked 365th for U.S. boys in 2025 with 881 births and 1,410th for girls with 155, the fastest-rising name on this list at about 926 percent over the previous decade.
Opal
Opal is the English word for the multicolored stone, from the Sanskrit upala, meaning jewel. It was a fixture in the early 1900s, faded for decades, and has been climbing again lately. It also has a small history of use for boys. As gemstone names go, it has less glare than Ruby and more character than most.
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Precious stone, gemstone
- Pronunciation: OH-pl, OH-pul
- Namesakes: Sara Opal Search, an American composer. Opal Moore, an African-American poet, short story writer, and professor. Opal Palmer Adisa, a Jamaica-born award-winning poet and novelist.
- Popularity: Opal ranked 423rd in the U.S. in 2025 with 740 girls, up about 385 percent on the previous decade.
Ottis
Ottis is a spelling variant of Otis, from an English surname rooted in the medieval given name Ode, a cognate of Otto. Both come from the Old High German element ot or od, meaning wealth. It is rare in the U.S. today and thoroughly old-timey, helped along by the fact that it sounds a little like oats.
- Origin: German, English
- Meaning: Wealth, fortune
- Pronunciation: OH-tiss, OH-diss
- Variations: Otis
- Namesakes: Ottis Gibson, a Barbadian cricket coach and former cricketer. Ottis Steede, a Bermudian international football player.
- Popularity: Ottis ranked 6,070th in the U.S. in 2025 with 15 boys; its best year was 1920 at 536th.
Piper
Piper seems to pay tribute to the Pied Piper of Hamelin, but it’s so much more than a reference to a classic folktale. It comes from an English surname given to someone who played the flute or pipe. American use peaked in 2015 at 67th and has cooled some since, though it still sits comfortably inside the top 200. The sound is upbeat without being fussy.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Pipe/flute player
- Pronunciation: PEYE-pur, PEYE-puh
- Variations: Pyper
- Namesakes: Piper Gilles, an American-Canadian ice dancer. Piper Dellums, an American author and public speaker. Piper Perabo, an American actress known for Coyote Ugly and The Prestige.
- Popularity: Piper ranked 155th in the U.S. in 2025 with 1,940 girls, below its 2015 peak at 67th.
Poppy
Poppy comes from the Old English popaeg and names the bright red flower that blooms each year, a bloom long tied to hope and remembrance. Its American use has risen steeply over the past decade without becoming common. The sound is pure cheer, playful enough that a stately middle name balances it out nicely.
- Origin: Latin, English
- Meaning: Red flower
- Pronunciation: POP-ee, PAH-pee
- Variations: Popi, Poppie
- Namesakes: Poppy Delevingne, an English model and socialite. Poppy Montgomery, an Australian actress known for the show Without a Trace. Poppy Ackroyd, a British composer, pianist, and violinist.
- Popularity: Poppy ranked 292nd in the U.S. in 2025 with 1,054 girls, just off its 2023 best of 289th and up about 478 percent on the previous decade.
Posie
Posie is a variant of Posy, an English term for a bunch of flowers but is also used as a diminutive of Josephine. Josephine is a feminine form of Joseph from the Hebrew Yosef, meaning “he will add.” Posie is simply too cute and worth considering, even if only as a nickname.
- Origin: French, Hebrew, English
- Meaning: He will add, a bouquet of flowers
- Pronunciation: POH-zee
- Variations: Posy, Poesy
- Namesakes: Posie Rayne LaBrant, daughter of vloggers Savannah and Cole LaBrant.
- Popularity: Posie ranked 2,679th in the U.S. in 2025 with 65 girls, up about 606 percent on the previous decade.
Rhodes
Rhodes comes from the Old English rod, meaning cleared land or a clearing in the woods, and it doubles as the Greek island named for the rose. It is one of the sharpest climbers here, though still uncommon. That final s gives it a surname-style confidence that pairs nicely with a softer middle name.
- Origin: English, Greek
- Meaning: Cleared land, rose
- Pronunciation: ROHD-s
- Variations: Rhoads, Rhoades, Roades, Rodes
- Namesakes: Sir Rhodes Boyson, an English educator, author, and politician. Rhodes Robert Hedlund, son of actress Emma Roberts.
- Popularity: Rhodes reached its best U.S. rank in 2025 at 575th with 511 boys, up about 784 percent on the previous decade.
River
River feels like it was taken straight from the hippies and country folk playbook. It was originally a nickname for someone living near a river or who worked as a fisherman, but it was gradually adopted as a given name. River came into the English language through Old French but ultimately stems from the Latin “ripa,” meaning “riverbank.”
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Riverbank, flowing body of water
- Pronunciation: RIH-vr, RIH-vuh
- Variations: Ryver
- Namesakes: River Jude Phoenix, an American actor, musician, and activist. River Radamus, an American competitive alpine ski racer. River Alexander, an American actor.
- Popularity: River ranked 111th for U.S. boys in 2025 with 3,139 births, and 220th for girls with 1,401.
Robin
Robin is usually associated with the bird, but it was originally a medieval English diminutive for Robert. It consists of the prefix “Ro-” from the Germanic element “hrod,” meaning “fame,” and the Old French diminutive suffix “-in.” It is a long way down from its 1962 peak at 25th, when it was one of the most familiar names around, and now goes to girls and boys in almost equal numbers. The nursery rhyme Little Robin Redbreast still gives it a quaint, nostalgic feel.
- Origin: German, French
- Meaning: Little fame
- Pronunciation: ROB-in, RAA-bin
- Variations: Robyn, Robbin
- Namesakes: Robin Williams, an American actor and comedian. Robin Laws, a Canadian writer and game designer. Robin Bengtsson, a Swedish singer.
- Popularity: Robin ranked 704th for U.S. girls in 2025 with 400 births and 705th for boys with 382, a long way from its 25th place in 1962.
Romeo
Romeo has long been equated with passion and love because of its association with Shakespeare. This Italian and Romanian version of the Latin Romaeus, possibly the Greek Romaios, means “from Rome” or “Roman.” In medieval Italian, Romeo meant “a pilgrim to Rome.” Romeo evokes the romanticism of rural life and thoughts of confessing your love from a balcony.
- Origin: Italian, Latin
- Meaning: Pilgrim to Rome, from Rome
- Pronunciation: ROH-mee-oh, ROHW-mee-oh
- Variations: Romio, Romaeus
- Namesakes: Romeo Antoniazzi, an Italian violin maker. Romeo Alaeff, an American visual artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Romeo Tanghal, a Filipino comic book artist.
- Popularity: Romeo ranked 302nd in the U.S. in 2025 with 1,129 boys, close to its 2024 best of 283rd.
Rose
Rose is a longtime classic stemming from the Latin word “rosa.” It refers to the flower of the woody perennial plant. The red rose symbolizes passion and romantic love, while the white symbolizes friendship, innocence, and purity. Rose may also have meant “famous type” in Old English, but it’s still a delicate option, perfect for a delicate girl.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Rose flower
- Pronunciation: ROHWZ
- Variations: Rosa
- Namesakes: Rose Beranbaum, an American award-winning baker and cookbook author. Rose Valland, a French art historian, resistance member, and military captain. Rose Laurens, a French singer-songwriter.
- Popularity: Rose ranked 114th in the U.S. in 2025 with 2,386 girls, up about 108 percent on the previous decade.
Rosemary
Rosemary is the fragrant evergreen herb, from the Latin Rosmarinus, meaning dew of the sea. It can also be read as Rose and Mary joined, with Mary from the Hebrew Miryam. Its American use has roughly doubled in the last decade. Ballet dancer Rosemary Dunleavy carried the name through a career built on precision, which suits it.
- Origin: Latin, Hebrew, English
- Meaning: Dew of the sea, bitter sea, rosemary (herb)
- Pronunciation: ROHWZ-muh-ree, ROHWZ-MEH-ree, ROHWZ-MAIR-ee
- Variations: Rosemarie, Rosmarie, Rosamaria
- Namesakes: Rosemary Butler, an American singer and former bassist. Rosemary Bailey, a British travel memoir author. Rosemary Dunleavy, an American ballet dancer.
- Popularity: Rosemary ranked 251st in the U.S. in 2025 with 1,222 girls, roughly double its use in the previous decade.
Rowan
Rowan is the Anglicized form of the Irish Ruadhan, meaning little red-haired one, from the Scottish word ruadh, meaning red. It is also a tree, which is how most parents reading this list will hear it. Rowan is properly unisex in American use, going to thousands of boys and over a thousand girls a year, and 2025 was its strongest year yet. Rowan Atkinson is the bearer most people name first.
- Origin: Irish, Scottish
- Meaning: Little red-haired one
- Pronunciation: ROHW-un
- Variations: Roan, Rowen, Rowyn, Ruadhán
- Namesakes: Rowan Atkinson, an English actor and comedian known for his role as Mr. Bean. Rowan Williams, Baron Williams of Oystermouth, a Welsh Anglican bishop, theologian, and poet.
- Popularity: Rowan reached its best U.S. rank in 2025 at 59th with 5,212 boys, plus 1,240 girls at 249th.
Ruby
Ruby is an earthy gemstone name that derives from the Latin “ruber” meaning “red.” It’s a vintage classic that has held real favor for a century now, settling at 64th in 2025, well within reach of its 1913 peak at 23rd. Pair it with other cottagecore picks like Rose or May for an old-school, indie feel.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Red, red precious stone
- Pronunciation: ROO-bee
- Variations: Rubee, Rubi, Rubie
- Namesakes: Ruby Wright, an American country music singer-songwriter. Ruby Murray, a Northern Irish singer. Ruby Hunter, an Aboriginal Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist.
- Popularity: Ruby ranked 64th in the U.S. in 2025 with 3,554 girls, below its 1913 peak at 23rd.
Ruth
Ruth is both a Limburgish diminutive of Rutger, a Dutch form of Roger, and a Hebrew name, meaning “friend.” In the Bible, Ruth was a Moabite woman who became the great-grandmother of King David, a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ. Ruth’s story is cherished for themes related to love, loyalty, and faithfulness. Although it’s already short, you can pick from cute nicknames like Rue or Ruthie.
- Origin: Hebrew, Limburgish
- Meaning: Friend, companion, famous spear
- Pronunciation: ROOTH, ROOT
- Variations: Ruthe
- Namesakes: Ruth Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, an English crime fiction author. Ruth Adler, an English human rights and child welfare advocate. Ruth Aspöck, an Austrian writer.
- Popularity: Ruth ranked 173rd in the U.S. in 2025 with 1,781 girls, far from the 5th place it held in 1913.
Sadie
Sadie began as a diminutive of Sarah and long ago outgrew it. It is a nickname name standing entirely on its own, which is the modern case for it, and it sits comfortably inside the American top 100. The sound is bright and a little mischievous, and it works as well on a grandmother as on a newborn.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Princess, noblewoman
- Pronunciation: SAY-dee
- Variations: Sadi
- Namesakes: Sadie Alexander, the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in the U.S. and a pioneering civil rights activist. Sadie Jones, an English novelist known for her award-winning book, The Outcast.
- Popularity: Sadie ranked 50th in the U.S. in 2025 with 4,168 girls, just off its 2014 best of 46th.
Sage
Sage carries two roots: the Old English saeg, meaning wise, and the Latin salvia, the healing plant. That makes it an herb name and a compliment at once. It goes to girls and boys in real numbers in the U.S., leaning female. One syllable, and as calm as it sounds.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Wise one, from the sagebrush plant
- Pronunciation: SAY-j
- Variations: Saige, Saje, Sange, Sayge
- Namesakes: Sage Erickson, an American professional surfer. Sage Kotsenburg, an American snowboarder. Sage Sohier, an American photographer and educator.
- Popularity: Sage ranked 160th for U.S. girls in 2025 with 1,853 births, and 456th for boys with 684.
Sawyer
Sawyer began as an occupational surname for someone who sawed wood, which gives it a workmanlike edge most nature names lack. Mark Twain put it on the map with The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. It is solidly popular for American boys now and used for girls in real numbers too, so it is a long way from the rarity it once was.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: One who saws wood, a woodcutter
- Pronunciation: SAW-yur, SAW-yuh
- Variations: Sayer, Sawyere, Sawyers
- Namesakes: Sawyer Spielberg, an American actor, director, and son of film director Steven Spielberg. Sawyer Fredericks, an American blues singer-songwriter. Sawyer Sweeten, an American child actor.
- Popularity: Sawyer ranked 122nd for U.S. boys in 2025 with 2,941 births, and 291st for girls with 1,056.
Shepherd
Shepherd is an English occupational surname for a sheep herder, from the Old English sceaphierde. As a given name it has climbed steeply in the U.S. over the past decade and reached its best rank yet in 2025, so it is unusual without being strange. Shep is the obvious nickname, and it is a good one.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Sheepherder
- Pronunciation: SHEH-perd, SHEH-purd
- Variations: Shephard, Sheppard, Shepard
- Namesakes: Shepherd Clark, an American competitive figure skater. Shepherd Mead, an American writer.
- Popularity: Shepherd reached its best U.S. rank in 2025 at 246th with 1,408 boys, up about 636 percent on the previous decade.
Shiloh
Shiloh gives Neil Diamond vibes, although his song was called Shilo (without the last h). In the Bible, before Judah was overthrown, God told King Zedekiah the rulership would pass to someone having legal rights. Since Shiloh means “He whose it is” or “He to whom it belongs,” the next ruler would be Shiloh. Other suggestions render it a “place of peace.”
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: He to whom it belongs
- Pronunciation: SHEYE-loh
- Variations: Shilo, Shiloe
- Namesakes: Shiloh Walker, an American romance author. Shiloh Fernandez, an American actor. Shiloh Strong, an American actor, photographer, screenwriter, and film director.
- Popularity: Shiloh ranked 278th for U.S. boys in 2025 with 1,220 births, and 281st for girls with 1,098.
Silas
Silas is a diminutive of Silvanus from the Latin “silva,” meaning “wood” or “forest.” It could also be a Greek form of the Hebrew name Saul, which means “asked (of God).” It reached its best U.S. rank yet in 2025 at 71st, so the renewed interest since the early 2000s has only kept building. Refined but earthy, it reads as reminiscent of a bygone era without sounding dated.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Of the wood, of the forest
- Pronunciation: SEYE-lus
- Variations: Sylas
- Namesakes: Silas House, an American novelist and playwright. Silas Timberlake, son of American singer Justin Timberlake.
- Popularity: Silas reached its highest U.S. rank yet in 2025 at 71st, with 4,639 boys.
Simon
Simon may come from either the Greek adjective “simos,” meaning “flat-nosed” or “snub-nosed,” or “Siʹmon” from a Hebrew root meaning “to hear.” It sits at 230th in the U.S. in 2025, close to its best-ever showing in 2013, so any sense of overuse says more about playground memory than the actual data. You can’t go wrong with a straightforward option like Simon. You’ll be grateful to have a teenager whose name obligates them to listen when you speak.
- Origin: Hebrew, Greek
- Meaning: (He who) hears, listen
- Pronunciation: SEYE-mun, SEYE-mn
- Variations: Simeon, Symeon
- Namesakes: Simon Fairweather, an Australian archer. Simon Armitage, an English poet, playwright, novelist, and musician. Simon Cowell, an English TV personality and entrepreneur.
- Popularity: Simon ranked 230th in the U.S. in 2025 with 1,529 births, close to its best-ever rank of 229th in 2013.
Sylvia
Sylvia is ideal for a fairy queen or a beautiful nymph. It’s apt, then, that it stems from the Latin “silva,” meaning “forest” or “woods.” Most will agree that Sylvia has an air of cultured sophistication, and its nature connection adds to its cottagecore credibility. Your baby girl will be in good company, sharing it with inspiring poets and suffragettes.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Of the wood, of the forest
- Pronunciation: SIL-vee-uh
- Variations: Silvia, Silvija, Sylvie
- Namesakes: Sylvia Plath, an American poet and writer. Sylvia Earle, an American marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, and author. Estelle Sylvia Pankhurst, an English suffragette and socialist.
- Popularity: Sylvia ranked 300th in the U.S. in 2025 with 1,017 girls, well below its 1937 peak at 50th.
Thatcher
Thatcher comes from an occupational surname for someone who thatched roofs, from the Old English word “þæc.” Thatched roofs are considered an element of rural architecture, allowing Thatcher to weave into the cottagecore theme. Although the most famous bearer is probably Margaret Thatcher, as a given name, Thatcher is historically masculine. Only a couple of countries regard it as gender-neutral.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Roof thatcher
- Pronunciation: THA-chuh, THA-chr
- Namesakes: Thatcher Demko, an American professional ice hockey player. Thatcher Szalay, a Hungarian American football (gridiron) player.
- Popularity: Thatcher ranked 1,111th in the U.S. in 2025 with 194 boys, below its 2019 best of 798th.
Theodore
Theodore comes from the Greek Theodoros, joining theos, meaning god, and doron, meaning gift. The length is the point: formal on a certificate, collapsed to Theo, Teddy, or Ted by lunchtime. It ranked 4th among U.S. boys in 2025, so expect company at the playground.
- Origin: English, Greek
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Pronunciation: THEE-OH-door, THEE-uh-daw
- Variations: Theodoros, Theodora, Theodor, Teodor
- Namesakes: Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the 26th U.S. president. Theodor Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss, an American children’s book author and illustrator. Theodore Pendergrass, an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter.
- Popularity: Theodore ranked 4th in the U.S. in 2025 with 13,355 boys, its highest birth count on record and up about 423 percent on the previous decade.
Violet
Violet is both the shade of purple and the small five-petaled flower, and it reached its highest American rank on record in 2025. Downton Abbey viewers will hear Violet Crawley first, all wit and posture, which is not a bad thing to hand a daughter. Vi, Letty, and Lottie are all within reach.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Purple
- Pronunciation: VEYE-oh-let, VEYE-uh-lt
- Variations: Violette
- Namesakes: Violet Brunton, professionally known as Victor du Lac, a British visual artist. Marion Violet Aitken, a British suffragette. Violet Brown, a Jamaican supercentenarian.
- Popularity: Violet reached its best U.S. rank yet in 2025 at 13th, with 7,546 girls.
Willow
Willow originates with the Old English word “welig” and refers to a long-leafed shrub or tree. These plants are known for their resilience and toughness, and the name has proven durable too, holding inside the U.S. top 50 for years. In literature and art, the willow is associated with mourning and sorrow and relates to death, evil spirits, and ghosts in many cultures. It reached 37th in 2022 and has stayed close to that mark since.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Willow tree
- Pronunciation: WIL-ohw
- Variations: Willa, Willo
- Namesakes: Willow Smith, an American singer, actress, and daughter of Will Smith. Willow Dawson, a Canadian illustrator. Willow Koerber, an American cross-country mountain biker.
- Popularity: Willow ranked 44th in the U.S. in 2025 with 4,763 girls, a few spots below its 2022 peak at 37th.
Winston
Winston is an English surname from the Old English given name Wynnstan, combining elements “wynn,” meaning “joy,” and “stan,” meaning “stone.” It seems like an odd pairing, but who doesn’t love a happy baby or want a resilient child? The vintage Winston hasn’t ever fallen off the charts completely, and its waning popularity is taking a turn for the better.
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Joyful stone
- Pronunciation: WIN-stn
- Variations: Wynston, Winstonn
- Namesakes: Sir Winston Churchill, a British prime minister (twice-appointed). Winston Groom, an American novelist best known as the author of Forrest Gump. Winston Jarrett, a Jamaican reggae singer.
- Popularity: Winston ranked 382nd in the U.S. in 2025, and its 830 births that year are the most it has recorded.
Winter
Winter is the season, from the Old English winter, with roots in the Old High German wintar and the Old Norse vetr, meaning time of water. It works whether or not the baby arrives in the cold months. Cool, still, and a touch severe, so it pairs well with a warmer middle name.
- Origin: Old English, Old Norse
- Meaning: Winter season, frosty, time of water
- Pronunciation: WIN-tur, WIN-tuh
- Variations: Wynter
- Namesakes: Winter Ave Zoli, an American actress and model. Winter Hall, a New Zealand silent (and later sound) film actor. Winter Lunde, a Canadian fashion model.
- Popularity: Winter ranked 426th for U.S. girls in 2025 with 732 births, below its 2022 best of 305th.
Wren
Wren comes from the Old English wrenna and belongs to the tiny bird with the outsized song. It has been in American records since the 1880s, but its real rise is recent, and it now leans strongly female while still going to a couple of hundred boys a year. In folklore the wren carries luck and good fortune. One syllable pairs cleanly with almost any longer middle name.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Small songbird
- Pronunciation: REN
- Variations: Wrenn
- Namesakes: Wren Blackberry, an American teacher and children’s fiction author. Wren Blair, a Canadian ice hockey coach and scout.
- Popularity: Wren ranked 231st for U.S. girls in 2025 with 1,331 births, and 1,090th for boys with 198.
